Page 8

A few days later, Mr. Madison moved into Purvis Lodge.

The day after that, Mrs. Bennet asked her husband, “Have you called upon him yet?”

“Called upon whom?”

“Mr. Madison of course.”

“Who is Mr. Madison?”

“Mr. Goulding’s friend,” she cried in exasperation. “The gentleman who has two motherless daughters.”

“Yes, I remember now. But I thought he wished to live a quiet life in the country. He will not want to be bothered by people calling upon him.”

“I am sure he does not want to be neglected by his neighbours.”

“I would not be so certain of that.”

“Never mind what you think. You must call upon him at once.”

“I do not know if I can. I have a great deal to do this week.”

Aggravating man! Why couldn’t he understand the importance of bringing their daughters to the attention of eligible suitors?

“How am I to get our girls married if you will not stir yourself?” Mrs. Bennet demanded.

Her husband did not respond. After a few glares failed to have any effect upon him, she gave up and resumed her latest favourite activity—scouting the lane (through a pair of opera glasses appropriated from Mr. Bennet) for the approach of officers .

Since their arrival, not a day had gone by without at least one of them making his way to Longbourn, a very gratifying degree of attentiveness.

While conducting her surveillance, Mrs. Bennet had been observing other interesting things.

She suspected a dalliance between the Crane’s dairy maid and one of Mr. Bennet’s tenants.

Bobby Turner from the village seemed to be up to no good, always crawling under hedges, climbing over fences, or peeking out from behind trees.

And the three Peacock girls had started walking to Meryton every day, which they had never done before.

They were obviously hoping to catch themselves husbands. And their mother had been boasting that they were extremely popular with the officers. But Mrs. Bennet did not think there was any threat to her daughters’ prospects. Mrs. Peacock had always been clueless.

Mr. Bennet was not seen to stir himself, but he must have paid the call, for Mr. Madison returned that courtesy the next morning.

Mrs. Bennet was delighted to observe him looking very particularly at Jane.

She needn’t trouble herself to drop him a hint, which was convenient because she was feeling extremely tired and her mind was excessively foggy this morning…

“…which I think is a much-needed piece of legislation.”

What was he talking about? Mrs. Bennet realized that she must have been in one of those dazes which sometimes came over her, but it didn’t appear that she had missed anything interesting.

“I quite agree,” Elizabeth said. “Having read a little on the subject, I think…”

Why was Lizzy talking at all? She ought to allow Jane to shine instead of inserting herself into the conversation.

Her sisters weren’t getting in the way. Mary was at the other end of the room, engaged in a discussion with Mr. Fordyce. Kitty and Lydia were chatting to each other.

Mrs. Bennet attempted to catch Elizabeth’s eye with some gestures and motions of her head, but her difficult daughter obliviously carried on talking.

Mr. Madison was nodding and looking very interested in what she had to say.

This would not do. She increased her efforts, but only succeeded in causing her head to ache. And she felt so very weary…

“…wholeheartedly agree with you, Miss Elizabeth. You have an excellent understanding of the matter.”

This was not going well. He was admiring the wrong daughter. Perhaps she should adjust her plans. But would Mr. Madison want a headstrong mother for his daughters?

“I like to see ladies taking an interest in our nation’s affairs,” he was saying. “Those people who think them incapable of comprehending are—”

“Jane is very good at comprehending,” Mrs. Bennet cried.

“Yes, I can see that she is. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are both remarkably knowledgeable. They are a credit to you.”

Mrs. Bennet wasn’t sure about that. Neither of them was any good at flirting, but at least Jane had qualities which he appreciated. Once he saw how good she was with children, Mr. Madison would be even more impressed. She would soon be settled at Purvis Lodge.

It was a pity about those attics, but perhaps he could find a more suitable place within convenient distance.

Estates seemed to be changing hands all the time these days.

Several of the families with whom they dined had only come to the neighbourhood in recent years, including the Gouldings, who had purchased a particularly large property.

It was unfortunate that they had not settled at Purvis Lodge, and then Mr. Madison could have Haye-Park, which was superior by far.

She would like to see Jane as mistress of that house. How well she would grace it…

“… marriage.”

Was that a hint to Jane? Mr. Madison was a quick worker.

Mrs. Bennet was on the alert, but the eager suitor only said, “I think his work on this committee will be instrumental, and that will prepare the ground for…”

Her head began to drop again…

“Oh, you are leaving, are you, Mr. Fordyce? It was good of you to stop by. Do call again whenever you like. I know that Mary greatly enjoys her conversations with you.”

“You are very kind. I shall indeed come again soon. I have also been enjoying our discussions.”

“You should walk him out, Mary. Show him the little wilderness at the side of the garden. It is but a small one,” she said to Mr. Fordyce, “but I think it well laid out.”

Mary duly went with him. With any luck she would return an engaged lady.

“I should be going as well,” Mr. Madison said, rising from his chair. “I have several more calls to return. One of the great things I am discovering about living in the country is the pleasure of having such attentive neighbours.”

Mrs. Bennet shot her husband an I-told-you-so-look. “There is nothing like good company,” she said to Mr. Madison.

