Together in Perfect Felicity Page 2

  A woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper, when Mrs. Bennet was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married. How unfair it was to her to have been saddled with five girls when her sister had been burdened with only one. Her sole consolation was her belief that being the prettier of the two Gardiner girls had garnered her such a fate. Marrying off one daughter was nothing at all in comparison with her own onerous job. Mrs. Bennet would not sit idly by and watch her niece secure a husband before one of her own girls reached the altar.

  “We shall come down directly, Mama,” Elizabeth called out to her mother, who was by then on her way to her younger daughters’ room to hurry them along as well. Elizabeth paused for a moment and admired her sister Jane’s reflection in the mirror. “How lovely you are, dearest Jane. I dare say neither Phoebe or Charlotte, nor I, stand a chance of garnering the attention of a single gentleman in attendance at the Meryton assembly this evening.”

  Jane smiled. “Pray, Lizzy, you are not giving any serious thought to taking part in our cousin’s challenge.”

  “Perhaps not at first, but having caught a glimpse of our new neighbor, I can think of far less diverting ways to pass this evening.”

  At Mrs. Bennet’s adamant insistence, Mr. Bennet had been among the first in their neighborhood to call on Mr. Bingley to welcome the young man to his new home. Bingley, subsequently, had returned Mr. Bennet’s kindness by calling on him at Longbourn. His visit met with Mrs. Bennet’s utter delight, for she contended the young man had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of her daughters, whose beauty was so renowned in that part of the country, he surely had heard as much. Alas, he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he was a handsome young man who wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.

  “You sound just like Phoebe,” Jane said.

  “Now, Jane, surely you cannot deny that the prospect of meeting Mr. Bingley does not intrigue you.”

  “I am certain he is very agreeable, and I certainly welcome the chance to meet new people.”

  “As it is all but confirmed that upon his most recent return from town he brought twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him, you shall have plenty of opportunities.”

  Jane tilted her head ever so slightly. “The last I heard, his party consisted of only six people from London—his five sisters and a cousin.”

  “Then let us pray his cousin is also a single young man in want of a wife,” said Elizabeth as she went to the bed and retrieved a lovely shawl. “And lest I forget—a handsome one at that. Handsome and exceedingly wealthy.”

  “Oh, Lizzy, you are incorrigible.”

  The women of Longbourn arrived at the assembly room just in time to command an advantageous view for the entrance of the Netherfield party. What a stunning entry indeed. So much so that any disappointment over the actual size of the party, which consisted of Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man, was of little consequence.

  Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentleman-like; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features and noble mien.

  What a fine figure of a man.

  “I declare he is much more handsome than Mr. Bingley,” cried Phoebe, who was standing next to her cousins and their friend Charlotte.

  Speaking in a more hushed voice, the latter said, “He is also said to have ten thousand a year.”

  “Ten thousand pounds a year!” Phoebe exclaimed with energy.

  Charlotte nodded. “And very likely more. He hails from Derbyshire and is said to own half the county.”

  “How do you know all of this, dearest Charlotte?” Elizabeth inquired.

  “Why, my father called on Mr. Bingley this morning.”

  “Ten thousand a year and half the county,” Phoebe repeated with excitement. “Ladies, I think I have found my future husband.”

  Elizabeth laughed a little at her cousin’s conjecture. “Did you hear that, Jane? Our cousin has set her cap on Mr. Bingley’s friend, which means Mr. Bingley is quite safe for you.”

  “And what about you, Cousin Lizzy? Have you no interest in claiming Mr. Bingley for yourself?” After a moment, she gasped. “Surely you do not mean to pursue my Mr. Darcy!”

  Before Elizabeth could fashion a fitting reply, Mrs. Bennet grabbed both her daughters by the hand and proceeded to coax them to the part of the room where the members of the Netherfield party were standing. Charlotte and Phoebe followed suit.

  The introductions were made by Charlotte’s father, Sir William Lucas, a friendly, accommodating man whose elevated rank obliged him to attend to such tasks. As a consequence of having to wait for her turn, Elizabeth was able to judge the newcomers with some degree of impunity.

  Mr. Bingley was even more handsome from this vantage point. His sisters were fine-looking women, as well. Elizabeth could tell right away that the two ladies thought rather highly of themselves. Their manners were not nearly so easy and unaffected as were Mr. Bingley’s.

  His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, was well-dressed but somewhat disinterested.

  And then there was Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth did not like to stare, but it was almost impossible not to stare at a gentleman so abundantly endowed with all the best parts of beauty.

  My cousin is correct. Mr. Darcy is so much more handsome than Mr. Bingley.

  His voice was so deep, so melodic and even sensuous that Elizabeth almost did not notice his haughty air. Almost. Her cousin, in her eagerness to meet the gentleman, stole Elizabeth’s place in line at the last moment and offered her hand to the gentleman.

  His dark, brooding eyes grew even more foreboding as he reluctantly accepted it and bowed almost imperceptibly.

