~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Darce, you know I did not attempt to have you placed in a family suite, do you not?” Bingley asked nervously.
“I know who orchestrated that. It is not the reason I asked you to join me here, but it is related…” Darcy told Bingley how he would make sure Miss Bingley had no illusions about his lack of interest.
All Bingley could hope was that his sister became distracted with the family of the Duke of Devonshire, if that was who the Bennets were, and would not be too angry about the way Darcy planned to act. “Before I forget, I accepted an invitation to the local assembly on the morrow so we will be able to meet many of my neighbours,” Bingley revealed.
His first instinct was to take Bingley to task for committing him to such a provincial event. However, Darcy stopped himself. If he was to put his lessons in humility into practice, this was the ideal place to do so. He agreed to attend.
Chapter 16
Bennet looked up after reading the latest note from Netherfield Park. “We will finally meet Fitzwilliam Darcy, our cousin by marriage, at the assembly,” he relayed based on the information contained within.
“I wonder if he will be haughty and standoffish as Rich has described him,” Elizabeth mused.
“Do not forget the rest of what Rich shared with us,” Becca admonished her second daughter. As much as she loved all of her children, and she loved all six fiercely, Becca was not blind to their faults. Lizzy’s was to make quick judgements and would cling to her incorrect conclusions for longer than she should. “He explained that the reason Fitz, as he calls him, is like that is due to his feelings of uncomfortableness in large groups, especially among those with whom he is not familiar. That, combined with the way he has been hunted since he entered society almost ten years past has created, what Rich called, the Darcy mask.
“Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie see their Darcy niece and nephew as more daughter and son, so we will not turn our prejudices on him, will we?” As Becca said the last, she looked at Lizzy pointedly.
Understanding she was being instructed to keep an open mind, Elizabeth inclined her head. “Mama, you are correct; I didforget that part of what Rich related to us. I will keep that in mind when I meet him,” she stated contritely.
“Do not forget what the report said about the way Miss Bingley relentlessly chases after Mr Darcy,” Beth reminded her family. “Due to that, the young man may not be in good humour, especially if, as was noted, she spreads his purported income about the assembly hall.”
“I will speak to Sarah Lucas and request she have it known that if Miss Bingley does that, no one is to react to it, or repeat the numbers she bandies about,” Becca decided.
“Grandmama, will you accompany us to the assembly, or do you intend to remain home with Tommy and Ellie?” Henry enquired.
“My intention is to attend,” Beth responded. She turned to her eldest grandson. “Henry, be on your guard; you may become a target for Miss Bingley if, as we think she does, she has an inkling of our family connections.”
“She will never be gratified if she attempts to place me in her matrimonial sights. I am too young to marry, and like my annoying twin,” Henry grinned at the mock outrage on Lizzy’s countenance, “I will only marry for love. Also, like others in this family, I will never gratify one who lowers herself to entrap me.”
“And from Grandpapa William on down, the whole family will support Henry, or any of you who refuse to give in to a compromise,” Becca stated unequivocally.
“That is nothing but the truth,” Bennet added. “Now is it not time to prepare for the assembly?”
The five ladies attending the assembly, who naturally needed more time to prepare themselves, stood and headed upstairs to their chambers. Ellie joined them. Even though shewould not attend, she loved seeing Mama, Grandmama, and her older sisters in their finery for the assembly.
None of the Bennets wore the gowns or jewellery they would for a London soiree. However, what they did wear, although not ostentatious, was very fine while being appropriate for a public country ball.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Bingley, I suggest you inform your younger sister that the assembly is not a London event, and she should prepare accordingly. Also, no one here will be impressed by beingfashionablylate. Additionally, it will engender my displeasure if we arrive late and are made a spectacle for one and all at the dance due to that rudeness,” Darcy stated evenly.
He cared not if Miss Bingley embarrassed herself, but he did care about his friend who was attempting to establish himself in the neighbourhood. If his sister alienated most of the denizens, it would not help her brother.
Using Darcy’s words as a shield, Bingley passed the message onto Caroline. As he had hoped, because it came from his friend, his sister did not explode with anger. She promised she would be on time. Bingley had followed a suggestion from Darce and told her an earlier time than they needed to depart. A much-relieved Bingley joined those waiting in the drawing room.
Although she had agreed to be on time, Miss Bingley had done nothing about her manner of dress. Hence, when she glided into the drawing room, some five minutes before the departure time Charles had given her, she was dressed in a burnt orange outfit with a turban and feathers dyed to match. In addition, she was dripping with jewels. She was determined to achieve two aims. One was to show Mr Darcy how elegant she was, and the other was to show the locals how members of theTondressed in combination with true sophistication and fashion sense.
Darcy had to fight the urge to either laugh at how ridiculous the harpy looked or to shake his head. To assist with that, he looked anywhere, other than at the hideous orange ensemble before him. Could the woman not see how her flaming red hair was clashing with her clothing? Evidently not.
It seemed like one of her aims had fallen flat. Mr Darcy looked anywhere but at her and her magnificent ensemble. Well, she would impress the mushrooms, while at the same time trying to ferret out information about the Bennets. She would have to be subtle in her investigation so that if it were them, her meeting them would seem perfectly natural.
The group made its way to the entrance hall, where the butler and some footmen stood ready with the outerwear. Thanks to his sister being tricked into being ready earlier than was needed, they would arrive appropriately before the start of the ball.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Richard, I know you would prefer to be at Mary’s first dance, but do not forget we will be at Longbourn on Tuesday upcoming,” Lady Elaine commiserated with her younger son. “You are honouring my nephew’s request that you do not push Mary yet. Do not forget, you have already reserved two sets of dances at her coming out ball.”
