Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (37 page)

27 A RIDDLE WRAPPED IN A MYSTERY INSIDE AN ENIGMA

“Oh, Mr Bennet, we have had a most delightful evening. I wish you had been there to see how admired Jane was by Mr Bingley. He thought her quite beautiful and danced with her twice. Only think of that my dear—he actually danced with her twice! She was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time.” Mrs Bennet lost her gloating look and tone and her expression changed to annoyance as she continued, “First of all he asked Maria Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her!”

Lydia rolled her eyes in exasperation with her mother. “Mama you know he only asked Maria because she is the daughter of Sir William, and it was he who introduced those at the assembly to the Netherfield party. Both Mr Bingley and Maria know they are not suited to each other—and she wants to marry an officer like her sister—just as I do. This was my special night, and you have not told Papa and Lizzy how sought after as a partner I was all evening, or that I danced more than any other young lady present.”

Mrs Bennet ignored her youngest daughter’s comment, and continued with, for her, what was the most important news of the night. “However, he did not admire Maria at all. He could not stop staring at Jane as she was going down the dance. So he asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Miss Long… ” She paused for emphasis, her face in raptures, “… and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with…”

Mr Bennet’s impatience with his wife’s account had reached its limit. “Have pity on me, Mrs Bennet. Say no more of his partners. I too am interested in how our youngest daughter enjoyed her first ball.”

“She was much admired as we all knew she would be. Oh! But my dear,” continued Mrs Bennet, “I am quite delighted with Mr Bingley. He is so excessively handsome, and his sisters are charming ladies. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. Though, I dare say the cut of their gowns was quite daring. It must be the latest London fashion. I intend to have all our girls’ gowns cut as low.”

Here she was interrupted again. Mr Bennet protested against any description of finery and questioned the propriety of exposing more of their daughters’ flesh. She was therefore obliged to seek another subject. She related with much bitterness of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire—after first disclosing to her husband and daughter that he had an income of ten thousand a year.

Mary looked perturbed with her mother’s telling and added, “But Mama, one of Mr Bingley’s, as you called them… charming sisters also participated in the uncivil remarks. You are not telling Papa the story accurately, because you want him to think favourably of Mr Bingley and his sisters. You approve of Mr Bingley because he was quite attentive to Jane, and you have no expectations of Mr Darcy ever paying notice to any of your daughters—and most importantly, no other young lady in the neighbourhood. Mr Darcy acted honourably and apologized to several of us, and he promised he would come here soon to make amends to Lizzy and Papa. Miss Bingley made no such effort.”

Lizzy had turned pale at the mention of the insult by Mr Darcy. Jane noticed first and said, “It is quite late, and I am fatigued. I think we should all go to bed.” She slipped her arm through her sister’s and led her up the stairs. Mary, Kitty and Lydia followed, leaving their parents to discuss Mr Darcy.

Mrs Bennet ignored Mary’s rendition of the events and ranted on to her husband, “He is a most disagreeable, horrid man; so high and conceited that nobody pleased him! He walked here and walked there. Jane, who is too kind for her own good, said he was just shy; but I am of the opinion he fancied himself above our company. For the first hour, he spent a great deal of time looking out the window, and talked to no one but Mr Bingley’s sister. It was while he was speaking with her that he said such unflattering things about our daughters and was completely uncivil toward Lizzy. He danced only once with Miss Bingley and then left early. I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set downs. I quite detest the man.”

“My dear, I am unable to decide which vexes you more, the fact that he said something unkind about Lizzy, or that he did not dance with any of our other daughters. I think I will be sensible and emulate our daughters and go to bed.” Mr Bennet left his wife standing in the drawing room with her mouth open and walked toward the stairs.

By the time Lizzy had climbed the stairs with her sisters, she had managed to get her emotions under control. All the sisters agreed to change into their nightclothes and join Lizzy in her bedroom to give her a proper description of the ball.

Jane gave a more nuanced report of Mr Bingley and his sisters. She related more accurately what Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy had said than their mother’s report. She also told of Colonel Forster describing Mr Darcy as a good man. He was best friends with Mr Darcy’s cousin… one Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Elizabeth held her breath at the mention of Mr Darcy’s cousin, and finally exhaled in relief when she realized it was Lord Wolfbridge’s brother. Lydia noticed her sister’s reaction, but knew not what it meant. She had heard of Colonel Fitzwilliam from Maria. Lydia had learned from her friend that he and a Colonel Bledsoe were very close with Colonel Forster. Maria had told her both of them were immensely entertaining, and Lydia hoped one day to make their acquaintance. Did Lizzy know Colonel Fitzwilliam?

Kitty told of her encounter with Mr Darcy, and related how much her John admired him. He was once again described as a good man, and that John’s aunt, who they had all met and liked, had been the housekeeper at Pemberley since Mr Darcy was a boy. Mr Darcy had assured John he would pay a visit to say he was sorry. She also told how he sought out Jane and Lydia in the presence of Mr Bingley to express remorse for his behaviour.

Mary’s version of her meeting with him was similar. She related to her sisters that Mr Collins knew Mr Darcy, but did not go into the details. For some reason, Mr Darcy’s odd question bothered Mary. She decided to hide that bit of news. She would warn her betrothed not to talk about Lady Catherine’s relationship to Mr Darcy with her mother and sisters—particularly Elizabeth. However, she felt it prudent to confide the news to her father.

Lydia was bored with all this discussion of uncivil remarks and Mr Darcy being a good man. She changed the conversation to describe the pleasing aspects of the ball. Her sisters were treated to how excessively happy she was to be out and thanked them for teaching her all the dances and loaning her clothes. Lizzy was especially thanked for remembering the red cloak she had packed away five years ago. Within minutes, the youngest Bennet daughter had them all giggling as she described each of her partners and which ones stepped on her toes or went the wrong way. They all laughed at the thought of how their papa would have reacted had Lydia describing these events for him.

Lizzy was glad they had stopped talking about Mr Darcy and his slight. Even a few moments respite from worrying about his being in Hertfordshire and the danger of his presence was a relief.

Jane said Mr Bingley was by far the most elegant dancer of her acquaintance. This admission prompted her sisters to tease her about being enamoured of such an angelic looking young man. Lydia shocked Mary when she said she hoped he had at least a bit of the devil in him as well. She also volunteered that the blue of his coat perfectly matched his eyes.

Next, they moved on to the cut of his sisters’ gowns and their mother’s plans to have them all show more bosom at the next ball. Lydia looked over and noticed that Kitty had fallen asleep. She and Mary woke her and helped her to bed.

When Elizabeth was alone with her older sister, she probed for more of Jane’s assessment of Mr Bingley. Lizzy noticed she had a bit of a dreamy look on her face when she finally spoke.

“He is just what a young man ought to be… sensible, good-humoured and lively. I never saw such happy manners. He is very much at ease in company, and with such perfect good-breeding!”

“He is also handsome according to our mother,” said Elizabeth; “A pleasant appearance is something a young man ought to possess, if he possibly can… and even more important, he has five thousand a year. His character is thereby complete.”

Jane laughed at her sister’s humour, but then turned serious, “I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment.”

“Did you not? I have always felt you should be showered with praise. But that is one great difference between us. Esteem by others always seems to amaze you. What could be more natural than his asking you again? You are the sweetest being and about five times as pretty as every other woman at the assembly. And he sounds from everyone’s description to be very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have admired at least one person who was much less deserving.”

“Dear Lizzy, don’t bring him up tonight.”

“I bring him up because he is a good example of how you are a great deal too apt to like people in general. I have never heard you speak ill of any human being, including George Trent, but you also no longer expose your true sentiments to anyone—including me. For five years you have danced with men, you later told me were agreeable, but that is as far as you will go.”

“Lizzy, my need to guard my heart is a lot more complicated than being jilted by George. I first lost Tom, and then I lost you. You were such a comfort when Tom died, but you were gone when I was trying to make sense of my regard for his cousin. Besides, you have no right to judge me for my inability to reveal my private feelings. To this day, you have never disclosed why you returned home so altered. Elizabeth, I have never picked at your pain and assumed you would tell me when you could. I deserve the same courtesy from you.”

Lizzy knew her sister was correct. She hugged her and whispered, “I am so sorry, Jane. I did not mean to hurt you.”

The two sisters remained entwined for a few seconds. Breaking away first, Jane smiled at her sister. “I know you want only the best for me and have always been my most fervent admirer—even more than Mama. Lizzy laughed and kissed her sister’s cheek as the anxiety between the two was broken.

Jane began again to attempt to explain some of her feelings. “The one with whom I will spend my life must first be sure I am the one for them. The confidence I have in his affection must be as I knew Tom’s to be.” She chuckled at what she was about to say. “Once I am certain he truly wants me, I will decide whether I will have him.”

Lizzy joined in her sister’s laughter and asked with a smirk, “But what if the perfect man for you is also afraid to disclose his true feelings because he fears being rejected?”

Her older sister could not think of a witty reply so she just shrugged her shoulders. Finally she said with a combination of humour and passion. “I am not afraid to join you in spinsterhood.”

Elizabeth decided to push her sister for a bit more information about Mr Bingley. She kept her tone light and teasing so as not to have a repeat of their earlier disagreement. “From the time we began confiding in each other as little girls, you have taken the good of everybody’s character and made it still better… and said nothing of the bad.” Her fingers entwined with Jane’s. “That is a character flaw which belongs to you alone—my favourite goodly creature. Mr Bingley sounds like an honourable and amiable man, and he appears to admire you. He has money, so he does not need a bride with a huge dowry the way Mr Trent did… and besides, you will have a decent dowry.” She finished her query by asking with a grin, “And so do you agree with Mama’s estimation of Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst? Obviously at least his one sister does not have manners equal to his.”

Jane took the question quite seriously and thought for a minute before she replied. “Certainly not… She was wrong to say what she did about you. However, when I met Mr Bingley’s sisters, they were quite polite… and even complimentary to me. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house. Unless I am much mistaken, we shall find very charming neighbours in her and him.”

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not persuaded. She had paid careful attention to Kitty’s description of Mr Darcy’s words when he apologized to them in the presence of Mr Bingley. He had expressed remorse to her sisters for remarks they might have heard that they were only tolerable, and complemented them on their beauty. Jane had told Lizzy that Charlotte had described uncivil remarks about the reclusive Bennet sister during the exchange between Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy. From what she had gleaned, Lizzy deduced that it was probably Miss Bingley who had disparaged the beauty of all the Bennet sisters. She had just been fortunate not to have been overheard. Elizabeth believed Mr Darcy was not one to spread rumours. Mrs Darcy had shared with her how uncomfortable her husband was in social situations.

Sleep eluded Elizabeth as her mind raced with the fear of her meeting with Mr Darcy. She had been successful in keeping any hint of the true circumstances of her lost year from becoming known. Though some of the most vicious speculations had hinted at a man being involved in her inheritance, no one had ever mentioned a child. Elizabeth prayed his presence would not jeopardize her situation and fuel the gossip. As she played over in her mind the report of the evening, she realized she had not heard mention of Mr Darcy being a widower with two children.