Chapter 3 #2
Georgiana was struggling to pour tea for everyone, so Caroline hurried over to help.
Ten minutes later, the ladies and gentlemen had been served, and Caroline made her way to sit across from her mother, more out of duty than desire.
She genuinely wished to know the ladies of the area better, and if Lady Bingley was sufficiently irritating, that hope might die.
She hoped that if or when her mother was rude, she would be able to mitigate any offense by making it obvious that she was grateful for the visit.
The ladies had moved around with the entrance of the gentlemen, and now Miss Mary was seated next to Georgiana Bingley, and based on the expression on Georgiana’s face, the conversation was a palatable one.
A moment later, she heard a stray phrase about Mozart and concluded that the ladies were discussing one of young Mrs. Bingley’s favorite topics, music.
Her gaze then shifted to Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had seated himself by the angelic Miss Bennet and was speaking with his usual ease, while Mrs. Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were in a cluster of chairs fairly close to the fire, which would enable Caroline to speak to them with relative ease.
Darcy and Bingley now made their way over to an available settee and sat down.
“Mr. Darcy,” Lady Bingley said with a saccharine smile, “I was just telling the Bennet ladies about Pemberley. It is truly a remarkable estate, and I am extremely thankful that Caroline has been educated in one of the finest finishing schools in the country, or she might find it very difficult to oversee Pemberley when you and she are married.”
Caroline suppressed an embarrassed cringe and said, “Well, as to that, I suspect that Mrs. Reynolds will be a better teacher than my schoolmistresses ever were.”
“Who is Mrs. Reynolds?” Miss Elizabeth asked.
“She is our housekeeper,” Darcy replied with a fond smile. “She has overseen the mansion at Pemberley for decades now and knows more about the house and servants than I ever will.”
“Oh, that cannot be true!” Lady Bingley cried out. “Everyone knows that you are quite the most excellent estate owner in all of Derbyshire!”
Darcy’s cheeks darkened a trifle at this fulsome praise, and Miss Elizabeth said, “Given the size of your estate, I would suppose that much of your time and energy is focused on the land and her people as opposed to the house itself.”
“Yes, precisely,” Darcy said in a relieved tone. “There is a great deal of work to be done with fields and farms and the like.”
Miss Elizabeth smiled and said, “I do not pretend to be an expert, but I have read some of Coke of Norfolk’s treatises on land and husbandry. It is an interesting time in…”
“Lady Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet said softly from her position near Caroline and her mother, “might I inquire as to where you and Miss Bingley purchased your gowns? They are absolutely beautiful!”
Caroline’s mother cast a preening glance at her own sleeve and said, “All of our clothes are made by our personal dressmaker in London, Mrs. Bennet. I flatter myself that Madame de Mont is far more skilled than anyone you could find in this little village.”
“Though you and your daughters look very well,” Caroline said hurriedly. “Moreover, I do wish for a heavier cloak for winter, and we will likely be staying here in Hertfordshire for some time. Is there a dressmaker in Meryton itself?”
“Oh yes,” Mrs. Bennet cried out. “Dear Mrs. Smythe is quite the expert…”
The conversation about clothing continued with sufficient enthusiasm such that Caroline only heard snatches of conversation between Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. They had, apparently, moved on from animal husbandry and crops to Shakespeare. Clearly, the lady was an avid reader.
***
“Miss Bennet,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “I am sorry that I did not have the opportunity to meet and dance with you at the Meryton assembly two nights ago. It would have been a charming addition to an already wonderful night.”
Jane smiled and said, “There are assemblies every month, so perhaps next time. I am most grateful to you and your friends for dancing with the ladies in the community. We have suffered from a shortage of dancing partners for many years now, as there are far more ladies than young men in the area.”
“I believe that is true in many areas of England because of the war.”
Jane winced and sighed. “Yes, the war. It is so very sad, is it not? I hate to think of so many young men suffering and dying on the battlefields of Spain and Portugal.”
“It is sad,” the colonel replied, “but we need not speak of that. May I ask what you enjoy doing, Miss Bennet?”
“Oh, well, I like to read novels, and…”
***
“You must be very gifted to already be playing Fantasia in D Minor,” Mary Bennet said, regarding Mrs. Bingley in surprise.
Georgiana flushed and said, “I am just starting, so I do not pretend to play it well yet.”
“If all goes as planned, I will attempt that score next year,” Mary said.
“Unfortunately, there has been no music master here in Meryton for two full years, but our parson’s elder son moved back to Meryton only last month, and he is most gifted on the pianoforte.
I have started lessons with him. Do you know if the pianoforte here is a good one, Mrs. Bingley? ”
“It needs tuning, but my brother, who purchased a pianoforte for me two years ago at our family’s estate of Pemberley, said it seems an excellent instrument.”
“I am glad.”
***
“Are you fond of the country, Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth Bennet asked.
“I am, but I am fond of London as well,” Bingley replied cheerfully. “I appear to be one of those individuals who is happy wherever he is.”
“What of you, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth inquired, turning toward the tall, dark, and remarkably handsome gentleman.
“I prefer the country,” he said. “London has its charms, of course, but I far prefer the clean air and landscapes of Pemberley, and my sister, I am confident, feels the same way.”
“I can understand that very well,” Elizabeth said.
***
When the Bennets rose to depart, Caroline was sorry to see them go.
She and her brother escorted them out of the house and down the steps and then watched as the ladies climbed into the carriage.
Moments later, the coachman clucked, and the two geldings began pulling the carriage toward the main road.
Brother and sister stood side-by-side, watching the carriage travel away, with perfect amity between them. It had been a most enjoyable visit, marred only slightly by Lady Bingley’s hauteur.
However, now that the Bennet ladies had called, the Netherfield party could return the visit.
Lady Bingley often descended from her bedchamber very late, and Caroline was already plotting to leave her mother behind on the morrow.
Georgiana would likely wish to accompany her, and if Louisa was well enough, she might also come.
It would be pleasant indeed to speak to the Bennet ladies without her mother frowning hideously, and making condescending remarks, throughout the conversation.