by Tess Quinn
Caroline and Sir John had agreed to make their own announcement after dinner in the parlour, and as Sir John strolled off contentedly to his rooms to prepare, Caroline could not deny herself a moment of haughty pleasure. Oh yes, she thought, will it not be splendid when they find out who he is…
Chapter TwentyFour:
Drinks and Dinner
W
hen Caroline entered the small east drawing room for drinks, most of the house party was already assembled. All eyes had turned to Caroline as she had come in, but the reason she soon surmised – for Sir John was not yet present and most likely it was his entry that was eagerly awaited. Certainly she herself had never excited that kind of interest among this group and, indeed, on seeing it was Caroline who entered, everyone reverted back to their prior converse after quick acknowledgments. Charles was the exception; he approached Caroline to inquire what she would like to drink.
Mr and Mrs Darcy stood near the windows, Elizabeth’s arm threaded through her husband’s, and the two in intimate conversation with Georgiana Darcy standing opposite them. Such a quaint family portrait, thought Caroline with little charity, until she reminded herself that she no longer cared about the fate of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She was rather surprised to note that her reminder carried truth – other than wishing him general happiness from their prior acquaintance, Caroline found she could look upon Mr Darcy with no ill will, though an element of embarrassment still tinged her feelings to look upon him with his new wife. The idea that he considered Elizabeth as on a par with present company still made Caroline wince inwardly, but she had to admit that the pair were suited one to the other. She gave a quick thought to Miss Darcy’s upcoming season, however, and could not help but wonder how her young friend would fare on coming out without having the example of a seasoned woman to guide her.
Mr Hurst was firmly ensconced, unsurprisingly, in the most comfortable upholstered chair near the fireplace with a large glass of whiskey in his hand. From his glassy-eyed expression, Caroline doubted the drink to be his first of the evening. Louisa stood near her husband sipping sherry and muttering to Jane, who had joined her. Probably complaining about my summons here, thought Caroline.
Charles had just poured Caroline a sherry and was approaching her with it when the door opened yet again and Sir John entered. He addressed Charles, apologizing for his tardiness; which Charles waved away good-naturedly, taking the fault to himself for their overlong meeting that afternoon. Sir John then bowed a cordial greeting to Caroline, who curtseyed in return.
The room had fallen silent. All eyes were on Sir John and Caroline, as if at any moment an utterance of profundity might issue from one of them. Caroline coloured slightly at the expectation that shimmered in the air. When Sir John engaged Charles and Caroline in some converse about the fine situation of Netherfield, the others in the room lost interest – thinking no great revelation forthcoming – and reverted to their own discourses. But Caroline felt eyes on her from time to time and heard the unspoken questions that hovered. She smiled to herself, delighted in anticipation of revealing her news. And as she thought more of it, she reversed her initial discontent upon learning Darcy was present. She welcomed the expanded audience and enjoyed a brief moment of fantasy in seeing Elizabeth’s expression when Caroline introduced the real John Ravensby.
Sir John had only time to drink a quick whiskey before the bell announced dinner. The slight reverberating echo of the ringing had barely dissipated before Mr Hurst was on his way to the dining room, not standing on ceremony among family and leaving everyone else in his wake. Louisa stood, mouth agape, in indignation at the slight by her husband. But Sir John immediately crossed to Louisa, offered his arm and said, “May I have the honour to escort you to dinner, madam?”
After a second’s hesitation – Caroline could see in her mien that Louisa surmised one should not encourage too egalitarian a relationship with a solicitor – Louisa opted to accept the man rather than go to dinner unescorted. On their way to the door, they paused while Sir John offered Caroline his other arm. As the three turned to depart the room, Caroline noted Darcy and Bingley exchanging amused glances over the situation as Darcy led Lizzy and Georgiana to the door as well. Bringing up the rear, Charles and Jane smiled meaningfully. Yes, it would be an interesting evening all round!
