Chapter Fourteen
Hertfordshire
The Dashwood sisters did not remain long at odds with one another; Mary would not allow it, and had only to remark upon the childish disputes of her younger sisters to inspire reconciliation between Marianne and Elinor.
Marianne apologized for her assumptions and promised that she would be civil to Mr. Bingley, and Elinor vowed that she would cease to pine for Edward.
Marianne had not asked it of her – had instead acknowledged that Elinor’s silence did not preclude the depth of her feelings – but now that Elinor had purged herself of these sentiments in an effort to make herself understood, she wished desperately to overcome what troubled her.
The two sisters both promised to be of good cheer, and they were tested in their resolve as they dressed for dinner that evening.
The post was delivered very late, and they were already about their toilette and Elinor and Marianne read the letter from their cousins in London.
Elinor bore their news of Edward with resignation; she had neither the claim upon his honor that Lucy Steele boasted of, nor any of the wealth and status that his mother desired in his future bride, and she was only sorry that Jane’s inheritance had drawn the notice of Edward’s unctuous relations.
To Elinor’s astonishment, Marianne betrayed little reaction to Jane’s inclusion of a note for her from Mr. Willoughby; she only tucked it into her pocket without a word of acknowledgement, and spoke of Elinor’s misfortunes rather than her own.
The dinner itself was to be another trial for them, for the Bennets and Dashwoods were invited to dine at Netherfield. Colonel Fitzwilliam was present, which pleased both Elinor and Marianne; the Lucases had also been invited, which only made them uneasy.
The family from Longbourn had not seen the Lucases in nearly a fortnight, since their altercation in the village, and Elinor was sorry that Mr. Bennet, and not his wife, had stayed home with Margaret, Lydia, and Julia.
Without her husband present to restrain her, Mrs. Bennet did not trouble herself to conceal her contempt for their neighbors, and Mrs. Dashwood was too gentle to sufficiently deter her from loud, cutting remarks at Lady Lucas’s expense.
Several other officers had accompanied the colonel, and fortunately they were sufficiently distracting Lady Lucas and her eldest daughter from Mrs. Bennet’s disdain.
In turn Mrs. Bennet began to promote her own daughters to them.
Elinor did not quite know what to do with herself as they all conversed in the drawing room, and when she saw Maria Lucas looking equally uncomfortable, she approached the girl.
“You are looking well this evening, Miss Maria. I have heard from my cousins that you have excellent taste in ribbons and lace.” It was all Elinor could think to say, and she hoped the girl would understand the sentiments she really wished to convey.
Miss Maria smiled nervously, tears shining in her eyes. Her reply was barely audible. “I suppose they despise me, now.”
“Bad feelings, even the strong ones, do not last forever. It is hard, when one is grieving a loss, to see anybody happy.” Elinor sighed, thinking of how she had resented John and Fanny when they arrived at Norland after her father’s death.
She had not been as vocal in her sentiments as her sisters and their mother, but she had felt it all the same.
Surely if she had ever been as fond of them as the Bennet girls had once been of the Lucases, she would endeavor to heal the breach between them.
“I think it is hard for Charlotte, but I would never have been cross if Lydia had not been so cruel. I hope you will teach her and Kitty some of your wisdom, Miss Dashwood.”
“I shall, I promise it. But my cousin Mary – I know she is sensible enough to see things as I do.” Elinor gave the girl an encouraging smile as she tipped her head toward Mary, who was floundering in conversation with Lieutenant Sanderson.
“Mary looks lovely tonight; perhaps I will tell her so.” Miss Maria gave Elinor a look of gratitude before moving away.
Elinor observed with satisfaction as Mary received Miss Maria warmly, a look of relief on her face as her friend praised her to the young officer. As a smile spread across Elinor’s face, Colonel Fitzwilliam came to stand beside her.
“I can guess what delights you, Miss Dashwood. You are thinking of enlisting in my regiment, for you are a better peace-keeper than any of my men.”
“But not nearly as skilled with a weapon,” Elinor laughed.
