Georgiana was trembling with discomfort; she threw a desperate glance at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had been listening to these ladies speak and her face was the very picture of distaste. She said, “Caroline speaks of you ladies very highly; Mr. Darcy and I have always commented on how kindly she mentions her former classmates.”
Lady Emmeline turned at once to Elizabeth. “Well, no one speaks kindly of her! But let us not discuss Caroline any further. I have long wanted to meet you, Mrs. Darcy!”
“Have you indeed?” Elizabeth asked, coolly.
“Yes, of course; your husband was considered one of the greatest catches of the Season for many years.”
“I imagine so,” Elizabeth replied, with a shrug.
“We were all very surprised to learn that Mr. Darcy had married someone not part of Society,” Lady Emmeline continued. “Many of us have been eager to meet you and discover the reason for his unexpected choice.”
Jane said, quickly, “Anyone who sees them together knows that theirs was a love match.”
Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy was weary of being pursued, Lady Emmeline. I did not pursue him; in fact, he pursued me. But the fact is that he and I have a good deal in common.”
“Such as?” Lady Katherine asked, skepticism in her voice.
Surprisingly, it was Caroline who answered. “They are both great readers; they discuss books and disagree as often as not, but they enjoy the disagreement. They both like the outdoors, so Pemberley suits them both very well. It took me some time to understand it as well, Lady Katherine, but I see now how very well suited they are for one another. But tell me of Lady Alicia; I was hoping that she could join us today, but she sent her regrets.”
The three of them laughed heartily. “You will not see Lady Alicia at all this Season,” Lady Emmeline said.
“But why? I do hope she is not ill,” Caroline said.
“Ill? Oh, no; not unless you call making a huge error in judgement being ill! She tried to elope with a Navy lieutenant; her father discovered the plot in time and stopped it. As a result, she is no longer invited anywhere by anyone of importance. The poor dear is in complete disgrace.” Lady Emmeline sounded quite pleased about it.
“How can you know of this? Surely the family does not discuss it!” Jane cried in distress.
“The servant’s grapevine,” Elizabeth said, quietly.
“Precisely,” Lady Emmeline said, her eyes glittering. “Her maid is sister to my maid, and I knew of it immediately after it occurred.”
“And you told the story to others?” Elizabeth asked, her distaste clear.
“Of course!” Lady Emmeline replied. “I could not, in good conscience, allow my friends to associate with someone like that.”
White-faced, Georgiana turned to Elizabeth and whispered, “I must go home, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth understood immediately that the mention of a failed elopement, in addition to the terrible manners on display, was the cause of Georgiana’s distress. “Not yet,” Elizabeth whispered back. “Be strong!”
This whispered conversation brought Georgiana to Lady Emmeline’s attention. “Miss Darcy, I hear that you are a veritable virtuoso on the pianoforte,” Lady Katherine said. “Might we hear you play today?”
Caroline rose and led Georgiana to the instrument. Caroline whispered, “I am sorry for my friends’ behaviour, Miss Darcy.”
“They are not your friends, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana whispered back, as she sat down on the piano bench and began.
When she was done, the ladies all applauded. Jane asked if anyone else wished to exhibit, but it was clear that no one wished to follow such a remarkable performance.
Elizabeth, hoping to introduce a safe topic, asked, “Tell us of your suitors; I am certain the three of you are beleaguered on every side by hopeful gentlemen.”
This was as good a conversation starter as anyone might have hoped for. The three of them held forth for some time on the various gentlemen who called on them, how many proposals they had already turned down, who the great catches of the Season were (Lord Fane’s name was mentioned), and so on. Caroline remained silent throughout.
Finally, it was over. Lady Emmeline, Lady Katherine and Lady Beatrice walked together to the entryway; Lady Beatrice could be heard saying, “Caroline Bingley’s taste has not changed at all; it is as dreadful as ever.”
Lady Katherine contributed, “She still dresses as if she were the Queen, rather than the daughter of an insignificant tradesman.”
And Lady Emmeline added, “And she thought we were her friends! What a joke!”
