For the rest of the assembly, Elizabeth and Jane both kept an eye on Lydia.
On the ride home, the carriage was full of female chatter.
“I have never danced so much in one night!” Kitty exclaimed. “I wish there could be as many gentlemen at every assembly!”
“Yes, it was a welcome change from what we are used to,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Not one of the gentlemen visiting asked me for a dance,” Lydia complained, “and I do not understand why. I am very pretty, and I am a very good dancer! I only danced with the same few gentlemen we always dance with.”
“I suspect they learned how young you are,” Mary suggested.
“What does that have to do with it?” Lydia demanded.
“Gentlemen usually prefer to dance with young women who are full grown,” Mary said.
“I am full-grown!” Lydia protested.
“Perhaps physically, but your mind, your emotions, and your sense of judgement still have much growing to do,” Elizabeth said bluntly.
“They are telling you the truth, Lydia,” Jane said. “While there are a few families around here who feel comfortable allowing their daughters to come out in our small society at your age, it is not usually done, especially not in London. The most common age is eighteen, but no younger than seventeen for sure. You are only fifteen.”
Though it was dark in the carriage, they did not need light in order to know Lydia was not happy. She was not happy with the circumstances of the evening, nor was she happy with the facts as they were presented to her.
“There, there, Lydia,” Mama cooed.
“Mama, when are we to go to London? I am sure the balls and parties will be much more enjoyable there!” Lydia said, clearly not accepting the words of her elder sisters.
“As it happens, I intend to move up our departure," Mama said. "I heard Mr. Bingley tell Sir William that he will go to London at the end of next week. He will be gone for several days, so I figured we may as well go away ourselves. I cannot encourage a match between him and Jane if he is not here. By the time he returns, we shall not be more than a day behind him."
"Are we to go next week, then?" Lydia asked excitedly.
"Yes, we can leave on Wednesday."
“Oh, thank you, Mama! In London, there will be so many gentlemen wishing to dance with me, I just know it!”
Chapter 6
Darcy was glad when the evening finally came to an end. He could not even attend a small public assembly without being the subject of gossip or the target of mercenary matrons. He had known it, and he had been proven correct. Darcy was no novice when it came to the machinations of others, especially women. Years ago, at a ball, a matron tried to force a compromise between him and her daughter by stepping outside the card room and shutting the door herself! Darcy had watched her do it, hardly believing his eyes. Little did she know, his cousin Fitz was also in the room, his presence obscured by a large flower arrangement. Minutes later, she returned with a friend and claimed compromise, looking at Darcy with a victorious gleam in her eye. It was at that moment Fitz rose from his chair and came to stand beside him. Darcy then asked her why she had decided thathehad compromised her daughter and not his cousin. Flustered, she opened and closed her mouth several times as she looked between the two of them. Fitz, who was enjoying the show entirely too much, grinned ather and asked if they should call the banns that Sunday. The matron huffed and dragged her daughter from the room, her friend following closely behind. After seeing with his own eyes the depths to which some women would go, Darcy took steps to ensure he would never have to deal with such a situation again.
When the carriage came to a stop in the front drive at Netherfield, the gentlemen stepped out and walked towards the house.
“It was an enjoyable evening. My dance partners were all pleasant company, and a few of them were very pretty, too,” Bingley said.
“I believe you danced nearly every set, did you not?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, all but three I think,” Bingley replied as they climbed the first set of steps.
“I am sure such efforts earned you favor with your neighbors.”
“I do not believe many ladies would have had the opportunity to dance were it not for our presence and that of the Hadley brothers,” Bingley said. He paused when they reached the first landing and looked down for a moment as if trying to gather his thoughts. “Even though I would prefer to spend time with Miss Bennet when we are in company, I have held to my resolve of limiting my attentions to her.”
Darcy moved in front of Bingley to better see him. The dim light of the crescent moon only helped to illuminate his friend’s face somewhat. “Doing so will help you avoid a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, but it is difficult to show such restraint with a woman as lovely as she. I do not speak only of her looks, Darcy. She is lovely on the inside as well,” he insisted.
“I am sure she is, Bingley. It seems the fine reputations of the three eldest Bennet ladies are well-deserved. Tonight, gossip regarding your wealth and mine reached Miss Elizabeth’s ears.She took it upon herself to come and apologize to me for the offensive behavior of her neighbors. She also asked me to pass on her apologies to you as well.”
“That was kind of her,” Bingley said. He then turned to climb the remaining steps.
