Page 12

Mrs. Bennet did not come down to breakfast, which was not unusual. She often rose at a late hour and had a tray sent up instead of joining the rest of the family at their morning meal.

After they had eaten, Jane and Elizabeth went out for a stroll. They returned to see the carriage at the door, and Mrs. Bennet was climbing in.

Seeing them, she called out, “I am going to pay some calls. Do not expect me back for some time.”

The footman closed the door, and the carriage whisked her away

“It is as I feared,” Jane cried, looking at the back of the vehicle with dismay. “Mama is going to tell everyone that Mr. Bingley is in love with me. And I shall be utterly humiliated.”

Elizabeth could not think of anything comforting to say. She would feel the same way if their mother had gone out to tell all their acquaintance that Mr. Bingley was certain to marry her. Actually, that was a possibility. Now she was feeling the same agitation as her sister.

They endeavoured to distract themselves with needlework, but Jane continued to fret while Elizabeth contemplated what their neighbours would be saying about her presumption. They might have been in for a miserable morning if Mrs. Bennet had not returned much earlier than expected.

“There was no point trying to tell anyone about Jane’s conquest,” she complained. “They are all deluded.”

Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other with relief as Mrs. Bennet continued.

“Mrs. Peacock said that Mr. Bingley was so full of admiration for her daughters that he hardly knew which one to prefer, although she believes he was particularly enamoured of Miranda, which of course he isn’t.

Mrs. Crane declared that he was enraptured by both Henrietta and Marianne; and Mrs. Partridge claimed that he was vastly impressed with Susan.

I wasn’t going to have them telling me that I was mistaken, which is what they were all saying to each other. ”

Frowning, she dropped into her favourite chair.

“I couldn’t even tell Lady Lucas because they were all sitting in her parlour at the time.

And I couldn’t tell my sister either because Mrs. King was in her parlour, insisting that Mr. Bingley will marry Mary for her money.

What a waste of a morning. Although I did hear a little gossip.

“The Gouldings have purchased a harp for their girls. And if anyone has reason to boast of her daughters’ abilities, it is Mrs. Goulding.

They are exceptionally talented musicians; their paintings are absolute masterpieces; and whatever else counts as accomplishment, I am sure they do it a great deal better than Henrietta and Marianne Crane. ”

The Miss Gouldings, being no more than twelve years old, were no competition in the current marital stakes, which might account for the enthusiasm with which she praised them.

“I also heard that the Lucases have met the new apothecary who has come to work with Mr. Jones. They had him in to attend to Emily. A sprained ankle, but fortunately nothing of any great concern. She will still be able to dance at the assembly, which I know she has been looking forward to, and she is very deserving of that pleasure. Such a nice girl, and so unassuming. I was glad to see that none of the Lucases have any designs upon Mr. Bingley. At least they aren’t delusional. ”

Scowling, Mrs. Bennet paused for a moment, presumably reliving her irritation with the Peacocks, Cranes, Partridges, and Kings. But then she returned to the subject of the new apothecary.

“His name is Mr. Palmer, and I am told that he is extremely gentlemanly. Lady Lucas was greatly impressed by his manners, and Maria said that his coat was very fine. And Mrs. Long has learned that he has some private income. Apparently he took up the profession out of a passion for healing the sick rather than any need to earn a living. He sounds like an interesting man. I look forward to meeting him.”

“It will be nice to make another new acquaintance,” Jane said.

“And to have another opinion as to my condition,” Mrs. Bennet said.

“I sometimes think that Mr. Jones doesn’t understand what I suffer.

But speaking of new arrivals to the neighbourhood, another lieutenant is coming to join the regiment.

Unfortunately he is also penniless. Mr. Miller told Mrs. Long that when he was in the taproom at the Rose and Crown yesterday evening, he heard Mr. Denny say that this new man, who is a friend of his, is very hard up, and for the most shocking reason.

An inheritance that was denied! His godfather was a very wealthy man, who had always intended to provide generously for him.

But after the godfather’s death, his son refused to honour that commitment. ”

“It cannot have been an inheritance then,” Elizabeth said. “Anything that was properly left to him under the terms of the will could not have been so easily denied.”

“There was some difficulty about the terms. I don’t know exactly what, but I’m sure he was treated very badly.

It is a great pity because when Mrs. Long first mentioned him, I thought he might do nicely for Emily, who is so keen to marry an officer.

But at least Mr. Denny’s friend will be useful as another partner for the assembly. We can always do with more.”

“The larger the horde the better,” Elizabeth whispered to Jane, who had to stifle a laugh.

Fortunately Mrs. Bennet was still talking.

