Chapter Fourteen
When the gentlemen joined them in the drawing room after the separation of the sexes, Miss Crawford was holding the two younger Bennet sisters and Miss Lucas spellbound as she described in detail her last visit to her dressmaker.
The moment the gentlemen joined them, Miss Crawford abandoned her young audience mid-sentence and made her way quickly to Mr Rupert Hurst.
“Mary, take our friend Miss Jane out to the balcony with you, and tell your elder sisters and their men to come inside, the tea is getting cold.” Mrs Bennet nodded to her third daughter.
Our friend Miss Jane? What did Mr Darcy say to Mrs Bennet?
Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy could not be parted from their ladies for long, and when Elizabeth and Mrs Bingley had announced a desire for fresh air as they left the table, the two gentlemen had been all too willing to abandon the other men to join them on the balcony.
Jane followed Mary out of the French doors. Her head was beginning to ache just a bit, and she was hoping some fresh air might help. As they exited the drawing room, Colonel Fitzwilliam joined them. The two couples were discussing their plans for the Bingleys to visit Pemberley.
“We shall decide what is to be done if you have not been claimed before we go, Miss Jane, but I prefer to believe that your family will arrive long before we depart for the north late in the spring,” said Bingley kindly. “But if not, of course you may join us.”
“I wish for you to visit us in Derbyshire before too long has passed, even if you have returned to your home,” Elizabeth insisted. “We shall fight over you if we must.”
“I am sure that will not be necessary,” Jane laughed.
“I do not know, Miss Jane, I believe that you are popular enough for us gentlemen to have to conduct duels between the ladies, to determine with whom you will spend your time.” Colonel Fitzwilliam teased. “My young cousin, for example, is overjoyed by the prospect of a visit from you.”
“Like Mr Bingley, I do hope that my memories will return, and that I will be reunited with my family before long.” Jane smiled at him. “But I agree with Lizzy, a visit to Pemberley sounds very agreeable.”
Suddenly, they heard voices from the other side of the French doors, which were covered by draperies to allow air into the room with the doors open, but also to prevent it from getting too cold in the drawing room.
“So what did you discuss at dinner with your curate?” Miss Crawford asked someone in a teasing manner.
“Sermons and work, what else?” they heard Mr Rupert Hurst reply.
“Why on earth would she think you would want to discuss such matters with a woman?” Miss Crawford giggled.
“I do not know, but I am grateful that little Darcy chit convinced her to change her mode of dress,” Hurst replied drily.
Jane observed poor Miss Mary turn white as the beastly man continued.
“You should have seen her before you arrived. Quite terrifying. Looked like a ghoul, forever trapped in mourning. Obviously, she changed her appearance to impress me, and I will not lie, she did, a bit. But I have no plans to throw myself away on so little. None of these Meryton girls have a portion worth considering, and only the Bennet girls have faces worth looking at. I felt obliged to speak to her. Everywhere a parson goes, everyone throws their most pious spinster at him, but I had to promise my sister-in-law that I would not consider a Bennet sister, nor any Meryton girl, before she would consent for my brother to solicit an invitation for me.”
“Spinster?” Jane nearly screeched. Suddenly there was a hush on the other side of the French doors, then a rustle of skirts as the two offending speakers fled.
“How dare he?” Jane snatched the curtain open to see the pair making haste to join Mr Crawford, Miss Lucas, and Miss Lydia.
She scowled as Miss Crawford and her brother gave the youngest Bennet a great deal of attention, and Mr Rupert Hurst behaved as if nothing at all had just happened.
She closed them again and whirled upon Miss Mary.
“The beast! Mary Bennet, you listen to me!” Jane demanded.
“I am a spinster! I am seven-and-thirty, and still unwed, by choice, for I could have married, if I wished, I am certain of that. You are only twenty years old! It is far too early to call you a spinster, and even if it comes to pass, there is no shame in it. You have a large and affectionate family. You will be very well no matter what happens. Do not even think on what that terrible man said. This is my fault. I pushed you at him, and I pushed him at you. I had no right to suppose a preference where only false civility existed. I beg your pardon most sincerely, Miss Mary. I ought never to have meddled.”
