Chapter 15

The carriage had to take two turns to take everybody as the parents decided to join their children. Mrs. Bennet sent her girls first. They then followed with Mr. Collins. He entertained the Bennet couple all the way to Mr. Phillips's.

He enjoyed the outing immensely. He felt that the neighbourhood gave him all the deference his station demanded. He was satisfied. Therefore, he felt magnanimous and praised the apartment to Mrs. Phillips. She was an attentive listener that further fed his inflated ego. Poor Mrs. Phillips was regaled all the ins and outs of Rosings Park in Kent. She listened in awe to the fact that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds.

His letter to Lady Catherine was in his drawer. He needed to word it well to his patroness. He was going to observe Mr. Darcy at the party, but he decided it would be best to stay away from his person.

Finally, the gentlemen approached the ladies after the men all greeted each other, and conversations started to the delight of the female guests. There was coffee and muffins. When the tables were opened, everybody concentrated on the business of card playing. Whist was a serious thing.

'It is too bad there are not many officers here. We could have invited Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham. We met him yesterday in Meryton. 'She explained to her uncle. 'I would like to see Mr. Wickham in his new uniform. I will ask aunt to invite more officers next time.' Lydia vailed. Mr. Phillips, Jane, Mr. Bingley, and Lydia were playing cards at one of the tables at this round.

'All we hear from you are officers these days, Lydia.' Her uncle noted.

'Of course, I am thinking marrying one of them. They are all so handsome in their uniforms.'

'Lydia, that is enough. You are being forward.' Jane admonished her sister. She dared an uncomfortable glance at Mr. Bingley. 'You are only fifteen years old; you should not be thinking of marriage.'

'But Mama says…'

'That is just it, Liddy. You misinterpret what Mama says. She definitely does not mean you and certainly not at your age.'

'You are becoming old, Jane, and you are still unwed. I would die of mortification if I were still a maiden at your age. You will see, I am going to be the first. Then, you will have to give preference to me.' Bingley seeing Miss. Bennet getting upset with her sister, intervened.

'So, you are thinking of marrying a militia officer, are you, Miss Lydia?'

'Aye,' her eyes sparkled.

'Well, I say that is an excellent sentiment. I applaud your bravery and sacrifice.' Jane was about to gasp when she heard the second sentence. She looked at him in question. He looked back at her, then to Lydia. Right on cue. She stopped looking at her cards. For a moment she did not find her voice.

'Bravery and sacrifice? What do you mean, Mr. Bingley? Why would it be a sacrifice?'

'I applaud you that you would sacrifice much of the luxury you are living in. Most of the officers in the militia are second or third sons of smaller estates, as you know. They are the surplus a landowner can offer to the country. They have nothing to their names except the allowance they get from their family. That is in most cases 50 to 100 pounds at most. A year. Some do not even have that as the standards have been lowered in the militia and they do not necessarily require the officers to have some land attached to them anymore, even if small. The war needs more men to be ready to fight if there is an invasion.' Lydia's eyes grew wide. So did Jane's. 'This all means, Miss Lydia, that the officers do not get paid, but only a small allowance that pays for their food and necessities. If you marry one of them, well, you can imagine. As I said, I applaud your willingness to clean, cook, wash and iron clothes for love. That is high order for any woman let alone for a girl of fifteen.' He played a card. Jane just looked at him, then at Lydia. How would she take this? 'The big question is not even how you will be able to afford anything, especially entertainment, but where you would live. These men do not have estates or even a house. You would live in cheap, dirty rented places. You cannot imagine the state of these places as you live on a prosperous estate. Then you would never stay long in one place; you would have to follow your husband wherever his regiment goes. And that only until the war is over. What then?' He looked back at his cards.

Lydia could not speak. She blinked once; she blinked twice. Her lips trembled. She looked at Mr. Phillips in question if he could refute it, but he nodded in acknowledgment. She looked at her sister. She had the face of 'I have told you so.' Tears came to her eyes. Her voice was weak.

'But…'

'Miss Lydia, are you all right? I thought you knew all this.' Bingley showed a fake surprise.

'I thought, I thought… are you sure? I cannot cook! That is not what I want. Wash and iron? I thought… Excuse me.' She stood suddenly; the chair slid back loudly on the floor. She looked around her with panic in her eyes. She spotted her mother. She left the table and her card partners.

