Chapter 11
In the Bingley Carriage
On the Road to Netherfield
The carriage jolted into motion, and Charles Bingley cast one last look toward Longbourn, hoping for one final glimpse of the lovely Miss Bennet in the window of the drawing room.
He was disappointed, but it mattered not, as he would call on her again, and soon.
She was such a wonderful lady, not just in her appearance, but in her character.
“So, when should we have the ball?” he said aloud as the carriage made the turn onto the road that went through Meryton. “I do not know how long it will take to make up the white soup but...”
“My dear Charles,” Caroline interrupted. “How can you speak of balls at a time like this?”
He looked at her in complete confusion, and then transferred his gaze to Louisa, who was looking equally irritated.
“Were we not speaking of a ball at Longbourn but a few minutes ago?” he asked.
“We were,” Caroline snapped, “and then the Earl and Countess of Keaton appeared unexpectedly, and we discovered that Eliza Bennet is on intimate terms with the countess! Did you know that, Brother? Did you know that the Bennets have such estimable connections?”
“No,” Charles said, “but surely it is ... that is, Miss Elizabeth is a charming and intelligent young lady. Is it truly such a great surprise?”
“A great ... Mr. Darcy, please have mercy and explain the situation to my brother!” Caroline said.
He turned a puzzled look on Darcy, seated next to him, who said, “I confess to being as surprised as your sisters, Bingley. The Earl of Keaton is both wealthy and very well connected. His wife, the countess, is the granddaughter of the Duke of Salford, the daughter of the Marquis of Stoken, and is a considerable heiress in her own right. I had no idea that the Bennets were well acquainted with such high ranking members of the ton.”
“It sounds as if the countess is only acquainted with Miss Elizabeth,” Caroline said with a deep frown, “and perhaps Sir Thomas and the other sister? Not the rest of the family? It is all very peculiar, but it means...”
She trailed off, and leaned back in her seat, her eyes suddenly glazed with thought.
“Means what?” Bingley asked.
Caroline’s pupils focused again, and she glanced at Louisa, who said, “It means that Jane Bennet might be an appropriate sister-in-law after all.”
Bingley stared at his sister in bewilderment. “What?”
“Is it not obvious?” Caroline demanded. “Given that the Bennets have close ties to an earl and his lady, the whole family has far better connections than we originally thought. Thus, it may be that Miss Bennet would be an appropriate bride for you.”
Charles knew he was not intellectually deficient, but he also knew that he did not entirely understand women, even his sisters.
“You did not think she was a worthy bride before?” he asked, more confused than indignant. “I thought you liked Miss Bennet!”
Again, the sisters exchanged glances, and Louisa said, “She is a lovely woman, Charles, but you know that our dear mother’s greatest wish was for our family name to rise into society, and we previously believed that Miss Bennet was not worthy.
But perhaps she is, and she would be a most charming sister by marriage. ”
Charles goggled at his sisters and then turned an indignant look on his friend, who was regarding him solemnly.
“Darcy?” he demanded. “Do you consider Miss Bennet an unworthy bride for me?”
“I did think the family was poorly connected,” Darcy admitted, “but my greater concern is that Miss Bennet does not, in my opinion, truly care for you, and I know you wish for a marriage of true affection and not merely convenience.”
“Not care for Charles, Mr. Darcy?” Caroline cried out in an extravagant tone. “Oh, I would not say that, not at all. Miss Bennet obviously enjoys Charles’s company a great deal. Indeed, while I would not, that is…”
She trailed off, considered, and then gazed limpidly at her brother. “You need not marry Miss Bennet, but you simply must at least consider it. Such a charming woman!”
***
The Library
Longbourn
Midnight
A fire had been lit in the library some hours before, and as a result the room was comfortably warm.
The curtains had been drawn against the darkness of the night outside, and candles filled the room with a warm glow.
Elizabeth loved the library and spent much of her time in the library seeing to correspondence and business.
Even when she was not working, she enjoyed relaxing in the cozy room with its smell of books.
She had chosen the curtains that hung at the windows, the rug in the middle of the wooden floor, and the cushions on the chairs where Elizabeth and her visitors now sat.
Two wingbacked chairs were placed close to the hearth, a tea service forgotten on the low table between them.
Clara, Countess of Keaton, sat knee to knee with Elizabeth, the two women talking eagerly together about all that had happened since last they had seen one another.
Lord Keaton, whom Elizabeth knew only through her friend’s frequent letters, appeared to be kindly, sensible, courteous, and intelligent.
He had said all that was proper to his wife's dear friend, and then, perceiving the ladies’ desire to speak in peace, had selected a book from the shelves, relaxed onto a small couch opposite the ladies, and begun to read the history of using the stars in navigation.
This tactful withdrawal from the conversation left the countess and Elizabeth free to speak together to their hearts' content.
“I must confess, Eliza, that I am rather surprised at your home,” the countess remarked. “Given the state of Osea house on Emerald Island, I did not expect Longbourn to be so charmingly decorated.”
