Chapter Twenty-eight
Netherfield Park was a beautiful estate.
The half mile long drive had trees evenly spaced on each side.
They looked like they must have been planted when the house was built.
It was a three-story brick home with a Palladian front.
There was a large, covered terrace on the west side with wide steps going down into a manicured garden.
“How lovely!” Georgiana put her head out the window and exclaimed.
“It is not Pemberley, or even Rolling Meadows, but it does look very nice! Let us hope the company is tolerable.” Georgiana had spent a great deal of their trip telling Mamie and Beth how much she did not like Caroline Bingley.
Every time she said something negative about the woman, Mamie insisted she think of something positive about her.
It was decided she was a very good piano player, and that her dresses were always in fashion (although her color choices were sometimes hideous), she danced very well (one of the few compliments William had for her) and could converse on many subjects.
It became a running joke coming up with complimentary things to say about Caroline Bingley.
“Her upper lip is very straight…Her left eyebrow is perfectly cocked…Her hair is a lovely shade of red (this said after speaking of the clashing orange of her gown)…Her feet appear to be well formed…Her fingernails are always clean…” This went on for two days and became increasingly ridiculous.
Beth was afraid she would burst out laughing as soon as she met the woman.
Bingley was waiting on the portico when the two carriages arrived.
He bounded down the stairs to greet his guests while his sisters waited by the door.
“Welcome! Welcome my friends!” Beth had been warned that Mr. Bingley resembled and Irish Setter puppy with his red hair and exuberant personality.
He was fervently shaking hands with his friend and giving bows all around to everyone else.
Beth had a difficult time not laughing at his antics.
“Why do we not go inside, and I will make the introductions to everyone at once.” It looked like William was trying not to laugh also.
“Of course! Caroline, show everyone to the parlor and call for tea!”
Miss Bingley gave Darcy and the viscount a simpering smile, grabbed Miss Darcy by the arm, while giving everyone else a cursory look. “Of course, brother. Do come in, and welcome to Netherfield.”
Gigi rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be pulled into the house. “Miss Darcy, I have missed you so! How was your summer? Mrs. Nichols, please have tea served in the drawing room.”
They were led to a large room that had several seating groups. Two doors had been thrown open to the terrace since it was a warm October day. Beth strolled over to look out the doors onto the garden. It was a sweet prospect.
“May I introduce everyone, Miss Bingley? I do not believe you have met my cousin and her people. Miss Elizabeth Darcy, Mrs. Mamie Russell, and Mr. John Smith, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Charles Bingley, Reginald and Louisa Hurst, and Miss Caroline Bingley. Miss Bingley is acting hostess. Charles, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, my cousin Miss Darcy, Mrs. Russell, and Mr. Smith.” Curtseys and bows all around.
Miss Bingley was not pleased she had been the last mentioned in the introduction, she was the hostess after all! “Oh, but Mr. Darcy, you have missed one of your party!” She made a simpering smile at the viscount. She knew who he was, but they had never been introduced.
“Oh yes, I forgot you have not been introduced to any of the Fitzwilliams other than the Colonel. Theodore Fitzwilliam, viscount Rosemont, you’ve met Charles.
Have you met Hurst?” Theo nodded. “Then it is just Mrs. Hurst and Miss Caroline Bingley.” Darcy made a negligent hand wave, and Beth nearly could not contain herself.
She bit her lip so hard there was risk of drawing blood, so she coughed a few times instead.
She had seen her cousin haughty, conceited, arrogant, flippant, and even a bit rude, but she had never seen him so dismissive.
She would need to get that story from him!
Obviously, Miss Bingley had done something to earn his disdain…
and maybe Mrs. Hurst too? She had not seen Rosemont at his most arrogant either. He barely nodded a head to them.
Miss Bingley paled a bit and then gave a bit of a titter, “Well, it will be a bit confusing with two Miss Darcy’s present. How ever will we address you both Georgiana, dear?”
Theo bristled, “Has my cousin given you permission to use her Christian name, madame? My mother would be disappointed if she has.” He gave a fake glare to Gigi.
“I have not cousin, I swear! Please do not tell Aunt Camile. I know what is right and proper.” Gigi looked down at her feet to keep from laughing.
Caroline dropped Gigi’s arm like to was on fire. “Oh, but I thought since we have been friends for so long…I apologize.”
Beth decided it was time for her to speak up, “Well Caroline, you do not mind me calling you Caroline, or Miss Carol, do you? Anyway, one of my other cousins here in Hertfordshire is called Miss Elizabeth, it would also be confusing to call me that, so how about you just call me Beth. I’m American, so I won’t be offended by the familiarity. ”
Caroline Bingley looked almost desperately grateful. She realized she had made a huge faux pas in front of a viscount and a man she had always admired. “Yes! Of course you may call me Caroline! I would be happy to call you Beth.”
