Page 77

T here was nothing overt Miss Bingley was doing, but it had been hard for the cousins to miss how she was attempting to impress them.

In the day since their arrival, they had a running wager to see who could make the harpy contradict herself more.

Each time they said the opposite of what they had previously said, she mirrored their new opinion without any thought about her previous statements.

The two men had been enjoying playing billiards, but they could not hide from their hostess forever, so they made their way to the dining parlour for the midday meal. It was the morning of the assembly, and Richard was looking forward to dancing three sets with Mary.

He had ridden Invictus to Longbourn as soon as he had time to wash and change after their arrival the previous day. Unlike when they had come to view the estate, he and William had their stallions following the coach due to the length of time they would be in the area.

Richard had had the pleasure of Mary’s company for the afternoon, and before he left to return to Netherfield Park, he requested a private interview with Mary.

When Phillips agreed, they used the study where he immediately proposed to her.

After his telling her of his undying love and respect, she accepted him without delay, reflecting the same sentiments, as she was deeply in love with him.

According to Phillips, the Gardiners would arrive on Saturday now that Peter was well again.

Once Richard had Gardiner’s permission and blessing, the engagement would be official.

It had been set up that a suitor needed permission from all three guardians to marry one of the three younger Miss Bennets.

It was one of the many ways the sisters were protected against being attached to a rake.

On his return to Netherfield Park, Richard had paid no heed to Miss Bingley’s displeasure at him for ignoring his hosts for the afternoon.

He had shared his good news with William only.

After he spoke to Gardiner, he would then share his news with one and all.

Since Mary’s acceptance, Richard’s head had been in the clouds.

“Really, Charles, why are we being dragged to this assembly with the locals who are so far below us?” Miss Bingley whinged as the cousins entered the dining parlour.

She perked up as soon as she saw the men, one of whom she was sure would offer for her.

“Do you not agree that it would be tedious to rub shoulders with the peasants at this assembly, Mr Fitzwilliam?” she cooed.

“Peasants? Miss Bingley, I was under the impression that the majority of those attending will be landed gentry. Did you hear something different?” Richard asked innocently.

“Uhm, no. You must be correct, of course, Mr Fitzwilliam, but are they still not far below us?” Miss Bingley corrected herself.

“Richard, are we not landed gentry, so how would they be below us?” William asked.

“But you are the nephew of an earl, and Mr Fitzwilliam is the son of that same earl!” Miss Bingley exclaimed. “Surely that makes you both far higher than any hereabouts? I am sure there is no one of note in this backwater.”

“Yet, when you come down to it, we are gentlemen farmers, or my cousin here,” Richard cocked his head towards William, “is trying to be one. That would make us equal to other members of the landed gentry. Do you not agree, Miss Bingley?”

Bingley was fully aware of what his friends were doing but said nothing to his sister. It seemed her pretensions were surfacing once again. As soon as he had seen the first signs of her veneer cracking, he had sent a letter to Aunt Hilderbrand to come to Netherfield Park.

“Yes, that was what I was saying,” Miss Bingley claimed.

“William, did you note how overcast it is today?” Richard asked his cousin to change the subject.

“I did see that, very dreary,” Miss Bingley interpolated.

“Richard, I think you are speaking of the weather the day before; today was rather sunny,” William corrected his cousin.

“No, Mr Darcy, I believe Mr Fitzwilliam is correct,” Miss Bingley stated.

“William, now that you mention it, I did confuse the previous day’s weather with today’s. When I walked out this morning, I saw no clouds. I was mixing up the days,” Richard owned.

“You are correct, Mr Fitzwilliam,” Miss Bingley agreed in a saccharine sweet voice. “I too saw no clouds today. Such a nice bright day.”

It was all the three men at the table could do not to burst into guffaws. It was too easy. Miss Bingley contradicted herself with as much conviction as she used when she made her original statements. Either the woman did not see what she was doing or cared not, as long as she agreed with the men.

“Caroline, we will be departing the estate at seven this evening. If you are not ready, there will be no warnings; we will simply leave, and you will remain here,” Bingley told his sister as soon as he had quelled his desire to laugh uproariously.

