Chapter VIII

Dinner with the Fitzwilliams

Mrs Bennet was in a very good mood, she had found nearly everything she had been looking for, for Elizabeth and Mr Collin's wedding. She had heard from her husband and he was no worse, which as Jane had pointed out was very good news. They were all engaged for dinner that evening with a very important, prominent family. And best of all Mr Bingley continued to pay his attentions to her eldest daughter. She was certain Mr Bingley was merely waiting for the right moment to propose to Jane.

Last evening's entertainment had been very agreeable. She had not been in London since Jane was sixteen and was enjoying the whole experience tremendously.

Mr Bingley was to call the next morning to take them to meet the Middletons. He was also engaged this evening to dinner with the Fitzwilliams. Although she did not think that Mr Bingley and Jane would be able to have many private conversations this evening, but there was always the hope of more in the future. He had been so attentive to them and to her daughter especially since their coming to town. She had not yet heard what his plans were, but was sure he was waiting to speak to Jane about it on a more intimate manner.

Jane was full of good humour, smiles and every now and then very becoming blushes, she looked very handsome indeed her mother thought to herself as she watched her busy with her work that morning. Being in love suited Jane very well.

Her attention was caught by her younger daughter, who was writing a letter. If only Elizabeth would smile more, she was quite pretty when she did smile, so long as she did not say anything too intelligent. Her father had spoiled her of course, she had always been his little Lizzy. Elizabeth's education had been almost entirely managed by him and she was too clever for her own good. Mrs Bennet knew that his illness had affected her second daughter more than any of the others, she was that much closer to him than they were. But it was almost as if she was not excited about the match with Mr Collins. She was an engaged woman and engaged to a very respectable man. She would one day to take Mrs Bennet's place as the mistress of Longbourn.

While Mr Collins were not as rich or handsome as Mr Bingley, Elizabeth would still have a very comfortable home. No, Elizabeth had done very well. Jane would have Mr Bingley, Elizabeth Mr Collins and the younger girls could take their time to find good husbands. They were all safe. If Mr Bennet were not to live much longer. As much as it pained her to think of it, he was not likely to live long at all. And then she would be a widow with three unmarried daughters to care for. She was not sure how she would be able to cope.

Mrs Bennet had not been as happy in her marriage as she would have liked, her husband was too little known to her when they married. And even more than twenty years later she was not sure she understood him any better now. He teased her, she knew, she did not always understand but she knew he meant no harm by it. It was just his way. She did really love him in her own way and she was sure he did her in his.

Her brother's young children she could only deal with in small doses, Jane managed them better than she ever could. But Jane always had helped her with the younger girls when they were little. She was very relieved that her girls were not little children anymore. She had, she knew, rushed them to grow up earlier then she should.

She had enjoyed her time before her marriage after coming out into society more than any other time in her life and they should enjoy it to. The flirting, the dancing, the music and the general chit chatter. It was all such good fun. Lydia, she knew, was not really ready to be out yet. But she didn't want to be the mother of little girls anymore. No, her daughters weren't little girls anymore, they were young ladies. She was very proud of all of them, they would do her proud, each in their own way.

The only one she really worried about was Mary. She had suffered for being the middle child and not having a sister she was close too, all the others had that. But she would be able to pay Mary more attention when Jane and Elizabeth were married and settled. She would leave the younger girls with Elizabeth or Jane for a while and she would work on Mary. Yes, that would do it.

ooOoo

"Do you think that they will be very elegant Lizzy?" Jane asked her as they were getting ready that evening. It got dark so early at the moment that it felt much later than 4 o'clock.

"Well Lady Rowena was very elegant when we met her." Elizabeth said thoughtfully. "But you look lovely Jane."

Jane smiled and looked at her reflection, she was wearing a blue silk dress. It was her second best dress. They could not wear their best dresses as they were going to a ball in a few days and could not wear the same dress twice.

