Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth had found her interactions with Mr. Bingley to be pleasant enough. Sadly, her heart did not race; her eyes did not follow his movements in a room; she did not think about him as she was falling asleep. In short, all the classic symptoms of a romantic attraction were absent.
On the other hand, he was certainly a pleasant gentleman, with good manners and an easy smile. ‘Pleasant’ was the word that kept coming to her mind. Perhaps ‘unobjectionable’ would also be a good word.
As for his family, the older sister seemed reasonable enough; the younger was bound to be an impediment.
Elizabeth now understood that Miss Bingley was intent on securing someone named Darcy; she sincerely wished the woman the best of luck with that ambition, as such a union would get her out of Netherfield Park.
As she made her way downstairs to break her fast, she thought that her mother was quite right; it could have been a good deal worse.
She smiled to see a letter from Jane on the table. She filled her plate, and then opened the letter.
Dear Lizzy,
The dinner at Stanford House was wonderful!
I felt very elegant in my new dress, and I did my best to be as calm as if I dined with Lords and Ladies every day of my life!
The Honourable Michael Stanford was indeed present, and a very handsome gentleman he is!
I guess his age to be about thirty, perhaps a bit younger.
As you know, I have met any number of merchants and the like since coming to London, but Mr. Stanford is quite far from being a merchant!
He is very interested in art and asked if I shared that interest. I told him that I did not know enough about art to know if I was interested or not, and he said that it was then his duty to take me to the various small exhibitions that are located around London!
His parents smiled at him, and Aunt Madeleine agreed to accompany us as a chaperone.
I do not say that I love him, of course, as there has been only one meeting, and it is far too soon for any real emotion to surface, but it is nonetheless all very exciting!
Lizzy, it has been days since I have heard from you! Is all well at Longbourn? Is there something you are not telling me? I always know when you are keeping secrets!
A rather worried,
Jane
Elizabeth had felt happy as she read through the letter, right up until the very end. It was true; she had never been able to keep anything from Jane. But now, Jane’s happiness might very well depend on Elizabeth’s ability to maintain the pretense.
She looked up when she heard Lydia’s voice. “It is mine, Kitty, you know it is!”
“I know no such thing! Why, I bought it with my pin money last spring!” Turning to Elizabeth, Kitty said, “Lizzy, you were there with me! Do you not recall me purchasing this pink ribbon?” She held out a length of pink grosgrain.
Elizabeth raised her eyes to the ceiling. As if she did not have enough to think about!
“Lizzy, it was me who bought it, was it not?” Lydia demanded.
“It was Kitty,” Elizabeth said, abruptly, and then picked up Jane’s letter and left the room, abandoning her breakfast entirely. She ran up the stairs to her room and sat at her writing desk, determined to write a cheery letter to her sister.
Dear Jane,
I am so very sorry you were worried! No, everything is fine here at Longbourn.
We are all well, though you are sorely missed in the family circle.
Kitty and Lydia are still arguing about ribbons; I sometimes think about sneaking into their room in the night and taking all the ribbons away.
But I shall not, as that would provoke an outcry that would be even worse than the bickering!
There is a new tenant at Netherfield Park, a man who is playing at being a gentleman farmer, though it is clear he has no idea how to go about it.
He has two sisters with him, neither of whom have the least notion as to how to serve as mistress of an estate.
Mary and I were asked to speak with them about their responsibilities to the tenants, and we did so, though I have my doubts that either of the two ladies will attend to their tasks. But perhaps I am being unkind.
Charlotte and Lady Lucas came for tea last week.
Evidently, Lady Lucas intends to redecorate the drawing room at Lucas Lodge, and wanted Mama’s opinion as to colours.
As the conversation progressed, it became clear that what Lady Lucas really wanted was simply for Mama to know that she was redecorating, and did not particularly care for Mama’s opinion on the decor one way or another.
Charlotte and I soon took ourselves off to walk around the back garden.
Elizabeth bit her lip. Was this too revealing?
After all, the drawing room at Longbourn had not been redecorated for some time, though it certainly needed it.
And with Longbourn’s finances being what they were, that redecoration was out of the question.
She continued on, choosing her words with care.
Mama would like very much to do the same here at Longbourn, but you know that Papa would far rather spend the money on his books!
There, that would allay any suspicions.
But other than the above, there is truly nothing to report. Oh, the assembly is in a few days’ time! I am certain I shall have a good deal to say when I next write!
Your loving sister,
Lizzy
Elizabeth sealed it and then leaned back in the chair, exhausted from the effort of lying to her favourite person in the whole world.
