Chapter Six
The invitation for Mrs. Bennet’s dinner party, to be held that Friday, was brought to Netherfield. Mr. Bennet went out to hunt for pheasant; Mrs. Bennet was given a budget, and was enjoined to adhere to that budget.
Predictably enough, upon learning that they were not to attend the dinner, Kitty and Lydia set up a howl that surely could be heard at Lucas Lodge. Mrs. Bennet shrugged and nodded toward Elizabeth.
“What do you mean, not invited?” Lydia turned to Elizabeth, her face stormy.
Elizabeth remained impassive. “Just that, Lydia. There is a wealthy young gentleman now at Netherfield Park, and our parents wish me to try my luck with him. I think I will have a better chance at that if you two are not at the table.”
“I am much prettier than Lizzy, Mama! Why not let me have a try?”
“But I am older than Lydia,” Kitty protested. “If Lydia is allowed to do so, then I should as well.”
“And this arguing is why you two are not invited to the dinner party,” Elizabeth said, irritably. “I am trying to present myself as an unobjectionable young lady of a good family, and the two of you do not enhance such a picture!”
“He will eventually learn that you have sisters, Lizzy,” Kitty said, reasonably.
“He will, yes; but it is important that I make a good first impression.”
***
Elizabeth went to her room and pulled out the cream gown she was supposed to wear for the dinner.
It was lovely material, and the dress fit her perfectly.
She was not delighted at the idea of having to embroider roses around the hem, such fine work not being her particular strength with the needle, but it would certainly make the gown look special.
Sighing, she took the gown downstairs into the drawing room, where the light was better for sewing. She sat down with it in her lap, teeth clamped on her lower lip as she threaded her needle.
“I will help you, Lizzy,” a soft voice said.
Elizabeth looked up. “Mary?”
“I know you do not love this sort of fancy work. And from what I have pieced together, though I have not been told directly, you are sacrificing yourself for the good of the Bennet family. Helping you embroider your gown is a small thing, but it is what I can do to help.”
“Thank you, Mary,” Elizabeth whispered.
The two sat in silence for several minutes, the hem of the gown spread between their two laps and their needles flashing.
“Am I right, then?” Mary asked.
“Right?”
“About you sacrificing yourself for the good of the family. No one has told me what is going on, but I hear hints of it dropped here and there, and I have noticed a change in what is served at the table.”
Elizabeth set the fabric down and turned to face her sister. “There is no more money. The weather ruined the harvest, two tenant families left, and Papa has no savings. Longbourn faces ruin.”
Mary sewed in silence for several minutes before asking, “Can Papa not sell some land?”
“No; the entail does not permit it.”
“So – what would happen to us?”
“I am not certain. Perhaps we would have to let all the servants go, if we cannot pay their wages. We girls would have to learn to cook, and to clean the house, and to do our own laundry.”
Mary continued to sew as she absorbed this. “This will destroy Mama. She has always been so proud of her position as the mistress of an estate.”
“I do not think any of us would like to live under those conditions, Mary. Or we might have to move away entirely; it might become necessary to lease Longbourn and find someplace cheap to live.”
“So you are meant to marry the new tenant of Netherfield, and that is why Mama is hosting this dinner party.”
“Precisely.”
“Do Kitty and Lydia know?”
“I think not.”
“How do you feel about this, Lizzy?”
Tears rose in Elizabeth’s eyes at this question. Unable to speak, she shook her head, causing the tears to roll down her cheeks.
“Oh, Lizzy!” Mary abandoned the embroidery and held her sobbing sister.
“Mary, I do not even understand what I am supposed to do! Am I meant to flutter my lashes? Agree with everything he says? Wear my bodices low?”
“No, Lizzy, of course not. Just be your usual interesting, intelligent, friendly self.”
Elizabeth’s lips twisted in self-mockery. “My history when it comes to getting men to fall in love with me is not encouraging.”
“Truly? Have you ever made the effort?”
Elizabeth thought back. “I suppose not,” she said, beginning to smile a bit. “I cannot imagine myself trying to entrance John Lucas!”
“Nor Arthur Henry, nor Edward Jenkins, nor any of the other local boys. So you cannot say that your history is not encouraging; it is simply not known.”
“You are right, Mary.”
“But I am a little puzzled…”
“Yes?”
“Why has no one thought of bringing Jane home? This Mr. Bingley would doubtless take one look at our sister and fall on his knees before her!”
“This is why; read it, Mary.” Elizabeth pulled Jane’s letter out of her pocket and handed it to Mary.
Mary read it and then she looked up at Elizabeth. “They know of this? Our parents?”
“Not of this particular dinner party, no; but they know that the Gardiners are doing their best to introduce her to as many eligible gentlemen as possible. Papa says he cannot rest the family’s fortunes on just Jane marrying; with me on the marriage market, I suppose it doubles the chances of success. ” Her tone was cynical.
“Oh, Lizzy, I am so very sorry. I wish I could help, but…” Her voice trailed off as she gestured toward her own face. “No one is likely to take one look at me and fall to his knees!” She tried to sound light-hearted, but failed.
“Mary, oh, Mary, if I am successful, you will always have a home with me, come what may!”
“I thank you, Lizzy. And now, for both our sakes, let us finish this embroidery!”