Chapter One
Elizabeth Bennet looked up from reading on her bed in her uncle Gardiner’s London home when Jane entered, and she knew instantly Miss Bingley’s visit had not gone well. Jane’s face was awash in disappointment. Elizabeth had hidden herself away when that lady had finally returned Jane’s call, but now Elizabeth wished she had stayed in the room to support her sister.
“Was Miss Bingley not in better spirits than when you called on her four weeks ago?” she asked.
When Jane had called in Grosvenor Street, she was hurried from the house, but not before Miss Bingley told Jane that Bingley was so much engaged with Mr Darcy that she scarcely saw her brother. That Miss Bingley had not deigned to return Jane’s call until a month had passed told Elizabeth all she needed to know about that lady’s character and her true feelings for Jane.
“It was humiliating, Lizzy,” Jane said, covering her face with her hands. “I have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley’s regard for me.”
Elizabeth put an arm around her. “I am sorry for the pain she caused you. She was very wrong in singling you out as she did and then treating you poorly.”
“It was evident that she had no pleasure in seeing me. And she said not a word of wishing to see me ever again.”
“Bingley might defy his sisters and call on you.” Elizabeth was not sad to see the end of Miss Bingley’s friendship, but perhaps Jane’s relationship with Bingley could be restored. “Although he might not even know you are in town.”
“He knows of my being here,” Jane said, dropping her hands and striving to be composed. “I am certain, from something Miss Bingley said when she persuaded me he had no intentions toward me.” Jane sniffed and took a deep breath to calm herself.
Elizabeth shook her head over it. “There is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. Is he attached to Miss Darcy, or does his sister only wish it to be so? If he is, Bingley’s character sinks under this, to be sure. But it would not surprise me if Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy are to blame for the way he left you.”
“We cannot think like that. I will endeavour to banish every painful thought about him—and Miss Bingley, of course—and think only of what will make me happy. Like how happy I am that my aunt convinced you to come to town this winter too.” Jane gave her an affectionate hug before returning to the drawing room.
Although she put on a calm face, Elizabeth was certain that Jane still pined for Bingley.
She was glad that her sister would no longer be duped by Miss Bingley, but Bingley was now in the custody of his selfish friend. Mr Darcy would never suffer him to call on Jane. As she went downstairs with her sister, Elizabeth felt renewed irritation at Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley, and an acute sadness for Jane’s disappointed hopes.
When they entered, her uncle rose with an amused look in his eye. “Well, girls,” he said, holding out a large piece of paper, “I have got my hands on the infamous advertisement.”
A handbill first printed a week ago had excited London’s curiosity, although most people had yet to read it for themselves. All week it had been talked of while visiting or when meeting friends at the shops, with questions of “Have you read it yet?” and “Is it meant to be taken seriously?” flying from everyone’s lips.
The girls exclaimed their astonishment and ran to their uncle, eager to read the shocking advertisement for themselves.
Elizabeth took it and read aloud, “A New Matrimonial Plan. A respectable man of business possesses an establishment where persons of all classes have an opportunity of meeting with proper partners. Every person of either sex who desires to enter into a treaty of marriage is first to subscribe a certain sum depending on their class. All ladies and gentlemen are then to describe themselves as they may choose.”
Mrs Gardiner laughed. “How absurd! And how are people to describe themselves? Are they to announce their fortune, or rather their personal attributes?”
“Do not laugh, because you are pretty much right. There are five tiers of ladies and five tiers of gentlemen.” Elizabeth read aloud the ladies’ examples provided.
“First Class: I am twenty years of age; heiress to an estate in the county of Essex of the value of 30,000, well-educated and of domestic habits; of an agreeable disposition, and genteel figure.
Second Class: I am thirty years of age, a widow, in the grocery line in London—have children; of middle stature, fair complexion and hair, temper agreeable; worth 3,000.
Third Class: I am tall and thin, a little lame in the hip, of a lively disposition; twenty years of age, live with my father who, if I marry with his consent, will give me 1,000.
Fourth Class: I am twenty years of age; mild disposition and manners, allowed to be personable.
Fifth Class: I am sixty years of age; income limited; active and rather agreeable.”
“What happens after the single people describe themselves?” Mrs Gardiner asked, frowning.
“Why do you sound cross?” Elizabeth asked. Her aunt looked dubious, but said nothing. “Well, I think this is a marvellous undertaking.”
“But why?” Jane asked. “What good could come of such a thing?”
“Because being proposed to by an odious man who said I could do no better than him made me think women ought to have a little more influence over who proposes to them.”
Everyone avoided her eye, but they all knew the story of Mr Collins’s terrible proposal and how desperately Mrs Bennet had wanted Elizabeth to accept it.
When the silence became awkward, Elizabeth continued to read. “It then says that ‘subscribers are to be furnished with a list of descriptions in the class of their choosing, and when one occurs likely to suit, the parties may correspond through their office, and if mutually approved, an interview may be afterwards arranged.’”
