Page 91

Wishing to avoid specifics in front of her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth evaded the question, saying only she thought it recent and sudden. Thankfully the littlest Gardiner provided a distraction by putting his empty eggcup on his head as a hat, from where it fell to the table with a crash. As it was wooden, it did not break, and Timmy escaped censure, earning only his mother’s disgust for his barbarism. The topic turned to the Gardiner children and their various exploits.

After lunch, the sisters retired to Elizabeth’s room to ‘rest’. As soon as the door closed, Elizabeth’s worst fears were realised.

“Oh, Lizzy! You will not guess who I saw at the opera!”

“Do not tell me!” said Lizzy with a smile. “It was that Frank Churchill fellow you spoke about.”

“No!” gushed Jane. “Mr Bingley!”

Unwilling to look her sister directly in the eye, Lizzy suggested they lie down on the bed to talk in case their aunt should walk in to check whether they were taking their rest. She prepared herself for Jane’s speech with stoicism. Her sister’s smile clearly did not indicate disillusionment.

“I saw him in an opposite box with his sisters when the curtain went up but did not dare acknowledge him with a wave because I was with the Garths. But he came all the way over to our box during the interval. He already knew Mr Garth who introduced him to his family and myself. It was a little awkward being introduced as Cherise’s companion, but he gave me such a speaking look and squeezed my glove when he bent to kiss it. He talked to Cherise so affably, setting her at ease right away. He went off saying he hoped to see us at the subscription ball next week. He is such a perfect gentleman!”

Elizabeth sighed inwardly as they settled beside each other on the bed. It could not be worse. It looked like Miss Garth was indeed one of the banker’s daughters that Mr Bingley had spoken of. How humiliating for poor Jane to have him court her charge under her very nose.

“Well, let us hope Miss Garth acquits herself well at the subscription ball. So, tell me more about her. Is she nice?”

“Yes, a very nice girl. She has been taught by the best dancing masters and has already attended a few private functions. She dances delightfully!”

“And what of her wider prospects? With a dowry of fifty thousand pounds, I suppose you will be swatting her suitors away.”

“Yes, like flies! Already it has begun. She will do very well. I would not describe her as a beauty, but she is very pretty and has countenance. Whoever wins her will not only have a prize but a treasure, for she is a good girl.”

“And what of this Bristol merchant whom Uncle Gardiner introduced to you. Aunt says he really liked you. Has he now transferred his attentions to Miss Garth?”

“Oh, Lizzy. It is so embarrassing. Mr Thorne still visits the Garths once a week, but he spends just as much time talking to me as he does Miss Garth. He does not importune me, but I think he still harbours hopes that I might relent in his favour.”

“Is he so very bad, Jane?”

“Oh, Lizzy. He is actually quite a nice man. If my heart were not already engaged, I might learn to do more than like him, but it is not easy to fall out of love.”

Again, Lizzy stifled a sigh. Her knowledge of Mr Bingley’s intentions, or lack of them, was a heavy burden on her heart. It seemed there was nothing she could do to spare her sister the new heartbreak that was looming.

“And what of you, Lizzy? Do you think it is possible that the colonel might extend your tenure beyond the two weeks he originally indicated?”

“I do not think so, Jane. I was not really suitable for the position in the first place. I believe I was only taken on in desperation. I hope with some better references I might be able to get a tutor’s position through the agency in Mayfair.”

“Oh, Lizzy, I wish it were possible for you to come live at the Garths’ with me. You would so much better be able to tutor Felix! They have actually been very good in partly excusing me from the schoolroom on days when I must chaperone Cherise, but the missed sleep is beginning to add up. We could share the wage, which is quite generous, and also my room!”

“I wish it could be so, Jane, but we can send more money to Mama if we work separately. It will be very difficult for her to make ends meet once she leaves Longbourn.”

Jane continued on about her schoolroom lessons, hoping to get further advice from Lizzy on Felix’s Latin tuition. Lizzy replied to several of these questions, but when no reply was advanced to the next, Jane was shocked to discover that her sister, who was normally buzzing with energy, had fallen asleep. Realising she also felt tired, Jane nestled up behind Lizzy and did likewise. Thus, Mrs Gardiner found them when she walked in at three to announce tea before Jane departed.

After a short detour to visit a friend in Bond Street, Finn hired a post-chaise as far as St Albans before transferring to a more modest gig to continue to Meryton. He arrived at the Red Lion in the early hours of Friday evening and was pleased to secure accommodation there under the assumed name of Nobley. This was in fact the name of his tailor’s brother-in-law, whose business cards and catalog he had borrowed for his masquerade.

After stowing his carpetbag in his room, Finn descended to the tap, ready to be his master’s ears. While he thought Darcy’s behaviour at Netherfield beyond reproach, he would not have been surprised to find local opinion against the Netherfield party. It was Finn’s belief that gossip always flourishes in a vacuum. Had Mr Bingley and his family stayed for at least a week after the Netherfield ball, paying a few social visits, they would have cemented their position as one of the first families of the region. Instead, they had snubbed the local gentry by departing precipitately, which Finn had thought rather unwise. Darcy’s valet had always thought Mr Bingley a harum-scarum fellow, while both his sisters considered themselves far above what Finn viewed their true station in life. Both ladies obviously thought themselves superior to the local gentry like the Bennets, though it was well known in London that their money came from trade.

As it was still early in the evening, the taproom of the Red Lion had not yet filled. A single officer of the militia occupied a dark corner at the far end of the bar, his identity only discernible by his red coat. A few labourers huddled in a group near the fire. Finn sat upon a bar stool near the tap so that he might mingle with newcomers as they placed their orders. He took a pint of the local brew, intending to nurse it as long as he might, and struck up a discussion with the barman. Claiming to be a furniture salesman, Finn enquired on the state of occupation of the great houses in the area and was told that there was not much to be found hereabouts. Sir William Lucas, the former mayor, was his best bet. If his furniture was fine, Sir William would likely be interested. Further afield, there were the Gouldings at Haye Park. When Finn inquired of Longbourn and Netherfield, he was told that he need not bother. The master of Longbourn had died not long after Michaelmas and the new master was not yet installed. As for Netherfield, a fellow from London had leased it, but he had not been there two months before he returned to the metropolis.

Thus, the subject of Netherfield was started and, in doing so, Finn inadvertently discovered that Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s father had passed away. Seeing two hares start and being unsure of which one to follow, Finn chose the indirect route.

“Is the new master of Longbourn not in the country. Does he perhaps serve in the army or navy?”

“He is a clergyman, but not a Bennet, though I cannot remember his name. Mr Bennet had only daughters and there was an entail on the property. Whether the new squire will house Mrs Bennet and her daughters after he arrives is not known. The chances are against it. The two eldest daughters have both gone off to London to work as governesses, which suggests they do not expect to be treated charitably.”

“Nonsense,” said the officer of the militia, turning in their direction and speaking quietly. “They went off because they were both compromised. I have it on good authority from their sisters.”

“Do you say so?” said the publican. “I remember there were some rumours about something that happened to Miss Elizabeth at the Netherfield ball. It involved that haughty fellow—the one who was claimed to have ten thousand a year.”