Page 4 of New World Tea Company
Finally, Elizabeth interrupted her unhappy sisters, “We have new gowns for the assembly. And if we work together, we canremake those gowns to fit each other if we must have new gowns this autumn.”
“Refit gowns? Oh, lord! We’ll be dressed in clothes fit for the housemaids!” declared Kitty.
“I shall not wear a maid’s dress to a party! I would die of shame!” proclaimed Lydia.
Jane said, “Kitty, you wear my remade dresses every day. And Lydia wears gowns that were Lizzy’s or Mary’s. This is what sisters do.”
“No! I shall never wear such a gown again!” the youngest sister declared.
~~~
The hullabaloo about new gowns remained a topic of conversation for the youngest Bennet sisters and their mother in the days before the assembly. Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary ignored the complaints of the others as they finished the hems and sewed the lace to their gowns and the gowns of their younger sisters.
The regular appearance of their mother’s sister kept the sisters entertained in the afternoon. Aunt Phillips always arrived with new gossip; the lady was married to the local attorney who handled legal matters for the estates around Meryton and the merchants who needed help regarding taxes or payments.
With a teacup in hand, Mrs Phillips regaled Mrs Bennet with her news, “Sister, there is such a tale shared in Meryton. A handsome young man appeared at the Running Pig, and he displayed himself along the street when he had the effrontery to introduce himself to Miss Charlotte Lucas and her sister, Maria. The two sisters did not run from his presence but spoke to him long enough to find his name to be George Wickham, a man of business, come to Meryton to visit friends in the militia.”
“A man of business?” Mrs Bennet parroted.
“Indeed. He was well-dressed, and he claimed to have good prospects. In any case, Charlotte and Maria gave him a ticket to the assembly.”
Mrs Bennet smiled and declared, “It is Christmas come early with two young men in Meryton at once! First, Mr Bingley, and now this Mr Wickham.”
“Is he handsome, aunt?” asked Kitty.
“I have not seen him, but Charlotte Lucas and her sister said he is the most handsome man they have ever seen.”
Lydia snickered and replied, “Charlotte and Maria Lucas are both plain, and any man who looks at them would appear handsome.”
Ignoring the comment by her daughter, Mrs Bennet pressed her sister for more information, and though there was none, she began planning to present her daughters in their best finery at the assembly.
‘Perhaps he has money and can make a good husband for one of the girls.’Frances told herself, ‘Oh, to have two daughters well married. I should never want for anything again.’
~~~
Finally, the night of the assembly arrived, with carriages making their way along the dirt roads leading to the hall in Meryton where the gathering would occur. At Netherfield, as he climbed into his carriage, Charles Bingley smiled and hoped tonight began his transformation into a member of the landed gentry–his father and mother’s dearest wish had been for their son to emulate King George and become one of the gentleman farmers who ruled Britain.
His years at school and then university built the necessary connections with the sons of good families. Several strong friendships eased his introduction into London society three years earlier. Unknown to his sisters, these introductions hadalso helped him expand the family businesses with porcelains–teapots, teacups, and saucers from the Bingley Pottery continue to be produced to meet demand.
Charles smiled as he thought,‘Everyone drinks tea and needs more teacups and teapots.’
His thoughts returned to an estate in Derbyshire, near the Bingley family home and business in Stoke-on-Trent, that an agent updated Charles about twice each year. The elderly owner had three nieces who would inherit when he passed away, and the agent expected the estate to come up for sale within six months of the owner’s death.
‘Of course, the man might live for another ten years,’Charles thought.‘But Glenhaven would provide an estate with farms–sheep, I think it was–for the Bingley family while allowing me to keep a hand in the potteries.’
He glanced at his sisters. ‘But I shall not tell them. We are supposedly separated from the stench of trade.’
The smile on Bingley’s face was broad as he encouraged his younger sister to emulate him. He said, “Come, Caroline, I should like to see you smile tonight. This is our introduction to the families of our neighbours for the next three years, and I should think you would like to make a good impression.”
The reply was short and loud, “No! This is a wilderness!”
Geoffrey Hurst, seated across the well of the carriage, echoed Charles, “Sister, you and Louisa will be the best-dressed ladies in attendance tonight. You will establish yourselves as the most fashionable sisters in the whole of Hertfordshire.”
“Everyone here–men and women–dress no better than the chimney sweeps in London.” Caroline sneered, “Put a frock on a sow and let it run back and forth across the floor a few times, and the locals will name her the belle of the ball.”
Louisa frowned and said, “Sister! We must be polite! Charles wants to be welcomed here as a member of the gentry.”
“The gentry! They are farmers grubbing in the dirt!” the blonde sister replied. Turning to Charles, she scornfully asked, “Will you compare blisters with the gentlemen from Meryton who spent the day behind the plough before throwing a coat over their mud-speckled trousers to stomp on the floorboards tonight?”
