Chapter 24
Elizabeth said little, Jane said even less, it was her ladyship who took on the task of filling the air on the way to ball. Immediately upon being introduced, her ladyship impertinently pursued her aim—removing her niece from the notice of that upstart Bingley.
"You look well this evening Miss Bennet. Am I to assume then, that your uncle is quite fortunate in his dealings, or that you mother prefers you to your sister? It would, I suppose, evidence some good sense to see to the eldest daughter before the younger ones. Your gown is quite becoming, it is of much finer quality than the gowns your sister wore at Rosings, but then, it is imperative the distinction of rank be always maintained."
"Your ladyship is too kind," replied Jane, blandly. "My aunt was generous enough to make a gift of this particular gown when I arrived in Town some months ago."
Elizabeth's temper was beginning to get the better of her, but still, she was determined to behave. Her ladyship had reunited Bingley with her sister, she was due some consideration on that score. Her patience need not last long, as her objective was now achieved, she had little reason to stay under the care of Lady Catherine. "I must say we have little use for too many fine ball gowns in the country. As we are of just two of five sisters, there would be very little sense in outfitting us all with excessive finery for balls, with often only a monthly assembly to attend." Elizabeth interjected, not wishing the burden of such uncivil and impertinent conversation to fall to Jane.
"It is well then that the funds are not wasted, though, more of course is expected in Town. Miss Bennet, what news of your engagement? Your sister has offered me no assurances on that score, she refuses even to speak of it. When you have married into a family so hoping to establish themselves, you will be required to move more in society, in Town most especially. Who will see to your wedding clothes? You must not expect to wait to acquire what you need once you are married. Such things must be seen to properly before you are wed. It would make the wrong sort of impression to appear as a new wife, and in a society that is new to you, appearing as middling country gentry. That could hardly accomplish your husbands aims, it would do him no service at all, he could hardly make use of your station, if you appeared in society as though to you were fortunate to have caught his eye. The marriage then, could provide no benefit whatsoever."
Elizabeth felt Jane's posture become ridged next to her, but her words were sweet and serene, "As there is nothing decided, my sister could hardly have anything to say on the matter. It would not do to spread rumors or connect two young people without cause. As to my clothes, I have always found them more than suitable for the company I keep and the society my family enjoys, I can have no complaints on that score. My parents have always proved most generous."
"Miss Bennet! You fail to understand your value to your husband. Your country upbringing is not the sort of life you should expect as Mrs. Bingley. Your duty to your husband must not be ignored, or your children shall boast no more consequence than their father. Though they are a family on the rise, his marriage will surely making of him. What else could you offer a man with such a fortune? Are you blind to your only virtue other than your beauty?"
Jane turned red with embarrassment but said nothing. Poor Jane! Elizabeth felt all the mortification and discouragement for her sister. Lady Catherine's interference was nearly as officious as her nephews! She could have no notion how little she helped her cause, especially in light of what Jane had pronounced, and just that morning. How dare she make Jane feel so worthless!
"Your ladyship is mistaken," Elizabeth said coldly, now not caring to maintain civility. "Just this morning Mr. Bingley declared he had no desire for a wife to help him in society. He is just the sort of man who might value a woman beyond her consequence."
Her ladyships whipped around and stared at Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who upon this earth, do you suppose, would value a woman beyond her consequence, other than the French? You see what those notions have led to, though I suppose it gives young men something to do with themselves if they are not to inherit. A war on the continent, I suppose, might give a second or even a third son a way to distinguish himself. I cannot protest the way such things are gone about with Wellington, but the navy, dear heavens, they entirely mistaken in how to go about the business. They puff up young men who are nothing and cause them to think they are of some consequence. You would think we were French, the way the admiralty promotes those with nothing to recommend themselves, except some distinction in battle, which I ought hardly need remind them is their duty. If there are any present on this occasion that might be spoken to about such nonsense, you may trust that they will hear of it! How are we to defeat that upstart if such notions become prevalent amongst our ranks? No, it must not be done, what good is it to win the ground war, only to lose good society for to the foolishness notions we were fighting in the first place? To launch an army against that upstart only to adopt his thinking into our society! It is not to be borne."
Elizabeth stared back, incredulous, but grateful her Ladyship's speech no longer included her sister's merits. "Your ladyship cannot mean to say that distinction in battle should not be rewarded. I think we might all lament a lack of eagerness in our troupes. Surely the want of incentive in our sailors would make us French sooner than gratitude shown to those would distinguish themselves, regardless of station. Are we to instead encourage they abandon our cause, and fight for the French, if only for the hope their situation might be improved."
"An Englishman, fight for the French? It is not in their blood, why would they then abandon the nation to which they were born? It is their duty as much as anyone else's. What other purpose could they have? The world is hardly in need of more persons who can boast poverty."
"Indeed madam, let us not give them every incentive to abandon a system that refuses to reward them merely as a consequence of their birth. We need only look to the Americans, and the French, to see the lack of profit in those ideals."
"Miss Bennet! You are mistaken, those very standards are why we succeed where other nations have failed. It is for us to have an empire; it is our reward. The disaster in the Americas notwithstanding. That is precisely why peasants should know their place, and not be taught to think too well of themselves, or profit overly much for their endeavors."
"I thought them examples of why we ought to see to the responsibilities of our station, and not think too much in the privileges, madam."
"You state your opinion very decidedly for someone so young. What then, do you suppose, would protect us, if those beneath us were not taught to think rightly on the matter from a young age. Do you think the past will protect your future, your children's future, if these strictures are not upheld at every turn, for each generation? I daresay, your generation takes much for granted. Do you think a little generosity will prevent those beneath you from enacting designs against you if they have sufficient inducement to believe they would gain from your downfall, I think not, Miss Bennet. Your lack of experience in the world blinds you to its cruelty. One cannot ward off grasping upstarts with not but good wishes. A firm hand in required."
"Your ladyship mistakes me. I can no more believe kind condescension will ward off revolution than I can believe a lack of generosity will do nothing to provoke it. I only mean to say that I have no intention of endeavoring to deserve a loss in status, by exhibiting such ungraciousness as to refuse to reward those earned such distinction, and merely for the cause of their birth. If there can be no profit in having honor, for those beneath us, I can think there little that could provide more incentive for them to quit such a system."
"Miss Bennet, I have no more talk of treason! We have nearly arrived."
"Your ladyship may be assured that treason is not my intent, but rather my thoughts tend towards quite the opposite- How revolution might be avoided in England."
Her ladyship harrumphed loudly as the carriage pulled to a sudden stop. Elizabeth rushed to squeezed Jane's hand to provide would reassurance she could. Jane made no response, her revealing countenance nothing. Elizabeth could only assume her ladyship had further fueled Jane's fears, but assumed nothing could be achieved until there again could be some privacy to their encounters. Her thoughts quickly became all for extracting herself from her ladyship's care.