by Jann Rowland
“I will not presume to speak for her ladyship,” replied Mr. Bingley. “From what Darcy said, however, I suspect this civility is the result of our recent marriage.”
“Have you made her ladyship’s acquaintance before this?” asked Elizabeth.
“In a very brief fashion,” replied Mr. Bingley. “Nothing more than a passing acquaintance, in all honesty, for even with Darcy’s friendship, I move in very different circles from her ladyship.” Mr. Bingley directed a brief look at his sister and added: “Caroline has wished to make her acquaintance for many months, but she has never made an overture before this.”
“Who would not wish to make her acquaintance?” cried Miss Bingley. “Lady Susan is one of the foremost figures in society!”
Miss Bingley turned aside, muttering to herself, her words audible to the rest of them. “How jealous Lady Diane shall be, for even she is not acquainted with Lady Susan!”
“Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, his voice firm, “before you go crowing to all your friends of our good fortune, remember that Lady Susan is discriminating about those to whom she extends friendship—there is a reason Lady Diane has not yet made her ladyship’s acquaintance. Moreover, Lady Susan does not appreciate those who spread rumors about her, nor does she wish others to use her name to boast.”
“Oh, do not concern yourself, Charles,” said Miss Bingley, shaking her head and huffing. “I know how to behave.”
“Though you believe you know how the upper classes behave, in this situation I suspect you do not,” replied Mr. Bingley. “Remember, Caroline, that Lady Susan is not in any way comparable to Lady Diane in temper or disposition. If you offend Lady Susan, she may decide she does not wish to know you after all.”
That got Miss Bingley’s attention and she nodded, albeit distracted. “When shall we go, Charles?”
Mr. Bingley looked at his wife. “Darcy did not specify a date. Shall we, perhaps, suggest one and invite Lady Susan to propose a different one if it does not fit her schedule?”
When Jane nodded, they spoke for a few moments, ultimately deciding to propose a date three days hence. This complete, Miss Bingley rose and excused herself, gliding from the room with anticipation, amid muttered comments to the effect that it would make a far greater impression if Lady Diane learned of her acquaintance with Lady Susan Fitzwilliam through other means. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Bingley shook his head and looked at Elizabeth and Jane.
“I hope she does not ruin us in society. Though I cannot say it, I would dearly love to inform her that if she did not reside in this house, she would not be part of the invitation.”
Even so oblique a statement confirmed Elizabeth’s suspicions, though she still could not determine why Lady Susan wished to make their acquaintance. In the end, she decided it did not matter, for as the lower in society, the Bingleys had no choice but to accept the lady’s summons. Thus, they were committed to meet Lady Susan Fitzwilliam.
On the day in question, the Bingley party gathered to make their way to Lady Susan’s house for the formidable introduction. As Elizabeth might have predicted in advance, Miss Bingley was not willing to allow this visit to proceed without enlarging the party. She made her opinion clear the next time she had graced them with her presence
“Louisa must be introduced to Lady Susan too, for she is also part of our family.” Miss Bingley had paused and sniffed with distaste, adding: “And Hurst too, I suppose.”
“Lady Susan did not include Louisa and Hurst in the invitation,” Mr. Bingley had replied. And when his sister opened her mouth to speak again, he said: “I have already spoken to Hurst, and he agrees he and Louisa will not accompany us. It is not done, Caroline—to visit with more than those the lady specified in her invitation would be the height of rudeness, especially when Lady Susan is lowering herself to meet with us.”
Mr. Bingley’s observation forced her to give way. As the time approached for their departure that morning, Elizabeth stood with Mr. Bingley and her sister in the vestibule, waiting for Miss Bingley to appear. Though Mr. Bingley was pacing about, muttering about her sister and her fashionable manners, Elizabeth was certain Miss Bingley wished to make a statement before her host and had dressed accordingly. Elizabeth and Jane, by contrast, had donned excellent gowns of fine quality, but not anything out of the ordinary. When Miss Bingley finally appeared, her raiment proved Elizabeth’s supposition.