“Miss Jane is right, Mary.” Mrs Bingley hurried to her sister and hugged her. “I do not think being rightfully called a spinster is in your future, but even if it is, you will still have family who loves you dearly. You will never be alone.”
“Thank you, Jane, and you too of course, Miss Jane, but I fear I feel rather ridiculous now.” Mary shook her head. “I think I will go and take off Miss Darcy’s gown and retire for the night. I am embarrassed that I was convinced to put aside my scruples, and I have been paid out for my vanity.”
“Miss Mary Bennet, I strictly forbid you to change your gown, nor to retire early,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam commandingly.
When Mary looked at him disbelievingly, he continued.
“Your sister is going to marry my cousin, whom I love as a brother. We are going to see one another quite often in the future, I think. That makes us as good as siblings, Miss Mary, but more importantly, I stand here as your friend to tell you that you are not ridiculous, nor a spinster, nor a curate, nor a ghoul in perpetual mourning. You are an astonishingly pretty girl when you choose not to hide it, an educated and intelligent lady, and a pious woman devoted to her faith, who will make a fortunate man a very admirable wife someday. You are not beaten, Mary Bennet. You will go in there upon my arm, and you will make both that scheming conniver, and that miserable excuse for a man of God look at you. Make them feel their impropriety, and see how meaningless it is to you. And you will wear blue or pink again tomorrow, for you look very well in them. Do you hear me?”
“Mary, I cannot apologise enough that a kinsman of mine, even one through marriage, would be so cruel and improper.” Bingley passed a hand over his eyes. “I shall tell Hurst he must go first thing in the morning.”
“Oh no, do not do that, Bingley.” Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned wolfishly. “He has not been paid out for his crimes yet.”
“What are you planning, Cousin?” Darcy growled suspiciously.
“Only for Hurst to feel his mistake, and to suffer the embarrassment he deserves. Leave it in my hands, Bingley.” The colonel clapped Bingley on the shoulder, and offered Mary his arm. “Shall we, my lady?”
“Mary.” Elizabeth sounded concerned. When her sister met her gaze, she asked worriedly, “Are you certain that you are all right?”
“I am, Lizzy,” Mary promised. “Thank you, Colonel. And you Mr Bingley; and of course you, Miss Jane.”
When they returned indoors, Jane saw that Miss Mary Crawford and Mr Rupert Hurst were whispering worriedly in the corner. Her attention was disturbed as her group was ambushed by Mr Crawford.
“Miss Elizabeth, if there is to be no dancing, then I must insist you oblige me in taking a turn about the room. There is nothing like a turn about a charming drawing room such as this after dinner!” Mr Crawford held out his hand.
“No thank you, Mr Crawford, but I thank you for the invitation, all the same.” Elizabeth refused to be drawn away from her betrothed who only glared forbiddingly.
“Look at him!” Crawford objected. “He stands silent and says nothing, he does not even fight for you, madam.”
“That is because this fight was over before it began and I have already won her,” Darcy bit out warningly. “I see no reason to insult the dignity of my bride over a man who cannot even win an instant of her notice. There is nothing to compete over, for she could not care less about you.”
“I have no desire to take her, only to make her regret her engagement at least a bit. Have I no chance at all, Elizabeth?”
“Elizabeth, indeed! Upon my word, what is this, Mr Crawford?” Mrs Bennet was suddenly upon him, her senses finally engaged by the presence of one who was a danger to her daughter’s betrothal.
Mr Crawford smiled charmingly, a smile that had obviously won over many matrons. “Madam, I merely–”
“Merely nothing, sir! I have watched you slinking about since you arrived, pestering my Lizzy with your pretty speeches and nonsense. By what right do you address my daughter by her given name? I will not have it, Mr Crawford, she is spoken for–married in all but name to Mr Darcy!”
Mr Crawford blinked in disbelief that his charm was not saving him this time, as Mrs Bennet continued on, gathering momentum as she did so. The other guests watched in fascination as Mrs Bennet reduced the man to a child.
“You waste your breath, thinking to turn my Lizzy’s head, sir!
She is to be mistress of Pemberley! Nothing could tempt my Lizzy from her purpose, certainly not an overpuffed peacock with a smooth tongue and immoral eyes!
