Chapter 5
Wednesday, 8 January
While Jane did not expect Caroline and Louisa to return her call the day after her visit to Grosvenor, she prepared herself for the possibility, dressing with the greatest of care and arranging her hair to her best advantage. If she was to have any hope at all of seeing Mr Bingley again, she needed to encourage his sisters to continue the friendship. When she heard the doorbell, she exhaled in relief. She need not have worried; her alliance with the ladies was secure.
Unfortunately, Jane was forced to hide her disappointment when the caller entered the parlour, and Mrs Gardiner introduced her to Mrs Dawkins, the bishop's wife.
"My dear Mrs Gardiner, when you told me of your niece's beauty, I could not possibly have imagined the angel before me."
Even though Jane was well accustomed to receiving compliments on her appearance, heat rose to her face at this glowing praise. She thanked the good-natured woman for her kindness and listened quietly as the two ladies exchanged stories about their children and grandchildren. It seemed that Mrs Gardiner had met the bishop's wife while enjoying ices at Gunter's where the Gardiner children had befriended Mrs Dawkins's grandchildren. The children were briefly summoned from the nursery to make their bows and curtsies, much to the delight of the effervescent visitor.
Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Dawkins chatted amicably for the remainder of the half-hour. When Mrs Dawkins rose to take her leave, she grasped Jane's hand. "You must come to the assembly tomorrow at St. Augustine's. I know any number of eligible bachelors who would love to meet you."
Mrs Gardiner readily approved of the idea. "I have not been to an assembly in years, but if my niece is agreeable, I will be happy to accompany her."
Since dancing was Jane's favourite occupation, she easily agreed. Besides, it was entirely possible that Mr Bingley might be in attendance. He could not have the least objection to running into her at St Augustine's, or anywhere else in London, for that matter. Yes, the more she thought about it, the more appealing the assembly became. She would wear her pink muslin gown with lace sleeves and prepare for a chance encounter with a handsome suitor.
Thursday, 9 January
When Jane and Mrs Gardiner entered the assembly hall at St. Augustine's, she gazed around the room, searching for a familiar face. Recalling that Caroline Bingley had once remarked on the superiority of the assemblies in London, Jane regretted she had not thought to inquire what assemblies and activities they attended. If she had done so, her goal of having a fortuitous rendezvous with Mr Bingley would have been far easier to accomplish.
While she knew no one in the room, she held every expectation of making several acquaintances that evening. She would rely on her aunt and Mrs Dawkins to introduce her. They milled about the crowd, exchanging nods with various people, but since neither she or her aunt knew anyone, they could request no introductions. "Is there no master of ceremonies?" Jane inquired.
"There must be, but I have yet to see him, nor do I see Mrs Dawkins."
How dreadful—Jane thought. Without introductions, she would not be permitted to dance.
The first set began and Jane sat near the windows with her aunt. Although many eyes glanced in her direction, no one approached them. "Never mind, Jane, I will bring you to the assembly in Cheapside where we have many acquaintances and you shall dance all night." As she watched the dancers, Jane noticed the youthful features of the ladies; they all appeared as though they had just made their come-out to society. So many fresh-faced, finely dressed girls in one place made her feel her age. Approaching three and twenty years, she began to fear she had little to recommend herself to the gentlemen in the room.
Soon after the second set began, Jane breathed a sigh of relief when Mrs Dawkins rushed into the room, swarmed by guests eager to greet her. She made her way through the crowd, chatting with friends and shaking their hands. When she finally approached Jane and Mrs Gardiner, she apologized for her tardiness. "But I am certain you will acquit me when I introduce Mr Morland," she said, then searched the room for the unknown gentleman. "Where could he have gone?" A moment later, the young man appeared at her side and Mrs Dawkins performed the introductions.
A handsome man dressed in a parson's garb stood before Jane with a jumble of golden-brown curls and sparkling blue eyes. After making his bow, he exchanged civilities with Jane and her aunt, speaking in a clear, deep voice. "Did I not tell you she was a beauty, Mr Morland?" Mrs Dawkins said, shifting her expectant gaze between him and Jane.
