Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (35 page)

Darcy noticed they were almost to their destination. Just before he turned his thoughts to the evening ahead, he contemplated what a despicable thing Mrs Younge had done. His sister had been but fifteen; and she had been hired to look out for her welfare. It was just one more example of those from the lower classes not being honourable in their obligations. They cared more about monetary gain than honour.

Suddenly, Darcy shivered with an attack of déjà vu. He noticed out the window, three young people hurrying up the stairs. The trio consisted of two young women and one tall and powerfully built young man. One of the ladies was wearing a red cloak with a hood. The giant looked vaguely familiar, but it was the red cloak that shot an image through his mind of the young woman who had travelled with Mrs Younge. His mind became filled with haunted eyes, a child dementedly quoting Shakespeare, shod in slippers walking to Cheapside in the rain. He thought he had shut the door on the enigma of that day.

As he entered the vestibule of the assembly hall, Darcy struggled to banish thoughts of that woman. But as though to thwart his effort, he noticed that the scent of lavender lingered in the air. For a brief moment, doubt was replaced by a strong sense of longing. There had been three in his life that smelled of lavender. The first was his mother. Of the remaining two, one had imitated the other. Bethany’s mother had shared her fragrance with Anne because of its calming benefit. He had a flash of memory of holding his wife in his arms and smelling the fragrance in her hair. He missed their intimacy. Perhaps someday he would have that again; but maybe this time he would find more than convenience. The other woman who smelled of lavender forced herself back into his thoughts accompanied by a wave of guilt. She had become the secret fantasy image he used when his body insisted he indulge.

He noticed that the room had more men than usual, and many in attendance wore red coats. That meant fewer ladies without partners, so his usual practice of dancing very little might be less noticeable. Charles would probably still harass him to participate, but perhaps his friend could be persuaded to allow him to spend his time observing rather than mingling.

He took one look at the young ladies assembled and realized he could hardly be expected to find an appropriate wife among these rustics. He needed a woman with impeccable family ties—who would love him and his children and not his income and position. Besides, these ladies would have abominable country manners, and none of the elegance and accomplishments of women of the
ton.

The room started buzzing the minute the Bingley party arrived. Darcy could hear the snatches of conversation… five thousand a year… ten thousand a year… a great estate in Derbyshire… both single. All of his fears as to the nature of the company were confirmed in the first ten minutes. He was subjected to knowing smiles and greedy glances inspecting him from his head to his toes and back up again. He felt like he was the fox and they were the dogs. In his misery, he gravitated to the side of the room. Caroline Bingley joined him a short while later to bid him know her empathy with his predicament.

The crowd was indeed assessing the party. Mrs Bennet, her sister Mrs Phillips and her neighbours, Mrs Long and Lady Lucas, were some of the most important matrons in this neighbourhood. They dominated the conversation among the married ladies and were quite indiscreet in their evaluation of the Netherfield visitors. Most of these ladies had unmarried daughters or nieces, and their major concern in life was their futures. A successful marriage for those in their charge meant added consequence in the neighbourhood, and the competition was fierce.

Mr Bingley was considered good-looking and gentlemanlike by Mrs Bennet. Mrs Long thought he had a pleasant countenance and easy unaffected manners. All the women thought his sisters were elegant ladies and were in awe of their gowns. They knew them to be the latest London fashion, and noticed the daring new necklines that exposed so much more flesh. All the women silently resolved to make adjustments to the gowns of their daughters and nieces so as not to appear unfashionable in their presence. Mr Bingley’s brother-in-law, Mr Hurst, looked very gentlemanly, but Mr Darcy, amidst the rumours of his wealth, drew their minute scrutiny. He was a fine, tall person, with handsome features and a noble mien. They were excited by the report from Lady Lucas of his having ten thousand a year. She had smugly imparted the news within minutes of his entrance.

Sir William Lucas was the only member of the neighbourhood with a knighthood. With the assumption that this fashionable group from London would feel more comfortable being greeted by a man who had spent time at St James, he had assumed the role of welcoming the Netherfield party to Meryton society. Thus Lady Lucas believed her family the most prominent—despite the fact that Sir William did not own an estate, and had made his fortune through trade. Similarly, Mrs Bennet took issue with that family’s supposed standing. Since Sir Walter Trent—a baronet and her husband’s best friend since childhood—had been forced to abandon Netherfield and move to Bath in the interest of economy, Mrs Bennet, who was the wife of an established gentleman, considered herself to have the highest consequence.

The ladies set aside their differences and declared Mr Darcy to be much handsomer than Mr Bingley, and in the early part of the evening, he was looked upon with great admiration. Soon though, his aloofness was noted, and the favourable impression of his manners gave way to disgust, which turned the tide of his popularity. It was determined he was proud, thinking himself above his company, unable to be pleased by any but his own party; and despite his large estate in Derbyshire, he was judged to have a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance. With universal aversion, the group next decided he was unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Miss Bingley, prior to coming to console Mr Darcy, had joined her brother as Sir William Lucas introduced him to all the principal people in the room. She had come to the assembly prepared to know any potential competition, by having her maid ferret out information about the families in the neighbourhood from the staff at Netherfield. Since arriving, she had gleaned a bit more information and overheard some gossip about the assembled society. She hoped she could provide some amusement for Mr Darcy and increase her standing with him. He had been in such a foul mood since he had arrived in Hertfordshire.

“Mr Darcy, there is a dispute in this neighbourhood over which family is the most prominent.” She snickered with supercilious glee. “You remember that tiresome man who came to Netherfield to make Charles’ acquaintance, Sir William Lucas. Lady Lucas believes being a knight’s wife makes her most important despite his having been in trade.”

