Chapter Four #2
“Our Dashwood cousins are not in London,” Jane stammered, looking at Elizabeth as if fearful Miss Steele was simple.
“Not the Miss Dashwoods, but their brother and his wife – I understand they are staying with Mrs. John Dashwood’s mother, Mrs. Ferrars. Are they aware that you are in town? Surely you will visit them.”
“John Dashwood is not our cousin – we are related to Elinor and Marianne through their mother,” Elizabeth managed to explain before Mrs. Jennings cut her off.
“Oh! Yes, the Dashwoods! And the Ferrarses – Ferrars with and F, Charlotte! Oh yes, I have a great curiosity to meet them! We must call on Mrs. John Dashwood, and then I shall see if she is all that Miss Marianne described. Ha ha! Well, you must know them a little – did you not often visit Norland when you were girls?”
“We did,” Jane said, turning her face away from the great lady to conceal her rising color. John Dashwood had written her some very poor sonnets when she was but sixteen, but Elizabeth had managed to frighten away her sister’s unwanted suitor before their mother could press the matter.
“I should like to pay them my regards, too,” Miss Steele said brightly. “Might we join them in calling on the Dashwoods, Mrs. Palmer?”
“We are ready to go directly,” Mrs. Jennings exclaimed. “What an excellent plan! Mrs. Dashwood gave me their address before I left Hertfordshire, and they live very near Lady Morton, whom I wished to visit straight away.”
Mrs. Palmer fretted. “Oh dear, we are engaged to take tea with Mrs. Brooks after this. We shall have to depend on your report of them.”
“Or perhaps you shall ask them to dine with you, and then we will see them for ourselves,” Miss Steele said with a calculated smile for her hostess. “I suspect you mean to give a great many parties, here, Mrs. Jennings.”
Elizabeth could be in no doubt of what Miss Steele was about, conniving for a connection to the relations of Edward Ferrars.
She was resolved to be of no assistance whatsoever on that score, though she knew enough of Elinor and Marianne’s brother, his wife, and that lady’s mother to be assured that they were even less likely to approve of Miss Steele than of Elinor.
Marianne had written of the rapacious hints and vague warnings Mrs. John Dashwood had uttered to deter Elinor from her feelings for Mr. Ferrars.
From what Elizabeth knew of her cousins’ kin, she was ready to discover them just as haughty as ever.
Though Elizabeth had no desire to visit such a person as this, she was obliged to do so after Miss Steele’s hints.
Mrs. Jennings had become quite fixated on the scheme.
When they arrived at the stately house on Oxford Street, they were informed that the family had let the place to tenants, and could be found in Grosvenor Square with Mrs. Ferrars.
Mrs. Jennings was not to be daunted, and decided that Lady Morton could wait, for now she was resolved to meet Mrs. Ferrars and Mrs. John Dashwood.
They received a tepid reception from the two ladies, until she informed them of Jane and Elizabeth’s newly discovered fortune – much to their chagrin – and then the ladies were very welcoming indeed.
Mrs. Dashwood seemed almost pleased that her husband’s half-sisters had not come to London, and she lamented that there was nobody to bestow such fortune upon the Dashwoods as the Bennets’ relations had done for them.
Elizabeth heroically managed not to observe that John Dashwood might have been such a benefactor – his father had expected as much.
Mrs. Ferrars spoke highly of her two sons, who were both in town, though they were not at home presently.
When she had praised their every merit, she began to inquire after Jane and Elizabeth, demanding to know of their connections, their accomplishments, and their tastes.
Her preference for Jane was marked, and Elizabeth did not envy her sister this distinction.
They met with Lady Morton as they were taking their leave and that lady was arriving with her daughter.
The latter, a pale and nervous creature, exchanged a few pleasantries with Jane and Elizabeth while Lady Morton swiftly exchanged a bit of gossip with Mrs. Jennings and issued an invitation to her Twelfth Night celebration.
This made their mission a great success in Mrs. Jennings’s estimation.
“What luck! I had thought it likely that she would host a grand affair as she did last year – her balls and parties are always much talked of, and she moves in the first circles! I was determined to have only the best for my two lovely heiresses, and if we had not seen Lady Morton, we might have had to accept an invitation from Mrs. Brooks. She is a great friend of Charlotte’s, but I truth I find her rather dull, and that would not do when we are to be very lively!