She sat up when Mrs. Hill’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley are here.”
Elizabeth shot up from her chair. “Thank you, Hill. Please alert Mary as well. Oh, and ask Mama to keep Kitty and Lydia upstairs!”
“Yes, Miss.” Footsteps faded away. Elizabeth pulled off her old dress and searched frantically through her closet for something suitable. Then she ran down the hall to find Sarah, to ask for help with her hair.
Finally, looking as well as she could with so little preparation time, she descended the staircase and went into the drawing room. Her mother and Mary were there, as were the two Bingleys.
Mr. Bingley rose when she entered the room. “Ah, Miss Bennet! How wonderful to see you again!”
Mrs. Bennet laughed delightedly at this clear sign of interest in her daughter.
Elizabeth coloured. “We saw one another just yesterday, Mr. Bingley.”
“Is that right? It seems like ages!” He smiled at her. “In any case, I wished to thank you for your kindness in coming to Netherfield yesterday to speak with my sisters.”
“We were happy to do so,” Elizabeth said, sitting beside Mary in order to include her in the discussion. “We must understand that our income comes primarily from the tenants; if we take care of them, they take care of us.”
“But you actually go into their cottages?” Miss Bingley burst out. “Are they not filthy?”
“No, they are not usually dirty,” Elizabeth said. “The women do their best to maintain the cottages, though children will make a mess. It is inevitable, I think.” She laughed. “Of course, I am careful as to what I wear on the days that I visit them.”
“Like that – that brown thing you were wearing yesterday, Miss Mary?” Miss Bingley leaned forward. Her words were pleasant enough, but her tone was pure poison.
Before Mary could answer, Elizabeth said, “Precisely; that was why Mary wore it, to show you that we own such gowns in order to visit the tenants.”
Mr. Bingley shot a hard glance at his sister and she subsided.
“Also, Miss Bennet, I admit to visiting today for another particular reason,” Mr. Bingley said, sounding mysterious.
“And what might that be?”
“Why, to ask you for the second dance at the assembly tomorrow night! And you, Miss Mary, for the third.”
Mrs. Bennet answered for them without hesitation. “Elizabeth and Mary will be delighted to dance with you, Mr. Bingley.”
Elizabeth and Mary traded quick glances before agreeing that of course, they would be happy to dance with Mr. Bingley.
Miss Bingley watched these interactions with considerable puzzlement.
Was Louisa right? Could Charles possibly be serious about Miss Bennet?
To ask for the second dance with a young woman he had just met was very surprising, and an unknown country girl at that!
It could have been a good deal worse, of course.
He might have asked for the first dance; though, to the best of her knowledge, Charles had never danced the first with anyone.
Caroline’s keen eye had not missed the condition of the room in which she found herself. Why, it had not been refurbished for at least a decade, if not more! Did the girl even have a dowry?
When the Bingleys were back in their carriage, Miss Bingley wasted no time. “Whatever are you about, Charles?”
He did not pretend to misunderstand her. “Miss Bennet is very pretty, and quite evidently knows all there is to know about being the mistress of an estate.”
“But – but she is nobody!”
“Hardly, Caroline. The Bennets are the first family here in Meryton.”
“An insignificant family in an insignificant village in an insignificant county!”
“Caroline, it was our father’s wish that I purchase an estate! I must have a wife who can be my helpmate in that regard, not some London miss who would faint at the sight of a chicken!” He was exasperated.
“But that would mean that I am stuck out here in the country forever!” she wailed.
“Not so; we would certainly open Bingley House for at least two months of the Season.”
“And you think Elizabeth Bennet could manage herself in the first circles? I very much doubt it, Charles.”
“Since we do not move in the first circles, Caroline, it hardly matters. She will manage quite well in the circles in which we do move. Now, then – will you support me in making our family part of the landed gentry? Or will you not?”
She stared out the window for a minute. Then she turned back to her brother. “And you promise me two months in London every year?”
“I promise it, unless circumstances make it impossible.”
“Circumstances?”
“Well, if she should be in the family way, for example, Caroline, you would hardly expect her to make such a journey. But you would be welcome to travel to London with the Hursts. Caroline, truly, I am not trying to injure you in any way. I am doing my best to elevate our family. Surely you see that.”
“I suppose I do,” she replied, grudgingly.
“Good! Then help me win her!”
“I hardly think you will need any help, Charles. The family is clearly in need of funds, and having a daughter marry into the Bingley family could only be considered a great blessing.” With that, she sat back in the carriage, stared out the window, and refused to say another word.