“We are not to attend a ball, Caroline,” snapped Mr. Bingley as his sister stepped onto the floor.
“Do not inform me how to dress, Charles,” replied Miss Bingley, a note of annoyance within. “As you know, I have friends who are of the peerage, and I know how they dress.”
Mr. Bingley shrugged and turned away, leading them from the house. “There is no time to make changes anyway.”
As the carriage proceeded toward the earl’s house, Elizabeth noted the gradual change in the houses they passed, for they were at once larger and finer. While she had noted the same when they had dined at Mr. Darcy’s house earlier in the week, this was an order of magnitude beyond even that. Soon, the houses they were passing might be termed small palaces, if one could use such a term.
“Do not concern yourself, Eliza,” said Miss Bingley, pulling Elizabeth’s attention from the street to the woman seated by her side. “If you refrain from speaking except when you must, the impression you make will be adequate. You should not expect any further civility from Lady Susan, for it is clear she wishes acquaintances of higher consequence.”
“I am not concerned, Miss Bingley,” said Elizabeth, choosing to ignore the supercilious woman.
When the carriage stopped before the grand façade of the earl’s house, the occupants descended, met there by the middle-aged butler who greeted them and invited them into the house. The inside, Elizabeth noted, was as fine as the outside, for the floors were an expensive tile, the few pieces of furniture in evidence fashioned of dark wood and light fabrics, polished to a sheen, and the décor understated, but costly.
Down a long hallway the butler led them, guiding them into a room as fine as the rest, where Lady Susan waited with Mr. and Miss Darcy and rose at the sight of them. The butler announced them as Mr. Bingley’s party and withdrew.
“Darcy,” said Lady Susan, a tall, graceful woman perhaps a few years older than Elizabeth’s mother, “will you do the honor of introducing us?”
“It would be my pleasure, Aunt,” replied Mr. Darcy. He stepped toward them and gestured to each in turn, saying: “I am sure you remember Charles Bingley, my close friend. With him are his wife, Mrs. Jane Bingley, his wife’s sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and his sister, Miss Caroline Bingley.”
Miss Bingley shot Mr. Darcy a look at the order of his introductions, but the gentleman ignored her. Across the room, Elizabeth noted Georgiana rolling her eyes and grinning, and was hard-pressed to avoid a similar response.
“Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, Miss Bennet, Miss Bingley, this is my aunt, Lady Susan Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock. Lady Susan is my uncle, the Earl of Matlock’s wife; my uncle is my late mother, Lady Anne Darcy’s brother.”
“Welcome to my home,” said Lady Susan as she accepted their assorted bows and curtseys. “Please come and sit with us, for I wish to know you better.”
Doing as the lady bid, Elizabeth took her seat next to Jane, who sat closer to Lady Susan as was her right, while Mr. and Miss Bingley mirrored their actions on the other sofa. Lady Susan paused for a moment, looking them over in an attempt to take their measure—or so Elizabeth thought. Elizabeth had little notion of why Lady Susan had wished to make their acquaintance, but she would not disgrace herself by fidgeting. It also did not miss Elizabeth’s attention that Lady Susan was dressed much as Elizabeth and Jane were—in a simple day dress, though it was made of costly materials. Georgiana was similarly attired.
“Well, this is not what I might have expected from the family of a gentleman such as you, Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Susan after some moments of silence. “As I recall, you are a
garrulous man, much like my second son. I might have expected livelier characters than what I see.”
Mr. Bingley laughed, understanding Lady Susan’s diverted tone. It was all the persuasion Elizabeth required to offer an observation of her own. “Your ladyship must be dissembling, for who could not be intimidated at meeting a lady of your obvious quality and ability to awe?”
Though Miss Bingley shot Elizabeth a look, aghast at her sportive comment, Lady Susan laughed, joined by both Georgiana and her brother. “That is more like it, Miss Bennet. With that one saucy comment, you have proven everything my niece has said about you.”
“There are times,” said Miss Bingley, her glare at Elizabeth never dimming, “that my brother’s new sister speaks out of turn. If she gave any offense, I apologize without reservation.”
