Follies and Nonsense

by Martin Hunnicutt

  “Unless you ask me to remain longer,” Caroline interrupted hopefully.

  “No, I wish we could remain in town but my parents leave for the country Saturday and will close the house until next year.”

  Frowning Caroline sighed, “It is a shame that ladies cannot stay in town without chaperones!”

  “Miss Bingley, you are quite scandalous!” Mrs. Myers said though she giggled in the same manner as Abigail.

  Well, I suppose you are correct,” Caroline agreed. “Though I fear the winter in Hertfordshire will be long and dark.”

  “Miss Bingley, I would like to propose that you and I travel in my carriage on Friday rather than your brother’s conveyance. I go to my sister’s home in Bedfordshire on Saturday and since I go through Hertfordshire, it will be quite convenient.

  “And you must stay with us for the evening then,” Caroline told Mrs. Meyers. “I shall write to my brother now and tell him that we shall arrive before supper.”

  “Excellent!”

  “And next spring, we three shall have to attend the theatre and parties together,” Abigail insisted. While Mrs. Myers enthusiastically endorsed the notion, Caroline merely smiled.

  ++**++

  Chapter 46.

  Entertaining New Guests at Netherfield

  Charles Bingley slid from his horse outside Longbourn and handed the reins to one of the stable boys. Approaching the door, he heard loud laughter from the parlour and hesitated to knock but Mr. Hill had heard his approach and threw the door open.

  “Good morning, Mr. Bingley,” the Longbourn butler greeted. “The family is gathered in the parlour with His Lordship.”

  “Pardon?” Bingley asked.

  “The Earl of Rutherford arrived this morning and the family is gathered with him in the parlour.”

  “Bingley! Welcome to Longbourn,” greeted Mr. Bennet as he walked from his library with a book. “You are just in time! His Lordship has asked for maps of the West Indies – he wants to see where my adventures took me.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Bennet. I hope I am not intruding.”

  Mr. Bennet grinned. “Bingley – you will be my son soon. Your presence is never an intrusion. Besides Jane depends upon your support in reining in her mother’s planning for your wedding. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Lucas are here – they need your support as well to survive the discussion of lace and draperies for weddings.”

  “Mr. Bennet, may I inquire why an earl is in your parlour?”

  Thomas Bennet stopped and opened his mouth to answer but did not say anything for a moment. “Has no one explained that Jane brings a great many connections to your marriage?”

  “I love Jane, sir. Whatever her connections, they are not my concern.”

  “Very well, but they will benefit you greatly,” Mr. Bennet told Bingley. “Jane’s sister Elizabeth was married to Viscount Hamilton and with the passing last February of the viscount’s uncle, my grandson became the Earl of Bailey. Jane’s sister is now the Countess of Bailey. Earl Rutherford is her father-in-law and he has come to join me in approving Mr. Darcy.”

  Bingley grinned, “Do you think Darcy will pass your tests?”

  “Oh certainly… Lizzy and Mrs. Bennet will see to it that we agree to the marriage and Master Matthew refuses to be separated from ‘Darcy’ before bedtime now.”

  ++**++

  After supper that evening, when the gentlemen separated from the ladies for a few moments, the Earl of Rutherford and Mr. Bennet approached Mr. Bingley with a request.

  “Mr. Bingley, may I impose upon you?” asked the Earl of Rutherford.

  “Certainly sir, how may I be of assistance?”

  “My son and his bride will join me here in Hertfordshire for a few days to visit with Elizabeth and Matthew, and I wondered if they might stay at Netherfield?”

  “Longbourn is full, I fear,” Mr. Bennet said. “His Lordship has taken my chambers, though Mrs. Bennet does not complain of my company yet.”

  The two older gentlemen shared a joke about old goats, though Bingley blushed bright red at the reference.

  “Your son, sir?”

  “Yes, Viscount Lyndon and his young wife, Lady Gwendolyn – they were married August past and wished to visit if we can find room.”

  Bingley brightened and nodded his head, “My sister and I would be grateful for the opportunity to host your son and daughter, Your Lordship. Please write them to come ahead.”

  “Uh, Mr. Bingley… your sister?” Mr. Bennet fumbled with his concern for another meeting with Miss Bingley.

  Bowing and blushing, Bingley explained, “I refer to my elder sister, Mrs. Hurst; she is acting as hostess in my home. My younger sister, Caroline, is staying with friends in London for a fortnight. She will not attend the ball.”

  “What a shame,” Earl Rutherford said. “I looked forward to the beheading; between Elizabeth and Gwendolyn, I believe your sister would have had a most interesting evening.”

  “Rutherford, you must not embarrass the young man. He will be my son and Elizabeth’s brother soon enough.”

  “Capital! Our family and connections increase! Thank you, Mr. Bingley. Lyndon and Gwendolyn will arrive on Monday, the day before the ball at Netherfield and I am certain they will enjoy their stay.”

  ++**++

  The next morning, while breaking their fast, Charles shared the news of their impending visitors and watched Louisa’s face carefully as she fully comprehended his news.

