Page 29 of In the Eyes of Lord Lingley

“Surely she would not be so silly. I love Jane, but she is so guileless that she would never keep it secret from her mother and Kitty. I suppose we shall learn soon, for my sister would never allow Mary to enjoy a London ball without her presence and oversight.”

“Heaven forbid!”

Not a half an hour later, the Bingley carriage pulled to a stop before the door of the Gardiner’s home on Gracechurch St. Jane and Bingley shared a guilty look as Kitty was assisted to step down to the street.

“I do not see why we must stay with the Gardiners!” Mrs. Bennet screeched. “Lizzy has a perfectly fine house on Park Lane, and you are staying with the Hursts on Grosvenor St! Should the mother of Princess Mary Lingley be housed in Cheapside?”

“We cannot invite you to stay with the Hursts, Mama,” Jane pleaded. “It is just not done.”

“But you could hint that I was coming with you to town!” She whined, “Surely they would then be forced to offer a room out of courtesy!”

They shared another look, neither willing to explain that they had attempted just that but had received a scathing letter stating that the Hursts absolutely refused to host such a person and they had best find other accommodations rather than just showing up with her, which was their second plan if they had not heard back in a timely manner. Elizabeth had also refused to countenance a visit at that time, with the excuse that she needed to establish herself in the ton before she attempted to introduce anyone else. The footman assisted the still complaining woman from the carriage, and Bingley knocked to pull away before she could change her mind and climb in once more.

The Gardiners were at supper when the Bennet ladies were announced, and with a knowing look, Mrs. Gardiner invited the unwelcome ladies to join them if they wished or promised to order a tray in their rooms if they would rather. Kitty immediately plopped down in a chair and began to dish herself some food, speaking of their travels, while Mrs. Bennet complained of ill use from the doorway.

“I cannot believe that my dear Bingley has not purchased a home for us in London! Mr. Darcy, of course, would be too dull to live with, but Bingley is everything obliging, usually. He dared to hint that it would not be quite the thing for me to show up uninvited at Mary’s ball. Can you imagine? As if her mother needed a specific invitation. She shall not know how to go on, AT ALL! She will need me to oversee all the preparations and, of course, act as hostess that evening.”

“Mary is not throwing a ball, Fanny,” Mrs. Gardiner attempted to temper her, always an exercise in futility. “Her mother-in-law, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Ashford is holding a ball to celebrate the marriage of her son.”

“I am sure she could use the assistance. I have heard that she is from some place in Spain, after all. Likely she has no idea how we do things here in England. We shall need to order new gowns as well, of course. The lace in Meryton is not nearly fine enough for London. You do not mind, do you, brother? Mr. Bennet was most unobliging and refused to advance my pin money for next quarter! If you do not take pity on me, I am sure I do not know what I will do!”

Mrs. Gardiner barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “I agree with Mr. Bingley, I think. Perhaps we ought to ask Mary her opinion before you buy any or all the lace in London.”

“There is a magnificent vanity in the hall!” Kitty declared, having ignored her mother completely. “Is it new? If not, I should gladly take it with me when we return to Longbourn. If you do not want it anymore, of course.” She qualified at the last.

“It is a gift for your sister from her husband,” Mr. Gardiner informed them.

“Lucky Lizzy!”

“Not Lizzy. It is for Mary from Lingley. Was it not handsome?” Mrs. Gardiner informed them with a flat smile.

“How do you like that?” Mrs. Bennet gasped.

“It is beautiful! Mary-Hannah’s face will crack the glass!” Kitty cackled.

“Catherine Theodora,” Mr. Gardiner barked. “That is enough of that. I will not countenance such talk in my house. If I hear it again from either of you, I shall send you to the post stop to return home immediately!”

Kitty, who was shocked at the vehemence of his words, only nodded, but Mrs. Bennet sputtered and flopped into a chair in order to better wave her handkerchief as she pretended a faint. “I have never been thus spoken to in my life,” she gasped.

“Well, it is about time that someone did,” Gardiner proclaimed. “Lingley shamed us all at the wedding for our treatment of his wife. While I never participated, I did not feel as if I could put a stop to it either. But in my house, it will be as I say! Am I rightly understood?”

Both ladies nodded, wide-eyed, while Mrs. Gardiner looked on with approval.

∞∞∞

The next day at when she finally deigned to appear for breakfast, Mrs. Bennet demanded the carriage but was told that she would have to order a hack or wait until the morrow, as it was needed by the master. What she was not told was that the Gardiners had received a note from the Viscount inviting them to bring the vanity and accouterments themselves and join them for luncheon. Mrs. Bennet, the note said, was not invited; Kitty remained unacknowledged. Mrs. Bennet pouted all through the meal, but when her usual tricks did not bear fruit, demanded that a footman call a hack while she stomped out to fetch her own outerwear as her sister-in-law refused to allow her to order about the maids to her heart’s content.

Kitty had not appeared as yet, though it was nearing eleven, so the Gardiners were unhindered by their unwanted guests and they entered their carriage and, followed by a small cart, made their way through the streets and into Mayfair. The houses grew larger and more elaborate with each turn they took and when they finally reached their destination in Berkeley Square, a beautiful five-story townhouse made of brick and limestone stood to greet them.

“I was told that the estate next door,” he gestured toward a palatial building they could only somewhat make out over the wall, “is owned by the Earl and is where the ball will take place.”

“I do not believe I have ever had cause to travel down this street,” Mrs. Gardiner whispered, as if fearing that the very air might be contaminated by her words.

A fractious voice drew mortified looks from both as two footmen carried the caterwauling Mrs. Bennet down the front steps toward the hack she had rented and instructed to wait for her. “You have cheated me!” she cried at the top of her voice! “Unhand me you brutes! She is worth ten cows! You cheat me!”

They tossed her into the carriage and waved the man on before Mrs. Bennet could discover who else had arrived. Her words were only slightly muffled by the thin walls of the coach as it lumbered away, and the Gardiners unapologetically hid behind their own conveyance until it had left.

“What on earth could she be speaking of?” Mrs. Gardiner wondered aloud.