Chapter 13 Friends in Fair Weather
FRIENDS IN FAIR WEATHER
The family at Ashworth kept Elizabeth and Jane pleasantly occupied over the next weeks.
Miss King’s aunt and uncle found the Bennet ladies enjoyable and were liberal with their invitations to dine, to take tea, and to spend the days at their estate.
Whether it was beneficial to Jane’s spirits, Elizabeth could not say.
Some days she was much like her old self; other days were worse.
Nevertheless, Elizabeth was determined to continue on with it.
Mrs Bennet was quick to reciprocate the Goddards’ invitations at Longbourn.
She had, quite naturally, developed immediate and ardent matrimonial ambitions for Mr Goddard and Jane.
“We must make sure that young Goddard is given every opportunity with Jane! Now, tell me again about Ashworth. It is a pretty estate, is it not? And how many servants are there?”
Hard on the heels of that came her belief that Sir James might propose to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was quick to dispel any such notions and went so far as to suggest he was already attached.
Despite his pleasing flattery of her, Elizabeth knew such a man could not have serious intentions towards her.
She had not forgotten Charlotte’s words.
‘The Bennet girls, you and Jane most of all, are the beauties of the county… Presuming to think those qualities will excite a proposal from some great man will only lead to a vast deal of disappointment.’ They had angered her, it was true, but she was fair enough to admit there was some truth in them.
Elizabeth would not be a fool. She had refused Mr Collins, but she would not again be impractical.
She would not lose her head over Sir James, no matter how he seemed to show her preference.
She would enjoy it for what it was—a summer diversion, a country flirtation—and think no more of it than that.
If nothing else, it would keep him agreeable towards Jane and Goddard making a match.
If nothing else, she had surely learnt the importance of a man’s friends in matters of matrimony.
The day was very warm, and there was nary a breeze to be found.
Thus, when Mr Goddard, Miss King, and Sir James called, the ladies proposed a gentle stroll for a short distance, down to the stream, where it was shaded and often cooler than the fields.
As they walked, Elizabeth found herself once more drawn into conversation with Sir James, while Miss King and Jane lagged behind with Mr Goddard.
“Do you find the sea air agreeable, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I must admit I have not yet been able to experience it for myself. I would imagine it is quite nice.”
“I certainly find it so. It has a very moderating effect on the weather, so temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold. My friend Goddard and I were often by the sea in our travels, and I hope to return again soon. Perhaps on a wedding trip.”
She wondered at him making such a bold remark, to say nothing of the way his eyes stayed upon her when he made it.
Elizabeth could think of no reply and so merely smiled at him.
She saw then a particular group of willows where she often came to sit and read and pointed it out to him, gently but firmly moving the conversation into less brazen climes.
Music became the next subject they turned to.
At Ashworth, Elizabeth had been often prevailed upon to sing and play, to undeserved—she felt—acclaim.
They were all fond of music, but evidently only the youngest daughter, Miss Lillian Goddard, boasted any capacity at the instrument, and she was not with them.
The Lucases had planned an evening of musical entertainment for their neighbours, and Elizabeth had been asked to provide a selection or two.
“Do you hear that, Goddard?” Sir James called out.
“We shall be back this way again in two days’ time—the Miss Bennets’ neighbour is having a party, and I simply must be there to hear Miss Elizabeth sing! ”
It was easy to see, Elizabeth mused with a little chuckle, how a girl might form an impractical attachment to such men. They flirted and made love with abandon; no doubt the ladies of London were accustomed to such flattery, but a lady in the country was more susceptible to falling for it.
Elizabeth did not take particular care with her appearance, nor did she feel any heightened anticipation for the party at Lucas Lodge.
Sir William’s parties were always well-attended, particularly for an evening of music, which appealed to both young and old.
The increasing boldness of Sir James’s attentions had made her wish to guard herself; she would not repeat Jane’s error of loving someone who would be, too soon, on his merry way.
After she arrived at the party, Elizabeth greeted her hosts and the friends who lingered near the entry hall, then threaded her way through the crowd.
An odd recollection of singing before the Netherfield visitors last autumn had plagued her all day.