“As I have said, Miss Bingley,” said Lady Susan, regarding Miss Bingley with eyebrow arched, “it is what I would have expected. There is no need to be overawed with me. You know my nephew and niece—I am no more likely than they to demand excessive deference.” Lady Susan turned and winked at her relations. “I am not Catherine, you know.”
Georgiana burst into a giggle while Mr. Darcy shook his head. Again, this prompted Elizabeth to comment: “I must own that I am intrigued, Lady Susan. Though I have heard much concerning Lady Catherine, both from my sister’s husband, who was his parson, and both Mr. and Miss Darcy, much of the accounts have been different, which has puzzled me exceedingly.”
“I had heard of your connection to Mr. Collins,” said Lady Susan. “I commend your sister for her decision to wed him, for Mr. Collins is a most interesting character.”
By that, Elizabeth knew her ladyship was referring to Mr. Collins’s peculiar foibles. That exchange was enough to loosen the tongues of most of those present, and they continued to converse in amicable interest for some time. The tea service was delivered soon after, Lady Susan serving them with Georgiana’s help, and the introduction of tea and cakes further encouraged conversation.
For Elizabeth’s part, she spoke and listened, and she soon realized that Lady Susan was as Georgiana had told her. This was not a woman puffed up in her own importance; she was much less prideful than Miss Bingley, yet she had much more reason to be so. Miss Bingley’s pretension of donning her elaborate dress to mimic the sophistication of their host was proven to be the posturing it was if the differences in dress had not already made it clear. Lady Susan even commented on the woman’s dress.
“That is an interesting concoction, Miss Bingley,” observed Lady Susan after they had sat in this attitude for some time. “Are you bound for a ball after you depart from my home?”
Though again Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Georgiana, sharing her laughter, Miss Bingley took the question as one of genuine interest for her gown, and waxed long about her modiste and the wondrous creations she owned. Lady Susan listened for some time, her looks becoming more pointed as the woman spoke on, though Miss Bingley noticed nothing amiss. When the flow of words ebbed and ceased, Lady Susan made a noncommittal comment on the matter and turned to other subjects.
At length, Georgiana beckoned to Elizabeth, summoning her nearer to her aunt, and Elizabeth went willingly, soon immersed in her conversation with her friend. Mr. Darcy himself moved a little away, finding himself situated with Mr. Bingley, though Miss Bingley was nearby, plying the gentleman with her civility. It was this as much as anything, she thought, that allowed Jane and Elizabeth to speak with Lady Susan unmolested.
“I understand you are from Hertfordshire,” said Lady Susan. “And Mr. Collins is now the proprietor of the estate on which you were both raised?”
“Yes, Lady Susan,” replied Jane in her usual understated way.
“And are you the only unmarried sister, Miss Bennet?” asked Lady Susan. “I understood from my niece that there are several of you.”
“Five in all, your ladyship,” responded Elizabeth brightly. “And no, I have one more sister—Jane’s elder—who is yet unmarried, though Kitty has a gentleman caller of late.”
“Kitty?” asked Lady Susan. “That is an odd name for a gentlewoman unless it is a nickname.”
“Her name is Catherine, your ladyship,” said Jane. “We have called her Kitty since I can remember.”
Lady Susan laughed to herself and turned to Georgiana. “I wonder what Catherine would say if I addressed her as Kitty.”
It was unfortunate that Georgiana was sipping her tea at that moment, for she almost sprayed it across the room. Seeing her friend’s distress, Elizabeth stepped into the breach.
“From what I have heard of Lady Catherine, it might provoke protests loud enough to interrupt events of the season.”
Lady Susan’s laughter grew louder. “You are an impertinent one, Miss Bennet, though I cannot say you are incorrect.”
“I have been told it is part of my charm,” replied Elizabeth.
“That it is,” agreed her hostess.
“Elizabeth often has the most amusing things to say,” said Georgiana. “It is what I like best about her.”
