Chapter 10
Drawing Room
Longbourn
Later
Darcy sat with his back very straight as he listened to the conversation maintained largely by Bingley, Lady Bennet, and her eldest and youngest two daughters. Miss Bingley, her disapproval plain across her face, contributed very little, and Mrs. Hurst not much more.
Darcy watched Bingley, noting uneasily the adoring glances Bingley kept casting at Jane Bennet.
Though Bingley's stated intentions for hosting a ball at Netherfield were entirely reasonable, Darcy was well aware that Bingley's real motivation lay elsewhere.
At every party, assembly, and every visit to Longbourn, Bingley looked around a room to see if Miss Bennet was there, and if she was not, was visibly, if briefly, crestfallen.
If she was present, he smiled enthusiastically and gravitated at once to her side and established himself there for the duration of his stay.
Whatever his true purpose, in a small country town like this, Bingley was doubtless raising expectations.
Whatever Bingley's unspoken motivations might be for a ball, his presented reasoning, that he wished to be a good neighbor, was sound, and Darcy was willing to enter into the scheme wholeheartedly.
Miss Elizabeth was light on her feet and would undoubtedly love a ball, and though her first impression of Darcy had been that of a discourteous churl, he was determined to behave in so exemplary a manner that she could not but reform her initial low opinion of his manners and person.
Indeed, he had every intention of apologizing for his previous behavior and asking her for a set.
Thus he sat now, politely attentive to the conversation, contributing little, but silently giving support to his friend.
Bingley was full of expansive plans, graciously accepting the rather absurd suggestions of the two youngest Misses Bennet, and glancing ever and anon at Miss Bennet to gauge her approval of his scheme.
Darcy was definitely worried about his friend’s infatuation, which seemed to be growing stronger by the day.
Darcy would need to pull his friend aside soon to point out that despite her wide array of fine qualities, Miss Bennet displayed no more tender an affection towards Bingley than one might expect of a friend.
This would throw a damper over Bingley's enthusiasm, as he had stated many times his intention of marrying a lady who loved him as deeply as he loved her.
In the meantime, Darcy had his own plans.
Miss Elizabeth was sitting across the room, and he was not going to pass up this opportunity to speak with.
He needed to apologize, but she would not welcome such an apology in such a crowded room.
Nonetheless, he could perhaps initiate a conversion on other grounds, Shakespeare, possibly, or other authors the lady appreciated, or perhaps she would prefer to discuss some of the finer details of crop rotation.
“Oh, Mr. Bingley, it all sounds so very delightful!” Lady Bennet cried out happily. “It has been very long since we enjoyed a private ball. Thank you!”
“It is our very great pleasure,” Bingley said with a smile. “Is there any particular time that would be most convenient for the community?”
“I believe everyone would be pleased at a ball as soon as possible,” Miss Elizabeth remarked from her seat near the window.
Darcy, squinting, observed that she was reading a book on sheep husbandry, which was no great surprise given the conversation he overheard at Lucas Lodge, and yet, what kind of lady read about such things?
“You have a very small park here, but I assume there are a few flower beds,” Caroline Bingley remarked suddenly and in a supercilious tone, drawing Darcy’s attention.
He wished that his friend’s sisters had chosen to stay home this day and was afraid that she would speak rudely, which would not do the Netherfield party any favors at all.
Of course, honesty dictated that he take some responsibility for Miss Bingley’s attitude.
He had behaved in a conceited manner at the Meryton assembly and the lady, who longed to become his wife, had naturally enough imitated his shameful attitude.
“If Charles decides to stay at Netherfield throughout the next year,” Miss Bingley continued in an affected tone, “I suppose something must be done about the flowers at Netherfield. Do you know what kinds of plants thrive in this climate?”
“Oh, Miss Bingley,” Lady Bennet replied, and to Darcy’s relief, she did not look insulted. “I assure you that we are most blessed by the climate here in that almost anything will grow if treated well enough. Roses, and daffodils, and tulips, and…”
The door opened to reveal the Longbourn butler, who was followed by two shockingly familiar individuals, both dressed in elegant traveling attire. Darcy was on his feet without thought, and Bingley, glancing at him in surprise, followed suit, while Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst remained seated
“The Earl and Countess of Keaton,” the butler stated and withdrew.
Darcy saw Caroline Bingley’s eyes bulge in astonishment, and a moment later she was on her feet as well, as was her sister.
Miss Elizabeth, who had stood up along with the gentleman, hurried forward, a glorious smile on her countenance.
“Clara, how wonderful to see you! I hope you are well? Whatever are you doing here?”
Darcy’s surprise gave way to flummoxed astonishment. How could it be that Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of a peculiar country gentleman, was on such familiar terms with the Countess of Keaton?
“I am very well, thank you, Elizabeth. May I please introduce my husband, Lord Keaton.”
