Beth and the six Bennet siblings looked on expectantly, all just as keen to hear what impression meeting the new tenants of Tommy’s future estate had left on the master of Longbourn.
“If I may sit and drink some restorative tea before I make my report, I would appreciate the forbearance,” Bennet jested.
Becca poured her beloved a cup of tea, just the way he liked it, after he had seated himself on the settee next to her. He was graciously allowed time to drink his tea and enjoy a few of his favourite shortbread biscuits before the eight inquisitive faces looked at him, waiting for an answer. “I was shown into theprimary drawing room, and no, Miss Bingley has not tried her hand at redecorating…”
Bennet found all four members of the Netherfield Park party seated in the drawing room. The four stood; the one he assumed was Miss Bingley did so reluctantly. He bowed, the two men returned it in like fashion, while the older sister curtsied correctly while her younger sister inclined her head as if she were a duchess. The investigator’s report had been accurate about her character, or its lack.
“I assume you are Mr Bingley,” Bennet had directed at the man with strawberry-blond hair. He had nodded. “I am Thomas Bennet, the master of Longbourn; will you introduce your party, please?”
“Certainly, I am Charles Bingley of Scarborough, Mr and Mrs Harold Hurst of Winsdale in Surrey, and my younger sister, Miss Caroline Bingley of Scarborough,” Bingley had responded ebulliently.
It was not missed by Bennet that Miss Bingley was about to make a comment about his temerity of requesting an introduction. She had stopped, and Bennet had not missed the calculating look in her countenance. He was sure that, being an inveterate social climber, she read all the society pages and gossip columns. He suspected that she had recognised the name Bennet from the papers. His suspicions were proved correct without delay.
“Do you have two daughters, Mr Bennet?” Miss Bingley had asked.
“In fact, I havefourdaughters and two sons,” Bennet had replied. He had turned to Bingley before the sister had had a chance to ask a further question. “I assume many men have called on you already, Mr Bingley; is that correct?”
“It is,” Bingley had replied. “First to arrive, yester-afternoon, was Sir William Lucas, who informed us of the Autumn Assembly on Friday. He issued an invitation, which I was happy to accept on behalf of my party, including one who will join us on the morrow. Mr Goulding was next, followed by Mr Long, and several more after them.”
“There are four and twenty landed families in and around Meryton; I am sure most, if not all, of them will have called by the end of calling hours today,” Bennet had opined.
“Will your daughters attend the assembly?” Miss Bingley had interrupted.
Bennet had decided she was like a dog with a bone. She thought she was on the path to finding those to fawn over in order to advance herself in society. Intruding in the middle of a conversation between others would not stop her. “Only my son and daughters who have entered society will attend.” Bennet turned back to Bingley before his sister could interpose again. “My wife and I will accompany our children who will attend; I look forward to seeing you there. It has been fifteen minutes, so I will make way for your next caller.” Bennet had stood, and after a bow, he had exited the drawing room. He approached the butler, who was waiting for the next caller. “Make sure Mr Bingley is aware that on his first call it is he and he alone who makes it.” Nichols had nodded, and Bennet had made his way to the drive where a groom was holding his horse.
“It seems that we forgot to account for the fact that one such as Miss Bingley would know the social gossip and news like most of us know the Bible,” Becca shook her head.
“If she puzzles out who you are, and who our family members are, she will throw herself in your company as much as she is able,” Beth observed.
“Do not concern yourself, Grandmama Beth,” Jane assured her, “we well know how to deal with false friends. I for one will not prejudge her; let us see how she behaves at the assembly.”
“That is sensible, Janey,” Elizabeth agreed. “You, Henry, Mary, and I will form our opinions of her, and the rest in their party based on how they act and not on the investigator’s report. Mayhap Mr Bingley has matured since then, and Miss Bingley will not bequiteas bad as we suspect she will be.”
Even though she had not yet been presented and had her ball in London, as Mary was eighteen, she was out locally, so she would be attending her first assembly on Friday. She was pleased to do so, but Mary knew she would have been much happier had Richard been present, like he would be at her coming out.
“As one who has met them, I think the report was accurate, but your mother and I have raised you to think for yourselves, so each of you can decide for herself or himself,” Bennet stated.
“I for one am not sorry I will not be attending the assembly,” Tommy, who was not seventeen yet stated.
“And the same for me,” Ellie insisted. “Tommy and I will play chess.”
All of the Bennet offspring were proficient at the game; however, Ellie was a prodigy. By the age of seven, she was routinely beating everyone in the family, including her papa, Uncle Will, and even Lizzy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
No sooner had Mr Bennet departed than Caroline Bingley crowed with pleasure. “We need to discover more about these Bennets,” she sang.
“Did you not say none of thebumpkins,as you called them, are worth our time?” Mrs Hurst asked confusedly. “What about Mr Bennet changed that and has ignited your interest? And what were the questions about his daughters?”
“If the two eldest are named Jane and Elizabeth, then the chances are they are the Duke of Devonshire’s granddaughters, and their mother is no less than Lady Rebecca Cavendish, as was,” Miss Bingley enthused. “Do you not remember I told you when I read the announcements of their coming out balls at Devonshire House?”
“I do, but there are more than one family named Bennet in the realm, so these may not be them,” Mrs Hurst warned.
“Do you think me a simpleton? That is why I need to discover more about the family. If it is them and Charles manages to marry a Bennet daughter, do you not see what that will do for my…our social standing? It would be far better than him marrying Georgiana Darcy,” Miss Bingley gushed.
“Then I suppose you will attend the assembly?” Bingley enquired. When Sir William had mentioned it the previous day and he had accepted, Caroline had been none too pleased with him. Now it seemed her opinions had shifted, and his acceptance had become a good thing.
“Of course I will,” Miss Bingley stated assuredly.
