Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (13 page)

However, if he had known it would take so much effort on everyone’s part
he would have suggested a dinner party instead. He felt Darcy looming over him
and reluctantly opened one eye. ‘Go away, Darcy, I have no wish to converse
with you.
You
have not been obliged to oversee table decorations, to
inspect silverware, and admire floral arrangements.’

Darcy chuckled. ‘I should hope not. And in future, my friend, I should
think you would have the sense to stay well away. Why else did you ask your
sister to be your hostess, if it was not to arrange such things for you?’

He sat up, his good humour immediately restored. ‘Are you intending to
enjoy yourself tonight, Darcy?’

‘I always intend to enjoy myself, Bingley, unfortunately circumstances
more often than not, conspire against this happening.’

‘Well, I intend to devote the entire evening to entertaining Miss
Bennet. No, do not raise your eyebrows at me, Darcy. She is the most beautiful
girl I have ever met, and her sweetness of disposition is matched by her happy
nature. She is perfect in every way.’

Hurst, becoming bored with the conversation, grabbed a billiard cue and
thumped it loudly on the boards. ‘As long as I don’t have to dance, I shall be
a happy man. Now gentlemen, are we going to play billiards or stand here
gossiping all day?’

That afternoon when the ladies had retired to their rooms and Hurst was
asleep in the billiard room Charles suggested that he and Darcy walk around the
grounds. There was something he needed to tell his friend and he could put it
off no longer.

‘Darcy, I have something to tell you and I believe that you shall not be
best pleased.’

‘Good God! What have you done? I shudder to think what it could be that
is making you look so miserable.’

‘I was obliged to invite George Wickham along with all the other
officers. It would have been an obvious slight if I had not included him. I do
not know why you have taken the fellow into such dislike, but I know you have.’

For a moment his friend did not answer. ‘I cannot tell you why I hold
Wickham in such contempt; let it suffice to say that I have every reason to
distrust the man and know him to be dishonest. You must take my word on this,
Bingley.’

‘I must say Wickham seemed a pleasant enough fellow, but I shall avoid
his company. Your word is good enough for me.’

‘Thank you; it is a great pity that man is to come tonight. I shall not
enjoy the ball knowing that he is under the same roof as I.’

Charles slapped his friend on the back. ‘You had no intention of
enjoying yourself before I told you this, Darcy. You are a famous curmudgeon, I
think you have forgotten how to find pleasure in a simple event.’

 
* * * *

At Longbourn one would have thought from the amount of fuss and
excitement that the ball was to be held in this house. Tonight Mr Bennet was to
accompany them, and Mr Collins also, which would mean a party of eight and
which ever way you looked at it, the carriage could not happily accommodate so
many.

‘Mr Bennet, I believe that you and Mr Collins shall have to ride tonight
or our carriage must make two journeys. It is the outside of enough to expect
us to crush our finery in the way that you propose.’

‘I have no intention of riding, and I would not dream of asking a guest
to do so either. Neither do I expect my horses to make the journey more than
once. Mr Collins, myself and you, madam, shall sit in comfort on one side, and
the girls manage the best they can on the other. Lydia and Kitty can sit on the
laps of Jane and Lizzy; they have done so before, I am sure we can manage it
tonight.’

He vanished into the sanctuary of his library before Mrs Bennet could
continue to harangue him. ‘Did you hear that Jane? You are to have Kitty
sitting on your lap tonight. I am sure that no other party shall be as
embarrassed and overcrowded as we shall.’

‘I think it would be better, Mama, if Lydia was to be seated, and Kitty
and Mary on our laps. Lydia is by far the biggest of us all.’ And there the
matter was left.

Jane ran upstairs to her apartment knowing that Elizabeth was already
there making her preparations for the evening. As she entered her parlour,
Lydia hurried out. ‘It is so unfair that you have a maid to share, whilst
Kitty, Mary and I must make do with one between us.’

‘Lydia, as soon as we can, we shall send Sarah along to your chamber.’

