Page 18 of The Next Mrs Bennet

B ingley had never before seen such a perfect example of an angel. He had been infatuated with others before, but seeing this woman with perfect looks—deep blue eyes, golden blonde hair, flawless features, tall, and willowy—made the others pale in comparison. He could not wait for Sir William to make the introductions so he would be able to beg the beautiful creature for a set, or two, or three.

As soon as Mr Bingley’s eyes locked onto her, Jane could see that the report Mama and Papa had commissioned about his background had been completely accurate. He was leering at her as if she were a side of beef in the butcher’s shop.

“Mr Bingley, Mr and Mrs Hurst, and Miss Bingley,” Sir William had noticed that the man from Derbyshire had defected, “it is my pleasure to introduce you to my eldest daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Frank Phillips. I am sure you know Phillips, as he is Netherfield Park’s agent.”

Caroline Bingley cared not about some lowly knight’s offspring; she almost urged the man to introduce the two ladies standing next to his daughter. Miss Bingley could smell quality from fifty yards away, and although their gowns were not nearly as fashionable as her own, there was no mistaking the quality. The simple dresses the two were wearing were far above the gowns most of the mushrooms in attendance were wearing.

Suddenly it hit Caroline: when the knight introduced the lady as Mrs Bennet, and the daughter as Mary, she had not paid attention to their outfits. She had assumed that there was no world in which Lady Rebecca would be known as Mrs anything and not by her title. She remonstrated with herself for not paying more attention to the lady, her son, and her daughter.

Caught up in her thoughts, she turned to a lady nearby. “Is Mrs Bennet’s familiar name Rebecca?” she asked without introduction.

It just so happened that the lady she turned to was Beth Bennet, who was sitting with Mrs Goulding and Mrs Purvis, the mothers of the current masters of the two respective family estates. “I am sorry, Miss… We have not been introduced, so it would be improper of me to reply to you,” Beth stated with an expressionless face. “It seems Sir William was attempting to introduce you to two of my granddaughters; mayhap they will be able to gratify your curiosity.”

The setdown she intended to deliver froze in her throat when Caroline noted that the older matron’s gown was the same quality as the two younger ladies. She was snapped out of her thoughts by Sir William.

“Miss Bingley, I was about to introduce these two diamonds of the first waters to you; would you like me to continue?” Sir William enquired.

“Please,” Miss Bingley responded curtly.

“It is my pleasure to make known Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Sir William drawled.

“Miss Bennet, may I have your first available set?” Bingley requested.

“My third is available, Mr Bingley,” Jane replied coolly. She had considered refusing him, but she decided not to sit out for the whole of the assembly.

Bingley was disappointed that she had not granted him her first set. As such, he asked Mrs Phillips to dance; she granted him the second as she was to dance the first with her husband. Miss Elizabeth wrote his name in for the fourth set as she was to partner someone for the opening set.

It took all of her self-control to not interject while her brother asked for dances. Caroline was certain these were the Duke of Devonshire’s granddaughters. Surely there were not another two ladies in the realm, both named Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet, who were sisters, in the age order she expected them to be. Providence had smiled on her to find the ladies she had dreamed of meeting. It was shocking it had occurred here in this little nowhere hamlet.

If things went according to her plans, she would no longer need Mr Darcy and his connections. The granddaughter of a duke was much better than the nephew of an earl. “Miss Bennet, did you have your coming out ball during the Little season of 1807? And Miss Elizabeth, was yours during the same season of 1809?” Miss Bingley enquired excitedly.

Jane and Elizabeth looked at one another. As much as they did not want to confirm this social climber’s suspicions, they also would not dissemble. Lizzy gave a tight nod. “Yes, Miss Bingley, those were the dates of Lizzy’s coming into society, as well as my own two years prior,” Jane acknowledged.

“Miss Bingley, it is almost time for the first dance; may we defer any more interrogation until we are in a less public setting?” Elizabeth requested.

“Of course, Miss Elizabeth,” Miss Bingley agreed deferentially.

