Page 22 of Stranded at Michaelmas

“It is not my sole purpose, Mr Bennet,” Darcy said. He drew a slow breath before continuing. “I have come to ask your permission to court Miss Elizabeth. We have not known each other long, but I admit that I am intrigued by her and wish to know her better.”

“And she knows your intentions? She has accepted your request to call?” Mr Bennet asked.

“She has.”

What followed was a considerably longer conversation than Darcy had anticipated. Mr Bennet questioned him closely regarding his intentions towards Elizabeth, the differences between their families and status, and what Darcy expected should the courtship continue. Although the older gentleman’s manner remained dry, there was nothing careless in the questions he asked.

In the end, however, he appeared satisfied.

“You have my permission to court her, Mr Darcy,” he said at last. “Though I hardly need tell you that Lizzy will ultimately make up her own mind. I will not force her into a marriage she does not wish.”

“I would expect nothing less of either of you,” Darcy replied. “Nor would I persist if she declined me.”

Mr Bennet’s mouth twitched.

“Yes, well, my wife might have something to say on that matter. Regardless, I suspect we had better join the others before she sends someone to discover what has become of us.”

As Elizabeth had anticipated, Mrs Bennet’s reaction was considerably less restrained than her husband’s. The Netherfield party was immediately invited to remain for the rest of the afternoon and dine at Longbourn. They accepted the invitation to dinner, though pleaded the necessity of returning to Netherfield for a few hours beforehand.

At dinner, Mrs Bennet appeared torn between fawning over Darcy, who had already declared his intention of courting one of her daughters, and Bingley, who continued to pay marked attention to her eldest but had thus far made no declaration of his own.

By the end of the evening, everyone within Longbourn—and quite possibly half of Meryton—might have believed an engagement already settled rather than a courtship only just begun.

Over the weeks that followed, Mr Darcy proved himself capable of withstanding even Mrs Bennet’s more excitable moments. With one daughter now officially being courted by a gentleman of considerable consequence and another receiving increasingly marked attentions from Mr Bingley, Mrs Bennet seemed determined to do nothing that might jeopardise either possibility.

Elizabeth could not decide whether to be amused or grateful that her mother’s attention was divided. Too much of her mother’s notice had always made Elizabeth uncomfortable, and she knew Mr Darcy had even less patience for being fussed over. The two therefore took frequent walks, where they could enjoy one another’s company in relative peace.

Despite her preoccupation with her daughters’ suitors, Mrs Bennet also began paying a great deal of attention to Georgiana. Although Georgiana was only a few months older than Lydia, the difference between them was striking.

Georgiana was shy where Lydia was bold, but that was hardly the whole of it. She spoke sensibly, listened well, and conducted herself with an ease that spoke not only of her birth but of careful instruction.

Watching her mother observe the two girls, Elizabeth began to suspect that Mrs Bennet was reaching an uncomfortable conclusion about her youngest daughter.

Elizabeth’s suspicion was confirmed only a few days later, after a visit to Netherfield which Lydia had insisted upon attending. Her mother relented, but then even she seemed embarrassed by Lydia’s behaviour.

“I believe, Mr Bennet,” her mother announced at dinner that evening, “that we ought to consider more seriously our earlier decision to hire a governess for Lydia. Or perhaps we should look into schools where she might receive some instruction in accomplishments, as well as proper behaviour.”

“If you insist, madam,” her father replied, and allowed the matter to drop.

Mrs Bennet did not.

At nearly every meal thereafter, she raised the subject again until Mr Bennet finally followed up on the replies he had already received and made further enquiries regarding both possibilities. In the end, a suitable governess was found, and scarcely a month after Michaelmas, Longbourn acquired a new resident.

Lydia protested vociferously, but every objection seemed only to strengthen her mother’s conviction that the arrangement was necessary. Elizabeth was not present for the final discussion, but she gathered afterwards that Lydia had been given a choice of sorts: she might apply herself to her lessons and improve her behaviour at home, or she could be sent away to a school where both would be required of her. Until one or the other occurred, Mrs Bennet made it clear that she would not be returning to society.

With Kitty still in London with the Gardiners, Lydia was quite alone in the schoolroom. Within a few weeks, there was some obvious improvement in her behaviour, though Elizabeth could not decide whether her sister was merely complying or had begun to understand why such changes were expected of her.

Several events soon helped answer the question.

First, Mr Bingley formally asked to court Jane, sending Mrs Bennet’s excitement to even greater heights. Her most beautiful daughter being courted was apparently an even greater triumph than Elizabeth’s own prospects, a distinction Elizabeth found more amusing than offensive.

Then, only a few days later, Mr Bingley’s sisters finally arrived at Netherfield.

He brought them to Longbourn soon afterwards, and it quickly became apparent that neither Miss Bingley nor Mrs Hurst was particularly pleased with the company they found there. Miss Bingley attached herself to Mr Darcy whenever opportunity allowed, despite his repeated efforts to discourage her attentions, and then turned much the same manner upon Georgiana.

What seemed to trouble her most, however, was discovering that Elizabeth and Mary referred to Georgiana by her Christian name.

Miss Bingley attempted to claim the same privilege almost immediately, only to be met with a quiet but unmistakably firm refusal. Georgiana reminded her that no such permission had ever been given. Miss Bingley went pale at the set-down but could scarcely object further.