Page 71 of Master of Netherfield
“Bring him over here now!”
“Caroline, he is just below a lord,” Charles explained. “You must approach him.”
“Almost a lord? Mr Darcy is exactly what I need then.” She focused on Charles for a moment, “Why have we not seen him in town this season then?”
“I am certain I have told you that his father passed last fall. He and his sister are still in mourning as the ton dictates.”
“How much longer does his mourning last, I wonder? Can you invite him to supper?”
“He is not familiar with our family. It would not be proper while he is still in mourning, especially with our house filled with the preparations for Louisa’s wedding on Monday next,” Charles replied. “You will have to wait until Lady Musgrove’s Ball on Friday night.”
**++**
Chapter 25.Gracechurch Street for Dinner
Charles Bingley arrived separately from Darcy and Georgiana at the Gardner home for dinner. Before the time to dine, the family gathered in a well-appointed parlour with comfortable chairs and sofas as they shared news and discussed the day. In conversation regarding the presentation to the queen and then the anticipated ball on Friday night, Charles learned that Miss Bennet already had been asked for the first two sets at the Musgrove Ball. He immediately asked for the third set which would be the dinner set and Miss Bennet promptly accepted his offer.
Elizabeth was pleased to see Jane so interested in the young man that her uncle seemed to approve of immediately. Georgiana hinted to her brother that he should ask Elizabeth for the third set as well and he promised to consider it.
“Two sets in a single evening is very telling,” Darcy reminded his sister. “The papers would make a story of it.”
“The papers will make a story of your appearance after so many months in any case,” Georgiana replied. “And would you be pleased to see anyone else dancing with Elizabeth?”
“Anyone else?” he asked. “What do you mean?”
Georgiana teased her brother. “She is wearing her hair up and she will turn many heads Friday night. There certainly will be other gentlemen and rich lords asking Lizzy for a set after supper if not before. The gentleman who gets her third set will sit with her through all of supper.”
“I had not thought of that,” Darcy admitted.
“Brother, I think you should not wait long to declare your intentions,” Georgiana replied as if it were an accomplished fact already.
Darcy frowned at his sister who merely smiled and left her brother’s side to speak with Mrs Gardner.
**++**
During dinner, the conversation around the table continued to centre on the Jane and Elizabeth’s presentation to the queen and the ball more so because Georgiana had many questions about preparations for both events. When the gentlemen separated from the ladies after the meal, their conversation focused on the opportunities for the timber trade with the kingdoms in Scandinavia and with the British colony of Canada. The British navy was the largest navy in the world and the governmentwould continue to require a great deal of good timber to build and maintain the fleet.
Mrs Gardner, her nieces and Georgiana retreated above stairs to view the gowns for the presentation and for the ball. When the ladies returned to the parlour, Mr Darcy noticed his sister appeared to be content. As they made their way home, he asked, “Georgie, why are you so quiet now?”
She smiled and said, “Jane and Elizabeth will be the most beautiful young ladies Friday night. They will have full dance cards before the second set I am certain.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy frowned as once again he imagined Elizabeth dancing with different men Friday evening. He would ask for the third set and the last set as well...Mr and Mrs Bennet would not be pleased at the notoriety such a declaration would earnin the daily papers.
**++**
Chapter 26.A Husband for Caroline
Charles Bingley awoke the next morning and spent the hour before breaking his fast with his sisters writing two business letters to agents with the Royal Navy–he would work with Mr Gardner and Darcy to expand their business concerns with the lumber needed for the fleet. His thoughts returned several times to Jane Bennet who had been kind and polite to everyone, and to the whole atmosphere of the Gardner home. The servants had been pleasant and helpful, the small children animated but quiet once above stairs, the young ladies intelligent and part of every conversation without demands or impositions.
It was remarkable how involved Darcy had been with all the different members of the family. Bingley never remembered his friend being that relaxed at school or at any of the dinners held at his family home in London with his father in the last few years.
Suddenly, Bingley’s quiet morning was banished as he heard Caroline admonishing a footman.
‘No wonder Hurst returned to his family before the wedding,’he realized.‘I had hoped to bribe Hurst to keep Caroline with them for much of the year by offering them use of this house.’
This was Caroline’s fifth season–she would turn soon turn three and twenty and he feared she would shortly find herself on the ‘shelf’. He rose from his desk to join his sisters in the dining room–in less than a week, Louisa would be married and away on her honeymoon. The elder sister had delayed her marriage for two years to support Caroline’s search for a husband. This year, Hurst and Louisa had both insisted that their wedding take place.
“Charles, you were late returning home last evening,” Caroline said as a way of greeting.