‘ And the fawning begins ,’ Elizabeth thought as she shook her head. Thankfully, she was rescued when Brandon Goulding collected her for the dance.

Bingley felt somewhat put out; Miss Bennet had not been led to the floor by anyone. “Miss Bennet, as you are not dancing the first, may I have it?” he asked enthusiastically.

“Mr Bingley, it is not my habit to prevaricate. If my opening set had been open, I would have told you. Although I am not dancing, I am occupied for it. Thanks to the war with the Corsican tyrant, there is a dearth of men in the area. So that all ladies have an opportunity to dance, we ladies all sit out two sets. The first is one of mine tonight,” Jane explained, fighting to keep the exasperation from her voice.

Miss Bingley was thankful she had listened to Miss Bennet’s explanation as she was about to promote her brother as her partner. She would remain quiet for now, but she would make sure Charles offered for this angel. He had at long last discovered one who met with Caroline’s criteria for his wife. There was no more need to wait for Miss Darcy to come out; Miss Bennet was already in society.

“In that case, may my brother and I sit with you during the first two dances?” Miss Bingley cooed.

“Possibly another time, my parents expect me. I will be with them when it is time to dance the third,” Jane stated and walked towards her parents before Mr or Miss Bingley could importune her again.

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

The third set was one in which Elizabeth chose to sit out. She found an open chair to rest her feet, which happened to be near her cousin by marriage, who she had never met. The other advantage was that it was far from Miss Bingley, who had taken any opportunity to attempt to ingratiate herself with the Bennets. It had not escaped her notice that Mr Darcy had not taken to the dance floor with anyone yet. Elizabeth was fully aware of his discomfort among strangers, but surely, as a gentleman seeing many ladies sitting out, he should have thought to dance with some of them.

She watched as Mr Bingley danced with Jane. From the obvious discomfort in her body language, Elizabeth had to assume Mr Bingley was extolling Jane’s beauty and speaking of nothing else.

For his part, Bingley could not understand why Miss Bennet seemed so very standoffish. She had not thanked him for any of the many compliments he had paid her beauty. Not only was she far prettier than any other of his previous angels, but Caroline approved of this one. More than that, his younger sister had urged him to make himself agreeable to Miss Bennet, hence the compliments. Why they all seemed to fall flat, he could not fathom. The first dance of the set ended. During it, he had noticed Darcy trying to blend in with a large potted plant.

“Miss Bennet, will you excuse me while I go to speak to my friend? I will return anon,” Bingley stated before he turned and made towards Darcy.

Even though it was rather rude to leave her standing in the middle of the dance floor, Jane could not object to some time alone without her current dance partner’s inanities about her beauty. The man was an empty vessel who lacked substance. It had not taken Jane long to divine that the report was accurate regarding the fact that Miss Bingley led her brother about by the nose. She could also see that when the investigator called him capricious, he had been accurate.

Darcy had been lost in his own world when he had seen Bingley dancing with whom he was sure was his friend’s latest angel. Now he watched as Bingley left his partner and headed towards himself. The last thing he desired was for Bingley to importune him about dancing.

Bingley stopped in front of his friend. “Come, Darce,” Bingley said, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you sitting or standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. The next set will begin after this upcoming dance. You had much better dance.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. I will not even dance with your sisters tonight, and there is not another woman in the room with whom it would not be a punishment for me to stand up with.”

“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Bingley, “for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening, and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.”

“ You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the beauty to whom he had not been introduced.

“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Allow me to introduce you.”

“Which do you mean?” Turning round he looked for a moment at the woman, until catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly began to say: “She is toler…” Suddenly, what he had seen registered with his brain. How could this be; she looked like a younger version of Aunts Elaine and Anna? At the same time, his resolution to be better reminded him that there were far better ways to have Bingley cease importuning him, ones which did not include insulting an unknown lady. He turned and looked at her again, this time with a much longer look, which except for a darker shade of hair and emerald-green eyes confirmed that she looked just like his aunts. She looked back at him, not flinching, but rather in challenge. “I mean, would you please make the introduction?” Darcy requested.

