An Unwanted Proposal: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

by Lane Cossett

  “Elizabeth are there not some flowers that you wish to show Jane?” asked Mrs. Gardiner as tea came to an end.

  Elizabeth almost said ‘no’, before realising that her aunt was affording her an opportunity to speak to her sister alone.

  “Yes there is. Jane do you remember the flowers that I spoke about that I saw when I toured Derbyshire?”

  Miss Bingley sniffed. “I am sure that it is something that I would like to see myself.”

  “And you will Miss Bingley,” said Mrs. Gardiner, quickly “but I have heard from Elizabeth, that you are particularly skilled at embroidery and I am planning a wall hanging and would welcome your views.”

  Elizabeth nearly choked with laughter. She could see how Miss Bingley was torn between wanting to follow them out into the garden or advise Mrs. Gardiner. Fortunately, Miss Bingley’s vanity won and she readily acknowledged that her embroidery had been widely praised and had even been asked to submit one piece to the Royal Academy exhibition for the following year.

  “We will be with you in a moment Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth understood the hint. They did not have long, but if it had not been for her aunt they would not have had the chance to talk at all.

  As soon as they were out in the garden, Elizabeth drew her sister as far away from the house as possible.

  “Jane what ails you? I have never seen you look so ill?”

  “Not even when I was sick at Netherfield?” asked Jane, with a slight smile.

  Elizabeth grimaced. “Well apart from that. But you do not look well at all.”

  “Oh Lizzy I am a little tired. I am not sure why, but I have not been sleeping well. Mr. Bingley insisted on consulting a doctor, but he has said that I am suffering from malaise and this it is common in newly married women.”

  Elizabeth looked doubtful. She though if Jane was happy her complexion would not look so pale.

  “And are you and Mr. Bingley happy?”

  Jane’s face was drawn. “Yes. Lizzy we are. He could not have a kinder or more thoughtful husband. I only fear that I am not the best of wife.”

  “I do not believe it,” said Elizabeth quickly. She looked down the garden, she could see Mrs. Gardiner coming down the steps with Miss Bingley.

  “Jane I wanted to ask you about the strange behaviour of our father,” she said quickly.

  Jane looked puzzled. “What do you mean Lizzy?”

  It was Elizabeth’s turn to look surprised. “I have written to you several times. I was a little sad when you did not reply.”

  Jane continued to look perplexed. “But Lizzy, I have had no letters from you. I too have written to you at least four times.”.

  “You have written to me?” Elizabeth found it difficult to believe. She had only received one letter and that was the one that told her she was to be in London.

  “Indeed I have. I only assumed Mrs. Hill would send them on when I heard you were in London.

  Elizabeth shook her head. It was most unusual.

  She looked across the garden. Aunt and Miss Bingley would soon be with them.

  “Never mind the letters. I wanted to talk to you about father, but we cannot now. I am worried about him. He is not himself at all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  There was no time for Elizabeth to reply as Miss Bingley and Mrs. Gardiner had reached them.

  “Jane my dear, I think we should hasten our departure,” said Miss Bingley. “You know we are dining at Lord Moffat’s tonight.”

  Elizabeth hid a smile. She knew Miss Bingley was trying to emphasise that they moved in very different circles.

  “Jane, we have had little opportunity to talk,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “You and Mr. Bingley must come to dine. Your uncle would love to see you.”

  Miss Bingley quickly intervened. “I know my brother has a great many plans while he is in London. And he rarely travels as far as Cheapside.”

  Elizabeth flushed with anger at the intended insult. Mrs. Gardiner however replied with equanimity “I am sure Mr. Bingley would never keep his wife from her relatives.”

  Miss Bingley’s neck turned an unpleasant shade of purple. “Come Jane we must leave.”

  Jane Bingley threw an apologetic look at her sister and followed Miss Bingley back into the house. Minutes later they were gone.

  “I am not sure I like that woman,” said Mrs. Gardiner as they watched the carriage disappear down the street.

  Elizabeth could not think anything suitable to say. She had hoped when she saw her sister things would become easier, but now her worries were doubled. Jane might deny it, but Elizabeth was certain her sister was not happy.

