Page 25 of The Wager
“While officers look very dashing in their uniform, you must remember most of them are second or third sons and their income is a pittance. When you finally have yourCome Out, I do not mind if you dance with them, but you must not set your heart on marrying one of them. You are not suited to follow the drum, my dear. You like your comforts too much for that.”
Mamma was prevented from speaking further by the entrance of the footman with a note from Netherfield. He presented it to Mary, who flipped it open and began to read.
“Is it from Miss Bingley?” Mamma called out with barely contained excitement.
“It is,” replied Mary, and then read the note aloud.
My dear Friend,
If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day’s tête-à-tête between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. The gentlemen are set to dine with the officers. Yours ever,
Caroline Bingley
No one said anything while Mary folded the note and set it beside her plate. Lips pursed and brow furrowed, Mamma looked down the table at her husband and then took a deep breath.
“I must admit, I am surprised she invited only you. Whatever could she mean by ignoring your older sisters?”
“I cannot answer for Miss Bingley.”
“I am of a mind to have you decline her invitation.” At Mary’s small gasp, Mamma reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will not ask you to meet her rudeness with your own. We must set precedence and behave as true ladies.”
Mamma addressed the footman, who waited by the door.
“Please tell Miss Bingley’s servant we shall have a reply for him to take back to Netherfield. Make sure he has some tea while he waits.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said with a slight bow before exiting the dining room.
“Mary, my dear,” Mamma said. “I shall answer Miss Bingley and tell her to expect all of us this afternoon.”
“Allof us?”
“Yes, indeed. Even Kitty and Lydia.”
“I thought you said we would not reciprocate with rudeness,” Elizabeth reminded her mother, knowing the inherent danger of poking a mamma bear who was now protecting her own.
“My daughters will not be slighted by a woman who thinks she is above a landed gentleman’s daughter, much less the daughters of an earl.”
Over the past few weeks, morsels of gossip regarding what Miss Bingley thought she knew about Jane and Elizabeth’s dearly departed father had reached the ears of Mrs. Bennet.
“Miss Bingley does not know the truth of our situation.”
“Regardless of her ignorance, she has behaved very poorly.”
“Mamma, may I suggest an alternative?”
“And what might that be, Jane?”
“I propose that Mary, Elizabeth, and I attend the ladies of Netherfield Park. We three are out in society and it is custom for us to visit together. If she dares to raise her eyebrows at our proper conduct, then we will know she is not someone we wish to further an acquaintance with.”
And so it was that three ladies descended upon a surprised Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst.
“Iunderstandyouhavefamily here in Meryton.”
“We do,” Mary replied. “Our mother’s sister is married to Mr. Phillips.”
“Is this the aunt and uncle who have a little shop in Meryton?” Miss Bingley asked before raising her fingers to hide a smile.
“My uncle does not own a shop. He is the attorney who negotiated the lease your brother signed to rent Netherfield Park.”
