Pride Prejudice and Perplexity

A Husband for Mary

Chapter Four – A Husband for Mary

It was difficult to tell who was the most excited as the ladies dressed themselves to dine at Netherfield – Mrs Bennet or Mary, who was full of the fanciful hopes and expectations to which her mother had given rise.

When the Bennets arrived at Netherfield, they were greeted with charm and warmth by Mr Bingley – and cold civility by Miss Bingley. Several local families beside themselves were also invited, for Mr Bingley found himself in the debt of many, due to his inability to return the generous hospitality he had enjoyed in the neighbourhood, prior the arrival of his sister.

Elizabeth observed that Caroline Bingley was equally cold and reserved with all her guests – nevertheless, she discharged her duties as hostess with requisite decorum. There was, however, one person for whom she reserved undisguised disdain – her cousin, Captain Radford. She declined to introduce him to her guests, who, except for the Bennets, had yet to make his acquaintance; and thus the office fell upon her brother, whose embarrassment, and consciousness of the slight, was evident to the entire company.

When the time came to enter the dining room, Miss Bingley protested that she was so little acquainted with the company that she would rather not accept responsibility for assigning them places at the table and begged them to decide the seating arrangements amongst themselves. Mrs Bennet immediately stepped forward to assist, for she was determined to seat Mary beside Captain Radford; and upon observing that gentleman move towards a place near the head of the table, she instructed Mary to take the seat beside his. The Captain held Mary's chair for her, as she seated herself; however Mrs Bennet's satisfaction at this gallantry was short-lived, for he then walked down the table to similarly assist Elizabeth in seating herself, before proceeding to take the empty seat between Elizabeth and her mother.

Though displeased at this setback, Mrs Bennet nevertheless took advantage of having the Captain as her neighbour, to advance her cause. “I have heard, Captain Radford, that you are not planning to return to sea?”

He nodded. “That is correct, Madam. I have given quite enough of my life to the service of King Neptune and country, and now find myself ready for other adventures.”

“Adventures? Surely not, sir! A gentleman, at your time of life, should be thinking of settling himself somewhere.”

“Oh! But I am far too young for that! No, I was thinking, perhaps, of joining an expeditionary party of some kind. If you will excuse my lack of modesty, I may tell you that my expertise in map-making and navigation is well known and respected in naval circles.”

Mrs Bennet was impressed neither with his professed abilities, nor his wish to be an explorer – for she had never heard of one who had become rich. “I am pleased to hear, sir, that you are seeking some kind of occupation; but would it not be safer, and vastly more comfortable, to choose something more in the common way?”

“What would you recommend, Madam?”

“Mr Bennet informs me that you are an educated man. Have you considered taking vows and becoming a clergyman? With the right kind of patronage, you might receive a very handsome living – and if you were to take for yourself a diligent and sensible wife to oversee your establishment, you might enjoy a very comfortable life,” she added, looking pointedly up the table towards where sat her daughter, Mary.

The Captain, who was immediately alive to Mrs Bennet's scheme, decided it would be best to disabuse her of the possibility of its fruition at the earliest moment – before she began speculating on possible professions for her future grandchildren. “I have the greatest respect for the church, Madam; but I believe that to serve it is a calling from God, Himself – and I must tell you that He has not called upon me.”

Elizabeth struggled not to laugh, and quickly looked away from her father, sitting opposite, who was highly diverted at his wife's clumsy attempts at forwarding her silly scheme, and the Captain's adroit deflection, in so polite and subtle a manner that her mother did not comprehend, in the least, what he was about.

Mrs Bennet was not to be so easily denied. “Oh, I do not believe that anyone takes that sort of thing very seriously these days – why, my husband has a cousin, a Mr Collins, who has done prodigiously well for himself as a clergyman; and I am sure that he has received no such calling. His patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, treats him with the greatest affability and condescension imaginable, and is constantly inviting him and his wife to dine with her at Rosings Park, a most splendid residence, or to make up her pool of quadrille of an evening. Why, Lizzy, you stayed with the Collinses above two months, not so very long ago – pray tell the Captain how it is with them, and of their charming and comfortable rectory at Hunsford.”

