Page 36 of Regrets

“Just so. But the Gardiners chased him off soon enough, so no harm was done other than a few hours of discomfort for our Jane.”

“How are things with your father, Eliza? Any change?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No, and I do not think there ever will be any change. I will not forgive him until he apologises for the way he has treated his family, and that will never happen.”

***

That night, Jane spoke rapturously of her two dances with Mr. Bingley, concluding that he was the most amiable gentleman of her acquaintance, and everything a gentleman should be. “He seems to really like me, Lizzy!”

“He certainly does; he danced with you twice, and when he danced with me, he may as well have been dancing with you, as he spoke about you to the exclusion of all else!”

“But he likes me, Lizzy; me. You understand, I think?”

“I do, yes; he likes more than just your angelic face.”

Jane rolled her eyes. “Angelic? Hardly! But in any case, did you enjoy your time with Mr. Darcy? He danced every dance, which was very good of him. Mr. Bingley told me that Mr. Darcy does not enjoy dancing with people he does not know, but he was determined to do his duty.”

Elizabeth was silent. Had Mr. Darcy danced with her only because he thought it his duty to do so? And if so, why did that disturb her?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Anne had been true to her word and had written several letters since Georgiana had left Rosings, but Georgiana had been rather neglectful. The morning after the assembly, she resolved that she would mend her ways at once.

Dear Anne,

I must apologise for not having written sooner! I have no good excuse except that I have been rather occupied, but I am determined to do better!

I find Netherfield Park a bit small, but Brother says it is only small compared with Pemberley and Rosings Park, and that it is actually quite a good size for an estate.

There is no other lady in residence, so I serve as the hostess, which means very little, as the housekeeper has everything very well organized. She has me look over the menus for the week, but quite honestly I do nothing except read them, nod, and thank her.

We live quite near a family with five daughters, the Bennets. Their estate is called Longbourn, and the house is even smaller than Netherfield, though of course I said nothing about that! I have become quite friendly with the three eldest – Jane, Elizabeth and Mary. Mary plays the piano quite well, and we practice together a good deal.

The two youngest are closer to my age, but very different in temperament, as they are quite loud and not at all well-behaved. They voice a good many opinions in loud voices, and then fight with one another about – well, everything! None of it seems to make any sense, but they evidently enjoy fighting.

We went to an assembly last night, and I was permitted to dance! I wore my pink gown, the one with the white lace around the bodice, and I think I looked quite nice! I danced with Brother, of course, and Mr. Bingley, and then two other gentlemen asked to be introduced to me and then asked me to dance! I saw Brother watching me, but he was smiling, so it was all right.

Mr. Bingley has his eye on Jane Bennet! He sits beside her whenever he has the opportunity and danced with her twice – twice! – at the assembly. No one could blame him, as she is quite the loveliest lady I have ever seen, and her manners are gentle and kind. I know if I were a gentleman, she is exactly the sort of wife I would want.

Brother seems to look a good deal at the second Bennet daughter, Elizabeth, who we call Lizzy. Lizzy is not as pretty as Jane, but she is quick-witted and well-read, which I think Brother admires. They had a discussion about poetry when we were at Longbourn for dinner; I would have found such a discussion quite dull, but they both seemed to enjoy it a good deal.

I have not yet gone to Meryton, the little town that is closest to Netherfield, but I think I will go there with the Bennets later this week. There is evidently a militia unit that has just been stationed here, and all the young ladies are in a great deal of excitement as a result!

I hope you are going out in the phaeton? Socks does need exercise, you know!

With love,

Georgiana

Chapter Thirty

One of the maids at Bingley House had a secret. Dorothy had been charged with cleaning Mr. Bingley’s study after his departure. This was a task no one wished to take on, as the master was notoriously messy. Mr. Bingley had left a basket full of paper, destined for the fireplace, as well as crumpled papers on the floor that he had intended for the basket, and more crumpled papers on the desk that had also been intended for the basket, and the overall effect was one of confusion and disarray.

Dorothy had waited a few weeks after his departure before finally making up her mind to get to it. Well, truth be told, it was only after she had been reprimanded by the housekeeper for the third time that she had decided she had waited long enough.

She was on her hands and knees on the floor, picking up pieces of crumpled paper to put into the basket, when a signature caught her eye. Thanks to her father, a country parson, she could read. The note said:

Bingley,