Chapter Five
All in all it was a beautiful evening, to Mrs Gardiner's joy. No, the start had not gone well, but Jane was radiant now, and Mr Bingley had promised to call, and of course Elizabeth was happy because Jane was. She had herself danced once with Mr Darcy, and was feeling a little dizzy and confused because of it, and then there was the strange conversation with the countess.
Dancing with Mr Darcy had been interesting. Remembering what she had said to him was so painful and embarrassing; why was he so agreeable towards her now? If she was him, she would have ran away as soon as he saw her. She couldn't understand it, and endeavoured to sleep, and tried to think of Jane's new happiness in meeting Bingley again, but still the image of Mr Darcy popped up whenever she thought she had got rid of it. Hence, it was not a good sleep that Elizabeth had that night, while Jane fell asleep peacefully beside her almost as soon as they blew out the candle.
She woke up much later than usual. The light was streaming through the curtains, resting softly on her face and making blurry squares on the floor. Jane was already up, washing in the basin across the room. Elizabeth pushed herself up onto her elbows, and brushed her hair off her face. "Good morning, Jane," she said lazily.
Jane turned around and smiled. It was the first time Elizabeth had seen her smile so in a long time. "Good morning, Lazy Lizzy."
Elizabeth groaned. "I could not get to sleep. Heaven knows why, for I was tired enough, but you know how it is sometimes . . . Too much to think about."
Jane laughed. "Yes, I could understand that, but I would look at it as too much to dream about."
Elizabeth gave her a mischievous look. "And who were you dreaming about?" Jane blushed, and did not answer. "I am very happy that you have met him again, Jane."
"I cannot imagine who you are talking about," smiled Jane.
"I think it is safe to say that he is as much enamoured of you as always."
"You must not say that, Lizzy," said Jane seriously. "Please do not raise my hopes."
"I will be silent on the subject," promised Elizabeth.
Elizabeth washed and got dressed too, and they ventured downstairs for breakfast. The Gardiner's, a merry clan, laughed heartily when they saw the latecomers. "Up with the birds as always, eh, Elizabeth?" Mr Gardiner teased her. "I presume you enjoyed the dance?"
"Yes, I did," she said, laughing too. Elizabeth ate her breakfast quickly, eager to escape the four walls as usual. "I am going for a walk, uncle," she said.
"In what direction, my dear?"
"The park."
"Goodbye; have a pleasant walk."
The park was the only place she had been in London that gave her some sort of comfort from her homesickness. It was a long walk from Gracechurch Street, yes, but it was worth it, to flee the ever-present dirt, noise and squalor of town. There were places in the park where she could almost imagine herself home again, on a walk near Longbourn.
Arriving at the park, she quickly made her way through the gates and around the corner to her favourite grove. She gave a contented sigh as she finally rested again in the small clearing surrounded by thick trees and shrubs, and sat down on the park bench there. Through the gap in the trees she could see blue sky, and the air was fresher here than it was outside the park gates.
A slight noise stunned her as a girl slipped through a bush into the clearing. "Oh, goodness, I am sorry to disturb you!" she said. "I've just been trying to escape, you see." She was a thin girl, about seventeen years old, with thick brown hair and twinkling eyes. She wore a very pretty dress and pelisse, with a handsome bonnet, and she was obviously from the gentility.
Elizabeth smiled, sensing a spirit not dissimilar to her own. "Not at all," she said. "I perfectly comprehend your feelings. Who are you trying to escape?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Sir Humphrey Wells. The most boorish pig around. He must insist on trying to flirt with me. I wish he would leave me alone."
Elizabeth understood. "I know exactly how you feel," she said, emphatically. "A cousin of mine was like that to me a while ago, but finally I managed to disgust him away, and he married someone else."
"Disgust him away?" said the girl, looking interested. "Now why did I not think of that? Next time I see Sir Humphrey I'll try it."
Elizabeth laughed and stuck out her hand. "Elizabeth Bennet."
"I'm Rosalind Fitzwilliam," said the girl, with a broad grin. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Lady Rosalind?" said Elizabeth, interested. "Why, I have heard of you!"