Elizabeth was all but ready. ‘Jane, wherever have you been? You have
scarcely left yourself time to dress. The ball is starting in one and one half
hours from now.’

‘I know exactly when it starts, Lizzy. I have been counting the minutes
off in my head since Mr Bingley came with his invitation four days ago.’ She
stepped on one side the better to admire her sister’s ball-gown. ‘That dress is
perfect on you, Lizzy. It could have been made by the finest modiste in town.
We are so fortunate to have a seamstress locally who is able to copy the fashion
plates for us in this way.’

‘Yes, I rather think my choice of gold sarcenet over pale yellow silk is
exactly right for me.’ Her sister spun, allowing her matching gold slippers to
peak out beneath her petticoats.

‘It is a pity that you do not have a domino to match, but navy blue is
perfectly acceptable with anything.’

Sarah, their shared maid, tipped out warm water into the basin so that
she could begin her ablutions. She took special care, everything about her
appearance must be perfect this evening. Both Elizabeth and herself had washed
their hair earlier in the day, and then been obliged to sit like mermaids in
front of the fire waiting for it to dry.

The dress she was wearing was also new. They were all allowed one
evening gown each year, and she was glad she had saved it for the ball at
Netherfield. It was in her favourite colour, green, but this was not the usual
shade she chose. It was eau-de-nil, a very fashionable shade, and the low neck
was finished with matching silk roses. The hem was decorated in similar
fashion, and her evening slippers also had roses stuck upon them.

Her sleeves were short, and even with elbow length gloves to keep up
arms warm, Jane knew the matching wrap would be a useful addition to her
ensemble. When the final pin was pushed into her hair she was ready to step
into the gown.

Jane felt like a society belle and knew she had never looked better.
Sarah draped the shawl around her shoulders and stepped back to admire her
mistress.

‘My, Miss Bennet, you look a treat, I reckon you’ll be the prettiest at
the ball.’

‘Thank you, Sarah. Now, please go and assist my sisters in any way you
can.’ The girl smiled and vanished through the dressing-room door.

 
She slipped her reticule over her
wrist, picked up her fan and was ready to leave.

‘Come out, Jane, it is my turn to admire you in your new finery,’
Elizabeth called from their sitting room. Jane had no need to ask what her
sister felt, her expression told her everything.

Downstairs Mrs Bennet was waiting in the drawing-room. Like them she did
not choose to sit in case she creased her gown prematurely. She was smiling
happily.

‘You shall never guess, your father has been teasing us. We are to
travel in two carriages tonight; Mr Collins, myself and Mr Bennet and Jane in
one, and everyone else in the second. Mr Collins has kindly volunteered us the
use of his chaise.’

‘I am relieved to hear you say so, Mama, none of us wishes to be
squashed this evening.’

‘Indeed we do not, Jane. I must say that you look very fine, girls.
Jane, I think that colour an excellent choice for you. I am certain that Mr
Bingley will appreciate the effort you have taken.’ She smiled coyly at
Elizabeth and tapped her on the wrist with her fan. ‘And you too, my love, I am
sure there is at least
one
gentleman who will appreciate your beauty.’

Jane saw her sister frown and wondered to whom their mother could
possibly be referring. She did not think that Mrs Bennet knew about Elizabeth’s
interest in Mr Wickham. Soon Mr Collins and Mr Bennet joined them, resplendent
in their evening regalia. Lydia, Kitty and Mary arrived soon after in a flurry
of white taffeta and giggles.

‘Excellent, the carriages are outside. And, thank the Lord, it has not
been raining in the past two hours.’

Jane knew her father was thinking of his horses, but the ladies of his
party were relieved they would not get mud on their slippers. They travelled
the short distance with more room, and less noise, than she was accustomed to
inside the carriage.

‘Look at that, the entire drive has been lit by flambeaux. Such
extravagance! But then, Mr Bennet, think what
you
could do if you had
£100,000 to spend as you pleased.’

