fascinating. Jonathan, seated on the opposite side of the table, next to Catriona Fitzwilliam, was challenged by that lively young lady on the subject of natural history.
“Your sister frightened us all very considerably by introducing us to a spider, Mr. Collins. She mentions worms and snails and slugs with great aplomb. And she tells us that this is a subject in which you are guiding her footsteps. Pray tell me, is it the custom in your family to frighten young ladies?”
Jonathan laughed. Eliza had already mentioned the incident of the spider. He began to discuss, in a light- hearted way, the importance of spiders in the insect world, but also, keeping a solemn face, introduced the large and furry tarantula, the bird-eating spiders of the tropics, and the deadly Black Widow. There were gasps of horror and exclamations from the young ladies. Miss Bingley tried to change the subject (“So disagreeable to the female sex. Quite unsuitable,” she said. She was aware that Lucy’s eyes were fixed on Jonathan.), but other people began to pay attention and, before long, Lord Charles Baluster took Jonathan up. Lord Charles had friends at the Royal Society, it seemed, and he led Jonathan on to talk about his studies at Cambridge, and what he knew about the voyage of the Beagle, and that very odd young man, Mr. Darwin. Science, natural history, paleontology, mycology, ornithology—all were the talk of the day for rational men. The conversation became general. Jonathan, a social being, quiet but not shy, expanded under such encouragement and began to talk, at first amusingly, then more seriously, about the work being done on the understanding of the natural world. His manner before the older men was good, modest but confident. There was a great burgeoning of interest in all things considered part of nature. Collecting was a new enthusiasm. Rocks, fossils, insects, marine animals, birds’ eggs—shore and cliff, forest and hedgerow were pillaged in the interest of science. Much as Mr. Bennet had once collected books, a gentlemanly hobby, educated men now brought home the products of earth rather than the artifacts of man.
When the men were left to their port, Elizabeth Darcy led the ladies to the Chinese drawing room on the first floor, which opened into the music room. Juliet was eager for an informal dance when the men should join the ladies, and her mother saw no reason to refuse. “Certainly, my dear,” she said. “If you can find a willing pianist.”
Miss Douglass was quick to volunteer. She was a lively, talkative lady in early middle age, equally fond of society and her young charges, and always ready to forward their happiness. When the men entered, Juliet swirled her way over to them, her white skirts flaring round her, and seized her cousin Torquil’s hand.
“Henry! Henry?” As Henry turned to Eliza, Miss Bingley bustled forward, inserting herself between them. “Your cousin Lucy—there she is, she’s waiting for you, Henry. Lucy? Here’s Henry to ask you to dance.”
Country dances were thought the most suitable, and Miss Douglass’s fingers flew across the keys.
Fitz paired at once with Amabel, Catriona held out her hand to Jonathan, and Eliza found herself with Anthony Bingley, with whom she had barely exchanged a word. She found him a pleasant conversationalist, gentle and friendly.
Miss Bingley seated herself by Charlotte, with much arrangement of skirts and settling of flounces.
“How do you do, Mrs. Collins. It is an age since we last met.Why, it must have been at Netherfield Park!” She gave Charlotte no chance to do more than smile and nod, but continued to speak.
“Look at Henry and dear Lucy,” she said complacently. “A charming couple, don’t you agree? They have been devoted since childhood. A betrothal would be delightful—the whole family would be pleased. So suitable, so eminently desirable, don’t you think, Mrs. Collins?”
Charlotte watched Lucy and Henry moving sedately down the dance. There seemed no special connection between them. She remembered Elizabeth telling her of Miss Bingley’s attempt to cut out Jane Bennet from her brother’s affections and marry him off to Georgiana Darcy, all those years ago. Miss Bingley, it seemed, did not change
“You don’t feel that there is perhaps too close a relationship, that there might be too much involvement in the family with cousins?”
“Too much, Mrs. Collins? How so?”
“Mrs. Darcy tells me that Fitzwilliam is wild to marry his cousin, Amabel. That seems a certainty. Then Henry and Lucy—if they have indeed ever thought of such a thing—again cousins?”
