Chapter 18 #2
Jane was trying on a pair of lovely robin’s egg blue gloves when she became aware of another lady who had entered the shop.
She seemed to be debating whether to run from the shop in horror of their presence or finish her shopping.
Seeming to have decided, she stepped forward calling for Mr. Knighton to attend her.
He scurried across the room with an exclamation of pleasure.
Jane urged her little group further away so as not to overhear, not wishing to be thought encroaching.
She was surprised when Mr. Knighton brought the woman to join them. “Mrs. Bingley, Lady Greenleigh would like to be made known to your party.”
“Of course,” Jane replied, eyes wide with surprise. “We would be honored.”
“Lady Greenleigh, this is Mrs. Bingley and her sisters,” he bowed to her. “Ladies, Baroness Greenleigh.”
She nodded graciously, “Mrs. Bingley.”
“These are my sisters who are visiting, Mrs. Darcy, Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, and Miss Catherine.” They each curtsied in greeting.
“Very pretty.” The lady was obviously very aware of her elevated status but was not condescending about it. “It is obvious the Bennets are blessed with great beauty.”
“You are too kind, my lady,” Jane smiled softly, beaming at her sisters. “I may be biased, but I believe my sisters are the most wonderful ladies in the land.”
“I am at-home tomorrow, I will expect you and your sisters,” she decreed.
“Of course, we shall look forward to it with great pleasure.” Jane shared a surprised look with Elizabeth.
“I will as well. Farewell, ladies.”
They curtsied once more and the Baroness left to finish her business with Mr. Knighton, leaving them to their own shopping.
Kitty and Georgiana were not so aware of what had been happening with Jane’s neighbors and went back to their giggling, but Mary and Elizabeth knew, and they were too polite to remark on it where they might be overheard but looks were exchanged which promised a conversation when they returned home.
Two hours later, Jane poured out tea while Elizabeth speculated on Baroness Greenleigh’s intentions. “What do you think, Will. Has she invited Jane only to further embarrass her before their neighbors?”
“I do not believe that she is that sadistic,” Jane replied evenly. “I have learned to recognize the signs in Caroline and her ilk and Lady Greenleigh was much more sincere.”
“I feel the same,” Mary agreed, accepting her tea. “There was something… understanding perhaps, in her looks, despite her pride in her status.”
“It was in good regulation,” Jane corrected her.
“With her title and wealth, it is natural that she would be a little proud; a little stiff. Until she proves otherwise, I shall assume that her offer of friendship is genuine. I cannot allow my disillusionment to taint every future interaction. I must hold onto a little optimism, or I shall be completely swallowed by the gulf of despair.”
“I can understand that,” Elizabeth sighed, holding her peace. “You would not be Jane without your sunny optimism and should you lose it completely I should never forgive Charles and Caroline.”
“Do not become bitter,” Mary urged. “Holding onto such anger hurts only you, as Miss Bingley cares not a whit how you feel other than perhaps feeling pleasure at having discomposed you.”
“That is very insightful, Mary,” Elizabeth declared, not fully masking her surprise.
“I have never thought of Caroline’s motivation, assuming that she was just inherently mean, but what you say makes a great deal of sense.
Caroline derives pleasure from the pain of others, especially those she feels are inferior, which is most everyone from my experience. ”
“I spent half a day with her in the carriage on our way North, and the fact that I did not react to her vitriol other than to correct her discourtesy periodically seemed to discompose her greatly.”
“She did not speak the whole of the next day.” Jane laughed. “I believe she felt she was punishing us.”
“I did not realize that you were such a studier of human nature, Mary!” Elizabeth gave her a pleased look.
“Mary has been slowly revealing her great depth of knowledge these past months,” Jane boasted. “She has been a wonderful companion, and I am exceedingly grateful that she agreed to come to me.”
Mary blushed brightly and looked away without comment, but a shy, pleased smile lightened her normally austere features.
Darcy, who had been silently listening to their discussion while he enjoyed the refreshments, asked, “Do you wish for me to join you on the morrow? I am not acquainted with the Greenleighs, as the baron is not the sort of man who I desire to let close, but my presence may throw off her intentions should Jane be incorrect in her hopes.”
The ladies debated for a time, attempting to divine if it would be of greater hinderance or help. In the end, Jane declared that it might seem as if they were hiding behind his name and reputation and might in fact cause more harm than good to her own.
“I believe that I must be accepted for myself in this neighborhood,” she declared. “If they do not wish to know me afterward, I shall not repine.”
Elizabeth’s eyes welled with pride, “Dearest Janey, I have never been so pleased as I am just now. Your new determination is a pleasure to witness. I feel like a proud mama to see you take charge as you have.”
Jane laughed self-consciously. “Thank you, Lizzy. I have been attempting to emulate you without becoming a complete copy.”
Elizabeth laughed and wiped away a tear. “Heaven forbid there be two of me, Will might go completely grey within a week.”
Darcy chuckled and bussed his enchanting wife on the top of her head. “I shall do so gladly if it brings you pleasure, my love.”
Jane and Mary both smiled with equal satisfaction and yearning, each certain that they would never find such a perfect partnership for themselves. It was envy without guile, for who could begrudge a beloved sister such happiness.
∞∞∞
The next day, during polite calling hours, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary settled in the carriage and were carried the five miles to Greenleigh Park.
There were several other carriages awaiting their owners before the entry which caused some disquiet in their hearts, but they stepped down with feigned assurance and mounted the steps.
