His companion gave a small gasp and turned her face away; Darcy felt terrible. Upon their return to the house, Miss Bingley fled immediately to her rooms, followed by Mrs Hurst, who had been lingering near the hall waiting for her sister to return. Darcy made his way toward the library past an open-mouthed Bingley who asked, "Do we need to have a conversation in my study, Darcy?"
"Do not be ridiculous, Charles!" burst out Miss Bingley, from the top of the stairs, her voice breaking with tears. Bingley followed Darcy into the library and said, "Oh ho! Not so fast as that Darcy! You have done all you can to avoid my sister's company for years. Today you invite her to the garden, and she returns practically running away from you. I believe she was actually weeping. What in the blazes is going on, man?" his friend insisted.
"Your sister and I had a conversation that was long overdue, Bingley. It has been unkind of me to allow her to waste years hoping for a proposal. Granted, she should have listened to you when you told her it was not forthcoming, but when it was clear she would not believe you, I should have been more direct. In any case, it was necessary to speak of it today. My aunt will be down shortly, and if she sees even a hint of your sister's hopes, she will destroy her in society. As much discomfort as your sister has caused me over the years, Bingley, I have no desire to see your humiliation in town. In addition, there are many wealthy bachelors in Kent, and my aunt loves to be of assistance.
"If Miss Bingley turns her efforts towards flattering my aunt, Lady Catherine may issue her an invitation to stay in Kent or to de Bourgh House in London, or Bath, and introduce Miss Bingley to eligible gentlemen. She has been instrumental in a number of similar marriages, and it would be advantageous for Miss Bingley to court such an opportunity, considering her social ambitions. She is disappointed, Bingley, but not heartbroken. She saw the wisdom of my advice, and says she is determined to accept it. She just needs to compose herself after such a revelation as she has had this morning. Indeed, I hope that your sister and I can be more at ease in each other's company in the future."
Lady Catherine broke her fast in her bedroom, then accompanied her niece to visit Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax. Miss Bates was rather intimidated by a visitor of such rank to her tiny rooms but gave an excellent account of herself. Georgiana’s aunt declared that she approved of Georgiana’s new friend thoroughly, and presented the idea of Miss Bates joining the Darcy household as Georgiana’s special guest once the lady’s niece returned to her guardian. It was madeplain that the Darcys wished for the lady to accompany Georgiana not as a member of the staff, but as a close connection, with a generous allowance from the family to provide for her needs that were not already covered by Mr Darcy. Awed by such notice by a lady of rank, Miss Bates accepted with excitement and gratitude to her new young friend.
When they returned to The Gables, there were other ladies from the village visiting, and Georgiana’s aunt did not object to stopping to make their acquaintance. Miss Bingley wheedled Lady Catherine into staying for luncheon, and then for one more night at The Gables, “To have apropervisit with your niece and nephew.” Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax joined them for dinner, as well as the Westons and Frank Churchill. Lady Catherine saw the affinity that Darcy had informed her of, the same affinity that others in the village missed between Miss Fairfax and Mr Churchill, and comforted herself that her nephew was not about to waste himself on the orphan. The dinner was a success, and Miss Bingley managed to gain the approbation of Lady Catherine, who mentioned inviting the girl to visit her at de Bourgh House in London the next time she stayed there.
CHAPTER 11
Meryton - September 1811
Mrs Bennet lefther sister’s home on an early Wednesday afternoon, and made her way to the haberdashers. Usually, she was accompanied on most of her errands by one or more of her daughters, but today they were all occupied. Jane and Mary were visiting the tenants, Elizabeth had walked to Netherfield to visit Mrs Lockhart, and Kitty and Lydia were off somewhere, presumably doing their best to obtain husbands in red coats.
Mrs Bennet and Mrs Phillips had just enjoyed a lively natter about the audacity of the Lucas family. Since Charlotte’s terrible behaviour, and the resulting cruelties of the rest of the Lucas family, Mrs Bennet’s friendship with Lady Lucas was firmly at an end. Mrs Bennet was therefore understandably spending a great deal more time with her sister.
Mrs Bennet entered the shop and greeted Mrs Cobb, the proprietor’s wife. “Good day, Mrs Cobb, I hope you are well.”
“Mrs Bennet! I am very well, and you?” returned Mrs Cobb.
“I have nothing of which to complain, except that my daughters are all still unmarried, but that is nothing new,” answered Mrs Bennet.
“I am grateful for it every time you come in, if you do not mind my saying so. Longbourn’s family are our best customers for lace and ribbon,” said Mrs Cobb good-naturedly. “The new kid gloves you ordered have arrived. I must say, the leather is so soft, I have never seen its equal.”