'Mama, Mama…!'

Jane looked at Mr. Bingley in wonder. 'I cannot believe you have just done that. Uncle, what do you say?' Mr. Bingley shrugged his shoulder. 'Thank you. Oh my! Why did I not think of all this?' She needed her fan. 'You were amazing! With a straight face. Remind me never to play against you. I was getting worried about my little sister.'

'I saw.'

'And you helped… Thank you.' Bingley basked in Jane's praise. That look on Miss Bennet's face was worth everything to him. She very rarely showed her emotions, he noticed. He watched her as she excused herself to see to her family. He looked at Mr. Phillips. He was grinning.

'You are her hero now, Mr. Bingley.'

…

Miss Bingley tried to keep up with Mr. Darcy. When he moved, she did, too. Darcy was losing his patience with the woman. Where is Bingley? He valiantly tried to converse with the gentlemen present and when it came to sitting down to play cards, with a sudden move, he left her to fend for herself. He was satisfied with himself. He would have to talk to Charles about this situation. He needs to marry his sister and soon. Not to him, of course.

Elizabeth was watching this interesting cat-and-mouse game they were engaged in. She felt for Mr. Darcy. Is this what he has to put up with every time he goes to an event? No wonder he isolates himself as best he can. But now he was trying, he tried to be sociable. She was proud of him for him.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy kept their distance from each other as much as they could. Their eyes still met sometimes, but they both thought that there was so much a person could bare. They both sighed when a game brought them together to one table. They mostly were silent, but they both took comfort in the other's close presence.

Mr. Bennet, Darcy's partner, spoke up.

'Mr. Darcy, I am glad for this opportunity to talk. You have made quite a stir in my family.'

'Papa, you embarrass Mr. Darcy. It is nothing, sir. It is just that Mama mentioned how you all exchanged ideas. Mama went to Netherfield today to talk about tenant visits with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst.' She said the last to Mrs. Long opposite her.

'That we did, indeed, Miss Elizabeth.' Darcy glanced at her with a small smile. 'It was an enlightening experience.'

'How so?' Mr. Bennet challenged.

'Your wife, Sir, was amazing this afternoon. To be honest, I never thought that one needed to put quite some effort and thinking into tenant relations. She highlighted some things for me that I wish to think through and discuss with my housekeeper. I do not have a mistress, you see, so, for now, it is my housekeeper at Pemberley that is responsible for taking care of the people of the estate. There is too much on her shoulders.'

'Maybe it is time for you to marry.' Mrs. Long commented. Mr. Darcy fidgeted at that. Elizabeth really did not want to, but it could not be helped: she blushed. Her father saw that. Interesting, he thought, but then turned his attention back to Mr. Darcy.

'Are you saying that my country wife taught you some things?'

'You should not be surprised. She is your mistress.' Darcy challenged him back. Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrow. He liked the fellow he decided.

'Touché. To my shame, I am learning just now what a treasure my wife is.'

'Well, better late than never.' He bowed his head toward Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Long was shaking her head. Elizabeth was quietly giggling. He spared a challenging glance at her.

'You, Sir, are a constant source of surprise.'

'I hope in a good way.' Elizabeth hid behind her cards.

…

Jane, still reeling because of Mr. Bingley's actions, took care of Lydia who complained to her mother. Unfortunately, her mother was not better because after she listened to her she asked Lydia, 'And all this was said by Mr. Bingley?' She had a faraway look on her face, she glanced at Jane who seemed beaming. She turned back to her youngest and just answered her that strictly speaking Mr. Bingley was right and that maybe it would be better for Lydia to rethink her wishes.

As the lottery was starting, Jane used it to redirect Lydia's attention. She liked a game as much as anything so her sister urged her to play. Being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone and anything. Jane sighed deeply as she observed her sister.

After a while, she looked for Mr. Bingley. He surprised her that evening. To have ready that speech he gave about the officers was quite something. He knew Lydia would react when he mentioned bravery and sacrifice. How mischievous! This showed him in a very favourable light. He could stand up for himself. He had finesse. When their eyes finally met, Jane showed him a genuine wide smile with her white teeth instead of her usual polite smile. She wanted him to know that she appreciated what he did. Mr. Bingley, solemnly, bowed his head to her.

…

Some lines are verbatim from Pride and Prejudice

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