After breakfast the next day, Jane joined the others downstairs. Mrs. Hurst greeted her warmly. Along with Elizabeth, the ladies settled to discuss the arrangements for the ball. Miss Bingley lurked nearby, listening to a discussion about the menu for the dinner that would take place during the ball. Occasionally, she offered a suggestion, such as, “Do not forget to include Mr. Darcy’s favorite dishes. You would not wish to insult our dear friend.” Mrs. Hurst acknowledged the words with a nod, then continued her conversation as though her sister had not interrupted.
Jane joined the family for dinner and the discussion turned to when the Bennet sisters would return home. “I will write and ask Papa to send the carriage tomorrow,” said Elizabeth.
“There is no need for you to rush off,” replied Bingley. “You yourself said that Miss Bennet’s recovery would be best at Netherfield. We would not want to rush her and have her relapse.” Bingley addressed those words to Elizabeth, then turned to Jane. “You must be fully recovered, Miss Bennet, because I would like to take this opportunity to request your first two dances at the ball.”
Jane blushed becomingly at his request. “I am delighted to accept your kind offer, Mr. Bingley.”
The grinding of Miss Bingley’s teeth was almost audible to those nearby as she forced herself to not make a derogatory remark. A false smile quickly replaced her grimace as her expression turned from annoyed to cunning.
“Do you plan to follow my brother’s excellent example as well, sir? You indicated you would enjoy a ball. Surely, you will honor your host by dancing?”
“Indeed, I do,” agreed Darcy. Miss Bingley’s smile grew and she gave Elizabeth a condescendingly smug glare. Darcy turned his back on Caroline. In his deep, resonant voice, he asked, “Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the great honor of accepting my hand for the first two dances?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for your kind offer.”
Again, Caroline’s mouth flapped open before she descended into angry silence. What is wrong with Mr. Darcy, she wondered. He has changed considerably since we arrived in this little hamlet. I shall need to persuade Charles that we must get Mr. Darcy away from here for his own good. We would not wish to be blamed if he made an unsuitable and unwise choice of wife. If we allowed that to happen, Lady Matlock could ruin me in society. Then Caroline had another thought. Perhaps I should send an invitation to the Matlocks with a word of caution. Despite her displeasure with Mr. Darcy’s behavior, a satisfied smile appeared on her face, causing everyone to wonder what scheme Caroline was concocting.
Later that afternoon, while Jane was resting between meals, Elizabeth happened upon the gentlemen. “I am sorry to report that my mother says the carriage will not be available for several days. Perhaps we might borrow a carriage to return us home?”
Darcy and Bingley looked at each other before speaking. Neither gentleman truly wanted the ladies to depart. “Might I make a suggestion?” asked Darcy. “Perhaps you ladies would accompany us to church tomorrow. Then I could return you home and speak to your father, Miss Elizabeth. Would that suit?”
“We gratefully accept your offer, sir.”
Bingley cast a confused glance at his friend, wondering why Darcy would need to speak with Mr. Bennet. His confusion cleared when he saw the tender smile that Darcy and Miss Elizabeth shared. Bingley would have to make a point of talking to his friend before addressing Miss Bennet later in the day.
Two Courtships Begin
The arrival of the Bingley and Darcy carriages at the Meryton church on Sunday morning caused a great stir. As his vehicle led the procession, Mr. Darcy stepped down first and handed out Miss Elizabeth Bennet. They were followed by Mr. Bingley, who assisted Miss Jane Bennet. Each gentleman offered an arm to his companion and escorted her into the house of worship. When the couples entered, they noticed the Bennet family taking their seats. The gentlemen escorted the ladies to their family pew, where Mr. Darcy spoke briefly to Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet could not make out what was said but hated to lose the gentlemen’s company so soon. Consequently, the Bennet matron invited the gentlemen to join the family for Sunday dinner. Bingley was quick to accept the invitation for them both before the gentlemen took their seats across the aisle from the lovely Jane and Elizabeth.
