Chapter 13

Georgiana returned from Rosings to join the Darcys, and the family stayed at Netherfield for three weeks before continuing on, but as Elizabeth learned to accept that Kitty was unlikely to be found this late in the endeavour, she also slowly began to turn her attention toward her responsibility toward the neighbourhoods in which she kept her properties. Time had been spent at Netherfield over the last two years, but due to circumstances being what they were, Elizabeth had done no entertaining of note in Hertfordshire or London. Feeling that she had neglected the village of Meryton and her friends there, Elizabeth invited Georgie's friend Mr Vivian Radcliffe, a few of his friends, and two or three young ladies who were also friends of Georgiana's, to stay at Netherfield for two weeks. A modest ball was planned for the end of their stay, to bring trade and entertainment to the neighbourhood. Mary and Richard also came to visit, and Richard invited two youngish colonels from the regulars, a major, and a few captains as well, to add to the party. Elizabeth put all the bachelors in Lilac Cottage, as was her habit. Mrs Bennet still felt unequal to a visit to Meryton, and so she remained at Windmere where she could call upon and receive visits from her friends in Hunsford.

Lydia was utterly incensed with Elizabeth for throwing a ball or even a small house party, which she took as a sign that Elizabeth had given up on finding Kitty. She took her meals in her room, ignored everyone but Diane and Miss Long, and went about with a scowl for over a week. One day, Elizabeth came upon Lydia during one of her walks to Oakham Mount. Usually when Elizabeth walked, she took the children, but while in Meryton, she regularly made the trip to Oakham Mount alone out of nostalgia. Lydia immediately jumped up from the large rock upon which she sat and made to leave. "Lydia, stay a moment. We need to talk," Elizabeth said.

"There is little to speak of, Lizzy," Lydia snapped. "You do not have time in any case. I am sure you are too busy planning your ball to worry about your sisters."

Elizabeth caught her by the hand as Lydia started to flounce away. "Lydia. Me? Not worry about my sisters?" She laughed at the absurdity. "I worry about all of you, every minute of every day. I worry that you are not being brought out into society as you deserve, and the fact that you are a shadow of yourself. I worry about Jane delivering a babe far away from her home and her family. Thank heavens Mary has not needed much worrying lately, but she had her turn. And Kitty… I believe it goes without saying that not a moment has passed in almost two years that I am not in agony over Kitty. But Lyddie, we must accept that there have been no new leads for months. Of course I will never abandon the search. But I have been neglecting my other duties for so long. I have obligations to the neighbourhood, and I must meet them."

"Obligations? Your duty to throw parties, Lizzy?" bit back Lydia.

"Lydia, do you not yet understand the responsibility of great wealth? Is that how you see me? An indolent great lady with no interest in anything but parties or entertaining?" Lydia huffed and turned away, crossing her arms over her chest as Elizabeth continued. "Sister, the point to great wealth is not to create comfort for yourself, but to use it for the betterment of your neighbourhood and community. The point of great houses such as Pemberley and Netherfield, is not to distinguish families of rank, but to provide living accommodations for many branches of large families, and to be a major employer and source of trade for the neighbourhood. If you own a great house and you do not use it to provide employment to the local village, and to throw house parties, where you bring visitors from other counties to meet the local residents, there is no point to any of it! Netherfield and Longbourn provide employment to the tenant families and neighbourhood, trade to the local merchants, entertainment for the neighbours, and the friends that come occasionally to visit give the locals a chance to meet new people, create new friendships and connections, and hopefully opportunities for courtship and marriage for the local young people. I have neglected these duties at my properties because I had more important tasks, but there is little to go on regarding the search for Kitty and it has been that way for some time. It would be irresponsible of me to continue to neglect my obligations indefinitely."

"You mean like Julia Prentiss," Lydia observed darkly, referring to the younger sister of Mrs Harriet Forster, who had recently married a visiting friend of the Acton family, who were leasing the manor at Longbourn.

