Chapter 27
Lydia was frustrated; she had expected to enjoy Brighton and attend ever so many balls and parties, with handsome officers flirting with her at every corner, but all she had experienced was the company of her mother wherever she went.
Mrs. Bennet had never enjoyed walking unless it was to go from shop to shop in a marketplace, but now it seemed she had a heretofore unquenched desire to walk to the seaside, near the church yard, or the fashionable promenade, or wherever her daughter and Mrs. Forster would express a desire to visit.
The effect of this was that, though the officers would greet them and even walk with them for a while, they all maintained proper decorum and nobody would dare flirt.
“I do not understand why your mother wishes to accompany us again?” Harriet Forster complained to her friend when Mrs. Bennet had insisted on being one of the party to their picnic on the morrow.
“I do not know what has got into Mama; she is spoiling all my fun,” Lydia replied with a pout.
“Not all fun. I have a surprise for you tonight,” Mrs. Forster cryptically answered.
No manner of cajoling or begging from her friend would convince the lady to spill her secret.
Thus, Lydia spent the rest of the day in anticipation, but to no avail; she remained in the drawing room after dinner, hoping that something would occur, but soon was all alone.
Cursing her friend for her poor attempt at a joke, Lydia finally went upstairs.
She had just changed into a night rail when Harriet came knocking.
“Put on a gown and come with me,” she whispered urgently as soon as Lydia had opened her rooms.
“Come! Where?”
“Do you want to be stuck at the house or have some fun? Do as I say,” her friend insisted, and quickly helped Lydia dress.
They tiptoed downstairs, Lydia following her friend without making any sound.
They exited the house from the back door, where Mrs. Forster had arranged for a chaise to take them a bit further.
They alighted some ten minutes later, a short distance from the house in a sheltered alleyway.
“Whatever are we doing here?”
“I did not want to risk being caught at the house and hence arranged for us to be dropped off here. He should be here shortly.”
“Who should be here? Who is coming?” Lydia questioned, but was cut off by the arrival of Wickham with another officer, a Mr. Chamberlayne.
“Wickham!” Lydia exclaimed, “You have been rather scarce.”
“My dear Miss Lydia, it would have been untoward to bother you when you were in the company of your mother,” Wickham answered with a winning smile.
Lydia was too naive and too flattered with the attention of a handsome officer to question his words.
They spoke for some time during which a plan was hatched to slip away from the picnic for half an hour while Mrs. Bennet was distracted.
Mrs. Forster spent most of the time with Mr. Chamberlayne and was quick to add to the general complaints of the officers regarding Mrs. Bennet.
Thus decided, the ladies made their way back to the house with a renewed vigour.
While Lydia was excitedly getting ready for bed, dreaming of officers at the picnic the next day, Jane was sitting near the mirror in her room at Gracechurch Street, combing her hair for bed and thinking of a specific officer and her own rather inexplicable interaction with him.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the Gardiner’s residence to the astonishment of the ladies.
Jane had been especially surprised, for she had not considered the introduction to the gentleman at Gunter’s of any note.
She had considered him Miss Bingley’s suitor with the lady hanging on his arm, and then ignored him in favour of her own suitor and his acrimonious interaction with his sister.
“Miss Bennet, we did not get a chance to speak the other day. I had heard much about you and once introduced decided to call on you.”
“I am surprised, for I will have to be honest, Colonel, I had never heard about you before being introduced,” Jane replied with evident astonishment.
“I am quite put out to hear that, for I had considered myself a good friend to Miss Elizabeth, but now I see that she did not even mention me to her dearest sister,” the Colonel responded with a teasing smile.
“You are acquainted with Lizzy!” Jane exclaimed.
“Yes, we met when I was in Kent visiting my aunt, Lady Catherine. Miss Elizabeth was visiting Mr. and Mrs. Collins, at the parsonage.”
“Oh! Of course, Lizzy did mention that Lady Catherine’s nephews were visiting, but I am sorry to say that my sister did not elaborate on your acquaintance.”
“Yes, I think Miss Elizabeth had discovered many things that she disapproved of in me. My relationship with Darcy, among others.”
“Lizzy would never hold anyone accountable for a relation’s behaviour. Not that I mean there is anything wrong with Mr. Darcy’s behaviour,” Jane stammered the last part.
“There are many things wrong with my cousin’s behaviour, but one thing that had seemed to bother Miss Elizabeth most was when I disclosed his persuasiveness over Bingley.”
“Oh! I am sure Mr. Darcy had Mr. Bingley’s best interests at heart. They are such good friends,” Jane answered.
“Miss Bennet, I came here today on a mission. My mother is having a small soiree. I was hoping you would be so amiable as to attend.”
“Colonel, while I am honoured, I am not at all acquainted with anyone in your family.”
“You are acquainted with me, and once you come to the party you will be acquainted with the others.” Then, turning towards Mrs. Gardiner, he entreated the lady’s acceptance and was soon gratified.
He took his leave soon after that, informing them that a footman would arrive with their invitation on his mother’s behalf.
To the ladies’ further surprise, a footman in the Matlock livery did deliver an invite later in the day on behalf of the Countess of Matlock.
“Aunt, did the Colonel mention that he was the son of the Earl and Countess of Matlock?” Jane asked nervously.
“No, dearest, it must have slipped his mind. Well, there is nothing to it, we will have to attend, for one does not decline the invitation of such a great Lady.”
“Do you think the Colonel is interested in Lizzy? Why else would he single us out?” Jane asked her aunt, trying to make sense of the whole invitation.
“Lizzy is not here, dearest, so I do not think that is the reason, though your sister does leave an impression on people,” Mrs. Gardiner responded.
Now as Jane was getting ready for bed, she thought of Mr. Bingley.
He had not called today, but that was hardly surprising; she had spent most of the day yesterday with him.
Hoping that he would come tomorrow, she decided to speak to him.
She was convinced that the Bingleys would be there at Lady Matlock’s gathering, and understanding Mr. Bingley’s preference for her, the Colonel may have convinced his mother to extend the invitation.