Now, now, where is she? A man cannot seek some privacy for a moment without immediately being abandoned by his wife. If only she had left me to fetch some more of this ale Bingley has been serving! But no, she’s probably chatting and babbling with any available female…
Oh no! They’re having a fat tummy meeting… Soon they will compare the size of their bellies. Maybe I could enter the competition as well… There’s no chance I would win against Mrs. Collins, though; to be true, all of them could beat me easily… Mrs. Collins is an easy winner, I wonder why Collins let her make the fifty-mile trip. If she does not give birth on the way back, he may consider himself lucky! My Louisa is not so far behind, but I know why I let her make the trip from London. Had I not consented, I would not have had one moment of peace in the next three months at least… Amazing how a normally tiresome woman becomes barely bearable when she’s expecting. As for Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Darcy, ‘tis hard to tell who is ahead but they’re sure well into it as well. Now… Darcy got leg-shackled about a month after Bingley, didn’t he? Eh, eh, eh! Either Mrs. Darcy has a very healthy appetite, or…
Ah! I see some commotion at the door; would they be starting to serve the food at last? I cannot expect a ragout, though… Why Bingley did have to invite all his tenants? Why did he have to invite us with his tenants? A potato harvest feast, I ask you! As if he didn’t eat enough potatoes every day! I pity Netherfield’s cook…
"Here come the potatoes," said Kitty in a fake disgusted tone. "I wonder what Cook invented this time. For that matter, I wonder how she manages to still invent dishes; Jane has had potatoes served at every meal since she got married…"
Georgiana giggled. "I know for sure Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Nicholls are frequent correspondents on this matter. I suppose our French cook would not agree to send his secrets to Netherfield’s cook."
"Poor Georgia, I had forgotten you were subjected to this tubercle addiction far more frequently than I!"
"It’s true that Pemberley’s table is regularly adorned with potato-based dishes!" she replied impishly. "But Lizzy takes care to consult me on the menu, so I cannot complain. And I’m sure she shall also take your opinion into account when you’re staying with us."
"I’m so happy I was invited! I cannot wait to discover Pemberley and the new vicar in Kyptom…" she wiggled her eyebrows.
Georgiana pinched her lips to prevent a very unladylike burst of laughter. "I’m so happy to have you with us too. I have so many things – and I said things – to show you. Pemberley at the end of the summer is so beautiful! Lizzy has not changed a room since she arrived; in fact, the only real change she’s made so far is the renewal of the greenhouse. There are now so many palm trees in there that a Bedouin would probably feel at home!"
Kitty laughed, slightly amazed at her own ability to understand her friend’s words; miraculous how following Georgiana’s hints and venturing in her father’s library had improved her mind… "Well, I bet she will soon renew the nursery as well. Are the Darcy babies usually fat or does she eat too much?"
"I was the last Darcy baby, Kitty, I cannot tell."
"I’m sorry Georgia, that was a very unfeeling question."
"It’s alright, Kitty, don’t make yourself uneasy," she said earnestly, patting her friend’s arm.
"Do you know where Mr. Darcy is? He’s not with Lizzy…"
"And that is most surprising news!" Georgiana replied, realising with her words how her sister’s behaviour had changed her.
After they had been served, had tasted and enjoyed the Hachis Parmentier (a recipe condescendingly given by Monsieur Brisson to Mrs. Simmons), Kitty turned towards her friend and whispered to her, "Tell me more about the new vicar, is he handsome? Can he compare with an officer?"
Well, I cannot say I didn’t like it, but will Jane ever stop serving potatoes? I don’t know what happened in this potato cellar, but it must be unforgettable… Hopefully Mrs. Bennet will not start this habit! I shall have to have a word with Cook so that she pretends some oven difficulties in case it should happen.
Darcy should have done this with his French cook, but from what Kitty told us, ‘tis too late! Unless he enjoys it… Maybe they also… No! When could have they been there? Bingley and Jane left the day after their wedding and he was staying at the Inn… Even though, I should have been more inquisitive when he asked for my consent. Not that I did not have a good time as it is! Eh, eh, eh! I shall never forget his frightful expression when I asked him when he’d rather have Mrs. Bennet with them at Pemberley. But he caught me unaware with his formal apology for his former conduct and his vows of love towards Lizzy. That he loved her, I already suspected; that he would humble himself in front of me and express his regrets for his objectionable behaviour, I wouldn’t have thought possible. And I owe him an even more powerful shout from my dear wife… I would really have liked to be there when Lizzy told her of her conquest!
Oh, oh! Bingley is back and stands in front of us all. Here comes the most expected speech about how happy he is to have us all with him.
I like these sons in law I have. And to know that a year ago, nobody in Hertfordshire knew they existed! ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’ could be their motto. They fell quick and hard for these daughters of mine; look at the adoring light in their eyes when they look at my daughters, and how these ladies who so willingly abandoned their father look back to them in kind. I don’t think I ever looked at Francine this way; for that matter, I don’t think she ever looked at me this way either… But how can I regret marrying her when she gave me such wonderful girls? And when those girls are about to make a grandfather of old and selfish me?
Yes Bingley, we are very happy to be here too and I’m sure some of my daughters are ready for a dance! Now, if you could tell us where we can taste some more of this ale. This August day is dreadfully warm… Come on, Man… Thank God! A toast for the potatoes!!! "