Lizzy noticed the change in the attitude of her neighbors from the moment their family entered the churchyard. She had been expecting frostiness, increased disdain, perhaps even some harsh words, although that last would be in poor taste in the churchyard. How much of the disdain extended to her and to Jane would depend on how vindictive Sir William had chosen to be after her refusal to be pushed into a dance.
What she had not expected was...courtesy? That was not so unusual towards herself and Jane, but courtesy extended towards all of them? That had been in short supply in recent years, especially since Mr. Bennet had stopped making the effort to attend church regularly, leaving his wife without even the illusion of male protection or support.
Surprisingly, after his comments to Mrs. Bennet, it started with Mr. Darcy. The Bennet women descended from their carriage just in time to see him give Sir William Lucas the cut direct. Lizzy knew Mr. Darcy had engaged in some kind of confrontation with their host after she had refused to dance and before he had spoken with Mrs. Bennet. Whatever had caused him and his party to leave the soiree early was still unresolved between the two men. Mr. Bingley seemed to be siding with his friend, judging by his coolness towards Sir William, although he did not go quite so far as to cut the man. That made sense - Mr. Bingley would be living here and completely dropping the acquaintance of a prominent member of local society would cause more problems than it was worth.
Then, as the Bennet women approached the groups of people gathered in the vicinity of the church porch, Mr. Darcy turned to them and offered a polite bow of greeting to the family as a whole. He was very deliberate about it. There could be no mistake that he was offering the courtesy to them all. Mrs. Bennet and the four older sisters curtsied in response. Lydia, of course, had not even noticed the interaction. She was still angry and sulking, but she was being silent at least.
It did not end there. After Mr. Darcy's greeting, they received similar notice from several members of Meryton society. Some of the people even deigned to wish Mrs. Bennet a good morning, people who had not been willing to talk to her for the last few years since Sir William had stepped up the campaign of persecution he had begun about the time Jane first came out in society. After the spectacle Lydia had made of herself, it was all very surprising and confusing.
Apparently, Sir William had decided to stay his usual course. He came up and offered fulsome greetings to Lizzy and Jane while deliberately ignoring the rest of the family. The young women had discussed this possibility and decided they were no longer willing to play his game. Both replied with simple curtsies and refused to engage him in any conversation. They responded in the same way to his group of ardent followers. Enough was enough. He was not going to be allowed to toy with their lives for his amusement any longer.
The service went as it usually did except that Mrs. Bennet insisted on quiet from Lydia. Even if she had been inclined to whisper and giggle, Kitty did not sit next to her, choosing instead to sit between Jane and Mary. The idea that their youngest sister had been behaving disgracefully was starting to sink in.
As they were leaving the church, Charlotte Lucas managed to pull Lizzy aside out of the stream of people exiting the church. Finding a quiet spot behind the back row of pews, she addressed her friend urgently.
"I am so sorry about the way my father behaved the other night, Eliza. I promise you, I did try to stop him. While I mentioned nothing about the financial consequences, as you wished, I told him how disruptive his behavior was for both you and Jane. He seemed pleased to hear it. I begged him to stop, but he just told me to trust that all would be well and sent me away as if I was simply a small child imagining things no adult would bother about. I truly am so very sorry I ever defended him to you. It is clear he does not have your best interest in mind and never has."
"It is not your fault, Charlotte," Lizzy said soothingly. "You did your best, I am sure, and you cannot control his behavior any more than I can. I should not have asked it of you."
"No, I cannot control him. Mr. Darcy was correct, my father is a bully of the worst kind."
"Mr. Darcy said that?" Lizzy asked. "When was this?"
"Just after you walked away from them to try and calm Lydia. Father made some comment about your unusual discourtesy and Mr. Darcy told him off. He said you had been as courteous as possible in a difficult situation that you had been placed in deliberately by my father. He said my father was the worst kind of bully because he targeted women. Then Mr. Darcy took his leave. He stopped only long enough to speak to Mrs. Bennet before seeking out Mr. Bingley to request they return to Netherfield."
