Chapter Thirteen #5
“Well, I have always wished for a brother.”
“And you shall have another in Richard – it really is quite perfect. Then again, I can think of one other thing that would make this evening quite perfect.”
“And what is that?”
“Dancing,” Elizabeth declared. “Your recreation of Vauxhall would not be complete without it.”
***
As Elizabeth and Mr. Worthing wandered off together, Miss Annesley smiled brightly at the vicar. “Surely, Mr. Chasuble, you need not retire as early as your traveling cousins. Will you stay and play cards with us?”
“Why yes, I should like to, if we may also take some tea.”
“Kitty, you will accompany us, my dear. You may also join us, I suppose, Mr. Bingley.”
Kitty sniffed with indifference and followed her governess to the parlor without looking to see if Mr. Bingley would join them, though she heard his footsteps behind her.
When they reached the parlor, he suggested they have some wine instead of tea, and Kitty steeled herself for the coming assault of apology.
They all sat down to a game of whist and drank their wine, beginning with idle chatter, as if determined not to speak of the romantic spectacle William had orchestrated.
Kitty wished to speak of it, for it had been wondrous, but she suspected that Mr. Bingley would parlay that into some talk of his own gesture of apology, and she was not yet ready to end his misery.
In truth, she was determined that she would not be the first to relent, after promising her sister so faithfully that she was just as appalled by the gentlemen’s deceit as Elizabeth.
She grit her teeth and restrained her remarks to the civil, tepid chatter of Miss Annesley and Mr. Chasuble.
They played two rounds of whist, and Mr. Bingley looked ready to burst for wishing to woo her; Kitty began to grow quite smug.
Taking a third glass of wine, Mr. Bingley eventually asked Mr. Chasuble, “Do you do many baptisms, sir?”
“Oh, yes; after weddings, baptisms are one of my favorite duties to my parish.”
“I do not suppose you baptize many adults, though… is it even permitted?”
Miss Annesley looked mildly affronted by Mr. Bingley’s question, but the vicar smiled placidly. “It is not a distinction I have yet had, baptizing an adult, but it is a perfectly canonical practice.”
Mr. Bingley grinned, then winked at Kitty.
“Excellent, I am very relieved to hear it. You see, I have no recollection of having ever been baptized. I think I ought to do it – just to be safe, you know. And if it is permitted, might I make some small adjustment? I wish to be christened William Charles Bingley Darcy….”
Mr. Chasuble began to stammer his perplexed answer, but Miss Annesley shook her head with disapproval. “At your age? Sir, the idea is grotesque and irreligious! It is an affront to Mr. Chasuble’s good works.”
Kitty’s lips twisted into a reluctant smirk and set her empty wine glass down rather hard on the card table. “There is no need to be baptized every time I am cross with you – I am sure it shall happen again, since you delight in wickedness as much as I do.”
The vicar and the governess shared a querulous look, but Kitty and Mr. Bingley stared one another down intently.
Her gaze was one of challenge, and his eyes twinkled with a readiness to please her.
Mr. Chasuble cleared his throat, and suggested that if there was any remaining discord amongst the family at Wildewood, he should be honored to lead them all in a prayer that it might be resolved expeditiously.
Miss Annesley was so full of praise for this venerable notion that they had no time to set about their prayer before Elizabeth flounced into the parlor, her hair a little disheveled and her lips red and swollen.
William followed close behind her, looking happier than anyone present had ever seen him.
“Kitty, do come and dance with us in the garden. That is – have you…?” Elizabeth’s gaze flicked to Mr. Bingley, whose expressive countenance managed to convey surprise, triumph, curiosity, and ardor all at once as he kept his gaze fixed on Kitty.
Kitty felt relief wash over her; clearly everything had been put right for Elizabeth and William. She let out a long sigh. “Oh, very well. I shall forgive you, if you prove a tolerable dancer.”
Mr. Bingley took her by the hand at once, and William entreated Miss Annesley to come out to the garden to play for them on the old instrument.
She resisted until even Mr. Chasuble agreed that it was completely innocent for her to accommodate the two couples.
He was delighted by their felicity, and he stood at Miss Annesley’s side as she played a jig, clapping his hands and tapping his foot as the two couples danced together.
Mr. Bingley truly was a splendid dancer, and Kitty was easily swept up in the merriment of the music and the happiness of her companions.
They danced a second set together, and Kitty was tempted to exchange places with her governess so that Miss Annesley might stand up with the vicar.
However, their frivolities were brought to an unceremonious end when one of the poorly constructed paper lanterns set the shrubbery on fire and William was obliged to put it out with the buckets of water from the fountain.
It was one of the most delightful evenings Kitty had ever known.
***