It appeared that Frank Churchill was feeling quite as neglected asMiss Woodhouse, for he suddenly sat up with a mischievous gleam in his eye, and said, “Miss Woodhouse tells me that she demands to know what you are all thinking of.”
“Did I?” Miss Woodhouse giggled.
“You certainly did!” he insisted. “Knightley, as our host, you should begin.”
“I do not know,” Knightley drawled. “Are you certain you wish to know what I am thinking, Emma?”
“No, I am certain I do not, Mr Knightley,” Miss Woodhouse said quickly. “I would rather hear nearly anything else.”
Mrs Elton, never liking a situation that did not feature her as the centre of attention, expressed a disapproval for Mr Churchill’s deference toEmma’s demands, and insisted that her husband accompany her for a walk.
“You are all so very dull!” declared Churchill. “Very well, Miss Woodhouse demands that each of you must produce one entertaining remark that is very clever, or two that are very dull.”
“Well I shall have no trouble on that last, shall I?” joked Miss Bates, giggling, and nudging Georgiana companionably with her elbow.
“Of course you will, Miss Bates, for however will you limit yourself to only two?” snapped Miss Woodhouse irritably. A shocked hush fell over the entire party, every person present open-mouthed and appalled by Miss Woodhouse’s cruel remark.
“Ah yes,” said Miss Bates, blushing scarlet from Emma’s insult. “I can see what she means. I talk too much, it is true. I will do my best to hold my tongue.”
Mr Weston attempted to enter the conversation and say something very entertaining, no doubt in an effort to lighten the mood, but his effort was wasted as they all watched Miss Bates rise quickly and flee into the gardens, a small sob escaping her as she went. Everyone looked at Miss Woodhouse critically; indeed, even the Bingley sisters were indignant on behalf of Miss Bates. They were obliged to tolerate the older woman’s companyevery daywith Miss Darcy, and if they could avoid outright cruelty, then anyone ought to be able to do it.
“Well, really!” Georgiana said, breaking the ice as she rose to herfeet. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” she snapped at Miss Woodhouse as she followed after Miss Bates.
“Hear, hear,” snorted Mr Hurst, who had woken just in time to see the debacle.
The party broke up,everyone pairing into groups and heading in different directions towards the gardens. Mr Knightley took off after Emma when she fled to her carriage, and Darcy set off after Georgiana and her much older friend. He heard them on the other side of a large hedge as he skirted the edge of the garden.
“You do not understand her,” he heard Miss Bates say, obviously in tears. “Miss Woodhouse is truly the epitome of goodness, I must make myself very disagreeable sometimes, or she would never have said it.”
“You must not tell yourself that,” said Georgiana. “I will allow that it is possible that Miss Woodhouse may often be the epitome of goodness, but she was not good, nor was she kind today, and that can only be her own fault, not yours, Miss Bates. You are all that is kind and good-hearted in this world. I will not let you take the blame for her peevishness! She spent the day attempting to gain the attention of the gentlemen, and when she could not obtain the attention of the men she wanted, she became sharp. It is not attractive behaviour, but she is the one who has indulged in it, and it must be laid at her own door.”
Darcy moved on, impressed by his sister’s acumen. After strolling for some time, he came across Knightley, looking frustrated. “Badly done, Darcy!” he said.
Darcy knew that his old acquaintance from town was referring to his avoidance of Miss Woodhouse all day. “Do not berate me as if I were your young lady friend, Knightley,” he huffed. “She is an insufferable snob, and I hope you did not expect Miss Darcy and me to notice her after her snub not only of my friend and his family, but now, of her own people from her own village! You cannot expect us to reward such behaviour with our friendship. I have seen how you look at the girl, and I comprehend your predicament, but just becauseyoulike her, does not make her agreeable. Whydoyou like her, anyway? She quite ruined your party.”
Knightley, knowing that he could not argue with any of Darcy’s points, stalked away in irritation. When Darcy and Georgiana returned to the group in the company of Miss Bates, Miss Woodhouse and her father had left in their carriage, and the rest of the party was breaking up. The guests were leaving, none having the heart for the open carriage rides Mr Knightley had planned for their enjoyment.
