Chapter Seven
J ane kept her promise and a happy hour was spent at Hatchards. Elizabeth happened upon an interesting volume which enumerated all of the popular card games currently being played and their varying rules. She showed it to her sister.
“It looks useful,” agreed Miss Bennet, “but more the sort of thing that I would read rather than you. ”
“I think we ought to buy it. One never knows if we may go to a few parties while we are here,” suggested Elizabeth, deliberately casual. “We may as well, seeing that we have suitable attire. It would not do if you wished to play and were then unable to if you did not know all the rules.”
“We are to go to the monthly assembly with our aunt and uncle at the end of the week. I do not suppose there will be cards there. It will be mostly dancing and supper.”
“Well, one never knows, and at the very least we may amuse the girls at home when we return by teaching them new games.”
“Yes, that is true,” Jane nodded, thinking of Kitty, who liked nothing better than to play a game with her sisters, “but Mary will not approve.”
Lizzy dismissed this and gestured with the book to Knowles who had stood a little way off. “Mary cannot approve of frivolity. She would make a very fine governess, had she a mind to it. Thank you, Knowles; I promise you most faithfully that I shall not stack my purchases above the level of your eyes.”
“That is not kind,” said Jane, gently reproving, once the footman had retreated once more to his place near the window. “It is not a fate we ought to wish on our sister. I have heard that some poor young ladies in that service are not treated well.”
“I cry pardon,” Elizabeth smiled. “What I meant was that she is very severe on us.”
“She has a fine sense of morality. What is there to disapprove of in that?”
“Perhaps it is her age. She sees the world divided clearly between the wicked and the righteous. Little doubt she will grow out of it with a little more experience. At least our Mary cannot be accused of indolence.” Lizzy tore her gaze from the shelf to look at her sister. “What did you make of our morning call, Jane?”
Miss Bennet's answer was sincere. “It was pleasant to see Caroline again. I thought that they seemed well; did you?”
“Did you think that they were pleased to receive our call?”
“They said that they were.”
Had she been speaking to anyone else, Elizabeth might have thought this a little disingenuous. “You are of the mind that they will return the civility? ”
“I do not see why they would not.” Miss Bennet's surprise at the question was apparent. “There was nothing said that suggests that they wish to sever the acquaintance, was there? I mean to wait in of a morning so that we do not miss their call. It would be a pity to come home to a card if they are to visit. Do you think Mr. Bingley will accompany them?” There was no sign on her face that this was a cause of hope for her.
Lizzy guessed at what lay behind the question, however and gently replied, “I cannot say.”
“No, I suppose you are right. It is unreasonable of me to expect it. It is strange that I see so little of their brother in Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Perhaps a little in the manner in which Mrs. Hurst carries her head and…and a little in the shade of Caroline's hair — but Mr. Bingley is a little fairer, I think. Perhaps it is because he likes to be outside so much. He is fond of being outdoors.”
“Come, I want to take these home,” said Elizabeth, turning the conversation and waving a blue-bound book in Knowles's direction. “Is this not a fine acquisition? Byron! Papa and Mary will be scandalised so I had better read it quickly while I am here. We will eat luncheon with the children and then take a carriage to Hyde Park. We must not take a hackney carriage or a stagecoach into the park by all accounts; Aunt Gardiner says it would bring condemnation upon us. Rules in London are most entertaining, are they not? Come now, the park is as green a space as we are likely to see while we are here so we must prepare to enjoy ourselves. If we do not see songbirds as we do at home, we will at least be amused by the people. ”
“It will be odd to promenade, Lizzy.” Jane walked with Elizabeth toward the shop assistant, who had been eyeing them with interest. “We know hardly anyone in London.”
“But those we do know may well be there! That is the point. We shall wear white muslins and look very charming.”
They took their uncle's carriage so far as Hyde Park Corner and then made their way on foot in the direction of the Grosvenor Gate. The servant followed sedately behind at a respectful distance. The sisters went arm in arm and the exercise quickly brought a becoming bloom to Jane's cheeks. To the onlooker, they were yet another fashionable pair of young ladies strolling in the park to be seen. Elizabeth provoked her sister to laugh quietly on occasion by pointing out the more ridiculous or notable walkers. A gentleman minced along in preposterously high heels; a matronly lady wore a bonnet with so wide a brim that she was obliged to turn from the waist in order to address the gentleman beside her; and a delightful-looking family, all with golden hair, had brought with them a playful young pup, which was also blessed with fair locks.
They were stared at in turn, for the two of them did indeed form a striking picturesque. At least two gentlemen ceased partway through their sentences when they beheld Jane's face, and one went so far as to exclaim that he must know the name of the Prime Article who had, with a single clear-eyed look, stolen his heart. Miss Bennet, ever unconscious of her own beauty, hardly noticed. Elizabeth missed very little and she tried to conceal her glee.
Before they reached their destination, they were hailed by name and paused to turn in the direction of the voice .
