Follies and Nonsense Read online

  “What else do you know?” Kitty asked again.

  “Mr. Bingley is a single man who brought his two sisters and one brother-in-law with him for the fall. He has signed a lease for two years and intends to work with his tenants on improvements. I understand that a friend will join the party to help Mr. Bingley get settled with the tenants.”

  “He comes with two men and two sisters…” Kitty seemed to consider the information with such great seriousness and concentration that her sisters giggled at her severe countenance.

  “Mr. Bingley is interested in touring Longbourn to view a well-managed estate in Hertfordshire,” Mr. Smyth stated. “Your tenant farms and the home farm are well kept…”

  “We shall not talk about crops tonight Mr. Smyth!” Elizabeth insisted. “You can convince our father of the value of crop rotation when he returns. This assembly is Miss Catherine Bennet’s introduction to Hertfordshire society. This is her night to dance as the belle of the ball.”

  “Your gown is lovely Miss Catherine,” Mrs. Smyth said. “Did you get it from the dressmaker here in Meryton?”

  “No, Mrs. Smith. My sisters helped me sew the dress. Elizabeth’s maid Sarah Barrow is an elegant seamstress and she is teaching me all of her skills.”

  “Mary and Catherine both wear new gowns tonight,” Elizabeth explained.

  “Is your gown new tonight Miss Bennet?” Mrs. Smyth asked Jane.

  The eldest Miss Bennet smiled at everyone in the carriage as she explained. “My sister Elizabeth and I are not wearing new gowns tonight – we wore these gowns at a ball in London in August.”

  Catherine and Mary both giggled and Elizabeth’s face broke open with a great smile. “You should have seen Jane dancing with one particular gentleman. Everyone in the ballroom watched my sister dance with the Prince of Wales.”

  “What was it like Jane?” asked Kitty. All three of her sisters smiled – the debutant never tired of hearing the story.

  “He was just a man in the crowd and we talked of the bride and groom when the music began. He asked me to dance and I enjoyed his company very much. After the dance was over, Elizabeth’s father-in-law came up to collect me for the next dance and I learned I had danced with His Royal Highness for thirty minutes.”

  “Oh, Miss Bennet! You must have been so proud!” Mrs. Smyth said.

  The team of greys pulled the large carriage up to the hall and the footman came around to open the carriage door. Mr. Smyth stepped out first and then helped the Bennet daughters to step down to the gravel walkway after helping his wife.

  The sisters walked into the hall with the Smyths following behind as Barrow closed the door and returned to the back of the carriage before the coachman flicked the reins to direct the horses to the lot with the other coaches and horses.

  Inside the hall, the Lucas and Goulding families welcomed the Bennet daughters were. As the local gentry arrived, Elizabeth was introduced to new inhabitants of the village since her marriage, including a Mr. and Mrs. Fielding who leased Purvis Lodge two years ago. Their only son, Jack, attended the ball with his parents.

  As the musicians prepared to play the first set, young John Lucas approached the Bennet party and asked Mary to dance. Mary smiled with the characteristic Bennet twinkle in her eye as she accepted. Then Colonel Foster approached the sisters and introduced Jane, Elizabeth and Kitty to Lt. Denny. After Colonel Foster asked Jane to dance, Lt. Denny asked Kitty to dance and Elizabeth smiled to see her sisters led to the dance floor for the first time.

  Imaging her father’s comments to mark the occasion, Elizabeth smiled and enjoyed watching the dancers without conversation but within five minutes, Mrs. Long, Lady Lucas and her daughter Charlotte joined Elizabeth.

  “How is your mother tonight, Mrs. Hamilton?” Lady Lucas asked as Elizabeth and Charlotte exchanged a hug.

  “I thank you for asking,” replied Elizabeth. “My mother is well.”

  “And why did she not come tonight?” asked Mrs. Long.

  “Mamma wanted to remain at home to entertain Lydia and my son Matthew. This is Kitty’s first introduction to society and our sister Lydia is out-of-sorts that she must wait another year.”

  “Your boy is how old now?”