At first, Bingley’s mouth hung open. This was not like Darcy, but Bingley’s wits returned. He made the introduction before hurrying back to where Miss Bennet was waiting for him.

“After so many years of not seeing you at family events, we finally meet,” Elizabeth stated.

“Family events?” Darcy repeated. Suddenly he remembered how Andy and Rich had told him how sorry they were that he had not ever met their cousins and his cousins by marriage over the years. “You are one of Lady Rebecca’s daughters.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“That she is,” Becca replied from behind Mr Darcy. She and Thomas had been circling the dancefloor speaking to friends and acquaintances when they had been close enough to hear the exchange between Messrs Darcy and Bingley. They had been pleased when their cousin had caught himself before saying something indecorous. They had also heard when he realised who Lizzy’s mother was. “Except hereabouts, I am called Mrs Bennet, and had you not been more interested in the floor when Sir William introduced the Netherfield Park party to me, you would have known you have family in the neighbourhood.”

“Please accept my apologies if I did not wait to be introduced properly; it felt like the walls…” Darcy began to explain.

“We know. Rich has informed us that you do not do well in crowds of strangers,” Elizabeth revealed. “He also mentioned you are sometimes somewhat offensive, as I believe you were about to be when you stopped yourself?” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at her cousin.

“I will not lie to you; I was about to speak some rather ill-advised words to cause Bingley to cease importuning me. In the recent past, my improper pride almost caused a disaster, and I am trying to be better. It was that as much as recognising Aunts Elaine and Anna in Miss Elizabeth’s face that stopped me before I was rather rude,” Darcy owned.

“Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, and Rich will arrive next week. They and the rest of our family, who will arrive on the morrow, are to spend some time visiting Longbourn,” Becca related. “You are, of course, welcome to call on us any time.”

“You are the cousins Giana will be visiting with the Fitzwilliams,” Darcy realised.

“I will be glad to see your sister again; it has been about ten years since we met her at Snowhaven. You and your late father were at Glen Morgan Heights, so we did not meet you as well,” Elizabeth declared.

“Your middle name is Georgiana, is it not?” When Elizabeth nodded, he continued, “I remember Giana gushing about a cousin she met whose middle name was the same as hers.” Darcy paused. “If Miss Bingley realises who you are and what your connections are, she will attempt to ingratiate herself to you…” He stopped when Cousin Bennet raised his hand.

“We know all about our tenants ,” Bennet revealed. “We never allow a lease on Netherfield Park until we have had the prospective lessee thoroughly investigated. Based on Mr and Miss Bingley’s characters, it could have gone either way with regards to his being awarded the lease.”

“It is your estate?” Darcy asked in wonder. Obviously, his assumptions about the neighbourhood were all wrong.

“Mama and Papa are managing it until Tommy is five and twenty. It is then that my younger brother will take ownership of his estate. Henry,” she inclined her head to her twin, who was dancing with Julia Long, “will have Longbourn one day. As far as Miss Bingley goes, I am afraid the cat is already out of the bag. Based on her consumption of the society and gossip pages, she puzzled out who we are.”

“It is good to meet you, Mr and Mrs Bennet,” Darcy gave a half bow. “I will do what I am able to keep Miss Bingley at bay.”

“We are family, so please address us as Becca and Bennet,” Bennet allowed. “Do not concern yourself with Miss Bingley; we know how to deal with ones of her ilk.” He paused as he cogitated. “There is one thing you may be of assistance in.”

“Anything,” Darcy averred firmly. “And please call me Darcy. You may have heard that I am called Fitz by some family. I do not love the name, but answer to it.”

“You may not be able to tell this, but Jane is obviously very uncomfortable in Mr Bingley’s company.” Bennet’s eyes rested on the couple who were coming to the end of their second dance. “Jane dislikes being seen for her looks only, and besides that, she is about to become engaged to another of your cousins.”

