“I will not mince my words with her. Did you see the way she was dressed when, against all protocols, she had the audacity to wait for us with her brother? Does she think she is attending a ball, rather than being at home at a country estate? That too displays her lack of education and class.” Lady Catherine huffed.
“What of me? Do I need to join you and put myself in Miss Bingley’s company?” Georgiana enquired.
“What do you think, Richard? We can say that Giana is with Mrs Annesley and having some lessons. It would not be dissembling if you have a French lesson,” Darcy suggested.
“I agree with William. Remain here, and we will have some tea and treats sent up for you two,” Richard added.
With that decided, the two men and their aunt made their way downstairs.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Calm down, Janie,” Madeline said as she placed a hand on her niece’s arm. “I dare say that you will impress Mr Wendell’s parents no matter the gown you choose to wear.”
As her feelings for Mr Wendell—David—grew, Jane’s desire to make a very positive impression on his parents increased. With it, she had an attack of nerves that somehow, she would make some greatfaux pas. It was not that she did not know how to behave in company; she most certainly did. Her anxiety stemmed from the fact that she had never been on the cusp of meeting the parents of the man who she believed could one day be her husband. Aunt Maddie’s voice coupled with her gentle touch helped bring Jane out of her nervous state.
“I was being a silly goose, was I not?” Jane realised.
Madeline gave a single nod.
“Dav…Mr Wendell has told me that his parents are unassuming even though his mother is sister to a countess. I suppose that also made me worry.”
“You mean the note that told us Lord and Lady Matlock will be present as well?” She saw Jane nod. “From what I know of them; they do not put on airs and graces. Lord Matlock is one of your uncle’s investors and has been in this house a few times. I met him once, and he treated me like anyone else. I will meet the Countess for the first time tonight,” Madeline said to calm her niece further. “Remember that your beau told you how much his mother and aunt look alike.”
“Yes, he said that they could be twins, except there are a few years in age between them, with Lady Matlock being older,” Jane recalled.
“Now do you see you have nothing with which to be concerned?” Madeline asked.
“You know, I think part of it is that Lizzy is not here to give me strength. I know she feels that my presence gives her fortitude, but I feel the same with her. She is so much braverthan me. I hope she is attending the assembly tonight,” Jane related.
“She will; you know what she says about her courage always rising, do you not? Lizzy will be well,” Madeline insisted.
“Now that my nerves are settled, I will choose the sky blue satin gown.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Where is dear Georgiana?” Miss Bingley asked when her guests entered the drawing room. As far as she was concerned, the earlier confrontation had not occurred.
“Nephews, have either of you or Giana given permission for Miss Bingley to address her so informally?” Lady Catherine enquired. She already knew the answer, but it was time to put the woman in her place again.
“No, Aunt Catherine, a fact which has been pointed out to her brother more than once,” Richard responded.
“It is neither here nor there, but my niece is attending to some of her lessons. Were you not taught it is the higher-ranked person who may permit or deny the use of their familiar name?” Lady Catherine queried with obvious disdain dripping from her voice. “I know my niece has not invited you to use her familiar name, so how is it you address her thusly?” She turned towards her cringing host. “Did you not pass the message on to your sister?”
If he could have, Bingley would have crawled under the nearest piece of furniture. Rather than reply, he looked away.
“But we are such good friends…” Miss Bingley tried to say.
“Only in your own mind,” Lady Catherine interpolated. “Miss Bingley, you do know you are in the country, do you not? Perhaps not. You are dressed for a ball in London, which is quite inappropriate for being at home at a country estate.”
Caroline Bingley was reeling. She was supposed to impress the noble aunt, but the woman was criticising everything about her. And worse, neither of the men she had marked as candidates to be her husband had said a word in her defence. As she had told Charles earlier, when she married one of them, she would banish the aunt from her homes.
“There is a local assembly tonight. I accepted on behalf of all of us,” Bingley blurted out to change the subject away from his seething sister.
“We will all remain at the house rather than mix with the mushrooms hereabouts. How could my brother expect us to rejoice in the inferiority of the locals’ connections? To congratulate myself, all of you, on the hope of meeting nothings, whose condition in life and social standing is so decidedly beneath our own?” Miss Bingley stated with her air of superiority back in place.
“My nephews and Iwillattend this assembly. Please elucidate as to how you, the daughter of a tradesman, are somehow socially above landed gentry? Whoever paid to send you to that seminary, my nephews tell me of which you boast, wasted his money. You learnt nothing.” Lady Catherine stared with fire in her eyes at the woman whose mouth had flapped open like she was desirous of catching flies. She turned to Mr Bingley. “What time does the ball begin?”
“Half after seven, your Ladyship,” Bingley replied meekly.
