Chapter 33 #2
The girls attempting to flirt with him all ceased their efforts at the overture and rudely walked away.
However, Kitty and Maria remained nearby and expressed interest. “No, but I saw the newspaper when some of the exhibits there were mentioned a few months ago. I believe the Constable to be a fairly new acquisition,” Kitty remarked.
Maria was silent, having little to add to the conversation, since she did not know who either Turner or Constable were, but did not want to forsake her friend.
The entire party was soon assembled, and dinner was announced.
Since the occasion was a celebration of the Darcys’ marriage, each of them had to take a place of honour next to the hosts.
This arrangement, however, separated Elizabeth and Darcy across the entire table, much to their mutual disappointment.
Elizabeth found herself seated beside the host with Anne directly across from her.
Mr. Hargrove, meanwhile, was positioned at the opposite end of the table from Darcy.
Beyond these seats of honour, the rest of the guests were free to sit where they pleased.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had successfully claimed Jane’s arm to lead her into dinner—a pairing Mrs. Bennet observed with a hint of displeasure.
Although she acknowledged that Colonel Fitzwilliam was the son of an earl, she was concerned that, as a second son without an inheritance, he was not an ideal match for Jane.
Mrs. Bennet remained convinced that Mr. Bingley was the better prospect and fully intended to make her opinion known to Jane at the earliest opportunity.
Lydia, with her usual lack of restraint, saw her sisters receiving the attention of various gentlemen and others at the party, so she quickly set her sights on Captain Carter, one of the militia officers stationed in Meryton.
Her voice, frequently high-pitched and flirtatious, rang out across the table as she laughed a little too loudly at his jokes, her eyes never leaving him.
“Oh, Captain, you must tell us more about your time in the army! I do love a good story,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes at him, her hand resting on her wine glass as if to catch his attention.
She leant in just a touch too far, her gaze fixed on him with an expression of eager admiration, hoping to catch the eye of the handsome officer.
Captain Carter, a tall and well-built young man with a swagger to his step, seemed both amused and flattered by Lydia’s forwardness.
He smiled and leant in to reply, no doubt aware of her intentions but enjoying the attention nonetheless.
Lydia, oblivious to the effect of her actions on others at the table, continued her display of youthful exuberance, her laugh ringing out a little too loudly, a little too freely.
Mrs. Bennet, seated across from Lydia, observed her daughter with a mix of pride and unease.
Though Lydia’s flirtations were nothing new to her, after her earlier conversation with Elizabeth and Anne, Mrs. Bennet began to worry about others' opinions, especially if Lydia went to London.
While Lydia's behaviour might be tolerated in Meryton, where people were used to her antics, Mrs. Bennet noticed Captain Carter eyeing her daughter in a manner that could be perceived as predatory.
Likewise, she noticed the subtle glances exchanged between the other ladies and the disapproving looks that passed between the gentlemen at the table. She could see their distaste, but they were too polite to comment on Lydia’s actions.
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes shifted uneasily to Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, two of the highest placed gentlemen here, who had been observing the scene with quiet disapproval.
She could see that Darcy’s attention, previously focused on his conversation with his hostess, had now shifted, and though he said nothing, the coolness in his gaze was unmistakable.
She had no doubt that Darcy would find Lydia’s behaviour inappropriate, and the last thing she wanted was for her youngest daughter to embarrass herself in front of such distinguished company.
Additionally, if he disapproved of Lydia’s behaviour, he would be less willing to take her to London to introduce her to other wealthy men.
She glanced at Mrs. Hargrove, who sat opposite Elizabeth, and noticed the woman’s tight-lipped expression as she glanced briefly at Lydia before turning her attention back to her host. Mrs. Hargrove’s disapproval was clear, though carefully masked behind a polite smile.
Mrs. Bennet’s brow furrowed as she thought, I must be more careful with Lydia.
I cannot have her ruin the impression my family is making, especially not in front of people like Mr. Darcy and his family.
With a sigh, Mrs. Bennet shifted in her seat, trying not to attract attention as she cast another glance at Lydia.
She had long resigned herself to her daughter’s behaviour, but in this moment, she could not help but wish for a little more decorum from her youngest. Why must she always act as if she is the centre of attention and to flirt with gentlemen, demanding their attention?
Mrs. Bennet wondered, as Lydia’s loud laugh cut through the conversation once again.
Despite her discomfort and new awareness of how matters ought to be done, Mrs. Bennet could not quite suppress the tiny flicker of hope that perhaps Lydia’s attention-seeking antics might win her the favour of a young man in time.
If she can catch someone’s eye, maybe… just maybe…
I can have another daughter married. Elizabeth is married well, and Jane is drawing the attention of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley.
This gave her pause, and she noticed that her eldest daughter was sitting by the colonel.
Mr. Bingley was nowhere to be found at that end of the table.
Much to her surprise, Mrs. Bennet saw that another of her daughters was seated by Mr. Bingley.
Kitty was seated on his right, with Maria Lucas on his left, but as she watched for a few minutes, she noted that his attention often turned more towards Kitty than Maria.
“Well, that is an interesting turn,” she mused to herself, pondering what this shift in attention could mean for Kitty’s prospects.
With this thought, Mrs. Bennet allowed herself a faint, hopeful smile before returning her attention to her meal while continuing to watch Lydia, especially comparing the behaviour of her youngest daughter to that of her others.
Perhaps Mrs. Hargrove and Lizzy had been right and that Lydia’s behaviour would need to change before she would be accepted into society.