Chapter 9 Elizabeth Takes Matters in Hand
ELIZABETH TAKES MATTERS IN HAND
Although Elizabeth’s motives for befriending Miss Mary King were wholly altruistic, she understood that the acquaintance would benefit her as well—or more specifically, her plans for Jane.
“A note for Miss Elizabeth, madam,” Hill announced as she entered the parlour one morning.
Mrs Bennet glanced up with initial interest which quickly faded when Elizabeth told her what it was. “Miss King wishes for Jane and me to come to her uncle’s house this afternoon for tea.”
Mrs Bennet sniffed. “You might as well go. With the regiment gone to Brighton, there is surely nothing else to do.”
Lydia looked like she might begin to wail with this reference to Brighton.
She had been invited to go as the guest of her young friend Mrs Forster, but Mr Bennet had refused her entreaties.
Elizabeth had been much relieved by that, thinking Lydia far too young to be in such a place under the supervision of a woman whose only recommendation to sense was the fact that she had married.
“Come, Jane.” Elizabeth stood quickly and beckoned to her sister. “Let us go and dress.”
Jane was baffled when Elizabeth pulled out one of her prettiest gowns from the closet in their shared bedchamber but became positively bewildered when she summoned the maid to do her hair differently as well. “Why all this bother to call on some ladies?”
Elizabeth gave her a teasing smile. “You never know whom you might meet!”
As soon as the two sisters were ensconced in their father’s carriage for the journey, Elizabeth told Jane the truth.
“I did not wish to tell you this in front of Mama, or we surely would have had her and the younger girls all in this carriage with us. Miss King wrote in her note that she wished us to come and meet her cousin and his friend Sir James Shaw. They are recently returned from Italy.”
Jane groaned. “If you had told me that before I was in the carriage—”
“Jane,” Elizabeth said warningly. “Another day in that parlour and we would both have run mad.”
“I am not of a mind to meet strange gentlemen!”
“It is time, Jane,” Elizabeth said firmly. “There are other amiable, charming men out there.”
“How do you know they are amiable? What if they are dour and uncivil?”
“Then we will ask them if they are perchance related to Mr Darcy!”
Both ladies laughed.
“Sir James is higher and will not likely hazard so much as a glance at either of us, but Mr Robert Goddard himself is very agreeable. He is the second son but stands to inherit Ashworth which has an income of four or five thousand a year.”
“I believe I have met Mr Goddard before,” Jane reminded her. “All he spoke about was fishing and horses.”
“And when was that?” Elizabeth enquired. “Mr Goddard has scarcely been in Hertfordshire since he went to school…at age thirteen.”
Jane looked out of the window and murmured, “Yes, I suppose it was likely before then.”
Elizabeth laughed again. “Let us imagine that he might be improved in his conversation. You were only a girl then too; would you have him suppose you are still interested in dolls?”
“No, I daresay I would not.” Jane again joined her sister in laughter, albeit in a more subdued fashion.
Elizabeth took her sister’s gloved hand in her own, feeling a little tremble in it that filled her with compassion. “I am not asking you to fall in love with him, only to meet him, talk a little to him. Mr Bingley is not coming back, and if you will not see to some other choices—”
“You need say no more, Lizzy, for you and my parents have already said it many times.”
The Goddard family, while not titled, was an old and respectable one.
They had a larger estate somewhere in Kent, Ashworth having been settled on Mrs Goddard by her family.
They had four children; the eldest daughter had recently married, and the second was happily anticipating coming out, arranging her clothing in London.
The eldest son was recently engaged and remained in town.
The ladies were announced into the drawing room at Ashworth, and introductions rapidly accomplished between the young ladies and Mr Goddard and Sir James.
Although neither gentleman was particularly handsome, both men were of the disposition that rendered them increasingly attractive with further acquaintance.
Mr Goddard was of average height and fair with blue eyes and had a build that was suggestive of significant time spent in athletic endeavours.
Sir James was the more well-favoured of the two, with a particularly engaging smile, which he revealed often.
The two gentlemen were highly entertaining, regaling the ladies with story after story of the sights and wonders they had experienced in their time on the Continent. Miss King’s aunt, Mrs Eleanor Goddard, was a charming hostess, and the afternoon passed quickly.
Despite Jane’s assurances in the carriage, she did little for her share of the conversation.
She replied when spoken to, smiled at the right places in the stories, but in all, appeared rather dull.
At length the group separated; the two gentlemen spoke to Elizabeth while Miss King and her aunt did their best to entertain Jane.
Elizabeth did her best to be an engaging guest while trying not to be too frustrated by her sister.
Elizabeth startled when a maid entered the drawing room and murmured something to her mistress about dressing for dinner.
“My goodness!” She rose hastily to her feet.
“I had no idea we had remained so long. Forgive me, ma’am,” she said, addressing Mrs Goddard, “I do hope we have not inconvenienced you.”
“Nonsense!” Mr Goddard cried out. “I daresay this is the pleasantest afternoon I have passed in some time.” His mother nodded approvingly beside him.
“I should like to propose a picnic,” he declared. “Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, I hope we might be able to induce you to come again? I promise excellent viands and even a game or two.”
Elizabeth thought it was a fine idea, and a date was settled upon.
Miss King expressed her delight at the possibility of seeing her friends return so soon, and farewells were made all around.
Elizabeth refrained from chastising her sister on their way back to Longbourn. It seemed it would do no good.
All this, she fumed silently, for a man who has not likely given her another thought since November. For a man who thought more of Mr Darcy’s good opinion than of Jane’s.
The day of the picnic dawned bright and fair. Elizabeth indulged in a short walk in the early morning hour, thinking of the day ahead. I think Mr Goddard would like Jane, if only she would not act in such a backward way.
She wondered vaguely if her father might have some advice and so went to find him as soon as she was back in the house. Mr Bennet was not at the breakfast table, but Jane was, and the very appearance of her underscored the need to do something.
She was picking at some toast and looked up as soon as she heard Elizabeth enter. “I am exceedingly unwell, Lizzy. Forgive me, but I think I should remain home.”
Elizabeth shook her head firmly. “I shall not hear it, Jane.”
“I have a stomach ache,” Jane pleaded. “And my head hurts.”
“I will have Hill bring you a tincture.”
“I have nothing suitable to wear.”
“That new pale-yellow sprigged muslin you brought from town would do nicely.”
At this, Jane was run out of excuses. She simply sat there, staring pleadingly at her sister until Elizabeth rose from the table, glad to not hear further protest. “I am going to tell Papa we need the carriage.”
In fact, Mr Bennet already knew they needed the carriage, but Elizabeth wished for his assistance. Jane might have run out of excuses at the breakfast table, but Elizabeth did not doubt her sister was even now contriving more.
She was admitted into her father’s study moments later.
“Papa, it has been almost six months since she has seen, or even heard of, Mr Bingley, and still she mourns him. There are two very eligible gentlemen presently staying at Ashworth, and I believe she would have a fair chance with one of them, if she would simply try to be charming.”
Mr Bennet, who had begun to polish his spectacles when Elizabeth entered, frowned down at his handiwork. “She still regrets that fellow? I should have thought the time in London would have cured her of that.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “It seems she has an endless supply of anguish where Mr Bingley is concerned. She is twenty-three now. If she does not take advantage of such opportunities as are presented to her, where will it end?”
Mr Bennet replaced his spectacles and instructed Elizabeth to send Jane in to him.
Some time later, Jane left her father’s study and came into the bedchamber she shared with Elizabeth, blinking tears from her eyes. She did not sound happy as she asked her sister to help her into the yellow muslin.