Page 10 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

Elizabeth hid a smile as she observed Miss Darcy’s alarm at the blunt, forward speech of their hostess.

“Actually, their dowries are as healthy as one could expect of a man of my station with five daughters, though I can claim no credit to it.” Mr Bennet perversely enjoyed informing the woman. “It was the late Mrs Bennet who you were so fond of, who made some prudent investments with funds saved from Longbourn’s management. The girls have lately had generous sums added to their portions. They ought to have no trouble finding husbands now.”

“The late Mrs Bennet, you say? That woman would be the last I would expect to set a farthing by, but if she did, she was a sight more clever than you, Bennet, and that is saying something.” It sounded as if there might have been a compliment to someone in what she said, but Elizabeth gave up on discerning where. “And now you have a new wife, I hear. The most practical and sensible woman in Meryton, and a new son. You must be the laziest clever man I have ever met, or the cleverest lazy one. I can never determine which is the most offensive.”

Elizabeth stifled a snort of laughter as their hostess turned from Mr Bennet to address her.

“You may tell me how much you have later, Lizzy, and we will ponder your options here in Ramsgate when we are alone.” Lady Barry then turned to Mary. “Well, young lady, how do you account for your time since I saw you last? Your gown is handsome and well cut indeed, but not over-adorned. It suits you very well. You look quite smart. How do you like your new stepmother and brother? Do you still play the pianoforte?”

Mary spluttered in surprise at not only being noticed, but not unkindly. One of Lady Barry’s merits was that she might use her age as an excuse for impertinence, but she was never excessively harsh with those who did not have the spirit to fight back or who did not enjoy crossing swords in conversation. She always said precisely what she meant, but chose with care how she said it, depending on to whom she was speaking.

“Thank you, Lady Barry. Of course, I miss my mother most acutely, but my new stepmother is very kind, and everyone has grown attached to our brother Lucas. I do still play the pianoforte. I had some lessons with a master last year, and believe my performance has benefited from the instruction.”

“It has, very much,” Elizabeth assured them. “Miss Darcy has been reading a novel with my sister Kitty, but would like to become friends with all of my sisters, so Mary has been invited to visit Darcy Cottage to play duets today after looking at sheet music while Papa and Mr Darcy visit the library.”

“Well, I will thank you for not bringing Kitty and the youngest one today…noise with ribbons on it…both of them,” Lady Barry grumbled.

“They are much grown up since you saw them last,” Elizabeth promised. “I am certain they will visit you while we are here. Perhaps they will come with Charlotte when she is feeling better.”

“Where is Reginald’s daughter? I heard she was with you in Ramsgate, Darcy,” Lady Barry demanded.

“You are well stocked in information.” Mr Bennet grinned wickedly.

“And still more misanthropic than you, young man, only better armed.” Lady Barry looked at Darcy expectantly.

“Lady Priscilla is with us at Darcy Cottage, but we are such a large party today.” Mr Darcy bowed at the neck as he stood, and at Lady Barry’s nod, Elizabeth rang the bell. “I am sure she will be happy to call with us another time.”

“Look at the wretched man, inviting himself back like he owns the house,” Lady Barry said to Miss Darcy, who looked deliciously alarmed that a woman could speak thus to her own father, and not even cause offence. “You may come and call upon me whenever you like, Miss Darcy, and bring your cousin with you. I will tell you stories of your mother, uncle, and aunt that will make your hair curl.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Georgiana promised. “Priscilla will be delighted, I am sure.”

“I am interested to see how Reggie and Eleanor’s girl turned out,” Lady Barry replied. “Bennet, a little of your company goes a long way. I look forward to seeing more of your womenfolk. I rarely venture out, but perhaps I shall pay a call when Mrs Bennet feels able to receive callers. I must see this son of hers for myself. To be honest, I had no idea you had it in you.”

Mr Bennet laughingly assured her that Charlotte was well enough for callers in the afternoons, and that she would be welcome any time, and the butler arrived to escort them all, save Lizzy, to the door.

