Chapter 18 - The Honeymoon

1812

As the carriage pulled away from Netherfield, Jane and Bingley sat inside, gazing into each other's eyes. Charles reached out a finger and ran it along Jane's jawline. Jane tilted her head and closed her eyes, a content look on her face. He leaned in and had just begun to kiss her when the carriage jostled, and they were thrown apart. Bingley laughed and pulled Jane tight. They sat foreheads together for a moment. Then "Do we have anything to eat?" he asked, "I'm famished!" Jane looked around and found what they hadn't noticed while wrapped up in each other - a picnic basket, with food from the wedding breakfast. "Hill to the rescue" said Jane, with a smile. They feasted on everything they had missed at Longbourn. After each dish, Charles wiped a corner of Jane's mouth with his napkin.

They couldn't stop smiling at each other.

After only a few hours, they reached London and their townhouse. Jane drew in a breath - "their townhouse"! What an amazing thing to be able to think, she thought. She had not had time to visit it during the shopping trip to London earlier that month, so this was her first sight of her new London home. The carriage stopped and Bingley stepped out, turning to hand Jane down. She took Charles' hand to step down then looked up at the townhouse. A tall and well built building, she stared at it happily for a moment, then, taking Charles' hand, she walked up the steps out of the frosty January day.

As they reached the door, Bingley swept Jane up into his arms and carried her over the doorstep. Jane squealed. A gentle chuckle washed over the staff who were lined up to greet them and smiles were all around. Bingley put Jane down and she adjusted her bonnet, with an embarrassed blush. "What?" he asked her with a grin, "You didn't think I would carry my wife over the threshold?" Jane joined in the laughter. "I may do that every time we come home," Bingley added, looking quite pleased with himself.

Getting back to business, Bingley introduced Jane to the town staff. Bingley's valet and Jane's new maid had come with them in a second carriage, so they were among the staff lined up to meet them. Jasper the Butler bowed to her, and Jane already knew Doyle, Bingley's valet. An older lady, introduced as Mrs Innis, the housekeeper, bobbed in curtsey. "Pleasure to finally meet you, ma'am. The master has told me so much about you." Jane smiled. "Thank you," she answered, "I'm sure we will work well together."

"We have a nice dinner planned for you in a couple of hours," the housekeeper continued. "In the meantime, I'm sure the master wants to give you a tour of the house." The housekeeper smiled, nodded, and stepped back.

Charles smiled at Jane and offered her his arm. Jane took it and they entered the house proper. Jane was pleased with both drawing rooms, although the decoration was a little more garish than her usual taste. "Caroline's touch?" she asked Charles with a smile. "Well, if I let her spend money she screeches less," he looked embarrassed. "Not to worry," replied Jane, "we can fix this". They had a quick look at the study and the mistress study, and they were both pleasant spaces, nicely decorated. "How long have you been here?" she asked. "My father bought it, oh, almost ten years ago now, so Mother was responsible for much of the decoration. I suppose Caroline was correct that it was due for an update," he answered thoughtfully. "Well, the studies are quite classically styled so I will only be checking for wear in there," Jane commented. Bingley nodded then asked, "Shall we go see upstairs?" She smiled at him but replied, "I would just like a peek in the kitchen and meet Cook first. Just the one stop." "You want to meet the cook?" Bingley seemed surprised. "Certainly! How am I supposed to filch biscuits if I don't know the kitchen staff?" she asked. His eyebrows went up. She giggled and whispered, "Always stay in the cook's good books!" Bingley's mouth made a little oh shape.

They went into the kitchen and the kitchen staff looked shocked to see her, but all curtsied dutifully. She was introduced to the cook, Mrs Sales, and briefly discussed plans and preferences. The two women nodded to each other, then Jane turned to Bingley. "Now, upstairs?" He grinned. Jane took his arm, and they went upstairs.

As it happened, they didn't come back down for a week.

~~ HoL ~~

One morning a week later, Jane and Bingley were enjoying a leisurely breakfast in the sitting room between the Master and Mistress suites. They sat on a chaise longue, Jane sat across Charles' legs as he nibbled at various items on the breakfast table, and she sipped a cup of tea. The cup emptied and Jane put it down.

"I suppose," she began, "that we really ought to check there is still a world out there."

"Noooo!" Bingley cried, "Let's stay in here alone forever!"

Jane giggled, "I'd like to see if it has rained at all."

"Ah, you can take the girl out of the country," he laughed, then added "I'm sure you can look out the window for that!"

"What about a walk in the park?"

Bingley looked more interested. "A walk would be nice" he conceded.

They decided they might dress today - eventually.

A couple of hours later they rang for their staff. Milly and Doyle came in and they each went to their own suite to dress. Meeting downstairs, they went out the front door to take the carriage to Hyde Park. By complete fluke, when they got there, it was the fashionable hour.

"Oh dear," said Bingley, "We may have made a mistake."

"How so?" asked his wife.

"Well, now that people have seen us, they will know we are in town and it would be rude to leave the knocker off the door and people will start to call and leave cards and… it will be the end of the private time we have had."