~~~~~~
Joss and Sara sat in a far corner of the vast Netherfield kitchen to keep out of the way of the bustle of meal provision and delivery. Soup had just been served in the dining room, several platters of roasts, meats and vegetables were in the warming room for serving next, and preparations were in full swing for final courses thereafter. Joss and Sara had no part to play in this oft-rehearsed, complicated dance. Indeed, neither had any responsibilities until the party broke up later this evening, when they would assist their respective superiors in preparing for bed.
Sara noted that Joss was quieter than usual, preoccupied with something that appeared to concern him sorely. His brow was furrowed in thought, and he had not touched the cup of tea that Sara had placed in front of him several minutes ago; indeed it must be stone cold by now. He fidgeted in his seat as if beset by midges. Sara could not think what was bothering him so, but she determined to find out. “Joss, what troubles you?”
At first, it seemed Joss had not heard, his demeanour reflected no change. However, then he looked up at Sara, and just as quickly looked away as he said, “There is nought troubling me, Miss Sara. Why would you think so?”
Sara did not reply in words, just looked at Joss and maintained her eyes on him until in the silence that ensued he felt compelled to raise his own to her again. Though he looked on her fully, his eyes kept darting back and forth slightly, taking in her face in general but unable to settle on any feature in particular.
“Joss? Are you ill?”
The concern in Sara’s voice as she asked this finally gave Joss the daring he needed. He said, “I just need a breath, I think, it is stifling in here. Will you take some air with me outside the door?” Sara nodded – she would do anything for Joss – though she could not imagine his remarks, as it was quite drafty in this far corner of the kitchen. She was certain he must suffer a fever to be so flushed.
The two moved out of doors into the kitchen garden, Sara pulling her shawl tight around her shoulders for the chill in the air. Joss seemed not to feel it. His breathing was very shallow and rapid, only persuading Sara more that he was ailing. He stopped and took a few long, deep breaths, exhaling each slowly with eyes closed. Once his respiration had returned to a normal rate, he felt able to look at the maid yet again; and immediately the rapidity of breath returned.
“If you are not ill… well… are you concerned about Miss Caroline marrying your master? Are you fearful of your place, your standing with him if he should marry my mistress?”
Joss shook his head vigorously in denial, and practically shouted out, “No!” He made a show of calming himself then. “No,” he said more softly, “in fact, Sir John himself has made me secure on that matter. But there is something bothering me deriving from that… from their marriage, that is…” He stopped, frustration growing that he could not find the words he needed. Finally, his voice dejected, he said, “There is some thing on my mind, is all, and I must speak of it but I do not know how to begin.”
“What is it, Joss?” Sara was quite concerned now, for Joss’ breaths were so quick and shallow, he looked as though he might expire at any moment.
“Oh, hang it all,” he said. “I should learn just to say it and be finished for good or ill!” Joss, who had been pacing back and forth some three to four steps at a time, suddenly stood stock still in front of Sara. “Miss Sara Allen, would you consider…?... that is, do you think you…?... erm, …” He closed his eyes, unable to face the possibility of rejection. He gulped once, and finally blurted out, “Will you marry me?”
“Marry you!” Sara could not believe she had heard his words correctly. Yet Joss had opened his eyes once more the mome
nt she repeated his words, and he was looking at her with such expectation of a reply that she had to trust her hearing. She at once softened her reaction. “Marry you?” she repeated.
“Aye.” Now that the fateful words had escaped him, Joss felt quite calm. Sara could make him the happiest of men, or dash his hopes forever; but whatever the outcome, it was out of his own hands now. “Yes, please, if you can see your way to it. For I love you most awfully, Sara, have done since first I met you. You are the prettiest thing I ever did see, and a good head on your shoulders, and a heart bigger than anyone of my acquaintance.” He took on a shyness now, as Sara’s breathing had become rapid. “With Sir John and Miss Bingley to marry, we will be living under the same roof. I do not trust I can accomplish such a thing without knowing you to be mine in the bargain.”
Sara was speechless. This was more than she could have hoped. She had felt an attachment to Joss since their first meeting, and it had only grown with their subsequent pairings. An affirmative reply was on her lips when she suddenly recalled her responsibilities to Miss Caroline.