  45

  With worries about Jane and her father Elizabeth had no wish to leave the house. She had not been pleased to receive the promised invitation to a ladies tea from Lady Egerton and had begged her aunt to decline it, but Mrs. Gardiner had refused. On the day of their visit Mrs Gardiner had awoken complaining of having a sickness in her head and had decided to stay in bed.

  “Perhaps I should not go,” said Elizabeth, when she crept into her aunt’s darkened bedchamber to see how she was.

  “You must go Elizabeth. Her ladyship would be most disappointed if you did not attend,” whispered Mrs. Gardiner who looked quite ill.

  Elizabeth could hardly say she was not concerned with her ladyship’s feelings. “I will go, but I shall leave as soon as I can.”

  “No you must not do that.” Mrs. Gardiner winced with pain. “Elizabeth this will be an opportunity for you to make the acquaintance of other young ladies in London. “

  Elizabeth sighed. “I do not need to make their acquaintance. I hope that father will soon want to go home.” As soon as the words left her mouth it dawned on her that her comment had sounded both impolite and ungrateful. “I am sorry.”

  Mrs. Gardiner smiled weakly. “Don’t be Lizzy. I know you miss Longbourn, but your uncle and I are so happy to have you here with us.”

  Elizabeth was embarrassed. She loved her aunt and uncle and did not want to hurt them. “I love being with you too, and my dear cousins. I promised Victoria I would read to them later.”

  “I am grateful. They are so fond of you.”

  Elizabeth got up from the bed. Her aunt was sounding weary and Molly her aunt’s maid, who had been quietly putting things away nodded towards the door.

  “Mrs. Croft is coming about my dresses this morning,” she said.

  Mrs. Gardiner tried to sit up but cried out in pain. Elizabeth and Molly immediately helped her lay down again.

  “Elizabeth I should be with you to talk to Mrs. Croft,” said Mrs Gardiner clutching her head.

  “Do you not trust me?” asked Elizabeth.

  “Yes. I do, but I want the dresses to be perfect for you.”

  “And they will be. I am sure Molly will see that nothing is amiss.”

  Molly nodded. “I will miss. Now you stop worrying ma’am.”

  Molly spoke to her mistress as if she was a child, and gently moved the pillow until Mrs. Gardiner was more comfortable and pulled up the cover.

  “I must go,” said Elizabeth. She did not like to see Mrs. Gardiner in such pain.

  She dropped a kiss on her aunt’s forehead and left her with Molly.

  She hoped her aunt would soon recover.

  * * *

  The dress fittings went well. Elizabeth rather enjoyed talking to Mrs. Croft, an amenable woman who was quite willing to make the small changes Elizabeth requested. On one dress she wanted the sleeves tightened slightly, and on the second, they agreed the lace on the bottom of the dress was unnecessary.

  Molly who had left her duties looking at Mrs. Gardiner, was useful in pointing out, one button looked as if was cracking and she thought a little extra ribbon on the pale gold dress would finish it off. Elizabeth worried that Mrs. Croft might take offence, but she listened to Molly with equanimity and promised to make all the changes suggested. The seamstress went away happy and Elizabeth thought how nice it had been
to consult the seamstress without anyone but Molly there.

  She remembered how often her mother had embarrassed them, by making changes even after it had been agreed there would be no more and she recalled the horror of Mrs Sanderson’s face when her mother had torn the neckline of Jane’s wedding dress.

  Elizabeth had not wanted a new dress and she still considered them an unnecessary extravagance, but now they were nearly made she was looking forward to wearing them.

  * * *

  In the early afternoon Elizabeth arrived with Phoebe at Lady Egerton’s house. The housekeeper welcomed the with a warm smile and said that Lady Egerton was expecting her.

  “Your maid may come and have tea with us down stairs, said the housekeeper, and she called on a maid to show Phoebe the way.

  Elizabeth checked her appearance in the hall mirror before she followed the housekeeper upstairs to the drawing room.

  “Miss Bennet, my lady,” announced the housekeeper.

  Elizabeth hesitated in the doorway. She thought she had been invited to a ladies tea, but the only people in the room were Lady Egerton and Lady Vivienne.