The members of the congregation enjoyed the unexpected performance that came with the service. The families from Longbourn and Netherfield Park both sat in the first pew due to the fact that they were the largest estates in the area. Seated on the aisle directly across from each other, the four young people all tried to focus on the service, but occasionally heads would turn ever so slightly and eyes would stray either right or left. If the minister moved to one side of the altar or the other, the two young couples had an excuse to stare to their hearts’ content. When the service was over, the gentlemen quickly stepped into the nave and offered their arms to the ladies, leading them out of the church. Bingley whispered to his sister that they would not be joining the family for dinner. Darcy and his friend assisted the ladies into the carriage and headed towards Longbourn.
As the carriage traversed the short distance to the young ladies’ home, Darcy spoke. “I need to make a short trip to town to attend to a little business. I will leave early tomorrow morning and return in time to call on Friday afternoon.”
At Darcy’s first words, Elizabeth felt a sense of loss that surprised her, but the sensation ebbed as he spoke of returning before the end of the week. “I will miss you, sir. I believe we should not announce our relationship until you return.”
“You do not wish to announce our courtship?” The hurt in Darcy’s tone was obvious.
“You misunderstand, sir. I wish to announce it when you are present to share in the joy. It would be awkward having to explain why you are away when news of the announcement begins to spread.”
Darcy appeared mollified, but he worried that someone else might swoop in and steal Elizabeth while he was away. Not wishing Elizabeth to know of his concerns, he teased, “I hope you will not allow another gentleman to sweep you off your feet while I am away.”
Elizabeth’s initial reaction was to laugh, but something in the tightness of his jaw and the expression in his eyes alerted her to his true feelings. “You have nothing to worry about, Mr. Darcy. No one in Meryton has taken note of me for the last twenty years; I seriously doubt that will change in a few short days.”
After a delicious meal, the ladies departed, leaving the gentlemen to their port. As soon as the door closed behind both the ladies and the servants, Darcy took the opportunity to speak.
“Mr. Bennet, I greatly admire your daughter, Miss Elizabeth. Just before the ladies’ departure from Netherfield, I asked her for permission for a courtship. I am delighted to say that she accepted me. I hope you will grant your permission, sir.”
Studying the young man before him, Mr. Bennet considered not only the gentleman’s words but what he had observed of his daughter’s behavior. Elizabeth’s affection for the young man was evident when they had entered the church together that morning. “What do you expect from this courtship, sir?”
Darcy studied the gentleman before him, wondering what he meant. However, Darcy could not be anything but himself, which was evident in his reply. “I expect this to progress to its natural conclusion. I hope it will not be too long before Miss Elizabeth accepts my hand in marriage. I am sure of my feelings, sir, but a young lady as remarkable as Miss Elizabeth deserves to be courted and wooed properly. I will always ensure that she is happy and give her everything her heart might desire.”
The strength of Darcy’s feelings was evident in his words and tone. Mr. Bennet did not doubt the young man would do exactly what he said. “I am happy to give you my permission, Mr. Darcy, and I look forward to knowing you better.”
The smile which graced Darcy’s face showed his dimples. So startled was Mr. Bennet that he almost missed the words Darcy spoke. “May I make one last request, sir?” At Mr. Bennet’s nod, Darcy
continued. “Miss Elizabeth would like to hold off on the pronouncement of our courtship until the end of the week. You see, I need to make a quick trip to London for business. I will depart early tomorrow and return in time to call on Friday afternoon.”
“Very well, Mr. Darcy. I will wait to make the announcement. But you realize, sir, that you are forcing me to endure Mrs. Bennet’s effusions twice, as I have a suspicion that Mr. Bingley wishes to make a similar request of me.” Mr. Bennet glanced at the other young gentleman, who blushed from the roots of his hair to the tips of his ears but nodded his agreement. “Well, then, Mr. Bingley, what request did you wish to make of me?”
Tugging his waistcoat down and running a finger around the inside of his cravat, Bingley began. “I would like to request your permission to court Miss Jane Bennet. We spoke this morning and she accepted as well.”
“You, also, have my permission, Mr. Bingley. Did you wish to announce it now or wait for Mr. Darcy and make the announcements at the same time?”
