Page 7 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)
On Friday evening of that same week, the Bennets, along with all their neighbors who had children of marriageable age, attended the monthly Assembly.
The room was large, painted white, well-kept, and cheerful.
The modest chandeliers and wall sconces cast a warm glow over the attendees, and music, laughter, and conversation filled the air.
The good people of Meryton were in high spirits, pleased with themselves and with one another.
“Papa has been to call on the new tenant at Netherfield,” Jane said softly, her arm linked with Elizabeth’s. “The lease is for two years, and the gentleman is lately come from the north.”
Charlotte Lucas, standing near, inclined her head. “Yes, I heard the same. They say he is from Yorkshire and is quite the sportsman. He hunts, fishes, he rides out every morning, and is eager for any sport in which a gentleman might break his neck.”
Elizabeth laughed. “A most useful accomplishment. One must hope he does not kill himself before he has settled his estate and married a fortunate maiden from Hertfordshire.” Elizabeth looked thoughtful.
“If he has such habits, then he will find Hertfordshire agreeable enough. The countryside is well suited to his pursuits.”
Charlotte drew near and whispered. “Well, Lizzy, you need not trouble yourself with speculations about the gentlemen of the Netherfield party. A very eligible gentleman’s heart is already in your possession, and his affections are sincere.
Alexander speaks of you constantly at home, and from what he has let drop, I believe you will be married soon. ”
Elizabeth’s eyes softened. “Charlotte, I think so too, from things he has recently hinted to me.”
Charlotte’s expression was warm, and when she reached across and clasped Elizabeth’s hands in her own, she added, “You have been my dearest friend since we were girls. I long for the day I will call you sister and see you in our home, brightening it with your lively spirit.”
Elizabeth returned the pressure with affection.
Lady Lucas had been the first woman ever to make her feel loved.
She had taken Elizabeth into her arms, patted her head, and wished to know what had happened, for she had never seen her cry.
That morning, Charlotte and her mother were in the kitchen peeling potatoes when Elizabeth ran in, sobbing.
“Is your father ill, Lizzy? Has something happened to him?” Lady Lucas had asked.
Elizabeth could not answer at once, for she was crying so hard she could scarcely catch her breath.
At last, she shook her head and managed, “Papa is well.” Then she explained that her mother had taken away her pin money, declaring it would be wasted on her since she was too thin and shapeless to look well in a new gown.
She had said Elizabeth did not know how to behave as a proper lady, and that she would be burdened with her forever, for no man would ever want her.
She had mocked her curly brown hair as a travesty, her brown eyes as plain and of no account, and her freckles as unsightly.
When Mr. Bennet tried to intervene, Mrs. Bennet blamed him for ruining their second daughter, for no man desired a wife who knew more than himself.
At this, Elizabeth had begun to wail again.
Mrs. Bennet then declared that if her own mother did not like her, how would any man like her well enough to marry her?
Then she took away her money and went with Jane to purchase a gown, leaving Elizabeth behind.
That morning, when she first learned how little her mother regarded her, she had lain in Lady Lucas’s arms, weeping, and at last had asked, “Why am I so ugly?” Lady Lucas only held her tighter and told her she was not ugly, and bade her stop crying, for she loved her.
When Elizabeth opened her eyes, she found both Charlotte and Alexander had their arms around her, and she heard them say they loved her too, and that all would come right in the end.
She had never forgotten how good it felt to be loved, nor how she wished, in that moment, that she might belong to the Lucas family instead of to the Bennets.
Elizabeth pushed the memories down and then changed the subject back to the Netherfield party, saying, “Papa said he brings friends from town, which must enliven our society greatly.”
Elizabeth’s eyes brightened with quiet amusement. “Friends from town will indeed be welcome in Meryton, particularly if they are young men who delight in dancing.”
Jane pressed her sister’s hand. “I only hope they are as amiable as we could wish.”
Charlotte turned a sly eye toward Miss King.