Unlike her father, Elizabeth was embarrassed, rather than amused, at her mother's absurd performance, and was happy to have the attention of the Captain diverted in her direction. After saying something on the beauty of the park at Rosings, she took the opportunity of turning the subject. Fortunately, Lady Lucas had engaged her mother with some news from a recent letter of her daughter, Mrs Collins.

“I dare say that life on the high seas is not all adventure and excitement, and that a sailor must sometimes encounter hours of boredom, also,” ventured Elizabeth.

“Volunteer seaman and midshipmen are always kept busy; even when a ship is becalmed or in the doldrums – for inactivity induces mischief, and is not at all conducive to good morale. Fortunately, there are an endless number of tasks to be performed to keep a vessel shipshape. Officers, however, often find them themselves with time on their hands, and, you may be surprised to learn, that many are content to happily pass an idle hour with a book. I must confess that I always had one at hand for any opportunity afforded me.”

“And what is your taste, sir?”

“My great-aunt taught me to love Shakespeare and Donne, and I am also very fond of Marvel, Milton, and Pope, amongst others.”

“You are a lover of poetry, then?”

“Indeed so; both of reading it, and, upon occasion, of composing verse my own – or at least attempting it.”

“I too, enjoy poetry,” said Elizabeth, “although only as a reader. Should you care to show me something of your own, I would be most happy to see it.”

Bowing his head deferentially, the Captain replied, “Thank you, Miss Bennet, you are most kind. However I would prefer to wait until one of the quarterlies has deemed my work of a sufficiently high quality to publish it. I intend to send something off for consideration in the near future – as soon as I am completely satisfied with it.”

Mrs Bennet, who had turned her attention back to Captain Radford and heard this last speech, exclaimed, “Good heavens, sir, writing poetry is all very well and good, but I have never heard of anyone ever becoming rich from it – or even obtaining a comfortable living!”

“Yes, I fear you are quite right, Madam, most especially in my own case; and I do not for one moment entertain the conceit that I have the skill to live by my pen.”

“Then you had far better become a clergyman! Once you are well-settled with a good living – why, you will have all the time in the world to write poetry, as well as sermons. I warrant you, sir, there is no better occupation you could choose, that would afford you such luxury of time.” Mrs Bennet was most pleased with herself, and felt that the Captain must see the good sense of which she spoke. Perhaps she might have him for a son, after all.

“But I can think of an endeavour, superior even to the church, which would satisfy the purpose of affording me all the time that I could wish for, in pursuing my love of poetry.”

“I cannot think to what you can be alluding, sir,” said Mrs Bennet, perplexed.

The Captain did not immediately oblige her by providing an answer to his riddle.

“I think, sir,” said Elizabeth, “that you must be contemplating marrying a young lady of fortune, for nothing else answers.”

The Captain remained silent, as did Mrs Bennet, who turned away, most displeased at this revelation, which, if true, must deal a fatal blow to her schemes, and any likelihood that she might succeed in prevailing upon the gentleman to play his part in them.

However, the most surprising response came from Caroline Bingley, who was sitting close by, and had, apparently, been following the conversation. She did not address her cousin, but turned rather towards her brother, and in a harsh voice, loud enough for others to hear, she said, “There, Charles, is it not just as I said? I believe I can recognise a fortune-hunter when I meet one.”

Mr Bingley was at a loss for words; and observing her sister, Jane, in evident confusion, Elizabeth felt obliged to speak. “You are, I think, unreasonably hard on your cousin, Miss Bingley. I was unaware that society deemed it reprehensible or immoral, for a gentleman to wish to marry for money. Indeed, I have heard of many a gentleman who has done so without attracting the least censure.”

“You must be thinking, Miss Bennet, of gentlemen of good family and fine connections; such as a younger son of a noble family, perhaps. In such a case there can be no disapprobation at him wishing to marry a wealthy woman of a lesser rank. But that is hardly the case here,” she added contemptuously.

“I suspect, Miss Bingley, that you confuse money for rank,” replied Elizabeth cryptically. She was certain that Caroline, who consequently determined to drop the subject altogether, comprehended her meaning; and the faint smile upon the Captain's face convinced her that he, likewise, understood. Caroline behaved as if her own rank was vastly superior to that of Captain Radford, yet their mothers were sisters, and her father's rank was the same as theirs – and very likely little, if at all, higher than that of the Captain's father. The only significant difference between their parents was wealth.

