Chapter 5
“Now Mrs Bennet,” Mrs Fitzherbert addressed her mother directly. “The Prince Regent is well on the mend, and it is time for us to discuss your lovely daughters.” Mrs Bennet preened, Elizabeth knew that her mother had hoped that some small attention would be bestowed on her girls. She and her mother did not often see eye to eye. But she knew that her mother loved her and all her sisters. Even if she did not express it well. She wanted only the best for her girls. Her ways of trying to get the best for them were not always in keeping with Elizabeth’s own desire. Or indeed the desires of Jane or Mary. Her mother did what she knew. However, her background as the daughter of the local solicitor. And her education, being not that of a lady, often led her wrong.
“They are good girls,” Mrs Bennet intoned, and blushed. Elizabeth was sure that she was thinking of the youngest two, who had not been introduced to Mrs Fitzherbert. “My Jane,” she said, nodding her head her direction, “is such a beauty. And so refined, she would make any wealthy man a very fine wife.” Jane stiffened beside her, uncomfortable at such praise and parsimony.
“Lizzy,” her mother continued, and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow awaiting her mother’s pronouncement. “She is a wit equalled only by her father. Such intellect in a female is, I know uncommon. But she has such a joyfulness to her that it quite balances the wit in a way her father’s does not.” Elizabetheyebrows raised nearly to her hairline at such praise and the unexpected insight her mother had into her character.
“Mary, she is a good sore of girl, very godly but plain. I do not know what will become of her,” Mrs Bennet said. Elizabeth looked to Mary, but she had heard this pronouncement from her mother too many times to be hurt by it now. “In truth,” her mother continued, “in her heart she is the best woman I know.” Mary’s surprise now equalled what Elizabeth’s had been.
“She would give all that she has to the poor and sick,” she said. “Indeed, I know that every penny of her pin money goes to the poor.” Elizabeth looked at Mary who blushed at this announcement. She had not known that Mary had been giving all her pin money away.
“And what of the younger two Miss Bennets?” Mrs Fitzherbert enquired.
“Oh Lydia, my Lydia,” Mrs Bennet said with a flourish of her hand. “She is a beauty, the equal to Jane, I am sure. And such lively manners. She is sure to be the bell of any ballroom,” she intoned. Elizabeth looked at Mrs Fitzherbert. She held one eyebrow raised. Elizabeth was sure that Mrs Fitzherbert understood more clearly her sister’s character and behaviour than this description of her youngest sister would indicate.
“And the youngest?” Mrs Fitzherbert enquired.
“Oh Lydia is my youngest,” Mrs Bennet clarified. “Kitty,” she said, then corrected it to “Catherine, is the youngest but one. She is,” her mother said, and then stopped, frowning in deep thought, “quiet,” she said, then realising this was insufficient continued. “But not shy, she is happy to be a companion to her youngest sister.” Mrs Bennet frowned again. Elizabeth was sure that it was dawning on her that she had neglected to get to know her second to last daughter.
“I will be introduced to your two youngest daughters on the morrow,” she instructed. The gentlemen rejoined them andElizabeth was sorry that the conversation was at an end. She was curious as to what the lady had planned for her and her sisters.
