Chapter 11

Charlotte arrived the following morning to the continued bemoaning of Mrs. Bennet who feared her darling Jane would be whisked away from her. Charlotte had figured out that Mrs. Bennet wanted no daughter of hers to get married. She remembered the previous Mr. Bennet. Her father always warned her to avoid him and she recalled that neither Jane nor Elizabeth spent much time at Longbourn when they were younger. There were always whispers around town that Mr. Bennet was abusive and had attempted to harm the children. It was with this knowledge that dear Charlotte had entered into the confidence of the Bennet ladies. She even occasionally shared in the excellent governess hired by the Bennets. That morning, the ladies had one topic of conversation: how abominably rude the Netherfield guests were (with the exception of Mr. Bingley).

By this point much of town had heard of the remark made by Mr. Darcy. As the young ladies opted for a walk to provide much needed fresh air, Charlotte asked Elizabeth about Jane's opinion of Mr. Bingley. With a footman following a sufficient distance back to not overhear the conversation, the ladies felt safe in discussing the sensitive topic.

"I have never seen Jane so shy. I know Jane to be a serene individual, but last night there was a subtle shift in her mannerisms."

"My dear Charlotte, I believe you are right. My own mother seems to share that exact sentiment, for I can hardly recall another instant where she was as vocal her opinion of matrimony as she is now."

"And Jane? What are her opinions?"

"On matrimony? Or Mr. Bingley?"

"Both."

"On matrimony, Jane is uncertain. I know she would dearly love to have a family and be a mother. But Jane also adores her lessons and going to town for trade shows. I would like to believe there is a gentleman out there who would accept a wife with such peculiar interests. But I don't know. And if no such man exists, I am unsure if prepared Jane is to live a life of spinsterhood. As for Mr. Bingley, she is in a way to be very much in love."

"If she cares for him, she must provide encouragement. We may know Jane, but he does not."

"Charlotte, they only met last night."

"I understand Lizzy. But you yourself said that Jane perceives Mr. Bingley different. If she wishes to get to know him, she must provide encouragement."

"You are suggesting Jane open herself up to heartbreak and ridicule. And what if Mr. Bingley is cruel or offended by Jane's interests."

"Happiness in matrimony is entirely a matter of chance. We could no more hope to discern the future grain prices than all the faults of a spouse before matrimony."

"If happiness in marriage is a matter of chance, then it is a game I wish not to gamble at. And I assure you that I have every intention of ensuring that should Jane chose to make a bet the odds will be stacked in her favor and not against her as society would wish."

"We can all only hope to have the better chance. I do wish you luck in your endeavor."

I was on that note that the friends parted ways with a promise to speak again at the party the following night. As Elizabeth returned to Longbourn, she thought on what Charlotte had said. If Jane decided that Mr. Bingley was worth her time, Elizabeth would make sure the man was worth her sister. The following evening was the Lucas' dinner party.

The party was rather informal and Colonel Foster had been invited. He was visiting the area in preparation for the regulars to come to town. As attendees milled around and wove in an out of conversations, Elizabeth soon joined into conversation with Colonel Foster local history.

"Colonel, you shall have to introduce your men to the works of Francis Bacon. I will have you know he is from Hertfordshire."

"Francis Bacon has done little of note for my men, so I doubt they shall pay much attention. "

"Of course, a young woman in promoting her neighborhood must know all the local members of the ton." Mr. Darcy had finally joined the conversation, seeming to disapprove of her with each new conversation she began. She wondered if he simply enjoyed demonstrating his disapproval and if he would ever join a conversation.

"I assure you Mr. Darcy, that I know of him not simply to further my own neighborhood, though I must admit he does provide a degree of prestige to all of Hertfordshire."

"Miss Elizabeth, am I to understand you have read his works?" Colonel Foster seemed to be willing to allow them to talk while he went in search of another conversational partner.

"That would be scandalous for a young woman to read. But I am familiar with the ideas of his work."

"I am sure you are."

"Elizabeth, my father is about to open the pianoforte. I insist you and Jane play." Charlotte had stepped in to the conversation, sensing Elizabeth was about to start one of her famous arguments.

"You are a very strange creature, always wanting me to play and sing. Very well, if it must be so, it must."

Elizabeth performed a duet with Jane that they had been working on for Miss Watkins. The performance was excellent, where it lacked in technical proficiency, it more than made up for in a genuine fondness for the song displayed by both performers. Soon Mary took her seat, and demonstrated the technical ability that only came with hours of practice with masters. Mr. Darcy was quite surprised. The Bennets and their neighbor's provided little indication that there were local masters or trips to town to visit the masters. Perhaps there had been a visiting teacher that the local gentry made use before his party's arrival. After several other ladies demonstrated their musical prowess, the Bingley sisters took a turn. As they started pounding out notes with tactical precision, it became apparent that they felt no inclination to the music and not clap was heard beyond the obligatory polite applause.

