“I do like him and I think you will like him as well. Papa, please, can you attempt to curb my younger sisters at dinner tonight?”
“I believe this Mr. Darcy has relatives enough to blush for.” Mr. Bennet’s words were mild, but his tone severe.
“He does, but I did not think we needed to compete for the title of who has the worst relatives!” Elizabeth spoke heatedly.
“Lizzy, that is unkind and wrong. Your two youngest sisters are young and foolish, there can be no doubt of it. But Mr. Darcy’s aunt is an adult, as well as a titled lady and the mistress of an estate. Her behaviour to you was unforgiveable. Where were her manners? Her upbringing? I cannot let you compare Kitty and Lydia, foolish though they are, with the infamous Lady Catherine.”
Elizabeth swallowed. “You are right, Papa. I am sorry. It is just that it is hard to watch people react to my sisters’ behaviour.”
“Do you judge Mr. Darcy by his aunt’s behaviour?”
“Of course not.”
“Then let us hope that Mr. Darcy is equally wise, and does not judge you by your sisters’ behaviour. If he is not that acute, then he is not the man for you. And now, given that this dinner is more important than I had first understood, I will go to my room and change into my own finery.”
As he rose from his chair, Elizabeth went to him and hugged him hard. He murmured, “My dearest Lizzy,” into her hair before she released him and made her way to the parlour.
Mary was sitting with a book; she glanced up as Elizabeth walked in. “You look lovely, Lizzy,” she said. “Is there something special happening tonight?”
Elizabeth replied, airily, “Mr. Bingley has a guest, you know.”
Mary closed her book. “I did not know, and I suspect Mama did not know, either.”
“Kate knew all about it, so I assumed Mama did as well.” Elizabeth’s tone was light.
Mary eyed her sister carefully. “I do not believe you, Lizzy.”
“And I suspect she will not either, but it is too late to do anything about it now.” Elizabeth tried not to smile.
The furor began the moment Mrs. Bennet walked into the parlour and caught sight of her second daughter attired in one of her best gowns, hair in an elaborately formed circlet, curls intertwined with a heretofore unseen gold ribbon. “A gold ribbon, Lizzy?”
“I thought you would want me to make a good impression on Mr. Bingley’s guest, Mama.”
“Mr. Bingley’s guest? Whatever do you mean?”
“Why, Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, has arrived and will be at dinner tonight.”
“Mr. Darcy? The rich one who was supposed to come last fall?”
“The very one.”
“And how did you know this, pray?”
“Jane told me; she knew that I had met Mr. Darcy at Hunsford.” There was no point in lying, as Jane would tell the truth.
“And why did you not tell me?”
“Mama, you would have become anxious, you know that you would, and I thought to give your poor nerves a rest. There; am I not a thoughtful daughter?”
“Had I known, I would have…” Mrs. Bennet trailed off.
“You would have what, Mama? Mr. Darcy is not interested in children, so it matters not what Kitty and Lydia wear, and Mary here is not interested in men. As you see, I am dressed for the occasion, and Kate even helped me with my hair. So everything that you would have done has, in fact, alreadybeendone, with no ill effects on your nerves.”
Mrs. Bennet scowled at Elizabeth. “I expect you to keep me informed of these things!”
“I shall in the future, Mama, I promise.”
Mr. Bennet walked into the parlour. “Are we all ready, then?”