"Oh, you must call me Rosalind; nobody calls me Lady for long, for I am not much of one – but how did you come to hear of me?"
"I am acquainted with a certain gentleman called Mr Darcy, and I met your mother last night."
Rosalind started laughing. "Oh, I thought your name sounded familiar!"
"My name?"
"Darcy talks about you constantly, and Mama also was talking about you this morning. She kept on asking Papa if he had ever met you or your sister, for she was sure she had seen you before. She even described you down to the last freckle."
Elizabeth was deeply perplexed. The unspoken was, 'Darcy talks about me constantly?!' And the spoken: "Is that so? Well, I am sure I have never met your parents before."
"Mama gets on these obsessed freaks sometimes," said Rosalind. "I'm sure it will blow over when she realises she thought you went to school with her or some obscure thing like that. I am disappointed I did not go to the dance last night if it could have meant meeting you." She smiled brilliantly. "Will you walk with me for a way? I don't want to encounter Sir Humphrey again, and he will not be looking for a pair of girls."
"I would be very happy to," said Elizabeth, taking the younger girl's arm.
*****************
And it all turned out that Elizabeth Bennet and Rosalind Fitzwilliam were firm friends by the time they reached the park gates an hour or so later, despite the difference in their ages, and the disparity of their fortunes. Lady Rosalind was still talking nineteen to the dozen. "And so you met my brother in Kent? How I wish I had gone too, now! But Aunt Catherine despises me, and all the time spent without you would have been a bore. Richard is good enough company, but I talk so much I grate on his nerves sometimes, and besides, I am ten years younger than him, and his sister – he would rather be flirting with someone else or doing nothing than sit listening to my prattling. Did he flirt with you? He is a dreadful flirt sometimes. I think Georgiana is a lot more lucky in her choice of older brothers. Oh, that is Georgiana Darcy, my cousin. Her brother, whom you know, is so kind to her; always giving her presents, always looking after her, always protecting her – Georgiana needs protection, you know. She is so shy! I suppose I would hate it if Thomas or Richard tried to protect me – I am very independent – but still sometimes I envy Georgiana her elder brother."
"I envy you any brothers at all!" said Elizabeth. "I have four sisters – although I would not give up Jane, the eldest, for anything, I would love to have a brother." She sighed quietly, thinking of how life would be if she had had a brother. She would still be at Longbourn, for one.
"Oh no you don't!" said Rosalind emphatically. "Not mine, anyway! If you had grown up with them hiding frogs in your bed and worms in your underwear and cockroaches in your bureau . . . Suffice it to say," she finished grandly, "my brothers are headaches!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Still . . . to have an agreeable, gentle brother would be a thing indeed."
Rosalind smiled. "Yes, it would." She paused. "Although you mustn't go thinking I would rather be without my brothers. I don't know what I would do without them. I have often wished to have a sister or two, though – at least someone with feminine sensibilities who is not several decades older than me. I know! You can be my new sister! We'll pretend."
"Certainly," said Elizabeth. "One more sister cannot do much harm." They both laughed. Elizabeth looked at the clock across the square they had come to. "I must go, Rosalind," she said reluctantly. "It has been such a lovely morning."
"Oh, must you?" said Rosalind, disappointed. "I suppose if you must, you must. Will you come and call on me soon?"
"Of course," said Elizabeth, gratified.
*****************
Mr Bingley had been in while she was walking in the park with Lady Rosalind. Elizabeth had just missed him, and for that she was disappointed, because she liked Mr Bingley very much. But she was happy to see Jane looking radiant, and smiling as she ran up to Elizabeth. "Oh Lizzy, you only just missed Mr Bingley! He called! Isn't that lovely of him?"
"Oh Jane," said Elizabeth with a sly smile, "he is the very essence of loveliness."
"You mustn't tease me, Lizzy," said Jane, finding it impossible to conform her unbiddable, smiling mouth into lazy indifference.
"Was it an agreeable visit?" Elizabeth asked nonchalantly.
"Yes, it was."
"Did he wear his blue coat?"
"Yes, he did."
