“You set the standard for being honorable. Wickham and Cole are not. You know Wickham’s weaknesses. Now you know Cole’s. Avarice and ambition are unseemly traits that will slowly rot the foundations from underneath them. It will influence every choice they make. This means that there will come a moment, a mere second, where you must seize whatever opportunity thattheir greed lays bare, striking quickly, like a viper, as you said earlier. If you do not, you lose the advantage, and your opportunity is gone. Keep your eyes and ears open, my friend. In this, my father learnt a painful lesson.”
“Like Wickham and Cole did to me. They had one chance, and they took it. Sage advice.” Darcy wondered what potential opportunity might open up to him and whether he would be in a position to act when it happened. “I will be vigilant.”
“You should also know that there is an assembly being held this evening in Meryton. This will be my first time meeting many of my new neighbors. Already, a few of the husbands and fathers have called. They are a sociable lot. Whether it is because I have no wife or because they are curious, the consensus was that I would be a welcome addition to the gathering since men are scarce and the ladies love to dance. Shall you join me?” Bingley laughed. “Your scowl does not frighten me, my friend. Come, you will surely meet new acquaintances unaffected by your wealth. Dance with the ladies. Speak to the men. Perhaps you will even enjoy yourself.”
Each one of Bingley’s ideas was compelling. Entering local society without expectations would be a novel experience for him, another step to this life he did not want. He desired to reclaim his birthright, the life he was meant to live. He would do everything within his power to see it done.For tonight, he needed to please his host.
“My clothing is that of a gentleman born to wealth. I fear I will misrepresent my circumstances by my appearance before your neighbors know me.”
“Pshaw! Do not be concerned. You have been in Meryton for an hour. Likely, talk has already spread oncesomeone spotted the crest on your uncle’s coach. I suppose it matters more that you are congenial than whether you are rich or poor.”
“To you, perhaps. To mothers and fathers with unmarried daughters? It matters.”
“You are always the skeptic, Darcy. Leave your cares behind and come to the assembly. Maybe you will find a kindred spirit with whom to share your sorrows. More likely, you just might make another acquaintance to bring you cheer.”
Darcy owed Bingley for welcoming him without prejudice. Knowing the assembly would do little to distract him from his goals, he replied, “Very well. I will join you.”
While her motherand her sisters were giddy with anticipation of dancing with the unknown gentleman now residing in the neighboring estate of Netherfield Park, Elizabeth sought her father’s company.
Their closest neighbor, Sir William Lucas, had been the first to welcome Mr. Bingley to the neighborhood. He described their new neighbor as a slender man of medium height with light hair and pale features who was eager to meet the community. This was good news for at least one young lady in the area surrounding Meryton. Hopefully, it would be her favorite sister, Jane. However, if they had any hope of capturing the gentleman’s attention in a favorable way, her father would need to take charge of his two youngest daughters.
“My dear girl, why are you not seated in front of yourmirror like the rest of your sisters, fussing over your hair and pinching color into your cheeks?” Her father, Thomas Bennet, master of Longbourn, was an odd mixture of sarcasm, reserve, and caprice. But she loved his sharp wit and his desire to engage her in philosophical discussions and shared opinions about the books they read.
“Kitty and Lydia are arguing over ribbons and who will have their dance card filled first. Mary is not at all interested in anything other than listening to the musicians. And Jane, her appearance is as lovely as her character.”
“As is yours, my Lizzy.” His brows arched. “Now, do not scoff at me, dear girl. In this house brimming with silly females, you have a quickness about you that the others lack. Recall, please, the story of when my mother captured my father with a blink of her expressive eyes. You resemble her in appearance and verve. Like you, her hair was dark and thick, unruly after a stroll in the garden. Also, like you, she was witty and vivacious. You have your grandmother’s charm, Lizzy. A beau would need to be a keen observer and a man of action to keep you happy.”
She grinned. “Mama has decided that Jane’s loveliness is solely for the benefit of securing our prospects. She expects Mr. Bingley to ask Jane for one dance, which will guarantee their marriage before the year ends. I am certain she has already imagined Jane in layers of elegant lace at her wedding.”
“No lace, I beg you.” Her father placed the book he was holding on the table next to his chair. “Your mother may not be wrong about who might appeal to Mr. Bingley.When I called on him, his friendly nature appeared to be genuine. He looked to be Jane’s age, fresh from university, and new to estate management. I think you would find him too green, my girl. But I could be wrong. You might consider it a challenge to finish a young man’s metamorphosis from a lad to a gentleman.”
“Papa!”
“Or perhaps you are as silly as your sisters, my girl.”
“Never!”
He patted her hand. “Now, Lizzy girl, to not ruin Jane’s chance with our new neighbor, see that you check Lydia and her shadow. If anyone needs to learn their own insignificance, it is your two youngest sisters. If they grow many degrees worse, I may need to lock Kitty and Lydia up in the nursery for the rest of their lives. Between them and their mother, I would never have peace.”
Her youngest sisters were her father’s responsibility, not hers. “Might you come with us to take charge yourself?”
He waved off her concerns. “I could not bear the excitement or the noise. No, do as you must so the Netherfield party does not speak of you and Jane with disdain. I trust you know how to act.”
Elizabeth left her father’s book room, her spirits dampened. Lydia, Kitty, and their mother did them no favors. Lydia and Kitty were crass and unschooled. Francine Bennet was loud, with a complaining spirit. Everyone knew their mother as an unrestrained gossip. The truth was that neither parent provided guidance nor oversight of their children. Discipline was unheard of at Longbourn.
However, Mrs. Bennet was not ignorant of theirprecarious state. Their estate was entailed away from the female line, and the ladies of Longbourn would be without a home should Mr. Bennet die. Although Jane was unparalleled in beauty, she was almost twenty-three, with no prospects. Their dowries were minimal, and their education haphazard. With little to recommend them, it would be a miracle if a gentleman of worth did more than glance their way before pursuing a more accomplished woman as a bride.
When she returned to her chambers, Elizabeth thought that governing her younger sisters was the last thing she wanted to do at an assembly, but for the sake of her favorite sister’s future, she had no choice.
5
They had not even arrived at the assembly, and Darcy already wished he remained behind. The letter he received that afternoon from Mrs. Price telling him about the long hours Wickham spent away from his wife angered him. His former housekeeper included news that, when he was at home, Wickham invited ladies to call on Georgiana so he might flirt with them openly. This blatant disrespect of his sister increased Darcy’s rage.
Bingley interrupted his unpleasant thoughts. “Underneath your gruff exterior, Darcy, there is a kind man who routinely reaches out to help others. I know about Petey.”
“Petey?” Darcy could not imagine how Bingley heard about the boy.
“Yes, my head groom was at the blacksmith’s shop arranging for the care of one of the carriage horses when you rode in, followed by your uncle’s carriage. He recognized you and your horse. He reported to me upon his return to Netherfield Park that you took pity on the poorlad who had been standing about, hoping to beg for scraps.”
