Six women should have easily fit in the Bennet carriage. All of them were relatively slender, even if Lydia was sometimes referred to as being 'sturdy' which only meant she was a little bit larger than her sisters in her general proportions. Yet, somehow the carriage always felt overcrowded to Lizzy. There often seemed barely room to take a breath, although the vehicle was a generously-sized one. Perhaps it was just Lydia's incessant chatter that filled the space and sucked away all the air. Whatever the cause, Lizzy was always glad when they arrived at their destination.
The assembly rooms gleamed like a beacon as the carriage pulled up in front of the building in the gathering darkness. The Bennet women almost tumbled out of the vehicle, which then swiftly moved out of the way of the next carriage in line, heading to the area set aside for the carriages, horses and those who tended them.
Even though she would not be able to participate in the dancing, Lizzy's spirits rose as she and Jane followed after Mrs. Bennet and her daughters to enter the rooms filled with cheerful people, with all the noise and laughter that accompanied them. The musicians were warming up and the whole atmosphere was festive.
Both Jane and Lizzy immediately understood the glare Mrs. Bennet gave them before she headed off to find her own sister, Mrs. Phillips. It was an order and a call to action they were required to heed. Without delaying to greet or talk with anyone on the way, the two women went in search of Sir William Lucas.
He was not hard to find. Sir William generally acted as Master of Ceremonies. He took great delight in greeting people, making introductions and otherwise being socially useful. The man could usually be found somewhere near the entrance. If one could not see him, he could still be tracked by his voice, which was a loud boom that could be heard nearly half a room away even when he thought he was being quiet.
As instructed, the two sisters greeted him. They then both reminded him that their family depended on his goodwill for an introduction to Mr. Bingley as he had promised, Jane subtly and Lizzy a little more directly.
"Of course. Of course. Capital! I shall be happy to introduce him to you when his party arrives!" he said, willfully misunderstanding the intent of their request. Knowing they could not afford to anger him, Lizzy bit her tongue to avoid making an unpleasant retort and quickly turned away to hide a glare that could have rivaled Mrs. Bennet's. Fortunately, someone else addressed him just then, so Jane and Lizzy could both slip away, Lizzy heading in one direction, while Jane went the other. They had learned it was less obvious that they were sitting out the dances if they did not sit together.
"What did my father say this time to put such a sour look on your face, Eliza?" a woman's voice asked, arresting Lizzy's progress with a light touch to the arm.
Lizzy stopped and turned, knowing ti was her friend and neighbor, Charlotte Lucas who had spoken. She was the only one who used that variation of Lizzy's. The tall, angular woman waited for an answer with a bit of a smirk on her face.
"It is good to see you again, Charlotte. I have missed your company," Lizzy said warmly. Her friend was about the only person she would truly regret leaving when circumstances forced her from Longbourn permanently.
"As I am glad to see you. However, you are avoiding the question. What did Father say to upset you?"
"Nothing that would signify if one did not listen to how he said it and the intent behind his words. It is clear that despite the presence of Jane and myself, both here at his direct request, he still intends to slight Mrs. Bennet when the time comes to make the introductions he promised. He seems so smug and proud of himself about it. It infuriates me, yet I can say nothing directly to him without making things worse."
"You know he does not like seeing you or Jane slighted by your stepmother. He only wants to help you receive the attention you deserve."
"I used to believe that, but as many times as we have asked him through you to stop this campaign of his, I sincerely doubt that is his true motivation. Please, can you try once again to somehow make him see that he only makes things more difficult for us? Each time slights her, each time he demands our presence in return for her ability to attend some event, he feeds and inflames her anger and resentment, when otherwise she would leave Jane and me in peace."
"He only wants her to treat you with the respect due to her daughters," Charlotte said placatingly.
"But we are not her daughters," Lizzy hissed in frustration. She kept her voice low to avoid being heard by anyone but Charlotte, however much she wanted to shout out her rage. "All he does is highlight how unpopular she and her actual daughters are, and really Mary is only unpopular because Mrs. Bennet is her mother. Honestly, Charlotte, you are my dearest friend, but I truly feel that your father is my greatest and most implacable enemy."
