This remark surprised everyone who was not privy to Mrs. Bennet’s plan of marrying her younger daughter to Mr. Collins’s brother and her hopeful belief that Mr. Collins himself would soon be dead.
Lady Catherine ignored her and said to Elizabeth, “You must have a girl.”
Mrs. Bennet shook her head firmly.
“No, Lady Catherine, with that I cannot agree,” she said. “Girls are a great deal of trouble.”
“Not if they have a governess,” said Lady Catherine. “A great deal of trouble is just what a governess will prevent. I have been the means of supplying a great many governesses to a great many deserving families and they have all thanked me for the attention most effusively. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means, and I have sometimes recommended young ladies who were merely accidentally mentioned to me. The families are always delighted with them. You, girl,” she said to Kitty. “Do you have a governess?”
“No, your Ladyship,” said Kitty.
“And you?” she said to Maria Lucas.
“No,” admitted Maria.
“And you?” she asked Mary.
“I have found that personal study is much more efficacious than the exhortations of another female,” said Mary. “By virtue of reading and making extensive extracts, I have, without any assistance, become the most accomplished young lady in the neighbourhood.”
“Indeed? And how large is your neighbourhood? No, do not reply. It is the size of a pocket handkerchief, I suppose. It is clear to me that you have all been sadly neglected,” said Lady Catherine. “Mrs. Bennet, you must take your remaining daughters in hand. It will not to do have them running off with stewards’ sons like your other girl. A nice, sensible curate would do for them, I am sure.”
“I hope I know my girls’ entitlements better than to think them fit for nothing more than a curate,” said Mrs. Bennet. “Now that Jane and Lizzy are so well settled, I see no reason why they should not marry lords. I am sure they are good enough.”
Lady Catherine ignored her and turned to Elizabeth.
“If you have a girl, she will be able to marry the Duke of Wexington’s son. He is at present two years old and will remain two years her senior throughout his life. It is a good age difference, and of course he comes from the very best family.”
“Since the baby is not born yet, it seems a little early to be finding her a husband, particularly as she may be a boy,” remarked Elizabeth.
“It is never too early,” said Lady Catherine.
“In this I have to agree, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Bennet. “It really is never too early to think of suitable matches, for you have no idea how difficult it is to find people later on.”
“And then there is the Devingshire boy,” said Lady Catherine. “He might do, although Lord Devingshire looks like a sheep, and it would perhaps be wise to wait a few years and see which of his parents the boy favours.”
“I thank you for your interest, but I am sure our son or daughter will be able to choose their own spouse with very little help from us. Darcy and I managed to find each other. Our child will only need to follow our example to make the best match possible.”
Mrs. Bennet, completely misunderstanding Elizabeth, gave a happy sigh and said, “You are right, Lizzy, you caught a man with ten thousand a year and an estate in Derbyshire. I am sure your daughter will do just as well.”
As the days passed, the house began to take on a festive air. Greenery was brought in from the gardens to decorate the house with holly, ivy, and mistletoe adorning the pictures or threading their way through the banisters. Rich smells wafted up from the kitchens, and the scent of winter spices and rich fruit cakes filled the air. Kitty and Maria could be heard giggling as they hastily hid half-wrapped presents whenever anyone unexpectedly entered their rooms, whilst Mary began making Christmas extracts.
The day of the ball approached. It had been arranged for Christmas Eve, a time of celebration, and there was an air of excitement when the day arrived.
“How is everything coming along?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“It is all well in hand,” said Caroline before Jane could speak. “Mr. Collins and his brother will make two extra gentlemen, but that is never to be deplored. They dance, I hope?”
“Mr. Collins certainly takes to the floor with alacrity,” said Darcy. “I remember him dancing with Elizabeth at the Netherfield ball. It was a most edifying spectacle!”
Elizabeth laughed outright.
“Poor Mr. Collins! He tries very hard, but I pity the lady who stands up with him. He turns in all the wrong places and is constantly treading on his partner’s toes or the hem of her gown.”
“I am sure the young ladies hereabouts will not mind. They are used to dancing at the local assembly, and assembly balls, you know, do not produce the best dancing…” She turned to Mr. Darcy “… as I am sure you remember only too well.”
“Perhaps not, but they produce a great deal of pleasure for those who know how to enjoy them,” said Darcy.
“Aye, they do very well, but they are not to be compared with a private ball. Are there any eligible young men about?” Mrs. Bennet asked Caroline.
“Never fear, your daughters will have a choice,” said Caroline in a droll voice.
“And you too, I hope. You are not getting any younger, and if you do not look sharp you will soon be an old maid.”
“Mama!” said Jane.
But Caroline was not at all put out.
“I thank you for your kind concern,” she said with a superior smile.
“Well, my dear, someone must be concerned, and as you have no mother then I will take it upon myself. I found three good husbands for my own girls last year and I have found another one for Kitty only last week, so I am sure I will be able to find someone for you before the end of the year.”
“Ah, yes, you did an admirable job of finding a husband for your youngest daughter. Darcy’s steward’s son, was it not? And acquired in such an unusual fashion,” said Caroline.
Darcy stepped in, turning the conversation away from such dangerous waters.
“Tell me, Bingley, who have you invited to the ball?”
“You must ask Caroline,” said Bingley. “She is the one who has managed everything.”
“She seems to be a very managing young woman,” said Mr. Bennet with an innocent air.
Elizabeth hid her laugh behind her cup of tea.
“Caroline has been a great help,” said Jane fairly.
Caroline smiled graciously and was soon reciting the guest list. It consisted of all the local worthies, together with some good neighbours with whom Jane and Bingley had become friends.
“A fair-sized ball,” said Darcy.
“Not as splendid as the balls at Pemberley, but I believe it will do,” said Caroline. “Charles means to buy a house in London soon, and the guests there will of course be more refined.”
“A house in London?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
Jane’s face fell at her mother’s eagerness.
“Why, that will be the very thing,” said Mrs. Bennet.
Fortunately for Jane’s nerves, the gong rang. It was a sign that it was time for them to retire to their rooms and dress for the ball.
The weather had remained snowy, but the local roads were still traversable. Jane had had only had three letters from more distant neighbours excusing themselves. The rest were looking forward to the evening’s entertainment.
Mr. Collins’s brother, who had been unable to join them earlier on account of business, was to arrive for the ball and then stay for a few days. It was an event which Kitty did not relish. She had told Mary and Maria that they must on no account leave him alone with her, and she sought her married sisters’ help as well.
“Never fear, you will not have to marry him,” said Elizabeth.
“You do not know how determined Mama can be,” said Kitty.
“I know exactly how determined she can be,” said Elizabeth, “but Papa will be on your side. He will not want you to marry a stupid man, and he will not see you forced into a marriage that is distasteful to you, you know.”