Mr. Crosgrove overlooked his blush. “Now, there is a fine lady. Where her elder sister’s fine looks divert most young men, Miss Elizabeth has a mind as quick as my Martha and a heart bigger than she is. But I fear for those Bennet girls.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“The father is indolent, and their mother is single-minded in pushing her five girls at anyone wearing trousers. An entailment binds the estate. Although they are daughters of a gentleman, neither parent has provided anything to recommend them. Truly, it is a shame. The two oldest are fine young women.”
“Are the sisters similar in personality?” He wasshocked that he had fallen into listening to gossip, even encouraging it. But he might as well take advantage of Mr. Crosgrove’s knowledge. He could not seem to help himself since Miss Elizabeth and her strange family intrigued him.
The older man sighed, shaking his head. “Not at all. When in company, Miss Bennet remains reserved. Miss Lizzy is full of life. I have been a neighbor to Tom Bennet for thirty years, since Martha and I purchased Crosgrove Manor. With each daughter born, Bennet retreated deeper into his book room. Mrs. Bennet became more and more shrill in her demands, first for a son, then for her husband to throw their girls into the path of anyone with two coins to rub together. Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine, who everyone calls Kitty, and Lydia are each as different as night is to day. If Miss Lydia kept her mouth closed and practiced decorum, she would be as lovely as her eldest sister, who is gentleness itself. Instead, because her father ignores the youngest and her mother indulges her, I fear she will ruin the others—which is hardly fair. Had this blasted war not kept on for this long, there would be plenty of competition for the hands of Miss Bennet and Miss Lizzy. As it is, they will suffer grievously, I have no doubt.”
“Suffering for the sins of others is unjust, yet is that not the way of the world?” Darcy justified gossiping with the older gentleman as if he were one of the matrons sitting down. With Bingley following Miss Bennet around the room like an eager pup, the more Darcy learned of the family, the more helpful he could be to his friend.
“That is so, Mr. Darcy.”
Extending his hand, the two men shook. “Thank you for the conversation, Mr. Crosgrove. I hope your gift ofBlue John brings joy to your bride. As far as Miss Elizabeth Bennet is concerned, I have a sister the same age as the youngest. Since I am unmarried, watching how other siblings react to each other has been informative. Miss Elizabeth’s kindness is noteworthy. At the same time, she was firm with her sisters. Trying to find that balance is difficult.”
“Aye, it is. You seem like an intelligent young man. No doubt you will know what is best for your sister.”
Know what is best? Darcy wished he had this stranger’s blind confidence. If only…if only he paid as much attention to the guardianship of his sister before her elopement as he wanted to do now. Then, he would have nothing to regret.
As it was, as the minutes passed, his ire grew as he witnessed Miss Lydia tease and tempt one man after another until he wanted nothing more than to return to the privacy of his quarters at Netherfield Park. That Georgiana possibly had done the same only added fuel to the fire. His problems loomed until he could not see any way around them.Anger flared inside him. Wickham enraged him. Georgiana vexed him. His negligence grieved him deeply. He needed to leave the assembly but promised Bingley he would stay.
As the minutes passed, the gossip swirling about the room intensified. The noise and the undignified conduct of the youngest Bennet brought everything he had failed with Georgiana to the fore. Along with it came the loss of Darcy House, Pemberley, and the respect from his peers due to the Darcy name. One scenario after another of Wickham neglecting his wife in favor of one willing woman after another enraged him.
Bitterness seeped into his pores. He wished he was anywhere but Meryton.
Upon introduction to the newcomers,Elizabeth’s mother’s response caused Elizabeth to blush, and she blushed nearly constantly ever since. Matters escalated when Mr. Bingley dared to request the first set with Charlotte instead of Jane. Mr. Darcy stood against the wall rather than join in the conversation or dance. A disappointing beginning indeed.
In the next set, her sweet Jane danced with Mr. Bingley. They made a lovely couple, all smiles and blushes. After scolding Lydia once again for her brash conduct, Elizabeth took the only seat available, close to where Mr. Darcy stood. The scowl on his face was enough to keep even the fearless away.
Why was he so miserable? He certainly had the potential to be the most handsome man in the room. Obviously, he was the wealthiest, for the rumors of him having ten thousand a year raced around the crowd.
Paying him no more attention, she was grateful when Charlotte joined her.
“Oh, Lizzy. I cannot recall the last time I opened an assembly with anyone other than my father or one of my brothers. Mr. Bingley is everything a gentleman ought to be: good-looking, a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.”
“And you, my dear Charlotte, glowed in the candlelight.”
Charlotte deliberately bumped into Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I believe it was the dew of exertion that caused my glow.” Her fan fluttered so quickly that the current of air brushed over Elizabeth’s cheek. “I need a glass of punch. Hopefully, no one has been too liberal with the brandy.”
Elizabeth chuckled, refusing her friend when she offered to bring her a cup. Her heart filled with seeing Charlotte happy and Jane engaged in conversation with Mr. Bingley. Once the set ended, the man from Netherfield Park politely returned her sister to her mother. Mr. Bingley approached his friend.
Surely, the gentlemen heard Mrs. Bennet’s loud proclamations of, “I knew how it could be. You could not be so beautiful for nothing, Jane. Soon enough, you will be the mistress of Netherfield Park, the grandest estate in Hertfordshire.”
Jane’s mortification was visible on every inch of her face, though she said nothing. Lydia tugged her bodice down again. As did Kitty. Could her family be any more embarrassing? Elizabeth was weary of keeping them under good regulation.
She rested her head against the wall, again wishing for things that would likely never be.
Bingley drew close.“Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself. There are far more ladies here than there are men to stand up with them. The least you can do is dance.”
Before Mr. Darcy had time to reply, Mrs. Bennet shrieked. “Why, look at the stitching on his waistcoat! Gold thread woven into the emerald green looks as richas he is. And see how snuggly the garment fits? I doubt there is much padding under his garments like some young men I see. If only he would dance with Lydia. What a lovely couple they would make. Her ribbon matches his vest. Surely, it is a sign that the match is meant to be.”
Darcy’s eyes surveyed the matron’s daughters to see which girl had a green ribbon.Good god!The bold young one. Never! If only Parker had dressed him in blue.
Had his friend not heard Mrs. Bennet’s proclamations? Was he not aware of the danger? “Bingley, I urge caution. Do you not hear the gossip ofthatwoman? You are creating expectations. I refuse to do the same. I have already lost too much. You will, too, if you do not temper your enthusiasm.”
“Upon my honor, I have never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening,” cried Bingley. “There are several of them, you see, who are uncommonly pretty. Surely, there could be no harm.”
“Perhaps! Your partner is a handsome girl, but who is her mother? Who is her family?” said Mr. Darcy, looking at where the eldest Miss Bennet stood next tothatwoman.
