Mrs. Bennet's Favorite Daughter Page 3

  When the woman left the room, a grinning Bingley turned to him and said: “I thought Caroline would faint when you spoke of your cousin and one of the Bennet sisters.”

  “You have my apologies, Bingley,” said Fitzwilliam, his grin anything but contrite, “but I had no intention of offending your sister.”

  Bingley shook his head. “I have tried to tell Caroline that Darcy has no interest in her, but she will not listen. Perhaps this visit will make it clear to her in a way even she cannot misunderstand.”

  “It would be best if she learned it without delay,” replied Fitzwilliam. “She is wasting her time with Darcy. Now, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet these sisters of whom you speak, but my duties are heavy at present, for the regiment requires discipline.”

  “Did you not receive an invitation to Sir William’s soiree three nights hence?” asked Bingley. “If you have not, it would surprise me. Sir William is not the sort to exclude anyone from his parties.”

  “Ah, yes, I remember Captain Carter mentioning something of that nature. Then we shall attend, and I shall count on you both to introduce me. Who knows? I might find my future wife among the Bennet sisters.”

  Laughter was Georgiana’s response. “How you jest, Cousin. Given the size of the estate, I cannot imagine any of the Bennets has a dowry you require in your future wife.”

  “You forget, Georgiana,” replied Fitzwilliam, enjoying their jesting, “with Thorndell, I can choose a woman of less means. If she is special enough, I may just settle for a close relationship with a poor woman, rather than the riches of a cold one.”

  “A man after my own heart,” said Bingley. “Stay for dinner, Fitzwilliam. I should like to exchange stories of what I would like in a wife. If nothing else, it will annoy my sister.”

  The three laughed and Fitzwilliam accepted. Bingley, he was discovering, was a man whose company Fitzwilliam could enjoy as much as his cousin did. Though this posting still irked him, Fitzwilliam was enjoying himself in Hertfordshire. There were many worse places in which he could find himself, including on the front lines facing down French bayonets.

  Chapter II

  On the day of the party at Lucas LodgE, the Bennet family traveled the short distance to their near neighbors, the Lucases, and were welcomed in the manner of friends of longstanding. The family was one not born to the status of the gentry; the patriarch, Sir William, having gained his knighthood upon giving an address to the king, had moved his family into their current dwelling with the money and notoriety which had come from that venture. Sir William was a hearty, kind man, one who took it upon himself to be the leader of the community in civility; society was his delight, and he often treated others to boasts of his exploits in St. James’s Court. His wife was a similar character, a woman who delighted in gossip and was mean of understanding. Between Lady Lucas and Mrs. Bennet existed a firm friendship, though Mrs. Bennet possessed enough sense to avoid gossip.

  Of children, they had five, two daughters and three sons, and while two of the sons and one daughter were younger—Maria being Lydia’s age—Elizabeth was well acquainted with the elder two. Samuel, a few years older, was often absent, for his interest in society was akin to his father’s, though he craved that of a higher level. The eldest child, Charlotte, was a few years Elizabeth’s senior, and Elizabeth’s closest friend other than Jane. It was Charlotte who welcomed Elizabeth that evening, full of smiles and exclamations of delight.

  “Lizzy! I am so happy to see you!”

  “As I am to see you,” replied Elizabeth.

  The two women fell into a conversation that consisted of their recent doings, as they had not met in some days. It was then that Elizabeth informed her friend of meeting the newest resident of Netherfield and her knowledge of the new colonel of the regiment. To say her foreknowledge impressed Charlotte was an understatement.

  “I am all astonishment, Lizzy!” said Charlotte. “I knew of the young lady’s coming to Netherfield and of the new colonel of the regiment, but my father could find nothing of the connection between them.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “It is rare, indeed, that something is known in Meryton which was not first discovered by your father.”

  “It is interesting that this Miss Darcy was first seen at Longbourn to visit you, Lizzy.”

