Page 2 of The Vanished Bennet Sister

There were several calculations to account for during their stay. The Bennets’ allocated funds for the season were modest. She had committed the figure to memory, aware that imprecision in such matters could lead to unfavourable results.

The gowns would likely be the first significant expense. New gowns were not optional; the season required everyone to present themselves in the latest fashion. But the modistes would need to be managed carefully, and her mother could not be trusted to do so, which meant that Elizabeth would need to be present at every fitting under some plausible pretence.

Then there were the incidentals: printed cards for morning calls and allocations for reciprocal hospitality which cost money in tea and cake. The opera and several other events would require attendance.

It would require considerable planning to ensure they didn’t run out of money during their stay in London. But Elizabeth was determined to maintain the helm of planning.

***

Mr Thwaite arrived the following day.

He was a young man of eight-and-twenty who appeared to occupy most spaces with remarkable ease. He was not handsome by conventional arrangement, but his face was the sort that grew more interesting the longer one looked, and his serious eyes revealed a mind full of depth.

"Mr Thwaite," Mrs Bennet said, taking his hand in both of hers, "we cannot thank you enough. I have never, in all my years, occupied a more elegantly appointed establishment. You are all generosity, sir. All generosity."

"You are very welcome, Mrs Bennet. I hope you will all be comfortable."

"Comfortable! We are in near paradise, in fact."

Lydia, behind their mother, winked at Kitty, who shook her head in amusement at Mrs Bennet’s complaisant behaviour.

The salutations proceeded as Mr Thwaite acknowledged each Bennet with the appropriate measure of interest. And then he turned to Mary.

There was a brief interval that seemed to contain a shared awareness that after months of correspondence, the two were standing in the same room for only the third time in their acquaintance.

Mary and Mr Thwaite settled in their seats, starting a conversation which surged ahead with a naturalness Elizabeth admired.

"I have been reading the commentary you recommended," Mary began, "regarding Dr Burney's account of the Hamburg performances. You were right about the second volume being the more valuable."

"I am glad you found it so. And for the question you raised in your last letter about the musical structure in the Messiah, I have been thinking about it since."

"It is not a question most people would find intriguing."

"Then those people are not attending to the right things. The oratorito is not decorative. The music enacts the argument and makes a debate worth it."

Mary's face brightened. The effect was incredible, as if the presence of someone who asked the right questions permitted an internal space she generally kept shuttered to admit some light.

The conversation between Mary and Mr Thwaite continued a while longer, the tea ignored on the side table, as the rest of the room eavesdropped in intrigue.

"I have taken a small liberty," Mr Thwaite said finally to the room at large. "I hope you will not consider it an imposition."

Mrs Bennet leaned forward in interest. "Not at all, Mr Thwaite. Whatever it is, we are most grateful."

"I have been issued vouchers for the forthcoming ball at Almack’s. It is considered one of the more notable events of the early season. Several families of consequence will attend and the music is generally of a high order. I thought it might be of interest."

"Oh Mr Thwaite, you are far too kind, too generous!" Mrs Bennet cried.

"Does one not need vouchers to attend?" Elizabeth asked, for she knew this to be true.

“Indeed, Miss Elizabeth. However, my mother is acquainted with one of the Lady Patronesses, and thus I was about to secure them. I have also instructed my coachman that the other carriage is at the family's disposal for the duration of your stay. It will be available whenever you wish to use it."

"And a carriage as well! You will accompany us to the ball, of course. You must. We would not hear of anything else."

"You are very kind, but I shall not attend. I have had a considerable number of years of subscription balls behind me and have found, on reflection, that I do not miss them. I hope that will not diminish the enjoyment of those who do attend."

"Certainly not," Mrs Bennet replied, her expression conveying a passing flicker of regret that was rapidly suppressed by the excitement of the ball itself. "We shall need to arrange for new gowns. We cannot possibly attend a subscription ball at Almack’s in what we brought from Hertfordshire. Muslin, I think, for Jane, or would silk be more the thing? One must have new gloves at the very least, and perhaps something for the hair…"

"We only need purchase necessary items, Mama," Elizabeth said.