“He can dance with the Miss Peacocks and the Miss Cranes. Their mothers are certain that Mr. Bingley will dance with all of them, but I should hope not. That would use up too many dances. Mrs. Peacock thinks he will choose Miranda as his first partner, but Mrs. Crane expects that honour for Henrietta, and Mrs. Partridge for Susan, and Mrs. King for Mary. I have no doubt that he will ask Jane for the first dance, but it was no use trying to tell them that either. They will just have to see for themselves whose daughter Mr. Bingley really admires, which I’m sure they will before long, and then I will be able to gloat. ”

On that triumphant note Mrs. Bennet went to change, leaving Jane looking horrified.

“I will be quite happy for Mr. Bingley to dance with all those ladies and not with me,” she fervently declared. “Then there will be nothing for anyone to see.”

“Except for Mr. Bingley not enjoying himself. He will have the Miss Peacocks bumping into him as they endeavour to be noticed by everyone, Henrietta and Marianne ignoring him as they concentrate upon the perfection of their movements, Mrs. Partridge stepping in to inform him that Susan attended a very select school, and Mrs. King tapping him on the shoulder to remind him about Mary’s inheritance.

It is very unkind of you to condemn him to such a fate. ”

“Then I shall wish for him to dance with the Lucases and the Longs. And you, of course.”

“A definite improvement, and I must thank you for my inclusion. Since Mr. Bingley has expressed such a fondness for balls, I think it very likely he is an excellent dancer. It is a pity that you will miss out on the pleasure of having such an accomplished partner. And even worse, if he pays no heed to your plans and asks you to honour him with a dance, you will have to turn him down so that there will be nothing to see. Then you will have to sit out the rest of the dancing.”

“I could not bring myself to refuse anyone who asks me, but I hope he won’t. And it is very likely that he will not think of it if I take care to evade his notice.”

“That effort may be rather like a dance. If you are going to spend the evening stepping and turning away from Mr. Bingley, you might as well be his first partner and get the torment over with.”

Jane smiled. “This is trickery. You just want me to dance with him. Have you joined forces with Mama?”

“No, but I feel the need to atone for having put an extra log on the fire the other day.”

Jane laughed at that.

“But seriously,” Elizabeth said, “I do not think you need to avoid Mr. Bingley or worry what people may think. Even if he chooses you as his first partner, and you find it impossible to maintain a sullen expression, there will be nothing to see other than two cheerful people enjoying the music and the dancing.”

“They will still speculate.”

“Inevitably, but the extent of any speculation will be limited by your composure. You never give anyone anything worth gossiping about.”

“No, indeed. And from now on, I shall be extra careful to reveal nothing. Not that there will be anything to reveal. Mr. Bingley is just a very agreeable acquaintance.”

***

As Mrs. Hill helped her to dress, Mrs. Bennet’s weary mind wandered, and even with sunlight coming through the windows, she felt herself succumbing to the worries of the haunting hours.

Could she be as deluded as those other mothers? Had she been mistaken in her observations of the previous day? Perhaps Mr. Bingley was excessive in his admiration of all young ladies.

Surely not the Miss Peacocks though. They were ungainly ladies with grating voices.

It was absurd of their mother to boast about their beauty and style.

If that was what gentlemen wanted in their wives, which Mrs. Peacock had earlier declared, then Mrs. Bennet was certain that they would prefer her own daughters.

But what about accomplishments? Mrs. Bennet had never been able to perceive the talent which Mrs. Crane claimed her daughters had, but now she was wondering if gentlemen really preferred their wives to be accomplished as that lady had asserted this morning.

Was it an issue that Jane did not play music and paint pictures?

Or that she hadn’t gone to a school? Mrs. Partridge had mentioned that Mr. Bingley’s sisters had attended a very superior school. Could he have been impressed that Susan had been educated at Miss Trimmer’s Academy? With all the extras, whatever they were.

And would he desire his wife to bring a fortune into the marriage? Jane did not have anything like Miss King’s expectations, which her stepmother had gleefully declared was the only way of securing any husband worth having.

Mrs. Bennet rose from her dressing table with a heavy heart, but a glance out of the window instantly restored her spirits.

There was a horse in the drive, and the man dismounting was Mr. Bingley.

He disappeared from view with an eager stride toward the front door, and she hastened downstairs just as eagerly.

A moment later all doubts were swept away. After formalities were exchanged, Mr. Bingley made his way directly toward Jane, and they were soon talking as though there was no one else in the room. Not that Mrs. Bennet minded being neglected. Indeed, nothing could have made her happier.

She hadn’t been wrong. Her plans were turning out splendidly. Four daughters well on the way to becoming engaged. And that might soon be five. She only needed to persuade Kitty to have Mr. Collins. Then everything would be perfect.