  “Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton is the Countess of Bailey. Her young son is the Earl of Bailey,” Louisa repeated her brother’s words as the sound of her own voice helped to make the words true. She looked at her husband and asked, “And her father-in-law is the Earl of Rutherford?”

  “Yes, and her brother, Viscount Lyndon and his bride, Lady Gwendolyn, will remain with us four nights next week,” Charles repeated.

  “Lady Gwendolyn will be our guest?” Louisa asked.

  “Yes, they arrive on Monday and stay through Friday morning. I believe the earl said they had to return to London for a party at the Howell home on Saturday.”

  “Lady Gwendolyn will attend our ball? At Netherfield?” Louisa asked.

  “My dear, your arrangements are perfect!” Mr. Hurst told his wife who glanced at him suddenly with alarm. Looking back at her brother, he supported Mr. Hurst’s statements.

  “Lady Elizabeth has endorsed your plans for decorations, refreshments and the supper, Louisa,” Charles reminded her. “Lady Gwendolyn is the younger sister there and will follow her older sister’s lead.”

  “Oh, my!” Mr. Hurst suddenly said and then laughed before he looked at his wife and brother. “What do you think Caroline will say?”

  “Oh! Charles, what ‘will’ Caroline say?” Louisa asked.

  Charles shrugged after a long moment. “I do not believe that we can invite Caroline to return. You will remember her clear preference for not mixing with any of Mrs. Hamilton’s relatives in the future.”

  Mr. Hurst laughed again. “Do you think her tune would change if she knew Mrs. Hamilton was the Countess of Bailey?”

  Louisa nodded her head, “She would sing Lady Elizabeth’s praises but I fear the hole she dug is so deep, nothing could redeem her character and allow the relationship to begin again.”

  “If only she had not insulted the boy so to his mother’s face,” Mr. Hurst reminded his wife and brother though the grin on his face belied the concern in his voice.

  ++**++

  On Monday afternoon, a fine carriage arrived at Netherfield and delivered Viscount Lyndon and Lady Gwendolyn Rutherford in time for tea. Charles Bingley stood with his sister and her husband at the door to greet his guests who were quickly ushered into the parlour to meet with Earl Rutherford, Lady Elizabeth and her son, Matthew. Introductions proceeded with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as Lady Elizabeth’s intended, and then Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet and the remaining ladies of Longbourn and Miss Darcy.

  Elizabeth watched her brother speaking with Willia
m for many minutes as the Earl and her father stood in attendance. Matthew’s preference for Darcy would help convince the viscount of the man’s suitability for the match.

  “Mrs. Bennet, how did you manage to have so many beautiful daughters?” Lady Gwendolyn asked. “If the Bennet sisters attended a London ball, the Prince Regent would dance the entire evening!”

  “Lady Rutherford, how very kind of you to say so,” Mrs. Bennet blushed. “My girls are lovely but I am pleased to see our family grow with more lovely sisters!”

  ++**++

  Chapter 47.

  The Fox Hunt Ball at Netherfield

  At Longbourn, Lord Rutherford and his valet finalized his preparations for the ball.

  “Everything will be well, My Lord,” the valet fussed. “The coat fits perfectly on your shoulders.”

  “I am not a young man Carson, but I must make a suitable presentation to uphold my family’s position.”

  “In Hertfordshire, sir?”

  The earl smiled, “My family will have connections here for many years and I may be here many times in the future. It will bolster my position to always be well dressed.”

  ++**++

  In their chambers at Netherfield, Viscount Lyndon knocked on the dressing room door and then entered to find his bride and her maid fussing congenially over her hair.

  “Lyndon! Come here!” Gwendolyn called when she saw his figure in the mirror.

  “Yes, my dear?”

  “Which looks better in my hair – the red ribbon or the cream ribbon?”

  The maid smiled – Lady Gwendolyn Howell would never have thought to consider a man’s opinion. But discovering that her new husband was thoughtful and kind, she turned to him with many matters.

  “My lady wife, how could I say?” Lyndon asked as he stepped closer and taking the ribbons from the maid’s hand, laid them across his sleeve. His dark blue coat reflected the red and cream ribbons.

  “The cream ribbon, definitely,” Gwendolyn decided. “It will look best with your coat my dear.”

  ++**++

  “Are you almost ready?” Kitty asked Lydia. “Georgiana and I are ready to go downstairs.”

  “I do not care for my hair,” Lydia cried. “How can I ever be noticed? You and Georgie will capture the hearts of every soldier when we step into the ballroom? I am too plain!”

  “Lydia! That is not true,” Georgiana assured her friend. “And when we perform before the dancing, the gentlemen will love your voice! You and Kitty sing so prettily now!”

  “And no one has prettier gowns than we three,” Kitty insisted. “Mrs. Barrow and our sisters sewed the three loveliest gowns in England.”

  ++**++

  “Mrs. Hamilton! Mrs. Hamilton!” called Mrs. Hill.

  Turning from the mirror where Jane and Mrs. Barrow were just finishing her hair, Elizabeth saw the housekeeper come into the room and curtsey.

  “Yes, Hill? What is it?”