Elizabeth was pleased to have silenced the supercilious Miss Bingley, but could neither forgive, nor comprehend, her cruel and ill-mannered attack upon her cousin, who was a guest in her brother's house. While it was evident that Caroline was most displeased with her brother's choice of bride, and severely put-out at having to entertain the Bennets and his other unrefined country acquaintances, she managed to carry it off in a manner which she, at least, believed attested to her fine breeding. However, when it came to her cousin, Captain Radford, Elizabeth perceived an implacable resentment, for which she was unable to account. Had he been a rude, ill-mannered, and uneducated man, whose relationship advertised the common lowly origins of their families in trade – a circumstance which Caroline assiduously dissembled – it might have been comprehensible. But he was polite and well-mannered, and his mind considerably better informed than those of his cousins. Furthermore, a naval captain, if not quite the social equal of a gentleman of rank, whose noble family went back generations, such as Mr Darcy, was nevertheless, unquestioningly accepted in society as a gentleman. His only failing, that Elizabeth could comprehend, was a lack of wealth – which was a common enough circumstance.

Although she felt embarrassed on his behalf, Elizabeth perceived that Captain Radford was little troubled on that head. She had previously noticed that he was an acute observer of human nature, and she admired the manner in which he treated Miss Bingley's self-interested conceit and pettiness with the indifference they deserved.

When the ladies later withdrew, Elizabeth was surprised to be approached by Caroline Bingley, who guided her to a part of the drawing room away from the other ladies, evidently intent upon sharing some confidence or other. “You may wonder, Miss Bennet, at my reservations regarding Captain Radford, and the strength of my reaction to the mention of his wishing to make his fortune by marriage.”

Elizabeth said nothing, but her expression indicated her genuine lack of comprehension in the matter.

“When my brother first wrote to me, informing me that he had received a letter from a gentleman claiming to be our relative, I was immediately on my guard. Charles is the most naïve and trusting of young men, who takes everyone and everything at face value, and is consequently very easily imposed upon by those who are unworthy of his trust; but I am not so! None of us had ever heard of this cousin prior to his writing to Charles. Our mother had once mentioned a younger sister, who had died not many years after marrying; but no mention was ever made of children.

“You can hardly wonder at my deep suspicion of the man's assertion that he is our cousin. And just supposing, for a moment, that he truly is whom he claims to be – why, I ask myself, would he wish to make contact with that part of his family who, by his own account, made it clear a generation ago – and, by their sustained avoidance, continue to declare – that they do not wish to know him?”

“You must ask your cousin that question,” said Elizabeth, satirically, well aware that Caroline did not wish to hear any explanation of hers, and had, indeed, already decided the answer for herself.

“I refuse to speak to that man!” she exclaimed angrily. “I immediately wrote to my brother, advising him, in the strongest language, not to reply; an opinion in which I was joined by my sister, Mrs Hurst. But by the time my letter had arrived, Charles, impetuous as always, had written to acknowledge the relationship, and invited the man to Netherfield as his guest! It had never even crossed his mind that this Captain Radford might well be an imposter! How do we know that he is, indeed, related to us?”

“The only person capable of satisfying you is Captain Radford, himself; and if you refuse to speak with him, then you can neither prove nor disprove your suspicions regarding the gentleman,” said Elizabeth with a wry smile. From her own conversations with him, she was quite certain that he was who he claimed to be, and found it entirely comprehensible that a man, alone in the world, without any other relations, should wish to know the few that he had.

“I shall certainly not speak with him on that, or any other matter!” exclaimed Caroline. “Regardless of his bona fides, his intent is perfectly obvious.”

Elizabeth said nothing, but raised a questioning eyebrow.

“When I first learned of his existence, and his desire to make our acquaintance, it was apparent to me that he must be some poor relative – if, indeed he is our relative at all – who means to impose himself upon my brother's generous nature, and to live at his expense. However, when I eventually arrived in Hertfordshire, and suffered the odious obligation of being introduced to the man, I realised straight away that his plans were far more ambitious than I had hitherto given him credit for. Having learned of my twenty thousand pounds, he had decided to woo me for my fortune – hoping to live a life of ease at my expense; which was the reason for my cutting comment to my brother at the dinner table, when the Captain all but admitted his scheme – for I had warned my brother, several times, of what his new-found friend was about.”