"Precisely like Julia Prentiss, my dear," Elizabeth agreed. "By inviting a cousin to stay, and planning entertainment for the area, Mrs Acton has done her duty, to the village, to her neighbours and family, and to the local tradesmen, who will benefit from the money spent in their shops. It sounds frivolous on the surface, but the butcher benefits, the candlemaker, even the local dressmaker receives income, every time a landowner plans a party. The local young men and women are introduced to new people every time visitors come. How many ribbons and shoe roses have you purchased from the haberdasher in anticipation of a ball? Whenever there is a house party, the tenant families benefit from the temporary hires of extra footmen and maids from the estate and village. You and Georgiana benefit from the experience assisting me, so you will know what to do when you have your own establishments. Lydia, I do not come to Meryton to throw parties. I throw parties when I am here, because it is the right thing to do for the neighbourhood, and is a kindness to my friends here. It would be unfair of me to hoard my wealth and keep my houses closed, while unmarried friends such as Maria Lucas and Loretta Long languish in Meryton with no opportunity to meet new people."

Lydia huffed and crossed her arms even tighter over her chest, but Elizabeth could see her heart was no longer in it. "Do not hold a grudge, Lydia. I cannot bear to be at odds with any of my sisters now. If this terrible tragedy has taught us anything, it should be how precious we all are to one another. Kitty would not wish us to fight amongst ourselves. Sometimes I feel as though you are the only one who still knows how I feel. Do not be angry with me, dearest." Lydia embraced her sister and assured her of her affection, and the two returned to Netherfield together arm in arm.

Lydia, hopeful that the activity would help take her mind off of Kitty, threw herself into helping Elizabeth plan the ball. True to Elizabeth's word, a Mr Benedict Pembroke, friend of Mr Radcliffe, was instantly smitten with a certain Miss Ella Goulding, and Elizabeth, ever the helpful neighbour, encouraged Sir William Lucas to extend an invitation to the man to visit Lucas Lodge when the Netherfield house party dispersed, that he might remain in the neighbourhood to get to know the lady after the Darcys left Netherfield.

*****

There was a bit of drama at the ball. Mr Herring had been obsessively fixated with courting Georgiana since arriving in Meryton. The gentleman tried everything. He invited her and Elizabeth, or any escort she chose for a walk, a ride, a drive in his phaeton, or a picnic and spoke at length of introducing her to his mother when she was next in town. Georgiana told him each time he asked, that she was not interested in courting at this time, and felt uncomfortable accompanying him for drives or picnics. Georgiana observed to Mr Radcliffe that she regretted having agreed to dance the first with the man, feeling that it had given him false encouragement, but there was no withdrawing without sitting out the entire night.

Darcy had taken the young man aside before the ball and sternly instructed him that he was welcome to dance with his sister and offer her friendship, but that the young lady was not considering marriage yet, and that he should not continue to pursue her. Mr Herring had been all that was polite, but disregarded the instructions entirely, and barely let Georgiana out of his sight for the first half of the night.

The gentleman was nearly as irritating as Mr Collins, so persistently did he follow Georgiana all evening. At the conclusion of the first dance, he had asked for the supper set as well, which Georgiana could truthfully say was already taken. Mr Herring proceeded to pout and act churlish each time another gentleman approached Georgiana, to the point where she stayed quite close to Mr Radcliffe, who was becoming more and more annoyed with his friend as the evening went on.

So closely did Mr Herring follow Georgiana, that after her supper set with Mr Radcliffe, the gentleman dragged his partner, poor Miss Butterworth from London, along close behind Georgiana and Mr Radcliffe and when the gentleman had seated Georgie at the table, Mr Herring quickly claimed the two seats on her other side for himself and his dinner partner.

Mr Herring proceeded to ignore poor Miss Butterworth, who spent the meal chatting amicably with Mrs Annesley, who had taken a seat as close to Georgiana as she could manage, once the seat beside Georgie she ought to have rightfully occupied was claimed. He spent the entire meal attempting to monopolise Georgie's conversation until eventually, Mr Radcliffe cleared his throat and said loudly "I say, Herring, why do not you pay some attention to your own dinner partner, instead of monopolising mine?"

Miss Butterworth turned pink while Mr Herring took immediate umbrage and made a remark about friends getting in the way of another's courtship and how it was a rude way to behave, when one knows his friend is taken with a lady. "For God's sake man, you aren't courting. Her brother instructed you this very morning to stop pursuing her! Lady Georgiana is my friend, I am not standing in your way, and I would appreciate it if you would cease disturbing our meal."

Georgiana's confidence was faltering by this point, and she turned pink as she looked about to see who had noticed the exchange. She turned beet red when she realised that Mrs Phillips and Lady Lucas were observing the conversation with interest and whispering amongst themselves. "Mr Herring, you have caught the attention of the local matrons. I do not appreciate being made the subject of gossip."