“Mary, I heard that you are now an heiress. Is this true?” She glanced round at the other young ladies with a little smile.
“Only imagine it, if Mary has inherited ten thousand pounds, she will be the belle of the ball the moment it is made known to the gentlemen.”
Mary’s cheeks flamed scarlet, and Jane, perceiving the younger girl’s distress, took her hand in her own and pressed it. “Mary, I congratulate you. I wish you the best.”
The others followed Jane’s example and also expressed good wishes. Mary, assured that her friends did not resent her for becoming an heiress, grew easy and enjoyed the assembly. Charlotte said, “Look, ladies, there he is.”
All the young women turned to look, and Jane, with open admiration, said, “He has a neat figure and a very open countenance.”
Elizabeth turned to look at the newcomer. “Yes, and his manner seems cheerful.”
Charlotte observed quietly, “The tall lady on his arm must be his sister. She is fashionable and knows it. From the manner in which she surveys the room, it appears we are all beneath her notice.”
Elizabeth was amused. “So much the better, for if she does not observe us, she cannot censure us.” Her gaze lingered on the red-haired sister. “She is a handsome woman with a fine figure. I imagine the couple behind them is Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. I must say, the entire party is elegant and decorous.”
Abby tittered at their observations, but Anise only looked on quietly. Jane, however, exchanged a significant look with Elizabeth, and Charlotte had a look of calculation in her eyes, each aware that the arrival of the Netherfield party might change the fortunes of some in the neighborhood.
Elizabeth shifted her attention to the tall, handsome gentleman elegantly attired in black who entered behind them. “There is another,” she said quietly. “Mr. Darcy.”
A flush stole over her face as her imagination carried her away. That lock of hair brushing his left brow adds to his masculine beauty.
“And the gentleman behind him?” asked Abigail.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth replied. “They are so alike in feature, they might pass for brothers.”
“They must be closely related then. Perhaps handsome cousins,” Abby said lightly. “Our little assembly is well supplied with handsome young men tonight.”
Mrs. Bennet gathered her daughters together and asked Sir William Lucas to introduce them.
Miss Caroline Bingley received the civility with thin courtesy, and the sour-faced woman withdrew from the Bennet women as soon as it could politely be done.
She followed her sister and Mr. Hurst to a corner of the room, as far as they could get from the press of people.
Mr. Bingley, however, looked at Jane as if he had been transfixed, and begged the favor of her hand for her earliest open set of dances.
Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, meanwhile, moved closer to Elizabeth and bowed over her hand with a warmth that pleased her.
Darcy said, “Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner told me you lived in Hertfordshire, though he never named the town. I feel very fortunate that it is located only a few miles from Netherfield Park.”
The colonel grinned at Elizabeth and added, “You may be sure, Miss Elizabeth, that our morning rides will often bring us into Meryton.”
She asked teasingly, “Into Meryton, sir?”
“In hopes of meeting with you,” he said lightly.
“I live a mile farther along at Longbourn, my father’s estate,” Elizabeth answered. “I am most often found upon Oakham Mount in the early hours. I do not ride, so I am beholden to my own two feet if I wish to catch the sunrise.”
“An early riser,” the colonel laughed. “There is not one lady of my acquaintance who seeks the dawn.”
Darcy said, “My sister is with us and hopes very much to see you again. May we ride to Longbourn tomorrow to pay our respects?”
Elizabeth felt the compliment and colored with pleasure.
“We shall be at home, Mr. Darcy. I would only warn you that I am one of five sisters, and the youngest two are very young indeed. You have been introduced. I pray you will suspend judgment of the elder pair when you come to know the younger sisters a little better.”
Darcy’s smile revealed his white, evenly spaced teeth and, to Elizabeth’s surprise, a pair of dimples. “I shall not judge you at all, Miss Bennet. I have come to know you already as a well-bred and obliging young lady. May I have your next available set?”
