Page 26 of Cousin Conundrum

“Do you mean Netherfield Park?” Elizabeth asked.

Mrs. Archer focused a condescending smile on her. “I must, must I not?”

“The family name is Long, Mother,” Miss Archer supplied before turning to Mrs. Bennet. “We wrote to the mayor of the local market town inquiring who has the most prestigious house, and he recommended the Longs, so we have let their home.” Her gaze flicked over the parlor. “Hopefully it is less cozy than Longbourn, for there are a great many of us, as you can see.”

As they numbered one fewer than Kitty’s family, Mr. Bennet being still with them and Mr. Archer apparently not, Kitty couldn’t see how they would require more space than Longbourn offered.

“You will find the Longs’ home more than adequate to your needs, and well situated in the village,” Mr. Bennet said, stepping forward. “It has been our pleasure to meet you all. Mr. Collins, if you will direct the footmen as to which cases are yours, we will not delay your cousins any longer in reaching their accommodations.”

“Ah, yes, certainly, Mr. Bennet.”

“We do hope you will call on us at the Longs’ home,” Mrs. Archer said as Mr. Collins hurried out.

“And you must call here as well,” Mrs. Bennet replied with what Kitty suspected to be very little thought.

“We look forward to furthering our acquaintance, then,” Mrs. Archer concluded in that voice that sounded far more pleasant than she looked. “Until next we meet.”

That set off a flurry of curtsies that eventually ended with the departure of the six Archer women and the momentary retreat of Mr. Collins to his room to refresh himself. Kitty dropped back down onto the sofa she shared with Lydia, feeling dazed.

“They are all as tall as I am,” Lydia groused, plopping down beside her.

“I recall something about a widow Archer.” Elizabeth said as everyone else retook their seats. “Something I saw in the paper.”

“What?” Lydia asked eagerly. “Something horrible?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “It was some time ago. I cannot quite remember.”

Silence filled the room, but Elizabeth said nothing more, her face twisted in thought.

“They are all very pretty,” Jane said quietly.

Lydia nodded. “Even prettier than you.”

“Nonsense.” Mrs. Bennet sat up very straight. “No one is prettier than our Jane.”

“They are far better dressed than we are,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully. “That gives them the appearance of greater beauty.”

“Well, with those gowns, they are going to steal all the gentlemen.” Lydia rested her elbows on her thighs, slumping forward.

“No worthy gentleman would select a wife based on her gown,” Mary said firmly.

Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow. “Then why do we put so much effort into how we look?”

Kitty glanced down at her gown again. She hadn’t put any effort into her appearance and it showed. Not that all her best efforts would make a difference when compared to the Archers.

And Cat. Who wished to be called Cat? What a silly name.

“No one is stealing anyone.” Mrs. Bennet glared about the room, as if they were to blame for the beauty of the women who had just departed. “This is our community and you have first pick of any gentlemen. We were here long before these Archers.”

“But we have not even met Mr. Bingley, and they met Mr. Collins before we did,” Kitty pointed out, speaking as if her mother’s point made logical sense, as had become her habit. For, truly, what did a gentleman care who had been in the region longer? Didn’t gentlemen generally prefer what was new?

“And whose fault is that?” Mrs. Bennet turned her glare on her husband. “I asked you to call on Mr. Bingley. I pleaded with you to invite him for dinner. It is your duty as a gentleman and a father.”

“Yes, my dear.”

“And you have not.”

“No, my dear.”