  How rude!

  True, her cousin’s display could almost be described as vulgar, but surely the gentleman was no stranger to such a reception from an eager young girl.

  Not that young Phoebe was put off by Mr. Darcy’s cold reception. She merely drifted away as though she had touched the hand of Adonis himself.

  It was then Elizabeth’s turn to meet everyone. The bright smile she bestowed upon his friend Bingley and even the polite smile she bestowed upon Bingley’s sisters, she promptly dropped when she stood before Mr. Darcy.

  She dared not look into his eyes and risk seeing that same haughty stare he bestowed upon her cousin. But then he reached out his hand to her.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” he said.

  Against her will, she looked up. Her eyes met his. He stole her breath away.

  Her hand reached out to his, and for a time, Elizabeth forgot what she was about. Her next recollection was of her standing alone on the outside balcony—the same hand against her chest, reminding herself to breathe.

  Chapter 4

  Lively and Unreserved

  All in all, the evening passed pleasantly for all parties concerned. That Charlotte, Phoebe, Jane, and Elizabeth should meet to talk about the assembly was absolutely necessary, and the next morning brought the former two to Longbourn to hear and to communicate and, better still, to devise a plan of attack, however reluctant one or more of their party might profess to be.

  “Although all four of us can boast of having danced with the amiable Mr. Bingley at the assembly, I do believe it is you, Jane, who has the advantage when it comes to garnering his affections,” said Phoebe, clutching one of the decorative pillows from atop her cousin’s bed to her chest.

  Indeed, having quickly made the acquaintance of all the principal people in the room, the young man proved himself to be very lively and unreserved.

  “If I recall correctly Mr. Bingley danced every dance. I do not know that any young lady in t
he room did not have the pleasure of standing opposite him,” Jane said.

  “However, you are the only young lady whom he danced with twice. Surely that must count for something,” said Charlotte.

  Jane ought to have grown used to being the recipient of such accolades. Mrs. Bennet had been absolutely delighted to see her eldest daughter so much admired by the handsome gentleman, as everyone within hearing distance of her at the assembly would attest.

  “Jane,” said Charlotte, “you need not be so cautious as regards the gentleman. There are only the four of us here after all. Pray, what is your opinion of Mr. Bingley?”

  “He is just what a young man ought to be,” replied Jane. “He is sensible and good-humored. He is lively, and I never saw such happy manners!”

  “Pray do not neglect to mention the ease with which he recommends himself to strangers,” Charlotte said.

  “He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which I believe we all agreed a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”

  “If you do not mind my saying, dear Eliza, aside from his exceedingly good looks, Mr. Darcy’s character is decidedly different from his friend’s,” said Charlotte.

  Trying her best to suppress her stomach’s fluttering as a consequence of the mentioning of the gentleman’s name, Elizabeth asked, “Why in heavens would I mind?”

  Why indeed? She would have to be blind not to have noticed the manner in which Mr. Darcy comported himself. The gentleman danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley and spent the rest of the evening walking about the room, occasionally speaking to one of his own party. On more than one occasion, she espied him deliberately turning and walking in the opposite direction when her cousin had attempted to place herself in his path. By the end of the evening, Elizabeth’s opinion of the gentleman from Derbyshire was as firmly determined as most of her acquaintances. He was deemed haughty and above his company.

  “Do you truly need to ask?”

  Elizabeth felt the color spread over her body. Charlotte, after all, had been standing next to her when she was introduced to the gentleman.

  Phoebe said, “Yes, Charlotte, why would Lizzy be bothered by anything you have to say about my Mr. Darcy?”

  “Your Mr. Darcy? I would imagine Eliza has something to say about that, do you not, my friend?”

  Waving off her intimate friend’s concern, Elizabeth said, “On the contrary. Fair is fair, and if I recall correctly, Phoebe did claim him first.”

  Phoebe nodded contentedly. “So, it is quite decided. Jane shall marry Mr. Bingley, and I shall marry Mr. Darcy. As for the two of you—”

  “Pray, do not concern yourself with my marital prospects,” cried Charlotte.

  “I concur,” Elizabeth replied.

  “But all four of us were meant to find husbands during the course of a twelvemonth. Whatever shall the two of you do?”

  Elizabeth said, “I rather suppose someone will happen along. Perhaps Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy both have cousins.”

  Meanwhile, the conversation taking place three miles away in the drawing room at Netherfield had taken on a rather different tone.

  “I never met so many pretty women in one place in all my life,” said Charles Bingley.

  “Were we even at the same assembly?” cried his younger sister, Caroline. “For my part, I never witnessed such a shabby gathering of single females desperately in want of husbands in one place. Do you not agree, Mr. Darcy?”

  “I dare say there were more than a few young ladies who might best be described as tolerable. None of them were handsome enough to tempt me.”

  “I did notice you walking about looking rather stupid for the better part of the evening,” Charles declared. “Refusing to dance with anyone other than my sisters. I should not be so fastidious as you for a kingdom.”