  “Matthew will be two years in December,” Elizabeth replied. “He is handsome and very sharp – but of course I am biased in my opinions.”

  ++**++

  The entrance of the guests from Netherfield interrupted their conversation. Arriving fashionably late, the party of five consisted of Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.

  Mr. Bingley was a good-looking gentleman with his pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. The two ladies were his sisters and they appeared to be ladies with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, appeared to be another the gentleman though more reserved. It was the friend, a Mr. Darcy from Derbyshire, who drew the attention of the room with his fine clothing and handsome features.

  Sir William Lucas made the introductions for the late arrivals as Mrs. Long shared news of the visitors.

  “My Geoffrey spoke with Mr. Franks at the blacksmith earlier today about the new tenants at Netherfield. Franks said that Mr. Bingley has five thousand pounds a year and Mr. Darcy has ten thousand. The blacksmith reported that two fine carriages and teams as well as a string of riding mounts arrived from town along with a wagon filled with trunks for the ladies’ fine gowns.”

  Mrs. Long looked at the two men as though they were livestock at the Lady Day fair; Elizabeth and Charlotte exchanged glances as they tried to keep from laughing. Now Mrs. Long looked back at Elizabeth and Charlotte. “You young ladies must put yourselves forward and capture their attention.”

  “My dear friend,” Lady Lucas protested. “Charlotte and Elizabeth are ladies. They will wait for the gentlemen to approach them.”

  Glancing toward the Netherfield Party, Mrs. Long said, “Well, there is one lady in that party who wants to capture the attention of the rich friend Mr. Bingley brought tonight. The sister with the feathers in her turban keeps an eye on the tall gentleman since they set foot in the hall.”

  “I wonder if that is fashion in town?” Lady Lucas asked as she frowned slightly at the number of feathers in the lady’s turban.

  “It is a fashionable gown,” Charlotte offered. “But only the lady knows why she chose that shade of orange.”

  Mrs. Long turned to the other ladies and asked, “Do seven, orange ostrich feathers exceed good taste?”

  “Poor creatures,” Elizabeth said. “Can you imagine how many ostriches had to be plucked of their feathers before the haberdasher could dye seven the same shade?”

  “I believe that the proper fashion is for two ostrich feathers in a turban,” Charlotte said.

  “Perhaps when she captures a husband, the remaining ostriches of Africa will be secure from further carnage,” Elizabeth suggested.

  “Eliza!” Charlotte scolded. “I have never heard such remarks from you before!”

  ++**++

  In the first half hour, Mr. Bingley acquainted himself with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved. But the tall gentleman – Mr. Darcy – hardly spoke to anyone and walked about the room aimlessly.

  “Is the gentleman above his company?” asked Mrs. Long. “I fear he is above being pleased, and unworthy to be compared with his friend.”

  When it came time for the next dance, Sir William Lucas introduced Mr. Bingley to the ladies and Charlotte was pleased to be asked to dance.

  Elizabeth smiled as the newcomer led her friend to the dance floor. Kitty, Mary and Jane returned to her side though young Mr. Lucas took Kitty back to the dance floor and Denny asked Jane for the favour of a dance. Mary stood with Elizabeth as the music and merriment swelled.

  They found Mr. and Mrs. Smyth dancing with bright smiles on their faces and Elizabeth was struck by a bright memory of Matthew across from her in a dance line. It had been a party for the
officers in Brighton where Matthew’s regiment had gathered before embarking for Spain and the war.

  She remembered Matthew’s smile and how she had realized at that moment that she loved her young husband of three months. Then two days later, he sailed away to war and only six weeks after was dead.

  Matthew had known of her love but he had not known of the child they had made before his death. Memories threatened to spill over for a moment but then Mary hand took Elizabeth’s hand and the sisters shared a smile of understanding.

  “My sisters are all beautiful tonight,” Elizabeth breathed as Kitty and Jane passed on the dance floor.

  “Come, let me take you to a chair,” Mary said. “Charlotte will return to you after her dance with Mr. Bingley.”

