By Wednesday morning the knocker was off the door at Darcy House.
Wednesday morning Darcy House breakfast room
At breakfast Anne expressed her wish for some but not too many callers.
"I don't really know what to expect" she said "I don't know a lot of people, just people my mother knew, and nobody knows I am here, really"
"I am sure you will have some gentlemen callers" said Lady Clara with a smile for Jane.
Anne laughed. "We can rely on Mr Bingley to save us from the social disaster of no visitors. Clara, if Darce appears, I will let you know, and you and the girls can join us."
"Don't bother on my behalf" said Georgie, to the surprise of the Bennets. "I don't care if I never see him again. He barely said two words to me last time he was here."
"Georgie, in society there will always be people you don't want to see, but a lady welcomes everyone." said Clara "It will be excellent practice for you."
Anne smiled wickedly. "Good point, Clara. In the interest of Georgie's education, I will let you know if we are blessed with a visit from Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst."
Clara laughed as Georgie rolled her eyes. "Good idea, Anne. If Darce is here, it will be entertaining on more than one front."
"No, please!" cried Georgie "I cannot cope with Miss Bingley."
Jane felt a little alarmed. "What are Mr. Bingley's sisters like?" she asked.
"Mrs Hurst is harmless and fairly quiet. Miss Bingley can be overwhelming." said Anne.
"She flatters me" complained Georgie "and it's embarrassing, and I don't know what to say."
"Miss Bingley overdresses, talks too much and tries too hard to please" said Clara "She has twenty thousand pounds, which should attract potential suitors, but Miss Bingley is only interested in Darce, or rather, Pemberley. She praises Georgie to the skies, especially when Darce is here - as if praising his sister will advance her pursuit of him."
"Of course, Darce doesn't notice" said Georgie "and Miss Bingley doesn't notice that he doesn't notice."
"Miss Bingley wants us all to forget her roots in trade as she tries to climb higher. If only she behaved like her brother, she would be fine and accepted almost everywhere." said Anne. "Miss Bingley does not understand this."
Elizabeth felt a strong desire to meet Miss Bingley. She might be an interesting character to write about. At the same time, Elizabeth felt worried on Jane's behalf. What kind of sister would Miss Bingley be, should Jane marry Mr Bingley?
Soon, Lady Clara shepherded her charges out of the breakfast room. "Come on Georgie, Mary, let us see if we can get most of our other work done before we have an important lesson on socialising with those we would rather not."
Wednesday, Darcy House reception room
As visiting hours approached, Anne, Jane and Elizabeth gathered in the reception room.
Their first visitors were Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley led the way into the room smiling happily as he greeted everyone. He lost no time securing a seat next to Jane.
"I am not surprised to see Mr Bingley first." thought Elizabeth "How lovely to see you both so early!" she said with a smile.
"Hmm it is early, isn't it? I don't know how lovely it will be" said Darce, taking a spot near Elizabeth. "You get to meet his sisters, today" he said softly.
This was an opportunity. It would be interesting to get Darce's opinion. "What are they like?" she asked.
"Mrs Hurst is a bore and Miss Bingley's a pain. Ambitious and controlling. Don't let her intimidate Miss Bennet. She will try if given a chance. Miss Bingley believes she and she alone should determine Charles' future. Charles tried to dissuade them from calling today but, it was impossible."
"Thank you for the warning." Elizabeth looked over at Mr Bingley, already deep in conversation with Jane. Anne was at the door speaking to a footman, probably asking him to let Lady Clara know of their visitors.
"Does Miss Bingley know they are courting?" asked Elizabeth.
"Charles hasn't told her per se, but she will perceive the threat." He smiled "It is fairly obvious."
"True. Siblings can be so different, can't they!"
The next arrival was a Lady Alicia Dean. She greeted Anne affectionately then turned her attention to the two unknown young ladies who were present.
"May I present my guests?" asked Anne
"Please do."
Anne introduced the Bennets as friends visiting from the country. Lady Dean was delighted to meet them. She of course knew Mr Darcy and had met Mr Bingley previously.
"You are looking well, Anne" Lady Dean said, settling into a chair.
"Thank you. I feel well." smiled Anne
Tea arrived but before Anne could pour, more visitors arrived.
Miss Bingley, a vision in lime and orange, entered ahead of her less noticeable sister. She was not pleased by the sight of her brother sitting next to a beautiful blonde and her own targeted husband sitting next to a beautiful brunette.
Anne was busy with introductions, cups of tea and plates of cakes.
Caroline was pleased to be introduced to Lady Dean, less so the Bennets. Although it was Caroline's chief goal to find out about the Bennets, the reality did not please as they were way too beautiful and therefore dangerous.
"Friends from the country? How lovely" said Louisa Hurst taking a seat.
"Mr Darcy, it is so good to see you" said Caroline choosing a seat carefully in the hope he might come over and sit with her. He did not, merely nodding at her. She changed tack. "Charles, we have not seen you for an age. Where have you been?"