"Eliza! What has gotten into you? I know you have expressed some frustration before, but you cannot seriously think of my father as your enemy. That is Mrs. Bennet." Charlotte looked utterly shocked by the idea, although Lizzy could also see she was starting to feel some discomfort, like she was asking questions to which she suddenly did not want to know the answers.
"No!" Lizzy whispered emphatically. For the first time, the whole of her annoyance poured forth. "It is your father who causes most of the problems Jane and I have with Mrs. Bennet. Without his interference and insistence that no one invite her anywhere unless Jane or I are a member of the party, she would happily send us off to the Gardiners and forget we exist. That would be an ideal situation all around, and if she insisted on it, Papa would allow it. Your father's demands are the only reason she will not allow us both to leave. Because of your father and his little games, we are forced to stay in a house where we are not welcome, or even particularly safe, and are kept from a good home with people who love us. His stunt this evening is particularly annoying because he demanded the presence of both of us. He disrupts our lives and plans with no consideration whatsoever for the consequences we will face. When Mr. Bingley arrives, your father will take great pleasure introducing Jane to him as a most desirable partner all while doing his best to ignore Mrs. Bennet, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. And for what? To spite the woman? And yet, for the dubious pleasure of this introduction, Jane and I will face repeated recriminations and lectures over the next several days. We will be blamed for your father's bit of fun. And should Mr. Bingley ask Jane to dance and prefer her company over Lydia's, as any sensible man would do, the recriminations will go on for months. Your father will not have to hear them, but Jane and I will."
"You must see that he wants you to make a good match as much as he wants me to," Charlotte said weakly, too disturbed by what she was hearing to come up with any better defense.
"We will never make a match here in Meryton," Lizzy whispered sharply. She was on the verge of completely losing her temper and struggling to keep it under good regulation. "Mrs. Bennet will not allow us to be so much as courted until all three of her daughters are married. You know she has driven good men away from us before, much as your father has done with you. No. Jane and I will make our matches in London, among Uncle Gardiner's acquaintances. But we cannot do that if we keep getting pulled back here at your father's every whim."
Lizzy stopped and took a very deep breath, letting it out slowly. She repeated the process while Charlotte watched with concern and confusion.
"I am sorry, Charlotte," she finally said very softly and without the hard edge to her voice as she regained control of herself with the calming breaths. "You, alone of those here in Meryton, know how Jane and I are trying to prepare for our future. Every time one of us has to come back here, that has financial consequences as well as those to our current happiness and safety. I only just managed to finish a good commission when I was ordered to return for this event, but I lost out on another one because I could not stay where I was and that could make a big difference to the future quality of my life."
"But you can still work on your lace," Charlotte whispered back.
"Only part of the time and only in secret. It also pays less than what I can do in town. And while Jane is stuck here, she can only do the poorest paying work because she must always hide what she is doing. We would be so much further ahead without your father's supposedly well-intentioned interference. And I have no power to counter him or make him understand. That is what frustrates me."
Charlotte seemed even more disturbed by Lizzy's calmer statements. "I had not realized before that it was such a problem for you. I truly hoped Mrs. Bennet would get the idea and treat you both better so he would stop. I must also admit that this latest demand is partly my fault. I told my father I missed your company. He was trying to please me as well by insisting on your return. I am very sorry. I promise I will try to change things, without mentioning the financial cost to you, of course. I remember my vow of secrecy. I am terribly sorry I never realized just how strongly you felt about this or what the real cost might be."
"I know you never meant me any harm, my friend. This has bothered me for years, Charlotte, but as long as I believed in your father's good intentions I tried to make my objections politely. Seeing his expression just now – well, I believe he knows exactly what he is doing. And my time is running out. Papa is not well and he could pass away at any point. The greatest danger to Jane and me is if we are here when it happens. Worse yet, if Tony is here then, or arrives before we can get away, we could be in physical danger as well as the danger of poverty."
Charlotte shuddered. "I always forget about him, or try to. I suppose you cannot afford that luxury."
"Never," was Lizzy's simple reply.
Before either woman could come up with a safer topic of conversation, there was a commotion near the main door. Like many others in the room, they turned to get a look at the new arrivals.