  “Do come in Miss Bennet,” said Lady Egerton

  Elizabeth entered the room which looked quite different with all the furniture moved back after the ball and dropped a curtsey.

  “Is your aunt not with you?” asked her ladyship

  “She is unwell ma’am and unable to come,” explained Elizabeth.

  “Then she is rather fortunate. She has escaped being grilled by mother,” said Lady Vivienne mischievously.

  “Vivienne.” Lady Egerton’s cheeks had grown a fiery red, which were almost the same colour as the heavy drapes at the window. “If you have nothing pleasant to say, then I would be grateful if you would leave Miss Bennet and I alone.”

  Lady Vivienne nodded. “Secret talks. I understand. I have some letters to write. Miss Bennet forgive me. I will see you before I leave.”

  Lady Vivienne kissed her mother’s rigid cheek and then with a quick smile at Elizabeth left the room.

  It took her ladyship a moment to compose herself. “Miss Bennet you must forgive my daughter, she has a sense of humour that is most unbecoming for one in her position. Do sit down.”

  Elizabeth sat, trying to ignore the shabbiness of the chair she was sitting on. The arms of the chair were very worn and some of the stuffing was easing out of the seat. “Am I the first to arrive?” she asked her ladyship.

  For a moment Lady Egerton looked puzzled and then she said. “Oh yes the ladies tea. Miss Bennet you must forgive me, I have used a bit of deception. There is no one else coming. I wished to talk to you alone.”

  Elizabeth’s heart started to beat faster. “I do not understand.”

  “No I don’t suppose you do,” said her ladyship calmly. Her ladyship rose and went to press a button on the wall. “We can at least have tea.”

  Elizabeth was tempted to get up and say that she ought to leave. This is not what she had been expecting at all.

  “Do not look so worried Miss Bennet,” said her ladyship as she returned to her seat. “I only want to get to know you better. You must know that my son admires you.”

  Elizabeth was on her guard. She did not know Viscount Langley well, but she considered he was far too vain to have regard for anyone but himself.

  “I have only had the pleasure of dancing with your son on two occasions,” she said carefully.

  Lady Egerton gave her a benevolent smile. “Indeed and he has expressed a desire to dance with you again.”

  Elizabeth tongue suddenly stuck in her mouth. She could hardly tell her ladyship that she had no wish to see her son or dance with him.”

  “Now tell me about yourself. I understand you have four sisters.”

  Elizabeth was surprised her ladyship knew as much. “Yes ma’am, I do. Two are married and three of us still live in Hertfordshire.”

  “Whereabouts in Hertfordshire?” asked her ladyship.

  Elizabeth resented the questions but she answered as politely as she could. “We live in a hamlet called Longbourn. It is outside a town called Meryton.”

  “And are you happy there?”

  Elizabeth wondered why her ladyship was so interested in where she lived. “Yes ma’am very happy.”

  “But if you were given the opportunity to live elsewhere, would you find it difficult to leave your family?”

  Although she found the question impertinent Elizabeth answered truthfully. “I have always enjoyed staying with my Aunt and Uncle in London and I have enjoyed touring with them. I think I would be content to live anywhere.”

  “I am glad,” said her ladyship though she did not explain why. At that moment the housekeeper r brought in tea and her ladyship took a great deal of time mixing leaves before the hot water was added and their cups filled. At last she handed Elizabeth a cup.

  Elizabeth also accepted a biscuit but regretted it as it was rather dry and unpleasant.

  While they drank their tea Lady Egerton continued to question her. She wanted to know about her music, whether she could paint or embroider and whether she spoke any languages. Elizabeth ’s resentment grew.

  Lady Egerton was asking her about the books she enjoyed reading when Lady Vivienne returned. “Mother, don’t you think Miss Bennet deserves a rest?” she asked from the doorway.

  Lady Egerton frowned at her daughter. “I thought you were writing letters.”

  “I was, but I was thirsty,” said her daughter ignoring her mother’s irritation.

  Lady Egerton pursed her lips. “As you see Vivienne, there are only two cups,” she said waving at the tray.