“But the Bingleys and the Balusters are not related!”
“That is hardly the point, Miss Bingley.”
“Then what is the point, Mrs. Collins?”
“The health of the Darcy family tree, Miss Bingley.”
“Your family seems to have a strong interest in scientific theory, if that is what it can be called, Mrs. Collins. I find it distasteful in the extreme, and hardly a suitable study for females. Not a subject for the dinner table,” said Miss Bingley, with an angry titter. “Unseemly, to say the least. The dear Queen must be our model in such things. But perhaps you have a more personal interest at stake? Do not imagine that the family will encourage your ambitions.”
And she rose and swept away, with an angry rustle of taffeta underskirts and jet bead trimming.
She found a seat close to Elizabeth Darcy and Georgiana Baluster and sat in irritated silence for a few moments, watching as a new dance began. She jerked at the jet beads trimming her sleeves, and played with her bracelets. Catriona Fitzwilliam had claimed Henry, she noticed with approval; Lucy now danced with Fitz Darcy. At least there should be no waltzes that evening, Miss Bingley decided, if she could have her way. No immodest close partnerings. Her hands were never still.
“Caroline,” said Georgiana at that moment. “I wish you might not be forever persuading Lucy into thinking herself delicate. She is no such thing. Those of us who have seen her romping with her brothers, playing at cavalry charges or Knights of the Round Table, know that at times she might well be taken for a hoyden! She is only just out and is still somewhat overawed by large gatherings, but that is just a little natural shyness. Her quietness has nothing to do with her health.
“She tells me she finds Eliza Collins a very pleasant companion. They were together some hours this afternoon—they discovered a litter of puppies in the kennels, and some tabby kittens in the stable yard. Lucy enjoyed herself very much. I am always pleased when Lucy finds a new friend.”
“Do you really think that a desirable friendship, dear Lady Charles? I was dismayed to see Miss Collins make such a dead set at Lucy—so obviously thinking it would be to her advantage to ingratiate herself. I have no doubt her mama encouraged her to do so. I believe Mrs. Collins was once a friend of yours, Mrs. Darcy? A respectable family, no doubt—though her father was in trade, as I remember? But Mr. Collins, who is he? A minor clergyman, living on the bounty of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, hanging on the Darcy family coattails.” Miss Bingley remembered belatedly that Mr. Collins was a distant connection of Mrs. Darcy. She coughed and touched her lips with her lace handkerchief.
“But Miss Collins hardly shines in the company of our young people,” Miss Bingley went on. “Dear Juliet. And Amabel. Quite beautiful! And Catriona so remarkably handsome. And of course dearest Lucy. I must confess I find Eliza Collins sadly plain. Her face is too thin, her complexion has no brilliancy, and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way, and as for her eyes, they have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all.” Miss Bingley paused at the end of this speech, visited suddenly by a strong sense of déjà vu. Where had she heard those words before? Had she perhaps said them herself on another occasion? She dismissed the idea from her thoughts.
“Indeed?” said Elizabeth coldly. She noticed Henry’s sober face. Catriona Fitzwilliam, sparkle as she may, did not seem to be amusing him. Eliza was partnered by her brother. She watched them dancing down the center of the set, Eliza smiling, her feet light, her simple blue dress floating round her. Jonathan too looked happy; he seemed to be teasing his sister. He whispered something in her ear and she laughed up at him. The eyes Miss Bingley had just finished criticizing danced with mischief. Eliza’s little pointed face was alive with enjoyment. ‘How can anyone call her plain?’ Elizabeth thought. The pair were obviously well accustomed to dancing together; they showed no disinclination. Juliet would consider it unfashionable to dance with her brother, thought Elizabeth. She might well be petulant. She watched Eliza and Jonathan with pleasure. The young Collinses were a pleasant pair. The situation was not one to which they were accustomed, but their manners were simple and natural. Despite her initial prejudice, she was coming to like both Jonathan and Eliza.
The final figure was performed and the set broke up, the dancers seeking refreshment. Lemonade was served, and the tea tray was brought in. Someone opened a window, and there was an outcry by Miss Bingley:
