Elizabeth had to bite her tongue to keep from protesting Lady Lucas’s vulgar language. She simply smiled all the brighter. “Surely you have heard of the Christmas party. It seems everyone in the neighborhood is abuzz about it.”
“Christmas party?” Lady Lucas set down her embroidery hoop with deliberate care. “What Christmas party?”
Jane clasped her hands together, her eyes bright. “Why, the one at Netherfield, of course! Sir Thomas is hosting a grand gathering. A feast fit for a king, parlor games to last the night long, and I heard they are bringing in musicians from London. Lizzy and I were just discussing what we might wear.”
Lady Lucas’s brows knit together. “I have heard nothing of this.”
Elizabeth gasped softly. “Nothing? Oh, how peculiar. Surely, Sir Thomas meant to include you. Everyone seems to be going. Have you not yet had your invitation?”
Charlotte looked up from her stitching, her gaze flickering to Elizabeth’s with sudden understanding. She cleared her throat delicately. “Mother, perhaps the invitation is simply delayed. It is not like Sir Thomas to be remiss.”
“Indeed,” Jane added smoothly. “He spoke so warmly of you when we were at dinner. I imagine he values your opinion greatly.”
Lady Lucas’s lips pursed. “I should hope so. Though I confess, I have my doubts about that household.”
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, her tone light and conversational. “Oh, Lady Lucas, I cannot help but wonder what you will think of it. Netherfield’s ballroom is quite grand. The musicians, the decorations—it promises to be quite the spectacle.”
Lady Lucas’s brow lifted, her curiosity piqued. “Spectacle, you say? I was not aware Sir Thomas had much interest in such displays.”
“Perhaps not in the past,” Elizabeth replied with a faint smile, “but Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley have been most enthusiastic in their planning. They are staying through Twelfth Night, of course, as they are old friends with Sir Thomas. And you know that Sir Thomas’s generosity knows no bounds. I am sure he wishes for his friends to meeteveryone.”
Lady Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
Charlotte glanced up, catching Elizabeth’s sly tone. “It is said the flowers will also be brought in from London,” she added innocently. “Very grand indeed.”
Lady Lucas adjusted her shawl, clearly debating the matter. “Well, I daresay such extravagance would be worth seeing. It is not often one has the opportunity to attend an event of such scale in Meryton.”
“Never in my lifetime,” Elizabeth said smoothly. “I suspect the entire neighborhood will be talking about it for weeks afterward.”
“Entirely possible,” Lady Lucas murmured. “I suppose it would be foolish to form an opinion without… proper observation.”
“Quite,” Charlotte interjected, her cheek twitching as she focused on her stitching. “It would be remiss not to investigate, Mama.”
Lady Lucas nodded with growing determination. “Yes, I suppose you are right. As chairwoman of the parish Benevolence Society, it is my duty to see things for myself.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged the briefest of glances—satisfaction flickering between them like sparks in a hearth.
“Will you not join us on our calls today, Charlotte?” Elizabeth asked. “I expect Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy will be in town making orders, and wemighthave the pleasure of introducing you.”
Charlotte looked up with a sly smile. “How could I refuse? Besides, I would not want to miss any of the theatrics.”
Lady Lucas sighed. “I am sure this will be the talk of Meryton for weeks. I only hope Sir Thomas and his… household behave themselves.”
Elizabeth rose, her expression perfectly pleasant. “Oh, I am certain they will, Lady Lucas. Sir Thomas is a gentleman, after all.”
As the Bennet sisters and Charlotte made their way to the door, Elizabeth cast one last glance at Lady Lucas, who was already fluttering toward her writing desk. “She will spread the word before tea,” Elizabeth murmured to Jane. “And if we work quickly enough, we will be ahead of her.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Lizzy, you are positively ruthless.”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth replied with a grin. “Merely… efficient.”
“Efficient,” Jane agreed sweetly. “And perhaps just a little bit devious.”
Darcy stepped down fromthe carriage first, his boots slipping faintly against the frosty cobblestones of Meryton’s main street. Beside him, Bingley bounded out, nearly bumping shoulders with Roberts, who stood by the carriage, his eyes roving the town with a hint of wariness.
“Roberts,” Bingley said brightly, “you have the list, I trust?”
“Yes, sir,” Roberts replied, holding up a neatly folded sheet of paper.
