3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Wisdom and Folly
C harlotte came over after breakfast the following day. It was a tradition between their families to discuss the balls and parties the mornings after they occurred. She brought her younger sister Maria, a girl who rivalled Lydia and Kitty for the title of Silliest Girl in England, and the girls scampered off to a back parlor to talk without their stodgy older sisters hearing them.
“Mr. Bingley seemed quite taken with Jane,” said Charlotte. “Though most men do.”
Elizabeth smiled fondly. “Yes, they do. But Jane is not always as fond of them.”
“So she returns his interest?”
“She is intrigued by him, but it is early days yet,” said Elizabeth. Charlotte did not know of her dreams—no one but Jane did—and it was not the sort of thing one brought up in casual conversation.
“Well she shall have more opportunity to know him soon enough. I come bearing an invitation to Lucas Lodge for a party next week. My father is delivering the same to Mr. Bingley as we speak. If he attends, Jane may decide if she wants him then and snap him up.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Snap him up? Before she knows his character or anything about him? What if he spends all his time hunting or prefers the stables to his home? What if he drinks to excess or plays too high? What if he has an unpleasant odor?” Elizabeth knew Mr. Bingley was Jane’s perfect match, but she could not let Charlotte think that a man was worth marrying simply because he was single and had decent prospects.
“I danced with him last night and I noticed no unpleasant odors,” said Charlotte with a grin. “I agree that a man who is violent or drinks to excess is not desirable, and a woman would not want a man who will gamble away his inheritance. But do you not think characters change so much as they go through life that it is all a matter of chance? A man who is temperate now may turn to drink later. An attentive husband may eventually lose interest in his wife.”
Elizabeth was thoughtful. It was all possible, of course. Her father had once been rather infatuated with her mother. Now he showed not the slightest respect for her, and they were rarely found in the same room. His affections had not outweighed a little silliness on Mrs. Bennet’s part, and as the woman, Frances Bennet paid the higher price for it. Mr. Bennet could console himself with as many book purchases as he wished and spend all day in his library, content to emerge a few times a week to see to the home farm and the tenants. Mrs. Bennet spent every day managing the household and raising five daughters with little assistance from her husband and no governess besides.
“You look thoughtful.”
“Forgive me, Charlotte. As much as I dislike it, you are not wrong. People do change, and often not for the better.”
Charlotte was surprised at her friend’s easy acquiescence. Elizabeth was generally more stubborn when she thought she was right about something. “Sometimes they change for the better.”
Elizabeth raised a brow. “When?”
“My mother is much calmer than she used to be. When I was a girl, she was often yelling and frazzled. She is quite calm now in comparison.”
“Is that not the effect of her children growing older and her level-headed eldest daughter assisting with the younger ones?”
Charlotte gave her a look. “I cannot be certain you are wrong, but it also proves my point. People change according to their circumstances.”
Elizabeth could not deny that. When she was younger, her mother had been calmer, sweeter, less apt to find fault in her daughters and more cheerful in general. After Lydia was born, and it became apparent she would not bear any more children, she became frantic with worry. “I wish my mother had done as yours had, but unfortunately she changed in the opposite direction.”
Charlotte squeezed her hand, not wishing to disparage Mrs. Bennet but knowing all too well what her friend referred to. “I remember her being more at ease when your grandmother was alive. Your parents should have hired a governess after she passed. It would have relieved your mother of your sisters’ education.”
“Yes, Granny was quite the taskmaster. If it had not been for her, my handwriting would likely still be illegible.”
Charlotte smiled. “She was a wonderful lady. Shall we play a duet? She always loved that.”
Elizabeth nodded and moved to the instrument. Charlotte was a good friend to know how to distract her. It was too bad Sir William would not leave his estate to Charlotte. She was practical, and sensible, and would be an excellent mistress. Yet she also had fewer of the qualities which would induce a man to propose. With an estate of her own, she would be guaranteed to marry well, and she would do right by the property.
