Chapter Twelve
Longbourn
The news that Netherfield Park had been let to a young man of fortune was not long in making its way about the neighbourhood.
The excitement at Longbourn reached new heights, and Mr. Bennet was made to feel his obligation with respect to this new neighbour.
His wife had explained to him, in no uncertain terms, that, as the father of five girls, it was his duty to wait upon the new tenant of Netherfield Park as soon as he was known to have arrived.
When word came that the tenants were ensconced in their new home, Mr. Bennet sighed deeply. Recognising the inevitability of the errand, Mr. Bennet had his horse saddled and rode the three miles to Netherfield Park.
***
He was welcomed warmly by his new neighbour.
After the initial courtesies were exchanged, Mr. Bingley informed Mr. Bennet that he was expecting a friend to soon join the household.
“He is a very fine fellow, is Darcy, and he brings his young sister with him. I think she is not yet out, so I suspect she will not be much known in the neighbourhood.”
“I have five daughters, sir, of varying ages, so I do not doubt that she will find ready friends, despite not being out.”
“Oh! And how old are your daughters, if I may enquire, Mr. Bennet?”
“With five of them, you can hardly expect me to answer that easily,” Mr. Bennet replied, with a twinkle in his eye.
Seeing Mr. Bingley’s confusion, Mr. Bennet abandoned that attempt at levity and instead narrowed his eyes in concentration.
“Hmmm. The eldest is two and twenty, and the youngest is just fifteen, so the other three must be somewhere in between.”
“Miss Darcy is, as I recall, the same age as your youngest; what a happy circumstance,” Mr. Bingley said, smiling.
“If you knew my youngest, you would not think it so happy a circumstance,” Mr. Bennet sighed. “But the older girls are sensible enough, and will keep Miss Darcy out of trouble.”
Mr. Bingley forbore to say that it was too late to keep Miss Darcy out of trouble; instead, he enquired about the social life he might expect in Meryton.
“There are card parties enough, if you like that sort of thing,” was the unenthusiastic reply. “Oh, and there is an assembly in a fortnight’s time; my wife would not allow me back into the house were I not to invite you to it at once.”
“I very much enjoy dancing!” was the young man’s enthusiastic reply. “Sir William Lucas visited me this very morning and gave me tickets for my entire party.”
“I expected as much,” Mr. Bennet said. “I am certain that I speak for the whole neighbourhood when I say that we all hope to see your entire party there. Also, Mr. Bingley, do not be surprised if you receive an invitation to dinner at Longbourn; my wife very much enjoys her dinner parties, and I think it not at all overly preferential on my part to inform you that she is a famous hostess; you would be wise to accept at once.”
He was assured that nothing would give Mr. Bingley greater pleasure than to attend a dinner at Longbourn.
***
Upon arriving home, Mr. Bennet was accosted at once by his wife and every one of his daughters, and was required to give a detailed accounting of his entire time at Netherfield Park, from his arrival to his adieu.
He did his best, and was rewarded with a smile from his wife and a kiss on the cheek from his eldest, Jane.