  “You might try a bit of fastidiousness from time to time. It might very well spare you a great deal of trouble.”

  “I am sure I do not take your meaning.”

  “Think about it, Charles,” his elder sister, Mrs. Louisa Hurst, replied. “Did you not single out Miss Bennet for two dances? Can you even begin to imagine what her family and friends are now thinking? No doubt Mrs. Bennet is planning a wedding here at Netherfield as we speak.”

  “What man would not be proud to find himself engaged to marry Miss Bennet?” Charles inquired with the utmost sincerity. “She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld. Surely you agree, Darcy.”

  “Frankly, Bingley, I am unable to account for all the women you have ever beheld or how they rank in beauty. Miss Bennet is very pretty; however, she smiles too much.”

  “And what is your assessment of her sister Miss Elizabeth, who is next to her in age?”

  “Surely you cannot expect me to give an accounting of every young woman in attendance,” Darcy said, his voice signaling his annoyance.

  “Well, not every woman—just this particular woman. I could not help noticing the manner in which you greeted her.”

  Before Darcy could fashion a response, Caroline began voicing her own opinion of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and in a manner that was less than flattering. It was just as well, for this gave Darcy time to reflect on precisely what his reaction to seeing her had been.

  In a word—bewitched.

  His telling reaction to the beguiling young woman had played a large part in his subsequent behavior the evening before. He was far too busy rebuking himself to worry what Bingley’s new neighbors thought of him. Men of his stature did not give consideration to the daughters of a country gentleman who were so far beneath him in consequence as to be deemed laughable.

  It simply is not done.

  Chapter 5

  Some Mishap

  A fortnight hence…

  “Pray, remind me again of the reason you wished to invite Miss Bennet to dine with us, dear Caroline.”

  “After we called on the Bennets at Longbourn, I am certain her eager mama would feel obliged to return the honor. If I am forced to spend time in the company of our brother’s new neighbors, I would much rather subject myself to the eldest daughter’s presence. I find the others absolutely dreadful. Why, between the mother and that impertinent Miss Eliza, I do not know which I prefer less. As for the younger three, I would rather go mad than be forced to endure their mundane dribble and childish antics.”

  “Heavens, you are entirely too severe on our brother’s neighbors.” Louisa waited for a rebuttal from her sister in her own defense. Having received no such denial of her ill-opinion of the ladies of Longbourn, she said, “I do have to wonder about your seeming tolerance of Miss Bennet, however.”

  “What do you mean? Did we not agree that Miss Bennet is a dear girl?”

  “We did, but surely you have noticed how Charles dotes on her.”

  Indeed, since the assembly at Meryton where their brother had danced two sets with Miss Bennet, there had been at least four other incidences of his dining with her in company as well as seeing her at his own home once.

  “Have you no concern at all how his admiration for Miss Bennet might impact your favorite wish for an alliance between him and Miss Georgiana Darcy? Or shall I say your second favorite wish? For what could matter more than your ardent wish to become the next mistress of Pemberley?”

  What woman of sound mind did not wish for such a distinction? Caroline silently considered. Pemberley was not an inconsequential place, and certainly, its master was not an inconsequential man. To be the mistress of such a place and thereby the wife of such a man, must truly be something. Every woman she met, she deemed a competitor in one way or another. If there was but one exception, it was Miss Bennet. No—that young woman seemed more interested in Charles Bingley as evidenced by her abundance of smiles directed at him whenever they were together. Knowing her brother as well as she did, Caroline almost pitied Miss Bennet.

  “Louisa,” Caroline responded, “you and I both know how our brother is wont to fall in
love with every angel he meets. There is no reason in the world for me to suppose this time will be any different.”

  “Ah, but what if this time is the exception? There is always a first time, you know.”

  “That is precisely why I invited Miss Bennet to join us this afternoon. There is no chance of our brother being tempted by her lovely smiles, for lest you forget, Charles along with Mr. Darcy and Hurst are dining with the officers. Jane Bennet will be away from Netherfield long before they are expected to return.”

  “Caroline, you do think of everything.”

  “I try to,” she replied. Consulting the mantel clock, she cried, “Where in heavens is she?”

  Louisa glanced outside a nearby window. “The weather appears to be taking a terrible turn for the worse. I suppose she may have changed her mind and decided not to join us.”

  Rolling her eyes, the younger woman was not nearly so charitable as the elder. “With such a mother as Mrs. Bennet, I dare say the possibility that she would allow her daughter to forgo the opportunity to ingratiate herself with the sisters of a gentleman so rich as Charles is little to none,” Caroline mocked.

  Caroline had hardly finished her snide speech when the drawing room doors were opened and in walked the butler.

  “Miss Bennet,” he said, bowing. There stood Jane, dwarfed by the towering man’s presence, and dripping wet from head to toes.

  The Bingley sisters’ mouths gaped. “Miss Bennet,” cried Caroline. “Pray, what on earth happened to you?”