Vol 1, Chapter 12
“Papa, I received a missive from Jane in which she asks me to join her in Town. Aunt Maddie added to her letter assuring me that I am more than welcome at Gardiner House,” Elizabeth requested.
“As long as your mother has no objection, for my part you may go. Yes, Lizzy, I am aware that Tom is in Town, and you are keen to see him and quiz him about his studies. And you know Robert has returned to Ashford Dale, so he is not in London with Tom,” Bennet teased his second daughter.
“Very amusing, Papa!” Elizabeth replied with mock affront.
“You know very well that I see Cousin Robert as another younger brother! I will seek Mama out before you unleash your supposed levity on me again.” Elizabeth exited the study before her father could reply, soon finding her mother in the morning room.
“Mama, I have been invited to London,” Elizabeth handed her mother the missive. Although not the most patient of the Bennet children, Elizabeth curtailed her natural inclination and did a credible job of waiting for her mother to complete reading and render her verdict.
“You have asked your father?” Mrs. Bennet confirmed and Elizabeth nodded to agree she had. “His answer was…?”
“I may go as long as you do not object, Mama,” Elizabeth’s gave her mother a pleading look.
“I see no reason why not, Lizzy. Let me discuss something with your father before you accept the invitation and decide on travel plans.” Mrs. Bennet kissed Elizabeth’s cheek and made her way to the study.
“Welcome, my love. I assume that you added your approval of Lizzy’s desire to join Jane at the Gardiners?” Bennet asked.
“There is no reason why Lizzy cannot join Jane, though it made me think of something. We have not seen Tom since the term break, and I am sure that Esther and Mark are just as keen to see him as we are. In addition, my parents do not leave for Broadhurst for another ten days, and you will be able to have a little chat with Jane’s suitor before we depart for the holidays,” Priscilla’s eyes twinkled at the idea of what that conversation would include.
She was well aware that Andrew Fitzwilliam was not one of the lordlings often found gallivanting about with the immoral members of the Ton. Nevertheless, it would not be a bad idea to meet him and his parents before Christmastide.
“You are out-thinking me yet again, my love. This is one time that I will not object to making a trip to London,” Bennet said enthusiastically. He was interested to see how the future Earl of Matlock would bear up under his scrutiny.
“I will write to Maddie and Mama and let them know. If Gardiner House is not ready to receive all of us, we will stay at Jersey House.” Priscilla took some parchment and waited for her husband to mend a pen for her before she wrote the two expresses.
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“As if it were not bad enough for Charles to abandon us, you will not believe what I saw on Bond Street today, Louisa! I will allow you one hundred guesses, and still you would not guess correctly.” Miss Bingley’s voice was shrill and even more cutting than normal.
“Do not be arduous, Caro. Just tell me, please,” Mrs. Hurst requested in a subdued voice. Without Charles to show them through doors that Mr. Darcy opened for him, their life was boring, for there were no invitations of which to speak.
“Well,” Caroline huffed, not liking the tone her sister now addressed her with, “I was walking toward Madam Chambourg’s to beg, ahem, I mean to see if she has an opening for us yet.
As I approached the store, who should step out of a carriage as if she owned the place?
Miss Jane Bennet! She was with Lady Marie, the Marchioness of Holder, and Lady Isabelle, Viscountess Westmore!
That fortune hunter must work as a paid companion when she is in London.
Can you believe it, Louisa?” Miss Bingley crowed.
“And she had the gall to speak about us being tied to trade when she is nothing but a glorified servant!” Mrs. Hurst perked up with the news. There was nothing like a feeling of superiority to banish the malaise she had felt since the confrontation with their brother.
“We have to tell Charles before he makes a fool of himself. Oh, and yes, we must visit dear Georgiana to make sure Mr. Darcy knows just how low that family is. I am sure he will offer for me once we help him expose the Bennets for who they really are!” Miss Bingley felt exuberant, certain that such news would put everything to rights again.
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“Jane, dearest, the one who was gawking at us when we entered the modiste, the woman who looked like an uncoordinated peacock, was that the infamous Miss Bingley?” the Marchioness of Holder asked as they rode back to Gardiner House in one of the Holder carriages.
“Yes, Aunt Marie, that was one half of the supercilious sisters,” Jane sighed. “If I never saw any member of that family again, it would be too soon. You know that her disgusting behaviour towards the Netherfield servants caused her brother to be evicted, do you not?”