“There is no need to wait, sir.”
“Should we join the ladies, then, and share the good news?”
The younger gentlemen arose with alacrity and hurried across the hall to join the ladies. While Darcy took his seat, Mr. Bennet prevented Bingley from leaving his side while beckoning to his eldest daughter. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr. Bingley has requested a courtship with our Jane, and I gave my permission.”
Mrs. Bennet’s shrill squeal of pleasure caused Darcy to start. Elizabeth looked at him with concern and a touch of embarrassment. Rather than cause Elizabeth any undue stress, he broke into a grin. Elizabeth smiled back. Leaning in close to Darcy’s ear, she whispered, “Now you know what to expect when Mama learns of our arrangement.” Darcy’s eyes widened, but he did not speak. Elizabeth’s soft giggle reached him and he knew it was in response to his surprised expression.
“Are you not curious as to what your father said to my request?” Darcy’s expression was so severe that Elizabeth felt a flutter of fear.
“Papa agreed, did he not? If he did not, I should be forced to change his mind.”
Darcy smiled at her words before discreetly squeezing Elizabeth’s hand. “That will not be necessary. Though I am delighted to know that you would fight for our relationship, if necessary.” Darcy gave Elizabeth his dimpled smile, which grew as he saw a deep blush suffuse her face.
The gentlemen stayed as long as politeness allowed. When it was time for them to depart, Mrs. Bennet requested that her two eldest daughters escort the gentlemen to the door. As Elizabeth passed her mother, Mrs. Bennet clutched her arm and hissed, “Keep Mr. Darcy out of the way to allow Jane and Mr. Bingley a proper goodbye.” When she finished speaking, she gave Elizabeth a little shove to hurry her along.
Jane and Elizabeth watched from the steps as the carriage started down the driveway. When it turned out of the gates and was no longer in sight, Elizabeth and Jane pulled their shawls tighter about them and locked arms. They strolled to the walled park and took a seat on a bench in the sunshine.
“How do you feel now that you are in an acknowledged courtship?” Elizabeth asked her elder sister and dearest friend.
“Oh, Lizzy! It feels wonderful! I never dreamed I would meet someone like Mr. Bingley. He is everything I have wished for since we were little girls. How about you, Lizzy? Papa gave his permission for your courtship as well.”
“I am very excited about getting to spend more time with Mr. Darcy. However, even this early in our relationship, we seem to share an unusually close connection. I find myself missing him already. I never expected to find a man who would accept me for who I am. Mr. Darcy likes my quick mind and pert opinions, and I truly enjoy having someone intelligent enough to debate. I feel very blessed that Mr. Bingley leased Netherfield Park and brought his good friend with him.”
“We are indeed the luckiest girls in the world,” said Jane. The sisters fell into each other’s arms for a warm embrace before collapsing into giggles. When they regained control of their laughter, they strolled arm and arm back to the house and up to their rooms.
Priming the Parson
The next morning at breakfast, Mr. Bennet said to his wife, “I hope you have ordered a good dinner for today, as we will have a guest joining us.”
“Oooh,” cried Mrs. Bennet. “Is Mr. Bingley joining us? I shall have to order an additional course for dinner.”
“It is not Mr. Bingley, though it would not surprise me to see him here today. It is, in fact, a gentleman known to us only by name. I received a letter from my cousin and heir, Mr. Collins, informing me that he will be arriving today and will stay for a fortnight.”
“I shall certainly not serve a better meal for that thief. How dare he invite himself to visit! He probably wishes to count the silver and take inventory of the house. Oh, how I hate that man.”
“You might wish to reserve your opinion, madam. In his letter, Mr. Collins indicates he intends to offer an olive branch and hopes to find a wife among our daughters.”
“Oh, that is wonderful. With Jane in a courtship, Elizabeth will be the perfect match for Mr. Collins. Then I shall be able to remain in my home when you are dead, Mr. Bennet.”
“No, Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth would not be a good match for Mr. Collins. Our daughter is far too intelligent for a simple country parson.”