Instead, her younger brother would inherit. He who could make his own way in the world in a profession as his father had done. He who could marry just as well at five and thirty as five and twenty. The strong jaw and wide nose that made Charlotte so unattractive as a female had quite the opposite effect on her brother. He would have no difficulty finding a bride, and he did not have to wait for one to choose him! It did not matter that Charlotte was the eldest child, nor the most sensible, nor the best choice to manage Lucas Lodge. She was female and therefore overlooked.
Elizabeth sighed. It was entirely unfair.
Charlotte set a piece of music on the stand and began picking out the notes. Elizabeth leaned over on the bench and impulsively kissed her cheek. “You are beautiful in your own right, Charlotte, and eminently worthy. Anyone who does not recognize such is not worthy of your attention.”
Charlotte looked at her with wide eyes. “Thank you, Eliza,” she said quietly.
Elizabeth nodded and began playing, ignoring her friend’s blushing countenance beside her.
The next week featured two parties before the event at Lucas Lodge. At the Gouldings’ dinner party, Mr. Bingley sat next to Jane and paid her an enormous amount of attention. At the card party at Purvis Lodge, he did not leave her side. Elizabeth watched it all with satisfaction. It was clear to her that Jane was falling in love with Mr. Bingley, and that man looked as if he would marry her on the morrow if only the vicar were free.
Miss Bingley’s feelings were also clear to Elizabeth. She did not like her brother’s attention to the eldest Miss Bennet, but she was torn between separating Mr. Bingley from Jane and chasing after Mr. Darcy. It was obvious to every matron in Meryton that she had set her cap at him, and the older ladies had a good time laughing at her for it. Mrs. Bennet declared Miss Bingley was welcome to him. Mr. Darcy had refused to dance or even be introduced to her daughters at the local assembly. That was a slight that even his ten thousand a year could not atone for. Mary could only be relieved her mother did not know of the way he had personally insulted her. She had sworn Elizabeth to secrecy and, though she did not like it, her elder sister had agreed.
Elizabeth felt a twinge of pity for Miss Bingley. It was clear Mr. Darcy was no more interested in marrying her than in settling permanently in Hertfordshire. The woman was doomed to disappointment. But then Miss Bingley would drag her brother away from a conversation with Jane and all of Elizabeth’s pity evaporated like dew under the rising sun.
By the time she arrived at Lucas Lodge for the much-anticipated party, Elizabeth had said two things to Mr. Darcy: “good evening” and “good night.” She did not care to take the trouble to talk to him, and as her grandmother had always taught her, unkind people were not worth one’s time. Unfortunately, she had not been as lucky regarding Miss Bingley.
Elizabeth had been forced into conversation with Miss Bingley and her sister Mrs. Hurst more than once—sometimes to give Jane time with their brother and other times because of a faulty seating arrangement. Regardless of the reason, she found the sisters to be unpleasant and dull, respectively. Miss Bingley was uniformly snide and haughty, though she could be witty when she chose. Mrs. Hurst would likely not be cruel on her own, but her sister’s cattiness encouraged the same in herself and the combination was singularly unpleasant.
Elizabeth could not help but smile when she thought of how they reminded her of Lydia and Kitty. The younger, stronger personality leading her older, more malleable sister by the nose. Though her amusement decreased the more she thought of it. She would spend more time with Kitty. Perhaps it was not too late to save her from Mrs. Hurst’s fate.
They had not been in Lucas Lodge more than five minutes when Mr. Bingley found Jane and corralled her to the side of the room with more finesse than Elizabeth would like. But he appeared truly interested in Jane, so she could forgive him for seeming too practiced. Though she would watch him just the same. Dream or no dream, Jane was her dearest sister, and she would not see her married to a man who would not treat her like the treasure she was.
“Mr. Bingley certainly seems enamored of Jane. Have you decided if he is worthy of her yet?”
Elizabeth turned to smile at Charlotte. “He does seem to like her very much.”
“He does. But does she like him?”
“Can you not tell? She cannot stop smiling at him!”
“Many ladies smile. He may not realize she has particular regard for him if she does not show him.”
“You would have her be immodest?” Surprise filled Elizabeth’s voice.
“There is a great distance between encouragement and immodesty.” Charlotte levelled her with a serious look. “There are few of us secure enough to be truly in love without proper encouragement. He likes her a great deal, but he may never propose if she does not help him on.”
