Page 16 of The Countess and Her Sister

Not to be outdone, Mr. Bingley sent round invitations to a dinner party three days hence.

With two dozen guests for dinner and the promise of dancing afterward, it was nearly a private ball.

In addition to all the guests that had assembled together so recently, Mr. Bingley included the Gardiners as a significant gesture to Jane.

He had made their acquaintance on one of his morning calls, and found that their open and amiable manners delighted his own.

Elizabeth thought it was of particular interest that Jane was to meet several of Mr. Bingley’s friends, as well as his eldest sister and her husband. It was clear to her that Mr. Bingley was already quite serious about Jane, who blushed with every denial.

“I assure you, I have yet to form any decided preference; it has not been three weeks since I came out of mourning,” Jane said nervously.

“I have no wish to hastily bind my life to another man’s, and I have an obligation to Thomas to give the matter serious consideration before making a decision that will alter our lives forever.

And I must think of you, Lizzy! If I marry before you do – which may not happen, if Mr. Bingley’s friends are as agreeable as he is – but if I do, what will you do, Lizzy?

Mamma and Rebecca would keep you forever, but I could never love a man who had no place in his home for you, too, Lizzy, dearest.”

Elizabeth’s eyes welled with tears as she put the final touches on Jane’s hair; they had dismissed the maid in favor of a conversation for their ears alone.

“I had not thought of it yet,” she admitted.

“As you say, it has not been three weeks since we came out of mourning. Perhaps I need not think of it, as I know you shy away from my speculation. And perhaps Mr. Bingley does have an agreeable friend.”

Heat flushed her cheeks and she moved beyond Jane’s view in the mirror as she imagined another dinner with Mr. Darcy, imagined lively conversation between them, imagined that this time he would ask her to dance.

“There, you are exquisite, Jane,” Elizabeth said, making a flourishing gesture to indicate her sister’s toilette was complete. “If a dozen men are not falling at your feet by the end of the night, I am no judge of beauty.”

Jane laughed, a playful shake of her head adding the perfection of light tousling to the loose blonde curls that framed her face. “Or men!”

“You will have one great supporter in Uncle Gardiner, and another in his new friend Mr. Bingley. He is just what I imagine Sir Edward was like twenty years ago.”

“He is everything a gentleman ought to be,” Jane said with a bright smile before calming herself.

“That is, I hope Mamma will not discount his origins in trade. She thinks well of Mr. Tilney and his brother, though of course she is fonder still of Mr. Darcy. But I mean to take your advice and enjoy the luxury of choice; even if, in the end, my choice is nobody at all, I cannot repine that so many people will be taking care to be kind to me.”

A shadow passed over Jane’s face. Elizabeth knew this was a far cry from what Jane experienced during her marriage; she had been with child for half of it, confined to Matlock Park with no company aside from her husband, his unpleasant and unsavory friends, and occasionally his mistresses.

Jane gave Elizabeth a sad smile. “It is such a novelty to me, to move in society like this, and to really be somebody – for so many exciting people to desire my company!”

“You are a countess, both exquisitely beautiful and impossible not to adore! I am very proud of how you have carried yourself, Jane.”

“Thank you, Lizzy. I know that my title must account for some of my popularity, but I hope that several of our new acquaintance really like me.”

Everybody at Mr. Bingley’s party liked Jane Fitzwilliam very well indeed.

The two dozen elegantly attired people spent three quarters of an hour mingling between two spacious and tastefully appointed parlors, and it was evident to Elizabeth that her sister had several new admirers before dinner was called.

Poor Mr. Bingley! He appeared entirely chagrined at how determined his friends were to charm the fair young countess he was courting, and seemed torn between his duties as their host to make himself agreeable to everybody, and his irrepressible urge to follow Jane as the dowager ushered her about.

It mattered little to Elizabeth that Jane was Lady Augusta’s sole focus as they became acquainted with so many new people of social importance.

Nonetheless, Rebecca thought it a great joke to be of similar service to Elizabeth, and with all the same pomp as her mother, she asked Mrs. Hurst to perform the necessary introductions.

Elizabeth’s head was swimming with new names within ten minutes, and all the while her gaze continually landed on Mr. Darcy.

He came to stand beside her and Rebecca after they had made their circuit of the two large parlors. “How are you enjoying the evening?”

