Page 51

When Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had not gone anywhere on Friday, Miss Bingley had been delighted by this confirmation of her victory.

After they into Hertford with Mr. Madison, she said, “Hertford today, back to London tomorrow.”

“Not tomorrow,” Mrs. Hurst protested. “We cannot cancel this ball after putting so much work into it.”

“I did not mean literally tomorrow,” Miss Bingley said. “But very soon, I have no doubt. Netherfield has lost its appeal to Charles.”

When the two gentlemen went riding out on Sunday, Mrs. Hurst asked, “Do you think they have gone to Longbourn?”

But Miss Bingley confidently replied, “Definitely not. Charles has at last been persuaded to our way of thinking. You saw how defeated he looks.”

Her confidence was increased by them staying at home again on Monday. And when they went out on Tuesday, she and Mrs. Hurst went into Meryton, where they saw for themselves that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were in company with the officers.

“And not a Bennet in sight,” she said with satisfaction.

When Mr. Philips asked to speak with her brother and Mr. Darcy on Wednesday morning, she thought they were just discussing some matter of business. And when they dined out on Wednesday evening, she was under the impression that they were again dining with the officers.

So when she and Mrs. Hurst sat down to address the invitations to the ball, Miss Bingley said, “We shall not send one to the Bennets.”

“I don’t think you should exclude them without asking Charles,” Mrs. Hurst said. “He never actually said that he was giving up the acquaintance.”

“He never said that he was keeping it either. I am sure he will be glad to be spared the awkwardness of their attendance.” With a stab of her pen, Miss Bingley crossed their name off the list.

On Thursday morning Mr. Bingley asked if the invitations had gone out. “I had forgotten to tell you not to send one to the Bennets.”

“They have gone out,” Miss Bingley replied. “But you needn’t worry about the Bennets. I crossed them off the guest list.”

“Crossed them off!” he cried. “I wasn’t wanting them to be excluded. I just had in mind to invite them personally.”

“That’s what Caroline meant,” Mrs. Hurst said. “Not that we weren’t going to invite them, but that she crossed them off so that we wouldn’t accidentally address a card for Longbourn. I knew that was what you wanted to do because of something you said.”

Mr. Bingley accepted this explanation, but Miss Bingley glared at her sister.

“I was quite willing to explain to him why they should not be included,” she said to Mrs. Hurst after their brother had left the room.

“He would only have been angry with you. And with me by association. You have to accept, Caroline, that the time for trying to persuade him is over. He isn’t going to give them up.”

“Maybe not. But I’m still confident that he won’t marry her.”

“You carry on believing that if it gives you comfort,” Mrs. Hurst said. “I’m going shopping for an engagement gift.”

***

The callers were Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. They came into the room with smiles and friendly greetings, and when Mrs. Bennet attempted to introduce Mr. Collins, she discovered that the gentlemen were already acquainted. They had met in Meryton. At again her sister’s party.

She had stared in astonishment. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had accepted an invitation from Mrs. Philips. Even though she had made a fool of herself along with her sister. They hadn’t thought one of her entertainments beneath them. And they hadn’t been avoiding Jane and Lizzy.

Nor Longbourn. Mr. Bingley apologized for not having visited for some time, and his explanation made perfect sense.

They had also come on this morning with a particular mission—extending a personal invitation to the ball.

Such relief! Mrs. Bennet rejoiced upon learning they were not to be left out. That a card was not enough for Mr. Bingley’s particular friends.

And there was more. He asked Jane for the first two dances.

His sisters had not kept him away. And they had not persuaded him to reject Jane. Hope was restored.

After he and Mr. Darcy left, Mr. Collins had much to say about their elegance and graciousness, and his satisfaction with having made such superior acquaintances. “Lady Catherine herself would be happy to know them,” he declared.

Mrs. Bennet thought that they would not be so eager to know her. Lady Catherine sounded like an interfering sort of person, which Mr. Darcy would find intolerable. Even Mr. Bingley would be incapable of finding her as amiable as Mr. Collins did.

Feeling that outspokenness was required, Mrs. Bennet boldly declared, “I’m sure her ladyship would consider herself privileged to know two men of such excellent character and nature.”

Mr. Collins looked at her with a horror. “I believe that all the honour of the acquaintance would fall to the gentlemen,” he cried. “Although admirable man, they are untitled.”

“Are you saying that Lady Catherine would consider it an honour to meet a reprobate with a title, but not a plain mister with exceptional manners and interesting conversation?”

“Her ladyship does not require others to say anything interesting. In any company, she always directs the conversation herself.”

“Then I don’t suppose the reprobate would want to know her,” Mrs. Bennet mused.

“I must protest. He would consider the acquaintance an honour.”

“But you just said that in the case of meeting someone of higher rank, all the honour would be on her side.”

“No, I didn’t. Anyone should think it an honour to meet such an illustrious personage as Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

“Then what is the relevance of titles? It sounds as though what you really mean is that Lady Catherine considers herself above everyone.”