“That is largely my mother’s doing,” Elizabeth said, giving credit where credit was due. “She is not herself particularly sophisticated, but she has a natural affinity for elegant decorations and style and the like.”
“Why has she not worked her magic at Osea House?” Lady Keaton asked. “Will your father not permit it?”
“My mother has only been to Emerald Island once,” Elizabeth explained.
“She does not like it, and I understand, as she is neither a mathematician nor a scientist, and it is obviously far smaller and plainer than Longbourn. Moreover, my father is too attentive to the heavens to pay much attention to her. Thus, she visited once, and was properly horrified by the flooded causeway, and vowed never to return again in her lifetime.”
“Flooded causeway?” the earl asked, lifting a curious gaze to her.
“Yes. There is a road that leads from the mainland to the island, but it is covered with water for six to eight hours a day, depending on the tides and the weather.”
“There is no bridge?” Lord Keaton asked.
“There is not,” Elizabeth confirmed. “Sometimes the local fishermen travel across the channel in a rowboat, but usually we just wait until the tides recede.”
“It sounds rather primitive,” the nobleman said, turning a thoughtful look on his wife.
“It is, but that is part of its wonder, my dear,” his lady replied with a smile.
“The house and furniture are simple, but the ocean is glorious, and the skies … oh, I do hope we can visit Emerald Island sometime next year. Sir Thomas is definitely quite eccentric, but I promise you that you have never seen anything like the heavens through one of his wondrous telescopes! I hope you do not mind me saying that about your father, Elizabeth.”
The younger woman chuckled and said, “Without a doubt, my father is rather peculiar, but you are right, of course, Clara, that it is a marvelous experience to see Mars and Jupiter and Saturn through his instruments.”
“Now I understand that your family owns Emerald Island,” Lord Keaton said. “May I inquire how Sir Thomas came into possession of it?”
“It was formerly owned by the Crown,” Elizabeth explained. “King George himself is interested in astronomy, and at the time that my father was knighted, our sovereign offered, through one of his secretaries, Emerald Island for Sir Thomas’s continued observations.”
“Longbourn is not appropriate?” the earl asked.
“It is well enough, but Longbourn is in a valley, and we are surrounded with trees, so it is impossible to spy astronomical objects close to the horizon. Emerald Island is very dark, and encircled by water, and the house is on a hill, so it is perfect.”
“I know that Longbourn is entailed away from the female line,” Clara said sympathetically. “It must be a relief that Emerald Island belongs to your father so that when he passes away, your family will have a place to live.”
Elizabeth hesitated and then said, “In truth, I now own the island, though that is only known by a few select individuals, and my mother and younger two sisters do not know. I have been managing Emerald Island, and to a large degree, Longbourn, for some years, and my father decided to make my oversight and ownership of the island legal, though my uncle Gardiner still has substantial power until I reach my majority. But yes, it is a relief that we will have a house, and income, to support my mother and sisters.”
“My dear Elizabeth!” Clara exclaimed, her eyebrows raised. “That means you are quite an heiress!”
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and said, “I suppose I am, but truly, I am busy and tired with managing both estates, though of course we have a wonderful steward here, and a bailiff on the island, and my sister Jane assists, and my uncles are equally wonderful. In any case, I have not even thought about my fortune. I am not yet one and twenty, after all, and am in no great hurry to find a husband.”
The Keatons exchanged glances and the countess said, “I understand. Now, I thought I spied some interest on the part of the young man, Mr. Bingley, for your elder sister.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed. “He has been paying Jane a great deal of attention, though I am not certain whether it will result in an offer. Nor am I certain of Jane’s feelings toward Mr. Bingley. She likes him very well, I know, but I am not convinced that she likes him enough to marry him.”
“I have not previously met Mr. Bingley,” Lord Keaton remarked, “but I know Darcy moderately well, as we were up at Cambridge together, though we moved in slightly different circles and he is about two years younger than I am.”
“I assume that given your position in society, he did not look down his arrogant nose at you?” Elizabeth suggested drily.
This provoked an astonished look on the earl’s face. “No, not at all. Has he been, that is, I confess to some surprise, as I always thought him an estimable young man. Did he insult you?”
Elizabeth hesitated and then said, “He did, not quite to my face, but within my hearing, but I returned the favor, and truly, I do not care at all. I know my own worth very well, and I do not care about Mr. Darcy’s opinion at all.”
To her surprise, her voice was slightly more impassioned than she intended, and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Lady Keaton promptly reached out a comforting hand to pat her on the shoulder, and she said, “I have danced with Mr. Darcy twice at various balls, and he strikes me as a reserved gentleman, but I am as surprised as Keaton at his discourtesy. But truly, my dear, I am aware you know this, but I will tell you anyway. You are a very handsome young lady.”
Elizabeth chuckled, a trifle uncomfortably, and said, “I am well satisfied with my appearance, but also not overly proud given that Jane is my sister. But enough of that; if you do wish to observe the comet, it should be within sight now, and as Coachman Jack foretold, the night is very clear. I would be happy to find it in the telescope now if you like.”
“Please lead the way,” the countess replied excitedly, rising to her feet with shining eyes.