Page 74 of Master of Netherfield
Lord Hargrove turned toward Jane and bowed again as he asked, “Miss Bennet, may I have the honour of claiming your hand for this third set and for supper? Mr Bingley will curse me for stealing the dance I am certain.”
Blushing and glancing at her aunt and uncle for permission, Jane accepted the invitation and this time, three couples moved to the dance floor. Jane stood with Lord Hargrove, Elizabeth with Mr Darcy, and MrsGardner on her husband’s arm for her first dance of the evening as the music began.
**++**
On Friday night, the Bingley carriage arrived at the home Lord and Lady Musgrove over an hour late. Louisa and Geoffrey Hurst had watched Charles silently build a temper that he unleashed on Caroline when she finally appeared below stairs an hour later than he had requested.
“We shall be late!” he admonished his sister. “If I had known you wanted to appear late, I would have gone ahead and sent the carriage back for you!”
“We must arrive as a family,” she remarked as the footman held open the door.
“Very well!” Charles said. “But you’ll walk in alone. I’ll not have you on my arm!”
“Charles!” Caroline fussed as they followed Louisa and Geoffrey to the carriage.
**++**
The Bingley siblings entered the ballroom during the third set; Charles still in a temper, Caroline displeased to be ignored by her brother–she would not enter on Mr Hurst’s arm, and Louisa pleased to be with Geoffrey after his absence of a fortnight. When he paused at the edge of the dance floor, Charles first found the Gardners in the crowd moving through the steps. He quickly found Darcy with the younger Miss Elizabeth and then he found Miss Bennet dancing with Lord Hargrove.
“Charles, where is Lord Hargrove? You said he would dance this set with me,” Caroline complained.
“And if you had been on time, we would have been here for him to claim you for the dance!” Charles hissed. “As it stands, he is dancing with Miss Bennet and will sit with her at supper.”
“Miss Bennet?” asked Caroline scanning the dancers.
“Come, dance with me,” Charles said taking his sister’s hand.
“I don’t wish...”
“If you dance with me now, we can enter the dining hall with the other dancers and we can sit with Lord Hargrove. During supper you can charm him and perhaps he will ask you to dance the next set.”
“And get Mr Darcy to ask me for a set,” Caroline told her brother.
**++**
Elizabeth Bennet was a sweet-tempered young woman who enjoyed her first dance in London society surrounded by family. The supper offered good food and drink, as well as pleasant conversation to a point. But the third time that Miss Caroline interrupted Mr Darcy, Elizabeth turned her attention to the younger sister of Mr Darcy’s friend Bingley with a slight scowl on her face.
“Do you not you agree, Mr Darcy?” Caroline asked and actually batted her eyes at the gentlemen. Lord Hargrove divided his time equally between Jane and Caroline though the lady spoke across the table to Mr Darcy with such frequency that everyone at the table noticed.
“I am sorry Miss Caroline, I was speaking with Mrs Gardner,” Darcy replied to the lady’s question. The table had been mismatched with Charles and Caroline separated; Charles deposited his sister beside Lord Hargrove and moved to the seat on the other side of Jane Bennet, ignoring his sister completely.
**++**
Chapter 28.Leaving London
Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of Netherfield, and the entirety of the Darcy estates and wealth, stepped from No.10 Downing Street and into his waiting carriage. He had provided much support to aid the passage of the bill to raise additional funds for the war against Bonaparte. Now, he would return home–home to Netherfield.
This past summer, the French invaded Russia and all of Europe waited for news from the depths of that mysterious land. A nuisance had arisen with the old colonials–the United States as they called themselves now–with a declaration of war against His Majesty’s Kingdoms. However, no one in London was concerned and little attention was paid to the Americans.
Arriving at his home, Darcy was told by the footman that Miss Darcy was at tea with a gentleman and lady. Curious who would have called on his sister on a September afternoon, he made his way to the parlour to find Charles Bingley and his younger sister–Caroline–seated at tea with his Georgiana and her companion. Observing the occupants of the room, Darcy could see that Mrs Annesley was distressed; Charles and Caroline Bingley had obviously lingered much longer than the acceptable time for a casual visit. Georgiana was too kind to dismiss the woman, and her brother did not particular worry about such matters when he was enjoying the company and conversation.
“Ah, Mr Darcy,” greeted Miss Bingley when the gentleman entered the parlour. “We all wondered where you had become lost this afternoon.”
Darcy greeted his sister with a kiss on her hand, bowed to Mrs Annesley and to Miss Bingley before shaking hands with Charles.
“Will you not join us for tea, Mr Darcy?” Miss Bingley asked catching the eye of a footman and motioning toward the tea service. A pot long-gone cold sat on a tray with a few biscuits and plates.
“Miss Bingley, perhaps...” Georgiana said to begin addressing her guest; but the visitor interrupted.