“Not at all. She is the most amiable and condescending of ladies.”

They were returning to familiar territory. Having no desire to delve any further into the subject, Mrs. Bennet picked up the opera glasses to pursue matters of more interest, like the whereabouts of a crested bird she had spotted earlier.

A short time later, they had more visitors, Charlotte and Mr. Madison. Mr. Collins was pleased to make their acquaintance as well. He took a particular interest in Charlotte, to whom most of his conversation was directed.

His voice carried so well that Mrs. Bennet heard much of their conversation.

After speaking of his personal situation, Mr. Collins moved on to his satisfaction at being welcomed to Longbourn.

His delight with the surrounding neighbourhood.

His appreciation of Mrs. Philips’ gracious hospitality.

How impressed he had been by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.

And of course, the Netherfield ball. After repeating his and Lady Catherine’s thoughts on private balls in general, Mr. Collins expressed an expectation that this one would be particularly elegant. Then he ventured to ascertain that Charlotte would be present on the occasion.

Mrs. Bennet knew what was coming next. Sure enough, a request was made for the first two dances, and Charlotte very willingly accepted.

Given that each of them already had a wish to be married, and neither seemed particular about their partner in life, Mrs. Bennet thought that the only matter up for debate was how soon the wedding might take place.

Lady Lucas would be glad to celebrate the event as soon as possible.

And in this instance, Mrs. Bennet thought that there was no need to think haste unwise.

Charlotte herself would probably say that the less people knew about the defects of their future partner in life, the better.

And that was certainly the case with Mr. Collins.

Mr. Madison appeared to be stirred by this eagerness for acquiring dance partners, for he then informed Mary that he had some thoughts of dancing himself.

“But I do not know how it might be viewed,” he said. “So many people must know that I never thought of doing so again. Do you think that changing my mind will make me appear fickle?”

“No one could think that of you,” Mary assured him. “You are too dignified. And I do not say that as a compliment, but as a matter of fact. Everyone will know that you would not change your perspective without a great deal of consideration.”

“No, I wouldn’t,” he agreed. “I didn’t.”

Mrs. Bennet heard a great deal of meaning in those asked two words. Mr. Madison was not just thinking about dancing. He was contemplating a second attachment. She had always thought that he would come around, and it was gratifying to see now that she had been right about something.

Perhaps he and Mary might make a match of it. They had been talking a great deal recently. And they did share the bond of having both suffered a lost love. But that was up to them. She wasn’t going to say a word. Not even the slightest hint. The young people could sort matters out for themselves.

In the next moment they did. Mr. Madison suggested that in the spirit of friendship they might begin the dancing together, and Mary agreed.

This was splendid. Three daughters already engaged for the first dances. And Lizzy and Lydia should not have any difficulty finding partners. None of them would be sitting out this time.

But then Mrs. Bennet remembered that Kitty had obviously made up those partners as an excuse for turning down Mr. Collins.

And on that subject, she needed to discreetly and hastily acquire some actual partners for the first and second dances.

It would not do for Mr. Collins to realize that she had deceived him.

When he left the room a little later, Mrs. Bennet mentioned this to Kitty. “And I suppose I ought to say that it was wrong of you to be untruthful; however, I quite understand you not wanting to dance with Mr. Collins, so I won’t make a fuss about that.”

“But I really am engaged for those dances,” Kitty said.

“You are? To whom?”

“The first with Edward Partridge,” Kitty said sheepishly. “But don’t go thinking there’s anything between us. It was only because he had been joking with John Lucas. And he asked me for the second.”

“Oh, I know much better by now than to think you have any interest in Edward. Or him in you. But he is an excellent dancer. Infinitely preferable to Mr. Collins, I have no doubt. And you have always gotten along well with John. It seems like an odd sort of joke that ends in a request for a dance, but that was fortunate for you.”

“It was indeed,” Kitty fervently agreed. Mrs. Bennet was almost suspicious of the enthusiasm in her tone.

But she had learned not to interfere. If there was actually anything between Kitty and Edward, they could also sort it out for themselves. However, it was nice to think that there might be. So much was going well again.

There was such a downpour lasting from Friday until Monday that the Bennets did not go out and no one came to call.

Even the birds were hiding away. The days were so dreary that Mrs. Bennet found herself wondering if she had imagined Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley being friendly.

Perhaps she had only dreamed of the invitation.

Maybe she and her family would be thrown out of the ball in front of everyone they knew.

Maybe she was being excessively foolish again. “This is nonsense,” she firmly told herself. “We are invited, and nothing will go wrong.”

As long as Mr. Collins didn’t make them look ridiculous.

He had been spending a substantial amount of time alone in the corner of the room, muttering to himself and using up a good deal of Mr. Bennet’s paper.

Probably composing compliments to offer up to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy on the evening of the ball.

Mrs. Bennet feared that she was going to be mortified.