Elizabeth enjoyed the rest of her visit excessively. Lady Barry had always been a great deal of fun. She rarely tolerated boys or men with patience; she had little use for most girls or women, but she knew precisely who to mock and who to be kind to, in her own way. The irascible lady had always had a soft spot for Elizabeth.

Lady Barry was the heiress of her mother and grandfather, the widow of a baronet whom she had not particularly wished to marry, but since the man was her father’s friend, and needed the income from her dowry and an heir, she was pressed into agreement. She admitted to Elizabeth more than once her satisfaction that the son her husband so wanted never appeared. She delighted in her daughter Isobel, and was broken when the young woman died in the attempt to bear her first child.

When she was eventually widowed, she left the property that was entailed to her husband’s distant cousin without regret and moved to Netherfield, the home of her childhood, to enjoy the income from the inheritance that had always been held in trust for her. Her husband’s cousin attempted to visit her annually, though he was always rebuffed. He referred to her as aunt, and created a general air of expectancy that he was obviously her only heir.

“As if his proprietary behaviour could possibly stake a claim, the stupidity of the silly man haunts me. My mother would give me a shake when I reached the beyond if I were to leave her fortune to him. But men are all the same, Lizzy. If they have no money, they want yours. If they cannot find a way to use it all up themselves, they will find a way to divert it to another man, even an unrelated one, before they wish to see a female managing it. Just like my father. If he could not touch my mother’s principal, at least he ensured its income would provide for his friend. My feelings were entirely inconsequential when it came to the financial comfort of another man.”

“Well, I never had any fortune to worry about until very recently, but I do not think nine thousand will put me in very much danger from the wrong men,” Elizabeth replied.

“That is true. While nine thousand will attract a man who must ensure he at least marries with some attention to his wife’s maintenance, it is not enough to draw the very worst fortune hunters, though you must still be careful,” Lady Barry acknowledged. “Well, if you plan to marry, you will certainly have the opportunity while you are in Ramsgate.”

“I am unsure that I plan to marry, precisely, although Jane certainly does, and at the earliest opportunity, it seems.” Elizabeth took a biscuit from the plate. “My only concern in that direction is that if I were to marry, I must be in love with the man, or I should never embark upon such a venture at all. Especially now that my circumstances would be quite secure if I were never to do so. I do not need a husband for security, so unless I meet someone I can truly love and admire, I see little merit in the endeavour.”

“I knew you were the intelligent one of all of your sisters.” Lady Barry nodded in approval. “Though I am not certain that love makes men any more useful. I have no experience in those matters. Isobel seemed to find her husband all that was admirable. I made sure that if she was to marry, it would be for inclination, not for my husband’s convenience or for that of some other man. I suppose her friend Anne was satisfied with George Darcy. I heard less from her after dear Isobel died, of course, but Lady Anne married for the deepest love, and I do not know that she ever regretted it.”

“Mr Darcy seems like an honourable man,” Elizabeth observed. “I can easily believe that a young lady might have found much to admire in him thirty years ago.”

“I hear that his son is a fine figure of a gentleman, quite his father’s image, though word from town has it that he inherited Anne’s reticence.” Lady Barry sat back and stroked Belle’s head. “When with those with whom she felt safe and comfortable, Lady Anne was everything amiable, though in larger company, she often exhibited crippling shyness.”

“I believe both Miss Darcy and her brother must experience the same affliction then, for I understand she has been brought to Ramsgate to help her feel more comfortable in society. I have noticed her struggling on more than one occasion since we met and am told that her brother is the same.” Elizabeth paused. “Her cousin, Lady Priscilla, is a society dragon in training. She is an excellent example for Miss Darcy, and befriending each of my sisters in turn will certainly assist the young lady in conversing with different people.”

“Well, since it is not your immediate plan to find a husband, you must make every effort for your sisters.”