"She did not share exactly what he said, but I think he told her to take Lydia home before she ruined us all."
"I heard Mrs. Phillips telling one of the other women that he called Lydia a senseless hoyden who would end up in a brothel if she was not checked and then no man would marry any of you then."
"Every word of which is true. Well, he certainly lit a fire under Mrs. Bennet. I think this is the first time Lydia has ever been called to heel and she is not pleased about it. I am sure you saw how she was sulking today."
"After thinking about the way events progressed, I believe my father knew Lydia would behave outrageously and possibly embarrass you all when he prompted Mary to play dance music on your youngest sister's behalf. He is a bully who likes to target women, and he has been teaching Bill to be just like him or even worse. Over the last few days I have found myself wondering if his disapproval of my early suitors was not to protect me from a poor match but so that he would not lose control of me or his strongest link to you and Jane."
"Oh, Charlotte," Lizzy said. "Now it is my turn to be sorry for something neither of us could control. Do you really think he would be that cruel to you?"
"You have opened my eyes, Eliza, and I cannot shut them again. While I was never willing to believe it of him before, so many of his actions make terrible sense now." Charlotte stopped and looked around to make sure no one had moved into earshot before she whispered, "Mr. Carlson recently hinted that his feelings for me were unchanged. I intend to find out if he was serious and if he will marry me without my father's approval - and probably without my dowry, since I doubt Father will give it to him."
"Oh, I hope it will be so, Charlotte. I remember you told me you regretted losing him most of any of the men your father refused to allow to ask for your hand."
"I did. I do. He may not be very wealthy, but I have learned to be a good manager and do no need much more than a roof over my head and food on my table. We get along well and Mr. Carlson treats me with respect. I think we could be very happy."
"If there is anything I can do to help matters along, please let me know. I do so want you to be content with your life, Charlotte."
"As I want you to be happy. Is there any chance you can return to London soon?"
"I do not know," Lizzy said. "For now, I think I must return to my family. It would not do to make Mrs. Bennet wait for me. I might end up having to walk home and these shoes are not really up to the task."
They separated after a quick hug. Lizzy moved outside find the rest of the family just heading to the carriage. Mrs. Bennet had a hint of a smile on her face and had not apparently noticed Lizzy's absence. Lydia looked more upset than before, but Lizzy's other sisters all seemed a little happier than when they had arrived at the church.
"What has happened?" she whispered to Jane.
"Mrs. Parker invited us all to her soiree on Wednesday. Mrs. Bennet told her straight out that Lydia would not be joining us."
If she had been a boy, Lizzy would have whistled in surprise at that news. As it was, she only just managed to keep her mouth from dropping open. Whatever the exact words Mr. Darcy had used, they were having an amazing effect on Mrs. Bennet, and Lizzy was certain some of the changed attitude of the neighbors was due to him as well. Her eyes sought out the Netherfield party. Mr. Darcy was turned away from them, but Lizzy smiled at him anyway. What a wonderful, helpful man!
~o~
Mrs. Bennet's improved mood lasted through the rest of Sunday and into Monday. Lizzy and Jane did what they could to avoid bringing any attention to themselves that might disrupt her contentment. Lydia was not quite so circumspect. She growled, grumbled and whined over not being allowed to attend the party.
Kitty showed good sense by keeping well away from her younger sister. "I wonder if Mama will send Lydia to her room?" she quietly asked Jane after hearing yet another loud comment from Lydia about how unfair it was to be punished for just doing as she had been told. They had all finished breakfast and were just preparing to go about their business for the day, so the comment from Lydia had seemed even louder than it might normally have.
Mrs. Bennet appeared preoccupied and most likely had not heard Lydia. Her inattention was not to last, however. The housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, came to the door with a note held on a silver tray. Before she could mention who it was for, Lydia grabbed it, quickly looking at the direction.
