Page 18 of The Marriage Game
After giving the matter a good deal of thought, Caroline decided to take Jane’s advice. Being completely friendless in London was intolerable. Thus, she sent out invitations for tea once again, this time to some of the “nobodies” she was acquainted with from Miss Gravely’s School for Young Ladies.
The Honourable Miss Worthington was the daughter of a Baron with a five thousand pound dowry, but she was so plain-faced that no one had ever paid any attention to her. The Honourable Miss Batten was the daughter of a Baron as well, but her father was in desperate straits and she had no dowry at all. Miss Taylor was the daughter of a merchant, with a ten thousand pound dowry. Miss Davies was the daughter of an attorney; she, too, had ten thousand pounds. Miss Johnson was the daughter of a highly successful Harley Street surgeon with a twenty thousand pound dowry. They were nobodies…like Caroline.
Miss Taylor, Miss Davies, and Miss Johnson had accepted Caroline’s invitation; Miss Worthington and Miss Batten had declined. Elizabeth and Miss Darcy would attend as well; this would show the “nobodies” that Caroline had important connections.
The day of the tea party arrived. Caroline was dressed in one of her new gowns, a lovely sea green accented with darker green ribbon about the bodice, neckline and hem. She prowled around the drawing room, checking that everything was in order. Jane had made the necessary changes to the décor of the room, so there was nothing to be ashamed of there. Caroline knew that Jane could be counted on to present elegant foodstuffs, so she need not be concerned about that. Caroline fussed with the flowers a bit, removing a few that looked as though they might begin to droop by the end of the day. Then she called in a servant to build up the fire a bit more.
Jane walked in, noiselessly, watching Caroline move nervously about the room. Poor Caroline, Jane thought. No friends at school? It was her own fault, of course, but she must have been utterly miserable. When would Caroline learn that her determination to “better herself,” as she put it, was resulting in nothing but her own unhappiness? She hoped these “nobodies” would show Caroline some kindness.
***
“I suppose I must go,” Georgiana said. Her voice held no enthusiasm.
“It would be rude not to,” Elizabeth said, gently. “Is there a reason you would prefer to stay at home?”
“The last tea party at Bingley House was so very dreadful; the young ladies she thought were her friends were so unpleasant! I do not wish to watch it happen again.”
Elizabeth hesitated, and then decided to trust her younger sister by marriage. “If I tell you something about Miss Bingley, will you keep it to yourself?”
“Of course, Lizzy.”
“Jane told me that poor Miss Bingley had a dreadful time at school and does not actually have any friends.”
Georgiana opened her mouth and then promptly closed it again.
“Yes?” Elizabeth prompted her.
“Well, I do not see how anyone would want to be her friend, considering her behaviour.”
Elizabeth tried to hide her smile, but Georgiana was not fooled.
“You agree with me, I know, Lizzy! That last tea party – she knew those ladies were not her friends, but she invited them anyway? Heavens! Who is she inviting this time? Duchesses? The Prince Regent?”
“No, quite the opposite. This time she is inviting the young ladies that she previously considered to be unimportant, so she did not bother with them at school.”
“And she has ignored them all these years, but they are coming to Bingley House for tea? I must say, that is very kind of them! Oh! Or are they attending just to be cruel to her, do you think?”
“I rather fear that will be the case. So you see why we must attend.”
“To support her! Oh, of course I will come!”
Elizabeth smiled. Her faith in Georgiana’s kind heart had not been misplaced.
***
Elizabeth made it a point to arrive at Bingley House early; she wanted to be there to give Jane and Caroline whatever encouragement they required. Jane, of course, was as serene as ever; Caroline was clearly nervous, fidgeting with her necklace until Elizabeth feared the string would break.
“Caroline, may I offer a word of advice?” Elizabeth asked, gently.
Caroline looked at Elizabeth in surprise. “I suppose so.”
“Show your school acquaintances your very best manners as Mrs. Annesley advised; show them that you know the rules of the game.”
Caroline looked at her doubtfully.
Jane added, “My sister is right, Caroline. Continuing your past behaviour would be a mistake. I suspect that you were not kind to them at school; you must show them that you have changed.”
The butler then announced Miss Taylor and Miss Davies. The two ladies had arrived together.
“This is rather a surprise,” Miss Taylor said, after introductions had been made. “I must say, Miss Bingley, that I had not expected to hear from you after all this time.”
Miss Davies nodded her head, adding, “It has been some years since we left school and we have had no word from you at all.” Her tone was cool.
Elizabeth interjected quickly, “Miss Bingley is rarely in Town, you understand.”
“Rarely in Town? Where do you live, then?” Miss Davies asked.