Soon Mary was convinced to play a few reels to allow for one or two dances. Elizabeth began to move to the other side of the room to talk to her mother.

"What a charming way to spend an evening. There is nothing like fine friends and a bit of dancing. It is one of the finest refinements of polished societies." Sir William Lucas had managed to pull Mr. Darcy into a conversation.

"Every savage can dance."

Sir William was a genial sort of fellow but enough time with the Bennet (more particularly Elizabeth Bennet) had given him the practice to match wits with many.

"I doubt not that you are adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy."

"Do you often dance at St. James'?"

"Never."

"Do you not go?"

"It is a compliment I try to avoid."

"My dear Miss Eliza" Elizabeth knew that her neighbor was up to something. He knew she rarely went by Eliza. "Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this lady as a very desirable partner. I am sure with so much beauty, and wit, before you, that you cannot refuse to dance."

Elizabeth, curious as to what her neighbor was up to, had no intention of following along with any schemes that evening. "Indeed, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way to beg for a partner."

Mr. Darcy, knew propriety demanded he ask the lady for her hand to dance. Elizabeth was firm, though Sir William attempted to convince her otherwise. Though she finally determined he motive.

"You excel at dancing, Miss Eliza, it is cruel to deny me the pleasure of seeing you dance. And though the gentlemen wishes to avoid paying compliment, he can have no objection."

Sly man probably wanted Mr. Darcy to realize that the mere act of being wealthy makes him no more agreeable to the wonderful people of Meryton. Yes. Sir William knew what Mr. Darcy said and must have surmised Elizabeth would refuse to dance with him. Elizabeth could be a spitfire when she was angered.

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness."

"He is indeed." With that his head turned just so towards Elizabeth that she could see the mirth in his eyes. "But who would object to such a partner?"

Elizabeth curtsied and left the conversation, opting now to find Charlotte. Sly man indeed. Elizabeth smiled. Mr. Darcy probably didn't even realize the set down.

Shortly after separating from Sir William, Mr. Darcy again found himself watching Elizabeth Bennet laugh with Charlotte Lucas.

"I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

"You are considering that passing many evenings as such would be insupportable. And I assure you, I am quite in agreement. The noise. The insipidity. The self-importance of these people!"

"Your conjecture is entirely wrong. My mind was far more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the great pleasure that a pair of fine eyes on a pretty woman can bestow."

"Any particular fine eyes?" Caroline awaited him to reference her.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Indeed?!" Cried Miss Bingley. "Has she long been a favorite? Your new mother in-law will indeed be pleased."

"A lady's imagination is very rapid. It jumps to matrimony in a moment."

The next morning at breakfast, a note arrived addressed to Jane.

"Jane has received an invite to tea at Netherfield." Mrs. Bennet informed those at the breakfast table. "I suppose we must accept, the question is shall you wear?"

"Mama, I thought you were quite determined to hate the entirety of the Netherfield party?" Elizabeth turned to inquire her mother's motives.

"Indeed I am. However, it would not do to offend visitors."

"I think mama merely wants to lord our superior manners and dresses over the party." Lydia giggled while she held a new ribbon to Elizabeth's face.

"There shall be no superior dresses. One hint of money and those vultures would swoop in. And Lydia what have I said about ribbons at the table." Mrs. Bennet finally made her opinion known.

"That I shall wait until tea time before attempting to consider a new pattern or color for a sister. But my lovely designs. This was such a perfect chance to wear them and show up the superior sisters."

"I am sorry my dear Lydia. But could you imagine if your sisters looked too beautiful? We would lose our darling Jane to a man not worthy of her."

The look on Lydia's face at the thought of any of her sisters married silenced all her complaints of not showing off her designs. Lydia had long heard the tales of her grandfather. She also realized why there was a gap in age between her two eldest and Mary. Jane was immediately placed into nice (but not too nice) day dresses to take tea with the vultures.

Tea was a remarkable affair in that it went exactly how everyone expected. The Bingley sisters offered to introduce the Bennet sisters to their wonderful modiste if they ever had a chance to visit town. The Jane demurred and said they were quite sure they were quite happy with the current arrangement but thanked the Bingley sisters for their concern. The Bingley sisters, wanting to display superior knowledge, began conversing in French so that the Jane might have an opportunity to practice. As the five Bennet sisters would often suddenly declare that only such and such language could be spoken for the next hour, Jane had quite a bit of practice with French (and German and Latin and Italian and Greek). Immediately jumping into the conversation the Bingley sisters were quite put out that Jane could hold her own in conversation. Soon the polite length of time for a visit had passed and the Bingley sisters saw their guests to the coach.

Caroline Bingley was quite put out. How was she to show her brother that Jane Bennet was unworthy of him so that Caroline could leave these bumpkins and return to town? Then it would separate her darling Mr. Darcy from the influence of this wretched family. With that in mind, Caroline decided to start planning out future meetings to determine the Bennet sisters weaknesses. She would ensure that every possible impropriety was on displayed.