Elizabeth had to struggle hard not to laugh at such an improbable surmise. “I must tell you, Miss Bingley, that I have not noticed the slightest indication of any preference for you, or indeed, of any such scheme, in the Captain's behaviour.” It amused her to consider that the Captain showed no greater interest in Caroline than did Mr Darcy; an opinion which she strongly suspected Miss Bingley would not care to hear. “And if you recall, it was I, and not Captain Radford, who suggested that he must be thinking of marrying a lady of fortune. It was said light-heartedly, for amusement. But you, at least, appear not to be amused,” said Elizabeth teasingly.

Miss Bingley glared at her, evidently angry that she would not take her seriously. “You were not there, Miss Bennet, when first he arrived. He treated me with all the gallantry and charm of a suitor. If he now treats me otherwise, it is only because I have so assiduously rebuffed all his advances, and made it plain that I do not enjoy his society.”

“You perhaps mistook his genuine happiness at making the acquaintance of a near relative for something else?” Though she did not say it, Elizabeth was certain that this was all an absurd fantasy of Miss Bingley's. “In any case, I have observed that Captain Radford treats every lady with gallantry and charm; do you imagine that he wishes to marry them all?”

“Certainly not yourself, or your sister, Mary,” sneered Caroline. “Neither one of you could be of interest to a fortune-hunter, such as Captain Radford.”

“Then you will be pleased to hear, that while I find him a most amiable and well-informed young man, I have not the slightest wish to receive his addresses; and since, by your own argument, he can hardly have any intention of paying them, his polite attentions must spring from disinterest, and thus show him in an entirely favourable light.”

Elizabeth was keenly aware that though they were speaking of Captain Radford, they were both of them very conscious of another gentleman, whose name neither of them chose to utter. She well-remembered Caroline's suspicions and jealousy when they had last been in the same room as Mr Darcy, on the morning she and her Aunt Gardiner had come to wait upon Georgiana at Pemberley. Caroline's present demeanour betrayed an awareness that she continued to consider her a rival; and she would doubtless have understood that the marriage of her brother to Jane, must, to Elizabeth's advantage, necessarily throw her into Mr Darcy's company a great deal – and perhaps offset, to some degree, the harm done to her chances by her younger sister's disgrace.

When she had just now said that she had not the slightest wish to receive Captain Radford's addresses, Elizabeth might well have added, “For there is another whose addresses I have not yet learned to despair of receiving.” But Miss Bingley was the last person in all the world to whom she would confess such a desire.

“Show him in a favourable light, do you call it?” exclaimed Miss Bingley incredulously. “If you cannot imagine why the rogue should favour you with his attentions, and truly believe that he acts from disinterest, then you are as naïve as your younger sister,” said Caroline, with a malicious smirk.

Elizabeth turned away angrily, and walked over to where her mother was conversing with Lady Lucas. She was quite certain that Captain Radford had no such purpose in mind, and it discomposed her greatly that Caroline should attribute such a motive, and use such an insulting appellation in describing her cousin, whom doubtless, she was well aware, harboured no such intent. If, in fact, his object was to marry his wealthy cousin, of which Caroline appeared convinced, then a dalliance with herself, or any other lady, would sink his chances. This was obviously all about the unspoken gentleman in their conversation: Mr Darcy. Caroline believed – and perhaps not without reason – that Lydia's disgrace must materially damage her rival's prospects, and sought the pleasure of gloating over it before her. It discomposed her greatly, for it was the very question which she had, herself, pondered many an hour, without any conclusion as to how great that damage was, and if it had really put an end to her hopes.

When the gentlemen joined them, Captain Radford sat beside Elizabeth, and began relating an amusing anecdote from his seafaring days, which her father had found most diverting. Looking up, she was unable to avoid a smile of smug satisfaction on the face of Miss Bingley. Her mother, meanwhile, was loudly exhorting Mary to play for them, clearly hoping that her daughter might conquer the Captain's heart with what she imagined to be her prodigious musical talent. Elizabeth exchanged a look of resignation with Jane, as Mary self-consciously made her way to the pianoforte. She had chosen a Haydn composition, which Elizabeth recalled hearing her sister practising continuously for the past several days. Regrettably, the complexity of the piece required a virtuosity several notches above that which her sister had attained. Yet at the end of it, she blithely smiled with satisfaction at her audience, singling out Captain Radford for her warmest regard.