“It is Mr. Hurst,” said Jane, sounding a little agitated to Elizabeth's ears even as she smiled, apparently unperturbed, in response. “Oh Lizzy, is he alone? No, I can see that he is not but I mean…”
“Calm yourself. We do not know either of the other gentlemen he is with. They are coming over. Take a moment; I will speak for us.”
The young ladies, answering his bow, dropped graceful curtseys in unison. “Good afternoon, Mr. Hurst — I suppose Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley informed you that we called upon them this morning.”
Mr. Hurst tipped his hat. “Not a bit of it, Miss Elizabeth. I had no idea of your being in town. I daresay they had not the opportunity, m'sister-in-law was all full of the news of Mrs. Houghton coming to call, you see. I am sure they were pleased to receive you.” He trailed off here and groped for something further to say. “Is it not a fine day? You are enjoying the air?”
Lizzy looked at Jane, who was blushing at the blatant admiration coming from one of Mr. Hurst's as-yet-unintroduced companions. “It is not so fine air as we had in Hertfordshire, Mr. Hurst, and it is perhaps a little grey today, but it is pleasant to be where there is grass and trees.” She glanced again at the gentlemen with him and made a gambit. Elizabeth knew little of Mrs. Hurst's husband other than that he enjoyed his food, his hunting, and cards. It was possible that his chosen friends would be of a similar disposition. “How amusing it was to be at Netherfield with you all; it seems so little time ago. Now,” she said playfully, with a wide smile, “you must not be upset that my sister won at cards that evening, sir, for she beats everyone, you know. I do not know that, in a game of skill, she has ever been bested.”
Jane's hand tightened convulsively on her sister's arm .
One of the two men with Mr. Hurst, who sported a crimson jacket with yellow trousers, was distracted from staring at Miss Bennet's beautiful face and nudged his friend .
“Is this indeed true, Hurst?”
“I have not had the pleasure of many card games with Miss Bennet, but she trounced us all finely.”
“I am sure,” said Jane sincerely, “that the cards were in my favour, Mr. Hurst.”
Lizzy laughed, and the other gentleman with them, who wore a green coat, seemed caught by the sound. “You say that every time you win, dearest — you are so very modest. ”
This, although provoking another squeeze from her older sister, further whetted the interest of the man in crimson, precisely as Elizabeth hoped. If Jane was bewildered for the second time that day by Lizzy's bold manner of speech, well, all could be explained later .
“This sounds like a challenge that any true gamester would not, could not, resist. Hurst, I must insist that you introduce me to these young ladies!”
Hurst sighed, wondering if Louisa would berate him for this. It had occurred to him only after he hailed the Miss Bennets that only a few weeks ago, both his wife and his sister-in-law had been determined to cut them. It was unavoidable now, however, and introductions were duly made. Jane and Elizabeth made their curtseys to the honourable Percival Eckworth in red and Mr. Johnson in green.
Mr. Eckworth, who found little pleasure in anything other than a good wager, took the reins of the conversation. “You like to play at cards, Miss Bennet? I have been enjoying Faro of recent, had a good run of luck, y'know, but I like a good game of cards as well — provided the stakes are high enough to make it interesting. Two evenings ago we were at Old Monty's — beg your pardon, it is a club we frequent, not so high in the instep as White's but good fun — and I watched with my own eyes a young cub…Armstrong, wasn't it, Johnson? He wagered five hundred pounds on the turn of a single card against Mr. Dresden. Is that not a fine thing? He won it too, did he not, Hurst?”
Mr. Hurst corroborated Mr. Eckworth's information. “Fastest monkey I've ever seen exchanged. Dresden took it like a gentleman and went about his evening with not a sigh over it all.”
“Five hundred pounds!” echoed Elizabeth, with all the amazement that either gentleman could wish. The elder Miss Bennet did not betray a flicker of similar awe. To Mr. Eckworth's thinking, the amount mentioned left the beauty quite unmoved.
Now feeling distinctly uncomfortable, as though there was something about this odd exchange that she did not understand, Jane looked about her. “Had we not better carry on with our walk, Lizzy? Our aunt will wish us to be home in good time, I am sure.”
Strangely enough, it was Miss Bennet's unconcern that confirmed to Mr. Eckworth that here was a lady whose skill might well be all that her younger sister boasted. He was on the cusp of enquiring where he could call upon them when the Miss Bennets were hailed once more .
Mrs. Houghton, driving herself through the park in her phaeton, was pleased to nod in their direction and beckon Miss Elizabeth Bennet to the side of her vehicle.
“I am glad I happened to see you again, Miss Elizabeth. It struck me after we had parted ways this morning that beauty and wit are rather needed this season in town, even if you do not mean to stay long. I have a mind to host a little soiree on Tuesday evening. Should you and your sister care to attend? ”
“We should not like to impose upon you, Mrs. Houghton,” demurred Jane, who had stayed with her sister. “It is very good of you to invite us, however.”
“I should not invite if it were an imposition, Miss Bennet — as you will discover should we become better acquainted,” responded Mrs. Houghton tartly. “Well, Miss Elizabeth?”
