Page 130 of Shields and Roses

Teasing comments followed, to which Richard responded, "I could not marry until I had made my way in the world and could properly support her. My wife is too fine a woman to be relegated to following the drum."

More comments were made, mostly agreeing with the sentiment. When the noise died down, Mr. Bennet continued.

"Our good news does not end there, of course. As you probably know, my eldest daughter, Jane, is scheduled to be married to Sir Barnaby Linton a week from today. Had I my glass in hand, I would offer a toast to the next young couple from our family to meet at the altar."

As he knew they would, some of the attendees shouted out their own toasts. "A toast! Sir Barnaby Linton and Jane Bennet! May she be as accomplished a hostess as her mother and invite us all to dinner!"

Bennet laughed along with most of the others in the rooms. Darcy saw both Jane and Sir Barnaby blush with embarrassment. A few minutes later, it was his own turn to be on the spot as Mr. Bennet announced, "If that were not enough, my second daughter has decided to follow the example of her older sister in the matter of pending matrimony. Our Lizzy is betrothed to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a man of substance from Derbyshire and cousin to Colonel Fitzwilliam. They have not yet set a date, but if Darcy follows his good cousin's example, they may just marry tomorrow."

This prompted another round of laughter, especially after Richard loudly said, "I heartily recommend it!"

"I shall give your advice all the consideration it deserves," Darcy replied cheerfully at a similar volume. The interchange earned them more laughter, and Darcy was glad when Bennet moved on to the next bit of news and shifted the attention elsewhere.

"Not to be outdone, Mr. Darcy's friend Charles Bingley has decided he cannot live without the company of one of my daughters either. Mr. Bingley and our Mary are also betrothed with no wedding date identified. You might know him as the young man who leased Netherfield. He has gained a strong place in the running for my favorite prospective son-in-law by providing a temporary home for a good portion of the extra members of my family who are visiting to attend Jane's wedding."

Bingley and Mary sported matching shades of reddened face as they stood arm in arm and accepted the congratulatory comments from the crowd. Both appeared to Darcy as if they wanted to turn and run. He winked at Bingley when their glances happened to meet. It was not long before silence was more or less restored, and Mr. Bennet spoke again.

"I have another recent marriage to report and hope you will celebrate it with us. The daughter of my dear, late friend Sir Lewis de Bourgh, who also happens to be another cousin of Colonel Fitzwilliam and cousin to Mr. Darcy as well, has recently wed Martin Hanson, second son of Lord Ferrell, the Earl of Boxwell. We are delighted to have them as visitors and hope you will join my family in wishing them well.

A voice at the back offered a toast to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson that prompted some cheers. Darcy saw that Anne and Martin had come downstairs for the announcements. They accepted the good wishes from their place at the edge of the crowd.

"With all these settled matches," Bennet said teasingly in the next lull, "I almost hesitate to mention one less firm. However, I would be remiss not to tell you that just this evening I have approved a request from Mrs. Hanson's cousin - yes, another cousin! - Sir Phillip de Bourgh, to pay court to my fourth daughter, Kitty."

Mrs. Bennet, to whom this was definitely news, gave an excited shriek and fanned herself with her elegant lace handkerchief. "Kitty, too?" she questioned happily as more congratulations rolled in. It was clear everyone expected Mr. Bennet to wrap up his speech now unless he could come up with a courtship for Lyda as well, but he stayed where he was and waited for the group to calm down. Once they had gotten the idea, he spoke more soberly.

"Unfortunately, all this good news must find its balance with other tidings that may not be so happy. As he is most profoundly affected by this other news, I yield my place to my very good friend, Peter Fitzwilliam and ask that you give him your attention."

Those who had still been discussing Bennet's earlier news quieted as, with help from Richard and his father, Bennet descended from the chair. Peter took his place.

"People of Meryton, you have known me as a visitor here for over thirty years. I look on Longbourn as nearly a second home and view you all in the character of neighbors and friends. It is only right that you are among the first to hear several important pieces of news."

Just the rustle of clothing and a muffled cough greeted his words. Everyone was listening carefully now.

"Earlier this evening, as I expect you all know, my sister Lady Catherine de Bourgh showed up at this party, uninvited and unexpected. Many of you witnessed her argument with one of the fine rosebushes Mrs. Bennet keeps in the garden. What you may not know is that during her altercation, she was stung by two bees that were presumably disturbed by her presence. I find it odd that one person can be stung and it results in only the slightest itchy bump, while another reacts far more seriously. My sister, it seems, was among the latter. I regret to say that, although Mr. Jones did everything within his power, my sister did not survive the evening." He paused soberly for a moment and then continued.

"There is no need to offer your condolences. Knowing the good nature of all present, my son, nieces, nephew and I all take them as a given. The less said on the matter, the better. Of course, it is my hope that my nephew Darcy does not contract the sudden marriage tomorrow that our host predicted, for I will be leaving early to take my sister to Rosings Park in Kent where she will be laid to rest with Sir Lewis and the other de Bourghs."

"I will be going with you, Uncle," Darcy said loudly.

"As will I, Father," Richard chimed in, quickly followed by Sir Phillip and more reluctantly by Anne.

"We will all return early next week," Peter continued, "as we would not wish to miss the upcoming wedding celebration. I know some would say that we should all retire into the background and tend to our grief. However, as we also know, life does go on and things are always changing and coming up. In that spirit, I must also inform you that my sister's is not the only recent death my family has seen. A freak accident at an estate my father owned in Scotland has claimed the lives of my father and eldest son. Again, I will take your condolences as a given. Why did you not know this before? I expect some of you are thinking along those lines. Well, I have been holding this information quiet until I could carry it to my sister in person. As a result, I am trusting all of you with the first public notice of their deaths and my new position as the Earl of Matlock." This created a bit of a stir, but Peter carried on. "Since I am leaving the title of Viscount behind, you may now congratulate the first couple whose marriage was announced this evening on their new position as Viscount and Lady Rand."

He gestured to Richard and Charlotte. Aside from the first surprised murmurs, there was a stunned silence for a moment. Then, a few people clapped, while others offered their congratulations to Peter and the other two. As Mr. Jones had predicted, the news of Richard and Charlotte's new titles distracted the guests from any thoughts of the previously announced deaths.

After a few minutes, Peter cleared his throat loudly for attention. He had one more bit of distraction to provide. "That is all the news I currently have for you, but I cannot step down without complimenting Mrs. Bennet and all the ladies who have assisted her with the fine arrangements for this evening. Mrs. Bennet, Lady Sheldon, Lady Lucas, Mrs. Damask, Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Hanson and all the Bennet girls, well done! Congratulations on your planning and the excellent meal!"

He began to clap, and the others quickly joined in, just as he had hoped they would. Peter stepped down from the chair as the guests took their cue to congratulate the ladies he had named. He, Richard and Bennet stepped away from the crowd and Darcy released Lizzy to her admirers for a moment so he could join them.

"I think we carried it off," Peter said quietly.

"You certainly distracted them well from the sadder news," Bennet agreed.

"They were ready to be distracted," Richard said. "Some may still leave early, but you have set the right mood and also headed off too many efforts at offering condolences."

They could say no more as various guests approached to speak to all of them. Some did offer condolences, Peter's words notwithstanding, or excuse themselves early, but most offered congratulations just as Bennet and Peter had planned.

The rest of the evening was something of a blur for Darcy. He spent it with Lizzy and Georgiana once he stepped away from the group of people around his uncle and Richard.