Chapter Twelve
London
A few days later, the ladies from Berkeley Square were invited to what the Countess of Matlock deemed a family dinner.
She was livelier than Elizabeth expected her to be, and a few years younger than the earl’s children.
Lady Matilda Fitzwilliam greeted her guests warmly, with none of the formality they anticipated.
“My poor husband is not feeling well this evening, but I am determined to be hospitable enough for the both us – especially when I have heard such praise of you all! Miss Bennet, the very image of Aphrodite! Miss Elizabeth, you indeed have a look of playful cheer about you, and quite as lovely as your sister! And the charming Mrs. Gardiner, I hear you are a perfect blend of your nieces’ grace and wit – or rather, they have learned such gifts from you.
Mrs. Jennings, the benevolent hostess of such a charming feminine party – I am sure I should envy you that joy, if Phillip’s daughters were not in residence to delight me – seven years married, and no children of my own!
Well, you shall meet them another time, for they are upstairs with Lacey.
But we have some other friends to be met with here – I believe you are acquainted with Darcy's friends, and connected to them through family, after a fashion.”
Mr. Darcy looked rather mortified as his aunt rambled effusively, admired all the Bennet sisters’ finery, and finally led them into the drawing room.
The viscount seemed not to notice anything that was passing, and had eyes only for Jane; he offered one arm to her, and the other to Mrs. Gardiner, and escorted them after the countess, who latched onto Mrs. Jennings with alacrity.
Mr. Darcy did likewise to Elizabeth and Georgiana, and Elizabeth smiled as she was struck by the stark contrast of the countess’s loquacity and the Darcy siblings’ reticence.
She was reminded of Mary and Kitty, who often seemed entirely stymied by their own timidity in a family of so many bolder personalities.
She hoped that they were content in the company of their cousins.
The corners of his mouth quirked upward as Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth. “Pray, why do you smile?”
“I smile because you do, sir.” Elizabeth said archly, and then she gave way to a wicked impulse and laughed. “I smile because the countess reminds me of Mamma; she is very fond of company, it seems.”
She expected this observation to mortify Mr. Darcy; though she had begun to find his company agreeable enough, and her resentment toward him thoroughly cooled, it was far too easy to nettle him. Elizabeth could not resist.
However, Mr. Darcy gave her a wry grin. “You are not the only one with fascinating relations.”
“Oh! But we have heard news of yours, Lizzy,” Georgiana said as they entered the large parlor, where the countess’s other guests awaited them. Elizabeth did her best to keep her countenance neutral as they met with Mr. Ferrars, her children, and John Dashwood.
The countess presented her eldest step-daughter, Lady Norah Blake, and Sir Arthur Blake; after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the final guests were announced, Mrs. Hatchard and her daughter.
Lady Matilda had a fine notion of a family dinner indeed, for there were seventeen people in her parlor, and nearly half of them unknown to her!
Fortunately, it was a spacious, stately room with enough furniture to accommodate them all.
There was a large hearth at either end of the room, and a magnificent pianoforte in the center, creating two comfortable spaces where they all congregated to converse before the meal.
Elizabeth found herself separated from Jane, for the viscount prudently led Jane and Mrs. Gardiner away from everybody called Ferrars, and instead engaged in furthering their acquaintance with his sister and her husband.
This left Elizabeth seated too near her cousins’ detestable relations for her liking, though the Hatchards joined Elizabeth and the Darcys.
Georgiana and Sophie had called daily on Elizabeth and Jane, though the two younger girls seemed to share a bond unique to their own experience as ingenues in society, and Elizabeth delighted at the sight of their camaraderie.
“Oh! But we had news from John,” Sophie said, smiling shyly at Elizabeth.
“He wrote this morning that we may expect his return tomorrow. He says that he bears good tidings, and wishes to call upon you with Colonel Brandon. Bah! But nobody will tell me what happened at the ball, and I am certain it must be something sensational!”
Georgiana opened her mouth to speak, but Mr. Darcy shook his head at her, and Mrs. Hatchard gave her daughter a stern look.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together in a rueful pose of contrition.
“Of course, we will receive them very cordially. I trust Colonel Brandon would warn us if there was anything unpleasant to be expected.”
