Chapter 15
A Few Minutes Later
The musicians were excellent, and the reel lively, and thus Darcy did not have any opportunity to exchange words with his partner.
He found he did not mind particularly. Miss Elizabeth was full of energy and vigor, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes sparkling, and he enjoyed every minute of the dance.
When the last strains of music came to an end, he was genuinely disappointed.
“Thank you for the dance, Miss Elizabeth,” he said.
“It was my pleasure,” the lady replied.
“May I fetch you punch or lemonade, perhaps?” he inquired.
“Thank you, but no. Perhaps you could escort me to my mother’s side? She is seated along the back wall.”
He held out his arm, which she took, and he guided her through the crowd of finely dressed ladies and gentleman, until he reached the back wall, where Lady Bennet and Lady Lucas were chattering eagerly.
“Oh, my dear Elizabeth,” Lady Lucas cried out when the pair had approached, “your mother was just telling me that you and Jane are planning to spend January with the Countess of Keaton in London. How enjoyable that will be!”
Darcy cast a startled look at his companion and noted the flush of surprise, and possibly embarrassment, at her mother’s words.
“Yes, Lady Lucas,” she agreed after a moment. “Clara was kind enough to invite us to spend a few weeks with her at Keaton House, and we are looking forward to it.”
“Who knows, perhaps you will stay long enough to enjoy the Season in Town!” Lady Bennet suggested.
“Definitely not, Mamma, as Longbourn and Emerald Island will need my attention,” Miss Elizabeth said.
“Oh, my dear, it ought not to be your responsibility to … but I do understand,” Lady Bennet said and then turned to look at Lady Lucas. “Sir Thomas is a genius, you know, but not very practical, and dear Lizzy works with Mr. Wallace to manage Longbourn.”
“Sir Thomas is a brilliant astronomer,” Lady Lucas said.
“Yes,” Miss Elizabeth agreed and looked toward Darcy. “Thank you again for your dance, sir.”
“Thank you,” he replied and walked off, his mind buzzing. The elder two Misses Bennet would be spending January with the Countess of Keaton? It did not matter, of course, because Miss Elizabeth, in spite of her connections, was not truly worthy of consideration as his bride.
But if that were true, why was he so unhappy to learn that she was leaving for London in two short months?
***
Dining Room
Later
The dinner, like the rest of the ball, was a banquet of surpassing magnificence, with no expense spared and every attention scrupulously paid to its success.
Caroline drifted among the tables, smiling at the diners, exchanging pleasant greetings and accepting graciously their effusive praise, even as she glanced over their plates and ensured that all the cut crystal glasses were full.
Hired, liveried footmen from London glided around on silent steps, rendering service in a style that all these backwater yokels had doubtless never experienced before.
Caroline hid her disdain for her uncultured guests and accepted their enthusiastic accolades with all the regal dignity of a queen.
In truth, she cared but little how the simple denizens of Meryton viewed her party.
Caroline had never entirely resigned herself to Bingley’s desired ball, to host temporary neighbors of no wit, no fashion, and no interest. It was an insult, truly, for him to expect her to waste her talents on so many bumpkins of vulgar mien and no taste.
But she was, she knew, an intelligent lady, and she had quickly turned her brother’s request to good account.
Mr. Darcy, handsome and wealthy and well-connected, was being shown how dazzlingly she could host a ball, and she was confident that he would soon realize that she was the perfect lady to serve as mistress of Pemberley.
No difficulty had daunted her in preparing the most beautiful ball that Netherfield had ever seen, and no expense had stood in her way.
The London musicians played beautifully, the blossoms from the hothouses were pristine and aromatic, the food prepared by the French cook was exquisite.
She cast a pleased look at herself in a mirror set up to reflect the candles lighting the northern side of the dining room.
She was, she thought with satisfaction, Truly the best-dressed lady there that evening.
Even poor Louisa, in her handsome olive silk with the black lace, did not look quite so well as her younger sister.
Mr. Darcy could hardly fail to be impressed with Miss Bingley’s beauty as well as her talents as a hostess and, well, against the backdrop of these simple country folk, she shone like a diamond of the first water!
A crack of laughter rose from a table behind her, and she suppressed a grimace that would cause wrinkles in her handsome face.
Unrefined and vulgar, all of these country squires and their matrons and uncomely daughters!
