Page 5
She looked at Jane.
“Do you know how old she was when she married father?”
“Her wedding was a month before her 18th birthday and I was born two months before her 19th. Going back to Lydia, I presume you think she has no chance?”
“Mrs. Bennet more often hinders her efforts at match making, rather than helping, you more than anyone knows this. At least two of your suitors over the years would have offered for you if Mrs. Bennet had stayed in the background. Your choice of words is correct, Lydia has no chance.”
The sisters talked for the rest of the day but Jane’s initial words remained at the forefront of Elizabeth’s thoughts. ‘Marry in haste, repent at leisure’. The manor of Mulberry House was warm and comfortable, more luxurious than Longbourn. But all the material comfort in the world did not make up for the demands of Mr. Oliphant, whatever they may be. Elizabeth was glad she did not know. Jane wanted to birth two sons so that she could lock her door to her husband forever.
So much for their childhood desires to marry ‘only for the deepest love’.
--
“Good evening Miss Lucas. How are you this evening?”
Charlotte Lucas knew she was on the shelf, the sad life of a spinster stretching out in front of her. The man standing before her was wealthy and single. However, she knew something had happened at the Assembly the previous week, involving Mr. Bingley’s guest. And then there was the two sisters, who in the space of a week had made themselves objects of ridicule. Their behaviour had also given Mr. Bingley the title of milquetoast. As a result of all this Charlotte was polite but no more.
“I am well Mr. Bingley.”
An awkward pause.
“And you sir?”
“I am well.”
“Oh, sorry to have to leave you but I see that my mother is demanding my attention.”
Charlotte walked over to her mother and away from Mr. Bingley. And with one exception it was like that all night. Everybody was polite but there was a distance to their interactions compared to the week before. The exception, inevitably, was Mrs. Bennet and her tiresome designs of putting her youngest into his company. What made it even more of a farce was said daughter’s lack of interest in Bingley. He was sufficiently a gentleman to continue to look her in the eye. Well other than during the dancing. The French could have walked into the room but the male half of the guests would not have noticed.
When they returned to Netherfield Park he invited Hurst and Darcy to a game of billiards, much to the annoyance of his sister.
“I say chaps, was it just me or was there an odd atmosphere tonight?”
Hurst and Darcy looked at each other, unsure what he meant.
“There were several Militia officers present. The rumour is that they will be encamped in the area. The Militia does not have the best reputation, was that the cause?”
Bingley was surprised that the first answer was from Hurst. Normally he tried to drink the room dry and ended up incapable of coherent speech.
“Darcy?”
“I noticed nothing odd about the evening, but of course we have nothing to compare it to. You would hardly expect the same standard of behaviour as a London salon.”
Hardly a helpful comment. They prepared the table, poured the brandy and Bingley let the matter drop. But he was sure there was some issue he was unaware of.
His instincts were correct.
--
“Do we have to invite the party from Netherfield Park?”
Mrs. Goulding, with a daughter of marriageable age, did not wish to invite any of the five people into her home, including two single gentlemen of wealth.
“I do not see how we can avoid it my dear. To not invite them is to be seen to give them the cut. It is an action from which there is no return.”
Mrs. Goulding knew all this, her initial question was nothing more than venting at the rudeness of the party.
“I know, I know. But it will be the same as all the other occasions. Mr. Bingley will wander round, blithely unaware of the damage to his reputation. The sot will sit beside the refreshments and overindulge, the same as he does at every social occasion. The two sisters will simper and smirk and maliciously gossip, at a volume that all can hear. And the golem will stalk the walls, listening to check that we do not have mice in them.”