Caroline thought she perceived distaste creep into Darcy’s eyes and was encouraged to continue her story. “Lady Lucas is in competition with the wife of the owner of an estate. It is nothing like Pemberley—quite small, and only brings in two thousand a year—but it is the largest next to Netherfield. Longbourn, as it is called, is owned by a man named Bennet and is entailed on the male line.” Once again, she checked Mr Darcy’s interest. It was difficult to read his reaction, but the best part of her gossip was still to be revealed. “This man had the great misfortune to only have daughters—five of them. They are, however, considered by the local populace to be great beauties.” Miss Bingley’s face reflected her contempt that a country bumpkin could be considered handsome.

When Mr Darcy said nothing, she decided to add to her information. “I will have to admit that the Bennet daughter dancing with Charles is quite pretty.” She pointed out the couple.

Mr Darcy saw a stately, serene, pale-haired woman with a lovely figure. He thought to himself that she would qualify as a beauty, even in the highest circles. The name Bennet was vaguely familiar, but he could recall none of his acquaintances with that surname—and to his knowledge, he knew no one in Hertfordshire. Darcy came back to the present and realized Caroline was continuing to prattle.

She lowered her voice as she prepared to impart a juicy titbit she had gleaned. “The other sisters present are barely tolerable—hardly worthy of their reputation. One sister is not here. She is a recluse and does not attend balls or assemblies.” This topic seemed to pique his interest. She pointed toward the group of matrons who had been assessing their party. “Her mother is the loud and vulgar woman over there; the one I saw you reacting to when she was gaining so much pleasure discussing your income.”

Mr Darcy was uncomfortable with this topic. He struggled to keep his mask in place and nodded his head to Miss Bingley, but did not comment on the common mother of the supposedly beautiful daughters.

Miss Bingley continued with what she considered to be her most delicious news. “The Bennet sister who is not in attendance is a real mystery. She is an heiress who was away from home for an extended period about six years ago. No one in the neighbourhood knows how much or from whom she got the inheritance. It is even rumoured that her parents do not know the particulars. Upon her return, she refused to be out saying she never intends to wed. To this day, she attends no social events but the house parties of her neighbours.” Caroline’s voice rose and she tittered behind her fan at the young woman’s plight. “I am of the opinion that despite all the rumours of inheritance—she probably is not out because she, unlike her sisters, is not in the least handsome and fears being slighted by men.” Her companion seemed particularly unsettled by her disclosure.

Darcy wanted to be done with this conversation. There was something about her tale that troubled him. Experience had taught him that the best way to end Miss Bingley’s words was to agree with her. What could it hurt? It was not as if he knew any of these people. “I am certain you are correct. Even with an inheritance to ensure her security, there would be no reason other than lack of countenance to shun the pleasure of spending time with others.” He felt slightly hypocritical at his remark. He did not enjoy spending time with his circle, and rarely participated in events of the Season. But certainly his reasons bore no similarity to those of the pathetic young lady Miss Bingley had been mocking.

Mr Darcy asked Caroline for a set. It was a ploy to keep Charles from chastising him for not participating. His plan for the remainder of the evening was to dance with both of Bingley’s sisters, walk around the room a bit, and then come back to his wall. His fondest wish was to be home with his children.

While he danced, he pondered his stay at Netherfield, and Bethany and Lewis’ list of requirements for a mother. Even if there was anyone worth considering here, how would he be able to tell in a gathering such as this whether anyone was good at telling stories or walking? He remembered that the trio who had arrived just before their party seemed to have walked and one of those young ladies had smelled of lavender… another necessary attribute was to smell good. A very exuberant young woman had danced every dance with one officer after another. He was quite sure she was one of the ladies who had walked—but she seemed entirely too forward to be a mother to his children.

26 OH, WHAT A NIGHT!

Miss Bingley’s disclosure to Mr Darcy and his indiscreet reply were overheard by one who had been walking by. Colonel Forster’s wife, the former Charlotte Lucas, was an intimate friend of both Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. She was incensed at Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy’s lack of civility, gossiping about people they did not know. The source of her biggest displeasure was that they had decided with such assurance, the reason for her beloved Lizzy’s choices in life. Charlotte did not know why her friend had decided not to marry, but she did know Elizabeth Bennet was more than tolerably attractive. She quickly sought out Jane to reveal their cruel words. She was with her sister, Lydia, and Charlotte’s sister, Maria—talking with her husband and a group of his men not far from where Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley were dancing. Charlotte pointed out the offenders and told what she had overheard. Jane and Lydia left almost immediately in the wake of Charlotte’s news to find their other sisters and their mother.

Colonel Forster saw the man and woman his wife was complaining about and realized he knew and liked him. Mr Darcy was a close friend’s cousin. Richard Fitzwilliam, Ronald Bledsoe and Lawrence Forster had joined the regulars and trained together more than ten years ago. They had become best comrades and had stayed friends throughout their careers. All three had been promoted to colonel based on their service in the Peninsular war. Shortly after his promotion, Colonel Forster had bought the command of a militia unit. It had been an expensive move but it was a much better situation for a man with a wife and a growing family.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet was a person with a secret sadness. Charlotte said she had once had the liveliest of characters. She still loved to entertain children, and it was in that capacity he had gotten a glimpse of what she must have once been like.

Darcy noticed a group of people looking in their direction. They seemed to be talking about him and Miss Bingley. All of a sudden, he realized he knew one of those in the group. He had made his acquaintance through his cousin Richard. When the dance was over, he crossed the room to speak to Colonel Forster. They exchanged pleasantries, but Mr Darcy felt apprehension in his manner.