Page 17 of The Next Mrs Bennet

B ennet looked up after reading the latest note from Netherfield Park. “We will finally meet Fitzwilliam Darcy, our cousin by marriage, at the assembly,” he relayed based on the information contained within.

“I wonder if he will be haughty and standoffish as Rich has described him,” Elizabeth mused.

“Do not forget the rest of what Rich shared with us,” Becca admonished her second daughter. As much as she loved all of her children, and she loved all six fiercely, Becca was not blind to their faults. Lizzy’s was to make quick judgements and would cling to her incorrect conclusions for longer than she should. “He explained that the reason Fitz, as he calls him, is like that is due to his feelings of uncomfortableness in large groups, especially among those with whom he is not familiar. That, combined with the way he has been hunted since he entered society almost ten years past has created, what Rich called, the Darcy mask.

“Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie see their Darcy niece and nephew as more daughter and son, so we will not turn our prejudices on him, will we?” As Becca said the last, she looked at Lizzy pointedly.

Understanding she was being instructed to keep an open mind, Elizabeth inclined her head. “Mama, you are correct; I did forget that part of what Rich related to us. I will keep that in mind when I meet him,” she stated contritely.

“Do not forget what the report said about the way Miss Bingley relentlessly chases after Mr Darcy,” Beth reminded her family. “Due to that, the young man may not be in good humour, especially if, as was noted, she spreads his purported income about the assembly hall.”

“I will speak to Sarah Lucas and request she have it known that if Miss Bingley does that, no one is to react to it, or repeat the numbers she bandies about,” Becca decided.

“Grandmama, will you accompany us to the assembly, or do you intend to remain home with Tommy and Ellie?” Henry enquired.

“My intention is to attend,” Beth responded. She turned to her eldest grandson. “Henry, be on your guard; you may become a target for Miss Bingley if, as we think she does, she has an inkling of our family connections.”

“She will never be gratified if she attempts to place me in her matrimonial sights. I am too young to marry, and like my annoying twin,” Henry grinned at the mock outrage on Lizzy’s countenance, “I will only marry for love. Also, like others in this family, I will never gratify one who lowers herself to entrap me.”

“And from Grandpapa William on down, the whole family will support Henry, or any of you who refuse to give in to a compromise,” Becca stated unequivocally.

“That is nothing but the truth,” Bennet added. “Now is it not time to prepare for the assembly?”

The five ladies attending the assembly, who naturally needed more time to prepare themselves, stood and headed upstairs to their chambers. Ellie joined them. Even though she would not attend, she loved seeing Mama, Grandmama, and her older sisters in their finery for the assembly.

None of the Bennets wore the gowns or jewellery they would for a London soiree. However, what they did wear, although not ostentatious, was very fine while being appropriate for a public country ball.

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

“Bingley, I suggest you inform your younger sister that the assembly is not a London event, and she should prepare accordingly. Also, no one here will be impressed by being fashionably late. Additionally, it will engender my displeasure if we arrive late and are made a spectacle for one and all at the dance due to that rudeness,” Darcy stated evenly.

He cared not if Miss Bingley embarrassed herself, but he did care about his friend who was attempting to establish himself in the neighbourhood. If his sister alienated most of the denizens, it would not help her brother.

Using Darcy’s words as a shield, Bingley passed the message onto Caroline. As he had hoped, because it came from his friend, his sister did not explode with anger. She promised she would be on time. Bingley had followed a suggestion from Darce and told her an earlier time than they needed to depart. A much-relieved Bingley joined those waiting in the drawing room.

Although she had agreed to be on time, Miss Bingley had done nothing about her manner of dress. Hence, when she glided into the drawing room, some five minutes before the departure time Charles had given her, she was dressed in a burnt orange outfit with a turban and feathers dyed to match. In addition, she was dripping with jewels. She was determined to achieve two aims. One was to show Mr Darcy how elegant she was, and the other was to show the locals how members of the Ton dressed in combination with true sophistication and fashion sense.

Darcy had to fight the urge to either laugh at how ridiculous the harpy looked or to shake his head. To assist with that, he looked anywhere, other than at the hideous orange ensemble before him. Could the woman not see how her flaming red hair was clashing with her clothing? Evidently not.

It seemed like one of her aims had fallen flat. Mr Darcy looked anywhere but at her and her magnificent ensemble. Well, she would impress the mushrooms, while at the same time trying to ferret out information about the Bennets. She would have to be subtle in her investigation so that if it were them, her meeting them would seem perfectly natural.

The group made its way to the entrance hall, where the butler and some footmen stood ready with the outerwear. Thanks to his sister being tricked into being ready earlier than was needed, they would arrive appropriately before the start of the ball.