“We will need our aunt's permission and chaperonage. I imagine, given your strictures regarding the importance of time efficiency this morning, that you would prefer us not to bore you with a long speech about it being our honour, Mrs. Houghton?”
This surprised a cackle out of the old lady. “Infinitely! If you will bring that tongue of yours on Tuesday evening, I will almost begin to look forward to it. Here, take my card, Miss Elizabeth.” She handed over a thickly embossed card, painted with pink roses. “I have not the time nor inclination to write a proper invitation — I much prefer to populate my parties by asking people to attend as I see them. It lends a certain something to the occasion if I forget half of those coming.”
Elizabeth smiled wryly. “I imagine it must mean you have both pleasant and unpleasant surprises, madam. We will strive to be among the pleasant ones.”
“You will be interesting surprises at least. Bring your aunt — I will be pleased to meet her. Mr. Hurst, is it not? Good day, sir. Tuesday, Miss Bennet — do not fail me!”
She drove off, and was seen slowing her horses once more to greet an unknown gentleman and a lady who had been looking with curiosity to see to whom Mrs. Houghton was speaking.
“I will tell you what,” said Mr. Eckworth slowly. “I have a friend of mine — Johnny Fitzroy, his mama will likely be going to that party — I will tell him to attend and search you out, Miss Bennet. He's a fine card player. Perhaps you might like to play him at commerce or whist?”
Jane, somewhat overwhelmed by the happenings of the last ten minutes, murmured that Mr. Eckworth was very good but it was by no means a settled thing that they would be at liberty to accept Mrs. Houghton's kind invitation. “Our aunt and uncle must first give us leave, you see, sir, so I should not like you to inconvenience Mr. Fitzroy on our account. ”
“Nonsense, Miss Bennet; Mrs. Houghton's parties are always good ton. I am sure your aunt and uncle will not bar you from attending. The Houghtons, you know — very good family. Fitzroy will like to attend at any rate. You will not deny him the pleasure of an opponent who is skilled and pretty, will you now?”
A memory, at first faint and then clearer, was beginning to return to Miss Bennet, and she, holding onto her sister's arm firmly, curtseyed to the gentlemen. “We had better bid you farewell. It was a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Hurst. Good afternoon, Mr. Eckworth; good afternoon, Mr. Johnson.” Elizabeth found herself led firmly away by her elder sister.
“There now, Jane, is that not an exciting invitation? First, we will be able to wear our new gowns at the assembly with our aunt and uncle, and then also at Mrs. Houghton's soiree on Tuesday.”
Jane did not reply to that; her mind was elsewhere. “Do you remember the night that Lydia came into your room for a coze, as she put it? You paced the room, and then began talking of our thirty-six pounds and a stake in a card game?”
Elizabeth had less control over her features than did her sister, and knew that there was little point in denying the recollection. She blushed a little as she replied, “I remember something of it; why?
“I had thought at the time that you were speaking whimsically.”
“Not an unreasonable supposition, dearest, given I am known to be whimsical occasionally. ”
“I think now, however, that I am a chess piece in some strange strategy that you have plotted out in your head. You have intended for us to come, to extract invitations from unsuspecting elderly ladies in order to…to what…play high? I do wish you would explain it to me, Lizzy; I have no comprehension of what you are about but I am not sure that I like it.”
“I have been open about my main motivation, Jane. That you should be in town and be so diverted that you do not think so much about the fact that you have been sorrowful over certain gentlemen who do not deserve your tears.”
“Do not, please, I beg you, Lizzy, do not speak so of him.” Jane broke off and they walked a few paces in silence. “You will own that it is strange that your suggestion that night should be coming to pass. I do not quite know how you have done it.”
“Lest you think I am a great manipulator, meeting Mrs. Houghton and Mr. Hurst today was the veriest good fortune. Come now, Jane, you will admit to me, please, that you have been happier with all the distractions I have arranged for you. Playing with the children, sewing our gowns, shopping, and meeting new people. I do not speak of your feelings at night , but during the daytime at least, I have managed to ease your pain.”
“Oh, Lizzy.” Jane was much moved. “I do not accuse you of anything other than kindness in your intentions. No sister could be more protective — you have been at great pains to distract me. I am only sorry that you have worried so for me. Of course, you have tried to make me happy, and you are right in every way. I have been content since we have been here, so many diversions to be had.”
“And,” Elizabeth pressed home her advantage, “should we attend a few parties and make new acquaintances, that will divert you even more, will it not? If rich men wish to play cards with you, it will bring me pleasure to see you beat them soundly.”
“Elizabeth!”
“Yes?”
“I do not deny I enjoy card games but I always feel dreadfully guilty afterwards. It is almost as though I have an unfair advantage over my opponents, even though I am sure they could count also, and it might be wrong to take any winnings.”
“Do not let it concern you for a moment. All you need to do is enjoy filling your pretty head with numbers,” Lizzy shuddered for comedic effect, earning her a laugh from her sister, “and I will happily sweep vowels and banker's drafts into my prettiest reticule. It is a noble sacrifice on my part, to be sure, but I will ease the sting of that by taking you shopping at every opportunity.”