  Frowning, Elizabeth said: “I cannot understand why. Why would it mean anything at all?”

  “That is what confuses me,” said Charlotte. “Had she been Mr. Bingley’s sister, it would be obvious, given the admiration the gentleman shows to Jane.”

  “That is true,” replied Elizabeth. “Perhaps that is all it is. As Mr. Bingley admires Jane, he wishes to promote her to all his friends. In Miss Darcy’s own words, Miss Darcy’s brother has long been one of Mr. Bingley’s closest friends.”

  At that moment, the Bingley party’s arrival interrupted their conversation and Elizabeth had all the pleasure of introducing her new friend to the old. The two ladies expressed their pleasure and stood speaking for some moments. Then, Charlotte’s mother called her away to see to some task, leaving Elizabeth alone with Miss Darcy.

  “I am pleased to renew our acquaintance, Miss Darcy,” said Elizabeth.

  “As am I, Miss Elizabeth,” said Miss Darcy. “Though Mrs. Annesley is wonderful, she is a companion, not a young woman with whom I can converse with no restraint.”

  “And this you do not find at Netherfield?” asked Elizabeth with a laugh. “With Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst in residence, I would think there would be many opportunities for lively conversation.”

  Miss Darcy blushed, but she ventured: “Miss Bingley is attentive, but she is not what I would term a friend. Her brother is my brother’s friend—that is the only connection between us.”

  “I dare say Miss Bingley would not appreciate that characterization,” observed Elizabeth, at the same time noticing the sour look the woman in question was giving them.

  “Perhaps she would not,” replied Miss Darcy. “But it is the truth, nonetheless.”

  Miss Darcy paused and glanced about to see if there was anyone near enough to overhear. Seeing no one, she leaned close to Elizabeth and added: “Though Miss Bingley has attempted to induce me to keep this neighborhood at arms’ length, I am pleased to have found many friends. It will be a great relief when my brother arrives.”

  Though Elizabeth smiled to acknowledge her friend’s declaration, she decided it politic to change the subject. “Do you expect your brother soon?”

  “William may come as early as next week,” replied Miss Darcy. “There is some business that prevented him from coming before now, but I expect it will be completed soon.”

  With a nod, Elizabeth introduced another topic and they began to speak of other matters. Pleased with each other’s company, they stood together for some time. Others came and went, some to beg an introduction, some to speak with her, while Miss Bingley attempted to draw Miss Darcy away twice. Miss Darcy, however, refused to be parted from Elizabeth’s side.

  “When you came to Longbourn, you mentioned your interest in the pianoforte?” asked Elizabeth when the subject of music arose.

  “I enjoy playing, but my talents are not at all out of the common way.”

  “Do not let her mislead you,” interjected Miss Bingley, who was close enough to hear them speak. “Miss Darcy’s performance on the pianoforte is divine. I have rarely heard better.”

  With her eyes, Miss Darcy pleaded for Elizabeth to leave the subject alone, and taking pity on her friend, Elizabeth changed it. “In my family, Mary and I are the only ones who play to any great extent. Jane can play a little, but kitty and Lydia claim they have no aptitude.”

  “Have you had access to masters?” sneered Miss Bingley, her tone showing how unlikely she seemed to think it was.

  “We have,” replied Elizabeth, not allowing the woman to ruin her good cheer. “I shall not call my performance capital, for I do not take enough time to practice. But Mary and I have both had masters to a
id us.”

  It seemed to Elizabeth that Miss Bingley regarded her with a hint more respect, though her understated snort of disdain suggested otherwise. The woman then moved away, disgusted she could not draw Miss Darcy away for her own purposes. When they were alone again, Miss Darcy looked back at Elizabeth with some relief.

  “Thank you, Elizabeth.” Then she gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

  “It would please me if we referred to each other by our Christian names, Miss Darcy. If you are agreeable.”

  With a shy smile, Georgiana agreed. “Miss Bingley praises me to the skies whenever she has the chance. I believe I have some skill, but I cannot bear her fawning, which I know is nothing more than the desire to get my brother’s good opinion and secure a proposal from him.”

