Chapter 25

With the family dinner done and an announcement ran in the newspapers of Elizabeth's return, the Fitzwilliams had one more event to endure before it would be time to retreat to Harcourt for the Christmas season. An evening at the theater, designed to allow the ton to get a look at Elizabeth. If Elizabeth was first viewed before the family departed it would quell any whispers that they wished to hide her away and the ton would rightly assume the family wished to reacquaint themselves with her in a more private location.

Georgiana and Anne were bubbling with excitement. For both it would be a first time experience. Elizabeth had attended the theater with the Gardiners, but this would be her first time doing so in a private box. The large size of their party dictated that the Darcy box and the Matlock box would be used. Lady Catherine had decreed that Anne would sit in the Darcy box. Georgiana though had stymed her when she had bounced up on her toes and eagerly suggested with innocence, Elizabeth also sit in the Darcy box so that the three girls could enjoy the performance together. Lady Catherine had frowned but before she could protest Anne, embodied by her growing friendship with Elizabeth like Georgiana, had spoken up praising her youngest cousin's suggestion.

In the end it was decided the three young ladies would watch the performance together from the Matlock box. With her uncle and aunts present in that box, there was no reason for Darcy to chaperone Georgiana. The Earl and Countess, along with Lady Catherine, Anne, Georgiana and Elizabeth would watch the performance from the Matlock box, while James, David, Richard, Henry, Issac and Darcy would watch it from the Darcy box. With so many bachelors in one box it was likely that every female eye would be torn between being turned to it or catching sight of the recently returned Lady Elizabeth.

When their party arrived at the theater, a familiar flash of orange caught Elizabeth's eye. And attached to the woman in orange's arm, being dragged toward their party, was a downcast Bingley. Reaching their party Miss Bingley greeted the Countess and Earl with a deep curtsy and in a carrying voice cooed, "I was so pleased to host your family at my family's estate. I was just telling my sister I was pleased Mr. Darcy had thought to invite his relations." Turning her attention toward Darcy, she said, "What fortunate happenstance that we should all be here together, we may now share a box and make merry after the rigours of being apart and the country."

Before Darcy could respond, Bingley greeted Elizabeth feeling the mortification of his sister's lack of acknowledgment of her and said, "It is a pleasure to see you again Miss Eli-, sorry, Lady Elizabeth. Please convey my congratulations to Miss Bennet on her bethrothal. Her intended is a lucky man."

"Bethrothal? My sister is not engaged," Elizabeth said in confusion.

"It was a recent thing and dear Jane perhaps has not, as of yet, written you," Miss Bingley said cutting into the conversation. "I was just suggesting to Charles that we seek you out after we returned today, to ensure you feel welcome into the ton given your change in circumstances. Things are different in the elite circles we inhabit and I simply could not forgive myself if I allowed a dear friend from the country to feel like a rustic and embaress herself. Charles would be quite pleased to partner you for your first dance at your first ball."

"I had a letter from Jane this morning, if my sister was engaged I am sure she would have written me," Elizabeth said archly as soon as Miss Bingley allowed her to get a word in.

"And I am sure she means too. It must have given her great satisfaction to secure Longbourn for her family. Of course you will now have many other concerns than the Bennets of Longborn. I would find it no trouble at all to pass on your regards to dear Jane when I next write her. She cannot possibly expect you to keep up a regular correspondence with her given your new elevation, " Miss Bingley said with a titter.

"You must be confused, madame," Lady Catherine said narrowing her eyes at Miss Bingley. "My parson, Mr. Collins, is engaged to marry a Miss Lucas, not Miss Bennet."

Miss Bingley paled at this and quickly said, "Perhaps I have mixed up her fiancee and Miss Lucas's fiancee, with them both getting engaged."

"Or perhaps you imagined hearing Jane was engaged and that is where the confusion lies," Elizabeth said raising her eyebrow.

"A simple misunderstanding," Col. Fitzwilliam said with a smirk.

"Caroline," Bingley said with a frown. "Is Miss Bennet engaged or not? You specifically said that you and Louisa had wished her congratulations at Longbourn."

"Charles," Miss Bingley said with false sweetness. "I am sure I didn't quite say that. I conveyed my congratulations to her in a note. Louisa and I did not have an opportunity to call at Longbourn. But does it really make a difference who she is engaged to? It doesn't change anything."

"I'd say if she isn't engaged it chages quite a bit," Darcy said speaking up.

"Come," James said interuppting the conversation. "We need to head to our seats. Bingley, thank you for putting us up at Netherfield. It was kind of you to allow our use of it while you were not there."

"No trouble at all," Bingley assured him. "I am always happy to be of assistance and it is rare I get a chance to do so for Darcy. He is more likely to be offering me assistance, like he did with Netherfield. I find myself eager to get back to the country."

"I thought you talked to Mr. Bingley," Georgiana whispered to her brother as their party moved away.

"I did," Darcy whispered back grimly.

...

"Mother," Elizabeth asked at breakfast the next day. "Would it be acceptable for me to invite Jane to Harcourt for Christmas?"

"That would be fine. I assume there is more to your request than a desire to see her," Lady Matlock said.

"Georgie, last night, was adament that her brother had conveyed to Mr. Bingley that his affections were not in vain. Clearly something, or someone, caused things to go wrong. I was thinking that William could invite Mr. Bingley to accompany him and Georgie to Harcourt as well."

"Thereby throwing Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet together," Lady Matlock said with an indulgent smile.

"Yes," Elizabeth agreed smiling back. "What better time for falling in love, or more in love, than Christmas? I am confident that with a little aide from us, their romance will quickly get right back on track. And while Miss Bingley might do her best to circumvent Mr. Bingley's return to Netherfield, she won't attenot to keep him from going elsewhere. She might even view it as an opportunity to keep her brother away from Jane and throw him into Georgie's company."

"Throw him into Georgie's company? She is not even out. Are you sure she does not intend to throw you at her brother? Afterall it was your dances she was eager to engage her brother for."

"Ah, but Jane wrote that Miss Bingley cautioned her that a match between Georgiana and Mr. Bingley was much anticipated by all parties. I of course wrote back that such was nonsense and Miss Bingley sought to decive her. I assummed Mr. Bingley would be back in Hertfordshire, supporting my viewpoint rather than Miss Bingley's. I underestimated the woman it would appear."

"You had best send your invitation today with our coach to convey her here. We are set to depart the day after tomorrow and Cathy won't be pleased to delay, particularly to play matchmaker between her parson's cousin and a tradesman," Lady Matlock said with an indulgent smile.

"I would first like to talk it over with William. It wouldn't do for me to invite Jane and have her at Harcourt if Mr. Bingley goes to Netherfield."

"Your cousin I am sure will ensure his friend is where you wish him to be."