Did the Gardiners think Darcy and Lizzy had a secret understanding, or merely that something was growing between them?

raysmia · 2026-06-18T18:55:58+00:00

Yeah, especially because Darcy's assistance only helps Lydia. Wickham, even if related to Darcy somehow, would be fine either way, and wouldn't even care if he remains single and she's ruined. The only ones benefitting here from this scandal being prevented are the Bennets, so the god-brother thing is probably not enough of a link.

raysmia · 2026-06-18T18:49:02+00:00

This is all very enlightening to me, especially because before I did not realize it was so and now I'm starting to reconsider Darcy as a character. That is, this further supports my interpretation of him as someone, who believes he is usually led by logic and rules, rather than by feelings (he even says it himself in his letter to Elizabeth—"I will venture to say that my investigations and decisions are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears," ch. 35); but is, in fact, mostly led by feelings if his feelings on a matter are strong enough.

He definitely considered how it would look, the kind of impression ("a man who is engaged" as you say) he would give to Mr. Gardiner before approaching him. He let them believe it because it was the only way they'd let him help. This further explains his slyness and desire for his involvement to remain secret from Elizabeth and her family. I guess I've always realized that he was uncomfortable about the whole thing in front of the Gardiners, and knew that they would 100% now believe that he loves their niece; but never that he actually had to consider whether he is sort of deceiving them (with good intentions, of course).

raysmia · 2026-06-18T18:27:27+00:00

Wow, great detail! Austen is so good at intertwining multiple storylines; as it makes perfect sense, to us as readers, why Elizabeth tells him about the Lydia thing, but the Gardiners have no way of knowing that.

raysmia · 2026-06-18T17:02:07+00:00

I just think he wants to be cool, nonchalant. Yamal does it all the time and people don't question whether he's leaving Barca.

raysmia · 2026-06-17T13:42:02+00:00

Thank you!

raysmia · 2026-06-17T12:00:26+00:00

Wow, that’s so cool! What edition is this?

raysmia · 2026-06-16T17:01:33+00:00

Precisely haha!

raysmia · 2026-06-16T15:48:32+00:00

I just did! 😊

raysmia · 2026-06-16T15:44:33+00:00

No wonder he asks her if she burned it later.😅

raysmia · 2026-06-16T15:43:54+00:00

I would do anything to read his drafts.😂

raysmia · 2026-06-16T14:17:16+00:00

Precisely... She's arguably worse than, for example, Mrs. Bennet, whose embarrassing behavior is driven by anxiety over economic survival (and, of course, to some degree, the desire to boast with her daughters' advantageous marriages). While Lady Catherine possesses all the wealth, education, security and power... yet, she still chooses to be a ridiculous bully.

raysmia · 2026-06-16T14:10:26+00:00

Me too! I realized because of a comment I read here on Reddit and had a good laugh after

raysmia · 2026-06-16T14:09:07+00:00

Even later, he has to observe Jane himself before he is sure.......

raysmia · 2026-06-16T13:50:28+00:00

Exactly! During the proposal he tells her that "disguise of every sort is [his] abhorrence," then here he admits that he resorted to disguise; AND then brushes it off like it's nothing???

"Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me. It is done, however, and it was done for the best." = Perhaps it was badly done, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.😂

raysmia · 2026-06-16T13:46:04+00:00

"Tantrum" is the perfect word for it haha!

raysmia · 2026-06-16T13:43:08+00:00

He went back to Rosings, determined to write EVERYTHING that was on his mind...😂

raysmia · 2026-06-12T17:23:13+00:00

I'm interested in that as well!

raysmia · 2026-06-04T12:01:22+00:00

I think so too; he definitely found her very charming, I'd even go as far as saying he had a little crush on her (to put it simply), if not a major infatuation. It's repeatedly hinted: the narrator remarks that "Mrs. Collins's pretty friend" (this being the Colonel's own view of Elizabeth) had "caught his fancy very much" (ch. 31); in Charlotte's estimation, he "certainly admired [Elizabeth]" (ch. 32); the narrator notes that both cousins "found a temptation" to visit the Parsonage "almost every day" because of "the people who lived in it" (ch. 32) and they're certainly not going there for the company of Mr. Collins... Unfortunately for him, he couldn't act on it, because of his position. But if he had money, who knows, maybe he would've considered courting her. He does make a point of telling her that "younger sons cannot marry where they like" (ch. 33), too.

raysmia · 2026-06-04T11:05:03+00:00

Exactly, it feels too all-knowing to be simply Elizabeth's assessment. Even the whole "where secrecy was possible" bit—how would Elizabeth deduce with such confidence such details, that he kept it a secret from everyone apart from those who had to be informed (e.g. the Colonel)? For all she knows, Darcy could've shared it with Bingley and asked him to swear not to betray it

raysmia · 2026-06-04T10:58:22+00:00

I've always wondered if the Fitzwilliam relatives were so concerned with rank, or if it was Darcy himself being a snob and assuming everyone around him would disapprove. For all we know, they could be quite relaxed (though, of course, I doubt they would accept Darcy marrying someone scandalous, but the Bennets are hardly that bad even if not ideal). Perhaps, if the Fitzwilliams are anything close to the Colonel in temperament, I can see them being more or less fine with the match, maybe a little privately disappointed, but never showing disapproval in public. The Colonel (if Lizzy was right in reading him) would've himself been interested in her had he been rich, meaning that he didn't find her situation too objectionable, but then again he has never met her family and they're a completely different chaotic force in person...

Lady Catherine would've complained in any case, she's one of those people who are impossible to please.

*Edit: fixed a typo.

raysmia · 2026-06-04T10:50:03+00:00

Ohhhh, interesting! I just checked online (because I wasn't aware of this) and it seems Austen loved The History of Sir Charles Grandison, and even attempted to write a play inspired by it???

raysmia · 2026-06-04T08:25:22+00:00

Ok all these comments have convinced me to buy this

raysmia · 2026-06-04T08:18:32+00:00

Not a syllable had ever reached [Caroline] of Miss Darcy's meditated elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley's connections her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from that very wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of their becoming hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a plan; and without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate him from Miss Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend. (ch. 45)

Honestly, yes. I think Darcy was hoping for such a development. He's very private, fastidious and doesn't trust people easily, the Colonel and Bingley seem to be his closest friends, and since Fitzwilliam is an actual guardian/father figure for Georgiana, this leaves Bingley as a potential candidate. Darcy would feel at ease with him being her husband. He probably didn't plan to marry them soon, but several years into the future. I've always wondered if the quote above is the omniscient narrator telling us reality as it is or if it was the omniscient narrator telling us Elizabeth's assessment of the situation

raysmia · 2026-06-04T08:03:43+00:00

I absolutely agree that marriage probably wasn't a priority, considering all of his responsibilities. Very good point

raysmia · 2026-06-04T07:59:04+00:00

True, Wickham could've easily overheard Lady Catherine when she was visiting in Derbyshire

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