“Yes, there is!” Their mother jumped in and took over. If Elizabeth knew her father, he had hoped for nothing less. Mr Bennet wore a broad smile as he sat back and opened his newspaper, settling in to allow the ladies to talk.
“What is it, Mama?” Lydia asked excitedly.
“I have just heard that Netherfield Park is let at last! And to a young, rich gentleman, no less. He has five thousand a year! Is that not wonderful? And he is unmarried,” their mother beamed. “I think it is only right that Jane or Elizabeth should snatch him up.”
“Why us, particularly?” Elizabeth asked, even though she knew she would likely be annoyed with the answer.
“Silly,” her mother chided her with a smile. “Now that you are to have an inheritance, it would be foolish for him to choose from any of the other families. Jane is the most beautiful and you are the richest. There can be no other alternative.”
“There are several other amiable ladies in the neighbourhood besides us, Mama,” Jane put in.
“Poppycock,” their mother went on. “At any rate, you must both dress with particular care. And mind you do your hair in the most becoming way, so that you may have the best chance of attracting the young man’s attention.”
With breakfast over, the family scattered around the house. Mary went to practise her scales, while the younger girls went to their room to pull out all the ribbons, hats, gloves, and other fripperies that they might need for the assembly. Their mother went to discuss the week’s menu with the cook, while their father disappeared into his library, not to be disturbed.
“I suppose I should answer this as soon as possible,” Elizabeth said with a sigh.
Jane laughed. “Do not sound so eager,” she teased. She linked arms with Elizabeth and they walked up the stairs to their bedroom together. “I am only teasing, you well know. But you should not feel guilty for the added attention. If you attract some worthy gentleman, it can only go the better for the rest of us.”
“So I am to be the lamb led to slaughter?” Elizabeth placed a hand on her forehead and staggered dramatically as they came to the landing. “Very well. I do not mind sacrificing myself if it means my dear sisters will be saved.”
“Such nonsense,” Jane scolded playfully. “You have to admit that it is nice that we need not struggle so to find a match now, do you not? This Mr Bingley sounds very interesting.”
“Perhaps. But I should like to judge his character before I take his fortune or appearance into consideration.”
“But of course!” Jane agreed.
Time at Longbourn seemed to pass quickly of late. It seemed they were rarely without visitors, news, or both. That day was no exception, for polite visiting hours had scarcely begun before Lady Lucas and Charlotte Lucas came to call. Their visit was more than welcome, for Elizabeth found the solace of Charlotte’s company very welcome.
She was her best and dearest friend, besides Jane. For all Charlotte was a spinster at twenty-seven, one could scour the whole earth to find a sweeter soul and come up empty-handed. It was true, her mother always said that it was a pity Charlotte Lucas was not more handsome. After each visit, when their neighbours had gone home, Mrs Bennet had often spent several minutes in pointing out Charlotte’s deficiencies. Her hair was a dull, indeterminate light brown, and her figure rather clumsy. Her eyes were a dull grey, and her chin receded, while her nose was large and pointed. But though Mrs Bennet’s criticisms could not be refuted, Charlotte had qualities of greater importance that she seemed to overlook. Elizabeth was convinced that there was no one with a more intelligent mind or kind-hearted nature than Charlotte Lucas.
“It was good of you to come and see us today, Charlotte. You cannot know how Longbourn has been over-set by the news —”
“Of the inheritance. We know. That is why we have come,” Lady Lucas broke in. “We have the most wonderful news to share as well!”
“Then you must come in and tell us quickly,” Mrs Bennet said, ushering in their guests.
When they were all seated, Lady Lucas started in on the news. “You know of the new tenant of Netherfield, I am sure.”
“Of course — a young man named Mr Bingley,” Mrs Bennet quickly cut in.
Lady Lucas nodded. “Quite so. Well, Mr Bingley has invited guests to Netherfield.”
“Indeed? And who might they be?” her mother asked. To judge by the gleam in Mrs Bennet’s eyes, she had already decided not only that the visitors must be eligible gentlemen, but that they belonged by right to her daughters.
“The first are the gentleman’s two sisters: one still single, the other married to a Mr Hurst. Mr and Mrs Hurst make their home primarily in London, I am told.”
Her mother looked disappointed that the only male guest was already married. “Well, it will be delightful to have some more company in the neighbourhood, to be sure.”
“That is not all. There is also a close friend of Mr Bingley come to stay, a Mr Darcy. It is said that he is single, and has a large fortune and estate to the north, in Derbyshire, I believe.”
“Indeed?” her mother asked, perking back up immediately. “And you are sure that Mr Darcy is unattached?”
“That is what I have heard, but that is not all,” Lady Lucas said with a superior air. She leaned closer, relishing the news she had to impart. “It is said Mr Darcy has ten thousand a year!”
Poor Mr Darcy.Elizabeth only just stopped herself from saying the words aloud, for everyone would have thought her out of her wits. Perhaps she was, pitying a man for having the most extravagant fortune she had ever heard of. Yet she could not help but feel for the man, not to mention his host. The ladies, and especially their mothers, would be flocking to them as soon as the word had spread. And with such news in the hands of Lady Lucas, the word was sure to spread quickly.
No one had noticed Elizabeth’s distraction in all the clamour that had followed Lady Lucas’s announcement. Indeed, it would have been difficult to do so. Elizabeth did not believe her mother had stopped exclaiming her joy and astonishment for a moment.
