Chapter 11 #2
As soon as they had divested themselves of their outerwear, and after an admonishment from her mother for Jane to return to her the instant the Bingleys arrived, the Bennet sisters made their way towards where Charlotte Lucas was standing with Mandy Long.
The latter was almost the same age as Mary, and as they shared a love of the pianoforte, they were good friends. Mandy did not hold the fact that Mary was so much more accomplished than herself on the instrument against her friend.
“What is the latest rumour regarding the Netherfield Park party’s size,” Elizabeth asked her friend once they had greeted one another.
“I tried to correct my mother, but according to her it is fifteen men and ten ladies,” Charlotte replied with a smile.
Eliza had told her the truth of the numbers residing at Netherfield Park and how the rumour had begun with her father amusing himself at her mother’s expense.
Charlotte’s own mother had preferred to believe that the neighbourhood would be inundated with eligible men.
As she was six and twenty and had no prospects, Charlotte could understand why Mama would grab onto such a rumour with both hands and want to believe it was fact.
If only, but it was not the case. Charlotte had resigned herself to being a spinster who would be dependent on Franklin’s good will one day once Lucas Lodge became his.
Elizabeth looked around the room, the ratio of men to women was the same as it had been since the Corsican Tyrant had begun the war in Europe sending many of the young men in the area into the army.
“We sit out two sets each, do we not?” Elizabeth assumed.
The ladies standing with her nodded their agreement, each one choosing the sets for which they would not accept a partner.
Jane selected the first and fourth, Elizabeth the third and final sets, and Mary the second and fifth.
Mandy chose the same as Mary and Charlotte the first and last, that way she would be able to sit with one of her best friends each time she voluntarily sat out.
Much to Fanny’s and the other mothers’ with daughters present distress, neither hide nor hair of those from Netherfield Park had been seen when the first set was called.
It was during the last few bars of the second dance of the first set that there was a disturbance at the entrance as five persons, most of them unknown, entered the room.
The musicians stopped playing a little prematurely and all conversation ceased.
Those who had met Mr Bingley during calls identified him.
“The one with the wide smile and strawberry-blond hair is Mr Bingley,” Charlotte told Eliza.
When Jane and Mary had gone to their mother’s side, and after dancing the first with Johnny, the younger Lucas brother, Elizabeth had remained with Charlotte.
She did not see a reason to pounce on the newcomers the instant they walked in.
Mr Bingley did look like a man who was pleased and wanted to please, but that could not be said for the rest of the party.
The two ladies looked like they were dressed for a ball at St James, obviously no one had told them how to dress for a country assembly.
Also, they looked like they had smelled something very distasteful.
The one woman was on the arm of a shorter, rather rotund man with a florid complexion.
He left her and immediately made his way towards the refreshment tables.
Then Elizabeth saw the other man, who based on Aunt Maddie’s information must be Uncle Adam’s friend, Mr Darcy.
He was the most handsome man Elizabeth had ever seen.
The only thing that marred his looks was the distaste on his countenance.
It was clear he wanted to be anywhere except here.
Elizabeth watched as Sir William approached the four members of the party who had remained near the entrance. Just then, Lady Lucas beckoned to Charlotte, so her friend dutifully went to stand with her mother. Elizabeth walked towards the entrance with no sense of hurry.
As Mr Bingley had met his wife and Charlotte, Sir William introduced the Bingley sisters to them and then requested Mr Bingley introduce his friend.
Darcy was about to point out the presumption of the man until he remembered the jovial man was titled. He watched Bingley request Miss Lucas’s next open set. It turned out to be the next, which was the second set.
He hated being late, especially because of Miss Bingley’s desire to be fashionably late and make an entrance, hence, he was not in a good mood.
In addition, he still had a level of concern for Anna.
He would not be able to fully relax until he received a letter from his sister indicating she was well.
He was again questioning the wisdom of leaving London.
The knight was introducing Mrs Bennet and two of her daughters.
He saw the instant Bingley spied the older of the two who fit the physical criteria of one of Bingley’s angels.
His friend requested the set after the one he was about to dance, which was the third of the night.
The darker sister was pretty in her own way, but Darcy had no intention of dancing, not even with Bingley’s sisters.
A female voice cut through the fog of his contemplations.
“Are you not to dance, Mr Darcy?” Fanny asked.
