Chapter 15
After climbing into bed, I opened Beth’s parcel, which contained several pages of transcriptions from Elizabeth Garrison’s diary. In her note, she wrote that she wanted to take me back to the beginning of the story when Mr. Bingham had made his first appearance in Hertfordshire. “You will get a sense of the excitement his arrival caused in a neighbourhood lacking in eligible bachelors.”
17 March — While Jane and I were in Mrs. Draper’s shop this afternoon, we heard news that a young gentleman has taken a lease on Helmsley Hall. We are told that Mr. Charles Bingham is quite handsome and of good height. He is very fond of horses and is pleased with the fine pastures he finds at HH. We returned home to find this was old news to Papa, as Sir William and he had already met with the subscribers, and all have agreed that the assembly rooms should be opened and a dance held to welcome the gentleman and his party. Mr. Bingham wrote immediately to Sir William, saying he would be honoured to attend the assembly and looked forward to meeting his new neighbours. I wonder what the gentleman will think of our country dances.
The events that took place at the assembly were very close to those described in Jane Austen’s novel. Mr. Bingham had a great time, especially with Jane Garrison, Mr. Ashurst was a bore, and the two Bingham sisters tried to keep as much distance from the locals as possible. The only difference was that Mr. Lacey’s insult packed even more of a sting: “Mr. Bingham’s friend said within my hearing that the only thing worse than dancing with the present company would be the necessity of conversing with them.” Ouch! As in the novel, Jane did have lunch with the Bingham sisters at Helmsley Hall, but that was where any similarities ended. Jane did not get sick, so Lizzy did not have to nurse her sister, and there were no snappy exchanges between Mr. Lacey and Lizzy during Jane’s recuperation. But at that lunch, Jane learned who Charles’s dour friend was: Mr. William Lacey of Pemberley in Derbyshire.
31 March — Jane found the gentleman to be in much better humour as he commented on how pleasant the local countryside was. Apparently, he has a large estate in the country near Matlock and belongs to one of those ancient Norman families who arrived in England with William the Conqueror. He is very proud, but with his wealth and superior situation in society, I daresay he has a right to be. Jane suspects Mr. Lacey exerts a strong influence on his friend. Of that there can be little doubt.
In addition to Beth’s diary transcriptions were undated letters from Will to his cousin Anne.
Dear Anne,
I pay a high price for being Bingham’s friend. Each evening, Bingham and I must play cards with Caroline, Louisa, and Ashurst because, if I do not, I must listen to the sisters complain about the lack of society in the country or listen to Ashurst’s snoring as he lays sprawled on the sofa.
Bingham’s interest in Miss Garrison has grown, and he frequently rides over to Bennets End, the Garrison estate. I advised him that there was no harm in his visits as long as he recognized that Miss Garrison’s position in society prevented any serious attachment. He replied that it was comments like these that made him glad he had not been born a Lacey. He said, ‘It would require me to limit my circle of friends to those of my exalted rank.’ Sometimes Bingham spouts the same egalitarian nonsense we hear coming from France. I asked him if Miss Garrison’s ardour matched his own, and he replied that it did not. I believe this shows Miss Garrison to be a woman of good sense who does not encourage the affections of someone who is above her station.
Tomorrow, we are to dine with Sir William Ledger. Caroline and Louisa will not attend, and because of that, I will.
Yours,
Will
The next letter clearly showed that, despite his claims to the contrary, Will was finding it difficult to resist Elizabeth’s charms. It also contained the news that Mr. Chatterton had returned to Bennets End with the intention of proposing to one of his cousins.
Dear Anne,
I cannot remember what I wrote that would cause you to believe that, like Bingham, I have become captivated by a Garrison sister. I confess everything to you, so I will tell you Miss Elizabeth has many fine qualities. Her conversation is engaging and, at times, impertinent. At a small private party held at the home of Sir William Ledger, she asked if I often traveled into Kent. I acknowledged that I did, as I wished to visit with my aunt and cousin as often as time and business would allow. She responded: ‘I am sure you know that Mr. Chatterton, after receiving his ordination, was provided with a living by your aunt, Lady Sylvia, and I cannot imagine anyone more appreciative of such notice. We have heard such detailed descriptions of Desmet Park that I will never have to actually visit the estate.’
I asked Miss Elizabeth if she was aware that Mr. Chatterton came to dinner at Desmet Park on Thursday afternoons for the purpose of going over that Sunday’s sermon with your mother, to which she replied, ‘I am not surprised he seeks your aunt’s opinion since he holds her in such high esteem.’ When I asked if she had heard Mr. Chatterton preach, she said she had, ‘but not in church.’
Knowing she was fond of teasing, I mentioned that Lady Sylvia was encouraging Mr. Chatterton to take a wife, as she thought it important for the pastor to set the example of marriage for his parish. Miss Elizabeth turned to me in alarm and asked: ‘Has he indicated that this is his purpose in coming into Hertfordshire?’ I answered that I thought it likely since he had been much impressed by his Garrison cousins from an earlier visit.
I will be the first to admit I am not as clever as Bingham or Col. Devereaux, who can engage in this type of discourse, and now I was convinced Miss Elizabeth was annoyed by the subject. She sat there silently for several minutes before saying: ‘Mr. Chatterton is a good sort of man. From his description of the parsonage, he will be in a position to provide his wife with a comfortable home, and there certainly will be no lack of conversation. Yes, on reflection, I think an offer from such a man should be taken seriously, and why should he not choose from amongst those who have an interest in Bennets End?’
I do not know the lady well enough to say with absolute certainty that she was once again teasing me. Prior to joining Bingham in Hertfordshire, I had met Mr. Chatterton only that one afternoon at Desmet Park, and yet I know a woman as intelligent as she would never entertain an offer of marriage from someone of such meager intellect.
I admit that Miss Elizabeth possesses many fine qualities, but as to the matter of her family, other than her sister Jane, there is little to admire. As soon as I left Miss Elizabeth, her two younger sisters came running into the room, yanked a young man out of his seat, and demanded he dance with them. The quiet sister, I believe her name is Mary, played the pianoforte with a modicum of talent but lacked the proficiency necessary to perform in public. Their mother paid no attention to them, as if this was nothing out of the common, and their father appeared to be amused by it all. Mr. Garrison seems to be a man of sense, but he takes little care of his younger children.
Miss Garrison continues to draw Bingham’s attention. I believe she is flattered by his notice, but surely she does not expect something more serious to come of it. Bingham is to host a ball at Helmsley Hall for his neighbours. After that, I shall return permanently to London. Many of my friends are already in town, and my absence has been noted.