Page 45 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
Once the conversation resumed, Mrs. Bennet heard some exclaim pleasure at finding she had helped in the planning, not just by offering her cranberry glaze recipe but also by serving her excellent boiled potatoes.
At the conclusion of supper, before the dancing started again, Miss Darcy and Lydia retired to Miss Darcy’s room. Miss Darcy was not yet out, and Lydia was determined to mirror her behavior. Mrs. Bennet was pleased that her youngest daughters improved in comportment every day, given their intention to join Maria in attending a seminary with Miss Darcy.
Kitty’s and Maria’s determination to correct the jumble Mary had made of the evening vastly diverted Mrs. Bennet. They watched her dance the first with Captain Saunderson, and thenthe Colonel Fitzwilliam and Viscount Dalton. That night, she and Charlotte were far from the wallflowers they often had been.
Other men from Town, ones she did not know, seemed intent on filling Mary’s dance card, if the way she was surrounded was any indication. Both girls were certain that the Town guests saw her as a means to gain powerful connections due to her sisters’ advantageous alliances.
“If my sister Mary had always made an effort, she might have been the first of us to marry. Poor Captain Saunderson, he is downcast, watching Mary dance with others. He has not been able to request a second dance because the gentlemen surrounding her have taken every opportunity to converse. I am certain she wishes only to partner with him, though,” Kitty mused, watching Mary follow the officer with her eyes.
“Perhaps Mary could benefit from a bit of fresh air?” Maria asked, indicating the door to the balcony with her fan.
“An excellent suggestion, dear Maria.”
Mrs. Bennet lifted her fan to hide the hilarity she felt listening to the younger girls plot Mary’s evening. It had been the most challenging thing she had ever done, seeing herself through Mary’s eyes. But now that she understood her middle daughter better, she suspected Mary would enact some sort of reprisal on the younger girls. And, though she would never confess it to another soul, she dearly looked forward to it.
Mrs. Bennet took equal enjoyment when Kitty interrupted lord so-and-so without care. Oh dear, the lordling looked at Kitty with intrigue.Why is it that men have the greatest interest in those ladies who show no interest in them? And Mary’sindifference makes others clamor for her attention. Men could be such strange creatures.Mrs. Bennet felt a twinge of regret when the girls absconded with Mary before the man could ask Kitty to dance.
“Thank you. I have tried to excuse myself many times, but every attempt was countered in such a way that courtesy prevented me from walking away,” Mary said, appreciating the reprieve.
“You are ever so welcome,” Maria said, exchanging a speaking look with Kitty, who had Mary’s other arm.
“Do you seek someone in particular, Mary?” Kitty asked with feigned innocence.
“No. I was admiring the general splendor,” Mary said, scanning the faces of those in red jackets.
“You look flushed. Maybe some fresh air will set you to rights,” Maria said, leading Mary around the crush of people waiting for the dancing to start and out the door to the balcony.
Knowing their intent, Mrs. Bennet had come around the other way to stand at an open window overlooking the balcony, making certain none could claim Mary was alone.
But she would not intercede. With another promotion, the captain could support a family. In a room filled with country gentlemen, Corinthians, and other men of the regiment, Captain Saunderson was the only one who made her middle daughter blush. Seeing Mary blush when looking in another direction than the captain stood, Mrs. Bennet followed her glance.Ah. And the colonel.
If it took her longer than Mary to shift her gaze from him, that was quite immaterial. In consequence, Mrs. Bennet discovered that Charlotte was partnered with the colonel for this set. There was some satisfaction in knowing that the man affected both of the most sensible ladies she knew the same as he did most of the women in the room. And Mrs. Bennet had no doubt the rascal knew it. The voice of her middle daughter drew her attention from the dancers.
“The temperature is cool enough to cause a frost, and I do not have my cloak,” Mary protested.
“I doubt you will feel the cold at all, dear sister,” Kitty said with certainty. “I heard another say they, too, thought the air too close.”
Kitty gestured toward Captain Saunderson, who was just then joining them on the terrace. Seeing Mary, the man’s expression brightened. When he stepped forward, Maria and Kitty made an excuse to leave.
Inside the ballroom, the two girls congratulated themselves as they walked arm in arm to their older sisters.
“Kitty, what did you and Maria do?” Jane asked, trying to be stern, though it was obvious she expected to be amused.
“Nothing Mary would not wish were she ever to think of her own happiness. As she is like you and often too generous to consider it, she is lucky she has us,” Kitty said with an air of unconcern.
Mrs. Bennet had to agree. Mary did not often think of her own happiness. And Mrs. Bennet could see some of those young lords looking about, perhaps for her middle daughter. She was gladdened that Kitty had set her older sister to rights. She had often been required to do the same with Hattie; otherwise, her sister would never have seen Mr. Philip’s adoration of her all those years ago.
“You are lucky to have Darcy, Bingley, and me to make certain you are well looked after,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, grinning as Captain Carter stepped up to Maria’s right and Captain Denny to Kitty’s left, both so stern they could be confused for having to protect the Prince Regent himself.
“One dance each. No trips to the balcony, eh?” Bingley looked between the two gentlemen with his severest of frowns. Mrs. Bennet laughed to herself that Bingley’s frown was not very severe at all. But the looks from the colonel and Mr. Darcy made the younger men smooth their tailcoats and nod their respect. Mrs. Bennet tittered in girlish delight behind her hand. ColonelFitzwilliam’s warning was cut off by Miss de Bourgh’s, rather Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s, elbow to the ribs. Unwilling to leave her watch of Mary through the window, she was unable to impart the wisdom of doing so, but thought,Yes, you tell those men of yours just how it should be, my dear girls.
“You may walk about as you choose,” Jane countermanded, making Mrs. Bennet stand taller in her pride of her daughters and their closest friends. “As all of the mothers in the room are watching. Should they take a circuitous route, by the time our sisters are returned, the banns will already have been prepared.”
Taking pity, given the pallor of the Kitty, Maria, and the young officers, Elizabeth suggested they take aquickturn about the room.
“Now, where is Mary?” Elizabeth asked in exasperation. “Why is it our younger sisters need constant supervision? Must they ever be causing mischief?”
Mrs. Bennet nodded toward the balcony just when Mary and Captain Saunderson appeared. She gave Elizabeth a conspiratorial wink before slipping away to observe Kitty and Maria with their partners for the next set.
