Chapter 2
The Meryton assembly room was crowded, barely accommodating all those in attendance.
The uproar of voices mixed with the sound of musicians preparing their instruments made it difficult to carry on a reasonable conversation, but there were some who were desperate enough to make themselves heard over the din.
The occasion required it. In the last few days, one subject had dominated the conversation — Mr Charles Bingley, the gentleman who had let Netherfield Park, was expected to attend the assembly.
To those who had made his acquaintance — including Mr Bennet — Mr Bingley had left a most favourable impression.
He was a pleasant-looking young gentleman with amiable manners and a lively disposition, and most importantly, he had an income of four thousand pounds a year — a sum that would give any mother of young daughters hopes that he might be looking for a wife.
The six Bennet ladies were more fortunate than most, for they had caught a glimpse of Mr Bingley when he had briefly called on Mr Bennet.
Mrs Bennet had even invited the gentleman to dine at Longbourn, but unfortunately, he had declined due to business necessitating his return to London.
That fact caused much distress and displeasure, particularly for Mrs Bennet, who feared Mr Bingley was the type of man who liked to flit from one place to another and would not settle at Netherfield as he ought to.
That evening, however, Mr Bingley was expected to join the assembly, together with a large party that included his sisters and some friends.
Mary Bennet, the middle of the five sisters, sat at the side of the room, away from conversations, watching people with a reflective and philosophical air.
Kitty and Lydia, the two youngest of the family, wandered around the assembly room most amused, laughing and talking louder than most, seeking to draw attention to themselves.
Mrs Bennet, however, found it imperative to keep her eldest daughters near her in the hope they might be among the first to be introduced to Mr Bingley.
“Oh, dear Lord — look, Mr Bingley! He has arrived!” she whispered in awe as the room quieted at the entrance of an elegant party of young people.
“What a handsome gentleman! And what a lovely smile he has! I see there are only two ladies and two gentlemen with him. Lady Lucas claimed he would bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen. She always pretends to be knowledgeable but, in truth, knows nothing! More gentlemen would have been appreciated, as there are certainly enough young ladies in this room.”
Amused, Elizabeth exchanged a furtive smile with her older sister, Jane, who had been pushed to the front by her mother and was clearly much more visible to anyone passing them by.
“Oh!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed with some disappointment, seeing Sir William Lucas approaching Mr Bingley’s party. “If only Mr Bennet were here to introduce us. Sir William is already seeking an advantage for the evening.”
Since Mr Bennet was safely ensconced in his library at Longbourn and could not be employed to make the introductions, Mrs Bennet sighed in frustration and urged her daughters to straighten their postures, in the hope of them being noticed.
Sir William continued to talk to the party of illustrious guests, welcoming them with exaggerated formality and sweeping gestures, which only served to increase Mrs Bennet’s impatience.
At last, he introduced them to his wife, his son, and his eldest daughter — Miss Charlotte Lucas.
Mrs Bennet’s agitation grew at the prolonged introduction. “Well! That grasping Lady Lucas! She would die just to snare a man for her daughter Charlotte, who is already a spinster. As if Mr Bingley would even look at her! She is very plain and has no charm at all!”
“Mama!” Jane whispered, mortification written on her features. “Please do not say such a thing. Charlotte is a wonderful friend to Lizzy and me. She is educated, wise, steady, and always polite.”
Mrs Bennet rolled her eyes. “All that is true, Jane, but she is also plain and lacks charm, just as I said. If only I could find someone to introduce us to Mr Bingley!”
“Mama, I beg of you not to attempt anything improper!” Elizabeth pleaded. “Mr Bingley is acquainted with Papa, and he has already visited us. He will request an introduction if he wishes for one.”
“Hush, Lizzy, do not bother me, I am thinking! If only your father was not so stubborn and had accompanied us this evening for the sake of his daughters’ futures instead of making my life that much more difficult,” Mrs Bennet replied, casting her eyes around the room, only to observe Mrs Long, who was greeting Mr Bingley.
The lady curtseyed to the gentleman before moving towards Mrs Bennet’s sister, Mrs Phillips, and became much engaged in telling her something in great confidence.
Overcome with curiosity, Mrs Bennet abandoned her daughters, determined not to be left out of any meaningful gossip regarding the guests.