Mortified beyond measure, Jane cast her eyes to the floor. Why did others always mention her looks? Was her appearance her only interesting quality? Could she not claim other more valuable qualities, such as sincerity and loyalty?
If Mr Morland noticed her shame, he made no mention of it. "May I apply for the next set, Miss Bennet?" he said. Upon observing his friendly smile, she accepted, grateful to have the opportunity to dance at least one set.
While James was well accustomed to Mrs Dawkins's frequent descriptions of every woman as the most beautiful anyone had ever seen, he could not deny that Miss Bennet deserved every accolade. Her pale blue eyes, fair hair, and rosy glow became her exceedingly well but she exhibited no airs, as beautiful women sometimes did. Her colour heightened upon Mrs Dawkins lavish praise and even after the set began, still retained that pink hue. "Do you live in town?" he inquired.
"My home is in Hertfordshire, near Meryton," she said, in a quiet voice. Despite her uncommon beauty, she seemed unaffected by it, and drew no attention to herself. He noticed her flowing movement and serene smile. As she excelled in the dance, he could only assume she abounded in multiple accomplishments. He could not imagine why a woman with her beauty had not already married. The men of Hertfordshire must be simpletons, indeed.
Limited by the quick pace of the dance, they had not much opportunity for conversation, but he was able to learn that she was visiting her uncle near Cheapside, the nearby market town, and she was the eldest of five daughters, all yet unmarried. He remarked that he was also the oldest in his family, with nine younger siblings.
"Do you all live in London?" she inquired.
"No, I am in town to prove my mettle to the bishop," he said, then explained that he was hoping for a temporary assignment to a church in Reading. "It all depends on my sermon this Sunday. If Bishop Dawkins approves, he will recommend me."
"Then I wish you every success," she said, with the appearance of genuine sincerity.
During the second half of the set, the pace of the dance allowed them brief opportunities for discussion. "Did you enjoy the holidays?" she inquired as she circled around him.
"Indeed, I spent the week with my sister in Gloucestershire and she was kind enough to present me with another nephew."
They joined hands and went down the dance together. "Oh, how grand," she said, with a serene smile. "Children are the best part of Christmastime, I believe. My four young cousins visited us at home and their enthusiasm made the holiday all the more enjoyable. 'Tis remarkable how well they behave with the promise of sugar plums and Christmas pudding as their reward."
Her friendly, unpretentious manners impressed him, and he could easily agree with her sentiments. "My older nephew and niece were hesitant to welcome a new brother into the family, but when they learned he would have no share of the holiday sweets, they accepted him with little difficulty."
Her eyes twinkled with mirth, illuminating her entire face. They were separated by the dance for a few minutes and then met again in the centre. "Gloucestershire is a great distance from London, is it not?"
"Yes, but my home is in Wiltshire, which is a journey of about six hours."
Surprise crossed her face. "I have never been more than two hours away from home."
When the set ended, he escorted her back to her aunt and took his leave of them. Although dancing was not his favourite pastime, he had enjoyed the half-hour with Miss Bennet.
Mrs Dawkins introduced him to another lady who accepted his application for the next set. Miss Brown, a lovely girl from Devon, had just made her come-out to society. James supposed that she was no more than seventeen years old. While she danced well, she had not Miss Bennet's grace. In fact, as the evening progressed, he found himself frequently checking on his first partner's progress and comparing her to his other partners. In his opinion, Miss Bennet outshone them all.
He could not account for his fascination with her; a gentleman's daughter can have no aspirations to a parson's son with only four hundred pounds a year. She could have any gentleman she set her cap to.
He later danced with Miss Smith, Miss Walford, and Miss Fitzmorris, and while all perfectly lovely in every respect, once the evening ended, he thought no more about them. Later that night, as he drifted off to sleep in his guest-chamber, he admired a lady with flaxen hair, clear blue eyes and sweet smile.
However, in the next instant, Isabella Thorpe stood before him, her eyes dark and her voice harsh. "How absurd you are, James. I would not have thought it of you."
"All of Bath is speaking of your forward behaviour."
Her lips curled into a sneer. "The Bath quizzes have nothing better to do than make up stories. Do you think I care a button about them?" she said with a sniff.
