Page 37 of Ever After End
CHAPTER 36
T he next few days brought more rain, so much of it, in fact, that even Elizabeth avoided her morning exercise. These days also brought a number of announcements and progress amongst the guests. The house party guests remained indoors, in the drawing room and music room mostly, and there were party games and a great deal of shrieking and laughter.
Elizabeth and her sisters joined the group in the evenings, but they had been at Ever After End long enough to have become bored of spending all day every day in frivolity, gentlemen or no gentlemen. Jane set about putting their host’s still room in order, with the assistance of Mr Bingley and a maid.
Mary spent her days closeted with Mr Elwood discussing a local orphanage. Mr Elwood had received a letter from a friend, asking him to visit an orphanage near Bath of which his friend was on the board. Mary and Mr Elwood toured the place only to find it in far worse shape than expected, and spent their afternoons either visiting the orphanage to speak with the woman in charge of the daily running, or in writing correspondence to Mr Elwood’s friend about the matter.
Elizabeth spent her days either with Georgiana, Mrs Darlington, and Edith, or in the library with Darcy, reading aloud to one another or debating the merits of different books. They also spoke a great deal of their homes and families. Elizabeth learned a great deal about Pemberley, which lit up Mr Darcy’s eyes when he spoke of it. Darcy learned about Longbourn, Meryton, and Elizabeth’s family, who sounded as if most of them were progressing by leaps and bounds since the fortunes of the two eldest girls had improved.
Mrs Darlington was still a little shaken at the idea of inheriting the burden of a young girl to raise. She wanted children in her youth, but now she was uncertain that she was fit to raise a young lady. Elizabeth spent a great deal of time with the child, and found that though she was slightly behind in her lessons, her education had not been terribly neglected, and that she was pleasant, obliging, and appropriately learned in Bible studies for her age. Edith was also well spoken and respectful.
Elizabeth assured her host that all she needed to do was give the girl a home and see to her education, which ought not be too difficult, considering the number of learned persons living in the house. What the child needed most of all was kindness, support, and above all, love, if her aunt could muster it. Georgiana sent to Pemberley for some clothes that she had grown out of when she was Edith’s age, and upon learning that the young lady had not yet received instruction on an instrument, Miss Marmaduke set about acquainting the girl with the pianoforte straight away.
One morning, Miss Bingley approached Miss Elizabeth outside the library. “Miss Elizabeth, if I may be so bold, would you assist me in selecting some reading material?”
“Certainly, Miss Bingley, what do you like to read?” Elizabeth asked her as they made their way into the book room.
“I fear I do not know.” Miss Bingley laughed self-consciously. “I have never been a great reader, but I have recently decided that I wish to improve my mind; I will admit that I have no notion of where to begin. ”
“In that case, we will get you started with a stack of volumes that contains a bit of everything.” Elizabeth began to browse the shelves. “Have you any other interests? I know you are good at archery, so this book on form and execution might interest you. Here is another about the history of archery in the sixteenth century. Did you know that when lawn bowling was invented, that Henry VIII was so concerned that it would replace archery as a form of entertainment that he banned anyone who was not nobility from playing the game? He feared that the common man might lose their skills in archery, which were needed for war. The nobility were only allowed to play lawn bowls on their own property, and one was obliged to pay a special tax to the king in order to maintain a bowling green.”
“I did not know that, but how on earth did you know it?” Miss Bingley laughed.
“I was excessively interested in Henry VIII and his wives when I was thirteen.” Elizabeth smiled at the other lady as she pulled down another volume. “I read everything in my father’s library about him.”
“You do improve your mind by extensive reading!” Caroline exclaimed, impressed. “Mr Darcy spoke of your intelligence, and I see that he is not wrong.”
“That was kind of him to say.” Elizabeth blushed. “Have you an interest in botany perhaps? Or butterflies? Or is there a historical figure that interests you?”
“Hmmm… Perhaps Charles II?” answered Caroline. “We did not study much history at the ladies seminary I attended.”
