Page 5 of Such Low Connections

“…but if you really think it necessary, my dear, I suppose I could live with the ridicule,” her husband added merrily. “Oh, he mentioned he would be at the assembly rooms in Meryton this week with his sister and a small party of friends, although I suppose that can be of no interest to us.”

The youngest girls squealed loudly at this last carelessly delivered piece of news as Mrs Bennet made a quick recovery from her crossness and confusion.

“Dear Mr Bennet! No, not at all. Why did you not say that the acquaintance was already made? It was another of your little jokes, I suppose. How fine that we shall all meet him at the assembly rooms on easy terms!”

Kissed on the cheeks by his wife and youngest daughters in quick succession and receiving smiles of mingled amusement and disapproval from his eldest, their father at last made his escape to the library, chuckling to himself as he went.

Joining hands, Lydia and Kitty danced about the room, humming a merry song under the baleful eye of Mary, who persisted in trying to read her improving book regardless of the chatter around her.

“Are you not excited to meet Mr Bingley and his party, Lizzy?” asked Jane, with a gentle smile. “There are so often too few gentlemen for the dancing in this neighbourhood, and I think his presence cannot be a bad thing, if he is young and inclined to enjoy dancing. His sister may prove a new friend for us, too.”

“Indeed, I am always glad to make a new friend,” Elizabeth smiled back. “You are right about our needing more gentlemen in the neighbourhood, too. Let us hope there are not too many ladies in Mr Bingley’s party.”

“You speak sense for once, Lizzy,” said their mother, who sometimes seemed to recognise her second daughter’s superior mind and resent it in a way she did not with the equally superior Jane. “If we are lucky, Mr Bingley will bring many other eligible young gentlemen with him to the assembly rooms this week. What shall you wear, Jane? You always look well in white.”

Mrs Bennet regarded Jane critically as Lydia and Kitty continued to cavort about the room, drawing a loud yell of protest from Mary when one of them trod on her toe.

“Yes, your figured white muslin and new gloves,” their mother continued to muse. “The maid will do your hair with white and yellow flowers. You will not want for dancing partners, Jane, but then, you never do.”

As their mother never tired of remarking, Jane was very much the beauty of the family, with her waves of soft blonde hair, creamy complexion and sky-blue eyes. It was Mrs Bennet’s great pride that all the girls but Mary were well-favoured. In truth, even Mary’s plainness might have been much amended, had her dress been chosen more judiciously, and her expression been less sour.

Blushing with pleasure from her mother’s remarks, for Jane liked to dress up and dance as much as any of them, she nodded at the suggestions proposed and then turned to Elizabeth.

“What about you, Lizzy? What shall you wear to the dance in Meryton?” Jane asked.

“I’ll wear my plain white muslin and the silvery satin sash and matching gloves, I think,” Elizabeth thought aloud. “They’re so comfortable for dancing.”

“You wear those all the time, Lizzy!” groaned Lydia. “Why don’t you buy something new? I do not see why you and Jane are always saving your allowances rather than spending them on nice things as you are meant to. But if you are wearing those grey things, can I have the white gloves Aunt Gardiner sent you in the summer?”

“And can I have your silver pendant from Aunt Philips last Christmas?” asked Kitty. “It is so much nicer than any of my jewellery.”

“Yes, but only if you promise not to spill punch on my gloves or break my necklace,” Elizabeth agreed. “If you do, you must repair the damage.”

“You must all look well for the assembly rooms this week,” Mrs Bennet announced. “We will go to Meryton tomorrow for ribbons, sashes, stockings and other small trinkets. Who knows who Mr Bingley might bring with him? I doubt there can be many with £5000 a year, but a husband with £3000 or even £2000 would do well enough for some of you.”

Her eye fell on Elizabeth as she spoke, only causing her to smile to herself.

“Is £2000 not enough to tempt you?” Jane whispered to her, guessing at the cause of her humour.

“If a man does not have character, mind and manners, I would not marry him for £2000, £5000 or double that amount,” Elizabeth declared. “Otherwise, I shall be an old maid and live with you, Mr Bingley, and your twelve children!”

Jane coloured but laughed.

“You cannot marry me off to someone until we have at least met him,” she protested. “I am no less fastidious than you on that point, Lizzy.”

“Ah, but you are kinder, and see all the good that is to be found in every new acquaintance,” Elizabeth pointed out. “You are far more likely to find a match in Mr Bingley or his party than I.”

“We shall see,” Jane remarked calmly, but with a certain dreaminess in her eyes. “Who knows who might be there, what we shall make of them, or what they will make of us?”

∞∞∞

When the eagerly awaited night finally came, the assembly seemed likely to justify even Mrs Bennet’s elevated hopes.

“This is the second dance they’ve danced together,” Elizabeth heard her mother telling Lady Lucas with great satisfaction as she watched the handsome, golden-haired Mr Charles Bingley lead her eldest daughter out onto the dance floor for the quadrille. “How well they look, don’t you think?”

“They look very well together indeed, Mrs Bennet,” Lady Lucas agreed. “Of course, it is commendable that he danced the first measure with Charlotte, given that we were his first acquaintances in the neighbourhood.”

“Certainly, certainly. Mr Bingley’s manners cannot be faulted. What a fine young man! So handsome and amiable. I am sure he will be a most valuable addition to the neighbourhood.”