“I heartily agree. I am looking forward to having a great many new acquaintances. And I hope to introduce you ladies to my daughters soon.”

“We look forward to meeting them,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Especially Jane. She is extremely fond of children.”

After their visitor had left, she eagerly asked her daughters, “What was he saying about marriage?”

“He was speaking of an acquaintance,” Elizabeth replied. “A Member of Parliament who has done some particularly notable work since his marriage. Mr. Madison credits his wife with being an excellent influence.”

“Then he cannot be opposed to marriage,” Mrs. Bennet happily declared. “Or else he wouldn’t be talking of wives at all. It is obvious to me that Mr. Madison is as keen as any unmarried man to find himself a wife. And he has taken a great liking to Jane already.”

“He was just being a friendly neighbour,” Jane protested.

“He cannot wait for you to meet his children,” Mrs. Bennet countered. “This is excellent. Although you should have spoken less, Lizzy.”

“Yesterday you told me to make more effort.”

“I want you to make an effort with the officers. You must not monopolize Mr. Madison, who is to marry Jane. You should have followed Kitty and Lydia’s example. They barely said anything to him.”

“I do not know how they could have,” Mr. Bennet said. “I am not aware of them reading the newspapers or taking an interest in our nation’s affairs as Jane and Lizzy do.”

“You are always giving them the preference,” Mrs. Bennet complained.

He began to make some reply, but her attention was diverted by the return of Mary.

“Did Mr. Fordyce say anything?”

“Yes, he said to tell you that it is a very pretty wilderness.”

Oh well. This had only been his third visit. A man needed a bit of time to build up his courage before making a proposal of marriage.

***

“Well, that didn’t go too badly,” Elizabeth said.

“It was dreadful,” Jane cried. “Did you not see Mama’s eyes grow as wide as saucers when she heard Mr. Madison mention marriage?”

“Yes, but I don’t think he noticed.”

“I am sure he did. What will he be thinking of us?”

“Perhaps that we are good company. He appeared to enjoy our discussion. And so did I. It was pleasant to have a rational conversation with such a well-informed man.”

“Yes, I appreciated that too. Until Mama told him that I am good at comprehending. What an absurd thing to say. I could have sunk into the floor.”

“At least she didn’t come right out and tell him that he ought to marry you.”

“She will probably do so the next time we meet. And what about her saying that I am fond of children?”

“Lots of people are. I don’t suppose Mr. Madison thought anything of it.”

“I am certain that he understood her meaning. And he probably thinks I share her hopes.”

“I believe your behaviour made just the right impression for him to know that he need not fear you pursuing him. And Mama may have sounded a little odd, but she was too tired to engage in any blatant matchmaking.”

“Would it be awful of me to hope she continues to be excessively tired?”

“We must take our comforts where we can find them.”

“I don’t feel very comforted. She was probably daydreaming about wedding clothes, jewels, and carriages.”

“And wondering if anything can be done about the attics at Purvis Lodge. They do seem to bother her a great deal. But with such an array of subjects to keep her mind occupied, you might hope for her to be too busy wool-gathering to say anything the next time Mr. Madison visits.”

“If there is a next time.”

***

Mr. Madison had seen the saucer-sized eyes, and he comprehended Mrs. Bennet’s plans for him.

But he had also seen that her husband did not share these ambitions and her two elder daughters desired to squash them.

The observation that they were clearly not on the prowl for husbands added to his excellent opinion of those sensible young ladies, whom he would be happy to know better.

He was keen to make new friends, especially ones who shared his interests, and although he had no thoughts of marrying again, he was not intent upon avoiding female company.

There were, however, some ladies whom he was already feeling inclined to avoid. Like the three Miss Peacocks, who had made eyes at him while their mother boasted about their beauty and stylishness, of which there was no evidence, and their father surveyed him like he was a horse for sale.

And the two Miss Cranes, who had thrust sketches and watercolours upon him while their mother boasted of her daughters’ extensive accomplishments (evidence also lacking) and her husband’s eagerness (contradicted by his expression) to spend any amount of money upon perfecting their talents.

That gentleman had also looked as though he was in the market for a new horse.

The conversation at Longbourn had been far superior; and since Mrs. Bennet’s matchmaking efforts were paltry by comparison, and Mr. Bennet had not looked him up and down, Mr. Madison was confident of being able to establish an agreeable friendship with that family.

If necessary, he was quite capable of dealing effectively with any hints which Mrs. Bennet might drop when she wasn’t dozing off.

In a kindly way, of course. She would not even know that he was employing his own tactics for the purpose of letting her down gently.

Continuing on his round of calls, Mr. Madison made his way to Lucas Lodge, where he found another set of hopeful parents, but genial as well, and not forward enough to cause him any significant discomfort.

He also discovered another sensible daughter, who clearly had no expectations of him and no intention of letting her parents indulge in such ideas.

That made three young ladies whose company he anticipated finding particularly agreeable.

He had also taken a great liking to the vicar, a man of remarkable intellect.

And although some of his new neighbours were not to his taste, he had come to the neighbourhood knowing that perfection could not be expected anywhere.

Being very willing to make allowances for human nature, Mr. Madison thought he could be quite well content at Purvis Lodge.