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

“Richard, I know you would prefer to be at Mary’s first dance, but do not forget we will be at Longbourn on Tuesday upcoming,” Lady Elaine commiserated with her younger son. “You are honouring my nephew’s request that you do not push Mary yet. Do not forget, you have already reserved two sets of dances at her coming out ball.”

“I know what you say is true, Mother. It is the day of the assembly, so I could not stop myself from wishing I were there, more so because Fitz will more than likely attend as I am certain Bingley will drag him to it,” Richard explained.

“Let us hope our nephew guards his tongue,” Matlock added. “Can you just imagine the set down Lizzy would issue if he is rude to any of her family members?” He allowed a guffaw to escape his chest. “That would be interesting to see. As much of a pity it is he never met the Bennets over the years, I would like to know how the first meeting unfolds.”

“Aunt and Uncle, the cousins we are going to see, are they the Bennets?” Georgiana asked.

“Indeed, they are,” Lady Elaine confirmed. “You are not nervous to see them again, are you, Giana? I know it has been about ten years since you saw them last, but I can testify to the fact that my Bennet nieces and nephews will be friendly and welcoming.”

“They will not condemn me if they discover what almost occurred in Ramsgate, will they?” Georgiana worried.

“Not at all!” Richard insisted. “Like the rest of us did, they will blame the criminal woman on her way to Van Diemen’s Land and the late miscreant. They will commend you for your bravery when you allowed your sense of right and wrong to guide you regardless of the level of manipulation that was brought to bear.”

“I hope so,” Georgiana replied. “I do not have many memories from the first time I met the Bennets, but I do remember I liked Lizzy and especially that she had my name as her middle name.”

“Your guardian is right, Giana dear. My great-nieces and great-nephews will welcome you for who you are, part of the family,” Lady Elaine assured.

“Not only that,” Matlock added, “but Mary loves the pianoforte as much as you do. If I am not mistaken, she and her sisters study instruments under that Italian music master, Signore Alberto da Funti. Is that not the same master who teaches you?”

“Yes, it is!” Georgiana exclaimed happily. “I remember Mary vaguely, but it will be a pleasure to hear her play. What of her other sisters?”

“They all play various instruments. That includes Henry and Tommy. The former plays the violin, and the latter is very proficient on the pianoforte,” Lady Elaine revealed. “If memory serves, Jane plays the harp, Lizzy the pianoforte, and the youngest, Ellie, the cello. By the by, my namesake is a prodigy at the game of chess. She has not lost to your uncles or cousins for some years now.”

“It sounds like I will have a very enjoyable time with my cousins.” She paused as an unpleasant thought intruded. “As long as I will be able to reside at Longbourn and will not have to join Fitz at Netherfield Park. I detest the way Miss Bingley fawns over me in an attempt to impress Fitz. She always makes hints, most of them none too subtle about what a good husband her brother would make for me. She is such a nasty woman. She thinks that denigrating others builds herself up in my eyes,” Georgiana revealed.

“Neither Fitz nor I will ask you to be in that shrew’s company. There are none of us who will want to spend any time with her.” Richard grinned as something struck him. “I would love to see how the Bennets will react to her if she discovers who Becca’s family is.”

“After what you have all told me, I am very much looking forward to going into Hertfordshire and seeing the cousins,” Georgiana enthused. “Should I write to Fitz to tell him I will be in the neighbourhood?”

“There is no need, Dear,” Lady Elaine replied. “Your brother is aware you are travelling with us to call on family, and he neither asked who they were, nor did he object, so he will know we are there when he sees us. I am sure he thought we were to be spending time with Anna and William. In a way, that was a good assumption on his part, as my sister and brother-in-law, along with their children and grandchildren will be at Longbourn as well.”

The prospect of seeing so many family members delighted Giana, especially as Felicity and Harriet—Aunt Connie’s twin daughters—would be present, and they were only a year older than herself.

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

Darcy was girding his loins to enter the assembly hall with his equanimity intact when they arrived. Miss Bingley was being everything bothersome, which was rather distracting.

“We will arrive in time for the first set; how pleasant it would be to dance the set with one you are close to,” Miss Bingley stated coquettishly as she batted her eyelids at Mr Darcy, trusting he would get the hint. He did not turn and look at her, stubbornly looking into the darkness out of the window next to him. “I am sure you would enjoy dancing the opening set with one you are familiar with; would you not, Mr Darcy?”

“Actually, Miss Bingley, as you may have noted at balls we have attended in common, I never dance any of the significant sets as it would give the wrong message and raise expectations I have no intention of fulfilling. When I discover the lady who I intend to make Mrs Darcy, then, and only then, will I dance the first, supper, or final sets,” Darcy said as evenly as he was able.