"Mama! It is a note for Jane! I do not recognize the seal," she announced loudly.
"Well, give it to Jane so she can tell us who it is from and what they have to say," Mrs. Bennet snapped. "Then sit down and comport yourself more like a lady or I will send you to your room."
Lydia threw the note into Jane's lap before dropping into a chair and crossing her arms as she pouted. Jane picked it up and looked at the seal as well. That proved to be no help, so she quickly broke it and unfolded the note.
"It is from Miss Bingley," she said in surprise. "The gentlemen are to dine with the officers today and she has invited me to spend the evening with her and her sister."
"Why would she invite you?" Mrs. Bennet asked.
"I do not know. I have barely spoken with her. No more than courtesy demanded. She said she hopes to come to know me better. Honestly, I would prefer to decline the invitation. I am not feeling very well and I do not wish to go."
Mrs. Bennet held out her hand impatiently. "Give the note here, girl."
Jane quickly passed the page to Mrs. Bennet. The older woman read the contents through. Then she dropped the hand holding the note to the table and sat there silently, weighing the implications of accepting or declining the invitation as she tapped at her chin with one finger. The others did nothing to disturb her. Finally she handed the note back to Jane.
"No, this invitation will do us no good. Be as polite as possible, but definitely decline. There is something odd about her note and I do not wish Miss Bingley to take an interest in you."
'Yes, Mrs. Bennet," Jane said calmly, curtsying as she accepted the note back.
"Well, be about your business, girls," the older woman ordered brusquely. "And Lydia, I do not want to hear any more complaints from you. You are still young enough to be confined to your room for disobedience. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Mama," Lydia answered petulantly.
The younger women all rose from the table to take care of their household duties. Mrs. Bennet stayed where she was, perhaps still considering the unusual invitation. Once they were a little way down the hallway, Kitty touched Lizzy on the arm to stop her.
"Lizzy, would you help me later today?" she asked. "I would like to freshen up my peach gown for the party and I would appreciate it if you could show me that pretty embroidery stitch I have seen you use to tack down the ends of a ribbon when you do not have quite enough to carry it all the way into the seam."
"Do you have the right silk thread in which to do the embroidery?" Lizzy asked.
"I had hoped you might walk with me into the village this morning to help me select the silk. I know you do not have a tenant visit to make, and if Jane is not feeling well, she will not want to go."
Her sister looked at her so hopefully that Lizzy felt she could not refuse, even though that meant she might miss out on her lace-making time later that day. It was so rare for Kitty to ask for help, it seemed a shame to discourage her.
"Very well, Kitty. I will need to take a good look at the gown and the ribbon you have in mind before we go so I can help you find the best colors for the embroidery."
"Thank you, Lizzy," her sister said. "You match colors ever so much better than Lydia or I do. Will you come look at them now?"
"If you wish," Lizzy said indulgently. She had occasionally had these sisterly moments with Mary, but they were much more rare with Kitty, who usually stuck to Lydia for all company. Even a little intimacy was worth fostering, especially if it drew the girl away from Lydia's influence. Lace-making could wait for once.
~o~
Mist hung heavy in the air as the two young women walked along the familiar path a little while later. Cold droplets stung their faces and made a thin wet sheen on their cloaks and bonnets. Lizzy was glad Jane had not chosen to join them and was, instead, safe and warm in the sitting room with her sewing.
They had walked in silence at first, but Kitty seemed to have something on her mind. Lizzy waited to see if the younger woman would choose to speak up. Eventually, about the time they turned onto the main road, she did.
"Lizzy, how long have you known that Papa was ill?" she asked.
"It first became clear about two years ago, and his health has become progressively worse since then."
"But Mary made it sound like you and she and Jane have all been saving your allowances for much longer than that."