He cleared his throat. ‘Indeed, my dear Mrs Bennet, I think of nothing
else, especially when the bills from the seamstress drop upon my desk.’

Their carriage pulled up behind the one containing Sir William and Lady
Lucas, Miss Charlotte and Maria. Their coachman held the horses steady and a
liveried footman ran forward to open the door and let down the steps. The first
thing Jane noticed was that a carpet had been laid from the gravel circle up to
the front door. There was no danger of anyone’s ball-gown becoming soiled
tonight.

Even Lydia and Kitty were subdued by the extravagance of the occasion.
Mr Bennet, with Mrs Bennet on his arm, headed the party, followed by Mr Collins
who had offered his arm to Elizabeth and her sister had not been quick enough
to refuse. Jane knew it should have been she who followed her parents, but she
was not bothered by such nonsense. She was just glad
she
did not have to
listen to Mr Collins.

As they waited to go in she turned to Lydia and Kitty. ‘You must be on
your best behaviour, girls. Do not flirt with the officers, behave yourselves.
You especially, Lydia. In my opinion you are far too young to be out, and it is
up to you to prove me wrong by behaving with decorum.’

Lydia ignored her words, but Kitty smiled. ‘I promise I shall keep Lydia
in check, Jane. I would not dream of upsetting you or Lizzy in any way.’

The spacious entrance hall was ablaze with candlelight. Handsome floral
arrangements stood on either side of the door. Footmen offered to take the
gentlemen’s hats, gloves and outer garments; a row of smartly dressed maids
waited to be of service to the ladies.

 
They were led upstairs to the very
chamber that Jane had stayed in when she had been unwell. Set out on the tables
were every requisite that they might need. The maid had accompanied them in
order to help them remove their cloaks and check that their appearance was
perfect. The room was remarkably quiet, where were all the other ladies? She
asked the girl and was told, to her surprise and Mrs Bennet’s delight, that
this room had been allocated to the Longbourn ladies alone.

Mrs Bennet was in high alt at the news. ‘Only think of that, Jane, it is
exactly as I thought. Mr Bingley holds you in such regard, he has everything
done for your benefit.’

‘Mama, I wish you would not speak so openly about such matters. There is
no understanding between us, we are just good friends. If there was anything
else, I should be the first to tell you.’ Her mother smiled archly and swept
out. Jane joined her sisters in the line waiting to be greeted by Charles and
Caroline.

She dropped into a curtsy and he raised her from it, taking her hand to
his lips. He murmured quietly, for her ears alone. ‘I must remain here until
all my guests arrive, Miss Bennet. But I intend to lead you out in the first
and then devote all evening to your entertainment.’

Jane had no time to answer, she smiled in acknowledgement and nodded,
but was then obliged to go into the ballroom and mingle with the other guests.
She had not been in here before, there had been no need during her stay. It
would have been presumptuous to ask Caroline to show her around the
establishment when she was an
uninvited
guest.

Elizabeth touched her arm. ‘It looks magnificent, does it not, Jane? No
expense spared here, that is obvious. I had no notion that Netherfield had such
a spacious ballroom as this. I believe it is almost as large as the assembly
rooms at Meryton.’

Jane gazed round, her eyes shining. ‘There is even a gallery for the
orchestra, and there must be over one hundred gilt chairs arranged along the
walls for those who do not wish to dance. Do you think they have an ante-room
where the gentleman can play cards?’

‘I am sure that they do. That is why the place is so crowded; do you
see, Jane, there are gentleman here with their families that we never see at
the assemblies, including our own dear father.’

Lydia and Kitty had already detached themselves from the Longbourn party
and were weaving their way through the crowd towards the group of scarlet
regimentals that could be seen at the far end of the room.

‘Do you intend to dance much, Lizzy?’

‘Did I not tell you, unfortunately I am engaged for the first two dances
with Mr Collins. I had hoped that Mr Wickham would be here but I cannot see him
over there, can you?’