Elizabeth watched the entire scene with her usual inclination for amusement.
While Mr Bingley seemed genuinely pleased with the gathering, the ladies — although fine and fashionable women — looked around with an air of apparent disapproval and superiority.
One of the gentlemen seemed either irritated or tired, while the second — tall and handsome with an impressive posture — showed little more than a frown.
His gestures were reserved, and he nodded more than spoke to those who were introduced to him.
His quiet, distant presence was rather provoking, but his figure looked somehow familiar to Elizabeth, although she was certain she had never seen him before.
Mrs Bennet eventually returned to her eldest daughters, this time together with her sister, and addressed them with an air of conspiracy.
“My dears, you will never guess what I have found out. Do you see the gentleman accompanying Mr Bingley?”
“Which one, Mama?” Elizabeth asked, amused by her mother’s secretiveness.
“Oh, there is only one who matters. The other is married already — he is Mr Bingley’s brother-in-law, Mr Hurst. The tall and handsome one — look, look at him!”
“What should we look at, Mama?” Elizabeth continued, holding back a laugh.
“At a man with ten thousand a year! I doubt you have seen one before or you will again any time soon. Can you imagine? His wealth is more than double that of Mr Bingley! How fortunate this is for you!”
“For us? What do you mean, Mama? Will he share his ten thousand a year with us?”
“Lizzy, stop mocking my words!” Mrs Bennet scolded through her teeth while casting a smile at a lady passing them by.
“With how you behave, I would not be surprised if you never marry! You have nothing but a sharp tongue, a headstrong mind, no dowry, and no connections, and not enough beauty to compensate for all those things!”
“Forgive me, Mama. I do not mean to sound insolent. But it is rather amusing that you would think two affluent gentlemen might ensnare my interest to such a degree to prevent my capacity for independent thought. As for marriage, I hope Jane will make a happy one. She is the most deserving of us all.”
“I wish for all five of you to make good marriages, but I shall not deny that Jane has the best prospects. She is the most beautiful and has the sweetest disposition, and gentlemen are foolish enough to prefer those traits above others. You may be the cleverest, but you resemble your father too much, Lizzy. And traits that are acceptable in a man are unappealing in a young lady, mark my words.”
The long lecture at a dance was unusual even for Mrs Bennet, but it showed her disquiet and her obsession with attaining her goals for the night.
“I promise to conceal my ‘unappealing traits’ for tonight, Mama,” Elizabeth said with feigned obedience. “But you must agree that the manners of the gentleman with ten thousand a year are also unappealing. He is so disdainful of everyone that I wonder why he even came.”
“Well, Lizzy, you are virtually penniless, and your manners are not always impeccable either,” Mrs Bennet continued. “You only stopped climbing trees a couple of years ago, and you still wander through the fields by yourself, with your gown five inches deep in mud.”
Elizabeth was already exceedingly amused. Such conversations between her and her mother never failed to divert her.
“That is fair, Mama. I cannot deny my flaws. But speaking of this gentleman — I have a strange feeling that I have seen him before.”
“I doubt it, Lizzy,” Mrs Phillips interjected. “Where could you have seen such a gentleman?”
“May I ask which gentleman you are talking about?” Lady Lucas asked. She had approached unnoticed, and her intervention surprised the others.
“Lizzy said Mr Bingley’s friend looks familiar to her, but she is probably wrong,” Mrs Bennet explained, annoyed that Lady Lucas had interrupted them.
“You mean Mr Darcy? Oh, I doubt that very much!” Lady Lucas replied with an air of superior knowledge on the subject. “He has never been to Hertfordshire before, I was told. Sir William mentioned he spends his time between his London townhouse and his large estate in Derbyshire.”
Lady Lucas’s words gave Elizabeth thrills of joy and disbelief.
She had not heard the name that had marked her childhood for more than ten years, and her heart pounded with strong emotions.
Could it be true? Or was it a mere coincidence?
Either way, the sudden recollection of Lady Anne and Georgiana, and the memory of a bittersweet summer in her childhood, warmed her with delight.
“You say his name is Mr Darcy. Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked, enchanted, and Lady Lucas frowned with displeasure.