Chapter 9 - The Followup
The Lucases always arrived at Longbourn for a morning call the day after an assembly or ball. It was a necessary custom of the two families to meet, to discuss all the happenings of the assembly the night before.
Charlotte sought Elizabeth in the parlour, and, not finding her there, looked outside. Seeing Elizabeth in the garden, she went outside and crossed the lawn to greet her. She raised her eyebrow when she could make out Elizabeth's face.
Elizabeth Bennet was sitting in a sunny corner of the garden, attempting to enjoy some last warmth before the colder weather really set in but was so very, very annoyed! The gall of the man! A whole night had passed and still she was seething inside. Oh, she had hidden it well, had even laughed about it at the time, but she was somewhat approaching fit to be tied about it. This was one of the few times she wished she actually did have an older brother, because she was sure she could have prevailed on such an imaginary creature to call Mr Darcy out. It simply was not done, was not gentlemanly, to waft around ball rooms calling young ladies you wandered past names. As if she was merely tolerable! As if she hadn't voluntarily sat out that dance given the general dearth of gentlemen! No wonder he hadn't danced, not being a gentleman himself, she thought, while grinding her teeth. Then she heard a sound and looked up and a begrudged half smile crossed her face. "Charlotte!" she cried, holding out both hands in welcome.
"I imagine", Charlotte said, taking her hands in response and sitting down beside her "that you are quite rightly still upset over the comment you overheard from Mr Darcy."
Elizabeth cooled somewhat. "Dear Charlotte! I am glad you have come. I have been getting quite distressed over this and I need you to distract me" she said.
"I think it would help if you didn't tell everyone about it, as you have been, and tried to put it behind you. I expect it merely reflected this Mr Darcy being in a poor mood himself. Consider the company he was keeping. Did you ever see anyone more shrewish than the ladies of the party?"
Elizabeth merely raised her eyebrow in return.
Charlotte sighed, she knew her friend too well, "No, you assume too much, I don't suggest you should forgive the gentleman without an apology. But I do think you should take into account that you do not know his circumstances. Consider that. And definitely stop dwelling on it so".
"I only wish I could," sighed Elizabeth, "but this…. I cannot seem to let it pass".
"Well, you must", replied her dear friend. "It does you no good, and I know you - you will employ your wit against this man whenever you meet, and as residents of the two principal properties of Meryton you will meet, particularly given how taken Mr Bingley seemed with Jane, and it will make the situation worse."
"I would suggest instead" continued her friend, "that you act upset and avoid his eye whenever you come across him. I don't mean you should cut him, although honestly, he deserves it. But come close to it. He will promptly realise something is wrong and enquire. And then you can state what he has done, and he can make a proper apology. I am expecting you will find he had had a bad day. Had they not arrived just that day? And from what I saw, he probably assumed he could not be overheard and barely even saw you. There is no sign that his eyesight is poor so there is no logical reason for him to state such a ridiculous thing. Even if you weren't the second most beautiful creature in the county, a man who spent that long just walking around the assembly hall, undistracted by talking to people, should have easily been able to count on his fingers that there simply weren't enough gentlemen to go around. So, it was hyperbole".
"But Charlotte!" protested her young friend, "He looked at me! Mr Bingley suggested me as a partner, and he looked me right in the eye and said I was just… tolerable!"
"I know, my dear, but I don't think anything good will come of how I know you want to behave."
Elizabeth looked rebellious. "I do not like your plan. It does not suit. Play meek and mild? I do not think so. If he thinks to use words to flay those around him then he cannot be surprised, nay, it cannot be unjust, to use words back at him. And so, I shall."
"Well, have it on your own head, my dear Eliza" replied her friend. "I have said my piece and given my advice. You will do as you will do. Now tell me, how goes the Cutts' daughter? I know you have been tending to her in her illness. Is she improving?" Charlotte having changed the subject, the two good friends drifted, arm in arm, further from the house.
~~ HoL ~~
Inside the house, Lady Lucas discussed the ball with Mrs Bennet.
"I did think Mr Bingley was quite taken with Jane. He danced a second dance only with her!" said Lady Lucas.
"He might have been" responded Mrs Bennet, a little slyly, "but he did open with your Charlotte".
