And yet, Jane found herself eager to confide in Mr. Willoughby, who arrived with his mother and sisters a few minutes after the ladies of the house assembled themselves downstairs in the parlor.
Miss Bingley and the Hursts, who had been invited at Miss Steele’s insistence, arrived a few minutes later; Miss Bingley immediately set about her theatrical admiration of Miss Steele, while markedly snubbing the Bennet sisters. Elizabeth appeared gleefully diverted by the absurd snobbery, while Jane was merely content to relish this chance to speak to Mr. Willoughby and his sister.
Jane happily listened to Sophie’s warm effusions – until she observed Miss Steele snuck out of the parlor, into the diningroom. Jane was instantly suspicious, and at her side, Elizabeth began to laugh.
“I daresay she has gone to switch the place cards around to suit her own purposes.” Though Elizabeth leaned in to whisper, she made no attempt to lower her voice, and Sophie’s eyes widened.
“What purposes? I believe you do not like her – tell me, please, for you are already keeping secrets.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but before she knew what she was about, it was Jane who answered her. “Miss Steele is secretly engaged to Mr. Edward Ferrars and hopes to curry favor with his relations, who desire him to make a more favorable alliance.”
She had moderated her own voice, but nonetheless Jane cast a guilty glance around the room. It appeared that nobody had heard her scandalous declaration, and she felt a strange rush at having shared the secret with Mr. Willoughby. Elizabeth nodded approvingly, and Sophie brought her hands to her mouth as she gasped.
Mr. Willoughby’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Does he know that you are aware of this, Miss Bennet?”
“He does,” Elizabeth swiftly supplied. “He also knows of our connection to a certain lady whom he made love to while already pledged to Miss Steele. Hateful man!”
Elizabeth’s countenance suddenly altered, for Mr. Darcy had arrived with Georgiana, Viscount Bellamy, and the countess, Lady Matilda. Jane suspected that her sister had quarreled with Mr. Darcy when last they were together, and the wary look on Elizabeth’s face as she watched him was nearly a confirmation.
Sophie went to greet Georgiana at once, and Jane could see that the viscount was already looking for her amidst the growing crowd. He smiled but then began to look panicked asMiss Bingley swiftly attached herself to him. Mr. Willoughby softly chuckled. “I suppose I shall have to devote myself to a certain lady this evening so that you might have the opportunity of coming to know the viscount better. But before I perform this valiant feat, I must give you something, Miss Bennet.”
Mr. Willoughby had been holding a small book since his arrival, and he offered it now to Jane. In a hushed and plaintive tone he said, “It has been a week – if you have not yet had word from Marianne, perhaps the letter may have gone amiss? I have composed another… if you do not think it overbearing….”
Jane accepted the book, understanding that it must contain the missive between its pages; Mr. Willoughby would not endanger her reputation by handing her the letter directly, for all to see. Jane tucked it under her arm, and Mr. Willoughby extended his hand to lead her across the room. Jane glanced over her shoulder to see if her sister would follow them, but Elizabeth was rooted in place, staring at Mr. Darcy.
Jane felt a pang of worry for her sister, who did not seem herself at all. She was obliged to swiftly exchange this frown for a placid smile as she greeted the viscount and Miss Bingley, saying everything appropriate but feeling utterly insipid.
The viscount wore an expression of relief as he warmly returned Jane’s civilities. “You are looking remarkably well this evening, Miss Bennet. I trust you are as eager for company as I am, after a week of so much abysmal snow and wind.”
Jane felt her smile flicker for a moment; after taking such unusually wicked delight in sharing salacious gossip with Mr. Willoughby, it seemed terribly trite to be speaking of the weather. “Yes, very much.”
Miss Bingley offered them a saccharine smile. “Poor Miss Bennet! You have come to London to divert yourself, a luxury for one who resides chiefly in the country, only to be thwarted by ablizzard! But now you must begin to feel all your good fortune, for you once boasted of having relations in Cheapside, and now you find yourself mingling amongst the first circles in Mayfair.”
The viscount frowned at Miss Bingley; Mr. Willoughby gave an exaggerated guffaw. “It is remarkable, is it not, that one need not rely on status or fortune, when pleasing manners and gentle charms might make one welcome among such first-rate company! But let us not be daunted by the weather, or speak of something so dull – those of us who reside at country estate know that we might still make merry when there is snow on the ground. I could take you on a sleigh ride, or ice-skating, Miss Bingley, and then you would understand the regard we country folk have for white winters.”
Mr. Willoughby’s self-satisfaction was a stark contrast to Miss Bingley’s sneer of displeasure. Viscount Bellamy smiled indulgently at them all, his eyes betraying his bemusement at Willoughby’s efforts to discompose the harpy.
“I ought not bore you all with such talk of the weather – forgive me, Miss Bennet, but I fear my manners are in want of some practice now that I have rejoined London society. Even Darcy appears to be getting on better, for he looks quite fascinated by whatever Mrs. Jennings is saying to him.”
“Our hostess has a boundless enthusiasm for society,” Mr. Willoughby agreed. “I met her in Devonshire, and I can tell you candidly that she also has a penchant for matchmaking. I am sure the ladies currently residing with her must give her a delightful occupation.”
Mrs. Jennings’s voice carried, and Jane could hear the good lady speak Elizabeth’s name, praising her musical abilities. Miss Bingley grimaced. “Poor Mr. Darcy does not like that sort of talk at all – perhaps I ought to go rescue him.”
The two gentlemen nodded their agreement, and Mr. Willoughby gave a small bow to Jane. “If we are rescuing our friends from conversations they appear to be enjoying, I shall go and show the same courtesy to your aunt, Miss Bennet.”
The viscount extended his arm to Jane and led her behind Mr. Willoughby, causing that gentleman to gape at them as they joined him in conversing with Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Hatchard. “My daughters asked me to send you their greetings, madam,” the viscount said. “And to you, as well, Miss Bennet. They were quite put out that they could not accompany me this evening.”
“Another time, you must bring them to visit,” Mrs. Gardiner replied.
“And how is your daughter? Is she still building blanket castles at Longbourn?”
Mrs. Gardiner laughed ruefully. “She is. I had thought she might join us here in London, but she is far too content with her cousins.”
Jane caught Mr. Willoughby’s eye, and he made a subtle gesture urging her to speak to the viscount; she knew he had dispensed with Miss Bingley for her benefit. She did wish to make some sort of contribution to the conversation, but the viscount continued to pepper Mrs. Gardiner with questions about her daughter, the sale of her house in Cheapside, and where she might settle next.
When Mrs. Ferrars and her relations arrived, Mr. Willoughby took a few steps closer to Jane. “I shall not abandon you, my dear friend, but I must say, this fellow is as dismal a beau as that other one. We must think of something to say that will shock and amaze him.”
“I do not think he wishes to be amazed,” Jane whispered back. “If that were the case, I should only disappoint him.”