“But, Joss, what of Sir John and Miss Caroline? Whatever would they think?”
Joss shuffled his feet yet again, and replied. “I must own, Sara, that I have already asked them.” At this, Sara’s eyes bulged and her lips parted in surprise. “Or at the least, I have spoken to Sir John. He readily gave his support and, moreover, he appealed to Miss Caroline on our behalf and she has given her consent as well, as I understand; the Cap’n told me this evening as he was readying for dinner.” A tentative smile appeared as he again silently appealed to Sara for a reply.
Sara’s eyes grew large as she took in Joss’ words. She could not believe her good fortune and was unsure how to form a reply that could express her joy sufficiently. While she attempted to construct one, however, Joss was beginning to feel that her lack of an answer might spell disaster for him. Could he have misinterpreted her feelings for him? Was she searching for a way to reject him in such a way as to allow them to remain on good terms for the future? He began to feel truly ill with doubt.
Coming out of her own musings, Sara suddenly noticed that Joss’ smile had dimmed and the colour was draining from his face. Realizing that she had kept him waiting far too long for answer, she blushed and said, “I will. I will marry you, Joss McMahon, and gladly. For I do love you so well.”
With those words, she rushed into Joss’ arms. The young man buried his face in Sara’s curls and blessed his fortune. He heaved a sigh of relief, then, stepping back a little to see her face, he kissed his lady to the delight of both.
~~~~~~
Dinner had begun as a quiet affair. No one seemed certain how to introduce conversation that was unrelated to the questions on their minds which would be inappropriate to voice. The soup had been consumed in near silence; now that main course dishes were being served, Jane determined that the awkwardness of the situation must be dispelled. This was certainly not shaping up to be the intimate and comfortable, news-filled evening she had imagined with Lizzy and Darcy before Caroline’s party had arrived. Jane began converse by asking Georgiana, sitting to her right, her feelings on coming out over the next several weeks. The young lady expressed a mixture of excitement and nerves on the subject.
Jane noted that Darcy, sitting to her left, smiled on his sister’s replies like any doting father. From what she now knew of him, Jane could imagine that Darcy himself had hated his first few forays into society balls so many years ago now, and he had not faced the same pressures as a young woman must do. He gave his sister an encouraging smile on seeing her in comfortable discourse with Jane. Caroline, on Darcy’s left, began to reminisce with him about balls of particular absurdity they had attended, and then to counsel Georgiana on how best to enjoy her forthcoming season. With that, Jane was relieved to see conversations around the table finally erupt.
~~~~~~
Lizzy sat between Bingley at the end of table, and Sir John to her left. She noted that Bingley kept darting curious glances at his enigmatic guest, and could not help but wonder at the meeting the two men had engaged in before dinner. Sir John did not make a point of noticing Caroline Bingley across the table from him, but nor did he avoid her. He appeared perfectly at his ease. Lizzy could only consider Darcy’s conjecture regarding a relationship between Sir John and Miss Bingley. Certainly that lady appeared changed in great measure since the last time Lizzy had encountered her. While Bingley debated with Mr Hurst to his right the comparative merits of ruby or tawny Ports, Lizzy took the opportunity to address Sir John.
“I understand that you have been acquainted with my husband for some years, Sir.”
Ravensby gave Lizzy an appraising glance before replying, earning her a playful smile any rake might be proud to conjure. “Indeed, Mrs Darcy, that is true. I met your husband some six years ago. A fine gentleman, though our encounters have been sporadic over those years.” Changing the subject, Ravensby then added, “I believe you have only recently married, Mrs Darcy. Tell me, how do you find life in Derbyshire?”
From there, the conversation continued rather innocuously as Lizzy expounded on the merits of Pemberley to the concurrence of Sir John. She did manage to learn from the gentleman himself that he had been raised by a foster family some few miles from Pemberley lands; but he neither offered insights nor succumbed to veiled questions regarding his natural family’s home seat.