“Andy!” Darcy exclaimed. “Before he left for India, I had heard he was in love with a cousin; now I know which one. You know he is expected in the next few weeks, do you not? It will be my pleasure to help; I will warn Bingley off.”

“We do know that. And thank you for your assistance in this, Cousin,” Becca responded. “Jane is a strong woman, but we would rather her not have to fend off unwanted attentions. You may want to remind your friend to review his lease. There are certain clauses which call for eviction if he contravenes them, regardless of intent.”

Seeing Lizzy was comfortable with Darcy, Becca and Bennet continued their slow promenade around the room.

“Cousin Elizabeth, may I have the honour of your next open set?”

“You may have the fifth set, Cousin Fitz , but I do have a condition,” Elizabeth allowed, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “I am to dance the next set with your friend.”

“Then I look forward to the fifth set. What is the condition?”

“With our mutual cousin a colonel, you must be aware of how many young men are in the army.”

Darcy allowed it to be so.

“It is why we all sit out two sets; I just did so for the first of the two I will not dance. Nevertheless, there are some young ladies who have not, or hardly danced at all. I will point out four, and you must stand up with at least two of them.” Darcy agreed to the condition. Elizabeth pointed the ladies out without pointing at them directly. She was impressed he had accepted her condition without hesitation. Mama had had the right of it when she insisted Elizabeth keep an open mind regarding the tall, handsome man next to her.

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

Jane was never happier for a set to end than she was when the last bars of the Boulanger sounded and her time with Mr Bingley was thankfully over. If she heard one more word from him extolling her beauty, she was sure she would have screamed.

“Miss Bennet, may I request a second set from you?” Bingley asked after he led her to the side near where her parents were standing.

“No, Mr Bingley, you may not. We have only just met, and I do not dance a second set with any man unless I am well acquainted with him. I do not care for the inference people would draw if I granted a man I only met this night a second set,” Jane refused.

Bingley was not used to being refused by any of his angels. Before he could respond, Miss Bennet had curtsied and had rejoined her parents.

“Charles, why did you allow Miss Bennet to refuse to dance a second set with you?” Miss Bingley hissed near his ear. “You must win her over. It is my…our path to the heights of society. To be connected to the Duke of Devonshire would fulfil all of our late mother’s dreams for us.”

Caroline Bingley was determined that one way or another Charles would marry Miss Bennet and that she would become a close connection of the Duke’s family.

There was nothing Bingley wanted more than to spend additional time with his angel at the assembly, but he knew not how, especially after she had flatly rejected the idea of a second set of dances. The next dance was forming, so Bingley collected Miss Elizabeth. As the dance began, he had to admit she was also very pretty, but she was not tall, willowy, or blonde, and her eyes were not a deep shade of blue. Worse, Bingley could tell she was far too intelligent for himself.

He looked across, and there was Darcy dancing with some unknown woman. Bingley almost fell over his own feet with the great shock of seeing his friend dancing with someone not of their own party.

Elizabeth saw her cousin was standing up with Prudence Long, who was one of the girls who was very seldom asked to dance. She hoped that seeing Mr Darcy dance with her would encourage other men to stand up with Pru. There was almost no conversation with Mr Bingley; it seemed that when he could not pontificate on a lady’s looks, he had little to say.

At the end of the dance, Bingley escorted Miss Elizabeth back to her parents. He had not gone far when Darcy called him to himself.

“Bingley, did you know that Miss Bennet is being courted by my cousin, Viscount Hilldale?” Darcy asked. “I had heard that as soon as he returns to England, which will be shortly, he will be proposing to her. I assure you he will not be well pleased if another man is importuning her. You should know that even though I did not realise I had family in the area, the Bennets are my cousins.”

“As long as she is not engaged, there is no reason for me not to pursue her,” Bingley whined petulantly.

“I thought you had more honour than that. It is not the done thing to attempt to sway a lady already being courted. I have warned you; if you ignore my words, you do so at your own peril,” Darcy told his friend pointedly. Having said what he wanted to say, he turned and headed to where Cousin Elizabeth was in order to collect her for their dance.