Elizabeth nodded and moved to the instrument.Charlotte was a good friend to know how to distract her.It was too bad Sir William would not leave his estate to Charlotte.She was practical, and sensible, and would be an excellent mistress.Yet she also had fewer of the qualities which would induce a man to propose.With an estate of her own, she would be guaranteed to marry well, and she would do right by the property.
Instead, her younger brother would inherit.He who could make his own way in the world in a profession as his father had done.He who could marry just as well at five and thirty as five and twenty.The strong jaw and wide nose that made Charlotte so unattractive as a female had quite the opposite effect on her brother.He would have no difficulty finding a bride, and he did not have to wait for one to choose him!It did not matter that Charlotte was the eldest child, nor the most sensible, nor the best choice to manage Lucas Lodge.She was female and therefore overlooked.
Elizabeth sighed.It was entirely unfair.
Charlotte set a piece of music on the stand and began picking out the notes.Elizabeth leaned over on the bench and impulsively kissed her cheek.“You are beautiful in your own right, Charlotte, and eminently worthy.Anyone who does not recognize such is not worthy of your attention.”
Charlotte looked at her with wide eyes.“Thank you, Eliza,” she said quietly.
Elizabeth nodded and began playing, ignoring her friend’s blushing countenance beside her.
The next week featured two parties before the event at Lucas Lodge.At the Gouldings’ dinner party, Mr.Bingley sat next to Jane and paid her an enormous amount of attention.At the card party at Purvis Lodge, he did not leave her side.Elizabeth watched it all with satisfaction.It was clear to her that Jane was falling in love with Mr.Bingley, and that man looked as if he would marry her on the morrow if only the vicar were free.
Miss Bingley’s feelings were also clear to Elizabeth.She did not like her brother’s attention to the eldest Miss Bennet, but she was torn between separating Mr.Bingley from Jane and chasing after Mr.Darcy.It was obvious to every matron in Meryton that she had set her cap at him, and the older ladies had a good time laughing at her for it.Mrs.Bennet declared Miss Bingley was welcome to him.Mr.Darcy had refused to dance or even be introduced to her daughters at the local assembly.That was a slight that even his ten thousand a year could not atone for.Mary could only be relieved her mother did not know of the way he had personally insulted her.She had sworn Elizabeth to secrecy and, though she did not like it, her elder sister had agreed.
Elizabeth felt a twinge of pity for Miss Bingley.It was clear Mr.Darcy was no more interested in marrying her than in settling permanently in Hertfordshire.The woman was doomed to disappointment.But then Miss Bingley would drag her brother away from a conversation with Jane and all of Elizabeth’s pity evaporated like dew under the rising sun.
By the time she arrived at Lucas Lodge for the much-anticipated party, Elizabeth had said two things to Mr.Darcy: “good evening” and “good night.”She did not care to take the trouble to talk to him, and as her grandmother had always taught her, unkind people were not worth one’s time.Unfortunately, she had not been as lucky regarding Miss Bingley.
Elizabeth had been forced into conversation with Miss Bingley and her sister Mrs.Hurst more than once—sometimes to give Jane time with their brother and other times because of a faulty seating arrangement.Regardless of the reason, she found the sisters to be unpleasant and dull, respectively.Miss Bingley was uniformly snide and haughty, though she could be witty when she chose.Mrs.Hurst would likely not be cruel on her own, but her sister’s cattiness encouraged the same in herself and the combination was singularly unpleasant.
Elizabeth could not help but smile when she thought of how they reminded her of Lydia and Kitty.The younger, stronger personality leading her older, more malleable sister by the nose.Though her amusement decreased the more she thought of it.She would spend more time with Kitty.Perhaps it was not too late to save her from Mrs.Hurst’s fate.
They had not been in Lucas Lodge more than five minutes when Mr.Bingley found Jane and corralled her to the side of the room with more finesse than Elizabeth would like.But he appeared truly interested in Jane, so she could forgive him for seeming too practiced.Though she would watch him just the same.Dream or no dream, Jane was her dearest sister, and she would not see her married to a man who would not treat her like the treasure she was.
“Mr.Bingley certainly seems enamored of Jane.Have you decided if he is worthy of her yet?”
Elizabeth turned to smile at Charlotte.“He does seem to like her very much.”
“He does.But does she like him?”
“Can you not tell?She cannot stop smiling at him!”
“Many ladies smile.He may not realize she has particular regard for him if she does not show him.”
“You would have her be immodest?”Surprise filled Elizabeth’s voice.
“There is a great distance between encouragement and immodesty.”Charlotte levelled her with a serious look.“There are few of us secure enough to be truly in love without proper encouragement.He likes her a great deal, but he may never propose if she does not help him on.”
Elizabeth looked thoughtful.
“Please, Lizzy.Think about it.And perhaps speak to Jane.”
Elizabeth nodded.“I will think on what you have said.”
Elizabeth watched Jane for the rest of the evening, wondering if Charlotte was correct in her assessment.Her first instinct had been to ignore her friend’s suggestion.If Mr.Bingley truly cared for Jane, he would seek out her deeper feelings.And Elizabeth had seen them together in her dreams, after all.She knew they would marry and be terrifically happy together.Although, she had been having dreams for many years now and not everything in them had come to pass.
Some things were further in the future, of course, but the more she thought on it, the more she thought it was entirely possible that things could go awry, and Jane would not marry Mr.Bingley.Perhaps the dreams were visions of whatcouldbe, not necessarily whatwouldbe.Oh, she wished Granny were here!She would know what to tell her.
It was in this frame of mind that she joined a conversation with Charlotte and Colonel Forster, the man leading the regiment that was soon to settle in Meryton for the winter.The colonel spoke of hosting a ball once his officers had arrived.He thought it might be a good way to begin the regiment’s relationship with the local gentry.
“A wonderful idea, sir!You have happened upon a neighborhood which dearly loves to dance,” said Elizabeth playfully.
“That is most neighborhoods, Miss Elizabeth,” he responded with a smile.
When Charlotte next spoke, Elizabeth turned her head toward her friend and noticed Mr.Darcy standing near their party.His gaze was on her.Elizabeth sucked in a breath—surprised to find him looking at her.What could he mean by it?She was inattentive to the remainder of the conversation until Colonel Forster left to speak with someone else.
“Eliza, what is wrong?”asked Charlotte.“You are quiet and distracted.”