“You need not be, unless one considers your mind. I am sure you keep that weapon well-polished. That was cleverly done of you, just now; I commend your efforts.”
“I am very sorry for the rift between the Bennets and the Lucases. True and affectionate friends are hard to come by and ought not be so swiftly dismissed.”
The colonel moved closer, a look of curiosity playing over his face.
“I suppose you speak from experience – but that cannot be – surely the estimable Miss Dashwood cannot want for affectionate friends. If that is indeed the case, I am perfectly willing to volunteer a certain fellow of first-rate character.”
He grinned and waggled his brows before sweeping into an exaggerated bow, and Elinor laughed. “Are we not friends already, Colonel?”
“I have wished to believe it, most eagerly. And yet, if we were truly such warm friends, I must surely comprehend what great tragedy has given you uncommon wisdom.”
Elinor surveyed him as if searching for mockery in his mirthful visage, but she found only sincerity.
Even so, she scarcely wished to confide that beyond her Bennet relations, she was quite friendless.
She had lost touch with the few girls she had known during her youth at Norland, she had not even the friendship of John and Fanny, and her most recent acquaintances, the Steele sisters, were hardly genuine in any of their overtures.
But then he winked. “I suppose I ought to confess that my sister has told me what your sister confided in her. Rebecca is under the impression that I am vastly keen to know about you.”
“I have heard it from Lady Rebecca herself that she is never wrong,” Elinor said, allowing herself a little smirk at him.
The colonel moved a little closer. “Well then, Miss Dashwood, what secrets does your serenity conceal?”
“Nothing out of the common way,” Elinor replied. She discreetly wrapped her fingers around the loose fabric of her frock – the fine new silk gown Mrs. Jennings had gifted her – and squeezed tightly to spend the high emotion that swelled inside of her.
She had no intention of telling this charming new acquaintance that she had received another letter from her cousins full of censure for Edward’s behavior in London, and that she began to think herself a hopeless fool for giving her heart to a man who was promised to a harpy yet attempting to court her own cousin.
Neither would she admit that she felt a great terror of repeating her mistake, that she might very well attach herself to the man before her, if he continued on so charmingly.
Instead, she attempted a jape. “Nothing more than a reasonable amount of highway robbery and piracy on the high seas. Smuggling, of course, and various arson and larceny.”
He grinned at her. “A woman of myriad talents! My soldiers and I stand little chance of defeating such an accomplished malefactress; our only hope is to join you in your devilry. I remain at your service.”
Elinor smiled wryly at him. “You must not expect to be paid well, nor treated well – no honor amongst thieves, sir.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam rested a hand on his chest and winked at her. “Says the sensible beauty as she steals my heart.”
Elinor shook her head, thinking him a strange fellow indeed, but she was satisfied that her deflection had kept their banter light enough.
She would not allow herself to enjoy his flirtation, for it would render her fickle indeed if she could overcome her heartbreak so easily, and yet she was gratified that he wished to make himself so agreeable.
She did not object to him leading her into dinner, though she might have been relieved if he had not been seated beside her.
Fortunately, Lady Rebecca was nearby at the head of the table, and she kept up a steady stream of conversation with Elinor, declaring herself as eager to get to know the elder sister as the younger.
***
Marianne was vastly chagrined at finding herself seated so far from her new friend at dinner.
She had hoped to vent her spleen to Lady Rebecca, and shock her with the details of the letter she and Elinor had received from their cousins in London.
Surely Lady Rebecca would be indignant on their behalf and agree to all of Marianne’s furious opinions about Edward’s absurdity.
But when she observed how eagerly Elinor was engaged by Lady Rebecca and the colonel, Marianne was appeased.
She had promised not to give voice to any assumptions about Colonel Fitzwilliam’s interest in her sister, but this could hardly prevent Marianne from private speculation.
Such musings were all she might look forward to, for she had been placed at Mr. Bingley’s right hand side, with Sir William Lucas on her other side, and Charlotte Lucas sat across from her.
She could expect nothing but inanity and presumption in the conversation that accompanied the meal, and Marianne spent the first course determined to think only of her sister as she consumed her turtle soup and turbot.