Was Mr.Darcy attracted to her?That would certainly be unexpected.
Netherfield was warm, and most importantly, dry.The ladies were sent to a guest room to change and Louisa kindly offered to send gowns for Elizabeth and Kitty, who were similar to her in height, and Caroline loaned one to Jane, as she was taller.They may have been of a similar height, but Caroline had a rather small bosom, unlike Jane.The gown was almost indecent on Jane’s fuller figure.
“I need a fichu.I cannot leave the room like this!”cried Jane, staring at herself in the mirror in horror.
Kitty could not help laughing at her sister’s predicament.Perfect Jane, who never had a hair out of place or an unkind word to say, was nearly spluttering with shock.She was practically falling out of the gown, less than half of her bosom covered by fabric.
“Do not worry, Jane.I asked the maid for a fichu.She shall be back any minute,” said Elizbeth.
Jane sighed.“Thank you, Lizzy.I do not know why I am so worried.It is not as if the Bingleys will not soon be family.”
“But you would rather not look ridiculous in front of your new sisters?”added Elizabeth.
“Exactly.”
“And Mr.Darcy will not be family,” threw in Kitty.“The scowl that man has!I would not want him to look at me like that in my best dress, let alone in an ill-fitting gown I borrowed from my soulmate’s harpy sister.”
“Kitty!”cried Jane.“You mustn’t refer to Miss Bingley that way.”
Kitty shrugged.“It is true, Jane, and you know it.And it is only us here.I would not say so in public.”
Jane could hardly argue with that and turned her attention to drying her hair in front of the fire.Elizabeth was doing the same, but where Jane’s hair dried golden and shiny, Elizabeth’s curled up into ringlets with fuzzy edges.She focused her attention on twirling each curl about her finger and smoothing it out before moving on to the next.It was a painstaking process, but it was also the only thing that kept her from looking like a newborn duckling, covered in fluff.
The maid returned with a selection of fichus borrowed from Mrs.Hurst and Jane ended up using two, so low was the neck of the gown.She tucked the more opaque one into the bodice first—though it was not nearly as modest as what she usually wore—and added a thin lace one atop that.
“How does this look?”she asked her sisters.
“Well enough,” said Kitty.
“It looks very well, Jane.I cannot see anything indecent,” said Elizabeth.
Jane sighed in relief.“Thank heavens!Are we ready to go down?”
They assented and made their way to the drawing room where Miss Bingley was serving tea to the recently arrived gentlemen.
“Miss Bennet!”cried Mr.Bingley.His eyes were drawn to her lower than usual neckline, but being the gentleman he was, he quickly snapped his eyes back to her face, though his cheeks were a little flushed.“I hope you have been made comfortable?”
“Perfectly so, Mr.Bingley, thank you.Your sisters were kind enough to loan us their gowns.”
Bingley finally noticed Kitty and Elizabeth standing next to Jane.
“Of course.I am glad to hear it.”He led Jane to a chair near the fire and they quickly fell into conversation.
Kitty shot Elizabeth a look—the one that said they were on their own now that Jane had been scooped up by Mr.Bingley—and the two of them made their way to a sofa across from Miss Bingley’s chair.
“Tea?”Clearly, Miss Bingley was not in the mood for company.
Elizabeth and Kitty each requested a cup with milk and they drank in silence.The Hursts were absent and Mr.Darcy was standing at the far window, giving no indication he had even heard them enter the room.
“You have a lovely instrument,” Kitty finally said, looking toward the pianoforte in the corner.
“Thank you.Music is such a delight.Though I suppose you do not have as much opportunity in the country to hear the great works.”
“We do not, but we often go to concerts when we are in Town,” answered Kitty.
“In Town?”repeated Caroline, as if she could not believe these country bumpkins ever left their village.
“Yes.Our father is particularly fond of the theater, so we often go when we visit,” added Elizabeth.