Louisa, on Sir John’s other side, spent her time at dinner listening distractedly to Caroline as she provided Georgiana with tips on entering society. Louisa, it appeared, had no intention of engaging Sir John in discourse, so it was left to Lizzy to carry on with him, a duty she accepted with relish.
“Sir John, I understand you have lived abroad for some time. What brings your return now to England?” Lizzy realized as the words escaped her that she had addressed the gentleman as ‘Sir’ John, a title not as yet introduced among the company. She glanced about her quickly, but it appeared no one had taken note of her converse at all with the exception of the man in question, who smiled and nodded in acknowledgement of the fact of her acquaintance with his identity.
Sir John considered Lizzy’s question for a moment, darted a glance to the other end of the table to Darcy as if to determine what he might have divulged to his wife, then replied, “Family responsibilities necessitated a return, Mrs Darcy; and though the initial circumstances were unfavourable, I have no regrets now in being restored to England. I will shortly be established permanently here once again, not some great distance from your own lovely home at Pemberley.”
“How wonderful, Sir!” Lizzy was careful not to repeat her previous blunder with his name. “I do hope our cave will not prove too drafty for you in the winter months.”
Ravensby laughed heartily at this, drawing curious glances from the table’s other occupants. “Ah, Mrs Darcy, I see you have heard of my first introduction to your husband.”
“I have indeed, Sir. And I must confess I am most impressed to meet a man who can best him. I admit, as well, that I am at a loss to take the measure of you from what little I have heard.”
“It is not difficult to best someone, madam, when you come upon them from behind unaware. I had the advantage of place and timing. I assure you I received my share of lumps in the encounter.” Sir John laughed at the memory. He pointedly ignored Lizzy’s last comment and said instead, “I believe your own family comes from hereabouts, do they not?”
“Yes, indeed they do. Mrs Bingley is my sister. And I have three others as well, two still at home only a few miles from Netherfield. You may yet meet them, Sir, if your business in Hertfordshire keeps you here some days; for I believe they are to dine with us at Netherfield tomorrow.”
“Alas, I must return to London tomorrow, though Caroline will stay some few days longer. I have business which must be addressed. A pity, as I would like to stay and enjoy the delights of your acquaintance and that of your family.”
Lizzy now noted Sir John’s familiar use
of Caroline's name; and his small slip, if that is what it had been, was enough to make her believe that her husband’s surmise was correct. There was an understanding between Caroline and Sir John. Lizzy had to permit that she had mixed feelings about this. Her husband obviously held a high regard for Sir John, and her own impression of him after their short conversation was positive as well. And it would be wonderful for Caroline to marry, finally shifting her former feelings for Darcy to another gentleman.
Yet Lizzy had difficulty picturing her former nemesis with this charming, intelligent, and humorous man. Moreover, he had alluded to establishing a home near Pemberley. Lizzy had to stifle her distaste at the thought that Caroline might be within too easy calling distance of her own home. Well, what could not be avoided would be dealt with in time. Lizzy also considered that if Sir John was leaving tomorrow, his business with Bingley must have been concluded; if there were to be any kind of announcement forthcoming, it must be made tonight. She looked forward to dinner ending if that be the case.
Her husband apparently looked forward to dinner’s end as well, if for different reasons. He darted occasional glances at his wife at her end of the table, his small smiles not hiding from her his sufferance at being in the middle of a decidedly female turn of conversation. Poor man, surrounded by women and forced to listen to conjectures and advice on Georgiana’s entry to society.
It was not enough that talk of balls and parties alone would try his patience, but Darcy was particularly fragile as well at Georgiana’s coming out. He loved his sister fiercely and, though he recognized that she was now a young woman, he still thought of her as the dependent and loving child he had protected these years. It was difficult for him to see her come into her own, and to face the prospect that she herself might find love with another gentleman. Darcy shared his sister’s dependence with their cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam gladly, but he was not yet prepared to allow other gentlemen into Georgiana’s affections, like many a good father. Lizzy knew when the time came, she would need to help Darcy come to terms with giving a large part of his sister away.