Page 20 of Saving Jane
When Georgiana looked toward Elizabeth with an appeal in her eyes for support, Elizabeth sat forward, “Good afternoon, Miss Bingley. I am Elizabeth Bennet, a friend of Miss Darcy. We were just discussing Shakespeare.”
The smile faded from Miss Bingley’s eyes as she seemed to notice the third person in the room for the first time.
“It is usual to wait until an introduction before speaking to strangers,” she said coolly.
“And it is customary to allow the hostess to make the introductions before carrying the conversation to the Channel and back,” Elizabeth responded.
“Miss Bennet spoke to aide me, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana said in defence of Elizabeth. “My friend is everything proper and ladylike. Miss Bingley, may I introduce my most particular friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Hertfordshire.”
Turning to Elizabeth, Georgiana introduced the new visitor. “Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce Miss Caroline Bingley, the sister of my brother’s good friend, Mr Charles Bingley.”
Both visitors recognized that the second introduction had not named Caroline as a ‘friend’ of Miss Darcy–only the sister of her brother’s friend.
The smile slipping from her face a little more, Caroline began questioning Elizabeth on her intimacy with the Darcy family.
“How is it you became acquainted with Miss Darcy?”
Smiling at Georgiana, Elizabeth replied, “We met while walking in the park one day. We had conversation and with Mr Darcy’s approval, we have begun a friendship that includes music and discussion of books.”
“Oh, I am certain you have never met anyone as accomplished as Miss Darcy with the pianoforte,” Miss Bingley replied. “But I never knew an accomplished lady who was spoken of for her knowledge of literature.”
Elizabeth asked, “And how is it your brother knows Mr Darcy, Miss Bingley?”
“My brother is Mr Darcy’s particular friend from university. We are very often together at engagements here in town and dine at each other’s homes frequently. We have been guests at Pemberley, their great estate in Derbyshire.”
“We have not seen the Bingleys in some weeks,” Georgiana explained. “I believe my brother sees his friend at their club when they are both in town.”
Seeing Georgiana flustered with the visitor’s familiarity, Elizabeth asked, “Miss Bingley, would you care for tea? We have just begun to serve and there are extra cups on the tray.”
Georgiana sat forward, “Forgive me for not offering, Miss Bingley.”
As Georgiana poured the tea, Miss Bingley frowned at Elizabeth, but the original visitor ignored the overdressed lady.
Taking the teacup from Georgiana, Caroline observed, “You are staying overly long Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana responded immediately to the hint that Elizabeth should leave. “Miss Bennet attended the lesson with my pianoforte master this afternoon. We are practicing a duet for my brother and there is one section we cannot complete in a satisfactory manner.”
“Pianoforte lessons at your age, Miss Bennet? You must be four-and-twenty years.”
Elizabeth was surprised by Miss Bingley’s sharp remark but replied in kind, “Thank you Miss Bingley. I have always hoped to appear mature and refined–for an older woman to think I was close to her age is a great compliment.”
“I am not four-and-twenty!” Caroline replied, setting down her teacup.
Now Georgiana joined the fray saying, “But Miss Bingley, you have been three-and-twenty twice. Both times, my brother and I attended suppers at your sister’s home...”
“I must be leaving now Miss Darcy. I just remembered that I must see to a matter at home. Thank you for tea,” Caroline said rising and leaving the room without acknowledging Elizabeth or curtseying to Georgiana. Her progress was so quick that the other two ladies were unable to rise to curtsey before she was gone.
They returned to their seats and remained silent until they heard Mr Jones close the front door. Then Elizabeth turned to her friend and said, “Miss Darcy, I apologize but what did I do to offend Miss Bingley?”
“Apparently your offense is that you have my brother’s approval to visit with me and she learned that you have become my friend–something she has long desired but never achieved. Last spring, she visited every day until we removed the knocker on the door to prevent visits.”
“She visited every day?” asked Elizabeth. “Are her acquaintances so few?”
Georgiana shook her head and continued. “Miss Bingley desires my brother’s attention. After each visit, she sought to speak with him in his study, but she was thwarted when William altered his business calls to the early morning or late afternoon so that there are no carriages or horses outside the door during the appropriate hours for calls. We rearranged the coach yard to accommodate business callers who enter a side door to approach my brother’s private offices.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Her persistence is amazing.”
Georgiana nods. “This autumn, my brother curtailed his engagements with Charles Bingley at our home. I dared not mention that Mr Bingley comes for family dinner once a week–when the table only consists of William and me–Mr Bingley does not include his family.”