The lord and lady bowed and curtsied appropriately, and Miss Elizabeth said, “It is an honor to meet you at last, Lord Keaton. May I please introduce our new friends, Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy along with my mother, Lady Bennet, and my sisters, Miss Bennet, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia. Mother, sisters, friends, Lady and Lord Keaton. ”
Again, there were bows and curtseys, and Darcy was hard pressed to keep his mouth from gaping foolishly.
The Earl of Keaton was two years older than himself and master of an estate even greater than Pemberley’s.
As for Lady Keaton, who had married her husband only a few months previously, she was the granddaughter of a duke, and the daughter of a marquis, with an impressive fortune in her own right.
How was it possible that Miss Elizabeth knew the countess personally?
“Lady Keaton, Lord Keaton,” Lady Bennet cried out. “It is truly an honor to finally meet you. Will you not sit down by the fire and warm yourselves and I will order tea and scones. Kitty, Lydia, perhaps you could inform Cook that we will have tea in fifteen minutes?”
Darcy watched as the two youngest Misses Bennet hastily fled the room, leaving a comfortable settee behind, and their noble visitors obediently sat down followed by everyone else.
Miss Elizabeth moved to a chair closer to the pair and said with shining eyes, “Clara, it is wonderful to see you, and many congratulations on your wedding. What brings you to Hertfordshire?”
“My dear husband has a subsidiary estate in Bedfordshire, and I realized that we would not be going much out of our way to stop at Longbourn for a brief visit. Your family has a charming little property. May I ask about Sir Thomas and Miss Mary? Are they closeted in the library overseeing star charts, perhaps?”
“They are not,” Miss Elizabeth said in a regretful tone. “Father and Mary are still on Emerald Island and likely will not return to Longbourn for a few more weeks in spite of the colder weather. As you know, they are quite passionate about their work.”
“I do, of course,” Lady Keaton said with a chuckle and then turned to her husband. “I know I have told you of the Bennets before, but oh, it was a sublime experience the first time that Sir Thomas showed me Mars through a telescope on Emerald Island.”
“It sounds delightful,” her lord replied with a grin and then faced Lady Bennet. “Do you think that Sir Thomas would be willing to permit my bride and me to visit Emerald Island to look at the planets next year, or would we be disrupting his work too much?”
Lady Bennet had been oddly quiet thus far, and when she spoke, it was with obvious diffidence, “Oh, I do think that Sir Thomas, that is, he is quite … that is…”
The lady turned an anguished look on Miss Elizabeth, who said, “My father is an eccentric gentleman, and when in the throes of a calculation, he is inclined toward being dismissive to the point of incivility. But my sister Mary is usually with him, and she would be delighted to receive you, though of course the planets are not always visible depending on their position with respect to the Earth and the sun. But oh, did you know that there is a new comet in the skies? It is actually visible by eye, although certainly with a telescope it is far clearer. Honore Flaughergues discovered it in March of this year, and my father and Mary are ecstatic over it.”
“That must be thrilling to see,” Lady Keaton said, her blue eyes sparkling. “Do you know where it is in the heavens? I do not precisely know what I am looking for, but it would be marvelous to spy a comet.”
Miss Elizabeth pursed her lips and said, “There is a telescope on the platform in the back field, and I had one of the servants ensure that the structure was stable, while another carefully polished the mirror recently. If you would care to stay the night, I would be pleased to show it to you.”
“Oh!” Lady Keaton said, turning toward her hostess. “But I would not wish to put you out…”
“We would be delighted if you stayed the night,” Lady Bennet cried out. “And whether it is clear or cloudy tonight, you are certainly welcome to stay as long as you wish.”
“Coachman Jack told me that it will be clear tonight,” Jane Bennet said with a smile, and Lord Keaton said, “In that case, we would be pleased to stay, would we not, my dear?”
Darcy, who had been listening to this conversation in growing bewilderment, pulled himself together sufficiently to stand up. “Lord and Lady Keaton, Mrs. and Misses Bennet, we had best take our leave.”
Lord Keaton stood up as well and said, “Mr. Darcy, I am a trifle surprised to find you here as I know your estate is in Derbyshire. But perhaps you have a subsidiary estate here?”
“No, I am staying with my friend Mr. Bingley at his nearby estate,” Darcy explained, gesturing vaguely in his friend’s direction. “Netherfield Hall is about three miles from here.”
“We would be very pleased if you would honor us with your presence at dinner tomorrow,” Miss Bingley said, speaking for the first time, her face was twisted in an expression of supplication.
“That is kind of you, ... erm ... Miss Bungly?” Lady Keaton asked.
“Miss Bingley, my lady,” Caroline Bingley corrected, ducking into another curtsey.
“Miss Bingley, but my husband and I will not be able to stay long in Hertfordshire, and we intend to spend time with our friends. Good day to you all.”
Darcy knew a dismissal when he heard it, and he gestured to Bingley’s sisters, who obediently left, though both sisters were looking anguished, doubtless from losing the opportunity rub elbows with an earl and countess.
As for himself, he was too flummoxed to think beyond the obvious reality that Elizabeth Bennet, and her entire family, were obviously far better connected than he had any idea of.