“Because of the war and the claims of the universities, we are sadly short of gentlemen,” she said with a playful air. “Accordingly, our rules differ: one may dance more than twice with the same partner; and owing to the scarcity, my next set is free, sir.”
“The one after is mine,” the colonel said at once.
Alexander Lucas stood at the far side of the room beside Miss King, watching as the men from the Netherfield party spoke with Elizabeth. He made sure they were flirting with her.
He had returned to Meryton only last week, after a three-week visit in town to stretch his wings, as his father had called it. Yet he had not paid a call on the Bennets, most especially on Elizabeth, and now felt the loss of her company.
When Darcy asked for her hand a second time, Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he swore under his breath.
“The devil, she is dancing with that peacock again.”
Miss King looked at him in surprise. “Why should it matter? Your mother said she means nothing to you.”
Alexander bit his lip. He had promised his mother he would try to see if the new heiress held any attraction for him, but thus far, he found her insipid.
Darcy led her out. Her bright manners soon drew him from reserve; he smiled, and now and then even chuckled.
The second dance of the set proved to be a waltz.
Elizabeth felt a touch of embarrassment, but Darcy appeared very well satisfied by the choice and brought her on with quiet assurance.
His hand rested at her waist, and her hand lay in his.
Always the gentleman, he kept a proper distance; she was conscious of the strength and precision with which he guided her through the turns.
He was very handsome, and he carried with him the clean scent of fine linen and shaving soap.
He met her eyes and held them. Elizabeth had never enjoyed a dance so entirely.
When the set ended, he returned her to the side of the room where Jane now stood with Mr. Bingley in cheerful conversation.
Colonel Fitzwilliam claimed his turn. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, he had made a quiet arrangement with the leader of the musicians; his set also included a waltz.
He talked delightful nonsense in the first dance and quite carried her along in the second.
When he led her back, Elizabeth owned to herself that the two handsome cousins had turned her head.
Miss Bingley approached at that moment and laid long fingers upon Darcy’s arm, leaning close to whisper in his ear.
Elizabeth could not help noticing the ease with which the lady took possession.
Mr. Darcy disengaged himself with visible discomfort and, turning from Miss Bingley, said to Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, you are a fine dancer. I enjoyed our set very much.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said with a smile. “I imagine you dance in London with the brightest flowers of the ton, so I take your compliment to heart.”
Miss Bingley gave a short laugh. “Miss Elizabeth’s step is very light, though her slippers have seen much service.
” Her gaze fell to Elizabeth’s feet, then lifted to her gown.
“Indeed, Miss Elizabeth proves that a lady may please without expense. Nothing about her attire is new, and yet she has managed to capture the attention of some.”
Color rose in Elizabeth’s cheeks, but Mr. Darcy spoke at once.
“It has long been my opinion that natural beauty requires little aid. Miss Elizabeth could attend an assembly in stockinged feet and wearing a frock fashioned of flour sacks, and still outshine every woman in the room.” He turned to Elizabeth.
“Since the usual restrictions don’t constrain us, may I have your next free set? ”
“Yes,” she said, recovering her composure. “The next is free.”
The colonel gave a low laugh. “Then I, likewise, shall avail myself of these freedoms and lay claim to the following set.” Elizabeth smiled gratefully at him and agreed.
Between them, they kept her engaged for a large part of the evening. Darcy, with a quiet word to his friend, secured another set for her from Mr. Bingley, who was only too happy to oblige. Miss Bingley, to her disappointment, was not asked by either of the cousins.
Mr. Bennet, standing nearby, chanced to hear Elizabeth speak in excuse of her younger sisters.
He decided to take action and drew Kitty and Lydia aside.
He spoke briefly and very plainly, forbidding them from drinking the punch, and he warned them straightly that childish behavior would result in their being sent home at once.
The firmness of this address, so unlike his usual indulgence, produced the desired effect.
Mrs. Bennet was nursing a toothache, and she remained sitting quietly among the matrons, wishing she had taken her husband’s advice and stayed at home.