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“Mr. Welson was a fool who believed his consequence entitled him to your attention.”
“And yet his first impression was mistaken. Perhaps your impression of Mr. Darcy is as well.”
“That is all in the past, and I have no wish to quarrel over it. Very well, but certainly, you must agree that Mr. Bingley’s sisters do not have manners equal to his.”
“Perhaps at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house. I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her.”
Elizabeth offered only a small smile. “It has been a long evening, and I find I am quite tired.”
She turned from the subject, knowing any further discussion regarding Miss Bingley would be fruitless. Jane, ever agreeable, did not press the matter, and the sisters retired for the night.
∞∞∞
“Maria has come to call!” Lydia cried, catching sight of the Lucas family through the window.
“And all the rest of the Lucases with her,” Elizabeth added with a laugh, as Lydia and Kitty ran out to welcome their friends.
“It never fails to astonish me how families turn out as they do,” Mrs. Bennet said softly, her gaze fixed on young David Lucas.
Elizabeth needed no explanation for her mother’s tone. Sir William could leave his estate to whomsoever he wished, while Longbourn was entailed away from his own daughters. It was the old complaint, well-worn and never quite set aside: the lack of a son, the fear of future destitution, and bitterness that they had not the sense to set funds aside when they might have. But it was far easier for her mother to bewail her fate than to amend her ways, and Elizabeth turned to greet her friends with a determined smile.
After the initial civilities were exchanged and the party had been settled for some time, the gentlemen retired to Mr. Bennet’s library. The ladies did not mind in the least being left to their own conversation.
“You began the evening admirably, Charlotte,” Mrs. Bennet said with civil self-command to Miss Lucas. “You were Mr. Bingley’s first choice.”
“Yes, but he seemed to like his second better.”
“Oh! You mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be sure, that did seem as if he admired her—indeed, I rather believe he did—I heard something about it, but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Robinson.”
“Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson,” said Charlotte. “Did I not mention it to you? Mr. Robinson asked him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest. He answered immediately to the last question: ‘Oh! The eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.’”
“Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed—that does seem as if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.”
“What of Mr. Darcy?” asked Lady Lucas. “Mrs. Ellington, Miss Elizabeth, you both had occasion to converse with him.”
“Indeed, what of him? He is undeniably handsome, but what other impressions did you form? If only Lydia had not been made to sit out, she might have danced with him, and I might have had a chance to speak with him myself!” This last remark was directed at Mrs. Ellington, who met the insinuation with a cool and steady gaze, making it quite clear she would not be drawn in.
“He was indeed very gentlemanly and showed great concern for my comfort during the assembly. Despite his reserved manner, I found him to be quite considerate,” said Mrs. Ellington.
“To be a true gentleman, one must dance when attending an assembly,” said Maria Lucas. “Especially when we are in such want of gentlemen that ladies are compelled to sit out.”
“Perhaps he dances very poorly,” Kitty remarked with a laugh. “I should rather sit out than dance with someone who steps on my slippers.”
“If Mr. Darcy extends an invitation to dance, you shall accept it,” admonished Mrs. Bennet. “The gentleman is reputed to possess ten thousand a year, if not more. Even should he break your toes, he is wealthy enough that it ought not to signify.”
“Yes, Mamma,” responded Kitty, cowed by her mother’s unusual sternness.
Mrs. Ellington smiled softly at the young girl, her eyes holding a touch of mirth as she said, “For certainly, if a gentleman asks a lady to dance, it must mean that he is interested in marrying her. It could not possibly ever be for any other reason.”
“Indeed?” answered a male voice from the doorway. “I was unaware. This shall be rather awkward then, for I have asked each of the Bennet ladies to dance at least once.”
“David,” said Maria with a sigh, “you know very well that is not what was meant. You do not signify in such matters.”
“You wound me, sister!” said he. “To be so disregarded by the most beautiful women in the county? Nay, all of England? I shall descend into despair.”
“David!” exclaimed Maria.
“I know when I am not welcome. Perhaps I ought to go back to the library, for it seems I must have a very uncomfortable conversation with Mr. Bennet,” he said, retreating with a dramatic bow.
