Chapter 7
Catherine had mixed feelings upon leaving school for good. On the one hand, she was glad to not have to study any more, and she was more than happy with the idea of being out. She would finally be allowed to go to evening entertainments along with her mother and older sisters.
On the other hand, she would miss her friends a great deal, and she had no way of knowing if she would ever see them again. She would also miss her painting lessons, though she had grown enough in her skill so that she felt she could enjoy the craft even without further lessons. Mostly, however, she would simply miss the style of life she had grown used to at school.
There were far more servants at school than at home, and life was much more ordered there because of it. At home, Catherine knew the house would be kept clean and meals would be served on time, but the process of dressing was complicated by the fact that all five sisters had a single maid to share between them.
Catherine had not styled her own hair or anyone else’s the entire time she attended school, but at home in the summer, she and Lydia tended to help each other with their buttons and their hair almost every day.
There were other differences that were more difficult to put into words. There was a difference in elegance and style between her school and her home, and it created an altogether differentatmosphere. Longbourn was pleasant, comfortable, well-lit, and warm in the winter. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but Mrs. Gordon’s school was simply something else, something more.
She would never dream of complaining about any of this out loud. She did not want her sisters or her parents to think she had become too proud for her own home, but she could not escape the feeling of discomfort that always came with her return home.
In the past, she had comforted herself with the knowledge that it was temporary, but that didn’t work this time. With Catherine’s continued insistence that she would never marry, being at Longbourn was something that would last for, hopefully, many years, as long as Papa was alive. She would have to learn to get used to it and be content.
Catherine’s efforts at being more content were helped along significantly by the fact that she was now out. Her peace was marred, however, by the fact that Lydia also came out the moment she turned fifteen in late June. Catherine thought that fifteen was far too young to handle the rocky waters of mingling in mixed company, but she had no say in the matter.
School had not changed Lydia as much as Catherine had hoped. Her youngest sister was still energetic and often spoke louder than she should. She had improved somewhat in her manners, however, especially at the dinner table. There, at least, she was hardly ever too loud.
When they went out in the evening, Lydia was also fairly well-behaved. She didn’t flirt overly much or laugh too loudly. The only issue Catherine had with Lydia’s behavior in public had more to do with their mother than Lydia, herself.
Mama tended to forget that Catherine’s fortune provided a stable future for them all, even should Papa pass away early. Shewas still obsessed with marrying off her daughters, simply to ensure they would not be a burden by remaining unwed.
Toward that end, she encouraged Lydia to wear clothing that showed off more of her “assets” than was appropriate for such a young maiden. Mama also encouraged such a manner of dress among her other daughters, but none of them listened. Jane and Mary were too demure, Elizabeth was too wise, and Catherine simply knew better, both from what she had learned from Mrs. Parker and what she had heard at school.
So, the summer passed in relative enjoyment, and Catherine gradually became reaccustomed to the life she had grown up with. The one thing she wished she could do that did not seem possible from Longbourn was travel. The expense was no problem, but Papa did not like to leave home. It would take something entirely momentous to make him leave the comfort of his bookroom.
As summer was winding down, rumor began to circulate in the neighborhood that Netherfield had finally been leased. Some said they saw a chaise and four going in and out of the place, so the new owner must be quite well off, but no one knew who it was.
In the last week of September, Catherine received news from Georgiana that shed light on the mystery owner.
September 24, 1811
Dearest Catherine,
I just heard from my brother that he has been invited to spend the autumn in the country with a friend of his, a Mr. Bingley. He is a particularly good friend to my brother, though they are of different stations. You may or may not recall, buthis sister, Caroline Bingley, was a student at Mrs. Gordon’s school in your first year.
While Mr. Bingley is decidedly wealthy, he has no land. He is apparently attempting to rectify that lack. His first step is to lease a large home in the country so that he may experience what rural life is like. From there, he will decide where he will set down roots, assuming of course that he likes the country.
The reason I am so excited about this, my dear Catherine, is that the country home he has chosen is a place called Netherfield near the town of Meryton in Hertfordshire. Now do you understand my excitement? As soon as I heard the news from my brother, I begged to be included in the journey.
At first, he said I could not, but I continued to ask in every way I knew how, for I have so longed to see you in person. There are things that happened this past summer that I feel I absolutely must share with you, but I cannot commit them to paper. Eventually he conceded, and he will be asking Mr. Bingley to extend an invitation to me and my new companion, Mrs. Annesley.
I do not exactly know my timetable just yet, but I believe we will likely be arriving in Hertfordshire towards the middle of October. I do so look forward to seeing you then. Until that happy day arrives, I remain
Your dear friend always,
Georgiana Darcy
Upon reading that Georgiana would be in the neighborhood in the near future, joy swooped through Catherine causing a smile to bloom on her face.
“You seem to have had some good news,” said Elizabeth who was sitting nearby in the parlor.
“Oh yes,” said Catherine. “My best friend from school will be coming to Hertfordshire next month. Apparently, her brother is good friends with the new owner of Netherfield, and she and her brother have been invited to stay at Netherfield this autumn, once Mr. Bingley is settled here.”
“Mr. Bingley?” asked Elizabeth. “Is that the new owner’s name?”
“Yes,” replied Catherine. “My friend is Georgiana Darcy, and she is Lydia’s age. Her brother, Mr. Darcy, is much older by more than a decade. I have never met Mr. Bingley, though I do know his sister, Miss Caroline Bingley. She was a student at Mrs. Gordon’s school during my first year there.”
