“I should not, I know there is no future in it, but...” Elizabeth’s voice faltered.
“Oh, Lizzy.”
“I am well, Jane, do not worry.” Elizabeth squared her shoulders and strode ahead.
***
Miss Bingley had a plan. She would, undoubtedly, be the best-dressed woman at this dinner. She would, through her conversation, show herself to also be the mostau courantwith the happenings in the great metropolis of London. Doubtless, there would be a good deal lacking in terms of the estate’s décor, which she would point out. By the end of the meal, Mr. Darcy would clearly see that she, Caroline Bingley, was far superior to any of these Bennet ladies.
***
Mr. Bingley had a plan. He felt fairly certain that he would be seated beside Miss Bennet, but if he were not, he would quickly rearrange things so that she was his dinner partner. He would compliment her, but gently, so that she need not feel embarrassed.
***
Mr. Darcy had a plan. He was certain that Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley would be seated together. He was not likely to be seated beside Miss Mary again, now that he was known to be highly eligible, but if things were not to his liking, he would find a way to rearrange things so that Miss Elizabeth was his dinner partner. He could not marry her, of course, but he could enjoy her company while he was here in Meryton. He planned to leaveNetherfield quite soon. Perhaps next week. Or the following week.
***
“They are here, Mama!” Kitty’s voice rose with excitement. Two ladies from London! She was desperate to see what they were wearing.
“Everyone, stand up when they arrive!” Mrs. Bennet cried.
Miss Bingley swept in first. Kitty almost swooned to see that she was arrayed in a gown of fawn silk with an overlay of maiden blush; the overlay was decorated with a good number of paste diamonds, so that Miss Bingley’s dress caught the candlelight whenever she moved. Her red hair was gathered up in a high tower, and was studded with diamond clips. She looked so elegant that Kitty clasped her hands to her chest and actually moaned aloud.
Miss Bingley heard the sound and looked over at its source. Seeing a very young lady dressed in a very simple gown of an indeterminate shade of green, she tossed her head with a sniff before looking away.
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged astonished glances. Miss Bingley’s gown and coiffure would have been perfect for a London ball; for a simple dinner in the country, it seemed quiteoutré.
Mr. Bingley performed the introductions. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst deigned to incline their heads about a half an inch; Mr. Hurst offered a perfunctory bow.
Everyone was soon seated. Mrs. Bennet began by enquiring how the company was finding Netherfield. “The neighbourhood is delighted that the estate is occupied again,” she added.
Mr. Bingley began, “I like it very – “ but he was immediately interrupted by his sister.
“It is rather small,” she said. “I had hoped Charles would find something a good deal larger. We will not overstay our lease, I am certain.”
“Caroline –“ her brother cut in, but it was no use; it was difficult to interrupt Miss Bingley when she was in full flow.
“And the rooms are so poorly decorated! My brother would allow me to redecorate the public rooms, but truly, what is the use of such an expense?” She waved an elegant hand. “We will be gone as soon as may be. I do enjoy decorating, however; perhaps I might assist you, Mrs. Bennet? For surely you mean to bring this room up to date. These colours have not been in vogue in London for the past ten years!”
Mrs. Bennet was too flustered to answer, so Elizabeth took it upon herself to do so. “We have no immediate plans to redecorate, Miss Bingley, as we have no pretensions to fashion. The money is better spent improving the tenant cottages.”
“Cottages! Why, who could possibly care –“
Mr. Darcy felt this had gone on long enough. “Miss Bingley, the condition of the tenant cottages is crucial to the success of the estate.”
She turned to him. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, I am certain that the various drawing rooms at Pemberley are entirely in vogue with current fashions.”
“You would be quite wrong, Miss Bingley. I believe the only room that has been redecorated since my mother’s passing is my sister’s room.”
“I did not know you had a sister, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, hoping to curtail a disagreement.
“She is only sixteen, so more than a decade my junior. She lives with me at Pemberley, and her name is Georgiana.”
“So not another Elizabeth or Mary,” Mary murmured.
Mr. Darcy’s quick ear caught her comment. “No. She was named for both my parents. My father was George, my mother was Anne.”