“As members of the cream of society, we need to be fashionably late,” Miss Bingley asserted.

She turned towards the cousins, batting her eyelids at them coquettishly.

“You gentlemen will inform Charles I have the right of it, will you not? No one arrives on time for events held by members of the Ton .”

“Miss Bingley, you may be excused for not knowing this, as you have not attended any society events for some years now, but that is no longer acceptable; it is, in fact, seen as being unfashionably late and rude,” Richard informed the woman who had a decidedly sour look on her face while he spoke.

She schooled her features as quickly as she was able.

“By the way, Miss Bingley, you may want to see a physician for that problem with your eyes. Also, why would I want to be late to an event which will be attended by the woman I am courting?”

“I was unaware that the fortunate lady would be found in a backward place such as this,” Miss Bingley said with a sniff of disdain.

“So, you have been into the town and met with the citizens of the area?” William enquired. “How else would you be able to make your pronouncements about the quality of the people and the area?”

Her mouth opened and closed three or four times, but no sound came out of it.

Miss Bingley was reeling. Mr Fitzwilliam thought she had a problem with her eyes, even though she was sure what she was doing was attractive to him.

Even worse, the woman, whose name she had not learnt yet, the one he was courting, would be at this benighted assembly.

She would wear her best outfit and show up the woman. Yes, it was outdated because her brother had refused to buy her a new wardrobe each season like she deserved, but she was certain it would be far more fashionable than anything some bumpkin living in this backwater would be wearing.

Miss Bingley hurried through her meal and rushed up to her bedchamber to have her maid go through her gowns and jewellery so she would be able to select the best for tonight.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Ever since Richard had proposed to her the previous day, Mary felt so light of spirit that she believed a light breeze would be able to carry her away.

Never had she been in anticipation of an assembly or ball like she was on this night.

Richard had reserved her first, middle—there was no supper at the local assembly—and her final sets.

When he had reserved sets at her coming out ball, she had been excited, but at that point, there had been no understanding between them.

Since they had been courting, he had never danced more than two sets with her, but tonight was the first of many times they would dance three complete sets.

He had reserved a set with Lizzy, Jane, and Cathy as well.

After Uncle Frank had bestowed his consent and blessing, Richard had told her that he planned to dance one set with his hostess, unless her behaviour changed his mind.

As it was a country assembly, none of those attending from Longbourn wore the same ball gowns they would in London.

The same was true of the jewellery they would wear, which they decided would be simple chains with crosses, plain earrings, and non-jewelled tipped hair pins.

Regardless of their wealth, or in Lizzy’s case her rank, none of them would do anything to make the locals uncomfortable by trying to show them up in the way they dressed.

One thing Mary was sorry she could not wear yet was the engagement ring Richard had presented to her when she accepted him. It was a gold band with a round-cut ruby surrounded by six small diamonds. As soon as Uncle Edward added his permission, Mary would wear it proudly.

Mary was almost ready. She would meet her sisters and the Phillipses in the drawing room. She knew Lizzy would be the last one downstairs, as she would visit the children first.

Elizabeth made sure Lettie had her dressed well ahead of the time she needed to be ready.

Once Lettie was finished, she made for the nursery to see her children.

She made sure she had enough time to read them a story.

Like their older brother, the twins loved having her read to them.

By the time the story had been read, Gracie and Winston both began to drift off to sleep. Matty was still awake.

“Another one please, Mama,” Matty begged.

“If only I had time, my dear boy,” Elizabeth responded sorrowfully.

She almost melted when her son looked at her with his big blue eyes on the verge of tearing up.

“I will read you two on the morrow, I promise. Your uncle and aunts are waiting for me, and it would not be very good manners to make them wait, would it?” Elizabeth watched as her son’s eyebrows knitted together as he considered her words.

She was aware Archy had begun to tell his son how important good manners are for a gentleman to have.

“Alright, Mama, I understand.” Matty looked serious as he firmed his back. “Kiss Mama?”