"We have," Lizzy acknowledged. "I am not sure how soon Mary began. I think that by the time I first started receiving a small allowance when I was eight I already knew I would have to plan for my future. Jane was less convinced of the need at first, but saw no harm in humoring me, so she began to save her allowance as well. It became a habit. As our allowances grew when we got older, we simply saved more. After Mrs. Bennet lost the last child, the boy, and it was clear she would have no more children, Jane and I had several talks with Aunt Gardiner, who was quite open about what might face us if Papa were to suddenly die without a male heir."
"I know I said so, but I was just repeating what Lydia says. Do you think Mama truly would throw you out?"
"In a heartbeat," Lizzy replied calmly. "She has made no secret of her dislike for us from the very first. And, she will be struggling to maintain herself along with you, Mary and Lydia. As we have gotten older, it has become more and more clear that Jane and I will have to shift for ourselves."
"Will the Gardiners take you in? Definitely?"
"They have already offered, but they have their own children to support. Jane and I do not wish to depend on them for too long."
"What about your other aunt?" Kitty asked.
"Aunt Clarissa would be happy to take us in, but her husband refuses and has preferred to cut all connection to our family for years. Sir Roger Morton did not approve of my mother's marriage and he approves of Mrs. Bennet even less. He also does not approve of Uncle Gardiner having taken to trade after his older brother bankrupted the Gardiner family estate and he does not approve of Aunt Madeline and her family background in the least." Lizzy leaned in towards Kitty confidentially, to laughingly whisper, "The fact of the matter is, Sir Roger does not approve of nearly anything except a hearty meal and a full bottle of wine."
As she had hoped, Kitty laughed. They returned to silence for a little while. As the rooftops of the village came into sight, Kitty spoke again.
"Did you and Jane really mean it, the other night when you said that you would help me if I needed it after Papa died?"
"Yes, Kitty. In fact, we have known for some time that you might need our help one day and that is why we have continued to be so careful with our savings. Mrs. Bennet may have done all she could to prevent closeness between us, but you are our sister. Sisters look out for each other. Just like right now."
"I am glad you are my sister, Lizzy. Thank you for doing this with me today. Is it wrong for me to spend what I have left of my allowance on some embroidery silk when we might need it to live on someday soon?"
"We will choose carefully," Lizzy said. "Just enough to do the job and make your gown a little prettier but not enough to be extravagant. You can set aside what remains, although I suggest you not let Lydia know."
"I only just kept it from her as it was. I have to find new hiding places all the time for anything nice that I want to keep. If I give you the change, will you keep it for me until I need it?"
Lizzy agreed. They both went on their way, well-pleased with the arrangement and looking forward to finding just the right threads with which to decorate Kitty's peach gown.
~o~
That afternoon, Lizzy worked patiently with Kitty to help her learn to do the embroidery to tack down and enhance the bits of ribbon she had rescued from a bonnet re-trimming session with Lydia. Kitty knew how to do basic sewing and had done some very simple embroidery. She certainly did not have the skill or practice Lizzy had. Because of that, the project took time, but eventually the additional trim around the bodice gave the gown a new and special look which pleased Kitty very much.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lizzy was able to spend a few hours up in the tree with her bobbins and lace. As she was leaving, she thought she saw Mr. Darcy go down the path on horseback, but he quickly disappeared around the curve. She put the sighting out of her mind while she headed home, trying to beat the storm she saw coming up. Any confusion she had over the matter was resolved when the maid mentioned that Mr. Darcy had called earlier to gain the acquaintance of Mr. Bennet without success. Lizzy realized he must have been directed by the groom to take the quickest way home.
In the time leading up to the soiree on Wednesday, Mrs. Bennet had not been at all herself. It was obvious she was trying to work out some plan, but Lizzy could not tell what it might be. When Mrs. Bennet returned from making a call in the village late Tuesday afternoon, she carried a cane and seemed to be leaning on it slightly to walk. The explanation she gave, that she had tripped and injured her leg, needing the cane for support, sounded false. Lizzy was not foolish enough to say so, however.