  As a widow and consequently a chaperone for the ball, Elizabeth Hamilton remained seated for the next two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy stood near enough for her to hear his conversation with Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join the festivities.

  “Come, Darcy, I must have you dance,” encouraged Mr. Bingley. “I hate to see you standing about in this stupid manner.”

  “I only arrived from London an hour before we left for this assembly. And I only came tonight at your insistence.” The man glanced around the room before saying, “I do not see anyone handsome enough to tempt me to dance.”

  Elizabeth was affronted that any man would make such statement with three of her sisters in view before him.

  “For a kingdom, I would not be as fastidious as you are,” cried Mr. Bingley. “Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and several of them are uncommonly pretty. Look at the three Miss Bennets – such a lovely set of sisters!”

  “You should go dance with each of the sisters then. Especially the eldest, she is the handsomest girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at Miss Bennet.

  “Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is another of her sisters sitting down just behind you; she is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Let me make an introduction.”

  “Which do you mean?” Darcy asked.

  Turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he said, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humour to give consequence to widows and matrons acting as chaperones.”

  Turning back to Bingley, Darcy said, “You had better return to the dance and enjoy the bright smiles of the ladies, for you are wasting your time with me.”

  Clearing her throat so that the gentlemen could have no doubt that she had overheard their conversation; Elizabeth seemed to consider some matter for a moment before rising and approaching the two men.

  Embarrassed, Mr. Bingley bowed and apologized, “Mrs. Hamilton, forgive our mean speech.”

  The young woman tilted her head to one side and looked over both men, taking their measure.

  “Mr. Bingley, if you would be kind enough to introduce me to your friend, the conversation is forgot.”

  Darcy frowned at the woman’s forwardness; young ladies waited for young men to request the introduction by a family member or friend.

  Blushing, Bingley turned and made the introduction. “Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton of Longbourn, may I present my friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire.”

  The gentleman bowed and the lady curtsied, “Mrs. Hamilton I apologize for my comment.”

  Gazing at Darcy for another long moment, Elizabeth gave him a small smile. “Sir, I was part of your conversation unintentionally and for a moment I was mortified to hear my sisters characterized as ‘not handsome enough to tempt you’. But after that moment I remembered that as a ‘matron’, I am expected to correct young men and women when their behaviour at a public assembly is wanting.”

  Amazed that this young woman would address in him in such a manner, Darcy’s countenance grew darker before the lady continued, “However I choose to believe that you are indisposed rather than intentionally rude. Come with me and we shall find you a quiet location to rest.”

  Taking him by the elbow, Elizabeth guided Mr. Darcy from the ballroom into the card room. Surprised by the young woman’s words and behaviour, Darcy made no argument and allowed her to guide him to the other room. Charles grinned to see his friend so well in hand.

  There were no men playing cards this early in the evening and Elizabeth directed him to a chair beside the fire. Once he was seated, Elizabeth went to the refreshments and returned with a mug of ale and plate with bread, cheese and cold meat.

  “Tell me of your day, Mr. Darcy” Elizabeth suggested as she placed the food and drink on the table beside the chair.

  “First allow me to apologize for my words, Mrs. Hamilton. I am ashamed to have spoken such within hearing of any lady.”

  Smiling gently at the young man in the chair, Elizabeth nodded her head. “The words are forgot sir. Now, tell me of your day – why are you so tired this evening?”

  “My day was busy with letters and business in London. I was late leaving and arrived at Netherfield Park very late. Almost as soon as I walked in the door, Bingley ushered me back outside and into his carriage.”

  “Is Mr. Bingley thoughtless?” asked Elizabeth placing the tankard into his hand.

  “No, Bingley was excited to attend the assembly and meet his new neighbours,” Darcy admitted. “He is a good friend and I hate to disappoint him.”

  “Then I shall make certain Mr. Bingley knows that you will return to the assembly when you are restored. Now, eat and drink slowly,” Elizabeth ordered Darcy. “And do not drink any strong spirits –nothing but ale tonight.”

  As Elizabeth turned away, Darcy said, “Thank you Mrs. Hamilton. You are very kind.”