Caroline answered, “I live in Netherfield, an estate in Hertfordshire, with my brother and his wife, Mrs. Bingley, who is hosting us today.”
Jane immediately added, “It is such a pleasure to have Caroline with us, but I fear that some gentleman will snatch her away from us now that we are in London for the Season.”
Miss Bingley then said, in the warmest tone anyone had ever heard from her, “And since I have been here, I have longed to see my old friends from Miss Gravely’s School.”
The two ladies traded skeptical glances, prompting Georgiana to head off any disparaging comments by saying, “Miss Taylor, is it possible that I have met your brother?”
The young lady smiled. “You have, indeed; he speaks a good deal of the charms of Miss Darcy!”
Georgiana blushed and murmured her thanks.
The butler then announced Miss Johnson. Introductions were made again, and the young lady settled herself in a chair near the fire. As this was the final guest, Jane pulled the bell cord to request refreshments.
The ladies spoke for a time about the doings of their previous school fellows. Miss Davies asked, “Has anyone seen or heard from Lady Alicia of late? She seems to have disappeared.”
Miss Taylor spoke up. “I have extended a number of invitations, but she has always declined. We were not close at school, so I suppose I should not be surprised.”
Miss Davies shook her head. “She was always too proud by half!”
Caroline, remembering her new manners, said, “Well, let us hope that all is well with her.” She decided not to repeat the gossip she had heard at her earlier tea party.
It was Miss Johnson who chose to share the gossip about their previous schoolmate. “As it happens, I know why it is that Lady Alicia is declining invitations. She almost eloped with a Navy captain. Happily, the plot was discovered in time by her father. But several servants overheard the whole thing, and you can imagine the result. She has not been seen in public since.” Miss Johnson spoke with compassion.
“That is dreadful!” Miss Taylor said. “I am so sorry that happened to her! Yes, she is very proud, but I do not wish such a fate on anyone.”
Privately, Caroline thought that Lady Alicia deserved her fate for being so very stupid, but the thought made her feel uncomfortable. Caroline was then struck with an idea. She quickly said, “Ladies, let us all visit her together, as we are her past schoolmates, and refuse to leave until she sees us. Then we will reassure her that we all make errors, and the important thing is how we handle ourselves afterwards.”
Her guests stared at her in surprise, so Elizabeth said, quickly, “What a wonderful idea, Caroline!”
The other ladies hastily chorused their agreement, and settled on a day and time for the visit.
Miss Johnson said, “Let us speak of happier things. Miss Darcy, is this your first Season?”
Georgiana blushed at being addressed, but managed to say, “It is, yes, Miss Worthington.”
“Your gown is quite charming; I suspect your aunt, the Countess of Matlock, introduced you to her own modiste, Madame Lanchester. Am I right?”
“You are; your eye for fashion is acute indeed!” Georgiana said in astonishment.
“Ah, Madame Lanchester’s style is not to be mistaken.”
This led to a rousing discussion of current fashions, the latest issue of La Belle Assemblée, the appearance of Beau Brummel at a recent ball, and other such subjects as were always of interest to young ladies. By the time the tea party was over, Caroline and Georgiana found themselves the recipients of invitations to a party, a rout and even a Venetian breakfast.
In parting, Miss Taylor said to Caroline, “I wish now that we might have been friends at school, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline replied, “I wish so as well, Miss Taylor.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “I hope you will call me Caroline.”
“And I am Charlotte,” was the kind reply.
Miss Johnson and Miss Davies chimed in as well, and Caroline was now on a first-name basis with three ladies that she had always considered nobodies.
With only the Darcys now remaining in the drawing room, Elizabeth turned to Caroline with an arched brow. “Was I wrong, Caroline?”
“You were not,” was the quiet response. “I did not know – did not understand –“
“I know you did not,” Jane, ever the peacemaker, said. “But now you do.”
“Thank you, Jane and Elizabeth,” Caroline said. Her tone was not humble, but it was sincere, and that was good enough.
***
Over dinner that night, Mr. Darcy enquired about the tea party at Bingley House.
“It was most surprising,” his sister replied.
“Indeed? How so?”
“Caroline was everything polite to her guests!”
Elizabeth nodded, saying, “One of their schoolmates is the target of some unfortunate gossip, and Caroline actually suggested that they all visit her to offer their support!”
“You surprise me,” Mr. Darcy observed. “I had not thought Miss Bingley capable of changing her ways.”
“Lizzy gave her some good advice before the party started,” Georgiana explained.
Elizabeth shrugged. “I hoped to make her see that having been snubbed by the guests at the earlier tea party, she needed to behave better if she wished a different outcome.”
“And she took your advice?” Mr. Darcy could not conceal his astonishment.
“She did; there is reason for hope, I believe.”