  Elizabeth could not stop the laugh which bubbled up in her breast. “That seems like a strange way to go about inducing a proposal.”

  “Then you know little of London society,” said Georgiana. “Though I am not even out yet, I have seen it many times.”

  “If it were me,” said Elizabeth, “I would prefer a gentleman propose to me because he cannot resist me. I do not know why anyone would think praising a man’s sister might be a way to his heart.”

  The giggle with which Georgiana replied indicated her agreement. “Nor do I, Elizabeth. Nor do I.”

  “There shall be entertainment this evening I should expect,” said Elizabeth, turning the conversation back to the previous subject. “Shall you amaze us all with your exceptional skill and taste?”

  The look of panic which came over her friend’s face surprised Elizabeth, though, given the girl’s shyness, Elizabeth supposed it should not have. “Oh, please say nothing to our hosts. I could not possibly play before all these people.”

  “Of course, you need not if you do not wish it,” soothed Elizabeth. “Charlotte, however, will insist I do my part, for she seems to have some perverse need to see me make a fool of myself in front of everyone.”

  “I am certain your playing shall be perfectly lovely,” replied Georgiana.

  About this time the members of the militia regiment began entering the room, having arrived some time later than Elizabeth might have expected. At their head was a tall man with an erect bearing, broad of shoulder and a pleasant, though not handsome countenance. Sir William greeted them as was his wont, and the officers dispersed to the various corners of the room. The tall man looked about and spying the girl by Elizabeth’s side, said something to Sir William and approached them with a wide grin.

  “Hello, Sprite,” said he to Georgiana, catching her up in an embrace. “I see you have made yourself at home here.”

  “Anthony!” hissed she, though her annoyance was betrayed as feigned by the grin with which she regarded him. “You will ruin my pretensions of maturity with such displays!”

  “Ah, I should never wish to do that,” replied he. Then he turned to Elizabeth, his manner expectant.

  “Anthony,” said she, turning to Elizabeth, “may I present my friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is my cousin, Colonel Anthony Fitzwilliam. Though he gives the impression of a reprobate, my cousin was assigned to the dragoons, and has been transferred here to command the local regiment.”

  Elizabeth curtseyed to the gentleman’s bow, noting the aspect of good humor in his countenance. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, sir. Georgiana has spoken almost as much of you as she has of her brother.”

  “Ah,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, winking at his cousin, “it seems I am forever second in her affections.”

  “Is it not natural? After all, you are only her cousin.”

  “That will not induce me to cease trying to be first!”

  They laughed together, Elizabeth appreciating the man’s wit and amiability. The colonel, Elizabeth soon decided, was a man of Mr. Bingley’s ilk, though he was more playful, and, at the same time, more serious than the other gentleman. That he was intelligent Elizabeth understood at once, but his ability to charm soon disarmed her, and she found herself enjoying his company.

  “I must own, sir,” said Elizabeth after some minutes in his company, “that I am surprised at you.”

  “Oh?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam, catching her jesting tone. “Why is that?”

  “Because I have it on good intelligence that you are the son of an earl. Should you not disdain us all as unsuitable, provincial, and uncouth?”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam guffawed and exclaimed: “If you wish for that sort of behavior, you must wait for my cousin to arrive, for he is accounted as haughty, while I am agreeable to all.”

  “Anthony!” exclaimed Georgiana swatting at him. “William is everything amiable.”

  “Once you come to know him, Cousin,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, clearly unrepentant. “When first introduced, Darcy is uncomfortable among strangers and has difficulty making a good impression.”

  “Now I must meet him,” said Elizabeth. “Perhaps I can induce him to smile where few have succeeded before.”

  “If anyone can it is you,” replied Georgiana, while Colonel Fitzwilliam fixed her with an interested look.