Revelry should be enjoyed, but no lady should become rowdy, nor any gentleman of breeding give in to his more boisterous nature in front of the fairer sex. It was all quite repulsive.
Still, on the whole, the entire ball was crowned with success, for all of her tiresome guests were enjoying themselves very much, which was to the credit of any good hostess.
No dreadful untoward accidents had occurred, and dinner was going off without a hitch.
The tantalizing aromas of dinner filled the air in the dining room, and Caroline realized with some surprise that she was hungry.
She glanced around the room, trying to find a suitable table with an empty spot where the company would not be entirely insipid and tedious, and saw, with mingled gratification and chagrin, that Charles was sitting beside Jane Bennet, with Mr. Darcy next to Charles, while Miss Eliza sat next to an unknown red-coated officer.
A single place sat empty, and Caroline glided thence on swift and eager steps.
Jane Bennet was a charming creature, and had connections to the Countess of Keaton, and would make Charles a good wife, and of course Mr. Darcy’s presence was a boon.
Moreover, she was curious as to how the Bennets came to be closely acquainted with such a personage as a countess and trusted that her skills as a conversationalist would bring out the desired information.
“We will miss you very much,” Charles said as Miss Bingley glided up to the table, and then he looked up, rose to his feet, and said, “Oh, Caroline, do sit down, Sister, will you not, and I will fetch you some dinner.”
“Thank you, Charles,” she replied, waiting for him to help her into the only vacant chair, which was, most conveniently, next to Mr. Darcy.
“Is there anything in particular you would like?” her brother asked, and she said, “I believe I enjoy everything being served for dinner. Thank you.”
Charles promptly left, and she turned her attention on the only stranger at the table, a cheerful-looking officer of some thirty summers.
“Miss Bingley,” Jane Bennet said, “may I please introduce you to Lieutenant Smythe? Lieutenant, Miss Caroline Bingley.”
She inclined her head toward the lieutenant and then turned a curious look on the elder Miss Bennet. “Might I inquire as to what Charles was speaking of? Are you leaving us? I sincerely hope not.”
“Not for a few weeks yet,” the lady replied, and Caroline was struck once again with the truly incredible beauty of Jane Bennet of Longbourn.
There was no doubt that she was one of the most handsome women Caroline had ever laid eyes on, with a charming temperament to match.
It was rather startling that she was still unwed, but then the Bennets had no money, and their estate was apparently going to a distant cousin…
“I daresay it will be most enjoyable visiting a countess’s house,” Lieutenant Smythe said, and Caroline realized she had lost the thread of the conversation, and turned her attention to Miss Elizabeth, who said, “I am certain we will, as Lady Keaton enjoys many of the same things we do. I expect we will visit the British Museum a few times, and perhaps the Mint, and we will also have the opportunity of going for walks in Hyde Park.”
“In the winter, Miss Elizabeth?” Caroline demanded.
“Elizabeth always tells me that there is no weather too bad for walking so long as one is appropriately clad,” Miss Bennet said with a fond smile, and her sister continued, “I have said that, but I will be honest and say that I dislike walking in the rain. Walking in a gentle snowstorm can be pleasant, though.”
“I agree entirely,” the lieutenant said with a grin. “Colonel Forster rarely orders military drills in the rain, but when he does, I do not believe any of us are pleased.”
“Wet snow is also not particularly desirable,” Darcy remarked, speaking for the first time.
“I agree with you,” Miss Elizabeth said as she briskly cut up a slice of beef. “Rain and wet snow keep me indoors, but I can accept anything else with reasonable cheer.”
“Here you are, Caroline.”
She looked up as her brother placed a plate full of her favorite foods in front of her.
“Thank you,” she said as a servant poured wine and deposited it next to her plate.
She was very hungry, and she quickly cut a piece of pheasant and ate it, just as her brother turned to Miss Bennet and said, “I do not believe I ever heard how you met the Countess of Keaton.”
Caroline glanced approvingly at her brother. How wonderful of Charles to ask such a pertinent question!
“I did not meet her until she visited Longbourn a few days ago, actually,” Miss Bennet explained. “She became acquainted with Elizabeth and our other sister, Mary, and our father, Sir Thomas, on Emerald Island. When was it, Lizzy?”