Elizabeth looked thoughtful.
“Please, Lizzy. Think about it. And perhaps speak to Jane.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I will think on what you have said.”
Elizabeth watched Jane for the rest of the evening, wondering if Charlotte was correct in her assessment. Her first instinct had been to ignore her friend’s suggestion. If Mr. Bingley truly cared for Jane, he would seek out her deeper feelings. And Elizabeth had seen them together in her dreams, after all. She knew they would marry and be terrifically happy together. Although, she had been having dreams for many years now and not everything in them had come to pass.
Some things were further in the future, of course, but the more she thought on it, the more she thought it was entirely possible that things could go awry, and Jane would not marry Mr. Bingley. Perhaps the dreams were visions of what could be, not necessarily what would be. Oh, she wished Granny were here! She would know what to tell her.
It was in this frame of mind that she joined a conversation with Charlotte and Colonel Forster, the man leading the regiment that was soon to settle in Meryton for the winter. The colonel spoke of hosting a ball once his officers had arrived. He thought it might be a good way to begin the regiment’s relationship with the local gentry.
“A wonderful idea, sir! You have happened upon a neighborhood which dearly loves to dance,” said Elizabeth playfully.
“That is most neighborhoods, Miss Elizabeth,” he responded with a smile.
When Charlotte next spoke, Elizabeth turned her head toward her friend and noticed Mr. Darcy standing near their party. His gaze was on her. Elizabeth sucked in a breath—surprised to find him looking at her. What could he mean by it? She was inattentive to the remainder of the conversation until Colonel Forster left to speak with someone else.
“Eliza, what is wrong?” asked Charlotte. “You are quiet and distracted.”
“What can Mr. Darcy mean by staring at me so?” She tilted her head in his direction to indicate him to her friend. “He has been watching me throughout our conversation.”
“Perhaps he finds you pleasant to look at. That dress is lovely, and your hairstyle is very flattering this evening.”
Elizabeth made a face. “Thank you, but we know what he thinks of us all. We would be a punishment for him to stand up with, remember?”
“All except Jane, of course,” replied Charlotte with good humor.
“Of course! Jane is the exception to a great many things.” Elizabeth’s good humor returned, and she determined to ignore Mr. Darcy for the remainder of the evening. And she would have done so, too, but the man made himself difficult to ignore.
When she spoke with Lady Lucas, he was in conversation with the man beside them. When she conversed with the Miss Longs, he appeared to listen to her conversation. When Charlotte urged her to play and sing, he watched her performance most carefully. He is likely waiting for me to make a mistake and hoping I will prove the inferiority of the company . She concentrated more than she normally would have and put more effort into her song with the result of loud applause at the end. She blushed becomingly and left the instrument—stepping outside to the terrace in the hopes of cooling her heated cheeks. The way he looked at her! What was he thinking with such a display?
Darcy left the party at Lucas Lodge with the pleasant image of Elizabeth Bennet at the pianoforte replaying in his mind. Her posture at the instrument, her fingers dancing over the keys, and the curl on her neck that bounced when she turned her head quickly. She was a delightful woman, and he could not think why he had not noticed her before. Nothing could come of it, of course. She had no connections and no fortune to make up for the lack of propriety uniformly shown by her family. And what a mother she had! Mrs. Bennet was the most ridiculous, crass woman he had ever had the misfortune to know. She was not mean-spirited—he was generous enough to admit that—and she did seem to have a solid grasp on which gowns looked well on her and which did not—a talent he wished Bingley’s sisters would attain. But she always spoke too loudly for the distance to her conversation partner, and she would speak most indelicately about vulgar topics. Asking after his wealth and his connections as if she were keeping a list of all the young men she met and categorizing them according to desirability. So far, his generally aloof demeanor had kept her at bay, but such a determined woman would not be held off for long.
He must be certain to keep his admiration for Miss Elizabeth concealed lest her mother get wind of it. She would make his life a misery and likely worse for her daughter. It would be a kindness to avoid her. He would enjoy her company for the little time they had left before her mother noticed, and then he must think of her no more. It would be easy. It was not as if he was in love. He was only a little bit fascinated by her. That was all.