Do you think she is so clever for nothing?
She is far too intelligent for the likes of you!
I know about rakes such as yourself, ruining matches and taking what is not yours simply for amusement.
You are no more interested in Lizzy than she is in marrying a frog.
You only wish to take her from Mr Darcy, you wicked man.
Now go on! Flirt with the other silly girls still looking for husbands, but you stay away from my Lydia and Kitty, do you hear me?
I shall be happy to see you continue on your journey to wherever it is that you are going, Mr Crawford.
We have had enough of your nonsense in Meryton. ”
Mr Crawford for once looked entirely discomposed. He backed away, then left them and approached his sister and Mr Hurst.
“Mama!” Elizabeth exclaimed, laughing. “What has got into you?”
“Nothing will threaten your match, Lizzy, not while I draw breath. Mr Darcy is to be my favourite son-in-law.” Mrs Bennet beamed at Darcy. “You have very good taste, Lizzy, dear. So handsome! So tall!”
“Mother Bennet, you have my deepest gratitude.” Darcy bowed.
“Mother Bennet! How well that sounds in my son-in-law’s handsome baritone! Of course, my dear, your poor hands were tied! How could you have called him out without ruining my dinner party? You are such a thoughtful boy.” She patted his cheek.
“Quite,” Darcy struggled to hold in his mirth as Elizabeth openly expressed hers. “That was–quite obviously–my primary concern.”
“Of course it was.” Mrs Bennet went to a small writing desk in a corner, and out of curiosity, Elizabeth and Darcy followed. She wrote a short note, folded it in half, and handed it to Darcy. “Can you have one of your grooms deliver this immediately? All of our servants are busy here.”
“May I?” Mr Darcy asked. At Mrs Bennet’s nod, he opened the note and laughed out loud. “It is to the cartwright, promising to triple his wage if he has Mr Crawford’s carriage ready by breakfast. Do you think he would return to his work so late?”
“He will, for his wife has been ill, and he has had to pay a girl to help with the children,” Mrs Bennet tutted.
“I have been looking for an excuse to help them, and even set aside a portion of my pin money for the endeavour. They are not our tenants, so any assistance would be regarded as charity, but Mr Henry will consider this solution quite reasonable.”
He leaned over and kissed his future mother-in-law’s cheek.
“I refuse to allow you to bear the expense, Mother Bennet. I will proudly pay the bill. And I wish you to visit the milliner’s, and select any bonnet you like to wear to the wedding as my treat.
After all, you are to be my favourite mother-in-law. ”
“Oh you!” Mrs Bennet blushed and tapped his arm with her fan, then sighed. “I have always wished for a turban. I have always thought it a most elegant mode of dress.”
“The tallest and most imposing turban shall be yours,” Darcy promised Elizabeth’s giggling mother.
“Oy! Here now, I thought I was the favourite son-in-law!” objected Bingley as he and Mrs Bingley joined them.
“I am not to be overthrown! Mrs Bennet, Mrs Bingley shall pick you up in her carriage, and you will have a new dress for the ball or the wedding, whichever you prefer.” Bingley stuck his tongue out at Darcy, causing them all to laugh.
“Lizzy, Kitty will accompany you back to Netherfield tonight. She will sleep in your bed and stay in your company at all times until that scoundrel leaves the village,” Mrs Bennet instructed her second daughter.
“Yes, Mama.” Elizabeth saw no reason for disobedience. For once, she was strangely grateful to her mother, who left them, going to Kitty to instruct her to pack a valise for the night.
Jane sat in a nearby corner, close enough to hear and be heartily amused by the conversation.
One of her headaches was setting in, but thankfully, the evening was drawing to a close, and the carriages would be ready soon.
As she sat and watched the other guests, she noted that the Crawfords and Mr Rupert Hurst stayed apart from the others, in conversation with Mr and Mrs Hurst. Mary had joined Georgiana in listening to some tales of Lady Anne Darcy’s goodness from Mrs Gardiner, and Colonel Fitzwilliam slowly made the rounds of the matrons in the room, all of whom sent hostile looks at Mr Rupert Hurst all evening.