Elizabeth felt certain that Caroline Bingley would take Mary's place at the instrument as soon as her torturous performance was finished; but to her dismay, Caroline smiled encouragingly towards her sister, eager for her to continue the embarrassing spectacle, to which only Mary and her mother appeared oblivious. Mary, eager as always to impress the company – and one listener in particular – with the fruit of her many hours of diligent practice, commenced another equally difficult piece, with even less success than the first. Both Jane and her father looked entreatingly at Elizabeth, and when Mary had fumbled her way to the end, and Caroline Bingley again made no attempt to displace her from the pianoforte, but instead, silently entreated her to continue, Elizabeth felt obliged to offer herself, for Mary was already triumphantly thumbing her way through her music sheets, in search of a third piece with which to impress her imagined admirers.

Elizabeth sang an old English air with more than her usual application, for she was determined to redeem some family honour; and so well did she succeed, and so greatly was her performance appreciated – most especially after that which had preceded it – that the company enthusiastically requested another song. But sadly, they were denied; for Caroline Bingley, though happy to see Mary Bennet make a spectacle of herself, was entirely unwilling to witness her sister being so warmly received; and thus was Elizabeth obliged to give way to her at the instrument.

As they returned home in their carriage, Mrs Bennet talked incessantly about what Jane should do with this room or that piece of furniture when she became mistress of Netherfield Park. Mr Bennet escaped to his library the moment they arrived home, having listened to the conversation of his wife for far longer than gave him pleasure.

The ladies took tea in the parlour, and Mrs Bennet was in high spirits, and was not to be denied. “Mary played very well, I thought; I am certain that Captain Radford cannot but have been impressed. Do you not agree, Lizzy?” she demanded, forcing her daughter to look up from her book. But fortunately, before she could think of a reply that might satisfy both her mother and the truth, her mother resumed speaking. “It is only unfortunate, Lizzy, that you should have forced Mary to quit the instrument after only two pieces, when her performance was so very much admired by all the company. Although I am, I concede, no great judge of music, I could not but help observe Miss Bingley, herself a great musical proficient, encouraging Mary to continue. And your own performance was clearly wanting, for it was evident to the entire company that Miss Bingley was eager to remove you from the pianoforte as soon as may be.

“Do not think me unhappy, child, that your performance was wanting – on the contrary, nothing could have pleased me more; for it will have made a very poor impression on Captain Radford, and I was becoming concerned that he might favour you over Mary, after he sat beside you at the table. But on consideration, I am now of the opinion that he favours Mary.”

“Do you really think so, Mamma?” asked Mary hopefully. Her vanity was flattered to think that any man might prefer her over any of her sisters.

Elizabeth thought it most unwise of her mother to encourage Mary in such a hopeless fantasy. “I think, Mamma, that my sister would not be so eager if she had heard the conversation at our end of the table.”

“Of what are you speaking, child?”

“Only that Captain Radford made it plain that he has no intention of taking vows.”

“Did he say he does not intend to take vows?” asked Mary, uncomprehendingly; for she could not imagine why any moral and upstanding gentleman should not be eager to serve the Lord, and find joy each week in delivering a sermon, and chastising his congregation for their wrongdoings. Mary was not in the least way in love with the Captain – she was in love with the picture she had fashioned of herself, as a clergyman's wife.

“Oh, I don't know,” answered her mother. “He said some nonsense about not having been called by God, but I cannot imagine that he was serious, for he wishes to write poetry; and nothing would suit him better, to that end, than the comfortable life of clergyman, which would afford him all the time in the world to indulge in his poetry writing – and I told him so, most forcefully.”

“If he does not wish to serve God, and would only become a clergyman to have an easy life, and to write poetry – and I have read that some of the modern poets are entirely dissolute and immoral – then I would not wish to marry him.”

“Don't be silly, girl, you will very probably never get another chance; you should set your cap at Captain Radford!”

“I should rather not marry at all,” said Mary, self-righteously, “than marry a man who was not moral and religious.”