"All is fair in love and war, do you not agree, my dear?" Mr Herring said good naturedly, now that he had Georgiana's attention again.

"No, Mr Herring, I really do not agree, and I am not your dear," retorted Georgiana, who pointedly turned away and gave him no more of her attention. The gentleman began to pout and act churlish again, and Miss Butterworth was so alarmed by his demeanour that she turned to Miss Annesley and ignored him for the rest of the meal as well. When supper had finished, Mr Herring asked for the final set. "I am sorry Mr Herring, that set has already been reserved." said Georgiana, thankful for the reprieve.

"Miss Darcy, I find it disturbing that you would give away the important sets, considering our understanding." Mr Herring said pompously.

"Mr Herring, you have been told by my brother, myself, and Mr Radcliffe, that I am not considering marriage at this time. We have no understanding. I do not welcome your attentions. Please do not suggest such a connection again." Georgiana answered firmly as she accepted Radcliffe's arm to return to the ballroom. Herring was left humiliated as his dinner companion Miss Butterworth flounced away in a huff. Georgiana felt guilty that her friend had not enjoyed her meal, and endeavoured to make sure Mr Radcliffe had one of his handsome and more amiable friends ask her for the last set, which was to be a waltz.

The Darcys spent the ball as the hosts should, by spending the evening talking and circulating among their guests, making introductions and facilitating conversations between acquaintances they knew would enjoy each other's company. Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased by the attention paid to Miss Goulding by Mr Benedict Pembroke, and exchanged a wink with Lydia, who had noticed the attraction as well. Lydia was proud of her sister, and grateful that she had someone to teach her about the responsibilities of wealth and running of great houses. She had been told about her enormous dowry, and the idea of the responsibilities that must come with such an enormous sum of money daunted her.

Lydia had observed, once she began paying attention, that her sister was right. The shopkeepers and tradesmen in the village were elated by the income generated by the ball. Only the day before, she had heard the wife of the haberdasher talking to the dressmaker that the income generated from the ball had given their family the rest of what was needed to send their son to Merchant Taylor's school. The boy was nearing the age to go, and the family had been saving since his birth, but it had not been certain that he would go, because his father would not send him unless he was certain he could pay the full amount. He had no wish to put the boy in school and then take him out again due to an inability to pay.

Elizabeth had been correct. Even the candlemaker had been whistling a jaunty tune when he made his delivery to the back door with crates upon crates of beeswax candles. As Lydia had been making biscuits with Diane, she had heard him telling Mrs Nichols that the order would allow him to send something to his daughter who had just had a child, and whose husband was injured and could not work. He had been afraid the family might end up in the workhouse, but the income from the ball had been enough that they would be cared for until the husband was well, as long as they were prudent. As Lydia watched Ella Goulding bask in the adoration of Mr Radcliffe's friend Mr Pembroke, she admitted to herself that it may have seemed frivolous, but the ball had been a boon to all who resided in Meryton, gentlefolk and tradesmen alike.

*****

Georgiana was not the only one showered with unwanted attention at the ball. Lady Lucas, with her typical indiscretion, had made Mr Connolly aware of her daughter's fortune which was invested by Elizabeth. Mr Connolly was an older gentleman farmer from the next village over, about fifty-five years of age, who had buried three young, beautiful wives. The first from childbirth, the second from an epidemic which had swept the village some fifteen years ago, and the third again in childbirth. There was nothing sordid about the deaths, but the man had always desired pretty young girls for wives, and Charlotte in her youth, had not been handsome enough for him. She was certainly handsome enough now, with her fine gowns and her fortune exceeding ten thousand pounds, and he was certain that he could turn her son's eventual inheritance of Longbourn to his advantage, at least while the boy was underage.

Charlotte, on the other hand, had not the slightest interest, and refused to encourage the gentleman. Lady Lucas seemed to have forgotten that her daughter was of age, had been married and widowed, and lived quite independently from her parents and family. The lady seemed to believe that as Charlotte's mother, she could direct and expect Charlotte to obey. It was all well and fine for Maria to visit Lord and Lady Darcy, but it was obvious to her that Charlotte had no prospects in London. Charlotte had not confided the attentions she had been paid in town to her mother, because she did not wish to be pressured into encouraging the gentlemen. If Lady Lucas knew her daughter had any admirer at all, Lady Lucas expected her to encourage the attentions without question or delay.

