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Book 1 Chapter 8

“Good morning, Mr. Bingley. Welcome to my house.”

Kitty stepped in.

“Mr. Bingley, allow me to present my aunt, Mrs. Gardiner. I currently reside here in London with her and my uncle. And this is my next oldest sister, Miss Mary Bennet. Aunt Gardiner, Mary, this is Mr. Bingley who I was re-introduced to at the ball last Friday.”

“You are welcome Mr. Bingley. Please come in and sit. I will send in tea momentarily and Mary will chaperone you.”

With a smile Madeline Gardiner was gone. The tea arrived mere seconds later and the first three minutes were spent dealing with that. Once everyone had a cup to their satisfaction Kitty and Mary looked at Mr. Bingley in anticipation. And waited.

“Miss Catherine, I found you to be universally charming last week. I was taken with your grace and beauty.”

Bingley sat back after this opening sally and despite herself Kitty was pleased at his characterisation of herself. She focused.

“These are kind words, honeyed words even. Although I must ask you if you really mean them?”

“If I really mean them? Of course, Miss Catherine.”

Bingley tried to sound offended but came off as petulant instead.

“The ball last Friday was the tenth time we had been in each other’s company. It appears that the first nine times you did not find me so charming or be taken by my grace or beauty.”

Bingley looked confused.

“We have met nine times previously?”

“Indeed. We were introduced at the Michaelmas Assembly in the year ’11, in the small town of Meryton in Hertfordshire. A single introduction more than a year ago not remembered can be forgiven, but we were in each other’s company every week for the next two months. Like I said, it appears I did not make much of an impression.”

The two Bennet sisters watched as Bingley sat there for a moment, clearly sifting through his memory. He glanced at the two of them in turn, looking for a spark of recollection.

“I will not compound my faults by dissembling. I have little recollection of that first Assembly. I was presenting as the master of an estate for the first time. I know it was just as a tenant, but significantly different than my experiences previously. Looking back, I suspect I was trying too hard. Everything was of the moment, and as a result nothing has stuck.”

An honest response. Kitty moved on.

“How did you find you time at Netherfield Park?”

“Not as I expected.”

“Would you care to elaborate? We were raised on a neighbouring estate all our lives, perhaps we can provide you some answers.”

“When you ask me to elaborate I find myself unable to provide an answer as to my expectations. Both of my sisters attended a seminary here in London and my two male guests, one my brother-in-law, the other a friend from my university days, are both the sons of landowners themselves. Darcy is the master of his estate while my brother Hurst is still just the heir.

“I expected between the four of them that I would be suitably guided but I found the whole experience a struggle.”

Here Bingley stopped and thought back to that time, close to eighteen months earlier.

“My recollections are that everyone was unhappy. It was not many weeks into the lease before it appeared an ill-advised venture.”

He stopped and looked at Kitty.

“Miss Catherine, perhaps I can get your thoughts before I say anything further.”

“Do you wish me to be honest Mr. Bingley. What I will say, if you grant me permission, will make you unhappy. It is not in my nature to occasion pain to anyone. My words are likely to do so.”

Bingley sat up straighter in his chair.

“Please me honest with me. I absolve you of any charge of causing me pain.”