"Did he say he would come again?"
"Oh, that reminds me – you and I and our uncle and aunt are invited to his residence for dinner on this coming Monday night. Lydia is sulking because she was not invited. Mary never cares anyway, and Kitty is visiting her friend on Rupert Avenue that evening and so doesn't mind." Jane started to walk away. But she turned. "Oh, and Mr Darcy is invited too."
"Oh," said Elizabeth, feeling a little apprehensive. She was not absolutely sure if she could be quite comfortable in his presence yet.
"Lizzy," said Jane, looking around, "were you very uncomfortable seeing him again at the last night?"
"Oh yes," said Elizabeth fervently. She blushed. "I do not know how he stands the sight of me after all the unjust things I said to him. Oh Jane, you remember how I met his aunt? Well, in the park today, I met her young daughter Lady Rosalind – she is about seventeen, I would say – and she is delightful. I am going to visit her on Tuesday morning." Elizabeth paused. "Jane . . . do you also have a feeling that things are getting sunnier?"
Jane pursed her lips slightly. "I almost don't want to say I do for fear that they are not, Lizzy. I have learnt that it is best not to rely on some things as fixed parts of the future." She smiled. "But in a way, yes. I somehow feel more optimistic now." Now she giggled. "At least I have something else to think about now than trying to reconcile myself to the fishmonger's son."
Elizabeth laughed. "Jane – did you not like him?! How is it possible?"
"He is a very worthy man, as you know, Lizzy, and you should not make fun of him like you do."
"Worthy, yes, but pungent, also," said Elizabeth wryly.
Jane almost smiled. "I will not deny that Mr Black does have a certain odour hanging about him."
"Radiating from him, more like it," said Elizabeth, and turned to go away.
"And you, Lizzy?" called Jane after her. "Will you be soliciting the carpenter's attentions in the future? Or have you hopes of another's affections?"
Elizabeth stopped dead. "What?" she said feebly. "You know I never solicited Mr Thompson's most unflattering attentions."
"You are being evasive, Lizzy," said Jane, amused.
*****************
All in all it was a beautiful evening, to Mrs Gardiner's joy. No, the start had not gone well, but Jane was radiant now, and Mr Bingley had promised to call, and of course Elizabeth was happy because Jane was. She had herself danced once with Mr Darcy, and was feeling a little dizzy and confused because of it, and then there was the strange conversation with the countess.
Dancing with Mr Darcy had been interesting. Remembering what she had said to him was so painful and embarrassing; why was he so agreeable towards her now? If she was him, she would have ran away as soon as he saw her. She couldn't understand it, and endeavoured to sleep, and tried to think of Jane's new happiness in meeting Bingley again, but still the image of Mr Darcy popped up whenever she thought she had got rid of it. Hence, it was not a good sleep that Elizabeth had that night, while Jane fell asleep peacefully beside her almost as soon as they blew out the candle.
She woke up much later than usual. The light was streaming through the curtains, resting softly on her face and making blurry squares on the floor. Jane was already up, washing in the basin across the room. Elizabeth pushed herself up onto her elbows, and brushed her hair off her face. "Good morning, Jane," she said lazily.
Jane turned around and smiled. It was the first time Elizabeth had seen her smile so in a long time. "Good morning, Lazy Lizzy."
Elizabeth groaned. "I could not get to sleep. Heaven knows why, for I was tired enough, but you know how it is sometimes . . . Too much to think about."
Jane laughed. "Yes, I could understand that, but I would look at it as too much to dream about."
Elizabeth gave her a mischievous look. "And who were you dreaming about?" Jane blushed, and did not answer. "I am very happy that you have met him again, Jane."
"I cannot imagine who you are talking about," smiled Jane.
"I think it is safe to say that he is as much enamoured of you as always."
"You must not say that, Lizzy," said Jane seriously. "Please do not raise my hopes."
"I will be silent on the subject," promised Elizabeth.
Elizabeth washed and got dressed too, and they ventured downstairs for breakfast. The Gardiner's, a merry clan, laughed heartily when they saw the latecomers. "Up with the birds as always, eh, Elizabeth?" Mr Gardiner teased her. "I presume you enjoyed the dance?"