"Just one last touch," Elizabeth said adding a piece of ribbon in her sister's hair. "It is sad that we cannot wear flowers in our hair in the winter."

"Thank you Lizzy. Are you sure I will do?"

"You look very well, stop looking in the mirror, or we will be late." Jane still hesitated, so Elizabeth urged her again. "Mr Bingley will not be able to take his eyes off you."

The rest of the party were waiting for them downstairs.

"Oh Jane, you look very well indeed," their mother said looking at her. "Lizzy please smile a little more this evening, you have a very good smile."

Elizabeth smiled brightly at her mother and promised that she would. She sighed as they stepped outside into the almost dark winter evening, the cold wind was comforting against her cheeks. She saw Jane looking at her in worry, she smiled reassuringly at her. This was Jane's evening and she was not going to spoil it for her. She would do her best to be lively and engaged in the evening activities however much she wished she were back at Longbourn with her father.

Her mood had been far from lively. Her mother had also received a letter from her father, which confirmed her own supposition that his optimist opinion of his health had been just that optimist opinion. He was no worse, that much could be said at least. But he was also no better.

She longed to be by his side. She knew there was nothing she could do, but to be so far at such a time. What could Jane have been thinking when she suggested it? No, she would not think about that tonight. This was Jane's night. Jane's happiness was the very reason she had agreed to marry Mr Collins in the first place.

They entered the Earl of Doncaster's house, it was much more grand then any of the houses they had been in before. There were many more servants then they were used to. The Lady Rowena Fitzwilliam stood at the door to greet them with her brother, Colonel Fitzwilliam. They were both smiling and ushered the ladies into the house so as not to catch cold.

They were quickly introduced to the rest of the family. The Earl and the Countess smiled politely as they were introduced to their guests. Elizabeth could see both Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam in the earl, Lord Edward, but he not nearly as tall as either. He was older than her father, a cheerful looking man, who in his youth must have been handsome. He had grown old too quickly and there was a broadness around his middle and a lack of hair on the top of his head that she had not expected. She had seen many an older gentleman in town and who nearly all of them wore a formal wig.

The countess, Lady Sophia, was quite a surprise. Elizabeth had been expecting an older version of the Lady Rowena, but instead she found a softly spoken slight woman. She was handsome, looked like she had never uttered a cross word to anyone in her entire life.

Lady Rowena's older sister, Lady Henrietta favoured her mother in her looks and address. But Elizabeth had the impression that she was not really as good tempered as the countess.

There remained only the earl's eldest son and his wife, Lord Thomas and Lady Alice, who entered the room a few minutes later. Lord Thomas took after his father and Elizabeth felt that this must be what Lord Edward looked like when he was younger. Lady Alice was very plain and said little.

Elizabeth was beginning to feel more than a little out her depth, not something that happened often. She had never been in the same room as so many people of title before. The rest of her family she could see were also struggling a little. It was a relief when they heard a carriage at the door and they were no longer the sole guests. Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy and Mr Bingley all entered the door.

Mr Bingley had never met the rest of the family either and the introductions were done again. The Lady Rowena was doing her best to forward conversation on all fronts, as was her brother, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Mrs Bennet barely seemed to get a word out, so overwhelmed was she, for which Elizabeth was grateful. She had worried her mother would say something embarrassing. Mr Bingley talked cheerily, as did Mr and Mrs Gardiner and by time they had entered the dinning room they were all much more comfortable.

Elizabeth was sitting between Mr Darcy and the Colonel, she had a much more pleasant evening then she would have expected sitting next to Mr Darcy. He was a real gentleman throughout the entire meal. The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were many more servants than they were used to.

Mrs Bennet was seated by Lady Alice and Lord Edward. As far as Elizabeth could tell, they were having a pleasant conversation about Lady Alice's children. Miss Darcy was seated by Elizabeth's aunt, she was pleased to see were also speaking comfortably of music.

"Are you enjoying the winter in town Miss Bennet?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked her.