“And whose fault is that? I told you it was a waste of time to educate her so. Elizabeth will need to learn to hold her tongue and learn her place as Mr. Collins’ wife.”
“Mrs. Bennet, I forbid you to put Elizabeth forward as a wife for Mr. Collins. I made another arrangement for Lizzy, which I will announce at the end of the week. So, as you can see, Elizabeth is not available either.” Mrs. Bennet looked at her husband doubtfully. She could not decide whether Mr. Bennet meant what he said or was trying to protect his favorite daughter.
“Well, my Lydia is too good for him, so I guess Kitty will have to do,” said Mrs. Bennet carelessly.
“I do not wish to marry a parson,” whined Kitty. “I want to marry an officer in a red coat.”
“Oh, hush, Kitty. You will do as you are told.”
Kitty burst into tears and ran from the table to the sound of her younger sister’s laughter.
“Mama,” said Jane, ever the peacemaker. “I think Kitty might be too young to handle the responsibilities that would come with being Mr. Collins’ wife. A parson’s wife should be familiar with the scriptures and knowledgeable in music in case she must play for the congregation.”
“That is true,” said Elizabeth. “She should be mature, of a serious nature, and capable of helping those in her husband’s parish.”
Mrs. Bennet looked at her daughters as if they had lost their senses. “Why on earth would a man wish to marry such a boring creature?”
“Such behavior is not boring to a man with a parson’s responsibilities. She is the perfect helpmate for someone in Mr. Collins’ position,” said Jane soothingly. “Surely with your wide acquaintance, you can think of someone who possesses those qualities?”
Mrs. Bennet was confused by Jane’s words. She looked around at the others at the table with her as though hoping to understand what Jane wanted from her. It was then that her eyes fell on her middle daughter. Mary’s head was bowed over her book of sermons and she did not see the gleam in her mother’s eyes, though both Jane and Elizabeth knew that her mother understood what they were trying to tell her. Mr. Bennet regarded the scene with a sardonic grin.
When Mrs. Bennet began shaking her head, he feared what thoughtless words might come from her mouth. Speaking before his wife had the chance to do so, he addressed his middle daughter. “Mary, Mrs. Johnson is feeling poorly, and I asked Mrs. Hill to prepare a basket for the family. Would you please deliver it to her right away?”
“Of course, Papa. I shall alert Mrs. Hill that I am ready to perform the errand before fetching my cloak and bonnet. That will give her time to pu
t in any final items.”
Mr. Bennet followed his daughter from the room and closed the door tightly behind him. Fortunately, the door muffled the sound of Mrs. Bennet’s wail.
“But, Mr. Collins will never choose the plainest of my daughters. What shall we do? He will pick someone else and we shall be thrown from our home to starve in the hedgerows.” Mrs. Bennet’s words ended on a sob as she fluttered her handkerchief in the air.
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged a look. “You go and rest until Mr. Collins arrives, Mama. Leave Mary to Lizzy and me. We shall even enlist the aid of Kitty and Lydia to ensure that Mary shines as the loveliest of the Bennet daughters during Mr. Collins’ visit.”
Jane and Elizabeth assisted their mother to her room and then turned down the hallway to solicit their younger sisters helping with Mary’s transformation. Elizabeth knocked on the door, then opened it when Lydia laughingly called, “Enter.”
When Kitty saw her elder sisters, she moaned, “I do not want to marry Mr. Collins!”
“You will not have to marry Mr. Collins if you both help us with a little project.”
“Oooh, what is it?” asked Lydia, always eager to engage in anything that seemed to offer a bit of excitement.
Jane and Elizabeth filled them in on the plan to turn the plainest of the Bennet sisters into the resident beauty. The sisters discussed a wardrobe and hairstyles that would best suit Mary. They also knew they would have to convince Mary to go along with the plan.
When Mary returned from visiting the Johnsons, one of Longbourn’s tenant families, she made her way up the stairs to rest in her room. She was surprised to find Jane and Elizabeth waiting within.
A Turn in Their Dance Page 9