Chapter 4
East Sitting Room
Netherfield Hall
Thirty Minutes Later
On first glance, the east sitting room appeared to be a showcase of antiquity.
A longer second look suggested that comfort had been uppermost in the mind of whoever had chosen the furnishings.
It was smaller and cozier than the drawing room, and the views from the windows were less impressive, but it heated up more quickly, with the massive fireplace holding a blaze that warmed the entire room all the way to the furthest corners.
Georgiana sat in one corner of the room, at an old rolltop desk built of sturdy oak, with twin candles set upon it.
Behind her, Serena had disposed herself closer to the fire, curled up in an armchair that was still plush despite its many years.
Three candles sat on a table at her hand, throwing their light across the pages of the book which had absorbed her attention.
At Georgiana's request, the old desk had been furnished with a pen box, and paper, and ink. The well sat now unstoppered, while an untouched piece of foolscap lay before her. She dipped her pen in the inkwell and bent over her paper to write to an old friend from school.
Netherfield Hall
Hertfordshire
Dear Charis,
My brother, sister, and I arrived at Netherfield Hall in Hertfordshire yesterday morning. The hall is a substantial, well-built brick structure, with well-sealed windows and large fireplaces.
The manse has apparently been empty for some years save for a small staff of servants, and our hostess, Miss Bingley, is inclined to look askance at the furniture, which is definitely out of date.
The furniture is mostly comfortable, so I do not mind, and if it were my concern, I would be in no hurry to replace them.
The bedchambers are neither small nor large, which means I can move around with ease while also staying warm at night, as the fires heat me nicely.
Of course, it is only October, and the house will grow colder with time, no doubt.
All in all, though, I am very happy to be here, and I am confident that my siblings are equally pleased. Neither of them loves Town.
There is quite a good pianoforte, although it could use some tuning…
The door opened and Georgiana turned in surprise, which gave way to pleasure.
“Fitzwilliam!” she exclaimed, carefully setting her pen down and rising to her feet. “I did not think that you would be back so soon!”
Her brother, still clad in his evening attire, said, “I decided to leave before the end of the dancing, as I wished to be certain that you are both comfortable and happy.”
Serena, who had laid aside her book, turned twinkling eyes on her brother and said, “Might I guess that you also were not interested in dancing with strangers?”
He chuckled and wandered over to warm himself by the fire. “You are, of course, correct. I danced with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and then I circulated around the outskirts of the room.”
“Did you meet any of the local gentry?” Georgiana asked timidly.
“I met Sir William Lucas, who acted as host and master of ceremonies, along with his wife and daughter. Other than that, I confess I met no one, as Bingley danced every dance, and I do not like, that is, I was not comfortable asking for introductions.”
Georgiana looked at her brother sympathetically. She did not remember her mother well at all, but had heard she was a shy lady, while Mr. George Darcy was not. Somehow, all three of Lady Anne’s children had inherited her discomfort in company, which was a pity.
“What did you think of the local families?” Serena asked. “Were they vulgar, as Miss Bingley expected?”
Darcy shrugged and said, “No one there was a member of the haut ton, but they seemed pleasant enough based on what I overheard. I suspect the society here is very much like that of Lambton.”
“I far prefer the society of a country town to London,” Serena said, “so I am pleased to hear that.”
Fitzwilliam smiled and said, “What are you reading, my dear?”
Serena lifted the book up so that her brother could see the cover, and he read aloud, “The New American Practical Navigator by Nathaniel Bowditch? How extraordinary! Where did you find it?”
“In the library here,” Serena replied.
“I have heard of that book but have never come across a copy before. The library here must be quite extensive!”
Serena frowned hideously and shook her head.
“It is dreadful, Brother, entirely dreadful! The reason I chose this book was because there were no others of particular interest. I would guess that the owner of Netherfield Hall is the sort of man who feels he ought to have a library, and thus purchased a few copies of Shakespeare and the like, but did little else. Oh, there are treatises on sheep and cattle and crop rotation as well, which you will find more interesting than I do.”
Darcy’s face had fallen at this diatribe, and he said, “I am sorry, for all of our sakes. I did not think to bring any books down from Darcy House, though perhaps I should have.”
“Is there a bookstore or lending library in Meryton?” Georgiana asked.
“I did not see either on my way to the assembly hall,” her brother said, “but then it was dark. I am certain Mrs. Nicholls can tell us.”
“I hope there is,” Serena said, “and if not, I suggest we make a trip to a nearby town which has a bookstore. I would like some new reading material, and I have a significant amount saved up from my allowance.”
Georgiana chuckled at these words. Both of the Darcy ladies had substantial pin money.
Georgiana was always careful not to overspend, but her frugality was nothing compared to Serena's. Her sister did not care a whit about hats, or furbelows, or jewelry, or knickknacks. She did care for books, and those were her only regular acquisitions, though she had purchased an expensive terrestrial globe the previous year, which took pride of place in Serena’s bedchamber at Pemberley.
“I would enjoy visiting the nearest bookstore with you,” Darcy said. “Now, I find myself oddly fatigued, so I will bid you good night.”
“Good night, Brother,” the two ladies murmured, and Georgiana turned back to her letter. She wished to finish it quickly, as she, too, was tired.
***
Elizabeth’s Bedchamber
Two Hours after Midnight
“Oh, Lizzy!” Jane cried out as she took a seat by the fire, “Mr. Bingley is just what a young man ought to be, sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! So much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”
“He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth dryly, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”
“He is handsome, certainly, but that is not the most important thing, and you know it. A man might be good-looking on the outside but a rogue inside, and I have no intention of falling in love with a rogue.”
Elizabeth frowned and said, “Are you falling in love then, Jane? On such short acquaintance?”
“Of course not. I am merely saying that I am most impressed with the young man based on our interactions at the assembly, and look forward to knowing him better. Why? Do you not like him?”
Elizabeth hesitated and then said, “I do like him, certainly. He was lively and unreserved, and flattering in his attentions to you in particular. How could I dislike him?”
Jane’s blue eyes shone in the light of the fire and candles, and she said, “I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment.”
“Did you not? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. And you like this man’s sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.”
“Certainly not at first, but they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to keep her brother’s house, and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbor in her.”
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose but did not argue.
She was not convinced, as Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had seemed proud and haughty to her attentive eyes, and she believed that they looked down on the company of the area.
But there was no point in discussing the matter with Jane, who always expected the best in others.
She yawned, and Jane, suddenly contrite, said, “I ought to let you go to bed. Good night, Lizzy.”
“Good night, Jane,” Elizabeth replied with some relief. She was indeed very tired.
She watched as her sister left the room and then turned her gaze on the fire, which was starting to die down. She would go to bed soon, very soon, but for now, she needed to think.
She had not been lying when she spoke positively of Charles Bingley.
He seemed all that was good. But given her mother’s warnings, she also was not inclined to trust him immediately.
He was a rich man, whose fortune had been earned through trade.
She suspected that the Bingley family was eager to climb higher into Society, and to marry the lovely daughter of a country gentleman, whose wife was the daughter of a viscount…
Not that anyone knew that, of course. Well, Mr. Bennet knew, and Mrs. Bennet knew, and Elizabeth knew, but that was all. The people in the area had no idea that Jane Bennet’s stepsister was a great heiress who was granddaughter to a viscount.
Moreover, just because Elizabeth’s own father had been a spoiled rascal did not mean that Mr. Bingley was the same. He might be exactly what he seemed to be, a charming and generous man.
But she would keep a close eye on him, and so would Mrs. Bennet, no doubt. They would not allow Jane to tie herself to a man who cared only about her beauty and position in Society.