Page 10 of Stranded at Michaelmas

He paused and regarded Darcy with rather more attention than he had shown him thus far. It took nearly all of Darcy’s self-command not to shift beneath the scrutiny.

“—but then again, perhaps she will.”

He settled his hat upon his head, his mouth twitching slightly as he stood in the open door.

“En garde, gentlemen.”

With that, he stepped through the door and was gone.

Darcy stared after him for a moment before turning towards Bingley. His friend appeared equally at a loss for what to say.

Chapter Five

Longbourn was always in an uproar, but since her Aunt Gardiner had left nearly a se’nnight past, it had been even more so than usual.

It had not begun immediately. Rather, during the four days her aunt had remained at Longbourn, the matter had gradually grown.

First, Mrs Gardiner had casually mentioned that, in Town, young ladies were often kept from society until rather later than was customary in the country. Naturally, Kitty and Lydia had protested, but their mother had quickly hushed them.

“But Madeline, my youngest girls should not be deprived of amusement,” her mother complained. “If they are obliged to wait for all their elder sisters to marry, they may never enter society.”

This was said with a sidelong glance at Mary, though Elizabeth had no doubt the slight was intended for them both. Mary was sitting near enough that Elizabeth could reach out and take her hand in quiet sympathy. Her sister did not react, but neither did she retreat from the touch and seemed to relax ever so slightly.

“That is not the material point,” her aunt said after a moment. “Even if the girls are out most of the time, with the visitors from London coming, you may wish to take greater care about which events they attend. I know you hope this Mr Bingley will marry one of your daughters, but did you not say the rumour is that he will bring guests with him? What if not all those guests are gentlemen? Are Kitty and Lydia truly prepared to deal with fashionable people from Town who may not look kindly upon their youth?”

Her aunt paused to allow this information to sink in. Elizabeth watched her mother closely; a thoughtful expression had appeared, one Elizabeth rarely saw there.

“Besides,” Aunt Gardiner continued after a moment, “if there are ladies in the party, as there surely must be, they may think it very strange that girls so young are already out, especially when your family has so many daughters.”

When her mother began to protest, Aunt Gardiner continued.

“Oh, I know it is not so uncommon in the country, but Mr Bingley is only leasing an estate and has doubtlessly lived much of his life in Town. His family and guests may be accustomed to different expectations. If they believe Kitty and Lydia too young to be out, it might colour their opinion of the entire family—and you would hardly wish anything to discourage Mr Bingley from becoming better acquainted with Jane.”

“No, of course not,” her mother said. When Lydia protested, she quickly hushed her. Lydia glared at her aunt, and Elizabeth lowered her gaze to conceal her amusement. Her mother rarely spoke to Lydia in such a manner, and her youngest sister would not appreciate being corrected, no matter how mildly.

For the remainder of her visit, Aunt Gardiner continued to make similar observations. By the end of the second day, Elizabeth had begun to suspect her aunt’s arguments were having some effect, but even so, she had not expected her mother to raise the matter with her husband at dinner.

“Mr Bennet,” she began once the meal had been served and the servants had withdrawn, “I have decided that, while Mr Bingley and his guests are here, our youngest two girls will not attend most social events.”

Kitty and Lydia immediately began to protest. Lydia shot to her feet so quickly that her chair toppled behind her.

“I am out!” she cried. “You cannot do this!”

“I can and I will,” her mother answered, to the surprise of everyone at the table except Aunt Gardiner.

Elizabeth wondered if this had been her aunt’s intention all along. Aunt Gardiner had known her mother for years and understood that she was far more likely to respond to careful suggestions than to being told outright what she ought to do.

Her mother fixed Lydia with a stern look. “And you, young lady, have just proven why it is necessary.”

Lydia let out yet another wail, and Elizabeth was astonished when her mother rose, took Lydia firmly by the ear, and called for Hill.

“Take this unruly child to her room,” she commanded in a tone none of her family had ever heard her use before. “She shall go without dinner if she chooses to behave in such a manner and disrupt the meal for everyone else.”

She turned her attention back to the table. “Perhaps I might have addressed the matter differently, but Lydia will not be permitted to speak to me in that fashion.” Her expression hardened. “Mr Bennet, I will not have her considered out any longer. Indeed, I am suddenly beginning to wonder whether I ought to have insisted upon a governess for our girls years ago. I had not realised Lydia had become so wilful.”

For a moment, her father said nothing.

“I will begin making enquiries about a governess in the morning,” he said finally.