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“What are you talking about, Caroline? Miss Bennet was quite the loveliest girl I’ve ever seen,” defended Bingley.
Oh dear. She insulted his angel. We would never hear the end of it now.
“Oh, Charles, she was a very pretty girl, I grant you, but her gown! Her hair! Do they not understand fashion in Hertfordshire?” she cackled again and I wanted to huff in irritation, but like a gentleman, I refrained.
“That is the way in country towns, Miss Bingley,” I said. “It is not practicable to order a new wardrobe every season if one is only seeing neighbors and attending local assemblies. I believe you will find it much the same in most of the country. It is certainly so in Derbyshire, and near Lord Matlock’s home in Yorkshire.”
She gaped at me like a fish, not knowing how to defend her original point while also agreeing with me. It was quite ungentlemanly of me, but I enjoyed her discomfiture. She caused the feeling in me often enough; she was due some of it herself.
“Shall we explore the gardens tomorrow?” suggested Louisa.
She was not as bad as her sister, but she did have an annoying habit of agreeing with whichever personality in her vicinity was strongest, and unfortunately, that was usually Caroline Bingley. Louisa may be the elder, but Caroline knew how to carry the day through sheer tenacity. If she were a man, I would have suggested she go into politics.
The evening ended shortly thereafter—I paid little attention to what was said or what was decided about the morrow—and I made my way to bed. Murphy, my valet, had found another mattress for me. He was resourceful like that, though I didn’t want to think about whose bed he had pilfered it from, and I settled in to get what I hoped would be a good night’s sleep.
I had plans to meet Mr. Bennet tomorrow for a game of chess, and to my surprise, I was looking forward to it.
6
ItwasSeptemberof1811 when my mother pulled me aside and asked, “Lizzy, have you heard that Netherfield Park is let?”
“I heard Aunt Phillips talking of it, but I did not get any details.”
“Mrs. Nicholls says it is a young gentleman from the north who has taken it. His sister will keep house for him and he brings a party of friends.”
“Do you know how many?”
“She is preparing seven chambers, but they may not all be occupied.”
“Of course.” It was not unusual to wish for more than one chamber to choose from. And they might expect guests at some point. Still, it would be helpful to have more information.
“You must be careful around them.” She gave me a stern look. “Do not play your games! They are unknown, and we cannot trust them.”
I nearly rolled my eyes but refrained. “I will be careful, Mama. And I promise not to play any games.” I smiled in reassurance and she eventually lost the wrinkle in her brow.
I held out my hand to her and she looked at it with pursed lips, then placed her hand in mine. I closed my eyes and hummed her favorite tune, sending wellness and serenity to my mother. She had begun feeling strange flutterings in her heart a few years ago, and when I placed my hand on her arm, I felt heat rushing to and fro beneath my palm. I did not know what ailed her, or if it was simply the natural progression of age, but she felt better when I touched her, and the effects seemed to last some time.
“Thank you, my dear,” she said calmly, her voice softer than it had been. “Now go and see Jack. He is still forlorn without Thomas.”
“Very well, Mama.”
Jack was eleven years old now—eleven and a half as he liked to remind me—and Thomas had left for school the week before. Jack was feeling rather lonely without his favorite playmate and did not know what to do with himself.
I decided to take him for a ride. Perhaps our horses would wander towards Netherfield and we might see the house being prepared.
***
It was soon widely known that Netherfield was leased by a Mr. Bingley, an affable man who seemed ready to please and be pleased. He arrived by Michaelmas and my father called on him with Sir William, who was always dragging my father into social events he would rather not participate in.
Father told us that he supposed Mr. Bingley was handsome, though he was not a good judge of such things, and that if he wished to marry any of his daughters, Mr. Bingley was welcome to us. My mother chastised him for such a statement, but my father only laughed while my mother sighed. Lydia and Kitty peppered our father with questions, but Mrs. March silenced them. They were not out, and it was not appropriate to be asking such things about a gentleman they were not even acquainted with.
My younger sisters were not pleased, but they shifted their attention to the upcoming assembly which the Netherfield party was rumored to be attending. They were helping Mary with her gown. Kitty was determined that Mary would choose her design for flowers along the hem, and Lydia made Mary promise to dance every dance if it was at all possible.
I was not looking forward to the assembly. I had a good friend in Charlotte Lucas, Sir William’s eldest daughter, and I was friendly with the other young ladies in Meryton. I was less fond of the young gentlemen.
I do not enjoy thinking of this time, but as you are likely wondering, dear reader, I will explain myself. Before my first season, my mother arranged for a dancing master to teach me how to acquit myself in a ballroom. I did perfectly well in the lessons, and I had no problem hearing the music or following the correct rhythm. I practiced often with Jane and Mary, and I enjoyed dancing for the most part.
However, when we were in the assembly room, all my training was for naught. The size and shape of the room was different from the one I had practiced in. I was used to pairing with Jane, who was only slightly taller than myself, and now I was expected to dance with men who would tower over me. I was accustomed to practicing with only my sister playing on a pianoforte, and now there were several musicians, not all of the instruments in tune.
