“But you actually go into their cottages?” Miss Bingley burst out. “Are they not filthy?”
“No, they are not usually dirty,” Elizabeth said. “The women do their best to maintain the cottages, though children will make a mess. It is inevitable, I think.” She laughed. “Of course, I am careful as to what I wear on the days that I visit them.”
“Like that – that brownthingyou were wearing yesterday, Miss Mary?” Miss Bingley leaned forward. Her words were pleasant enough, but her tone was pure poison.
Before Mary could answer, Elizabeth said, “Precisely; that was why Mary wore it, to show you that we own such gowns in order to visit the tenants.”
Mr. Bingley shot a hard glance at his sister and she subsided.
“Also, Miss Bennet, I admit to visiting today for another particular reason,” Mr. Bingley said, sounding mysterious.
“And what might that be?”
“Why, to ask you for the second dance at the assembly tomorrow night! And you, Miss Mary, for the third.”
Mrs. Bennet answered for them without hesitation. “Elizabeth and Mary will be delighted to dance with you, Mr. Bingley.”
Elizabeth and Mary traded quick glances before agreeing that of course, they would be happy to dance with Mr. Bingley.
Miss Bingley watched these interactions with considerable puzzlement. Was Louisa right? Could Charles possibly be serious about Miss Bennet? To ask for the second dance with a young woman he had just met was very surprising, and an unknown country girl at that! It could have been a good deal worse, of course. He might have asked for the first dance; though, to the best of her knowledge, Charles had never danced the first with anyone.
Caroline’s keen eye had not missed the condition of the room in which she found herself. Why, it had not been refurbished for at least a decade, if not more! Did the girl even have a dowry?
When the Bingleys were back in their carriage, Miss Bingley wasted no time. “Whatever are you about, Charles?”
He did not pretend to misunderstand her. “Miss Bennet is very pretty, and quite evidently knows all there is to know about being the mistress of an estate.”
“But – but she is nobody!”
“Hardly, Caroline. The Bennets are the first family here in Meryton.”
“An insignificant family in an insignificant village in an insignificant county!”
“Caroline, it was our father’s wish that I purchase an estate! I must have a wife who can be my helpmate in that regard, not some London miss who would faint at the sight of a chicken!” He was exasperated.
“But that would mean that I am stuck out here in the country forever!” she wailed.
“Not so; we would certainly open Bingley House for at least two months of the Season.”
“And you think Elizabeth Bennet could manage herself in the first circles? I very much doubt it, Charles.”
“Since we do not move in the first circles, Caroline, it hardly matters. She will manage quite well in the circles in which we do move. Now, then – will you support me in making our family part of the landed gentry? Or will you not?”
She stared out the window for a minute. Then she turned back to her brother. “And you promise me two months in London every year?”
“I promise it, unless circumstances make it impossible.”
“Circumstances?”
“Well, if she should be in the family way, for example, Caroline, you would hardly expect her to make such a journey. But you would be welcome to travel to London with the Hursts. Caroline, truly, I am not trying to injure you in any way. I am doing my best to elevate our family. Surely you see that.”
“I suppose I do,” she replied, grudgingly.
“Good! Then help me win her!”
“I hardly think you will need any help, Charles. The family is clearly in need of funds, and having a daughter marry into the Bingley family could only be considered a great blessing.” Withthat, she sat back in the carriage, stared out the window, and refused to say another word.
Chapter Twelve