  Vivienne smiled at her mother. “Then it is a good thing I asked Edwards to bring in some fresh tea.”

  Lady Egerton was horrified. “That is an unnecessary expense Vivienne.”

  For the first time Elizabeth saw the smile slip from Lady Vivienne’s face. “Then we can only hope Valentine will win at the tables.”

  Elizabeth wondered for a moment whether Lady Vivienne was teasing her mother, but there was no humour in the other woman’s eyes.

  “Vivienne. If you can think of nothing pleasant to say please refrain from speaking.”

  Lady Vivienne sat down unmoved by her mother’s strictures. “Miss Bennet you are most fortunate that you are only blessed with sisters.”

  Elizabeth sipped quietly on her tea. Lady Egerton did not hide her frustration with her daughter. Her manner towards Lady Vivienne was in marked contrast to the manner in which she spoke of her son. Elizabeth wondered why.

  Fresh tea was brought and as Lady Egerton poured she asked Elizabeth whether she had received an invitation to the Duke of Roxborough’s ball.”

  “No ma’am I do not think I have.”

  “Mother not everyone spends their time thinking about the balls they have invited to,” said Lady Vivienne.

  Lady Egerton gave her daughter a withering look. “Do not be so foolish Vivienne. Everyone knows how important it is to be ‘seen’. The Duke’s ball is one of the events of the season.”

  Elizabeth blushed. She did not expect to be invited. She was a gentleman’s daughter, but she had not wealth or position to make her attractive to potential suitors or their families.

  Lady Vivienne raised her eyebrows in a disgusted fashion. Elizabeth was intrigued that she showed no desire to partake in any of the fashionable events in London or to find herself a husband.

  “I cannot think why you have yet to be invited,” said Lady Egerton. “I know the duchess well and will speak to her.”

  Elizabeth did not want her ladyship to do anything of the sort. “It is very kind of you to consider me, but it is unnecessary. I rarely go out.”

  Her ladyship was insistent. “But on this occasion you must. It is one that I know Valentine will not want to miss.”

  * * *

  Elizabeth returned to Cheapside feeling a little bewildered. Lady Egerton’s intentions had been clear. Her ladyship had questioned her as a p
otential wife for her son. She had not said so directly, but there could not have been any other reasons for her ladyship’s interest in her. But Elizabeth did not understand why. She was a woman without a fortune and remembering the signs of shabbiness she had seen at Lady Egerton’s home, her remark about the cost of tea to her daughter and Lady Vivienne’s remark about her brother winning at cards she could only think their household was not as rich as it had first appeared. It was all very puzzling.

  Mrs. Gardiner was still in bed when she returned home, but she still wanted to hear about her visit. Elizabeth was careful not to arouse any suspicions about Lady Egerton’s questions and merely told her Lady Egerton and Lady Vivienne had made her very welcome. Mrs. Gardiner was too tired to ask who else was present for which Elizabeth was grateful. Worried about tiring her aunt Elizabeth left her and went up to the nursery where she spent a happy hour with her young cousins.

  She was pleased that she had no invitation to dine out that evening and she sat down with her uncle. As there were only the two of them at home, they ate in the informal surroundings of the parlour. Elizabeth was delighted when Mr. Gardiner announced that they had received an invitation to dine at the Bingley’s house in Sloane Square. She looked forward to seeing her sister again.

  46

  Not wanting to think about Lady Egerton or her ladyship’s family Elizabeth soon forgot about her Lady Egerton’s promise to see she was invited to the Duke of Roxborough’s ball. So it was a shock when three days after her visit to Codogan Gardens a stiff card arrived inviting Elizabeth. Mr. Bennet and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to attend a masquerade ball the following week.

  Mr. Gardiner was impressed with the quality of the card and Mrs. Gardiner who had recovered from her bad headache was surprisingly excited telling Elizabeth she must be sought after to be invited to such a ball. Elizabeth did not confess to her aunt what had prompted the invitation. She looked at the invitation with dislike. It might be one of the events of the season, but she had no wish to attend. Somehow, she had to avoid an encounter with Viscount Langley.