Chapter Seven
Mr. Bingley was happy to be going to a dinner party. This is what he had always imagined country life would be like! Going to visit neighbours, discussing crops and drainage – not that Mr. Bingley had anything to contribute to such a discussion at this time, but he certainly would learn.
The Hursts seemed amenable to the idea, particularly given the promise of pheasant, but Caroline objected, as everyone had known that she would. “I cannot imagine a duller evening!” she said, when the invitation had arrived.
“Then you should stay home, Caroline,” her brother said, agreeably. “I imagine you will find your own company far more stimulating than that of our neighbours.”
“I certainly will!” she replied, tossing her red curls. “My own company is vastly superior to anything to be found in this society!”
“Oh, no doubt, no doubt,” Mr. Bingley hastened to concur. In truth, Mr. Bingley was not at all eager to have his annoying sister present at the dinner. He was weary of apologising for her manners.
***
With the more troublesome individuals from both the Bennet and Bingley families absent, the dinner party was a great success.
Kitty and Lydia were in their room and Jane was in London, so that left only Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and Mary to be introduced to the new neighbours.
Elizabeth made it a point to smile winningly at Mr. Bingley when he was presented to her, and he responded at once, choosing to sit beside her in the drawing room.
“How are you finding Netherfield Park, Mr. Bingley?” she asked him. Mr. Bennet had been right; he was good-looking enough. Elizabeth had always preferred dark hair to light, but that seemed unimportant now.
“Oh! I like it prodigiously,” he replied. “It was my father’s dream that I purchase an estate, and leasing Netherfield seems like a perfect opportunity to see how I might like country life.”
Ah, Elizabeth thought. So his family is from trade.
He went on. “I suppose your family has been here a long time, Miss Bennet?’
“Over two centuries, Mr. Bingley.” Her voice became unexpectedly solemn, as she contemplated the Bennet family being forced to move away from Longbourn. With an effort, she forced her mind away from such thoughts. “Do you think you will like country life, Mr. Bingley?”
“I like it already! The air smells so fresh and clean, and I can heard birds sing!”
“I agree entirely. I enjoy London’s museums and theaters, but heavens! The noise, the smell, the congestion! I do not know how anyone tolerates it for any length of time.”
He smiled at her. “We think entirely alike then, Miss Bennet. Though I am not one for museums and theatre, if I am honest.”
“Oh! Then what do you do when you are in London, Mr. Bingley?”
“Vauxhall, certainly. Astley’s Amphitheatre is vastly amusing. There are dances, of course. And I do play cards, as does any gentleman.”
“Do you gamble, Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth did her best to keep her tone light and amused, as if his reply did not matter.
“Not to excess, no. I have seen too many fortunes lost at the gaming tables.”
Elizabeth kept her sigh of relief to herself. Instead, she nodded, briskly. “Quite sensible, Mr. Bingley. Tell me,” and now she leaned closer. “Do you not have another sister? My father said he met two sisters when he called upon you.”
Mr. Bingley reddened.
Elizabeth felt her mistake and immediately retracted her question. “Oh, I am sorry, Mr. Bingley! I did not intend to intrude.”
“No, no, Miss Bennet. The fault is not yours. The fact is that my younger sister is rather prideful.”
Elizabeth raised her brows in confusion. If the Bingley family was from trade, then dining with the Bennet family should be seen as a privilege.
Mr. Bingley continued, “She despises anything that she considers ‘country.’ When she indicated that she did not wish to attend, I was grateful, as I did not wish her to embarrass me.“
“Oh, I see.” Elizabeth did not see at all, but she did not wish to pursue a topic that made this special guest uncomfortable. “Well, then, I shall tell you a secret.” She dropped her voice to a whisper.
He smiled and leaned forward to hear it.
“I have three more sisters,” Elizabeth whispered, her eyes twinkling.
“Three?! Where are they?”
“My eldest sister is in London; the youngest two are locked in their rooms so as not to embarrass us.”
“You are saying that to spare my feelings, Miss Bennet – confess it!” He grinned at her.
“I promise you that I am not making it up! I suppose we all have relatives for whom we must blush. I am fortunate in my eldest sister and in Mary, who is now sitting with Mrs. Hurst.”
Mr. Bingley glanced at Mary. “She seems a very pleasant young lady.”
“She is, and quite accomplished as well. She will play for us after dinner, I am certain.”
They were called in to dinner then, and Mr. Bingley was happy to find himself seated on Mrs. Bennet’s right, with Miss Bennet on his other side.
What an amiable young lady she was! Not his usual type at all, as he generally preferred blonde hair and blue eyes, but she was quite pretty in her own way.
Her figure was certainly womanly, and her green eyes sparkled with mischief when she was amused.
And she enjoyed country life! Perhaps she knew something about managing an estate?
He engaged her in conversation immediately upon taking his seat. “I do not doubt that you have been trained to manage an estate, Miss Bennet.”
Mrs. Bennet overheard the question and she replied, eagerly, “All my girls have been so trained, Mr. Bingley. It is expected that they will marry gentlemen who would require such preparation in a wife. Elizabeth visits all our tenants, makes clothing for them, and manages the stillroom so that she might help the ailing.”
“That is very impressive, Miss Bennet,” Mr. Bingley said, turning to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth replied, “I visit Netherfield’s tenants as well, Mr. Bingley, as there has been no one else to do it. Might Mrs. Hurst wish to take on that responsibility, now that you are here?”
Mr. Bingley reddened again and Elizabeth bit her lip. Evidently, any mention of his family made him uncomfortable.
“Well,” he said, slowly. “It certainly does not seem right to expect you to continue with that task, given that the estate is now in my hands. Perhaps you might visit us and tell us what is involved?”
“I would be happy to do so, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth said, sincerely. “I will bring Mary as well, as she helps with everything that I do.”
“I say, Mr. Bennet!” Mr. Hurst called out across the table, startling everyone.
Mr. Bennet’s eyebrows rose. He was no stickler for the courtesies, but having a guest actually yell across the table was, to say the least, unusual. “Yes, Mr. Hurst?”
“You did not mislead me; the pheasant is remarkable!”
“I am pleased that you are enjoying it, Mr. Hurst,” Mrs. Bennet said.
Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth glanced at one another; both hid their smiles behind their napkins.
***
Later that night, Mrs. Bennet was in alt over the success of her dinner party.
Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley had not stopped talking together the entire time; and Mary’s performance on the pianoforte, with Elizabeth singing, had charmed the company.
It could not have been better. “There, now, Lizzy, that was not so bad, was it?”
“No, Mama. Mr. Bingley is pleasant enough.”
“Pleasant! I should say so! Well-mannered, handsome – and rich!”
“Yes, Mama, he is all of those things.”
“And he invited you to call at Netherfield!”
“Well, yes, to discuss the responsibilities involved with the tenants.”
“Excellent. Do not go tomorrow; it will appear too forward.”
“I thought to go on Monday, and to bring Mary with me.”
“Mary? Whatever for?”
“She shares those responsibilities with me, Mama, and it would look better than if I were to go alone.”
“I suppose it cannot hurt,” Mrs. Bennet conceded.
“And Mr. Bingley might not even participate in the discussion, Mama. It is for Mrs. Hurst and the younger sister to assume the tenant responsibilities, not Mr. Bingley.”
Mrs. Bennet smiled knowingly at Elizabeth. “Oh, he will be there, Lizzy. Wait and see if I am not right!”