“In any case, Mamma,” said Jane, “I have seen not the slightest indication, nor heard any suggestion from Bingley, that his cousin has the least preference for Mary. I do not think it wise to encourage her hopes.”

Mrs Bennet sighed, but said nothing, for upon reviewing the visit, she could find not a single moment she could point to, that in any way supported her presumption; so she turned instead on Elizabeth. “And don't you start imagining that he might do for you, Lizzy, for though he sat beside you at the table, and then again in the drawing room, he has no money to marry on; and if he does not take vows, then he very likely never will; and in any case, did you not hear him say that he was intending to marry a young lady of fortune?”

Elizabeth considered pointing out that this last remark had been her own supposition, made in jest, and that the Captain had neither affirmed it nor made any such statement himself; but rather than give her mother reason to continue belabouring the subject, she wisely chose to return to her book.

~~~~~

In the weeks leading up to Jane's wedding, there was much excitement at Longbourn and a succession of engagements around the neighbourhood. Elizabeth found herself often in the company of Captain Radford, and had her heart not already been full of another, she might well have developed a preference for him. She always found him charming, his conversation well informed, and all of his opinions pleasing. How any young lady could find him disagreeable, she could not imagine; but Miss Bingley scrupulously maintained her haughty disdain.

Unlike her sister, Elizabeth was not obliged to feign friendship with Caroline; and on those occasions that she and Miss Bingley found themselves together in the same room, they were equally satisfied to eschew the company of the other, in so far as good manners permitted. In contrast to his sister, Charles Bingley evinced a genuine affection for his new-found cousin, whom he clearly looked up to as his superior in knowledge of the world. In the absence of his friend, Darcy, he came to rely greatly upon his cousin's opinions and support.

Elizabeth sometimes wondered what were Captain Radford's feelings for herself, for he almost always singled her out for attention. Whenever there was dancing – of which he was fond – he would always offer himself as her partner, and he often sought her out in the drawing room for conversation, which she invariably found pleasing. She hoped that he was not falling in love with her; and on the whole, she thought it improbable. Her mother, however, thought otherwise, and was constantly reminding her that he had no money; which was a happy recollection – for if he had no money, and knowing that neither did she, he must be on his guard.

Not every single man – whether he be in possession of a good fortune or not – must necessarily be in want of a wife, as her mother steadfastly believed; and Elizabeth suspected that the Captain, presently, had not the least idea of settling himself – despite her mother's exhortations.

As the day of the wedding drew nearer, Elizabeth was impatient for news of Mr Darcy's return into Hertfordshire. She sometimes reflected on the uncertainty of what the future might hold with regard to that gentleman. Would he acquit himself of blame with regard to Lydia, and silence the rumours concerning himself and her sister? And if he did, had Lydia's disgrace materially damaged her own chances; and were his affections for her much altered since Derbyshire?

Mrs Bennet's dislike of Mr Darcy was as resolute as Caroline Bingley's of her cousin. “That disgraceful man, who has ruined my poor Lydia; I care not how much money he has – he shall never enter this house – not even for the wedding breakfast – though he be Bingley's groomsman!”

Jane managed to avert the consequent embarrassment that this must necessarily cause her future husband, by arranging for the wedding breakfast to be held at Netherfield. When her mother learned of the alteration, she was furious. “It is not proper, Jane! The wedding breakfast must be in the bride's house!”

“No, Mamma,” reasoned Elizabeth, “I have heard that in London, it may be held anywhere, and very often it takes place in public rooms.”

“What do I care for what they do in London? This is not London!” snapped her mother. “That is not the way we do it here! And remember, Bingley is to give a ball before the wedding, so the breakfast must be here!”

“But Mamma,” remonstrated Jane, “There will be a great many guests, and Netherfield Park has far larger rooms for the purpose, and many servants, also. Think of all the trouble it must mean for you, hiring additional servants, and making all the arrangements.”

“Well, if you insist,” replied her mother, thinking perhaps she might prefer to leave all the trouble to Miss Bingley. “Then we must have all the Netherfield ladies and gentlemen for a dinner party, a day or two before the wedding. I imagine that Mr and Mrs Hurst will be down by then. They must all come – everyone – except for that abominable Mr Darcy!”