The quaint town of Meryton was abuzz with excitement as news of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Carey's future wedding spread like wildfire. The locals could not stop talking about their upcoming nuptials with enthusiasm as Miss Lucas was held in high regard by everyone in the town.
As the wedding day drew closer, Mr. Carey and his sister - Mrs. Bennet – decided to host a lavish dinner party at his home. He extended invitations to all the prominent families in Meryton, including the Bingleys. Although Mr. Carey was initially hesitant, he also invited his cousin, Mrs. Phillips, and her husband to partake in the festivities.
Jane's health had finally improved after five days of being sick with a cold at her aunt's house. She was ready to leave her aunt's house and return to Longbourn. Although she had enjoyed her stay and loved her aunt very much, she missed her sisters, especially Elizabeth. Her aunt had informed her that her sisters had come to visit her during her illness, but she had turned them away because she was resting.
Upon arrival at Longbourn, her sisters and her Mama were overjoyed to see her feeling better. They hugged her tightly, and each of them expressed their concern and asked how she was feeling. They insisted that she take the day to rest to ensure her full recovery for the upcoming party to be held the following day. Her father greeted her politely and retired to his bookroom.
After spending some time contemplating his promise to his wife and Jane's health, Mr. Bennet had decided to wait until the party at his brother-in-law's house to discuss with Jane his will, and his decision to make Elizabeth his heir.
Jane was eagerly anticipating the party, as she was looking forward to seeing and spending time with Mr. Bingley. Earlier that day, she had caught a glimpse of him in Meryton, but he was in the company of Mr. Darcy and did not converse much. She noticed that Mr. Bingley seemed deep in thought and was not his usual enthusiastic self, but she attributed it to the somber weather and Mr. Darcy's unpleasant mood.
That night as she perused her wardrobe in search of the perfect outfit, Jane finally settled on a beautiful pale blue gown with intricate silver embroidery. The gown was made by Mrs. Gardiner's dressmaker in London and had only been worn once before. To complete the outfit, Jane carefully selected a fan and shoes that perfectly matched the gown, creating a stunning ensemble that she was sure would catch Mr. Bingley's eye.
12th November 1811
Around 7:30 PM, the guests started arriving at Mr. Carey's house. The first guests to arrive were the Lucases and the Bennets. Charlotte looked stunning in a pale red dress that perfectly complemented her hair and eye colour. Although Charlotte was not a considered particularly pretty young woman, she was beautiful that night.
Soon after, the Phillipses made their entrance. While Mr. Bennet had a deep-seated dislike for the Phillips, he greeted them with a polite but cold demeanor and Mr. Carey followed suit. Mr. Phillips sat down in the seat that was assigned to him, while Mrs. Phillips went over to talk to Jane, who was engrossed in conversation with Elizabeth.
As Mrs. Phillips only spoke to Jane, Elizabeth politely excused herself and went to chat with Charlotte.
After a while, the Nerherfield Park party arrived, fashionably late. Caroline Bingley had a last-minute wardrobe malfunction and had to change, delaying their arrival.
Bingley, who had some doubts about Jane's character, was determined to observe her closely that evening. He approached Jane and Mrs. Phillips with a polite greeting, engaging them in conversation. He wanted to ask Jane several question to determine if she was sincere.
Although Mrs. Phillips was convinced that Jane's beauty and inheritance made her eligible match for a gentleman of higher status, like Mr. Darcy, she decided not to express again her opinion about it. Besides, she observed that Mr. Darcy had no interest in Jane, and Jane was developing strong feelings for Mr. Bingley. Above all, she loved Jane as she were her own daughter and she wanted her happiness. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by Mrs. Long's proximity, Mrs. Phillips approached her to engage in conversation while Jane and Mr. Bingley continued talking between themselves.
On the other side of the room, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Mary were engaged in a lively conversation. Darcy unintentionally approached the ladies and began to eavesdrop on their discussion.
Charlotte noticed Mr. Darcy's frequent glances toward Elizabeth, asked him, "Mr. Darcy, we are just discussing the novel 'The Mysteries of Udolpho.' By any chance, have you read it?"
Darcy nodded slightly and responded, "Seldom I read novels, but I read it to determine if it was a suitable for my sister."
"Can you share your thoughts of the novel?" Elizabeth inquired with a curious tome.
Darcy considered for a moment before responding, "In my opinion, the story is entertaining, but is quite unrealistic. The characters and the situations are far-fetched and unbelievable."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and added, "Do you think it is suitable for your sister? I was thinking of suggesting it to my youngest sister."
Darcy smiled and replied, "I would be cautious about recommending it to your sister. My sister started reading it a few months ago, but she had to stop because it gave her nightmares. The plot can be quite dark and unsettling."
Mary chimed in, "I had a similar experience with the book. I had to put it down because the story became too intense for me. I am not sure if I will ever have the courage to finish reading it."
Elizabeth laughed, "It is definitely not a novel you should read before going to bed." She paused and added, "I wonder if Mrs. Radcliffe has ever been to any of those places…"
They continued talking for a few more minutes, and then headed to the dining room where dinner was served.
There was no separation of the sexes after dinner. At Charlotte and Mr. Carey's request, Elizabeth played Charlotte's favorite piece which coincidentally was one of her uncle's favorite tunes. Darcy, much to Caroline Bingley's frustration, once again stood close to Elizabeth and listened to her playing the piano with delight.