There was a sudden silence; every face turned to the entryway of the hall to see two gentlemen and two ladies enter the room. The younger gentleman had reddish-blond hair, the older had brown hair, already greying at the temples. The two ladies both had the same reddish-blond hair as the younger gentleman; there could be no doubt that they were related.
Sir Lucas, Charlotte’s father, hastened to the newcomers in his eagerness to introduce himself.
Elizabeth felt, rather than heard, Charlotte’s sigh. “Charlotte?”
“I just wish my father was a little less…amiable, I suppose.”
“And I wish my father was rather more so.”
“Is no one content, Eliza?”
“I fear it is not human nature to be so. Let us observe the newcomers! I suspect the younger gentleman to be Mr. Bingley; the two ladies very obviously his sisters. The older gentleman is escorting the older lady but they do not appear to be conversing, so I would guess them to be married.” She laughed at her own witticism.
The two friends watched Sir Lucas take the newcomers around the hall, introducing them to everyone. Elizabeth poked Charlotte and whispered, “Watch Mr. Bingley’s face when he meets Jane.”
Indeed, the young man’s face lit up like a thousand candles upon beholding Jane Bennet! He would not let Sir Lucas hurry him off, but instead spent several minutes speaking with Jane. He had doubtless asked her for a dance. Elizabeth hid her laughter behind her hand.
“What would that be like, I wonder?” Charlotte asked, softly.
“What wouldwhatbe like?”
“To be so beautiful that everyone just falls down at your feet.”
Elizabeth turned to face her friend. “Charlotte, all that beauty has yet to land Jane a husband. And it garners her far more attention from Mama than she wishes for.”
“That is true.”
“Look; your father wants you.”
“Doubtless he wishes to introduce me. Come with me, Eliza, you may as well meet this paragon of bachelorhood as well.”
Hand in hand, Elizabeth and Charlotte walked to where Sir Lucas stood with the newcomers. They were all beautifully dressed, quite evidently wealthy and – judging by their fashionable attire – very recently in Town.
“Ah, Charlotte, there you are. Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Bingley, this is my daughter, Miss Lucas, and her dear friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. You met Miss Elizabeth’s sisters earlier.”
Charlotte and Elizabeth curtsied gracefully. The two gentlemen bowed, but the ladies merely dipped their heads and then looked away. Elizabeth’s brows rose at this rudeness; did the ladies think themselves too good for country folk?
But Mr. Bingley was everything pleasant. He exclaimed happily about the music, the hall, the refreshments, and the people he had met. He asked both Charlotte and Elizabeth for dances, which they willingly granted.
***
During her dance with Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth learnt that Mrs. Hurst was his elder sister, and Miss Bingley, though younger and unmarried, was acting as Netherfield’s hostess. She was also told that there was another visitor at Netherfield, a Mr. Darcy, who was not in attendance.
“Did he not wish to come to the assembly?” Elizabeth asked.
“No; he arrived only today with a bad headache and asked to be excused. Caroline – my younger sister – said she would stay at Netherfield to bear him company, but he said he intended to nurse his headache alone in his room, so she might as well go enjoy herself.”
Elizabeth asked, “She would have stayed at Netherfield with him rather than attend the dance? She is indeed a good hostess.”
He laughed. “Oh, she is not trying to be a good hostess! My sister has set her cap – but no, I should not speak about my own sister. Let us speak aboutyoursister, instead.”
“Do you mean Miss Mary?” Elizabeth asked, mischievously. “She is very accomplished.”
“Miss Mary? Oh, no. I am sure she is everything wonderful, but I meant to enquire about Miss Bennet.”
“My dearest Jane! Mr. Bingley, I do not mind telling you that she is a lovely creature, inside and out.”
“That is exactly what I thought! An angel! An absolute angel! Miss Elizabeth, I have already danced with her once; do you think she would dance with me again? I do not wish to make her uncomfortable by importuning her too eagerly.”