Even more odd was when she brought out a long strip of very floppy, loosely made lace and insisted Mary should sew it around the neckline of her gown. When Mary brought the gown down to work on it, however, Mrs. Bennet decided on doing the work herself. The end result was very attractive, although not quite the way Lizzy would have arranged it. Mrs. Bennet immediately handed the gown over to the maid to hang so the it would be wrinkle free for the next evening.
In another step outside her usual manner, Mrs. Bennet insisted on overseeing Mary's preparations for the soiree. The maid was there to fix hair and the like, but only Mrs. Bennet helped her daughter with the gown, placing it over her daughter's head and carefully arranging the drape. She even provided Mary with the loan of a string of polished agate beads and earbobs for the evening. All Lizzy could imagine was that she hoped to entice one of the officers by showing Mary off at her best. The others all looked very well, but Mary looked magnificent.
They showed up at the Parker's home in good time, neither too early nor too late, and were welcomed politely. The hostess even complimented Mary's looks and asked kindly after Mrs. Bennet's health on seeing the cane. Several of the other guests greeted them politely as well. Everyone seemed both pleased and relieved that Lydia was not with them. For her part, Lizzy was relieved not to see Sir William there when they arrived. She would have liked to visit with Charlotte but did not want to have any conversation with her friend's father.
Mrs. Bennet kept Mary next to her as she moved around the room. The lace on Mary's gown provided a starting point for some very general conversations with the other ladies, who were giving them both more congenial notice than they had in some time. Lizzy kept an eye on both of her younger sisters as she and Jane began move around the rooms in their usual manner. Mary seemed happy enough even with her mother controlling her company. Kitty was soon in conversation with a small group of other girls. It was good to hear them compliment the new trim on her gown. Kitty seemed most pleased at the notice. So far as Lizzy could tell, no one was being deliberately rude or unkind to any member of her family. Lizzy had to wonder if that was because Lydia was absent or if Mr. Darcy had caused them to rethink their behavior. Either way, it was welcome.
The party from Netherfield was a little bit late. Lizzy had a suspicion that Miss Bingley thought it increased her consequence to be fashionably late or even a little later than that. Of course, Lizzy also suspected Miss Bingley did not really want to come at all. Her expression was certainly sour in the extreme, and she glared at Mr. Darcy fiercely. Something must have happened, because she had fawned on him before.
That gentleman greeted all those he passed kindly. He seemed to be looking for someone, although he did not let that keep him from courteous to those around him. From the smile he gave her when their eyes met, Lizzy realized it might have been her he had hoped to see. She smiled in return, but her attention was distracted by an odd movement from Mrs. Bennet. The older woman had stepped a little to the side as Mr. Bingley came rushing over in that direction. Lizzy could not tell if he intended to greet Mary or if he was trying to catch a moment with Jane, who happened to be standing just a little behind their younger sister. In the end, it hardly mattered. Time seemed to slow as Lizzy watched Mrs. Bennet move her cane in a way that could have been construed as an unfortunate accident if it had not tangled between Mr. Bingley's legs at just the right moment to throw him forward off his balance.
Even though she was several feet away, Lizzy automatically reached forward as if she could stop what was about to happen. She somehow noticed Mr. Darcy's eyes widen in surprise as her hand came up and she shouted, "No!" Then everything sped up again. Mr. Bingley fell forward, landing heavily atop Mary and throwing them both to the ground with the momentum. Lizzy did not even have to hear the sound of the stitches ripping to know what had happened. While adding the lace, Mrs. Bennet must have weakened the seams holding the bodice together. Whether it was Mr. Bingley's flailing hand or perhaps his cuff link, something had caught in that large-looped lace and the fall tore the upper part of the gown to pieces in the stress of their rough landing.
Mary was well and truly compromised. Now they could only hope that Mr. Bingley would offer for her, in accordance with what Mrs. Bennet had obviously planned. If not, their whole family would be ruined.