"Yes, I did," she said, laughing too. Elizabeth ate her breakfast quickly, eager to escape the four walls as usual. "I am going for a walk, uncle," she said.
"In what direction, my dear?"
"The park."
"Goodbye; have a pleasant walk."
The park was the only place she had been in London that gave her some sort of comfort from her homesickness. It was a long walk from Gracechurch Street, yes, but it was worth it, to flee the ever-present dirt, noise and squalor of town. There were places in the park where she could almost imagine herself home again, on a walk near Longbourn.
Arriving at the park, she quickly made her way through the gates and around the corner to her favourite grove. She gave a contented sigh as she finally rested again in the small clearing surrounded by thick trees and shrubs, and sat down on the park bench there. Through the gap in the trees she could see blue sky, and the air was fresher here than it was outside the park gates.
A slight noise stunned her as a girl slipped through a bush into the clearing. "Oh, goodness, I am sorry to disturb you!" she said. "I've just been trying to escape, you see." She was a thin girl, about seventeen years old, with thick brown hair and twinkling eyes. She wore a very pretty dress and pelisse, with a handsome bonnet, and she was obviously from the gentility.
Elizabeth smiled, sensing a spirit not dissimilar to her own. "Not at all," she said. "I perfectly comprehend your feelings. Who are you trying to escape?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Sir Humphrey Wells. The most boorish pig around. He must insist on trying to flirt with me. I wish he would leave me alone."
Elizabeth understood. "I know exactly how you feel," she said, emphatically. "A cousin of mine was like that to me a while ago, but finally I managed to disgust him away, and he married someone else."
"Disgust him away?" said the girl, looking interested. "Now why did I not think of that? Next time I see Sir Humphrey I'll try it."
Elizabeth laughed and stuck out her hand. "Elizabeth Bennet."
"I'm Rosalind Fitzwilliam," said the girl, with a broad grin. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Lady Rosalind?" said Elizabeth, interested. "Why, I have heard of you!"
"Oh, you must call me Rosalind; nobody calls me Lady for long, for I am not much of one – but how did you come to hear of me?"
"I am acquainted with a certain gentleman called Mr Darcy, and I met your mother last night."
Rosalind started laughing. "Oh, I thought your name sounded familiar!"
"My name?"
"Darcy talks about you constantly, and Mama also was talking about you this morning. She kept on asking Papa if he had ever met you or your sister, for she was sure she had seen you before. She even described you down to the last freckle."
Elizabeth was deeply perplexed. The unspoken was, 'Darcy talks about me constantly?!' And the spoken: "Is that so? Well, I am sure I have never met your parents before."
"Mama gets on these obsessed freaks sometimes," said Rosalind. "I'm sure it will blow over when she realises she thought you went to school with her or some obscure thing like that. I am disappointed I did not go to the dance last night if it could have meant meeting you." She smiled brilliantly. "Will you walk with me for a way? I don't want to encounter Sir Humphrey again, and he will not be looking for a pair of girls."
"I would be very happy to," said Elizabeth, taking the younger girl's arm.
*****************
And it all turned out that Elizabeth Bennet and Rosalind Fitzwilliam were firm friends by the time they reached the park gates an hour or so later, despite the difference in their ages, and the disparity of their fortunes. Lady Rosalind was still talking nineteen to the dozen. "And so you met my brother in Kent? How I wish I had gone too, now! But Aunt Catherine despises me, and all the time spent without you would have been a bore. Richard is good enough company, but I talk so much I grate on his nerves sometimes, and besides, I am ten years younger than him, and his sister – he would rather be flirting with someone else or doing nothing than sit listening to my prattling. Did he flirt with you? He is a dreadful flirt sometimes. I think Georgiana is a lot more lucky in her choice of older brothers. Oh, that is Georgiana Darcy, my cousin. Her brother, whom you know, is so kind to her; always giving her presents, always looking after her, always protecting her – Georgiana needs protection, you know. She is so shy! I suppose I would hate it if Thomas or Richard tried to protect me – I am very independent – but still sometimes I envy Georgiana her elder brother."
