Page 34 of Saving Jane
Darcy noticed the gown and pearls that Elizabeth wore; the young woman’s curves were perfection, her hair shining and lustrous, and her laugh infectious. He drew close to his sister and her guest as Colonel Fitzwilliam moved to speak with Mr and Mrs Gardiner.
“Mr Darcy, your sister and I were just discussing the lack of evergreens in your home for the holiday,” Elizabeth reported.
“We leave for Derbyshire soon and upon arrival, Georgiana can decorate Pemberley to her heart’s content; a forest can be denuded to provide enough boughs to decorate the balustrades and doorways at our home.”
Elizabeth smiled and said, “At Longbourn, we festoon the parlours with evergreen but do not attempt to decorate the stairs.”
The company enjoyed a pleasant conversation for many minutes until the clock chimed the half hour. Mr and Mrs Gardiner exchanged glances and Colonel Fitzwilliam walked to the bar to pour himself a short whiskey.
“Brother, do you think anything could have occurred to delay the Bingleys?” Georgiana asked when another fifteen minutes passed without the arrival of the remaining guests. Darcy enjoyed the conversations with his sister, the Gardiners and Miss Bennet, and had not noticed the delay with supper.
With the time brought to his attention, he sighed and addressed the company, “I imagine that Miss Bingley wishes to arrive fashionably late and thus she delayed their departure at least until the half hour. Rest assured they willarrive momentarily.”
“If we were attending a ball, I would understand a delay,” Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected into the conversation. “But for family dinner, prompt attendance is expected.”
Just before the clock struck the hour, a footman came to the door and Mr Darcy stepped closer to hear Jones announce that the Bingley carriage had arrived at the door.
Georgiana moved toward her brother to ask, “Shall we greet them at the door?”
Darcy shook his head, “To arrive this late, they are lucky we are not already at table in the third course.”
The late arrivals were barely in the parlour and not even greeted by their host before Jones came to the door and announced the dinner was served.
“Supper already?” asked Miss Bingley as Mr Darcy took Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth on his arms and lead the procession into the dining room. Fitzwilliam offered Georgiana his arm and Mr Hurst lead his wife forward.
“Charles, what is the meaning of this rush? We have barely removed our coats and immediately we are shuffled off to the dining room.”
Miss Bingley was disappointed that she would have no time to speak with Mr Darcy and she wanted her brother to notice.
Bingley sighed. “We are an hour late Caroline–Darcy does not hold with the ‘fashion’ of late arrivals.”
At the door of the dining room, Miss Bingley discovered yet another disappointment–she was seated in the centre of the table, away from their host and hostess. Before she was able to unfold her napkin, the footmen had placed the first course on the table and withdrawn.
Frowning once again, she realized that none of her favourite dishes were within reach, and she was regulated to beef and legumes in this course.
Across the table, she watched her sister and brother enjoying the meal and conversation with their dining partners. To her left sat Mr Gardiner–a tradesman! Her brother on her right talked with the Bennet girl and ignored her attempts to steer the conversation into the decor of the dining room.
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Chapter 16.Miss Darcy’s Displeasure
The first course at the Darcy dining table was shortened but the second and third courses were full length and even Mr Hurst was satisfied with the foods served at the table. At the end of the meal, Darcy prompted Miss Darcy to rise and lead the ladies into the parlour while the gentlemen retired to the game room for drinks and cigars.
The conversation in the parlour was stilted because Georgiana was uncomfortable leading the conversation. When Mrs Gardiner excused herself for a few moments, Elizabeth attempted to continue the conversation by asking Miss Bingley about the latest fashions.
“Why are you interested in fashion, Miss Bennet?” the lady asked. “You certainly do not have the funds to participate in current fashion.”
Georgiana and Mrs Hurst attempted to join the conversation, but Miss Bingley ignored them, adding, “Louisa, see what comes of a silly country girl meeting people of quality. She comes to dinner in a reworked gown from last year, wears her aunt’s pearls and thinks she can capture a great man’s attention.”
Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment at Miss Bingley’s characterization of her gown. She touched the strand of pearls–her aunt’s thoughtfulness in loaning the precious gift to her for the evening would not be degraded in this manner. But before Elizabeth could respond, Georgiana turned in her seat and addressed the sister of her brother’s friend calmly but with a very clear voice. “Miss Bingley, I remind you that you are a guest in my home and Miss Bennet is my friend.”
“Your friend, Miss Darcy?” asked Caroline with an exaggerated air of drama. “How can you be friends with such a girl?”
Now Elizabeth joined the fray as she asked, “Which is it, Miss Bingley? When first we met you thought I was as old as yourself at four and twenty, but tonight you characterize me as a ‘girl’. You have such a varied opinion of me I am at sixes and sevens to understand your meaning.”
“Then allow me to be rightly understood ‘Miss Barnacle’–you are a piece of fluff from the country come to town to work for your relations in trade. Do not think I do not know of your sister!”
Elizabeth grew pale wondering how Miss Bingley could have heard of Lydia’s disgrace, but she had no further time for consideration for the verbal attack continued. “And you put yourselfforward, letting Miss Darcy think you are quality folk–everyone knows your sister will marry the parson who serves Mr Darcy’s aunt. You are nothing but a penniless shop girl playing dress up.”
