The Warmth of Her Affection by Fulbrook Elsie

Author:Fulbrook, Elsie [Fulbrook, Elsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2023-02-05T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

With two weddings to plan, Mrs Bennet was in a stew of emotions unlike any her daughters had seen before. They had given her, if not a calmer manner, at least a tangible event on which to focus her enthusiasm. Mr Bingley’s dinner party, however, had somehow lodged in her mind as a particularly significant event. She therefore exhorted her daughters to dress as finely as it was within their power to do, and perhaps slightly finer.

Mary was soon exempted from this instruction on the understanding she was to adorn herself appropriately to her future married state. The clothes Mary considered suitable for a clergyman’s wife, however, differed somewhat from her mother’s idea of the same. It took Jane, acting as intermediary between the two, to quietly persuade Mary to add some light trim to one of her dresses.

The effect was to immediately soften the severity of Mary’s costume, and Mrs Bennet pronounced she would do very well. Having thus achieved maternal approval without moving too far beyond the bounds of her own taste, Mary resolved to trim one or two of her other dresses in a similar manner, in the hope it would be acceptable to her future husband to see her so adorned.

Lydia and Kitty required no encouragement to dress up in a level of finery rather excessive for a dinner party, attiring themselves in all the lace and fripperies they owned. It took all of Jane’s most careful persuasion to convince them to simplify their costume.

Jane herself favoured a simpler style, but on the eve of the dinner received a visit from Mr Bingley and an elegant necklace, which she accepted with a deep blush. Some small amendments to the rest of her outfit were necessary to complement the jewellery, and Mrs Bennet beamed at her with delight.

Elizabeth, as was not unusual, had the most difficult time of it from her mother. Mrs Bennet was determined Mr Darcy’s most recent visit was a sure proof of his interest, and that Elizabeth ought to be dressed with all of the elegance of London society. Her daughter was equally convinced she would be much more comfortable, and therefore much better company, if she dressed as she always did. Elizabeth’s will eventually won out over her mother’s, but she had to pay the price of a great deal of protestation.

“Well, I only hope Mr Darcy does not have his head turned another way! For you will be sorry then and wish you had listened to your mother! Oh, my nerves cannot stand it. I shall have such a headache! I shall be able to think of nothing but your waywardness all day!”

Having got her way, Elizabeth nevertheless dressed with particular care. She was not immune to the knowledge that the engagements of two Bennet daughters would throw their family into the centre of all the local gossip, and wished to acquit herself well at the first social occasion where both engagements would be common knowledge. If she had any

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