And indeed, he was correct. Over the next couple of days there were several callers who left cards. But even before that, when Bingley had checked his correspondence, he found he had several invitations.

"Would you like to go out?" he asked Jane, upon opening his mail. They were sitting together in Bingley's study, Jane was sewing while he went through the correspondence, checking for anything urgent - he didn't want the pile to get too high. Jane had not wanted to be parted from him, so was sewing while he worked. She looked up with a smile, "What is the event?" she asked.

"We have several invitations. A soirée and two dinner parties"

Jane frowned. Of Charles' friends, she only knew Mr. Darcy and Mr. Chalmers so far, so choosing between events was difficult. She continued sewing for a moment, thinking, and then looked up to say "If we attended the soirée then we would be free to leave early if we wished. Well, more free. You can't exactly walk out on a dinner party, but you can a party."

Charles beamed. "Indeed!" he said. He wrote back to accept the invitation.

~~ HoL ~~

Three nights later saw them dressed, ready at 8pm sharp, to go out to Lord Percy's townhouse. Both Milly and Doyle had done their best and the couple looked stunning. They took the carriage the 3 streets over. Despite the nearness, one did not wish to walk in full evening dress. The carriage pulled up at the door and Bingley handed Jane out. She took his arm and they walked to the door together. "I am a little nervous," she confessed to Charles. He patted her arm "You'll be fine. You're Jane Bingley!" he reassured her. She smiled broadly at his use of her new name and felt bolstered. She took a deep breath as Charles rapped the knocker.

The butler opened the door and observed them, then, recognising Mr. Bingley, bowed them in. They both handed their outerwear to a footman and entered the body of the house. The party was already in full swing and there were at least twenty people there. In the main drawing room, a string quartet were playing. They drifted through several rooms, Bingley often stopping to proudly introduce his new wife to people. One man they passed, a colonel in full regimentals, stopped them.

"Bingley!" he said. "I heard you had married - congratulations!"

"Colonel! Long-time no see! I am honoured to introduce my wife to you. Colonel, may I present my wife, Mrs Jane Bingley, formerly of Longbourn in Hertfordshire."

The colonel bowed over her hand "Lovely to meet you, Mrs Bingley" he said. Jane smiled and curtsied. Bingley continued the introduction "Jane, this is Colonel Fitzwilliam, an old friend, and hero of the battle of Albuera. He is Darcy's cousin, as it happens". Jane curtseyed and gave the usual affirmations.

They made small talk, the colonel was quite pleasant company. Presently he was drawn away, but before he went, he said "Darcy mentioned that you were marrying the second most beautiful woman in Hertfordshire, and I can agree with his praise! Congratulations again!" and with that he bowed and left them. Jane was a little bemused by that final comment. She was in no way insulted at being thought only second in beauty - she had always thought it luck of the draw and fashion that people found her beautiful, rather than some innate quality of herself, and always tried to bebeautiful rather than just look beautiful. Nonetheless, she was well aware of the general opinion. So just who was it that Darcy thought more beautiful than she, she wondered? But it was a busy party and she was soon distracted by the goings on and completely forgot what the Colonel had said.

In the end, the Bingleys stayed the full length of the evening. There were so many old friends for Bingley to greet and for Jane to meet. Lord Percy was particularly charming, and the event was lively - a well-known poet was reciting his works in the back parlour and the drinks were flowing freely enough that everyone was very merry, but the guest list was well enough chosen that no one seemed to be over indulging.

By the time the Bingleys called for their carriage, it was quite late, and they were somewhat tired. Jane rested her head on Bingley's shoulder as the horses clopped along the cobblestoned street.

~~ HoL ~~

A couple of days later saw them off to Bath for a month. They had considered Brighton as a beach holiday, but after discussing it realised that it had become one giant soldier's camp in recent years, so they really didn't want to. They had considered Ramsgate, but apparently Charles had heard it was unpleasant there recently so that was off the list too. Neither of them had heard anything bad about Bath, and it was something of a cultural centre, so Bath was the plan.

They were renting an apartment, with staff, in a large building that was a holiday residence for young couples. They were greeted by several of the residents when they arrived and it seemed to be a very lively community. Soon, the month in Bath became a busy series of morning rides, afternoon picnics and dinner parties.

On the Thursday before they were due to leave, they were arriving at the Harts' townhouse for one such dinner. He was an old friend of Bingley's as they were at Oxford together. Once inside and their outerwear removed, they were greeted by a woman about their age.

"Mrs Hart!" Bingley beamed at her and bowed.

"Mr Bingley, it's so nice to see you again. I am glad you could come" she replied.

Charles bowed and added "and I am extremely happy to introduce you to my wife, Mrs Bingley".

As he made the introduction, the man of the house came forward "What's this? Bingley, you're here!"

"Hart! Good to see you! I was just introducing my wife to yours".

"Ah, I heard you had married! Congratulations to you both".

Mrs Hart rolled her eyes at the men and turned to Jane, "Let's leave them to their babbling, shall we? Come inside, I want to introduce you around," she said and took Jane's arm. "I've been looking forward to meeting you - please, you must call me Emma. Mr Bingley is such a dear friend of ours that I am sure you and I will be very close." She patted Jane's arm.