“ I find the histories of the kings and queens to be fascinating.” Elizabeth pulled down two more volumes. “Charles II is more interesting than most, I positively devoured the accounts of him and his brother James fighting the Great Fire of London side by side with his subjects. He was a terribly romantic figure. You need gothic romance and novels; do you like adventures? Here is Robinson Crusoe . Hmmm, what else… I do enjoy Mrs Radcliffe, and the anonymous one, A Lady . Let us see what is here, oh, Mrs Darlington has Sense and Sensibility , you will enjoy that one, I think, and just for fun, we should add some poetry. You cannot go amiss with Wordsworth, and perhaps some Byron.”
“I believe Lord Chesley claimed an affinity for Wordsworth,” Caroline mused as she opened the book and flipped through it.
“See what you enjoy from this pile of books, and should you like to discuss what you have read or select more, I shall be happy to oblige you.” Elizabeth pulled down the copy of “The Italian” she had been reading the day before, intending to do some reading of her own.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth,” said Miss Bingley happily. “You have been very kind.”
“You are welcome, Miss Bingley, and I thought I would mention, some of us gather in my sitting room in the evenings after the others have retired, and we make merry late into the night. I am told you are used to the society of your sister, so if you find yourself in need of feminine company, you have only to knock upon our door,” Elizabeth offered.
“Oh thank you!” Miss Bingley exclaimed. “It has been quiet at night, so I am certain I shall join you sometime. I heard all about the popped corn. That American seems like an interesting girl.”
Elizabeth had noticed that Lord Chesley had begun to pay a great deal of attention to Miss Bingley. They both enjoyed town, and spoke often about the merits of living in the city, with its society and entertainments. Miss Winslow took great exception to the loss of the only nobleman in the group to the daughter of a tradesman, and became positively intolerable in company.
With only three weeks left of the house party, one was finally beginning to see affinities take form between the guests; the gentlemen lined up in the garden each morning when the weather allowed for assistance from Major Bartholomew with bouquets. Miss Abernathy had discovered a newfound interest in poetry, and a passionate tutor in Mr Pemberton. Miss Bertram and Miss Crawford were as thick as thieves with Mr Talbot and Captain Lytton .
Colonel Gordon seemed very taken with Miss Irving, who arrived in Mrs Darlington’s carriage each morning, rain or shine, to spend the entire day. Her father dined with their party each evening, and she returned home in his company at night. Elizabeth was uncertain why, but Mrs Darlington was putting forth a great deal of effort to convince Mr Irving to attend as many of their activities as possible. Perhaps she thought that the constant presence of a vicar gave the party respectability.
Jane was the second to receive an unwanted proposal the day after young Edith arrived. Elizabeth had just returned from strolling the portrait gallery with Mr Darcy. Though it was filled with paintings of the people who owned the house before Mr Darlington inherited, and who were of no relation to their host, Elizabeth would take any opportunity for exercise, considering the terrible weather outdoors.
Elizabeth and Mr Darcy had broken their fast early that morning, so the rest of the company had just finished theirs and were crowded near the breakfast room when Elizabeth and Darcy appeared in the downstairs hall.
“Is someone else getting the mitten?” Darcy asked Miss Dutton, amused that he might know what was happening this time.
“Well ain’t you the Philadelphia lawyer.” Miss Dutton responded, returning Darcy to his usual state of perplexity when she spoke.
“A what ?” Elizabeth gasped in mirth, unable to control her giggles.
“A smart one.” Miss Dutton craned her ear to the cracked door shamelessly.
“Ought we to be eavesdropping?” Darcy asked, his eyebrow raised in disapproval.
“Maybe not, but Miss Bennet doesn’t care for Mr Fletcher, she might need saving,” Miss Dutton said just as Bingley rounded the corner.
“What about Miss Bennet and Mr Fletcher?” he asked.
“ Jane is currently in receipt of Mr Fletcher’s addresses?” Elizabeth gasped. Miss Dutton was correct. Jane did not like Mr Fletcher at all, his stern disposition too overbearing for her serene kindness. Elizabeth would have to thank Abigail Dutton later for considering this and paying attention.
The harbinger of propriety, Lady Millicent, crept over and pressed her ear up to the door next to Miss Dutton, as Miss Larkspur scribbled furiously in a corner with her pencil and pad of paper. Mr Bingley stood frozen, face entirely white, looking panicked.
“D-d-darcy…” he stammered. “Miss Bennet would not...”
“Come now, Bingley, you have no desire to be here when they come out. You need a glass of brandy, immediately.” Darcy went directly to his friend and clapped him upon the shoulder.
