The day after they moved into the estate, the local men began to call. Bingley was affable, as he always was; Miss Bingley was rude and condescending, while the Hursts said very little. She played with her bracelets, and he slept on achaise.
Sir William Lucas was the first to arrive. After effusive greetings to the whole of the party, even the sleeping Mr Hurst, once Bingley had introduced them, he informed Bingley that the bimonthly assembly was on Monday. He invited the Netherfield Park party to attend and come to meet the residents of the area. Bingley accepted for all of his guests as well as himself and his family.
Miss Bingley berated her brother when the lowly knight departed. She pointed out that she was sure that highborn guests like those they were about to entertain would have no interest in being in company with a bunch of country bumpkins. She claimed she was sure they would choose to remain at the house with her.
Bennet came soon after his friend. He had to control his urge to laugh when he saw that the report about the characters of all of those residing at Netherfield Park was entirely accurate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
David Wendell waited one day after he and his father had been at the meeting with Mr Gardiner before he called at Gracechurch Street. He was received warmly, and although he spoke to Mrs Gardiner as well, the chief of his time was spent in discussion with Miss Jane Bennet.
It did not take him long to confirm his suspicion that she was not a vapid, empty-headed pretty woman like so many in polite society. They did not discuss anything personal, but what they did cover showed how intelligent and well-read Miss Bennet was. By the end of the call, David was convinced that this was a lady he needed to know better and allow her to know him. Before he departed, he asked permission to call on Miss Bennet, which, with a becoming blush, she granted.
Although they had only met recently, Jane felt a connection to Mr Wendell, one she had never before felt withany man. She was well pleased that he called several times since he requested to call on her.
When he arrived on Saturday, it was with an invitation to join him and his parents at Fitzwilliam House on Monday evening. His mother and father were overjoyed that he had found a lady who had excited his interest and were looking very forward to meeting her.
Having no prior commitments, Madeline Gardiner accepted for herself, her husband, and her niece.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth was excited to receive a letter from Jane on Monday a few hours before the assembly. Even though she loved dancing, without Janie at Longbourn, she debated back and forth with herself as to whether she would attend. Any thoughts of dancing were pushed aside as Elizabeth sat in the music room and broke the seal on the letter.
28 September 1811
23 Gracechurch Street
My dear sister, Lizzy,
How I miss seeing you every day. Lizzy, if I know you, you are debating whether you should attend the assembly. If this letter reaches you before it, as I hope it will, then go, Dearest. You love to dance, and I would feel rather guilty if you sat at home because I am not there with you.
Lizzy, I am sorry I have not written before, but I have a good reason. It must have been God’s hand pushing me to go to London now because I have met a man! There is nothing official, as it has been less than a sennight since we met, but he is calling on me.
His name is Mr David Wendell, and he is from Derbyshire. His family owns an estate, Willowmere, not too far from the town of Lambton where our aunt used to live.
Something fought to surface in Elizabeth’s memories,but it was just beyond her grasp. Was it the name of the man or the estate which stirred her memories? She had no clear idea why or what had disturbed her equanimity. No matter how she racked her brain, Elizabeth could not understand why what Jane had written had somehow made her try to recall some of her forgotten past. Elizabeth shook her head and returned to Janie’s letter.
I met him the day after I arrived, and he called again two days later. That was when he asked me for permission to call on me. Even though I am of age, I still requested he gain Uncle Edward’s permission, which he did. It is the respect I owe Uncle since I am a guest in his house. Uncle had no objections to Mr Wendell’s calls. He called daily after that, and then when he arrived this morning, he carried an invitation from his mother for us (Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward, and of course, me) to dine with his family at his cousin’s house.
The cousin is Mr Richard Fitzwilliam. If you remember the report, he is one of Mr Bingley’s friends who will assist him.
I like him, Lizzy; I really do. He never condescends to me, always respects my positions, and does not treat me as merely a pretty bauble on his arm.
It is far too soon to tell, but I think I may have finally found a man with whom I can see a future. Yes, he is handsome and reasonably wealthy. Lizzy, you know that is unimportant to me as long as I can love and respect the man I agree to marry. Of course, he will need to feel the same about me.
No, I am not in love with Mr Wendell…yet. I am, however, developing tender feelings for him. Time will tell, Sister dearest of mine.
Before I close this letter, allow me to repeat:GOTO THE ASSEMBLY!
I send you all my sisterly love, and I miss you, Lizzy.
Jane
After Jane’s admonition not to be silly and remain home, Elizabeth was decided. She would attend the assembly.
Her thoughts drifted to the news of Janie’s suitor. It would be a great disruption to her life when Janie left Longbourn, but it was not something about which she would be selfish. It was the way of things for girls, was it not? They lived in their childhood home for a certain number of years, they married, and they left the home they had known all their lives to live with their husbands.
‘But this is not the home of your birth, is it?’ A thought unbidden intruded. Elizabeth sat perfectly still. Why would such a thought pop into her head after reading Janie’s letter?