Both Bingley and Hurst, who were seated on the rear-facing bench with Darcy, shrank back, waiting for the inevitable explosion from their younger sister. Not even Caroline could misconstrue the message which had been embedded in Darcy’s speech.

Try as she may Caroline Bingley could not find anything positive in what Mr Darcy had said. Without saying the words, he had told her that he had no interest in her as a marital partner. She was sure he would realise the error of his ways once he saw all the country mushrooms begging her for the favour of a set. It would ignite his jealousy, and then he would come crawling back to her. She sniffed and looked away.

Mrs Hurst and Bingley both breathed sighs of relief that the expected tantrum had not materialised. Neither said a word, as they would not look a gift horse in the mouth.

The coach slowed and came to a stop in front of a building on Meryton’s main street, which the occupants correctly assumed was the assembly hall.

In case Miss Bingley attempted to lock her talons onto his arm, Darcy jumped out before the footman had the door opened all the way. He distanced himself from the conveyance and placed his arms securely behind his back, his hands clasped together. He hoped that the harpy understood what he had said during the two-mile ride from Netherfield Park, but knowing how she only liked to see and hear that which fit her delusions, he was not too confident.

While he was waiting for Bingley and his family to alight, Darcy happened to notice a coach pulling away in front of Bingley’s. In this area, which he had assumed was populated by lower gentry without much wealth, he had not expected to see a coach of the size and quality of the one disappearing down the street toward the stables.

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

Becca, Bennet, and Beth led the four younger Bennets into the hall. The large and comfortable coach was a gift from the Cavendishes and made travel, even with seven of them within, a pleasure. Once inside, Beth went to sit with some of her friends, Jane, Henry, and Elizabeth headed for Charlotte Phillips, who was standing with her husband and sister Maria.

Being her first foray into local society for an event which included dancing, Mary remained with her parents.

As the next party entered the hall, Bennet recognised four of the five as those he had met when he called at Netherfield Park, and assumed the tall, dark-haired man was Fitzwilliam Darcy. He grinned as he saw Sir William assume his self-appointed role as master of ceremonies and approach the new arrivals.

Darcy was fighting to remember his need not to be too prideful and arrogant all the while his aversion to being with those he did not know was welling up in his gut. He saw the portly man with the ruddy face and balding head approach them and tried his best to keep to the back of the group. At least the shrew had not attempted a death grip on one of his arms—yet.

“You and your party are most welcome, Mr Bingley. Except for the one man, I met all of you when I called at Netherfield Park. Would you introduce me to your friend please?” Sir William requested.

Just before he pointed out that it should have been his prerogative to request the introduction, Darcy heard Bingley address the man.

“Good evening, Sir William,” Bingley bowed, “It is my pleasure to present to you Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Darcy, Sir William Lucas of Lucas Lodge.” The two men bowed to one another.

He thanked his lucky stars; he had not opened his mouth and inserted his shoe. Darcy would not have liked to be embarrassed before all of those present at the ball. After bowing, he said nothing after hearing vaguely that the newly met man was about to lead them to meet others who were in attendance. He would have thought Miss Bingley would eschew meeting any of the locals, but for some reason the woman seemed keen to be introduced.

Henry drifted back to where his parents and younger sister stood while Mrs Phillips, Jane, and Lizzy caught up with one another. Miss Lucas followed him. He was aware that Maria Lucas had a tendre for him, but he saw her only as the sister of Franklin and Johnny Lucas. Just as he and Miss Lucas arrived, Sir William approached with the Netherfield Park party in tow.

Although he could not understand any titled person not wanting to be addressed by it, Sir William was well aware of the Queen’s edict and Lady Rebecca’s preference regarding how she was to be introduced. “Bennet, I know you called on Mr Bingley, but may I introduce those from Netherfield Park to Mrs Bennet and those of your family who are present?” Bennet nodded, and Sir William made the introductions to those who had not met the Bingleys and Hursts before, and Mr Darcy to Bennet as well.

Bennet schooled his features. Mr Darcy kept his eyes down; hence, he had not seen Becca, because if he had, he would have recognised her as his aunt’s niece.

The man in question made no rude comments, but he gave into his feelings of uncomfortableness and headed to a corner of the assembly hall, which housed a large potted plant, which he hoped would help hide him.

Elizabeth watched from her position between Jane and Charlotte as the tall, extremely handsome man stalked off across the room and took up station behind the indoor shrub. She was as sure as she could be that he was the unmet cousin, Mr Darcy. She ascribed his actions to his dislike of being among those he did not know and not because he thought himself above everyone else in the room.

She noticed Sir William leading the remaining members of the party towards where she, Jane, and Charlotte were standing. Elizabeth saw the instant that the younger man with the strawberry blond hair took note of Jane.

From his reaction, combined with Papa’s descriptions of him, she was sure it was Mr Bingley.