“Not if I can help it,” Darcy returned, turned his back, and stalked away, leaving the woman and her impertinent question in his wake.
“Well I never! What a rude, disagreeable man,” Fanny squawked.
For once, Elizabeth agreed with her mother. Even if her mother was rather loud and vulgar, there was no reason for a gentleman to behave in that fashion. Shaking her head, Elizabeth waited for Julian Goulding to come claim her for the second set.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A letter was delivered to the Gardiners, which they saw on Saturday afternoon on returning to the house. Maddie immediately identified Lizzy’s script. She assumed it had been scribed prior to the assembly which would have been held the previous night.
The Gardiners had just spent a few hours with their children, which included taking them for a walk in the park opposite the house.
The four young Gardiners were in the care of two maids as Nurse and Mrs Mulberry both had the day off, so once they were sure the children were well occupied, Maddie and Gardiner made for their private sitting room.
“Do you want to read Lizzy’s letter first, or should I read it to you?” Maddie enquired.
“You read it, my love, I enjoy listening to your voice,” Gardiner responded.
Maddie broke the seal and unfolded the missive. Then she began to read.
27 September 1811
Longbourn
Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward,
Yes, the date is accurate! I am writing this after the assembly. Why, you may ask, am I sitting at my desk and not in bed asleep? I am so very angry that I had to write to you before I climb under my covers because I know my pique will not allow me to sleep otherwise.
“What do you think caused Lizzy’s need to write to us as soon as she returned home from the dance?” Gardiner asked. He saw his wife lift the pages and incline her head towards them. “With her passionate temper, I am sure she is in a snit about something. Read on Maddie.”
In general, other than Mr Bingley, those residing at your estate are reprehensible. I suppose to be fair; there is no harm in Mr Hurst. From the moment he arrived, he was either at the refreshment tables or in the card room. The only fault I can ascribe to him is being unsociable.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were dressed like they were attending an event given by the Queen.
They had not a clue how to dress for a public country ball.
I think they intended to show us what bumpkins we are.
All they achieved was demonstrating their lack of grace and class.
They, the daughters of a tradesman (you know I have nothing against those like you who are in trade) looked down on all of us, who as most who attended are landed gentry, are far above them.
Now we come to Messrs Bingley and Darcy. The former is a very amiable man. He danced with all 3 of us Bennet sisters present, and unsurprisingly, twice with Jane. (She was the only lady he distinguished thusly.)
When Mr Darcy was introduced to Mama, she made a remark, and he turned his back on her and stalked off to a corner, hiding behind the enormous potted plant.
The 3rd set was the first Mr Bingley danced with Janey, and it was the first one of my two I sat out. The only open chair I found was not far from where Mr Darcy was hiding himself. Between the dances of the set, Mr Bingley approached Mr Darcy and tried to cajole him into dancing.
At least, I know the insufferable man’s eyesight is not deficient.
When Mr Bingley said there were many pretty ladies, Mr Darcy stated that his friend was dancing with the prettiest one present.
In that, he was accurate. Then Mr Bingley suggested me as a partner and offered to introduce us.
Mr Darcy turned, made sure he caught my eye, faced Mr Bingley again, and said the following:
“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”
What a rude, proud, arrogant man! Him give me consequence? I do not think so! This is the man who is Uncle Adam’s friend? I thought my uncle by marriage had better discernment than that!
As I did not hide what he had said, by the end of the assembly, Mr Darcy’s slight was known by many present.
We will see how warmly he is welcomed in the neighbourhood.
Not even Mama was impressed by his ?10,000 per annum.
How much must Mama disdain a young single man to overlook such an income and owning half of Derbyshire? (The miserable half I am sure!)
Now that I have told you all, I can go to bed. I will post this by express in the morning.
With love and regards,
Lizzy
“Oh my! Mr Darcy has not ignited Lizzy’s prejudices, he has stoked them into a roaring bonfire,” Maddie opined. “It would have been worse had he said this about one of her sisters, but it seems like he has pricked her vanity.”
“Should we intercede?” Gardiner wondered.
“No, not at this point. Let us see what else occurs. Edward, you know Lizzy has not allowed that she does not know all of the facts. In her mind, all is settled. I am not trying to excuse his words, but there may be more to know than what our niece has written here.”
Gardiner nodded his agreement. “Let us send a note to Biggs and Johns and have them keep their eyes and ears open.”
Maddie agreed.