Chapter Six #2
“Please do not apologise, Mr Bingley, you have good friends and relations who worry and care for you a great deal. I cannot take offense at that.” Jane tilted her head in acknowledgement.
“While I find Netherfield Park positively charming and elegant, and you and your family kind and generous, I confess that I am terribly anxious about the reports of highwaymen, and am worried about how I became separated from my family. Anxious and worried people often say things that can be thought insulting, and I am surprised that I have not slipped and spoken thoughtlessly out of perturbation many times over. I cannot fault your loved ones for caring and worrying about you.”
Mrs Bennet was insistent. “But how do we know that you are not a spy? Or a woman of ill-repute? Or… or… or a governess!”
“Oh no, anything but a governess!” Elizabeth cried, as the party roared in laughter. “What on earth is wrong with governesses?”
“What if she is just some poor person looking for a better situation than she deserves? She does not look like a married woman, if you ask me!” Mrs Bennet put her nose in the air and sniffed.
“I beg your pardon, but what does a married woman look like, other than she often wears a lace cap, which Miss Jane did possess when we found her? She only does not wear one now because it was ruined by her fall, and none of the ladies here wear a cap to lend her. If she had been wearing a wedding ring, it might have been stolen from her, if she were the victim of highwaymen.” Elizabeth frowned at her mother.
“I must point out that if Miss Jane were a spy, she would by now have attempted to charm either myself or Colonel Fitzwilliam out of our military secrets.” Captain Arundel lifted his glass to the colonel. “Has she made any charming attempts your way, Fitzwilliam?”
“Not so much as a repulsive attempt, I assure you.” Fitzwilliam made a mock salute to the naval man. “It is most disappointing. Would not a spy be exciting, Arundel?”
Jane grinned. “You wound me, sir. Must I now bear the shame of not being suspicious enough?”
“This is all very diverting, I am sure, but I would rather discuss fashion. Miss Jane, do you at least recall your taste in gowns? Or is your amnesia so severe that you no longer know muslin from taffeta?” Mrs Hurst asked airily.
Jane smiled. “I do recall my taste in gowns, I prefer those that fit, and suit me in colouring.”
Mrs Hurst blinked. “How…practical.”
Elizabeth smothered a snort of laughter, for that last had certainly been a barb at the attire of the Bingley sisters. Mrs Hurst was impossibly well endowed, but her modiste rarely allowed her gowns the necessary room for her bust, and Miss Bingley was always wearing an unflattering colour; always.
“It is rather difficult to believe that you remember nothing of your own connections.” Mrs Hurst brought the subject back around to Jane’s memory of her origins. “Do you really recall nothing?”
“Only that I have a great many brothers, which may explain my indifference to frivolous nonsense, madam.”
Mr Rupert spoke up. “Perhaps the Lord has seen fit to give you a fresh start. A chance to forge new friendships and new fortunes. Or perhaps the Lord has seen fit to bless Mr and Mrs Bingley with the opportunity to begin their life together in a manner worthy of God, opening their home to the foreigner amongst us, and loving them as themselves.”
“Or perhaps she is seeking the opportunity to cause trouble,” Mrs Bennet muttered.
“Mama, please, that is quite enough!” Mrs Bingley chided gently, but rather impatiently.
Mr Darcy studied Jane carefully. “It is not unreasonable to grant Miss Jane the benefit of the doubt. If she truly has lost her memory, she cannot be expected to answer questions to our satisfaction, Mrs Bennet.”
“I simply cannot recall the last time I was in a room with so many people who frustrate me so greatly!” Their host shook his head helplessly at the shameful way his guests were treating one whom he had chosen to take into his house.
“If Jane and I have invited a guest into our home, it is not for our other guests to have an opinion!”
The table was awkwardly silent for a moment, some of those involved were rather abashed that they had pressed their usually jovial host into such irritation.
“Miss Jane, might I call upon you tomorrow to discuss Evelina? That is, if it is acceptable to my sister.” Kitty nodded towards Mrs Bingley. “And Maria Lucas might like to join me if I send her a note round in the morning, she has been reading the copy they keep at Lucas Lodge.”
“Of course, I am very happy to speak of books with you and your friend, if it is not an imposition for Mrs Bingley.” Jane smiled at the younger lady for her effort to turn the conversation. “I am certain that your sister Lizzy will wish to join us.”
“I am very happy to hear of your new interest in novels, Kitty. And I hope it leads to more edifying texts as well. I do wish that I read more, but there are always so many other things to do,” Jane said agreeably.
“Of course you may call anytime you like, and if you wish, I will send the carriage for you and Maria the day after tomorrow. The Lucases will be busy tomorrow. Mr and Mrs Collins are arriving in Meryton.”
“Married women never have time for reading,” Mrs Bennet tossed her head. “It is no wonder you have no time for such things as Mr Bingley’s wife.”
“If that is true, then I shall remain a spinster all my days.” Elizabeth grinned at Jane and Miss Darcy.
“I love Frances Burney! May I join you?” asked Miss Darcy timidly.
“Of course you may, we would like that above anything!” Kitty smiled at the other young lady in encouragement.
“And Miss Bingley told us last year that you draw very well indeed. I thought that I would mention that if you would like to take any sketching outings while you are here, I would be very happy to show you the best landscapes in this part of the country. She would like Oakham Mount very much, would she not, Lizzy? And perhaps a carriage ride to the Chilterns if there is a day that is not too cold?”
“I want to come to Netherfield with Kitty and Maria!” Miss Lydia pouted.
“Are you reading Frances Burney?” asked her father. When his youngest shook her head, he shook his in return. “Then you will remain at home.”
As the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, Jane saw and heard Mrs Bingley take her sister aside.
“”That was very nicely done, turning the conversation, Kitty. You are learning to be a true gentlewoman. Your address has improved greatly.”
Kitty blushed as her eldest sister wrapped an arm around her and gave her an affectionate squeeze, then turned and followed the other ladies to the drawing room.
The rest of the night passed with a great deal of good conversation, often mixed in with sneers from Miss Bingley and her betrothed, or inanities from Mrs Bennet and Mrs Hurst, but they were ignored.
Miss Darcy and Miss Kitty became fast friends, and Miss Darcy extended the hand of friendship to Miss Mary as well, asking her to come and practice duets with her.
Jane noticed Miss Mary looking over at Mr Rupert Hurst quite often and wondered, Could I create even more happy endings than I intended?