  “Yes, perhaps you can,” added Colonel Fitzwilliam. Then he grinned and said: “I would not have you believe Darcy is a man given to airs, Miss Bennet. He can be taciturn at times, but he does not mean to give offense. Whether or not he means it, often offense follows him, for he is uncomfortable in company he does not know.”

  “Then I shall refrain from convicting him,” said Elizabeth. “But I shall reiterate my eagerness to meet him. If he is anything like his sister, I am certain he will be an acquaintance well worth knowing. Now, Colonel, you have not informed me of your impressions of the militia. Having served in the regulars, it must be very different.”

  “That is true,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “The militia is very different.”

  “In what way?” asked Elizabeth, interested to hear his perspective.

  “For one, it is not as . . .” the colonel paused and smiled. “Well, serious, I suppose though that is not quite it either. To understand you must remember that the purpose of the regular army is to go to battle an enemy. The militia is tasked only with the defense of the homeland, though in that, they also share the duty with certain elements of the regulars.”

  “I can understand how that might be different and ‘serious,’ as you put it,” replied Elizabeth.

  The colonel nodded. “I would not have you believe the men I command are inferior. It is a different sort of man, to be certain, but the officers I command are estimable.” Colonel Fitzwilliam paused and winked, saying: “I would want them to acquire much seasoning before I would wish to put them in command of any men going to battle.”

  Elizabeth could see how that would be desirable; she had thought herself that the officers known to them were pleasing in general, but many seemed more like boys with little experience.

  “And the fighting soldiers?”

  At this question, Colonel Fitzwilliam grimaced a little. “Yes, well, the fighting men need much training.”

  In this vein they continued to speak, the colonel giving Elizabeth some insight into the workings of the militia regiment. Elizabeth found the matter interesting, for none of them had ever met many men who were true soldiers who had seen battle. The colonel’s accounts reminded Elizabeth that it may be best to take what she had learned and inform Kitty and Lydia, who were unabashed in their admiration of the militia, that these soldiers in their midst were not the battle-hardened veterans they imagined them to be.

  A little later, Elizabeth was witness to Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brand of discipline. Though the officers had been well behaved in most settings where Elizabeth had met them, at times they became a little too rowdy, their laughter a little more raucous than was advisable. That evening was just such an occasion.

  The sound of their laughter and the sight of several officers speaking with several young ladies of the neighborhood caught the colonel’s attention. Lydia a
nd Kitty were not among them, Elizabeth noted with relief—her sisters were not far away with their mother in close attendance and were talking with admirable composure to another pair of officers. When another burst of laughter along with the obvious flirting of one of his men caught his further attention, Colonel Fitzwilliam excused himself.

  “Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth, but it seems I must impart some of that seasoning I mentioned.”

  With a bow, the colonel stepped away, and within moments, the sound of his voice reached them. “Watson, Davies, I see you are making the acquaintance of the local ladies.”

  The officers in question straightened at the sight of their commanding officer. Though Elizabeth could not hear their reply, Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded and smiled at them.

  “Will you introduce me?”

  The introductions proceeded and the colonel spoke charmingly with those young ladies, though she could see he was taking care to include his officers. Elizabeth's heart swelled with respect for this jovial gentleman, for it seemed he wore command like a well-fitting glove and knew what to do in any situation.

  “Well, Elizabeth?” asked Georgiana, drawing her attention back. “What do you think of my cousin?”

  “He seems like an excellent man,” said Elizabeth with no hint of exaggeration. “The way he handled his officers was masterful.”

  “Anthony has always said it does no good to humiliate his subordinates in front of others. Later, when they are alone, he will have a word with them, warning them about their behavior, and that will be the end of the matter.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I can see how that would be effective.” Not having known Colonel Forster well, Elizabeth could not speak to his style of discipline, but Colonel Fitzwilliam’s actions made it clear he would tolerate no misbehavior among his officers. It boded well for the stay of the militia in the neighborhood, for they had all heard stories of the havoc a company of militia could wreak on a small community.