Chapter 10
On ending the visit Elizabeth had been surprised at the friendliness displayed by the ladies to herself and Jane. She thought perhaps she had been too harsh in her judgement of them.
It now being October the weather had turned nasty. Driving all the local families to their own hearth and home. It was a week hence when a missive was delivered inviting Jane and Elizabeth to dine with the Netherfield ladies. The invite explained that the gentlemen would be joining the Colonel of the regiment for dinner. Lizzy could see Jane was disappointed not to be seeing Mr Bingley again.
Elizabeth was glad of escape for Longbourn. Rain had continued throughout the day, making it impossible for her make her usual ramble around the estate. This resulted in the modest Bennet carriage being made ready to deliver them. Safely delivered the driver returned to Longbourn with the promise of arriving back in good time to bring them home.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst awaited their entrance in the drawing room. The butler announcing their presence. At first Elizabeth thought the ladies would remain seated. But they did slowly arise to deliver the necessary curtsies to their visitors. She was also nonplussed by their attrite. They were dressed as if for a grand dinner party. Miss Bingley silk lavender dress was adorned with a train. A most useless addition to any gown in Elizabeth’s opinion. Her sister’s dresswas also silk in a pale blue embroidered with gold. All in all Elizabeth felt they were over dressed for a dinner with just two guests.
In contrast Jane and herself light muslin dresses. Which although pretty were certainly not the high of fashion. But Elizabeth felt that they fit the setting much better than the Bingley sisters.
Elizabeth found that the company of the Netherfield Park was not quite as pleasant on this visit. She was not to know, that Mr Darcy had praise her fine eyes and pretty face to Miss Bingley, during the previous evening. This had quite soured Miss Bingley to Elizabeth as she had designs of Mr Darcy as a husband for herself.
The dinner was most impressive, if more than a little excessive. Turtle soup to start, followed by Turbot. Next was a large roast hare with savoury patties and grilled vegetables. All of this was followed by roasted pheasant and blancmange. With a final course of iced creams, macaroons and cheeses. Elizabeth thought that a more modest meal would have made more sense for such a small party. For the dishes being removed looked to have not been touched at all, so little at the four ladies consumed. At least the servants would eat well tonight! Elizabeth thought with humour.
After dinner, Miss Bingley’s interest in the Bennets took, what Elizabeth felt, was an unusual turn.
“Your father’s estate is entailed on your cousin I understand,” she queried. A question Elizabeth found both curious and ill mannered.
“Yes,” Jane replied quietly, feeling Elizabeth was sure as ill at ease with such an enquiry.
“And your mother’s father was the town solicitor?” she questioned. Jane owned it was so. “I think I heard that her brother is in town?” she asked.
“Yes, his home is in Gracechurch Street,” Jane confirmed.
“And he is in trade?” Caroline Bingley continued. Elizabeth could see that this line of questioning was making Jane uncomfortable. They were proud of their Uncle Gardiner who was a very successful man of business and very gentlemanlike. Unlike two the men of the Netherfield party.
Jane owned that this was so.
“I heard that you are all to encamp to London for the season,” Caroline said, a sneer evident in her voice. And Jane turned her eyes to Lizzy, unable for once to ignore the tone. Elizabeth replied in her stead.
“Yes, we are all looking forward to seeing our Uncle and our Aunt Gardiner they are such lovely people,” Lizzy replied, unwilling to reveal anything of the high connection they expected to be noticed by in London. She felt sure, that had such information been revealed, Caroline Bingley’s ambitions would have seen her change her attitude. A tap at the parlour down halted the conversation. And Elizabeth was sure that it was their carriage arriving to bear them back to Longbourn. She was to be disappointed.
Instead it was a footman informing them that the gentlemen of the party had returned. It appeared that the bridge over the stream, which ran between Netherfield and Meryton and Longbourn had collapsed as their carriage had crossed it. Thereby trapping the Bennet ladies in Netherfield until it could be repaired. As the rain battered the windows of Netherfield, Lizzy feared that the repair would take some considerable time.