The woman seemed to believe that Charlotte's continuing widowhood was an embarrassment to the family. Of course, society would not care, being rather apt to be more unreasonably discontented when a woman did marry again, than when she did not. Lady Lucas could not be more contrary. It had been bad enough that the girl had not been married until she was seven and twenty, but then she had disobliged her mother by remaining so for barely seven months. Certainly, she had obtained a comfortable fortune, and a son with a future inheritance in the bargain, but Lady Lucas had decided it was long past time for Charlotte to find a father for her son and be respectable again. Needless to say, Charlotte had no intention of humouring her mother, or encouraging a man whom she had not been good enough for, for ten years of her adult life. The gentleman followed her persistently all evening, and her mother denied her the ability to sit with the matrons for protection from his attentions. Poor Charlotte, in consequence, received little pleasure from the ball, which was a shame.

When Mr Connolly could not gain Charlotte's attention, he turned to Miss Long. That lady's aunt had not been able to keep quiet about Elizabeth's generosity to her niece, so the neighbourhood was aware of Miss Long's invested dowry, and the lady herself was looking quite fine in a lovely gown by Madame Clarisse. She danced once with Mr Connolly, and Charlotte took her by the elbow and said, "Loretta, it is not my place to advise you, but I cannot allow you to accept that man's attentions. I assure you, I will lock you in your room before I allow it!"

When Miss Long objected, Charlotte, who was no longer enjoying the ball any longer due to Mr Connolly and her mother's behaviour, dragged Miss Long upstairs to her bedroom. Once the ladies were alone, she shared the story of Elizabeth having warned her not to take Mr Collins. Their friend had done her best to warn her, but she had plunged ahead heedlessly, in her quest to gain her own establishment. She described with some embarrassment her subsequent realisation of her folly.

"Elizabeth knew and I did not." Charlotte warned her "I did not understand what she was trying to tell me, Loretta, but I learned very quickly what she had meant. The price is too high, my friend. Connolly is nearly as unpleasant as my late husband; God forgive me for speaking ill of the dead. Not to mention, it is ill luck to be that man's wife. I do not like his history as a widower. It does not seem to be his fault, but I have no desire to see either of us become his next dead wife.

"Elizabeth will never allow you to live in poverty. She would never allow it for any of her friends. That is why you are with us, because she cares about you. If you do not meet someone immediately in Derbyshire, do not be surprised if Elizabeth begins making excuses to keep you at Pemberley. Before you realise it, six months will become eight, and eight will become twelve. Then at least two or three opportunities to visit new friends in Bath or Brighton might be contrived before she finally gave in. And if you do not marry eventually, then I am sure she will employ you as a governess herself, but I can assure you, whatever your fate, it will be better than being married to someone you cannot at least respect or esteem. We are not romantic, Loretta. I understand you. I too only wanted my own home. But if you cannot like or respect the man, please, you cannot marry him, my friend."

Miss Long thanked Charlotte for her candour. She understood what it had taken for Charlotte to break down and confess the unhappiness she had faced in her marriage, to speak ill of her dead husband, and to give advice. Indeed, Loretta did not like Mr Connolly and never had. When she was young, she had been glad his eye had never turned to her. Now, though at five and twenty, she might have accepted him in a moment of weakness, if not for Charlotte. She took a moment and said a prayer of thanks that she had such good friends. The two ladies went next door to see Caroline, who had refused to come down for the ball, and feeling scandalous, the three of them sent for a bottle of champagne, and talked and laughed late into the night. Miss Bingley had been completely humbled, and was much better company than she had been the last time she was at Netherfield. Loretta Long looked forward to staying at Pemberley with such good friends.

*****

An hour after the supper set, a footman spoke quietly behind Elizabeth and Will as they surveyed the crowd in their ballroom. "Lord and Lady Darcy, I apologise for my interruption and my forwardness, but I must speak with you privately in your study without delay." When Elizabeth and Darcy had slipped away and met the footman in the study, the man pulled a ten-pound note from his pocket, and explained that it had been given to him by Mr Herring, who had instructed him to tell Georgiana that Elizabeth wished to speak to her in the library during the last set. Then he was to go to Mrs Phillips and tell her that one of her nieces needed her help with their gown in the same room, in order to compromise poor Georgiana.