"The usual places, Caroline" said Bingley not looking away from Jane.
"I was speaking to Miss Ashley last night, Charles" said Caroline "She said she hadn't seen you lately. Most surprising, given your recent attention to her."
"Who? What are you talking about?" asked Bingley reluctantly dragging his attention away from Jane, who was looking a little alarmed.
"Miss Celia Ashley"
"I believe I've met her once. You talk such nonsense sometimes, Caroline."
This discourse was interrupted by the arrival of Lady Clara and her two charges. Georgiana's face was a study in fortitude, Elizabeth thought.
Lady Clara sat near Lady Dean who was a good friend of hers. Mary found a spot near Jane. There was only one more obvious spot, next to Miss Bingley.
"Here, Georgie" said Elizabeth softly, getting up and indicating her own seat. "Have a chat with your brother." Georgie gave her a grateful smile and sat next to her brother, at that moment the lesser of two evils.
Elizabeth took that seat next to Miss Bingley. This brought her closer to Jane, indeed she was between Miss Bingley and Jane.
Elizabeth decided Miss Bingley could indeed be described as intimidating; she looked very young but was as tall as her brother and very slender. Her face would be beautiful in repose, but it was not. The blue eyes were cold; her gaze moved from person to person as if calculating their worth, their importance to Miss Bingley.
"I must keep this woman away from Jane" Elizabeth thought.
Elizabeth had studied Miss Bingley from the moment of her arrival and could see the blind ambition, the brittle control, the terrified uncertainty of position behind the façade.
Baulked of her preferred targets, Caroline set to interrogating Miss Elizabeth.
"Where is your estate?" she asked.
"Hertfordshire" replied Elizabeth "near Meryton."
"Meryton. Is that a fashionable town, Miss Elizabeth?"
"It's a small country town, Miss Bingley. I have never thought about how fashionable it may or may not be." Elizabeth smiled.
"You don't have a house in town?"
"No. My father intensely disliked London."
"Disliked?"
"He passed a couple of years ago."
"So sorry. Your brother inherited, then?"
"We have no brother. A cousin inherited the estate"
"No! Did he throw you out?"
"Oh no, we left voluntarily" said Elizabeth and, stretching the truth a little, said "to visit friends, you know. Our mother and two younger sisters are still at Longbourn."
"Five sisters and no brother! An impoverished estate, then?"
"Oh no, the estate has a reasonable income. We have always been comfortable, certainly."
"When will you return home?"
"Our plans to return home are flexible. We are greatly enjoying our time in London."
"I am sure you are! I imagine you have not been to London much, if your father disliked it so."
"Oh no. We have stayed with our aunt and uncle here many times, but they are away abroad."
"Who are they, Miss Elizabeth. Would I know them?"
"Edward and Madeleine Gardiner."
"I don't believe I have met them."
"Uncle Gardiner has an import business."
"He is in trade?" Miss Bingley's nose was in the air. "You have relatives in trade?"
"Yes, Miss Bingley, something I believe we have in common."
Miss Bingley ignored that statement.
"I noticed you sat next to Mr Darcy."
"To be accurate, he sat next to me, when he arrived."
Miss Bingley ignored that, too.
"I must warn you, Miss Elizabeth. Mr Darcy might appear to flirt with you, but that's just his way. He is committed elsewhere." Miss Bingley preened; it was quite clear where she thought elsewhere was.
"Should I be wishing you joy, Miss Bingley?"
"No, no not yet, Miss Elizabeth. It is just an understanding, you know."
"I see." said Elizabeth deciding to stretch the truth again. "Miss Bingley, I have no interest in Mr Darcy or any other gentleman. I left my heart behind in Hertfordshire. He had no money, and I didn't have enough. Alas, he married another."
Elizabeth watched Miss Bingley try to process that completely false statement from the lofty comfort of her twenty-thousand-pound dowry. A strange expression, it may have been sympathy, contorted her face. Whatever it was, it looked uncomfortable.
"That is so sad" said Miss Bingley, finally. "You and your sisters have no dowries."
"We have dowries, just not enough for gentlemen who have nothing."
Miss Bingley looked around Elizabeth to where Bingley and Jane were talking and laughing, each very pleased with the other.
"My brother has high expectations to live up to, Miss Elizabeth. Of course, he is very willing to flirt with a pretty face but it does not mean your sister should get her hopes up. Exactly what sort of dowry does your sister have? Does she have more than you?"
"So many flirtatious gentlemen around here! I doubt it is for me to talk about such things as dowries, Miss Bingley. I am sure that if Mr Bingley wishes to know that information, Jane will tell him. After all, he has asked her for a courtship."
No sympathy now. No beauty. Surprise warred with outrage on Miss Bingley's countenance as she reddened and looked like she was sucking a particularly sour lemon.