  “You are welcome Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth replied as she walked back to the assembly room. “Join the assembly when you are rested.”

  ++**++

  At the door, Elizabeth was accosted by the woman who had been introduced as Mr. Bingley’s sister, Caroline – the lady in the orange gown with the seven ostrich feathers in her turban.

  “What have you done?” the woman demanded to know. “Who are you? And where is Mr. Darcy?”

  Blocking Miss Bingley’s view of the card room, Elizabeth caught the woman’s eye and backed her into the assembly room. “I have performed the duties of the proper hostess for a weary traveller arriving at my door, Miss Bingley. Your house guest was tired and required refreshment. I found a quiet spot for him to rest for a few moments. We should return to the dance and allow Mr. Darcy to rest until he is refreshed.”

  “But Mr. Darcy…”

  Charles Bingley appeared at the door as Mrs. Hamilton continued to block his sister’s entrance. “Come along Caroline, I shall dance with you and Mr. Darcy will return to the assembly after he rests.”

  “But I would have helped him!” Caroline insisted as her brother led her away. “It should have been me who took care of Mr. Darcy.”

  Charlotte Lucas appeared at Elizabeth’s arm and asked her what had happened with the unpleasant gentleman.

  “Mr. Darcy was tired,” Elizabeth explained. “I placed him in a quiet corner of the card room with ale and a plate to rest and restore. He will join the assembly after a while.”

  “But Elizabeth, that was very forward of you,” Charlotte said. “Everyone in the hall saw you lead Mr. Darcy into the card room.”

  “And as a matron at the Meryton Assembly, it is my responsibility to make certain the ‘young folk’ are properly behaved and cared for.”

  “A ‘matron’?” Charlotte argued. “Elizabeth Hamilton, you are not a matron!”

  “I have discovered that there are advantages to be a matron, Charlotte,” Elizabeth hinted, remembering how surprised and compliant Mr. Darcy had been with her forwardness. Seeing Jane, Mary and Kitty approaching them, Elizabeth dismissed additional thoughts of Mr. Darcy and greeted her sisters, particularly asking Kitty about her first da
nces.

  “Mr. Bingley asked me to dance!” Kitty gleefully reported. “And John Lucas and Jack Fielding!”

  “Catherine is the belle of the ball!” Jane exclaimed, hugging her sister’s shoulders.

  As the music began for yet another dance, a young man approached the Bennet sisters to ask Jane to dance and then Mr. Bingley stepped forward, his eyes following Jane for a moment before turning back to the other sisters. He bowed to Elizabeth and said, “Mrs. Hamilton, may I have the pleasure of this dance?”

  Surprised for a moment by the invitation, Elizabeth paused, but then Kitty and Mary said, “Go ahead Elizabeth. Dance with Mr. Bingley.”

  With a small curtsy, she said, “I would be pleased Mr. Bingley.”

  ++**++

  Elizabeth allowed Bingley to lead her to the dance floor and they took their positions, waiting for the music to begin. Bingley grinned at his partner and the conversation began immediately.

  “How do you like Hertfordshire so far, Mr. Bingley?”

  “I find that I like it very much, Mrs. Hamilton!” her partner replied. “Meryton is a lovely village and the folks are very friendly.” He surveyed the room and the dancers. “Everyone is having a pleasant evening!”

  “And does no one have fun in London?” Elizabeth asked.

  Bingley blushed and stumbled for a moment with his answer, “I didn’t mean… London has many fine theatres…”

  Thinking of the ball in August in London for Viscount Lyndon’s wedding, Elizabeth said, “I agree with you Mr. Bingley. A gathering in London can remain very stilted and formal throughout an entire evening. When Meryton’s gentry gather they have a pleasant evening. They dance and laugh, talk and gossip.”

  “Everyone does appear to be having a good time, Mrs. Hamilton,” Bingley agreed. He glanced over his shoulder and added, “Everyone except for my younger sister. I wish I could make her happy.”

  “I understand your wish Mr. Bingley. There are days that I cannot please my sisters either but then we find ways to lift the clouds and find the sunshine.”