Lady Morton’s ball is sure to be better attended and a vastly grander affair! ”
Elizabeth grinned. “I am sure I should enjoy a dull party as well as a lively one, if there are characters enough for me to study. Some of my favorite specimens have been amongst the worst persons I have ever encountered.”
Mrs. Jennings looked flabbergasted, before breaking into raucous laughter.
“I suppose the truly horrid do amuse! But think of your sweet sister Jane – she is too good for such rabble! And Lady Morton’s set are all very fine, elegant people.
There are sure to be eligible gentlemen!
By the by, Miss Bennet, your mother has instructed me to take you to call on your friend Miss Bingley, though Miss Elizabeth has given me to believe it may be unpleasant. ”
Elizabeth smiled apologetically at her sister as Jane stammered, wide-eyed. “Oh! I had not thought of it. Perhaps tomorrow, or the next day….”
“Best not to seem too eager, of course. Well, you shall have new gowns for the occasion, I insist! If you will indulge my penchant for shopping, I shall likewise indulge you both!”
Elizabeth and Jane had enough new gowns already, half a dozen apiece in flattering cuts and colors, made from very fine fabrics; fortunately, Mrs. Gardiner had subdued Mrs. Bennet’s worst impulses for over-trimming.
A few of their finest, most recently made frocks were made over afresh with sarsenet, beadwork, and a few modifications to incorporate current trends.
Their new wardrobe was already beyond anything they had dreamt of.
However, Mrs. Jennings was determined that they must have something lavish made for the Twelfth Night.
“Upon my honor, my young ladies must be the most beautiful creatures at the ball, and surely you shall be. The Mortons know everybody, and you may likely find yourself a handsome gentleman or two to charm!”
Amongst such gentlemen was Colonel Brandon, who called that afternoon; he delighted Mrs. Jennings by telling her that he was also to attend the Mortons’ ball, and he asked for a dance with each of the sisters.
Elizabeth and Jane both thought well enough of him after a quarter hour's visit, and agreed that it was a pity Marianne could not fancy him. He was not lively, but his manners were not wanting, for he was civil and conversant, and he struck Elizabeth as a well-informed and cultured gentleman, despite the air of despondency about him. He ought to be worthy of some young lady’s affection, though he did not inspire such interest in either Jane or Elizabeth.
The next day, they paid the dreaded call upon Miss Bingley, for Mrs. Jennings was eager to dispatch with her promise to put Jane in the path of Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Palmer and Miss Steele joined Mrs. Jennings and her two charges, for Mrs. Palmer was acquainted with Mrs. Hurst already.
The Hursts resided in Hanover Square, and Miss Bingley grinned savagely at them as she told Jane, “I have come to stay with my sister, as Charles is not in London at present. He is travelling with the widow of our late elder brother.”
Miss Steele was not unaware of Elizabeth and Jane’s hesitation to befriend her.
She narrowed her eyes at them and smiled at their hostess as she whispered, “Poor Miss Bennet! She has worn a very fine gown, but it does not at all suit her complexion when she wears such a look of disappointment! She is pinker than her sprigged muslin!”
Elizabeth stiffened as she heard this, though Jane appeared distracted by some cold remark from Miss Bingley. She turned away to speak to Mrs. Jennings when Mrs. Hurst tittered at something else Miss Steele said, and then leaned over to claim Miss Bingley’s attention.
“Caroline, it is such a pity Charles has gone away! Is not Miss Steele utterly charming? You have chosen a fine companion, Charlotte! What a wicked sense of humor she has – that is just what we like.”
Miss Bingley abruptly turned to her sister, though Jane was still speaking.
“I must hazard a guess you have been shopping with Mrs. Palmer, Miss Steele, for you are dressed very smart! I should like to know your modiste. That shade of blue is my brother’s favorite; I daresay he would be falling at your feet, for it is always his custom to charm the young ladies wherever he goes. ”
“I have not been as fortunate as the Miss Bennets in acquiring an entirely new wardrobe for my stay in London, but this frock was a gift from dear Mrs. Palmer – I hope I shall have many occasions to wear it.” Miss Steele smiled smugly as she preened.
“You are a natural beauty, and need not exert yourself so much to be positively striking,” Mrs. Hurst assured her. “Some ladies are enchanted by finery, while those such as yourself have little need of it – though it is clear you possess such elegance all the same.”