CHAPTER 6
Meryton - July 1811
Elizabeth Bennet followedher three younger sisters into the village of Meryton to see the spectacle of the arriving regiment. Kitty and Lydia were in high spirits, squabbling over who would receive the greatest share of attention from the officers. Mary was discussing with Elizabeth the merits of a book the two of them had been reading together.
Elizabeth did not think her sister was doing it to toady up to her, but since the news of Elizabeth’s lottery win, Mary had begun to seek out her company a great deal more. Mary asked her opinion on clothes, ribbons, and new hairstyles after their shopping trip to St Albans, when Elizabeth prevailed, pressing her sister to accept an attractive pale yellow day gown instead of the dark grey frock she had planned for herself. With some light encouragement, Mary had been slowly coaxed to lessen the severity of her looks.
Elizabeth had asked Mary about her sudden willingness to open up to new things, and Mary had replied, “Well, it is not like I am anymore likely to marry than before, not with only a few hundred more added to my portion, but now I have the opportunity to perhaps spend my spinsterhood differently than I expected. Before, I thought I would be obliged to live in ignominy in a tiny cottage in the country with my mother, possibly in not only penury, but perhaps even in squalor, considering my mother and younger sister’s inability to curb their spending habits. There seemed to be little reason to spend my pin money. Greys and browns are often less expensive, they wear longer, and they are infinitely more practical than wasting my funds on fripperies that will do me no good.
“And why waste time reading novels before, when I was better served by studying and improving myself? I am not likely to get a position as a governess, with my skills at the instrument, but perhaps I might serve as a companion to someone elderly, or perhaps a nurse. My funds are better saved for my future comfort, if I am to have any. But it has occurred to me that perhaps if I am to live with you in London, that is, if you are still amenable to having us when Papa dies, then I might exert a bit more effort to be open and pleasant, and to read something besides sermons and languages, so that perhaps I might be more interesting company for you.”
“I see no reason why I ought not still be amenable to all of you living with me when the time comes, unless Mama becomes troublesome, and still, that need have nothing to do withyou, Mary,” Elizabeth replied to her sister as they stood behind the younger girls to watch the spectacle. “But you work so hard, it is rather wrong of Papa never to have offered you any masters. There are a few from St Albans who travel to Meryton on occasion. I will speak to him. There is no reason why you should not have a few lessons to polish your skills. That is all you are wanting. A bit of polish.”
Things had been difficult for Elizabeth since she won the lottery. Everyone treated her differently. Everyone. Mary and Jane were nearly the only ones who were entirely authentic to her, and never peevish or resentful. She almost wished she had never won. Lydia and Kitty attempted to wheedle funds or fripperies, which was nothing new. The funds Uncle Gardiner had dispensed to her had stretched totwo gownseach, an evening gown and a day dress, as well as a pair of dancing slippers, a bonnet, and a quantity of lace, ribbons, and feathers, for all of the Bennet women, and even a fine copy of a book her father had been searching for in its first edition. The gratitude of her mother and two youngest sisters had waned quickly when the money was spent. Then to add insult to injury, Mrs Bennet had attempted to end Elizabeth’s pin money from her father.
“That is rich, consideringnearly allof the funds you received from Uncle were spent on the rest of us!” Mary had declared in outrage.
Jane had also argued against such measures against her sister. “Lizzy has already given up her share of Mama’s dowry for us, and promised to keep us should we need it. It is unconscionable that her goodness should be so meanly rewarded!”
Mrs Bennet and her two youngest spent most of their time attempting to wheedle money or promises from Elizabeth, then getting angry and difficult when they were refused or evaded. Or, alternately, Mrs Bennet realised she still depended upon Elizabeth’s good will, and deferred to her decision on matters Elizabeth had no interest in interfering with. Elizabeth purposely did not give her opinions on anything, lest she be accused of using her fortune to bully the others.
