He worried that giving in to his younger sister’s ill behaviour without comment would start a landslide of worse conduct, but he could not ignore his aunt’s direction. Before Caroline could start directing people to the seats of her choosing, however, he said, “We shall sit informally, wherever people choose to sit.” And he chose to steer Miss Bennet into the chair to his left as he took the seat at the head of the table.
He shot a glance at Darcy, wondering if his friend was feeling dismayed, or even disgusted, but Darcy just met his eyes, nodded his head, and smiled faintly. Bingley felt a surge of confidence that his older, wiser friend seemed to approve, so far, of his attempts to skate the fine line between courtesy and resolute standing his ground against his sisters.
Elizabeth had felta jolt of pleasure at Fitzwilliam’s description of the Bennet family. He clearly was defending her before Miss Bingley could level an attack.
Several days ago, she and her intended had been discussing Mr Bingley, and Fitzwilliam had told her that Mr Bingley’s father had made his fortune in trade and had given his son a gentleman’s education. For that reason, the Bennet-daughters-of-a-landed-gentleman were above the Bingley-son-and-daughters-of-a-man-in-trade in social standing, though not in wealth.
Just now, speaking to Miss Bingley, Fitzwilliam had left out the part that Elizabeth’s mother was the daughter of a solicitor—and indeed she had relatively poor manners and lacked education—but society elevated women who married a higher-status man, so he was correct not to speak to that part.
When the butler had entered the drawing room to announce that luncheon was ready, Fitzwilliam escorted Mrs Abbott and Elizabeth into the dining room. Of course he led Mrs Abbott to the foot of the table, as she was Mr Bingley’s hostess. When Miss Bingley shot into that seat just ahead of her aunt, Elizabeth noticed that her intended did not miss a beat. Instead, he kept going as if he had always meant to circle the table. He seated Mrs Abbott to Mr Bingley’s right and then seated Elizabeth so that he could sit between them.
That positioned Elizabeth next to Miss Bingley and across from Mr Bingley’s other sister, Mrs Hurst. She smiled at the two ladies and, when Fitzwilliam squeezed her hand under the table, she grinned at him as well.
Miss Bingley leant towards her and said in a low voice, “If we are to be dear friends, I must know everything about you. Pray, how many Seasons have you had in Town?”
“I have never had a Season, largely because my father dislikes London. As a matter of fact, my father dislikes travel entirely; I am very lucky that my uncle and aunt have hosted me in London and on two seaside journeys.”
“You have never had a Season! You look to be old enough to have had at least one!”
“And yet I have not.” Elizabeth chuckled and said, “I suppose you have had at least one?”
It was a somewhat sly question, because the purpose of going to London for a Season was to meet an eligible gentlemanand become betrothed or married. Since Miss Bingley was neither engaged nor wed, it could be said that, if shehadhad a Season, she had met with failure.
“She has had three Seasons,” Mr Bingley answered. “Caroline dearly loves Town: the promenade at Hyde Park, the routs and balls, Vauxhall Gardens and Drury Lane, and I cannot list all her loves without mentioning the excellent shopping the capital offers.”
Elizabeth studied his face. Mr Bingley disliked his sister’s manners, but his own were not perfect. He had revealed—likely without thinking about it from his sister’s point of view—Miss Bingley’s approximate age and three Seasons of failure. Keeping her face turned away from Miss Bingley in order to afford her some privacy to pull herself together after the revelation, Elizabeth addressed Mr Bingley. “I too love London, although not as much as country living. I especially love museums and exhibitions. I have to admit that I have never been to Vauxhall Gardens, but I would love to go someday.”
Hoping for the best, she then turned to Miss Bingley again, smiling, and asked, “What do you like best about Vauxhall? Something you recommend that I myself should not miss?”
Even though Elizabeth had attempted to be kind, Miss Bingley did not respond in the same vein. “The best thing about Vauxhall is that one can meet and speak with so many of one’s friends. Since you have no friends in Town, I suppose such an outing would be a waste of time and money!”
Both Mary and Mrs Hurst gasped audibly, and Elizabeth could not control the laughter that bubbled out of her. “Oh, dear, and I thought you might recommend the Transparencies or the Magic Cascade! I was certain that the Grand Exhibition of Fireworks would get at the least an honourable mention! But I wish to assure you: rest easy, New Friend, because I can enjoy watching people even if they are strangers.”
“When we are married, Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam said, “I would be happy to delight you with every exhibition available in Vauxhall Gardens.”
Miss Bingley narrowed her eyes and said, “You? Happy to go to Vauxhall Gardens? You never wish to be in such places!”
“Once I have a young and lively wife, my previously-heldnever’s may transform into attendance at outings and events I otherwise would not consider.”
“I am all astonishment!” Caroline said.
“I only wish to go if you truly do not mind, sir,” Elizabeth murmured.
“We can discuss it later,” Fitzwilliam whispered back, and he lifted her left hand from her lap and kissed it tenderly. It seemed that nobody breathed for a good ten seconds at the sight of this unprecedented display of affection. Elizabeth blushed and noted that her intended did, as well.
“Thank you all,” Jane said firmly, “Mrs Abbott, Miss Bingley, Mr Bingley, for the delicious lunch. I suppose it is time we ride?”
“Ride?” Miss Bingley asked.
“Yes, Caroline,” Mr Bingley said. “The ladies are not here merely for luncheon; their main goal in coming was the riding lesson that had been promised before we knew you would be surprising us with your presence.”
“Lesson? Are there children in attendance whose presence I have not yet spotted?”
Fitzwilliam responded repressively. “Although the Bennets have some familiarity with riding, their horses are generally needed on the farm, so I have been helping them learn more advanced riding skills using some of the mounts kept here.”
“And you have purchased additional horses for the purpose, Charles?” Miss Bingley sounded quite cross with the notion.
“No, Darcy brought extra horses. Especially mild-tempered and gentle ones….”