Sophie screwed up her face and then dared a grin at Mr. Darcy. “Sir, what is your opinion – shall I more easily wheedle the truth out of Georgiana, or Lizzy?”
He gave a breathy laugh. “My opinion is that your patience shall be rewarded if you wait until there is any good reason for all to be revealed. But, Miss Elizabeth, as my sister said, we have had news of your relations in Meryton.”
Elizabeth eyed him with appreciation for how deftly he had turned the conversation. “Have you heard from your cousins, then? Mine have not yet written.”
“Lady Rebecca is a faithful correspondent and assiduous busybody,” Mr. Darcy said.
“And she has written us a long and vastly amusing letter,” Georgiana added. “Our cousins met your relations at a ball for the Twelfth Night, and liked them very much. Lady Rebecca especially enjoyed Miss Marianne Dashwood speaking her mind to Mr. Bingley; she hopes they will become great friends.”
Mr. Darcy gave a slight scowl at this but said nothing.
As much as it amused Elizabeth that his friend should be subjected to a modicum of reproof for abandoning Jane, Elizabeth did not wish any of her family to make more of a spectacle of themselves.
“If Mr. Bingley truly intends to remain at Netherfield and devote himself to the estate and the community, I am sure he will not long remain a topic of such… interesting discourse. But I am glad that Marianne and Elinor have found friends in your cousins.”
Edward Ferrars was sitting at some remove, but he looked up as Elizabeth spoke Elinor’s name, and he came to sit with her, giving Darcy a clap on the shoulder. “I understand your relations are in Meryton, as are Miss Elizabeth’s cousins. I hope the Dashwoods are well.”
“I have not heard from them directly, but Miss Darcy has had news of them from her relations, who sound like just the sort of people suited to cheer my cousins after a rather dismal autumn in Devonshire.” Elizabeth had little intention of gratifying Mr. Ferrars in any way through her conversation, and began to think Mr. Darcy was a poor judge in choosing his friends.
She addressed herself to Georgiana. “How do your cousins like Meryton? Do consider, Georgiana, that I hope it may be some inducement to tempt you and Sophie to visit when Jane and I return.”
“They like it very well; I am sure we must visit, Sophie!”
“Oh, I should like that above anything,” Sophie cried. “I have no sisters near my age, and you and Jane have three!”
“Lizzy will never convince me it is not as glamorous as it sounds,” Georgiana said with a laugh.
“Darcy and I have but one apiece,” Mr. Ferrars observed.
“I have often envied my brother by marriage, John, for having three such charming sisters in the Dashwoods. I am glad, though not surprised, that your cousin should think well of them. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Lady Rebecca, but I understand she is a formidable woman.”
“She must be,” Elizabeth agreed. “But I am glad that she wishes to befriend Marianne, after my cousin staunchly defended dear Jane; Lady Rebecca must understand the plight of young ladies who are disappointed by unworthy gentlemen.”
She knew her speech was too prickly and pointed for polite conversation, but Elizabeth nonetheless enjoyed unsettling Mr. Ferrars, and no explanation or apology was required, for dinner was announced at that moment, and Elizabeth stood briskly to seek out her sister.
Happily, the countess arranged her table informally, considering more than rank in seating her guests so that they might all enjoy pleasant dinner companions.
Lady Matilda kept up a steady stream of chatter at the head of the table, with Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Hatchard on either side of her, and Mrs. Gardiner nearby as well.
Elizabeth basked in the sight of the women she regarded so highly being treated with such warm candor, for she had feared the countess would prove as haughty as Mr. Darcy had once been.
She could not repine being seated across the table from him, near Jane and the viscount, and these two gentlemen were so willing to make themselves agreeable that Elizabeth began to doubt her own recollection of Mr. Darcy’s cold pride when he had visited Netherfield.
Of the two men, Viscount Bellamy was a little more gregarious, though it was evident that he was unaccustomed to exerting himself to draw a lady out, as he was obliged to do with Jane.
“It is a pity you did not arrive in London before the new year, Miss Bennet, for my step-mother always hosts an extravagant celebration to mark the occasion. Darcy, shall we tell them of our tradition? I wish Richard were here, for he can make anything amusing – in truth it is rather silly – I may convince you only that we are a very foolish set of cousins.”