Page 44 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
Elizabeth stared her down for a few more minutes. “Be careful what you wish for, Charlotte.”
“Not all of us have the power of choice, Lizzie. I wish to have a home of my own, my own children, and to not be a burden on my family.”
“So be it! Do not say I did not warn you!”
“I am seven years your senior. I know what I am about.”
Jane and Mary were startled by how quickly Elizabeth took up the mantle. They both privately wondered whether their sister had already decided their fate was well in hand without Mr Collins but just did not realise it.
For Elizabeth’s part, she believed she had neither advanced nor harmed her courtship with Mr Darcy. There were no conditions under which she would marry Mr Collins, nor did she think Jane or Mary would.
Pointing her cousin to Charlotte harmed no one and helped her best friend. To her, it was simply a pragmatic solution to two difficult problems. It also offered the benefit that if things did not go according to plan, at least Charlotte would not throw them out of Longbourn with naught but the clothes on their backs. It also quite handily solved the problem of Mr Collins knowing absolutely nothing about an estate. She had little doubt that Charlotte would have him well in hand within the year. By the time they inherited, Mr Collins would have learnt or Charlotte would have neutralised him. Considering how much he venerated Lady Catherine, Elizabeth thought he could transfer that veneration to his wife without too much fuss.
Yes, quite a neat solution if she did say so herself!
~~~~~
Supper presented a delicious meal as well as food for thought. The Gardiner sisters enjoyed competing, and both took immense pride in setting a good table. Mrs Phillips had less income but no children so she could put on a good spread when she chose. One thing common to both establishments was that the supper table was as noisy as a tavern, which was common in Meryton society.
Although the Bennet sisters were usually in the thick of things, the elders took up residence in a quiet end of the table.The other end was filled by soldiers with many of the younger ladies vying for their attention.
Elizabeth observed her sisters mixing with vigour, with Lydia in particular flirting close to shamelessly, though not all that much worse than usual. She thought about asking her aunt or uncle to intervene, but she saw little harm in it and expected little chance of success. Her youngest sister was exuberance itself, but if she stayed in public and did not abuse the rules of propriety too terribly, she should survive it. Lydia was surrounded by Kitty and Maria Lucas, both of whom were natural followers who said little that was not an echo of their more exuberant sister. They reminded Elizabeth of Mrs Hurst in a way. The Long nieces were similarly split between a noisy one and a quiet one, as were the Goulding’s. Overall, that end of the table was raucous but not overly so.
The comparison between the end of the table with the elder sisters from the Bennet, Lucas, and Goulding families; and the other end was stark. Whether it was a difference of temperament or age, Elizabeth could not say. She wondered if she had ever acted like her younger sisters and could not honestly answer the question.
All that reflection made her wonder about what her life would be like if she accepted Mr Darcy, as seemed increasingly likely. Would they normally dine in an intimate breakfast nook, or at opposite ends of a twenty-foot table that could seat dozens surrounded by half a dozen footmen? Would their daughters be allowed to climb trees, learn to fence, and read anything they wanted? Would their sons be allowed to take tea with their sisters and play with dolls if the mood struck them? Would she be expected to be the belle of theton, or might they spend the bulk of their time at Pemberley? Would they travel, and if so, how extensively? Elizabeth had no idea and thought she should probably get on with finding out.
Those thoughts led her to wondering about how Mr Darcy saw Meryton society. She had lived there all her life and was accustomed to noisy dinners, but would he be? She knew that in London society the standards varied enormously. Some balls, musicals, and theatre events were refined, tasteful and elegant. Others were reputed to be as raucous as a dockside tavern with the navy in port. Which was Mr Darcy accustomed to? Did he find Meryton society savage and uncouth, or more refined than his usual?
As she thought with increasing consternation about all the uncertainties, Mary’s voice brought her up short. “Breathe, Lizzy… breathe!”
With a shake of her head, she looked to her sisters who had mostly been speaking with their tablemates while Elizabeth plumbed the dark depths.
Elizabeth gave her sister a weak smile.
Jane said, “You have time, Lizzy.”
“Time for what?” Eleanor Goulding asked, but Jane just replied with a shake of her head indicating she would learn eventually.
Elizabeth turned her attention back to her group and tried her best to put thoughts of the Derbyshire gentleman from her mind. The rest of the meal proceeded mostly in peace, though soldiers and younger girls became even more raucous and flirty as the evening went by and the wine flowed. Mr Wickham seemed to be the favourite target for the ladies, but the rest of the officers did well enough.
~~~~~
Jane met Elizabeth in the corridor after they had donned their cloaks but were still waiting for the coach.
“Well, Lizzy… you have survived an evening without your beau. How did it go?”
Elizabeth shuddered. “To be honest, I found speaking with the gentlemen… disconcerting. Something felt… off.”
“Was it that they are strangers?”
“No. We have been introduced to any number of strangers with the Gardiners in London, and I never felt awkward.”
“Is there anything wrong with the officers?”
Elizabeth recognised that Jane was in her dog with a bone state and there was little point in trying to shake her off.
“Nothing wrong that I can say. They are all amiable, and in a less pensive mood, I believe I would have enjoyed the conversations.”
