Page 73 of Bitterness of Spirit

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Lady Catherine asked that dinner be served directly. Around the table were gathered her daughter and her companion, the Matlocks with both their sons, and Darcy. The first course was served, and as soon as the servers left, Lord Matlock began.

“So, Bingley is about to marry soon. When is the date set?”

“In about a month,” Darcy responded.

“Well, considering his family is of little consequence, he should be content to marry a gentleman’s daughter. Even one with a small dowry,” Lady Catherine interjected.

“I heard his future wife is a true beauty,” the young viscount said.

“Yes, Mr. Collins told me the same,” Lady Catherine replied. “She is one of his five Bennet cousins. Mr Collins will inherit their estate as soon as their father is dead.”

“Well, they will have less to worry about now that the eldest has secured herself a husband with the means to support them all,” the earl added.

Lady Catherine nodded. “They are fortunate that someone in their neighbourhood had the means to rent an estate and happened to fall for the charms of the eldest daughter. The other four have nothing to recommend them, and their chances to marry at all are rather limited. They have average beauty, average education, and average manners, Mr. Collins told me. And I have had the chance to judge for myself as the second Miss Bennet spent some time in Hunsford a month ago.”

“I am well acquainted with the Bennet family,” Darcy interjected, “and I may testify that Bingley was fortunate to make a marriage based on affection with a young lady of not only beauty but also praiseworthy character. I also found the second sister, Miss Elizabeth, a confident and resolved young lady with remarkable wit, excellent knowledge, and a great passion for reading. There are not many young women of which I can say the same.”

“True. Not to mention very handsome too. Miss Elizabeth, I mean,” the colonel added. “I admit I was charmed by her, and if my situation in life did not require me to choose prudently and advantageously, she would have been an excellent choice.”

“Richard!” Lady Matlock cried to stop his improper confession.

“Do not worry, Mother, there is no danger. Miss Elizabeth and I are only friends, and I am certain you will like her when you met her. But it must be enchanting to marry a woman with not only beauty but wit enough to keep your mind entertained, to carry out challenging conversations, and to rely on her sound opinions. Miss Elizabeth has all these, and the man who is smart enough to marry her will surely have no reason to repine.”

“I completely agree with you,” Darcy interrupted again, much to his relatives’ astonishment.

“Well, I am curious to meet this special young lady,” the earl declared.

“You should not be,” Lady Catherine responded sharply. “She is a headstrong, obstinate, and impertinent country girl with nothing to recommend her.”

“Well, now I am even more curious to meet her,” the earl said in complete seriousness. “Maybe it will happen at that ball hosted by her strange uncle.”

“Yes, what is that nonsense?” Lady Catherine spoke spitefully. “The brother of the Bennet’s uncle’s wife who lived near Cheapside until recently had the insolence to send us an invitation to a private ball? And how on earth did he have the means to rent a house on Park Lane? It is outrageous and his invitation is an insult.”

“The Duke of York will attend,” Darcy pointed out. “So he must have done something to receive such extraordinary recognition. Also, the Countess of Jersey and Countess of Sefton have accepted the invitation as I learned a couple of days ago.”

“What? Have they lost their minds? Should they receive them at Almack’s, the entire world would fall apart!” Lady Catherine cried.

“He would certainly not be allowed at Almack’s, despite the fortune he made in such a questionable manner,” Lord Matlock replied. “But the list of guests is as bold as it is impressive. The men at the club are talking about it.”

“But who is this man?” Lady Catherine continued.

“His sister, Mrs. Gardiner, grew up in Lambton many years ago, and they still have relatives there. Perhaps you have met them…” the colonel attempted to explain.

“You speak nonsense, Richard. I barely spent a few weeks in Derbyshire in my youth, and I certainly had no interaction with anyone in Lambton. Our knowing them? That is the joke of this evening,” Lady Catherine interrupted again.

The earl agreed. “That is true; I have not the smallest idea who this family might be, and to be honest, I care little about their history. The present is more interesting.”

“If only out of curiosity, I would go to his ball,” Lady Matlock said. “There is much secrecy around this man, and our questions might be answered during the ball.”

“But how can someone of uncertain parentage dare to host a ball with such illustrious persons?” Lady Catherine continued. “This is appalling; it is just not done! Will the Cheapside neighbours be there too?”

“I feel a ball would be amusing,” Anne suddenly said, and all eyes turned to her.

“A ball? You? My dear, it is out of the question,” Lady Catherine cried.

“Why?” Lady Matlock asked. “Since you happen to be in Town and such an opportunity has arisen, considering we all shall be there, why should Anne not attend?”