"I am," replied she. "However I am not sure I would enjoy it every year. I do enjoy the country more, I do have to admit."

"I'm sure you would get used to it with time. There are certain advantages of being in town." Mr Darcy said. "I believed you mentioned that you love the theatre?"

"I do. We went to see a play only last night. It was very good."

"And you would not have found such a good one in Hertfordshire I think?" Mr Darcy leaned a little closer.

"That is true, I believe visiting London during the season would be the best way to enjoy it for its beauties and then turning to the country for the rest of the year to enjoy what it has to offer."

Darcy laughed loudly at this, "Yes, you paint a very charming picture."

"Well you two might be content to move from London to the countryside and then back again. But I should like to see the world." The Colonel said.

"It is a good job then Robert that you are in the army."

"While you go from Pemberley to town, I will be traveling to France and the rest of the continent."

Elizabeth laughed as they continued to bicker for a few minutes. She found that she really enjoyed being in the Colonel's company. He seemed to make every conversation he was involved in more interested and entertaining. She laughed hard throughout the meal and could hardly remember a meal that she had enjoyed more. He seemed to be enjoying her company as much as she was his.

It was only after the ladies had withdrawn into the drawing room that she remembered that she needed to be more careful, she was after all engaged to Mr Collins. The last thing she needed was to be falling in love with someone when she was already promised to someone else, however little she wanted the marriage to take place. She resolved quietly to be more guarded in her conversation with the Colonel.

Lady Alice came and sat down by her and asked her about her engaged. Mrs Bennet had mentioned it to her during the meal. Elizabeth thanked her for her interested and told her a little of Mr Collins, careful to make him not sound as ridiculous as she found him. Lady Rowena was also sitting near them,. She said "Oh, so you will be living very close to our aunt then? Lady Catherine?"

"Yes, I believe the parsonage is very close to Rosings Park."

"I will be very glad of your company at my aunt's, our visits are not as often as she would wish. But they are always very dull." Lady Rowena told her.

"She is not that bad Rowena." Lady Alice said, "Anne is sweet and in need of more companionship herself."

"I wish our aunt would let her come and stay with us."

On the other side of the room Lady Henriette was trying to talk Miss Darcy into playing for them, "But Georgiana you play so well, you must entertain us?" Miss Darcy had gone quite a bright shade of pink.

"No really Henriette I would much rather not." Miss Darcy said looking around in panic.

Elizabeth caught Jane's eye, nodded in understanding. "Lizzy did you not promise Miss Darcy that you would play for her this evening?"

Miss Darcy looked very relived. Lady Rowena said, "Yes Miss Elizabeth Bennet, please you must play for us? I have heard so much about how well you play from Darcy." She smiled.

Elizabeth blushed. "He has grossly over estimated my talents, but if you wish it I will play."

She sat down and looked through some of the music resting on the top of the instrument. Miss Darcy joined her and she looked for a song she knew. Miss Darcy present her with one.

"I believe this is a favourite with my cousins, do you know it?"

"It is a song I have heard before and it is not too difficult." Elizabeth said relieved as she began to play. After she had finished the song, she was pleased with her performance. She had played as well as she could given the circumstances. Miss Darcy asked her to play again and was soon joined by the other ladies. However she was spared playing again at that moment by the arrival of the gentlemen and the tea and coffee.

Mr Darcy joined his sister where she stood with Elizabeth. "I understand that I missed you playing Miss Bennet, would I be able to persuade you to play again?" he asked her.

"I believe I am done playing for the evening Mr Darcy, perhaps another evening?" She replied and was thankful when he dropped the subjected.

Miss Darcy moved away to get some tea and Elizabeth expected Mr Darcy to go with her, however he remained by her side. She was even more surprised when he addressed her in a very serious tone.

"I have a confession that I need to make to you Miss Bennet, but I believe it would be better to speak to you in private." His voice was low and slightly unsteady. "May I speak to you tomorrow in private?"