~T~
Mrs Bennet had indeed examined the ensembles which Miss Bingley and her sister wore with the greatest of interest and with an eye to the potential cost.
But Miss Bingley was wrong in her assumption that it was for any mercenary reason. She had wondered if those colours and styles, would suit her daughters and how much of her pin money it would take to purchase the latest fashions for her daughters when they went to London.
But before she decided which daughters to send to London, she needed to discover if any of them wished to stay at home to furthertheir acquaintance with their new neighbour. ‘Is Mr Bingley starting to grow on you?’ she asked Jane.
Jane sighed in frustration. ‘Indeed, he is. But I am sorry to say that he is growing on me like mould… very clinging and just as hard to get rid of.’
‘Jane Bennet, that is the most unforgiving thing I have ever heard you say,’ exclaimed Elizabeth. She pretended shock as she stifled her laughter at Jane’s witticism.
Jane blushed. ‘I should not have said that. It was most unkind and ill done.’ She sighed again. ‘I just find him exceedingly exasperating. He will not take a hint that his attentions are unwelcome, and civility prevents me from speaking directly.’
Mrs Bennet patted her hand in a comforting manner. ‘Do not take it too much to heart, dearest. It is less than a month before you shall remove to London and in the meantime, I am sure he will be busy with the estate and some of our other neighbours. Perhaps Charlotte Lucas would care to take him in hand?’
Elizabeth looked perturbed as she said, ‘While Charlotte is all that is sensible and lovely, I have the feeling that Mr Bingley values outward beauty above all else and no one in our neighbourhood can equal Jane in that regard.’
A small chuckle escaped Mary. ‘Perhaps Reverend Fordyce has the right of it after all when he bemoans that physical beauty is a curse which distracts gentlemen from the importance of the beauty of a gentle and submissive spirit.’
‘Surely he did not say that!’
‘Not exactly but I am convinced that is what he meant.’
‘Pshaw, even sweet and gentle Jane would cavil at the idea of a man who expected her to be submissive to all his wishes.’
‘If I did not, I would find it less onerous to tolerate Mr Bingley.’
~T~
While Mr Bingley was popular with the residents of Meryton and its environs, his sisters did not make such a favourable impression.
The gentlemen thought Mr Bingley to be pleasant, eager to join in any activity and he did not give himself any airs and graces. Fathers with daughters of marriageable age were not so pleased when it became obvious that Jane Bennet had caught his fancy, but they could not fault his taste.
Mr Thompson, the Netherfield steward had mixed feelings about Bingley. While he was pleased that his new employer respected his abilities, he was unhappy that because of that respect, Mr Bingley was content to let him do the work without paying any attention to the duties the master of the estate usually fulfilled. In Mr Thompson’s less charitable moments he was heard to mutter, ‘What is the point of having a dog if you have to bark yourself?’
The ladies in the community thought Miss Bingley and her sister extremely fashionable but also unapproachable. All friendly overtures for the ladies to join in the activities to improve the lot of the tenants and their children were ignored with a haughty disdain. Miss Bingley certainly was not about to lower herself and deal with the tenants.
The servants of Netherfield soon developed a considerable dislike, not to say hatred, for Miss Bingley, who was demanding and inconsistent, and she always blamed the staff for her own lapses. She also did not seem to understand that in the country one did not send a servant just down the street to purchase some delicacy for which she developed a sudden fancy.
All in all, the residents of Netherfield were not a great success.
~T~
Mr Phillips watched the developments with concern.
Apart from Mr Bingley’s sporting prowess as attested by the gentlemen of Meryton, he seemed to be incapable of any useful endeavour.
Even his potential matrimonial prospects were poor, since Mr Phillips had it on good authority – his wife – that Jane had not the slightest interest in the man.
While Mr Thompson reported Mr Bingley’s lack of involvement with the running of the estate, at least he was not negatively interfering. Although there was hope on that front. Mr Bingley had mentioned thathe was expecting the company of a friend who was experienced in the administration of an estate and who had offered to teach Mr Bingley what he needed to know.
For the moment Mr Phillips decided to wait and see if the situation improved by the end of the month.
~T~
5Can it get worse?
The four eldest Bennet ladies were getting ready for the monthly assembly being held in Meryton.