Smiling at her niece, Lady Susan turned back to Elizabeth and addressed her, both sisters sharing in the conversation. They discussed many matters, from their family situation, the lady asking them of their backgrounds and talents. From there they turned to their current circumstances and their impressions of London and the season. Before long, the sisters were speaking with ease, comfortable in the lady’s company. Then, when it came time for them to depart, the lady addressed them with a surprising request.
“Mrs. Bingley, I do not know if you are aware, but I hold a ball every season. If you and your family are amenable, I should like to extend an invitation to you to attend.”
“Thank you, your ladyship,” said Jane, her countenance suffused with pleasure. “We accept with gratitude.”
“Thank you. I shall send an invitation around to you directly.”
With these final words, the family made their farewells and departed, returning to their carriage. Throughout the journey home, Miss Bingley spoke of her impressions of the visit, her words tinged with more than a hint of self-congratulation at coming to the attention of Lady Susan. For her part, Elizabeth remained quiet, contemplating all that had happened. Whatever Miss Bingley said, Lady Susan was not as Miss Bingley was portraying her. There was some other motive for Lady Susan’s invitation, and it was not to elevate Caroline Bingley to a higher level of society.
“I can see why you both have been so taken with Miss Bennet.”
Distracted as he was by the sight of Miss Bennet passing from sight, Darcy had not been attending his aunt. Turning, he noted her attention fixed on him, as was that of Georgiana, and Darcy considered his behavior. Though he had paid no particular attention to Miss Bennet when she had been in the room, his eyes often found her—it was something his aunt might have noticed.
“She is a breath of fresh air,” continued Lady Susan, “a character much more interesting than most young debutantes in society.”
“I told you,” said Georgiana, a trace of smugness in her voice.
“And I did not doubt your word, dear. Even given your testimony, I am impressed with her level of self-possession. It was a pleasant time talking with her and her sister.”
“And I shall claim your thanks for my forbearance,” said Darcy, a hint of a sour note entering his voice. “For if I had not distracted Miss Bingley for you, she would have attempted to ensure you never had the chance to speak with Miss Bennet.”
Lady Susan laughed and laid a hand on his arm. “I thank you for your sacrifice. Only a few moments in her company told me exactly what kind of woman Miss Bingley is and confirmed your accounts in every particular. Then again, if she associates with the likes of Lady Diane Montrose, her character is already set in my eyes.”
“Then you approve of Elizabeth,” said Georgiana, the eagerness in her manner unmistakable.
“Yes, I do,” replied Lady Susan. “I give you leave to like her as much a
s you please.”
“That is splendid news, for I wish to invite her to Pemberley this summer.”
“Invite her to Pemberley?” asked Lady Susan, considering Georgiana’s suggestion.
“She is to return to Hertfordshire after the season,” said Georgiana. “Of more importance, she does not get on at all with her sister’s husband.”
“I can well imagine that.”
“It would be a blessing to have her with me this summer, and it would prevent her from returning there.”
“What do you think of the suggestion, Darcy?”
Darcy was of two minds about it. The allure of the woman was such that he was having thoughts regarding a future, but some which were less than proper for a gentleman. And always, he was forced to consider what his father might have thought on the subject. However, if he ever wished to understand how deep his feelings for her might become, he knew the best way to do so was to be in her company. What better place was there for that than Pemberley?
“Beyond the desire to make my sister happy,” said Darcy, favoring his sister with a warm smile, “I have no objections to Miss Bennet. There are some issues, such as my residence with her there with no chaperones in place.”
“Mrs. Annesley should provide enough chaperonage that it would be acceptable,” said Lady Susan. “If you are concerned that is not enough, invite Mr. Bingley too.”
That thought had crossed Darcy’s mind, particularly with Bingley’s desire to look at estates. “That is possible. Perhaps we should think about this a little more and allow a little time to elapse. We have, after all, not known her for long.”
Lady Susan nodded and turned to Georgiana, who was showing a hint of disappointment. “That is for the best, I suspect. As long as you continue along charmingly with her, I cannot imagine there will be any obstacles, my dear. It is also possible . . .”
Trailing off, Lady Susan appeared thoughtful. Then when she spoke, she changed the subject, leaving Darcy wondering what she had been about to say.
