Chapter 31

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips drawing room was not set up for cards, or any other organized entertainment, except for dinner, and perhaps a song or two afterwards on their instrument, the Broadwood already opened. The guests consisted of the Bennets and Mr. Hines, their friend from London who was passing through on his way to Cambridge.

"What business do you have in Cambridge?" Elizabeth asked, all too aware of the dinner table set up to have her closest to Mr. Hines.

"I am meeting a man who wishes to offer me shares in a factory up north which produces cloth." He replied.

The man was handsome enough, a full head of hair, which was light brown, and a full mustache atop his lip. His face was narrow, mirroring the rest of his slim body. His clothes, though not expensive, were of the latest fashion, and there was nothing untoward in his speech thus far.

"I understand you have a young son?" He asked.

"Yes," Elizabeth smiled and told him all about Little Will and what mischief he managed to get into that day.

Mrs. Bennet caught her sister's eye, and they both smiled at each other. When the dinner was finished Mrs. Phillips begged Mary to play for them, and managed to have Elizabeth and Mr. Hines sit in a secluded corner of the room, while the others were closer to the piano, talking among themselves or listening to Mary's song, her playing much improved.

"Usually my Aunt would have double the company, and the card tables out. I am, however, in half mourning," Elizabeth made a motion to the dove gray of her gown.

"Ah," Mr. Hines said. "Allow me to say you look far too young to have already lost a husband."

Elizabeth's face turned somber, "We had only been married two years."

After a pause, Mr. Hines continued the conversation on safe topics, such as the weather, the state of the roads, and even spoke of his house in London. Elizabeth asked about his family; Mother and Father already dead, a sister who was married and also living in London. When Mary finished her songs Mrs. Bennet insisted Elizabeth play as well to assure Mr. Hines that Elizabeth was indeed a gentleman's daughter and had all the trappings of such. Elizabeth tried to demur, but Mrs. Bennet all but pushed her to the emptied seat.

"I have not played in some time," Elizabeth prefaced, before placing her fingers on the keys. Taking a deep breath she began a song she had learnt by heart, faltering through the first few measures, before her fingers warmed. When the song ended both Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips applauded the loudest, each taking sneaking glances at Mr. Hines who seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly.

"How old is he?" Elizabeth asked of her Mother as they returned home. Lydia had fallen asleep declaring the night at total bore as they got into the carriage, both Kitty and Mary silently listening.

"I believe he is two and thirty," she replied.

"And never married?" Elizabeth thought it odd a man his age had never been married. Did it reflect on his character that no woman had accepted him?

"Lizzy, not all men can afford a wife when they are young," Mrs. Bennet huffed. "Mr. Hines is a respectable age, has a good income, and he seems to be taken with you."

Elizabeth smiled, more to show her Mother she was thinking of him as a future husband, but other than that evening she did not think of him. Mr. Hines had left Meryton and went on to Cambridge, wrote to the Phillips' about their niece, Mrs. Collins, once, but had not written since. Mrs. Bennet was put out by it more than anybody else, declaring he could do no better than her Lizzy.

Life went on at Longbourn, the greatest changes marked by the growth of Little Will. He seemed to have bypassed walking and went straight to running, preferring it to any other mode of transportation. Elizabeth spent most mornings in the nursery with Will and Becky to see how they were both getting on, then tend to any letters or the such. Since Mrs. Bennet's return to Longbourn she had helped Elizabeth by once again taking up the responsibilities of mistress, conferring with Mrs. Hill about the meals and servants.

Elizabeth received a letter from her Aunt Gardiner early in May stating that they would be going to the Lake District and would love to take Mary with them. Elizabeth had written to her Aunt months ago to share her concerns about Mary, and this reply seemed to have come at an opportune time. Jane had just given birth to a baby girl they named Annabelle and Mrs. Bennet was planning a trip and insisting Lydia accompany her. Lydia had bragged about her going with her Mother to Kitty, but in truth Kitty did not wish to go.

John Lucas, the eldest son of Sir Lucas, had just returned home from graduating school, and had taken a liking to Kitty who shared his attraction. No one knew, of course, except Elizabeth. Kitty was terrified if their Mother had discovered it she would have done all she could to promote the match, regardless of propriety. Lydia, in her childish way, would have tried to ruin any chances of Kitty's.

Writing back to her Aunt of their plans for that Summer, she replied she could spare Mary some weeks so that she may enjoy a change of scenery. Mrs. Bennet was amenable to the idea, though she was more determined to stay in London during the next season and taking Lydia with her. And so, at the end of June Mrs. Bennet and Lydia left for Scarborough, and three weeks later Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner came to whisk a reluctant Mary away with them, and Longbourn breathed a sigh of relief.