"You made a fool of me at the assembly. Everyone saw you encourage Captain Tilney's attention."
"Am I to blame for the captain's fascination with me?"
Her lack of remorse infuriated him. "You might have told him you are betrothed," he said in an accusing tone.
"Of course, he knows of it but he would not be deterred."
"Nor would his fortune deter you, I gather."
"Now you are being ridiculous. Nothing could be further from the truth."
James awoke, cursing his addled mind for harbouring this recurring dream. Their betrothal had ended that day, by mutual agreement, but even ten years later, he could not forget Isabella's blatant denial of any wrong-doing, nor her mocking sneers as they parted for the last time. How foolish he had been back then, to trust a woman whose only motive had been his fortune – or what she thought was a fortune.
Like many others, the Thorpe family held the mistaken impression that James was the heir to Mr Allen's fortune. When it became clear that his circumstances were less than expected, Isabella sent her lures out to Captain Tilney, hoping for a better offer. However, all she gained for her efforts was a broken engagement and a ruined reputation, both richly deserved.
James wondered why Isabella came to mind at times like this. He was on the brink of a new adventure; he should be looking forward instead of backward. Why did that unfortunate affair come back to the surface and threaten to prevent him from taking a step towards the future? Why did he compare every woman to a fortune hunter from his school days? Surely, there must be a woman, somewhere, who wanted to marry an honourable man of the cloth. Perhaps, if he was fortunate enough, he would meet her in Reading.
Dear Lizzy,
I hope you will not think me a poor correspondent. I have been constantly busy this past week. We have been to the museums and shops, and you will be proud of me, though you know I am no great reader, we even visited the circulating library.
We went to the assembly at St. Augustine's last night but knew not a single soul in attendance. Just when I had given up any hope of finding a partner, our aunt's friend Mrs Dawkins arrived and made the introductions. I was fortunate enough to dance every set but two, of which I had no expectation when I first arrived.
Our cousins are all excelling at their lessons. As you know, their inquisitive minds can be quite exhausting.
Tell me all the news from Longbourn.
Your sister,
Jane
Although Jane had danced with several gentlemen that night, none of them impressed her as Mr Morland had done. However, she decided against mentioning their dance in her letter. While she had enjoyed his company immensely, Lizzy must not be led to believe that her new acquaintance was anything more than that. Surely, he could not consider Jane as an eligible match. With a portion of only one thousand pounds, she was nothing to the grand ladies he must know. Although Lizzy might not think much of her acquaintance with Mr Morland, her mother would go into transports if she learned that she had met a charming new gentleman. Besides, Jane had never imagined herself married to a parson; indeed, her sister Mary was much better suited to that role.
After Jane had retired that night, she recalled with fondness the time she had spent at Netherfield. Of course, she had been ill for most of her stay and had not seen Mr Bingley until after her fever had broken; but for one glorious evening, she had been his sole focus of attention. When she had entered the room, he welcomed her with every civility and insisted that she sit near the hearth. He tended to the fire himself, which he could have easily instructed a footman to do. He arranged her shawl around her shoulders and draped a blanket over her lap. "You must not catch a chill," he had said in earnest.
"I am quite comfortable, Mr Bingley." Indeed, he and his sisters had seen to her every need during her illness.
He pulled his own chair closer to hers. "What a great relief that you are recovering. I have been beside myself with worry these past few days."
She considered him an infinitely dear man. "I must thank you for your hospitality."
"You need not, Miss Bennet. I would do anything to make your stay more enjoyable."
"I could not ask for a more generous host," she said, gazing into his stormy grey eyes. "I shall be sorry to go home."
"Then you must stay, as long as you like."
How she wished now that he still resided at Netherfield. She had every confidence that he would have proposed marriage and she would have happily accepted. How different her life would have been if he had stayed. Although two months had passed since she last saw Mr Bingley, her belief that they could have found every happiness together had not diminished. Remembering that look of admiration in his eyes when they danced at the ball, she wondered if he ever spared a moment to think of her.
(Author's Note: Jane and James have finally met but still have some past issues to overcome. They will meet again in the next chapter.)