She had been mightily displeased with Charlotte for making her perform in front of people who were no doubt accustomed to the very best performers.
She remembered, however, seeing Mr Darcy’s eyes fixed upon her while she sang and remembered thinking that he appeared far from displeased by her.
How she despised these notions of Mr Darcy that always came to her!
The Ashworth group arrived shortly after the Bennets did, the elder Goddards accompanying the three younger people.
Sir James greeted her with utmost civility but, to her vast relief, did not single her out in any way before moving into the crowd.
Not so long after that, Elizabeth saw him, with Mr Goddard at his side, charming Mrs Long’s nieces.
Elizabeth hardly cared for herself, but it was a discouragement for Jane.
She had not even seen the men greet her as yet.
Elizabeth chose to sing and play a piece that she knew very well, and thus when it was her time at the pianoforte, she was able to let her gaze and her thoughts wander.
Jane was sat next to her mother, in a group that contained the matrons.
Her mother appeared to be in high spirits, gesturing and talking to her friends; it was a sharp contrast to Jane who sat quietly with her head bowed.
She wondered at Jane; she had seemed so much improved of late, and now she looked as downcast as ever.
What would have caused her to take a turn?
Elizabeth then moved her eyes to where Mr Goddard and Sir James remained with the Misses Long.
They were pretty; they dressed and spoke well and were lively in company.
The two men appeared well-pleased by them.
It made her wonder if any gentlemen these days could boast of constancy.
It seemed they scattered their gallantry about as they chose, never minding how the ladies left behind might feel about it.
She went to join her mother and Jane as soon as she had finished her song, intent on getting Jane in front of the two gentlemen. Such plans were forestalled, however, as soon as she slid into the chair next to her sister.
Jane immediately looked up at her and whispered, sounding stricken, “He is coming back.”
“Who?”
Jane only replied with a deploring look, and Elizabeth turned to her mother for further information.
“Mr Bingley,” her mother hissed from the corner of her mouth, her gaze still fixed on Lady Lucas. “A week from Monday. Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy will come with him.”
Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy, and Miss Bingley. Was it any wonder Jane was in such distress? “Jane, will you come with me to get some air?”
They excused themselves and walked out onto the Lucases’ balcony. Elizabeth closed the door firmly behind them, wishing them out of earshot of any interested party guests.
“I know what you will say, and you may spare yourself the necessity of saying it,” Jane said immediately. She had wrapped her arms around herself, despite the warmth of the evening. “I am sure I can meet Mr Bingley with the greatest of indifference and keep myself from further pain.”
“Good for you. Mr Bingley is not deserving of your regard.”
“I just feel all the awkwardness of our meetings. How I dread other people’s remarks on his countenance or mine, our interactions or the lack of them! I cannot bear to think how they will all look at me. I do hope we will see him but little.”
“It would suit me very well to not see them at all,” Elizabeth replied warmly.
“We are fortunate in our new friendship with Miss King and Mr Goddard; it gives us cause to be away from Longbourn nearly any time we wish. I am quite determined that if there is a party at Haye-Park, then we will go to Ashworth; and if the party is at Ashworth, we will go to the great house at Stoke.”
“Stoke!” Jane laughed. “Whom do we know that might have a party at Stoke?”
“I do not know,” Elizabeth replied with a giggle. “But I shall do all that is within my power to make us a friend there. I am surprised they are coming, though. Did Mrs Long know why?”
Jane shook her head. “I do not doubt they wish only to be away from London.”
It seemed strange to Elizabeth. The Season would be at its peak now, if she knew anything about it.
An odd time to leave, in her opinion, but what did she know?
In any case, it mattered not a jot to her, these whimsical comings and goings of wealthy young men.
She had a match to forward in Jane and Mr Goddard, and she resolved to double her efforts in that quarter.
“Let us go back into the party,” she said to her sister. “Miss Prudence Long thinks she can beguile Mr Goddard, but I daresay a few smiles from you will change things.”
“Oh, Lizzy.”
“Come now! Only think of how nice it would be if Mr Bingley could return to find you spoken for,” said Elizabeth half-teasingly. “That would surely teach him a lesson!”