Jane had her card in her hand, expecting to be forced to wait in the entry while she was approved, but by the butler’s stoic greeting, it was obvious that they were expected.
Whether they were also welcomed was still to be determined.
Jane squeezed Elizabeth’s hand once more for strength before releasing her and stepping into the sitting room with false confidence and a kind smile.
There was a chorus of outraged gasps and Jane’s smile froze but she soldiered on, presenting herself to Lady Greenleigh with the perfect curtsy; not too shallow as to be insulting and not so deep as to be obsequious, and waited for her to speak.
“Mrs. Bingley,” Lady Greenleigh rose and offered a curtsey of her own, a mark of respect. “I am pleased that you and your sisters were able to pay a visit. I am certain you are much occupied with setting up your house, not to mention your new daughter.”
“Thank you for your invitation,” Jane returned, not allowing her immense relief to show on her face.
“There has been a great deal to do, but I believe we have a good handle on things now. My sisters have been invaluable to me. You remember Mrs. Darcy, and Miss Bennet, of course. The two younger girls are not yet out and remained home.”
“Very proper,” she nodded. “Mrs. Darcy, so good to see you. You as well, Miss Bennet.”
They curtsied and accepted a seat on the settee she had indicated.
One lady put her nose in the air and took her leave just short of cutting them, but two others remained and Lady Greenleigh introduced them as two other neighbors, Mrs. Redmond and Lady Killion, who was married to a knight.
They acknowledged Jane with a nod but remained mute, apparently determined to evaluate the trio before offering further acknowledgement.
“I had heard that your daughter was born only three weeks ago,” Lady Greenleigh remarked, eyeing her trim waist with envy.
“I have been very blessed; Little Elizabeth has brought such joy. I am pleased that I listened to my sister Mrs. Darcy and did not seclude myself for an entire month; even a sen’night had me swallowed in melancholy.
She forced me out into the fresh air and sunlight which revived me, and learning to manage my estate has kept me quite occupied. ”
“Managing your estate?” Mrs. Redmond asked, eyes sparkling with interest.
“Yes, it is no secret I suppose, though I do hate to expose my dealings so bare, but my settlement had protections in place, and I am now the owner of Ivy Well outright. I have been working with Mr. Darcy and the Right Honorable Mr. Yates, to learn my new duties. It was unexpected, of course, but one must bend when encountering life’s trials, or one will surely break. ”
The three ladies looked impressed. “Indeed,” Lady Greenleigh agreed.
“I too have been given a different life than I had anticipated. The draw of London has proven too powerful for my husband as well, though I am glad that I have not needed to take on the responsibilities of the estate. You are an estimable lady, Mrs. Bingley.”
“I do not know how estimable my efforts shall prove to be, but I am determined to do my best to assist my people and build a legacy for my daughter.” Jane glowed with purpose, increasing her beauty ten-fold.
“You are Mrs. Darcy,” Lady Killion turned to Elizabeth. “Are you a relation to those at Pemberley?”
“I am the wife of Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley,” Elizabeth replied pleasantly. “We married a year and a half ago in the same ceremony as the Bingleys.”
“Oh! I had no idea!” she gushed, suddenly friendly and welcoming.
“My sister and her husband have been with me since my daughter’s birth,” Jane informed them with a stiff, formal smile. “We created a direct path between the estates over our shared border, reducing the travel time to less than an hour.”
Lady Killion immediately realized that she had made a costly mistake, at least in their eyes, and attempted to mitigate the damage. “Sir George would be pleased to see him again, should Mr. Darcy should find the time. Perhaps you might join us for dinner some evening.”
“Perhaps,” Elizabeth replied, repressively, “if we find the time.”
“There is much to teach me,” Jane softened the rebuke effortlessly. “But I shall not completely monopolize them.”
The woman’s smile soured but there was nothing to do, she could not force the Darcys to attend her and it was obvious that Mrs. Bingley was a favorite of Mrs. Darcy and that one would not attend without the other.
Lady Greenleigh changed the subject like the consummate hostess that she was, and after a quarter hour had elapsed, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary rose, almost as one, and bid a polite farewell.
“I am at home on Tuesdays,” Jane informed the ladies before they left. “I hope to also add Thursdays as I become more comfortable with my tasks. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“It was a pleasure to know you better, Mrs. Bingley,” Lady Greenleigh replied rising as well, forcing her companions to do likewise. Mrs. Redmond bid them farewell with earnest sincerity and Lady Killion gave them a nod, her pout did not elevate her aged face.
“You need not refuse invitations on my behalf, Lizzy,” Jane shook her head in amusement as the carriage carried them home. “The fact that even one of my neighbors is willing to acknowledge me is a surprise, I cannot judge those who refuse to. The Bingley name is quite tarnished.”
“I refuse to give consequence to those who slight my most beloved sister,” Elizabeth declared with outrage, nearly snorting in displeasure.
Jane burst into a peal of laughter. “I am informing William that you said that.”
Elizabeth was nonplused until she realized she had quoted, nearly exactly, her husband’s words at their first meeting. “Oh dear,” she giggled. “I had not realized that William had influenced my thinking to such a degree.”
“One positive to your shunning,” Mary added with a sly grin.
“You need not be friendly with those who are not a good fit with your character. It will be better to have two, or perhaps three, very good friends who you wish to entertain, rather than a broad swath of humanity you are forced to entertain due to proximity.”
“Again! A very insightful thought,” Elizabeth crowed, knocking her shoulder against Mary’s.