Chapter 2
“Miss Elizabeth, I see we are both sitting out this set.”
Elizabeth Bennet turned at this greeting and smilingly inclined her head to the elegant Miss Bingley.
She had danced with the lady’s brother only a little while ago and found him very amiable.
“Indeed. The neighbourhood is sadly short of gentlemen. Even my sister Jane is not assured of a partner for every dance.”
“In London, one may wonder if one has committed some sort of faux pas if more than one set goes unclaimed, but I must say I find the pace of this assembly refreshing. I do enjoy dancing, but I am also glad of the additional opportunity to speak with new acquaintances.”
“Perhaps both purposes might be served if there were longer breaks between sets,” Elizabeth suggested sportively.
Miss Bingley laughed softly. “That might also reduce the mad scramble for punch between sets, and allow more of us the opportunity of refreshment.”
The pause which followed had an air of hesitation.
“We have been made so very welcome here among you. It has truly exceeded all our hopes. I would wish that all of my brother’s party had been able to show themselves to advantage.”
Elizabeth caught the note of apology in the other young lady’s voice and knew she had been informed of Mr Darcy’s slights against herself.
This was no surprise; indeed, it had been her intention in sharing the tale with the other young ladies, to turn his spite into cause for laughter at the gentleman rather than pity for Elizabeth.
She smiled reassuringly. “I hope I should not be so unjust as to blame a group for the actions of one member,” she replied.
“You and your brother, in particular, have thus far been all that I might wish for in new neighbours.”
Miss Bingley smiled, and in it Elizabeth read a shade of uncertainty which surprised her, for the young lady seemed to be everything elegant and sophisticated.
“I shall not attempt to excuse Mr Darcy, or to apologise on his behalf. In truth, I am shocked by what I have heard. His manners are reserved, but he has always, to my knowledge, been most scrupulously correct in all things. I hope his unjust remarks will not be the cause of a breach between Netherfield and Longbourn.”
“Certainly not. He may think what he likes—I have found that gentlemen, and perhaps young gentlemen in particular, will cling stubbornly to their opinions in the face of any opposition. Let him declare me the most ill-favoured lady in England if he will, but it shall not alter my desire to know you better,” she reassured Miss Bingley.
She was entirely sincere, too; Mr and Miss Bingley had been entirely pleasing, and Elizabeth hoped they would be friends as well as neighbours.
“You are generous,” Miss Bingley said. Her grateful smile slid ever so slightly towards mischief. “If a man of his stamp said anything of the sort about me, I should be tempted to hate him and all his friends forever.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I shall not speak my opinion of the gentleman, but his friends are safe from my ire.”
Just then, a shriek rang out over the assemblage, and many heads turned to behold Miss Lydia Bennet doubled over in laughter while Miss Penelope Long dabbed at a spot on the front of her dress with a handkerchief and seemed on the verge of tears.
Miss Long swooped in and bore her younger sister off to the retiring room, and Lydia’s dance partner recalled her to the line.
Soon the attention of the spectators returned to their interrupted conversations, or to observing the dance.
Elizabeth’s smile became strained. “As you see, I also have some connexions one might wish to encounter infrequently, if at all.”
“Forgive my ignorance, but is it the general practice in the country to have girls come out so young?”
“It is not unheard of for a girl of fifteen to attend local events,” Elizabeth allowed. “Particularly if her mother fears the eventual consequences of an entailment upon the family estate.”
“Ah, I see,” Miss Bingley murmured. “That is an unfortunate situation for your family.”
“It is, but we have the consolation that my father is very hale.”
“I look forward to meeting Mr Bennet.”
“You may find him rather elusive,” Elizabeth replied lightly, glad to be speaking on a subject other than her youngest sister. “He is not at all fond of society, though he will at times allow himself to be dragged from his book-room for an occasion which does not involve dancing.”
Miss Bingley’s reply was forestalled by the entry of a third into their party. John Goulding greeted Elizabeth before hopefully requesting an introduction to her friend. When the lady nodded her assent, Elizabeth made them known to each other.
“Miss Bingley, may I present Mr John Goulding,” Elizabeth said. “His family have Haye-Park, which is more or less directly opposite Netherfield Park, on the other side of Meryton.”
The lady smiled politely and expressed pleasure in the acquaintance. He asked if she had any sets available that he might claim. “I should be happy to oblige you for the next, thank you, sir,” she replied, and promising to collect her when the current set ended, he went away happy.
“I have known Mr Goulding from the cradle—mine, not his, for he is four years my elder,” Elizabeth informed her in a low voice. “He is a fair dancer and a pleasant, undemanding companion. If you are fond of horses, you shall have much to discuss.”
“I am, as it happens,” Miss Bingley replied. “Thank you for the information.”
“I have known nearly everyone in this room for the whole of my life. If you wish to know of them, I am happy to oblige.”
They spoke of the neighbourhood and its principal families until the set came to an end. Elizabeth could see Mr Lucas, Sir William’s eldest son and her partner for the next, approaching. Mr Goulding would no doubt reappear shortly.
“I hope, Miss Bingley,” she took the opportunity to say, “that you will call upon us at Longbourn. I should be delighted to know you better and feel certain my sister Jane would say the same.”
Miss Bingley smiled warmly, a hint of bashful pleasure in her expression. “I should like that very much, Miss Elizabeth. You may count upon seeing me soon.”