Chapter 37 Another Party at Lucas Lodge
ANOTHER PARTY AT LUCAS LODGE
There was a party to be held at Lucas Lodge in the evening, and all of Elizabeth’s best efforts to excuse herself from it had failed. She had made one last attempt, going to her father in his book-room while her sisters were in their bedchambers being dressed. Her plea was again refused.
“The Ashworth party may be there,” said Mr Bennet. “And if they are, it will do very well for people to see you behaving as an engaged couple ought to.”
“We are not engaged,” said Elizabeth flatly. “I have not said yes, and being that Sir James did not come to us today, perhaps he has decided against me.”
Mr Bennet gave her a stern look over his spectacles. “I certainly hope not.” He closed the book he had been reading. “Perhaps he thought he would speak to us tonight.”
Although she did not say it, part of her did hope that Sir James had decided against marrying her. That he had taken his proposal and left the county, bound for town or who knew where, any place that was not with her.
“No matter what, I am certain it goes without saying, but under no circumstances should you sneak off to speak to anyone, not even Sir James. You must be above reproach. Do not do anything, anything at all that could be misconstrued by the town gossips,” said Mr Bennet.
Elizabeth nodded, his censure summoning a wave of ire.
For a very long time, she had longed for her father to bestir himself to do something about the behaviour of her mother and sisters.
He had never done so, content to sit in his study, or linger over port at a party, smiling and enjoying himself while Kitty and Lydia ran amok, or her mother drank too much.
And now he acted as if she were the principal cause of the family’s embarrassment, all because one time she went into the study to speak privately to a man.
“Go and be dressed. We would not wish to be late.”
They arrived at Lucas Lodge only a short while later, Elizabeth having had no heart for the arranging of her hair or the donning of any particular gown.
Her sisters, too, were subdued, but at least for the younger ones, their restraint could not last. Delighted to see their friends, they were soon laughing and running about as gaily as they ever did.
“Charlotte says the Netherfield party will come,” Jane whispered to her once the two sisters had fled to a corner of the drawing room. “Oh, I dread seeing him, Lizzy! And I dread everyone looking at us. Why must we be here tonight?”
“I am sorry,” said Elizabeth, looking down at her hands. “Would that I could turn back the clock to Friday night. I would have never—”
“Stop.” Jane put her hand atop her sister’s. “I did not mean to stir up your guilt again.”
“Have you heard from him since sending your letter to him yesterday?” Elizabeth asked, referring to the letter Jane had sent offering to release him. Jane shook her head.
“P-perhaps…” Elizabeth closed her eyes a moment. “Perhaps after I-I accept him…things will be…better.”
“Do you mean to accept him?”
“Papa is leaving me no choice,” she said glumly. “He even threatened to cast me out.”
“What? Lizzy, Mama would never permit…” Jane’s voice died as, across the room, Mr Bingley appeared.
He was not with his friend, only Miss Bingley and Miss Darcy alongside him.
He greeted Sir William and Lady Lucas, but all the while, his eyes ran over the room, searching for something that he evidently found the moment he saw Jane.
Even across the room, there was no mistaking the look of delight on his face.
He strode towards them, giving the others in the room a slight nod of greeting, but clearly intent on Jane and Jane alone.
The two ladies rose to greet him, Elizabeth linking arms with her sister to provide support.
Mr Bingley greeted Elizabeth first, smiling pleasantly as though nothing at all was wrong.
“Miss Elizabeth, how wonderful it is to see you tonight.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth managed to reply. “It is good to see you too.”
He leant in closer. “All will be well, Miss Elizabeth, you can depend upon it.”
He then turned to Jane. “Would you allow me to speak to you in private? We might go out onto that terrace where we can be seen but not heard.”
Jane shyly accepted his request, her countenance having gone pale. They exited onto the terrace but remained close to the door; Elizabeth saw they had the rapt attentions of every matron nearest to them, including Mrs Bennet.
The conversation was inaudible, but Mr Bingley spoke very earnestly and Jane, after a short while, was seen wiping a tear from her eye.
Then Mr Bingley wiped another one and followed it with a lightning-quick kiss to Jane’s cheek.
It was then that Elizabeth stopped watching, turning her attention back to the room at large and biting her lip against the first true smile she had had in days.
“Well, if it is not the talk of the town.” Lord Saye walked over with Miss Lillian Goddard on his arm.
Elizabeth gave him a faint smile as she rose again to greet them. “How do you do this evening?”
“Much better than you, I am sure,” said Miss Goddard, her startlingly blue eyes filled with compassion. “I confess, the cats of London are nothing to the gossips hereabouts.”
“Small town,” said Lord Saye with authority. “Nothing else to do and nary another scandal to displace it, I fear. If you would like, I can order them all beheaded once I am earl?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Thank you. I am not sure that is necessary, but I will keep it in mind.”
With a ghastly slicing motion across his cravat, the pair were off. Elizabeth watched them go, thinking they made a fine picture together and wondering what might come of it.
It appeared that the rest of the Ashworth party had not been invited, it being a simpler gathering of the Lucases’ neighbours.
Elizabeth had no idea whether she was relieved or dismayed by that.
If nothing else, it might have been nice to see Miss King, she mused.
Miss King had sent her a note, sweet and supportive and kind, and Elizabeth was grateful to her for it.
The rest of the pre-dinner hour passed uneventfully enough.
Jane remained on the terrace with Mr Bingley.
Elizabeth remained on the sofa and was visited by no one.
Miss Bingley made a gesture to Elizabeth that stopped just short of the cut direct, and shepherded Miss Darcy around diligently, as though she thought Elizabeth might leap from her seat and come after her, dragging the girl down into debauchery.
Elizabeth tried valiantly not to notice Miss Bingley and Miss Darcy standing with the Miss Longs, whispering and tittering, while casting frequent looks in Elizabeth’s direction.
It was going to be a very long evening indeed.
And then she heard him, Mr Darcy. Her heart leapt and stuttered, and her face flamed.
She lowered it immediately, then peeped up just enough to see him speaking with her father.
Of all people! She nearly groaned aloud.
Her once-dear papa had turned into her adversary.
She could not imagine what the two of them spoke about, but when it was concluded, Mr Darcy walked off and did not approach her. Despair sank into her chest.
Darcy walked away after speaking to Mr Bennet, going nowhere in particular, only obeying that gentleman’s directive that he should not approach Elizabeth.
This entire party angered him. Mr Bennet infuriated him. No one did a thing to help her, tittering ninnies standing about gossiping about her and avoiding her presence. Where were her friends in all of this? Was it only he who truly wanted to help her?
Mr Bennet had informed him that to approach her would only injure her further. “And I daresay, young man, that your vagaries have done harm enough.” Darcy’s jaw clenched at the remembrance.
He took up a position in the far corner of the room, refusing the impulse to leave.
She needed him, and he would provide her some form of aid, even if he knew not how to do so at present.
He surveyed the drawing room at Lucas Lodge, his eyes finding her where she stood near the cold fireplace.
She had been in that vicinity for the better part of an hour, alternately sitting and standing, rarely given more than a passing glance by her supposed friends.
His fingers tightened around his wineglass. One of the younger Lucas girls had just walked by her, averting her face as she passed. Elizabeth turned her head to watch her pass and then seemed to inhale deeply and square her shoulders.
Fie on Mr Bennet. He would go to her, he decided.
Alas, his intervention was poorly timed, for a servant entered bearing a dinner gong. Darcy rolled his eyes at the pretension of that in a neighbourhood dinner. Mr Bennet immediately went and took his daughter in hand, all but forcing her to walk ahead of him.
Darcy shook his head. After dinner, then.