“I hope you will stay with us,” said Lady Cooper. “We were talking about Mr Darcy’s betrothal—and yours,” she said sheepishly.
Bingley took a seat. “I see…”
“Yes. Hurst is very supportive of Darcy’s decision,” Mr Lambert added with some mockery. “And an apparent admirer of Miss Elizabeth—soon to be Mrs Darcy.”
Bingley looked at his brother-in-law with unconcealed surprise. “I am pleased to hear that. My brother Hurst is a wise man.”
“Well, a wise man might be wrong at times too,” Mrs Hurst declared, apparently vexed.
“But not this time.” Bingley smiled, selecting some victuals to fill his plate.
“And how is Mr Darcy?” asked Mrs Lambert.
“Extremely happy, indeed. We came together to town. Our betrotheds and their father, Mr Bennet, also joined us.”
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst glared at their brother across the table, their silent disdain directed towards the family they despised, creating an unmistakable tension in the room.
“Oh, did they?” Mr Lambert seemed genuinely interested in the Bennet sisters. “Hopefully, we shall have a chance to meet them.”
“I have every reason to believe so,” Bingley responded. “Both the Miss Bennets are very fond of theatre and opera, and I expect them to attend several such events while they are in town.”
“How lovely,” Miss Cooper declared.
“Yes, how lovely, indeed…” Miss Bingley jeered in a whisper.
“I am sure the town is curious and eager to see Darcy’s future wife. Since we never saw him court any young woman, such a decision is astonishing and highly commented by ourcircle,” Mr Lambert confessed, and the other guests nodded in agreement.
“Commented?” Mr Bingley replied with anger. “That is an understatement!”
“My brother-in-law is right. I can tell you that the last time London has seen such a disturbance was when the elder son of the Duke of Yorkshire married a dancer from Paris,” Mr Hurst said with a naughty smile.
“My dear sir, she was not a dancer. There are ladies around this table, and I cannot tell you what she really was!” Mr Lambert laughed heartily.
They all smiled, especially the ladies who knew much more of that story than the gentlemen imagined.
Bingley dropped the fork on his plate loudly and spoke to his companions with a sharp coolness that astonished them. “I find such a comparison neither diverting nor proper. Darcy is not marrying a dancer but a gentleman’s daughter: wiser, more educated, kinder, and wittier than many ladies her age. It must be the reason he remained indifferent to all the ladies who chased him around town for years and decided instead to bind himself to Miss Elizabeth. He is a smart, honourable man. We should give him credit for this, and London society should find other means of amusement.”
The harsh scolding immediately ruined everyone’s disposition, and Bingley’s sisters watched with despair as the evening came to an end sooner than anticipated.
After the last course was served, Bingley excused himself and retired to his house. His usual jollity and amiability were nowhere in sight, and nobody attempted to convince him to stay longer.
As soon as he left, the conversation began again, more reluctant and less animated than before. The subject of MissElizabeth Bennet was not broached again until the guests bid farewell.
Unlike other evenings, Mr Hurst spent no more time with his wife and sister-in-law. Therefore, the sisters remained alone, commenting on the dreadful situation of having the Bennets so close to them and blaming Miss Elizabeth for the distress she caused in their lives.
A few streets away, Charles Bingley needed several more glasses of brandy until he finally fell asleep. He was still angry about his sisters’ spite and astonished by his brother Hurst’s courage in opposing them.
∞∞∞
At the other end of London, the atmosphere was entirely different. The Bennet and Gardiner families were gathered in joyful celebration of Elizabeth’s and Jane’s engagements. Between the exuberance of their cousins, eager to spend as much time with them as possible, and the endless conversations that concluded the evening, Elizabeth and Jane hardly had the time to discuss that first travel in the company of their future husbands before falling asleep.
They woke up the following morning eager to discover the city where they would spend much of their time after marriage.
Mrs Gardiner decided to take her nieces on a shopping trip. They expected to attend balls, parties, and theatre while in town and to raise the curiosity and expectations of those who surely wondered about them—especially Elizabeth. Mrs Gardiner knew Elizabeth would be scrutinised carefully and criticised.
“You must be aware that Mr Darcy’s choice had aroused great envy, and the general report could be envious, evenresentful towards you,” Mrs Gardiner told her that morning to convince her to join her on Oxford Street. “Your appearance at least had to be flawless,” Mrs Gardiner continued to reinforce her words, looking at Jane, who was indeed flawless in everything she did or wore.
“I wonder whether Caroline and Louisa will join us at dinner tonight,” Jane said, indifferent to any conversation other than about her future husband or his family. “I hope we shall get along well in the end. After all, we shall be family.”