  “Your father asks me to tell you that Mr. Darcy’s carriage has pulled into the drive. If you and Miss Bennet would be so good as to make your way downstairs, the carriages can depart and your evening can begin,” the housekeeper said.

  The sisters exchanged excited smiles as they pulled on their gloves and warm wraps for the late November evening. Down the stairs, Elizabeth and Jane found their parents, sisters, and guests waiting.

  Mr. Hill opened the front door to allow Mr. Darcy and his cousin to enter. Greetings took a few minutes and Darcy made mention of the loveliness of each lady’s gown. The smile he gave his sister included a tinge of wistfulness – she was growing up quickly. But the smile from Elizabeth emboldened Darcy and when he took her hand, he brought to his lips for kiss in front of her family that made the youngest ladies giggle and brought smiles to the older sisters and parents.

  “Here! Here!” protested the earl. “Leave some heat for the marriage!”

  Darcy and Elizabeth both blushed and each wondered if the winter and spring would proceed as slowly as the last week.

  “We must depart,” Mr. Bennet said. “The punch and supper will be gone if we do not hasten to Netherfield.”

  “Mr. Bennet! They will not start the supper for two hours at least!” Mrs. Bennet argued. “And there will be punch enough for all!”

  But the lady allowed her husband to escort them to the carriages and Longbourn grew quiet as the servants arranged the ladies’ rooms, valets straightened the gentlemen’s coats and the nanny watched her charge sleep.

  The drive to Netherfield was accomplished quickly with the good teams of horses and as they turned into the drive leading to the house, they found the way lined with torches. The entrance of the manor house was lighted by more torches, and the interior of the house was bright with hundreds of candles reflecting in mirrors and brass sconces.

  As the first carriage halted and the Netherfield footmen opened the door, Mr. Bennet and Lord Rutherford stepped down to turn around and help Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Mary step down. From the second carriage, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam helped Elizabeth, Jane, Georgiana and Lydia step down.

  “May I escort you inside Miss Lydia?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “Yes, thank you colonel,” Lydia replied. “This is my first time at a ball and I am quite nervous.”

  At the door, Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst greeted each guest as they stepped inside Netherfield. When Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at the door with Miss Bennet on one arm and Miss Lydia on the other, Mr. Bingley deserted his sister for a few minutes to escort Jane to the ballroom.

  There were guests from every house in the neighbourhood as well as Viscount Lyndon and Lady Gwendolyn. Elizabeth and Darcy parted company for a time as they spoke and greeted many acquaintances and friends.

  After some time passed, Elizabeth found herself with Charlotte Lucas discussing plans for a supper at Lucas Lodge to mark the Christmas holidays. The musicians were tuning their instruments and from the corner of her eye, she saw movement toward the centre of the room. Turning, she saw her father leading her mother toward the dance floor, followed by Mr. Bingley and Jane, Mr. Lucas and Mary.

  Now she turned around again, with only moments left before the dancing commenced, she looked for William – and there he was, looking serious as always but with a light in his eyes as he closed the final steps to her side. She smiled as her heart beat faster seeing her future husband coming close, smelling his cologne and catching his dark eyes. With a bow, he claimed her hand and she curtsied in return.

  “You are lovely, Lady Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered.

  Smiling, Elizabeth replied, “Am I? Then it is because I am happy.”

  “And why are you happy tonight?”

  Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she moved to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in her neighbours’ looks, their interest in beholding the couple – a countess engaged to the rich and notable man. They stood for a moment without speaking a word; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances.

  “The company is very pleasant tonight,” she observed.

  He replied, “I seldom have seen a more pleasant gathering for a ball.” But then he was again silent.

  After a pause of almost a full minute, she addressed him a second time with, “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”

  Guiding her through the steps he replied, “I shall be glad to say whatever you wish, Lady Elizabeth.”

  “Very well; that reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones.”

  “Perhaps pleasanter but with your company, I believe I could be happy at a courtly presentation where no one speaks the entire time.”

  “Indeed? Are there rules that govern conversation at court?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I am certain there are but
I attend so infrequently that I do not know them – perhaps Sir William can educate us?”

  Her face broke open with a smile. “Mr. Darcy! How can you make a joke while we are attempting to dance? We must be silent if you can only tell jokes to attempt to make me laugh!”

  “Which do you prefer; silence or laughter?” he inquired. “Am I to understand that you talk by rule while you are dancing?”

  “Sometimes; one must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together and yet we should not be raucous; conversation ought to be so arranged, as that we may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.”

  “Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”

  “Both, for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds,” replied Elizabeth archly. “We are of an unsocial disposition, unwilling to speak unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity.”

  “Lady Elizabeth, that bears no striking resemblance to your own character, I am sure,” said he. “How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say.”

  She smiled and replied, “I have no reservations regarding your character, Mr. Darcy. You are the very best of men.”

  Pleased with his partner’s characterization, he made no immediate answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance. Recovering himself, he turned to his partner, and said, “Your flattery has made me forget what we were talking of.”

  “We have tried two or three subjects already without success, and what we are to speak of next I cannot imagine,” she replied

  “What think you of books?” asked he, smiling.

  “Books, oh no! I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same feelings.”

  “I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.”