“No one will mind a sixteen-year-old girl coming out in Hertfordshire society,” put in Mr.Gardiner.“They could attend assemblies and practice their dancing and begin working on their hostessing skills.They should begin taking on some of the duties of managing Longbourn.They will need the knowledge later, after all.”
Mrs.Bennet appeared nearly convinced now.But to wait an entire year?Jane would be eighteen!Fanny had been engaged to Mr.Bennet at eighteen!
“I would be happy to host both girls in Town for a season when Lizzy is seventeen.And with any luck, Jane’s soulmate will be out of university by then.I think a year of practice in Hertfordshire will be just the thing to prepare them.”Mrs.Gardiner smiled, knowing she had dangled a particularly juicy carrot in front of her sister.
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” said Mr.Bennet.“Do you not think so, Fanny?”
Mrs.Bennet sighed.“Very well.Lizzy and Jane will come out in Meryton next year.But they must have a proper Season in Town!You must not be stingy with your pockets, Mr.Bennet.”
He could only laugh at his wife.“I will begin saving now, my dear.”
Mrs.Bennet nodded and shifted in her chair, like a satisfied hen on a roost full of eggs.“Very well.”
One Year Later
Longbourn, 1807
Since Elizabeth had decided on her mark herself, there was no way to know how old her intended soul mate might be.He could be younger than herself, or only a year older.He could be three and twenty or five and twenty.He could be thirty!He could even be forty.Horrifying thought.
Elizabeth had been entirely certain that a mark was what she wanted, but now, three years later and faced with the prospect of meeting the man she had bound herself to, potentially against his own will, she felt more than a little unsure.What if he was angry?What if he resented her interference in his life’s plans?What if he were already married?
It was a daunting prospect.
In spite of her feelings, she went along with the preparations for the coming out their mother was planning.Mrs.Bennet had decided the girls would attend October’s assembly as their first foray into Hertfordshire society, and the day before, she would host a grand dinner for all her friends and neighbors.
For the occasion, Jane had a light blue gown made up, though she had requested green.Her mother maintained the blue brought out her eyes and Jane was overruled.Elizabeth was in a pale pink dress, a color she was fond enough of, but her mother insisted that the back be low enough to show the top portion of Elizabeth’s mark.Elizabeth was appalled.She had spent the last three years covering up her mark.It was personal and private, not an oddity for gawking eyes.
But Mrs.Bennet insisted that Elizabeth would never meet her match if she did not make it known that she was marked, and one could hardly argue that logic.She pushed her mother into compromising and only showing the uppermost corner of the mark.Any gentleman looking for his match would see it and request more information if he bore something similar.
Elizabeth also planned to keep a thick shawl on hand at all times, but her mother did not need to know that.
Longbourn was bursting at the seams for Mrs.Bennet’s dinner, and at the assembly the following evening, neither Jane nor Elizabeth sat out a single dance.Mrs.Bennet ferried them to every party and dinner in the neighborhood throughout the winter, no matter how tired they were, and she was sure to speak of their marks to anyone who would listen.
It was mortifying for the girls—and highly amusing for Fate, who appreciated the assistance, little as it was needed—but at least they knew their matches were not in Meryton society.They would have met the gentlemen by now if they were to be found in Hertfordshire.
In spring of 1809, Jane and Elizabeth went to London to stay with the Gardiners.
Mrs.Bennet was certain at least one of them would come home engaged.They were both marked after all, and with such rich, detailed images.She was certain both their husbands were gentlemen, as they each had a grand house in their mark, and Elizabeth’s had a garden and an entire forest!It must be for a man of property.But Mrs.Bennet was also practical, and she was not against a merchant who had amassed the funds to purchase an estate.She was not so finicky about money—as long as it was plentiful, she was not overly concerned with its provenance.
Their Season in London was more of the same, though on a larger scale.Mrs.Gardiner was considerably more discreet than Mrs.Bennet, and the parties they attended were elegant and filled with interesting people.Well, Elizabeth thought they were interesting.Jane was rather intimidated by the wealthy tradesmen her uncle associated with.At each gathering, she was likely to find the most soft-spoken, slightly impoverished gentleman of the lower gentry present.She would speak to him for the majority of the evening.He would then leave the gathering half in love with her while she was simply relieved it was all over.
“Did you enjoy yourself this evening?”Elizabeth asked as she ran the brush through Jane’s golden tresses.
Jane sighed.“Well enough.I will be happy when the Season is over though.”
“Is it too much?”asked Elizabeth, surprise in her voice.She was having a delightful time, but Jane was not as sociable as she was.
“Not exactly.It is only,” she hesitated.
“Only what?”
“I do not enjoy the gentlemen’s attentions.”
Elizabeth nodded.“I understand.Do you think it is the mark?Aunt said we would likely have no interest in gentlemen who were not our soulmates.”
“It could be.Or perhaps I have become too accustomed to life in our small village.”
“Do you like attending parties in Meryton?”
