Yours,
Will
“Lizzy is intrigued by Will,” Beth wrote in her notes, “but I’m convinced she did not entertain any idea of his being attracted to her because of his elevated rank in society. However, you will see from Lizzy’s diary entries how much she writes about Mr. Lacey.”
8 April — Much to everyone’s surprise, Messrs Bingham and Lacey came to dine at Ledger Lodge, and Mr. Lacey chose to sit by me. He is quite handsome, with his black hair and gray/green eyes. Since he sought me out, I thought I should remind him that there was a time when he found such company beneath him. ‘If I recall, you do not care for dancing — at least not in Hertfordshire — but what stratagems will you use to avoid conversation?’ I thought my directness would drive Mr. Lacey away, but instead he told me he chose very carefully the people whom he sat next to. I cautioned him that he had chosen unwisely, and he accused me of teasing him, which was exactly what I was doing because it is obvious he has had little experience with it. But then he had his revenge by telling me Mr. Chatterton had come to Hertfordshire for the purpose of getting a wife. My discomfort was clear. So that he should not savour his victory too long, I pretended such a proposal should be given serious consideration. Then it was his turn to be alarmed. He thought I should not consider an offer from Mr. Chatterton. What a strange man he is! He looks at me with the most quizzical expression. His face was less difficult to read when Lucy and Celia ran into the room demanding that John Ledger dance with them. When I remarked that Mr. Chatterton was about to ask me to dance, Mr. Lacey quickly stood up and claimed the dance. He took me by the hand, and I cannot explain it, but I felt something unfamiliar, something that made me uncomfortable. The gentleman is handsome, intelligent, and carries himself with an assurance I have seen in no other man. I am sure he will soon leave for London, as I understand many of his friends are already in town.
Based on this entry, it seemed unlikely that Mr. Chatterton had ever made an offer of marriage to Lizzy. Her comments about the parson were confined to his long-windedness and the length of his visit, but it also included the interesting tidbit that Mr. Chatterton had been invited to dine at Ledger Lodge on two occasions.
In hopes of moving things along for Jane and Bingham, Mrs. Garrison extended an invitation to all the residents of Helmsley Hall to attend a dinner party at Bennets End. After dining at the Garrison home, Will wrote to his cousin summarizing that evening’s events. Jack called it an “after action” report, and it was not flattering.
24 April 1792
Dear Anne,
Bingham, Caroline, the Ashursts, and I were invited to dine at Bennets End. Mrs. Garrison, without embarrassment, praised her daughter, Jane, as the most beautiful girl in the county. Served with the second course were additional compliments about her daughter’s intelligence, ability to paint tables, embroider, etc., etc., etc. Miss Garrison was deeply embarrassed by this itemization of her abilities, and despite her sister Elizabeth’s best efforts to change the subject, her mother continued at every opportunity to add to her long list of her eldest daughter’s charms.
As for Mr. Garrison, he is well informed and a very agreeable man. However, he seems to find his wife’s undisguised pursuit of Bingham for their daughter to be diverting, and since it provides him with amusement, she is free to chatter on endlessly. The two youngest daughters announced that the militia were now encamped nearby, and it was their hope to meet every officer in the regiment!
Caroline Bingham made no attempt to disguise her contempt for Mrs. Garrison. She points out how the behaviour of the two younger sisters is an embarrassment to her family and anyone associated with them. It is rare that I find myself in agreement with Caroline, but even if you disregard Miss Garrison’s inferior position in society, you cannot turn a blind eye to the inappropriate behaviour of the mother and younger sisters.
It became painfully clear as the night wore on that Miss Elizabeth knew what a disastrous impression her family had made on their company. She rarely looked at me, but when she did, it was with embarrassment. I spoke briefly to her and then only to discuss political news from the continent. (She was aware of France’s declaration of war against Austria.) She informed me that Mr. Chatterton was dining with the Lucas family, which made me realize the evening could actually have been worse. I hope to convince Bingham to quit Hertfordshire after the ball. I have never felt so ill at ease as I have since coming to Helmsley Hall.
Yours,
Will
P.S. I attended the third bout between Richard Humphries and Daniel Mendoza, as did the Prince of Wales and his retinue. Humphries was no match for Mendoza, and it was all over in fifteen minutes with Mendoza claiming the heavyweight title. As instructed, I placed a bet of one guinea on Humphries for you, but because you are my dear cousin, you may keep your guinea.
I really liked Will’s postscript. It showed he had a loving relationship with his cousin and was capable of real tenderness. It almost made up for his obnoxious snobbery.
Also enclosed in the packet was a letter from Will to Anne written before the ball at Helmsley Hall. It showed just how aware Anne was of her cousin’s interest in Miss Elizabeth Garrison.
7 May 1792
Dear Anne,
Once again, you take Mr. Bingham’s side. The reservations I indicated in my letter regarding any possible marriage between Bingham and Miss Garrison are just. Your statements are contradictory. You write that these obstacles might prove to be insurmountable if I found myself in such a situation but can be put aside in Bingham’s. I take the position that a wrong decision is to be avoided whoever the person is. Is it not because of this type of situation that George Bingham asked me to keep watch over his brother in the first place?
Let me give you an example of Bingham’s poor judgment. The militia are encamped outside the village. The senior officers have been invited by Miss Garrison’s aunt to her socials. Bingham sees this, and as a result, he invites all the officers to the ball at Helmsley Hall. ‘The young ladies must have partners,’ he tells me. The invitation includes the junior officers — men about whom he knows nothing. Many of these young officers are new to the regiment, and little is known of them even by their colonel. I cautioned him that after the ball, he might find the silver has gone missing. His solution is to write to his brother and have him send some of his men from London. Of course, it would have been unnecessary if he had thought about the consequences in advance.
I have come to have a high regard for Miss Garrison and Miss Elizabeth. But I have no illusions as to how Miss Garrison would be treated in London society. You had only to listen to the comments made by Caroline after our return from dinner with the Garrisons. After a full hour of attacks on every family member, except Miss Garrison, her quiver was still half full.
I have become acquainted with some of the history of the Garrison family. Apparently, the estate, absent Mr. Garrison producing a son, is entailed away from the Garrisons to the benefit of Mr. Chatterton. This explains his visits to Hertfordshire. If he were to marry one of the daughters, it would solve the Garrisons’ problem, if you can view marriage to Mr. Chatterton as a solution to anything. This goes a long way in explaining the mother’s behaviour in promoting Miss Garrison so aggressively and why the younger daughters are all out before the elder sisters are married. But by allowing her younger daughters to be out in society without proper instruction, she risks the very thing she seeks. The Garrisons find themselves in an unfortunate position, but as Bingham’s friend, I believe my loyalty lies with him. I cannot concern myself with the financial misfortunes of others.