"I envy you any brothers at all!" said Elizabeth. "I have four sisters – although I would not give up Jane, the eldest, for anything, I would love to have a brother." She sighed quietly, thinking of how life would be if she had had a brother. She would still be at Longbourn, for one.
"Oh no you don't!" said Rosalind emphatically. "Not mine, anyway! If you had grown up with them hiding frogs in your bed and worms in your underwear and cockroaches in your bureau . . . Suffice it to say," she finished grandly, "my brothers are headaches!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Still . . . to have an agreeable, gentle brother would be a thing indeed."
Rosalind smiled. "Yes, it would." She paused. "Although you mustn't go thinking I would rather be without my brothers. I don't know what I would do without them. I have often wished to have a sister or two, though – at least someone with feminine sensibilities who is not several decades older than me. I know! You can be my new sister! We'll pretend."
"Certainly," said Elizabeth. "One more sister cannot do much harm." They both laughed. Elizabeth looked at the clock across the square they had come to. "I must go, Rosalind," she said reluctantly. "It has been such a lovely morning."
"Oh, must you?" said Rosalind, disappointed. "I suppose if you must, you must. Will you come and call on me soon?"
"Of course," said Elizabeth, gratified.
*****************
Mr Bingley had been in while she was walking in the park with Lady Rosalind. Elizabeth had just missed him, and for that she was disappointed, because she liked Mr Bingley very much. But she was happy to see Jane looking radiant, and smiling as she ran up to Elizabeth. "Oh Lizzy, you only just missed Mr Bingley! He called! Isn't that lovely of him?"
"Oh Jane," said Elizabeth with a sly smile, "he is the very essence of loveliness."
"You mustn't tease me, Lizzy," said Jane, finding it impossible to conform her unbiddable, smiling mouth into lazy indifference.
"Was it an agreeable visit?" Elizabeth asked nonchalantly.
"Yes, it was."
"Did he wear his blue coat?"
"Yes, he did."
"Did he say he would come again?"
"Oh, that reminds me – you and I and our uncle and aunt are invited to his residence for dinner on this coming Monday night. Lydia is sulking because she was not invited. Mary never cares anyway, and Kitty is visiting her friend on Rupert Avenue that evening and so doesn't mind." Jane started to walk away. But she turned. "Oh, and Mr Darcy is invited too."
"Oh," said Elizabeth, feeling a little apprehensive. She was not absolutely sure if she could be quite comfortable in his presence yet.
"Lizzy," said Jane, looking around, "were you very uncomfortable seeing him again at the last night?"
"Oh yes," said Elizabeth fervently. She blushed. "I do not know how he stands the sight of me after all the unjust things I said to him. Oh Jane, you remember how I met his aunt? Well, in the park today, I met her young daughter Lady Rosalind – she is about seventeen, I would say – and she is delightful. I am going to visit her on Tuesday morning." Elizabeth paused. "Jane . . . do you also have a feeling that things are getting sunnier?"
Jane pursed her lips slightly. "I almost don't want to say I do for fear that they are not, Lizzy. I have learnt that it is best not to rely on some things as fixed parts of the future." She smiled. "But in a way, yes. I somehow feel more optimistic now." Now she giggled. "At least I have something else to think about now than trying to reconcile myself to the fishmonger's son."
Elizabeth laughed. "Jane – did you not like him?! How is it possible?"
"He is a very worthy man, as you know, Lizzy, and you should not make fun of him like you do."
"Worthy, yes, but pungent, also," said Elizabeth wryly.
Jane almost smiled. "I will not deny that Mr Black does have a certain odour hanging about him."
"Radiating from him, more like it," said Elizabeth, and turned to go away.
"And you, Lizzy?" called Jane after her. "Will you be soliciting the carpenter's attentions in the future? Or have you hopes of another's affections?"
Elizabeth stopped dead. "What?" she said feebly. "You know I never solicited Mr Thompson's most unflattering attentions."
"You are being evasive, Lizzy," said Jane, amused.
*****************