“Your Uncle Wes mentioned something to that effect a few days ago,” Jane’s Aunt Isabelle noted for all in the carriage. “Did it not cost the brother ten months’ rent?”
“It did, Aunt Issy. Unfortunately, the one warning they received went unheeded. I am not surprised as, even from my short acquaintance with that family, it appears that they all seem to share the trait of seeing and hearing only that which is pleasing to them,” Jane related disapprovingly.
“Does that woman still chase Mr. Darcy like a hound after the fox?” Lady Marie asked.
“Even with his rudeness and slight of Lizzy, not even he deserves that fortune hunting, social climbing harpy on his trail. You would have to travel far to find others as vulgar as those two. In the short time I was around them, I lost count of how many times they managed to make mention of the amount of their dowries. They would have died had they discovered that any one of us have more individually than they do combined!” Jane’s normally calm voice had a thread of disgust which said far more to her aunts than any of her words had thus far.
“When your courtship becomes common knowledge, they will have apoplexies!” Lady Isabelle giggled at the thought.
“If they dare start any rumours about you, or any of my nieces or nephews, I will see them run out of Town and never able to return!” Lady Marie got herself riled up at the thought of anyone causing harm of any sort for her little sister’s children.
Her husband and mother had been required to step in to keep her from marching over to Darcy House to give the arrogant master of Pemberley a piece of her mind.
“I am sorry that Allie was not able to join us today, Aunt Marie,” Jane said to deflect her aunt before she told the driver to head to Curzon Street, though the thought of it held enough appeal.
She smiled as she pictured the expressions of both Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst when she was announced to be the niece to such as her aunt.
“Allie had plans with Lady Lydgate that she could not cancel. You know how my youngest loves to spend time with her cousins,” Lady Marie smiled as she thought of her mischievous daughter, Alicia.
“When will Uncle Stan return from Holder?” Jane continued to distract her aunt, ignoring her Aunt Isabelle when she smiled behind her hand, for she was quite cognisant of what their niece was doing.
“He had much to do at the estate, so he will join us at Broadhurst for the holidays. And Jane, I am sufficiently calm now, you may stop your diversions,” Lady Marie smiled in true amusement at her niece.
“You knew,” Jane winced dramatically as if she was upset to be so easily seen through.
“I did, and I appreciate your efforts, though I own I would very much like to be near when those sisters you call supercilious learn the truth!” Lady Marie took her niece’s hands.
“When it comes to defending my family, I am a lioness at times, and I need to take a breath or have one forced upon me. Thank you for your assistance, Jane.”
“Did you say that you invited Lizzy to join you?” Lady Isabelle asked.
“I did, Aunt Issy, and I anticipate an answer when I arrive back at Gardiner House. I know that she cannot wait to see Tom again,” Jane confirmed.
After thanking her aunts for a fruitful outing, Jane found Aunt Maddie in her sitting room with a letter in hand. “Your mother replied, Jane. You may read it,” Mrs. Gardiner handed her niece the missive.
6 December 1810
Longbourn
Maddie,
We are taking your invitation to come anytime literally. We will arrive on the morrow by eleven. Thomas has agreed to stay until Monday or Tuesday. Lizzy will remain with you until we all meet at Broadhurst.
If our coming on short notice is not convenient, you know that we are able to be hosted with my mother and father so do not put yourself out to ready the house, but we will at least stop for tea, even should moving to Jersey house prove best for you.
Would you please invite the Fitzwilliams so we may meet the young man who is courting Jane?
If you are able to host us, dinner may prove long enough for Thomas to take his measure and feel like he has given the young man enough of the evil eye to allow his daughter his blessing.
Sincere regards,
Priscilla
“I am guessing that once Lizzy was coming, Mama and Papa could not pass up seeing Tom and meeting Andrew. They will like him and his family, of that I am certain. Papa disdains the typical members of the Ton; thankfully the Fitzwilliams are nothing like that,” Jane related.
“I am only put out that she thinks I would allow someone else the pleasure of having you all in residence.” Mrs. Gardiner huffed, smiling when Jane laughed and went to read to her cousins.
While she did, her aunt sent a note to Matlock and Jersey Houses inviting the Fitzwilliams and De Melvilles to a family dinner to be held on Saturday.
Affirmative replies were received from both families.
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