Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Longbourn was always in an uproar, but since her Aunt Gardiner had left nearly a se’nnight past, it had been even more so than usual.
It had not begun immediately. Rather, during the four days her aunt had remained at Longbourn, the matter had gradually grown.
First, Mrs Gardiner had casually mentioned that, in Town, young ladies were often kept from society until rather later than was customary in the country. Naturally, Kitty and Lydia had protested, but their mother had quickly hushed them.
“But Madeline, my youngest girls should not be deprived of amusement,” her mother complained. “If they are obliged to wait for all their elder sisters to marry, they may never enter society.”
This was said with a sidelong glance at Mary, though Elizabeth had no doubt the slight was intended for them both.
Mary was sitting near enough that Elizabeth could reach out and take her hand in quiet sympathy.
Her sister did not react, but neither did she retreat from the touch and seemed to relax ever so slightly.
“That is not the material point,” her aunt said after a moment.
“Even if the girls are out most of the time, with the visitors from London coming, you may wish to take greater care about which events they attend. I know you hope this Mr Bingley will marry one of your daughters, but did you not say the rumour is that he will bring guests with him? What if not all those guests are gentlemen? Are Kitty and Lydia truly prepared to deal with fashionable people from Town who may not look kindly upon their youth?”
Her aunt paused to allow this information to sink in. Elizabeth watched her mother closely; a thoughtful expression had appeared, one Elizabeth rarely saw there.
“Besides,” Aunt Gardiner continued after a moment, “if there are ladies in the party, as there surely must be, they may think it very strange that girls so young are already out, especially when your family has so many daughters.”
When her mother began to protest, Aunt Gardiner continued.
“Oh, I know it is not so uncommon in the country, but Mr Bingley is only leasing an estate and has doubtlessly lived much of his life in Town. His family and guests may be accustomed to different expectations. If they believe Kitty and Lydia too young to be out, it might colour their opinion of the entire family—and you would hardly wish anything to discourage Mr Bingley from becoming better acquainted with Jane.”
“No, of course not,” her mother said. When Lydia protested, she quickly hushed her.
Lydia glared at her aunt, and Elizabeth lowered her gaze to conceal her amusement.
Her mother rarely spoke to Lydia in such a manner, and her youngest sister would not appreciate being corrected, no matter how mildly.
For the remainder of her visit, Aunt Gardiner continued to make similar observations. By the end of the second day, Elizabeth had begun to suspect her aunt’s arguments were having some effect, but even so, she had not expected her mother to raise the matter with her husband at dinner.
“Mr Bennet,” she began once the meal had been served and the servants had withdrawn, “I have decided that, while Mr Bingley and his guests are here, our youngest two girls will not attend most social events.”
Kitty and Lydia immediately began to protest. Lydia shot to her feet so quickly that her chair toppled behind her.
“I am out!” she cried. “You cannot do this!”
“I can and I will,” her mother answered, to the surprise of everyone at the table except Aunt Gardiner.
Elizabeth wondered if this had been her aunt’s intention all along. Aunt Gardiner had known her mother for years and understood that she was far more likely to respond to careful suggestions than to being told outright what she ought to do.
Her mother fixed Lydia with a stern look. “And you, young lady, have just proven why it is necessary.”
Lydia let out yet another wail, and Elizabeth was astonished when her mother rose, took Lydia firmly by the ear, and called for Hill.
“Take this unruly child to her room,” she commanded in a tone none of her family had ever heard her use before. “She shall go without dinner if she chooses to behave in such a manner and disrupt the meal for everyone else.”
She turned her attention back to the table.
“Perhaps I might have addressed the matter differently, but Lydia will not be permitted to speak to me in that fashion.” Her expression hardened.
“Mr Bennet, I will not have her considered out any longer. Indeed, I am suddenly beginning to wonder whether I ought to have insisted upon a governess for our girls years ago. I had not realised Lydia had become so wilful.”
For a moment, her father said nothing.
“I will begin making enquiries about a governess in the morning,” he said finally.
Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Jane and Mary but said nothing. The three girls returned to their meals, waiting to see what else might be revealed before dinner was finished.
After composing herself fully, her mother continued her interrupted speech.
“Mary, while Mr Bingley and his guests are here, I wish for you to consider not being in quite such a hurry to exhibit. It is unseemly to put yourself forward, and while I know you practise often and are quite accomplished, you ought not to place yourself before everyone else in the neighbourhood whenever someone asks for music.”
“Yes, Mama,” was all Mary said, scarcely looking up from her food.
“Kitty, you are seventeen, but I believe you would benefit from some more time in the schoolroom, and perhaps from spending more time with your elder sisters.”
“What if Kitty were to come to London with me?” Aunt Gardiner suggested.
“Lizzy was extremely helpful with the children, but then you wrote for her to return. Kitty could take her place, and I could ensure that she receives some instruction in what is proper. It would also give her some time away from Lydia.”
“Yes, Madeline, I believe that would do very well,” her mother replied.
“But I must admit I did not expect Lydia to react in such a way. She has heard us speaking of these matters for several days already, so she ought to have known this was coming. We wish to present our family in the best light, and having all five daughters out at once would hardly do so. Lydia has only been attending social events for a short time, and this would have been her first assembly.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to her plate, uncertain whether she was more astonished by Lydia’s banishment, her father’s sudden willingness to employ a governess, or the prospect of Kitty returning to the schoolroom and accompanying Aunt Gardiner to London.
Mary had even accepted her mother’s admonition with scarcely a reaction.
That she had not argued was hardly surprising, but Elizabeth had expected at least some sign that the criticism had stung.
All of this had occurred in the space of one meal, and they had not yet reached the pudding.
She glanced towards Jane and found her sister looking equally bewildered by the events of the evening. Whatever Aunt Gardiner had intended when she began making her careful observations several days earlier, Elizabeth suspected even she could not have anticipated quite so thorough a result.
“Now,” their mother continued, “I understand that, along with Mr Bingley, a Mr Darcy, whose family your aunt knew when she was young, will be amongst the party at Netherfield. He is very wealthy and unlikely to be interested in any of you, but that is no reason not to make the best possible impression upon him. A gentleman such as Mr Darcy must have some influence with his friend, and if he thinks well of our family, Mr Bingley is more likely to do so as well.”
Apparently, Aunt Gardiner had neglected to mention that Elizabeth had already met Mr Darcy, however briefly.
Elizabeth glanced towards her aunt and suspected at once that the omission had been deliberate.
Considering her mother’s present preoccupation with presenting the family to advantage, she could only be grateful.
Still, she wondered how her mother would react when the truth emerged. Perhaps there might be some way to delay that discovery a little longer.
Her aunt met her gaze with unmistakable amusement, confirming that she had understood Elizabeth’s thoughts perfectly.
Since this conversation had taken place, Aunt Gardiner had returned to London with Kitty, her father had begun making enquiries about a governess, and Lydia had made her displeasure at being returned to the schoolroom known to everyone within hearing distance.
Thus, Longbourn had been in an almost constant state of uproar.
Elizabeth had begun to wonder whether peace would ever return when, late that morning, the day before Michaelmas, Hill entered the drawing room.
“Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mrs Annesley have arrived, ma’am,” she announced, her usually composed manner betraying a hint of excitement. “Mr Bingley has come to return Mr Bennet’s call.”
Although Elizabeth had suspected that her father had called at Netherfield the previous day, she had not been certain until that moment.
He had said nothing of it, clearly preferring another opportunity to tease her mother by keeping her in suspense.
The thought made Elizabeth sigh. Her mother was at least attempting to improve the manner in which their family presented itself; her father, it seemed, remained determined to find amusement wherever he could.
Mrs Bennet took a moment to collect herself before glancing around the room, eyeing each of her daughters critically to ensure they were presenting themselves as well as possible.
“Hill, after you show in our guests, see that Miss Lydia remains upstairs and keeps quiet, then inform Mr Bennet that Mr Bingley and his party have arrived.”
“Yes, ma’am.”