First to enter was a slender man of medium height who had curly reddish-gold hair and a handsome face. He was smiling broadly and looked very pleased to have arrived. He just had to be Mr. Bingley.
His attitude contrasted sharply with the four people who came behind him. One of the two men was older than the rest, probably in his mid-thirties. His figure was portly and he moved as if he had already had too much punch, even though he had only just arrived. He briefly greeted Sir William before listing his way towards the card room.
The second man was tall, with wavy dark hair, an athletic build and an even more handsome face than Mr. Bingley despite the serious and aloof expression he wore. He bowed to Sir William and then stepped back as if he did not wish to be associated with even the members of his own party. Lizzy thought it likely he wanted nothing to do with anyone else in the assembly rooms either.
Once he and the older man were clear, the two women in the party stepped into view, both wearing expressions of complete disdain for their surroundings. Lizzy gasped slightly at what she saw after that first view of their faces. Both were overdressed for the event, and the taller, thinner woman in the pair was wearing a very distinctive gown.
Charlotte heard the soft gasp and turned to her friend. She looked from Lizzy to the newcomers and back again.
"I know that look, Eliza. Is that unusual gown one of yours? The embroidery is exquisite. It somehow pulls those odd colors together. The gown would be quite elegant if only..." Charlotte's words trailed off as she looked back at the woman.
"If only it were worn by someone of a different complexion and hair color," Lizzy finished for her. "With your black hair, you might be able to pull it off creditably, although it would look even better on someone with more olive skin tones."
"Instead of copper hair and pale skin that appears positively jaundiced next to that strong orange. How can she wear that gown with such pride of bearing? Has she not looked in a mirror?"
Lizzy chuckled softly. "I suspect she has no idea how poorly it suits her and that she has no sense of color at all. She simply knows she is wearing a fine and expensive creation from Madam Gaillard, for which she paid a great deal of money. And yes, that is my work. That was the commission I finished just before I had to leave yesterday. It is possible some of the lace on the other woman's gown is my work, although it is impossible to tell from this distance."
They both tore their eyes from the spectacle the thin woman made to look at the shorter, rounder and probably older of the two women. She definitely looked more elegant, despite the over-abundance of lace trim affixed to every edge of her ruffled and flounced gown. At least the colors of the underlying fabric suited her complexion, which was similar to that of the thinner woman.
Sir William started to guide the party into the crowd. Lizzy touched Charlotte's shoulder to get her friend's attention.
"Your father is about to begin his round of introductions. I think I had best make myself scarce. We can talk again later."
Charlotte nodded understandingly. Lizzy slipped away into the crowd, trying her best to stay out of Sir William's line of sight. She hoped Jane would be able to do the same.
It was tricky at times, but Lizzy managed to avoid an introduction to the Netherfield party over the course of the first four sets. She knew Sir William had hoped to find her, and she took no little pleasure in thwarting his designs. Of course, the lack of introduction did not mean Lizzy remained ignorant of the newcomers' names or stations.
She had already learned from Mrs. Bennet that Mr. Bingley was leasing the estate in preparation for purchasing one of his own. He was rumored to have an income of more than five thousand pounds a year. The gossip floating around the room confirmed that he was the amiable-looking man in the party.
The two women were his sisters, one older than him and one just a year or so younger. The older sister was married to the man who had taken himself so quickly off to the card room. The brother-in-law was the son of a minor gentleman with a small estate in the vicinity of Scarborough. While Mr. and Mrs. Hurst waited to inherit the estate from his father, they spent much of their time in Mr. Bingley's household.
The younger sister, Miss Caroline Bingley, was still unmarried. According to the gossips of Meryton, she was likely to remain so if she was not willing to take her nose out of the air and behave politely to those who were actually her social betters, even if she could afford a gown made by London's most fashionable modiste. Of course, Lizzy and Charlotte were not the last women in the room to notice the jarring contrast between the gown and the wearer's complexion, although they might have been the most kind about it.
The final man in the party was an unmarried friend of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy was rumored to own a fine estate in Derbyshire along with an income at least double that of his friend. That alone made him appear a more handsome man than his friend, although many of the matrons complained of his pride and unwillingness to speak with anyone outside the members of his own party. The pride would, of course, be forgiven in an instant should he take an interest in any of their daughters.