“But, Jane would never, I am certain of it,” Bingley insisted.
“I am certain you are right, but I went through this myself, just over a week ago. You are better off in the study when they come out. You will hear the news soon enough.” Darcy winked at Elizabeth, who blushed, not having realised that he had been distressed by her proposal from Mr Cartwright. The idea of him as shaken as Mr Bingley affected her profoundly. She had forgiven him in person for his cruel words the morning she had overheard him and Mr Bingley, but the last week in his company, and this new revelation had done much for securing that forgiveness in her heart and restoring her admiration of him in full measure.
No more than two minutes passed before Mr Fletcher emerged from the room, his face bright red and set in stone. It was patently clear he had no joyful tidings to share, but he said nothing and only stormed towards the hall that led to the gentlemen’s staircase.
Mrs Darlington and Edith joined them in the hall just as he left them, and their host said, “I presume he must have offered for Miss Bennet?” When those present confirmed her query, she sighed. “I saw that coming a fortnight ago. He is my cousin’s son; I warned him that he would not succeed, but he refused to listen.”
“Do you think he will leave early, like Mr Cartwright?” Elizabeth asked curiously.
“I doubt it. My cousin has not much to start Samuel with in life, and his best course of action is to find a wife with a modest dowry here. I am certain he will select another and try again before the summer ends.” Mrs Darlington shook her head and said to Edith, “Run along and see Miss Marmaduke for your lesson, dear, while I go upstairs to speak with my cousin.”
“Someone ought to put poor Bingley out of his misery. That’ll be me, then.” Captain Lytton gave the ladies a smiling salute as he left them.
Miss Crawford, Miss Bertram, and Miss Abernathy all dispersed to the drawing room as Elizabeth entered the breakfast parlour to see if Jane was well. Her poor sister looked rather shaken. “Are you well, Jane?”
“Oh Lizzy, I am so mortified! Were they all outside the door the way they were with you and Mr Cartwright?” Jane covered her face.
“They were, but not in teasing, Jane. Everyone was rather worried for you, because Mr Fletcher is so stern, and they all know you prefer Mr Bingley.” Elizabeth came around the table and took her sister’s hand. “They have all gone away, now. Mrs Darlington thinks Mr Fletcher will remain until August, and try again with a different lady, however, so you will have to see him again.”
“What will Mr Bingley think of me?” Jane said in misery.
“As a matter of fact, Jane, I think perhaps Mr Fletcher might have helped you along there.” Elizabeth patted her sister’s hand comfortingly. “And I must admit that you were correct about Mr Bingley and his intentions towards you. He appeared terrified when he learned that you were in receipt of another man’s addresses. I thought we would need the smelling salts, poor man. Mr Darcy took him away, and said that he went through this last week when Mr Cartwright approached me, and that it would be better for Bingley not to be present when you emerged.”
“Mr Bingley was distressed that I received a proposal from Mr Fletcher? And Mr Darcy’s feelings for you are that marked? Lizzy, how wonderful!” Jane wiped her eyes, for she had shed several tears since Mr Fletcher had stormed out of the room.
“Wonderful? So you do not find Mr Darcy unpleasant and disagreeable any longer?” Elizabeth laughed.
“Lizzy, I am sorry I said that.” Jane blushed. “Since he decided to court you, he has been distant with most of the party, but it is easy to see that with those whom he feels comfortable, like you and his godmother and his friends, that he can be very friendly when it suits him. I am sure I have no reason to think he is anything other than reserved in company.”
“And I have seen that Mr Bingley has recognised your merits, and has genuine interest in you, Jane,” Elizabeth returned. “I am sorry I called him a cad.”
“You were only trying to protect me, and I can hardly fault you for that ,” her sister said with all sincerity.
“Come, let us see if we encounter our gentlemen in the hall.” Elizabeth rose and pulled Jane up by the hand. “You are wearing a most becoming blush after your experience this morning. I think Mr Bingley would like to admire it.”
The ladies met Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy in the hall just as Elizabeth suggested they might, and the gentlemen followed them to the morning room, where Mr Bingley admired Jane’s embroidery and her blushes all morning, and Mr Darcy and Elizabeth read to one another from Walter Scott.