Knowing how much Eliza loved her older sister, Charlotte held her peace, but she was well aware of Jane Bennet’s true character. Before her father had been elevated to his knighthood and purchased the estate which he named Lucas Lodge, Jane Bennet refused to associate with thetradesman and his family.
When Jane thought she was unobserved, she would allow her true self to show, which the extremely observant Charlotte had witnessed more times than she cared to remember.
The only reason she had not told her best friend, and sister of the heart, the truth about her favourite sister’s character was, as far as Charlotte knew, Jane had never done anything overtly to hurt Eliza. Until Jane showed her true self to Eliza, due to the fact that Eliza would continue to be hoodwinked into believing her sister was all goodness and her biggest supporter; telling her before her friend was ready to hear it could only cause a schism between her and Eliza. Charlotte was, unfortunately, unaware that Jane was the one who stoked Mrs. Bennet’s ingrained animosity toward her second daughter.
“Eliza, how well you look,” Charlotte stated louder than was necessary. She noticed the quick scowl on Jane’s face and how fast the woman schooled her features before anyone saw through her serene façade.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” Elizabeth responded. “You know how much I enjoy fresh air, so riding on the box was most enjoyable to me.” Elizabeth knew her mother would not be pleased her second daughter was not upset. What she missed was the look of annoyance which flashed over Jane’s mien.
“Have you met Mr. Bingley or any of his party yet?” Charlotte enquired as the two friends entered the assembly hall arm in arm. They turned in the opposite direction from Mrs. Bennet and her other daughters.
“No, I have not. Papa called on them and told me Mr. Bingley seems an amiable man,” Elizabeth related.
“My father stated something similar,” Charlotte shared. “According to Father, Mr. Bingley’s two sisters, one married and one not, the older sister’s husband, and a friend will be part of his party. No one has met any other members of his party yet. It seems the numbers of men and ladies who will arrive with Mr. Bingley increases with every retelling and no one wants to hear their speculation is wrong.”
“It is my belief, it was my mother and Aunt Phillips, who instigated the spread of misinformation about the number attending after an innocuous remark my father made subsequent to his visit,” Elizabeth opined.
“As always, there are many more ladies than gentlemen in attendance,” Charlotte observed.
“Unless there are enough men in the Netherfield party to redress the imbalance, I will sit out at least two sets,” Elizabeth determined.
Charlotte was about to make the observation that Jane Bennet never sat out like all the others in the neighbourhood. She held her tongue, as difficult as it was for her to do so. Jane’s excuse was she could not help that she was asked to dance and could not refuse or she would have to sit out thereafter. Charlotte knew it was a lie, as none of the other girls who informed a man they were sitting out a dance were required to forego dancing the rest of the night.
Johnny Lucas requested Elizabeth’s first set, and Julian Goulding solicited Charlotte’s hand. Neither noticed the displeasure on Jane Bennet’s countenance when the two friends joined the line forming for the first set.
Just as the set was ending, the doors to the hall opened and three elegantly attired men and two overdressed ladies entered. The preening ladies, with their noses high in the air, appeared dressed for a ball at St. James, not a country assembly. The hall went silent and the dance ended a little prematurely. The five members of the Netherfield party were approached by Sir William in his role as the master of ceremonies. The senseless speculation as to the number in the party had been incorrect.
“That is Mr. Bingley,” Charlotte pointed out a well-built man with strawberry blond hair who always seemed to smile. “If I am not mistaken, the taller lady in the burnt orange concoction with the matching feathers, is his younger sister, Miss Bingley. The man and woman together are, I believe, his older sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and the tall one in the back must be a friend.”
Elizabeth had never seen a man quite so handsome before. His good looks were spoilt somewhat by the disdainful look he sported. Sir William was busy introducing the party to her mother and sisters, and in the middle of the introduction the tall, dark, and handsome man demonstrated his lack of decorum by walking away mid-introduction.
Elizabeth could understand such a reaction to her mother, but it did not make his behaviour any more gentlemanly. Sir William brought Mr. Bingley to his family and introduced the man to the Lucases and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
“I am to dance the next with Miss Bennet, but if I may would you grant me the set after this one, Miss Lucas? Miss Elizabeth, may I request the set after that?” Bingley asked with a bow. Charlotte agreed and Elizabeth demurred explaining that set was one of the two she was to sit out and why it was so.
Mr. Bingley requested her next open set, which she willingly granted. As she danced the next set, Elizabeth did not miss the becoming blushes on Jane’s cheeks as she and Mr. Bingley danced. At the same time, his tall friend, Mr. Darcy, according to Mr. Bingley, stood in a corner with an intimidating scowl, which kept away any who thought to approach him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy was unhappy. He had not wanted to attend this infernal assembly but had changed his mind in a thrice when Miss Bingley volunteered to remain with him at Netherfield Park. Add to that her overpowering scent, and her inane chatter on the way to the assembly—what she thought passed for witty comments—and Darcy had been ready to jump from the coach and sit on the box with the driver and footmen.
His concern for his sister, Giana, was extreme. He hoped his Aunt Elaine and her daughter Tiffany would be able to effect a change in his devastated sister and lift her spirits. She seemed to have lost all of her self-confidence.
They had arrived almost half an hour late because Miss Bingley wanted to befashionably late. Did the harpy not realise it was simply rude? When they arrived, the self-important, preening knight had introduced them to some of the local families.
As the introduction to a matron—one of the most vulgar he had met in a long time—was being made, he heard speculation about his income begin; there were whispers often thousand a year. He was sure the talk of his income was instigated by one Miss Caroline Bingley, as she had done so in the past.
Paying no attention to the introduction, he had turned on his heel to find the solace of a dark corner. He knew he would have to do his duty and dance one set each with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, but he would not be induced to dance more than that.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Jane, Jane, attend me at once,” Mrs. Bennet hissed. “I know you said you would prefer not to be tied to a tradesman, even if he has five thousand a year.”
“I suppose he will have to do as there is no better option, Mama,” Jane replied softly near her mother’s ear.
“Did you not hear, the tall rude man, Mr. Darcy, has ten thousand a year and possibly more!” Fanny related excitedly.
“After my dance with his friend, I will induce him to ask me to dance,” Jane assured her mother.