The gloves were pulled out, and the two women exclaimed over the quality at length before the bill was settled. Mrs Bennet thanked Mrs Cobb and left the shop. She was headed back towards her sister’s house, and her carriage, which were only a few hundred feet away, when she heard the roaring laughter of young men from around the corner, near the entrance to the inn.
“What did she do then, Wickham?” shouted a man that Mrs Bennet recognised as Lieutenant Chamberlain.
“Well then, my friends, Miss Kitty Bennet snapped her legs closed so hard and fast I nearly thought I should lose my hand!” Wickham laughed derisively. “Then of course, she cried, virgins always cry a bit before they give it up, you know, and then after I promised that we would be married before St Valentine’s Day, she promised herself to me the very next time we see one another, presumably after she has mustered her courage, and whenever she can sneak away again. I swear, I would have placed money on the younger chit, Miss Lydia, to be the first to offer up her virtue, but it seems that Miss Kitty’s self doubt has driven her to secure me before her sister can do so. Miss Lydia has done nothing more than sneak out and allow a few chaste kisses, but she will give in soon enough, they all do.”
“What will prevent you from having them all?” an unknown officer said.
“I cannot see much that will prevent me from having them all, except perhaps the pious one, and even then, sometimes those girls can be the easiest marks!” boasted Wickham.
“I do not know, Miss Bennet seems sure enough of her charms and well-bred enough that she might never give in, Wickham, and thenext one, Miss Elizabeth, does not seem to care very much for you. She is clever, that is certain,” said Captain Carter.
“She is a piece, though, is she not?” said Wickham. “I have never intended to throw myself away on such a small sum as fifteen thousand. I am certain that my charms are worth twice as much, but considering her spirit, and the fact that she owns a house in town as well, I might take that one to wife. Miss Bennet is beautiful, but the others are all so intolerably stupid as to make a man die of boredom. Miss Elizabeth is the prize of all of them, in wit and in fortune. I may have to meet her upon one of her early morning walks, andpersuade her.”
Mrs Bennet could listen no more. She turned away from the raucous laughter and hurried to the carriage, doing her best not to weep the moment that the horses began to move. How was it that she had done it all wrong? She had raised her girls the way that she had been raised, with only a slightly better education, and she had been certain that it would be enough for all of them to do at least as well as she had done, if not better. Now, it was being thrown in her face again and again, that men did not want stupid wives, not even the wicked ones. Not even stupid men wanted stupid wives any more.
Mr Bennet did not seem to care much about her education when they married. He was immediately captivated by her looks, and though their affinity had quickly diminished after they wed, he availed himself of his marital rights quite often until Mr Jones warned them that future confinements would be dangerous for Mrs Bennet. But it was always clear to Fanny that her husband had married her for her good looks and smiling nature, and no other concern. Believing her daughters would need nothing else, she educated them as much as she saw necessary, though Elizabeth, Mary, and even Jane had persisted in their studies for far longer than she had ever considered necessary.
What was she to do? How could she save them? It was obvious to Fanny that the expectations of men had changed since she was out. When she married, men wanted stupid wives – probably so that they might carry on with their vile behaviours after marriage – and theirwives would be too dull to notice. Now, men seemed to want educated women who could help with their estates. Evenfiendslike that Wickham seemed to admire intelligent women. Not only was Fanny now faced with improving her daughters so that they would be considered suitable, she also had to prevent them from being ruined, either by the wagging tongues of the officers, or the officers themselves.
When Fanny Bennetarrived at home, all of her girls had returned from their activities, and were in the drawing room together, each engaged in a typical manner for the residents of Longbourn.
She entered the hall, shouting, “Hill! Hill!” The housekeeper came running, as she always did, and assisted Mrs Bennet with her pelisse. “Mrs Hill, no officers are to be admitted to Longbourn ever again!” she cried.
“Mama, whatever do you mean?” asked Lydia, as her daughters poured into the hall to see what was the matter. “Of course, we shall receive the officers, Denny is meant to be coming here for tea later today, and dear Wickham is to accompany him.”
“Dear Wickham indeed! Go to your room, Lydia Bennet, and stay there until I call for you!” said Mrs Bennet, whirling on her youngest.
“Mama, what have we done wrong?” asked Kitty plaintively.
“What haveyoudone indeed, Catherine Josephine Bennet!”shrieked Mrs Bennet in a rage. “As a matter of fact, you will no longer share with Lydia. And Jane will no longer share with Elizabeth. My younger daughters need more attention. Kitty and Lydia have the second largest room, so Mary will share it with Kitty from now on. Lydia will move to Jane’s room and share with her eldest sister. Elizabeth may have the smaller room to herself.”