After hearing all the rumors, Lizzy idly wondered if the amount of a man's income was part of the initial introduction to any new society. Did they, in the same way a small child who is asked his name proudly also announces that he is five or six years of age, offer up a number for their income which could then be bandied about the neighborhood in the very first meeting with someone in a new place? 'I am Charles Bingley and I have five thousand a year.' It was either that or people simply pulled a likely round number out of the air and that became touted as the truth, with the subject of the gossip never bothering to correct them. The information about the income, like the rest of it, appeared magically in the minds of the gossips, although Lizzy knew most of it actually was passed from servant to servant before it reached the matrons who were buzzing with the details now. Given that origin, what she heard was probably reasonably accurate.
It became apparent that Jane had not been able to hide from Sir William's relentless introductions. At the start of the fifth set, she was led to the dance floor by Mr. Bingley. Lizzy knew there would be trouble as a result, but the die was cast and there was nothing she could do to help but keep herself from being caught as well. Whatever Jane might think of the situation, or the future consequences, she was too polite to let anything disturb her pleasant and serene-looking smile.
Mr. Darcy had so far danced only one set with each of Mr. Bingley's sisters. Having completed his duty to his host in that manner, he left them to the local women who wished to 'admire' the gowns and took to stalking about the edges of the room, following a pattern similar to the one Lizzy used to avoid being seen too long in any one spot. They had passed one another a few times but he had no reason to take any particular note of her. For her part, she did her best to simply stay out of his way.
As the fifth set progressed, Lizzy had taken a seat in a relatively quiet spot from which she could watch as Jane, hopefully, enjoyed the dance. By chance, Mr. Darcy came to rest leaning against a nearby pillar. He did not appear to be paying much attention to the dance or anything else.
Mr. Bingley left Jane for a few moments during the interval between the two dances. He approached his friend and, in a voice that even Lizzy found annoyingly cheerful, began to harangue him.
"Come, Darcy! I cannot bear to see you standing about in this stupid manner. I must have you dance."
"I shall not," Mr. Darcy replied calmly.
"Oh, really, Darcy! It is only proper. This is a ball! And, there are not enough gentlemen to go around, leaving too many pretty girls without a partner."
"I can see you are dancing with a very handsome woman. You should return to her before she thinks you have deserted her on the dance floor."
"Oh, she is quite the angel! But truly, you must dance as well. In understand she has a sister who is uncommonly pretty. Miss Bennet would be happy to introduce you."
"I am certain her sister is everything lovely, but I am in no mood to dance."
"You are never in a mood to dance. All the same, it is your duty..."
Lizzy could tell Mr. Bingley's chirpy insistence was frustrating his friend. She thought it was a wonder Mr. Darcy had kept his patience so long, but clearly something was about to snap. He interrupted the other man mid-sentence.
"Bingley! Stop now," he said forcefully. "You are pushing too hard and in the wrong direction. You knew perfectly well that I would have no desire to come this evening and yet you set matters up so I could hardly refuse. Well, I am here. I have danced with your sisters and that is enough. I have an abominable headache and do not wish to make it worse with the noise and bustle of the dance floor. I beg you, return to your partner and stop pestering me before I say something truly regrettable."
From her vantage point, Lizzy could see Mr. Bingley looking at the other man in utter surprise. "What do you mean, I forced you to come? I thought you wanted to help me get to know my neighbors."
Mr. Darcy made a sound like a soft growl. "Not at a dance and certainly not on the day I arrived here after far too long stuck in a carriage with your sisters, who you also foisted off on me without my consent. The music is starting again and your partner awaits. Go!"
Looking a little like a puppy who has just been beaten for bringing his master the chewed remains of one of his best boots instead of a stick, Mr. Bingley turned and headed back to Jane. As Lizzy watched, Mr. Darcy rested his head back against the pillar with a sigh. He looked utterly tired, and she could well believe he had a raging headache.
After a moment of thought, she checked her reticule. Lizzy found what she was looking for tucked under her handkerchief. Quietly, she rose from her seat and approached Mr. Darcy.
