Chapter 14
Christmas came and went.
Then the season started in earnest and with it all the trappings of the marriage mart.
Invitations for balls and soirées were coming thick and fast while Lady Anne felt the futility of it all seeing her son either ignore or simply hide from every young woman introduced to him.
Until she thought enough was enough,
“Georgiana, I have had a most wonderful idea and I do not know why I did not think of it before.” Lady Anne addressed her daughter a few days later.
“Oh really, please Mama, do not leave me in suspense.” Georgiana said excitedly closing the lid of the pianoforte.
“What would you say if we invited Miss Elizabeth Bennet to town for the season?”
Georgiana stood up and ran to her mother grabbing her hands in utter ecstasy, “oh Mama, how marvellous! Oh please, let us do so at once. She can be here by tomorrow.”
Her mother laughed joyfully, “I do not know if she can be here that soon, but I will write to Mrs Bennet immediately, and if she agrees to part with her daughter for a few months, we will send our carriage to bring Miss Elizabeth to Town.”
***
Christmas in Meryton had been simple but as noisy and happy as always.
The few days in which the Gardiners were at Longbourn were wonderful, but once they left, Elizabeth felt bereft of good, sensible company.
Her life had taken a turn for nothing and she almost despaired. Maybe going to London and living with the Gardiners would be a good option... She could offer to be the governess for their little children.
“Lizzy,” her mother interrupted her musings.
“Yes, Mama?”
“I have received a letter from Lady Anne Darcy.”
Elizabeth’s smile brightened, “oh, I hope they are all well, how is the season going?”
“She did not inform me about the season, but you are in a prime position to find out that information for yourself.”
Elizabeth frowned, “Mama?”
Mrs Bennet waved the letter in her hand, “do you wish to read it?”
Elizabeth put her embroidery basket down and reached for the letter. They all turned to her and waited while she read it.
Elizabeth finished reading it and looked at Jane walking in the garden with her beau. They seemed incandescently happy. They really were perfect for each other.
Since Mr Bingley had returned, Jane had had very little time for anybody else.
Given that he had no friends and no hostess at Netherfield Park, he seemed to spend the whole day long at Longbourn.
He usually arrived soon after breakfast and only left after dinner.
Her mother not only encouraged his presence but saw it as her obligation to feed and take care of him.
He seemed very well pleased with the attentions he received from his prospective mother-in-law.
Jane did not require Elizabeth’s company anymore.
Elizabeth felt lonely but not resentful towards her sister. Jane deserved all the happiness in the world, and if Mr Bingley could provide her beloved sister with that, she would bestow upon him all the gratitude her heart could manage.
Lady Anne’s letter could not have arrived at a better time.
“Well?” Her mother asked, “Do you wish to go?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth answered without hesitation, “that is, if you are happy for me to go.”
“Oh child, of course I am happy for you to go. There is no question about it, you must go. When will you ever have another chance to spend a season in Town with the highest tier of society as your sponsor?”
“What about me?” Lydia asked.
“What about you?” Her mother looked at her, “I was not aware that Lady Anne had invited you too.”
“It is not fair that only Lizzy should be invited.” Lydia pouted.
“Nevertheless, she has been the only one invited and she will be the only one going. As for you, Miss Lydia, your interval is over; back to the nursery to do the arithmetic sums your father set up for you earlier.”
“Why am I the only one who has to study?”
Mary huffed, “because you are the most ignorant.”
“Mama, Mary called me ignorant.” Lydia shrieked.
“Yes child, I heard it, I am right here.” Mrs Bennet got up and looked at her reflection in the parlour mirror, “so prove Mary wrong.” She said turning to Lydia nonchalantly.
Lydia looked at Mary and poked her tongue out.
Mrs Bennet shook her head, “if you think this kind of behaviour will improve your situation, Lydia, you quite mistake the matter. Now go,” her mother said firmly.
Once Lydia noticed there was nothing she could do to alter her fate for the afternoon, she picked up her basket of ribbons and marched upstairs, making as much noise as a garrison of soldiers.
Kitty giggled.
“There is no need to laugh at your sister, Miss Kitty,” her mother looked at her disapprovingly, “you may very well find yourself back in the nursery also. I have at last learned to be cautious and you will feel the effects of it. You are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of everyday in a rational manner.”
Kitty started to cry quietly and Elizabeth left the room quickly to prevent herself from laughing out loud.
Mrs Bennet replied to Lady Anne in the same afternoon and sent her letter with the same courier who had been resting in the kitchen and flirting with Rosie, the upstairs maid.
As soon as the letter was sent, Rosie was called upon to start packing Elizabeth’s trunk.
“What a treat, Miss Lizzy, I wish I could go to London.” Rosie said dreamily.
“Maybe one day you will.” Elizabeth said, distracted.
“If you marry, Miss Lizzy, you could send for me. Wouldn’t that be grand if I became a fancy lady’s maid?”
Elizabeth laughed, “where has that come from, Rosie? I never heard you speaking about working in London or even Harpenden?”
“That was before I met Tim.”
“And who is this Tim?”
Rosie sighed, “Mr Timothy Brown, he is Mr Darcy’s express courier rider.”
“You saw him for one hour at the most, Rosie, are you telling me you have fallen in love that quickly?
Rosie blushed prettily; Elizabeth had never noticed how soft her features were until this moment.
“I don’t know… for some, it takes only seconds and for others it may take years.”
Elizabeth shook her head in wonderment, “well, I promise you, Rosie, if I marry a rich man, I shall send for you.”
“I thank you, Miss Lizzy.”
The following day as soon as Elizabeth finished breaking her fast, the Darcys’ carriage arrived. The family congregated outside to say their goodbyes;
“Take every occasion to enjoy yourself, Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet said, “and thank Lady Anne for me, and of course find a wealthy husband; do not waste this opportunity as you will be mingling with the highest society London has to offer. God knows it may be the only chance you ever get.”
“I will try, Mama.” Elizabeth answered smiling at her father who rolled his eyes behind Mrs Bennet’s back.
Mr Bennet looked almost sad, “I am glad you have found some rich friend to take you to London, my Lizzy, and if you get a rich husband, make sure he has an extensive library, and then, please send for me. I will be vastly obliged.”
Elizabeth laughed, “it is interesting Father, that in the last four and twenty hours everybody is assuming I will marry a rich man.”
“Well, as your mother very expertly put, do not waste this opportunity.”
“God bless you, Papa.” Elizabeth kissed her parents, “thank you, Mama.”
Finally she turned to Jane, “I will miss you, but I do not think you will be missing me.” Elizabeth hugged her sister affectionately.
Jane smiled wistfully, “it will be exactly the opposite since you are going to an exciting new environment while I stay here with the familiar.”
“But you have your Mr Bingley to make things exciting for you,” Elizabeth whispered.
Jane blushed, “go now, silly, and stop stirring trouble.” She hugged her sister back, “but, Lizzy, perhaps before finding a husband, please make sure to find love first.”
“As I promised mama, Jane, I will try.”
After a quick final glance to all members of her family she was bundled inside the carriage with blankets, hot bricks and a basket with some light refreshment.
And so her adventure began.