Lady Lucas had reached the point with her eldest daughter where, at seven and twenty, she no longer believed Charlotte would marry and was wondering if she would be able to secure her a place in the Bennet household rather than leave her a spinster in her son's house. In a large family of women, who would notice one more? She thought it likely the daughters would mostly marry but she had a strong feeling that Jane was going to be too picky and would not, meaning she would want a companion for her respectability once all her sisters had left. She thought it an eminently sensible plan, despite Charlotte being closest to Elizabeth. Charlotte had not been consulted in this, it being mostly a thought Lady Lucas had as a plan if nothing else worked out. To that end she always encouraged Charlotte to spend time in the Bennet household, and did not criticise Mrs Bennet, despite how ridiculous she was. Why would she criticise her childhood friend anyway?
"He did, didn't he," smiled Lady Lucas, "but it was Jane of whom he chose to request a second dance. But his friend was not so kind to Elizabeth, it seems".
"No indeed! A most unpleasant gentleman!" was the stern reply.
"It is unfortunate. He would have been an attractive match for her, had he not shown himself so disinterested".
Mrs Bennet rolled her eyes in response. "I begin to believe that I have no hope of ever getting any of these girls married".
Not what I hope for thought Lady Lucas. If an opportunity to help comes up, I shall be sure to provide it!
~~ HoL ~~
Jane just smiled to herself and thought dreamily of the young man she had met. Sensible, good-humoured, lively, happy manners and such perfect good breeding. She sighed contentedly.
~~ HoL ~~
The Netherfield and Longbourn parties saw each other at various social events in the following weeks, at each of which it was obvious to everyone that Jane and Bingley were more and more drawn to each other. One such was an evening at the home of Sir William Lucas. It was a pleasant evening, thought Jane. Several ladies were exhibiting, and she took her turn on her harp. Sometimes she regretted taking it up as it was rather awkward to transport and hardly any of the families in the neighbourhood played, so it must be transported if she was to display, and of course the young ladies displaying was a necessary part of a social event.
As she ended her performance, Bingley led the applause "Bravo" he exclaimed, somewhat excessively, but his smile was everything she could have asked for.
Both Mary and Elizabeth took their turns at the keyboard and Jane was beyond gratitude that Mrs Piper had been found for her sisters and her. After watching her sisters and applauding, she turned to continue her conversation with Mr Bingley. "I am so glad you came to Hertfordshire," she said, "you and your sisters are a wonderful addition to our society."
He smiled down at her. "Miss Bennet," he said to her huskily, "I think coming here was the best decision I ever made".
Behind them, Maria Lucas had encouraged Mary to play a dancing tune, and some of the party were now dancing. "Shall we join the dancers, Miss Bennet?" he asked. She happily gave him her hand and they joined in the dancing.
Through the dancers she saw Elizabeth talking to Mr Darcy and Sir William. That won't go well, she thought, but refused to be distracted fully from her handsome partner. Not every problem was hers to deal with, she knew.
~~ HoL ~~
Some days later, Mr Bennet had an announcement at the breakfast table.
"I have had a letter from my cousin that he would like to come to visit next week. I have not yet replied. My dear?" he said, addressing his lady wife. "Do you have any objection to him coming?"
"Your cousin? I do not recall such a gentleman. When have I met him?" she replied. All the ladies looked at their father with interest.
"You have not met him. I have not seen him since he was a babe in arms, and that was before we were married."
"What do we know of the gentleman? What does he write?" she replied.
"Let me read you the letter." He opened it with a flourish and began to read.
"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October.
"Dear Sir,
"The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness; and, since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach: but, for some time, I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance. My mind, however, is now made up on the subject; for, having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
"William Collins."
He looked up and around the table at the ladies with a smile to see if they were as amused as he, then focussed on his wife "Do you have any objection to him, my dear?"
"Oh, no! None at all!" she said and smiled back, although for completely different reasons to her husband.
The young ladies were all taken aback however, Jane and Elizabeth exchanging glances.
"Can he be a sensible man, sir?" asked Lydia.
"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse" he replied, "I expect much amusement from him."
"Oh papa!" cried Mary in disappointment.
A/N That paragraph describing Lizzy's ire was the very first paragraph I wrote in this story :)
I was a bit at a loss for a title for this chapter. "The Followup" was sadly, the best I could come up with! :(