One
29thNovember, 1811
Afternoon
Charlotte and I were ensconced in an inconspicuous corner of the tearoom, each of us taking our refreshment in a manner which befitted our mood. I swilled my tea and chomped my scones with the gusto of a person who thinks she might at any moment be hauled away and locked in some remote madhouse ever to be fed on runny porridge. Charlotte picked at her biscuit nervously, nary a morsel crossing her lips as if anticipating a bout of frightful dyspepsia later on.
I did not think her anxiety was owed merely to the fact that she was taking tea with Longbourn's very own scarlet woman. No, it would take far more than that to discompose my dear Charlotte. Whatever it was it must be truly dreadful.
I was on the edge of saying, "Out with it—now. I cannot bear the suspense any longer," when the cheerful little bell upon the door rang out. The chime was superfluous. There was no way the tea shop's proprietress could have possibly missed the entry of her newest customers as they were conversing rather loudly.
"I entered the room and there she was, bodice ripped, standing there bold as anything with her bounty hanging out the front of her gown—of course Miss Elizabeth doesn't have much in the way of bounty—but imagine my shock!"
I dared not turn to glance at the speaker. I had chosen my seat which faced away from the door so that I might spare Charlotte the disgrace of being seen with me. I had even gone so far as to borrow Jane's bonnet so if by chance the back of my head took someone's notice they would think Charlotte was having a tete-a-tete with my virtuous, if ruined by association elder sister rather than the ever-so-scandalous me. Thus I could not wreck all my precautions by peeking over my shoulder.
Besides, I knew exactly who the boisterous voice belonged to. I did not have to imagine Mrs. Long's shock at her discovery. Her stunned visage would ever be imprinted on my mind because, while she must think of the incident as the uncovering of the Absolute Best Piece of Gossip Ever to Titillate Meryton Society, for me it was the Absolute Worst Moment of My Life.
Mrs. Long paused her tale long enough to order tea then set off upon it again, speaking even more loudly than before. "It isn't right, it really isn't right, Mrs. Goulding," she trilled. "Here I was searching her out, doing a good turn for her poor mother who was positively frantic by this time, just to have my sensibilities so thoroughly abused."
Mrs. Goulding made encouraging murmurs of sympathy at this juncture.
"And poor Mr. Collins was right beside me. I can only imagine what he must have felt. The man is a clergyman! And it is said he had intended to make her an offer. Well, he certainly will not make her one now! No one will."
"Surely Mr. Darcy—," began Mrs. Goulding.
"Have you not heard? He has left Netherfield. Mr. Bingley's entire party has gone to town. I fear Miss Elizabeth is completely without hope of redemption. I feel very sorry for the Bennets," finished Mrs. Long gleefully.
"Oh, yes, as do I. Very sorry indeed. Mr. Darcy is a most abominable gentleman. If the perfidious man had not made indecent designs upon her, I am sure she never would have done anything so shameful."
"Most certainly not. She always was a good girl, if a little spirited. Although I have heard. . . ." Mrs. Long trailed off, letting her words hang like enticingly ripe fruit on a very low branch.
Mrs. Goulding could not help but pluck it. "What have you heard?" she asked hungrily.
"Oh, I should not speak of it. I do not like to gossip."
Though I of course could not actually see Mrs Goulding, I can only assume at that moment she was looking at her friend entreatingly.
After a brief intermission to show proper reluctance, Mrs. Long gave in. "Oh, I might as well tell you, someone else will anyway. It is all over the village. Now, I have heard no proof, mind—this may all be the fancy of gossips—but it is being said that the Netherfield ball might not have been their first dalliance."
"Not their first?"
"Well, she was at Netherfield for four days tending to Miss Bennet was she not?"
"Yes, but I can hardly believe—"
"Nor I, to be sure! It is certainly just a vicious rumor. But it is what is being said and you cannot deny there would have been plenty of opportunity for such goings on."
"Well, yes—"
"And you must admit that though she was a good sort of girl she always was a little too forward."
"Well, yes—"
"And I'm not saying sheintendedto be a coquette, but I can see how a man might find her manner encouraging of improper attentions."
"Well—"
"And ten thousand a year could turn any girl's head."