“I am looking forward to seeing which of Mr. Bingley’s friends I shall scandalize over supper – they are all tremendous knaves,” Rebecca drawled.

Elizabeth met Mr. Darcy’s eyes as they shared a smirk. “Rebecca’s wickedness provokes me to confess I found Mrs. Hurst more agreeable than her sister. She is married and resigned to a certain indifference – less agitated by the presence of other ladies.”

Rebecca laughed indecorously, and Mr. Darcy’s lips twitched. “Perhaps after Miss Bingley weds, she may adopt some of her elder sister’s hospitable equanimity.”

“You are all politeness, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth said.

Rebecca dropped her voice. “Internally, he is shrieking in horror at the fear of being the one to make Miss Bingley a Mrs. – take care that she does not ensnare you – her desire to do so is in all her looks.” She gave her cousin a look of warning.

Elizabeth laughed, a tinge of anxiety creeping in. “You have sworn never to pity a man, and there is no reason to begin now. I believe our hostess is quite enchanted by your other cousin.”

They looked to where Miss Bingley stood across the room; the woman abruptly turned her gaze from Mr. Darcy, and a moment later began laughing affectedly at some comment made by Captain Tilney.

Mr. Darcy frowned. “I would not wish her such a fate, even if Northanger Abbey is a fine home. Forgive me, I know he is your kin.”

“Which only makes me well aware, and inclined to agree with you – though there would be an element of comedy in such a match,” Rebecca mused.

Lady Gardiner met Elizabeth’s eye from across the room and led her husband over with a bright smile. Elizabeth happily introduced them to Mr. Darcy, who was rather bowled over by making their acquaintance. “You are the Sir Edward Gardiner?”

“The only one I know of, sir,” Elizabeth’s uncle replied, giving her a merry wink.

Mr. Darcy gave a deep bow and shook hands warmly with Sir Edward Gardiner. “It is truly an honor to meet the merchant who saved England.”

“Oh, that.” Sir Edward chuckled. “I must always tell everybody – my wife deserves the greater share of credit. She has used herbs from the far east as medicine for many years. I took her with me on a voyage to China once when we were newly married, and one of the merchants of my acquaintance there was so charmed by my magnificent bride that he still sends her gifts with nearly every shipment I receive. She has become so adept with the herbs and tinctures he has sent her over the years that she discovered the right blend to treat the sweating sickness. I can only repent that it took so long to receive the first massive shipment, and to circulate word of its efficacy.”

“Even so, you saved countless lives, including my own,” Mr. Darcy said. He took Lady Gardiner’s hand and kissed it. “I was still recovering when the King honored you.”

“I did not know you had taken ill,” Elizabeth gasped. The survival rate had been dismal for those afflicted – to have survived was widely regarded as miraculous before the great remedy.

“I did not know your aunt and uncle saved my life,” Mr. Darcy replied. “Sir, Madam, I am in your debt.”

“Words I never thought I would hear from the Mr. Darcy of Pemberley,” Lady Gardiner said. “I grew up in Lambton, not five miles from Pemberley. My father was the vicar there for many years.”

“He was an excellent man, as was his wife, your mother. I recall Mrs. Fisher being of great consolation to my mother on several occasions in my youth,” Mr. Darcy replied. “But I am sure we must have met many times when I was a child.”

“I married and moved away nearly twenty years past, but my younger sisters have written to me of how dashing you grew up to be.”

Elizabeth looked between her Aunt Madeline and Mr. Darcy with a grin. “Pardon me while I go adjust the place cards so that you two may reminisce about Derbyshire at leisure,” she said, turning as if she would go do just that.

Rebecca caught her arm and spun her back. “That would signify cheating – we have a wager. Already I have seen one of Mr. Bingley’s blockhead battalion sneak into the dining room.”

Elizabeth grinned. “I have seen two – Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Robert Ferrars. One more, and you owe me ten pounds. And look – I think Captain Tilney seems to be moving that way….”

Lady Gardiner shook her head and tutted playfully. “The pair of you are incorrigible!”

“A year ago, you beseeched me to help Lizzy return to her cheerful ways,” Rebecca countered.

A slow smile spread across Mr. Darcy’s face. “She is perfectly merry. And I hope you win your wager, Miss Bennet, though I suppose now it would sully the game if I did my part in the dining room.”

Rebecca nudged him. “You would never stoop to such a thing! It is beneath your dignity.”