Mrs. Hurst thought it was also a good time to speak up and help dig her sister out of the hole she dug, “And you must call me Louisa. We shall all be good friends here at Netherfield.”
Luckily the tea arrived just then. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst busied themselves serving everyone.
Mrs. Russell and Beth sat near the sisters and chatted for half an hour.
Eventually Caroline remembered she needed to have her guests shown to their rooms. Originally, she had wanted Mr. Darcy and Georgiana in the family wing, but Charles had put his foot down. Now she was happy he had.
She knew the rules of propriety…she did…
but she had wanted to be Mistress of Pemberley for so long!
Two years ago, she had attempted to compromise Mr. Darcy by falling into his arms. Louisa had been there and made a fuss about her being compromised, but her brother had laughed and said it was a lucky thing Darcy had not let her fall into the rose bushes.
How embarrassing! She had not left her room for two days after that.
She spent the last two years trying to befriend Miss Darcy and make a name for herself in London as a most desirable marriage prospect.
It had even worked! In as far as she became more popular with gentlemen in general.
She had callers and even a marriage proposal, but nothing she did would make Mr. Darcy look at her.
When she first heard of this cousin from America, she was worried the woman might be competition, but then Lousia reminded her of a discussion they had about close family and how Darcy disdained the idea of intermarriages ‘too close to the source’ as he put it.
This was supposed to be a first cousin, so that would go against his very own beliefs.
She would try and befriend Beth. She seemed nice enough.
At dinner that evening Miss Bingley placed Viscount Rosemont on one side and Darcy on the other.
At Charles’ end of the table, she placed Beth on one side and Miss Darcy on the other.
She did not know enough of Mrs. Russell or Mr. Smith to know where their placement should be, so she just mixed her sister and brother-in-law with them.
It was lucky they ended up with equal numbers.
If Colonel Fitzwilliam came, as Charles postulated, it would throw things off.
Caroline did not have any friends she could invite who would not compete for the attention of the viscount and Darcy. She would have to think on it.
During the separation of the sexes, both Mrs. Russell and Beth complimented her on the dinner and the flower arrangements. “Thank you. Do either of you play the pianoforte? I know Miss Darcy does, but I have never heard her play.”
“Yes, Mamie taught me to play from a young age, and father had a master brought in once, but he didn’t know any more than Mamie.”
“Might you be willing to play for us? Either of you?”
Mrs. Russell was happy to play softly while the young women got to know each other. Beth kept the attention on herself, so Gigi did not feel overwhelmed. She was not near as shy as when they met in the spring, but she found the sisters intimidating.
“So, your brother owns ten thousand acres of land in Virginia? Good gracious, that is almost the size of Pemberley!”
Georgiana spoke up, “Actually, that is bigger than Pemberley. Beth said the house is not as large though.”
“Yes, and papa had once said our house was a replica of the one he grew up in, but I didn’t realize it was such a close copy until we went to Pemberley! It is half the size though. I can’t imagine why we would need so many rooms!”
Gigi smiled shyly while the sisters sat quietly in consternation. “The Darcy’s used to be a much larger family. It was only in the last three generation that there were less than ten children born, so there would have been many children and grandchildren living in the house at the same time.”
“Yes, I guess so. Now it’s just you and your brother, the same as with Ethan and me. Even fifty rooms seem a lot to rattle around in. My brother needs to marry and start filling up the halls!”
“What about you, Beth?” Caroline was not at all timid, but the question came out in a timorous voice.
“Well, I don’t know Caroline. I have yet to meet a man who meets my high ideals.
I have more than enough money to live on, and Ethan said he can always stick me in the other wing if I annoy him too much.
This is the first traveling I’ve done, and I rather like it!
Maybe if I can get my brother married off, I could travel the world! ”
“What about children?” Louisa asked.
“I think I could be happy being the batty aunt of my brothers’ children. Bring them back treasures from all over the world.”
Caroline sat back, “I have never met anyone like you.”
Gigi giggled just as the men were entering the room, “Wait until you meet Lizzy and Lydia!”
Miss Bingley popped up and diverted her attention to Mr. Darcy. “What do you think of this Lizzy and Lydia?”
“I have not met Miss Elizabeth. Miss Lydia is not out.”
Mr. Bingley said chirpily, “Well it is a good thing there is an assembly day after tomorrow. We can meet all the Bennets then!”