"Charles has told me all about how he and your husband met" Jane smiled at her.

As they walked away from the men, they could still be heard behind them "Bingley, your wife is stunning! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…"

"And you must call me Jane" she continued.

They entered the drawing room.

Two couples were inside. The men were at the fireplace discussing something with their backs to the door. The two women were seated on the sofa. Emma ignored the men and drew Jane over to the women. "Ladies," she began, "I assume you heard that Mr Bingley married?" They nodded, looking at Jane in an interested fashion. "This is Jane Bingley. Isn't she lovely? Mr Bingley and William are still talking in the entry. Men." She rolled her eyes again and turned to Jane, "but let me introduce you. Jane, this is Amelia Shacklock." The taller blond lady nodded to Jane with a smile. "And Hannah Fry" continued Emma. Now the curly haired brunette nodded. "I'm very pleased to meet you both, ladies," Jane gave a bob of a curtsey. They made the usual noises of greeting back. The men who had been standing at the fire seemed to have noticed the change in occupancy and came over, and Bingley and Hart came into the room at the same time.

"Shacklock, Fry - have you met my wife?" Bingley asked. Noises denying they had came from each.

"Well, I am extraordinarily happy to introduce my darling wife, Jane Bingley, to you." Bingley's eyes were fixed on his wife.

Both men spoke eagerly to greet Jane, "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs Bingley", "It is our honour to meet you, Mrs Bingley"

Jane smiled gaily at each of them, and then looked at her husband with a happy smile and looked back and answered "I am so happy to meet friends of Charles'" she said. They were chatting happily, discussing the recent events in Bath when there was noise from the foyer.

"Ah, that will be Elmes" said Mr Hart. Another young man came in.

"Sorry I am late. I got caught up" he went and kissed Emma on the cheek and then looked around. "Hello Bingley, I heard you were in town but hadn't run across you yet. How are you?"

They exchanged the usual pleasantries and Jane was introduced - Elmes was Mrs Hart's brother. He seemed a nice enough fellow. The gong rang and the party proceeded through to the dining room.

It was a pleasant evening. The meal was excellent and the company good. Jane could not fault the event.

During dessert, Mrs Hart was teasing her brother. "Charles is married now Geoffrey - you are the last bachelor in the set. When can we expect you to settle down too?"

"I can recommend married life, if you are worried," cut in Bingley with a smile.

Elmes smiled at the jest but answered seriously. "I would like to marry", he said, "but I must find the right woman. I have plans you see." Mrs Hart rolled her eyes at her brother, but the others looked interested. "My career as an attorney is progressing nicely, but I would like to become a Member of Parliament. House of Commons, obviously - I'm no Lord! I qualify, with my land owning, and I have the local influence needed to be nominated, I believe, but a good woman behind me would help enormously. Such a woman is hard to find though," he shook his head.

"That does sound sensible," commented Hart, "What sort of woman are you looking for?"

"Well, she doesn't need to be high born, in fact almost better if she isn't as my sponsors are not high born, as long as she can get along with those who are. She needs to be able to organises balls and other events. She must know people and be able to influence them. I'm looking for that backup network where my wife is influencing other MPs' wives, if you know what I mean. She'd have to love city life, as an MP is there for so much of the year, but have connections in the country. A good dowry would be the icing on the cake to kickstart funding! It seems to be difficult to find someone like that."

"I can imagine!" replied Bingley, "My wife could do that, but she is definitely taken!" Again, the group laughed. Jane mentally ran through her sisters while they talked That wouldn't suit Lizzy - she is much too tied to country life and Mary would not be good at those sort of connections. So I guess I can't help Mr Elmes. Kitty and Lydia are, of course, far too young, and Kitty wouldn't suit either. Well, if he is still looking in five years, perhaps I will help him meet our boisterous Lydia. But that's unlikely. Do I know anyone else in Hertfordshire? She mentally ran through the neighbourhood ladies who were still single but couldn't think of one who met Mr Elmes' requirements.

The conversation became more general then, as no one seemed to know a lady who they could promote to Elmes.

It was a pleasant evening all round.

~~ HoL ~~

A few days later they left for Netherfield. They had been away for just over six weeks - it was the longest Jane had ever been away from home, and she missed it. It felt strange that home was no longer going to be Longbourn, but Netherfield, but she knew Longbourn would be just a few miles away and Netherfield was very familiar to her.

The trip home had taken three days, because they had stopped in Oxford to break the journey and Bingley had wanted to spend a day there to show Jane the beauties of the area he remembered. It was a lovely little town and, Bingley said, quieter than it often was right now as the students were not in class. After two nights there, they made the longer trip to Hertfordshire and pulled into Netherfield in the early afternoon.

Jane took Charles' hand to step out of the carriage and looked around. It was mid-March and they were home. The cool of winter was still in the trees, there were buds on plants, but no flowers yet. Jane breathed out with a happy sigh. She was home. Together they walked into the house.

~~ HoL ~~

~~ HoL ~~