Elizabeth and Darcy met Richard on their way back to the ballroom and were quietly deliberating in the hall. Elizabeth was of the opinion that Banks and Wilson ought to take care of the manner discreetly while Darcy and Elizabeth remained in the ballroom to maintain appearances, while Richard was arguing that Elizabeth never allowed the men to have any fun, and that Georgie was his and Will's ward. They ought to be able to handle the matter personally. Darcy, not as bloodthirsty as Richard, wanted only to deal with the matter immediately and expediently, and he cared not how.

They were observed by Mr Radcliffe, who was returning from the water closet, and said, "I say, Lord and Lady Darcy, is everything alright? It's not my business of course, but you all seem rather distressed. Is there a problem? Can I help with anything?"

"You can help by not bringing villains to my family's home, Radcliffe!" Richard snapped irritably. Elizabeth insisted that since Mr Radcliffe had brought Mr Herring to Netherfield, he ought to know what his friend was capable of.

When the affair was revealed to him, the young man blanched and turned white at the thought of Miss Darcy being compromised, then his countenance hardened with anger. "Lord and Lady Darcy, Mr Fitzwilliam, please accept my apologies for bringing such a person to your home. I had kept his company because he's always seemed decent, and he is not a rattle or a gamester, but I had no idea he was capable of this. This has taught me that you can never really know a person, for I have known Herring since Eton, and never suspected such a disposition lurking beneath his countenance. Please, worry not, I shall deal with the matter directly!"

"You will not, insolent pup! Georgiana is our ward, and we shall deal with him ourselves!" Richard snarled.

Radcliffe put his hand on Richard's shoulder. "I understand, sir, and you are correct. It is your place to protect her, not mine. But she is my friend, and so is he. I trusted him, and brought him amongst my friends and acquaintance. He repays me by plotting to harm them? It cannot go unanswered, sir, and all our set that came along with us will agree. He is our friend, he arrived with us, his actions reflect upon the honour of us all, and it will not stand! We must and will ensure he knows what befalls him who betrays his friend's trust!" With that, the young man spun away hotly on his heel, and as the Darcys and Richard returned to the ballroom, they observed him going about to all of his friends and speaking discreetly.

The faces upon each young man hardened angrily as they heard what Radcliffe had to say. Darcy warned Miss Annesley to stay as close to Georgie as possible for the rest of the night, and then continued to stay close to his sister himself as well. Elizabeth and Richard watched as Radcliffe's friends went about the room and made their apologies to the ladies to whom they were promised for the last set, claiming an emergency called them to help a friend in the village.

Radcliffe sent a message to the stables to have Herring's horse ready, and when the final set began, Mr Herring entered the library to find his three friends awaiting him angrily. Richard followed and watched as the man was dragged from the house and beaten soundly behind the stables, then tied to his horse, which was led to the inn by Wilson, who arranged a room with the innkeeper. Herring's trunk would be sent at first light, and he was instructed to return to his estate because his friends would no longer suffer his company in town.

Richard was grouchy when he returned about not being allowed to protect his women again, but he had to admit, the young bucks had taken care of the matter discreetly and thoroughly. Perhaps the younger generation of gentlemen were not quite as useless as he always claimed. He still would have liked to have beaten the worthless idiot to a pulp himself, but he understood Radcliffe's need to defend the honour of his own good name. God knew that if Richard had ever brought a friend to a party and they had acted in such a manner, he would have done the same.

When the ball ended, Elizabeth thanked Mr Radcliffe for his protection of Georgiana and his display of honour. "Please, it was nothing, Lady Darcy. I could do no less for Miss Darcy. She deserves all the friendship and protection her friends can muster. I swear to you, whether in town, or in the country, I shall always be ready to defend my dear friend." Darcy groaned as Mr Radcliffe gazed across the room, looking at Georgiana as if she were as precious as the sun.

"It's him. He's the one. Mark my words, he is the one who will take her from us," Darcy growled to Richard as the young man made his way across the room to where Georgiana was surrounded by his and her friends from town.

"I suppose we cannot complain," grumbled Richard. "She could do worse, Darcy. At least we know he is honourable. And I assure you, he is not taking her anywhere yet. I may not agree with your wife about everything, but I'll be damned if I approve our girl's marriage before her majority." Darcy and Elizabeth bade Richard and Mary goodnight as the guests took their leave and those who were staying made their way upstairs and to the dower house. Elizabeth found the footman who had alerted them, and gave him back the ten pound note, plus twenty pounds from her strongbox and recommended that he solicit Banks to have most of the money placed into his retirement account.