Artful Aspirations

[MISS CHARLOTTE DELAFORD]

{Tag: Jane Bennet}

For a young woman who so loathed art in the progressing of human relationship, Charlotte Delaford was suspiciously frequent in her own ministrations over the unraveling encounters around her. While she might never consider herself a match-maker, for the term seemed to violate her one rule on the matter, she undoubtedly had her fascinations alive and well for the business of others’ hearts. This apparent contradiction in her nature and her creed had quite obviously - for one could hardly avoid it when one spent such time in the company of her brother and the Curmudgeon from High Dudgeon – been pointed out to her in a myriad of ways. She had, of course, countered the accusation quite neatly with a qualification that rendered the truth for her quite distinct; while she might observe and perhaps experiment with those in her acquaintance, she never constructed them.

Charlotte did not deal in the false.

Unlike the sycophants to the rigid fitness of things, or the wily vipers - who so lied and cheated their way through life one could hardly tell that they were human at all - Charlotte did not force things that were not. She was an observer, not a conjurer and while she might occasionally be deserving of her mother’s title of ‘meddler’, it was for the pure love of cause and effect, the natural occurring phenomena that had nothing to do with the picture already painted by a thousand years. It was ironic then, that she had chosen that very medium to further her defiance of it; for she had employed ‘art’ in the entirely literal sense of the word to advance in what might yet be a fleeting curiosity or a full-blown project.

She had noticed.

She had noticed the almost instant flickering of something between Miss Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley on the night of the Assembly and she had noticed in a manner entirely different to the manner of so many jealous young girls. For while Hertfordshire was possibly full of young women lamenting the lost opportunity, Charlotte was full to the brim with the intrigue of confirming it and watching it develop. Like a child fascinated with blossoming flowers and caterpillars in cocoons, Charlotte simply had a taste for the intricacies and she would be absolutely damned if she was about to let such a tantalizing study pass her by.

Thus, she had invited the eldest Miss Bennet to call on her at Hadleigh for tea and with the express request to assist her with her portraiture. While Charlotte had not taken to sketch work as she had to music, she did love the ability to capture a place – and with it a feeling, or memory, or both – and transform it into a thing that she could take with her. It was also no secret at all that the quality of her work could undoubtedly do with some instruction. So the pretence, while exactly that, was hardly pretence at all and entirely true, from a certain perspective. She would also take joy in getting to know the eldest Miss Bennet a little better, it was not all for selfish mode. By the time the day had arrived for the visit, Miss Delaford had well and truly justified the event into being entirely about the furtherance of friendship and accomplishment and only a very little to go with – well - gossip.

Was it gossip when it came from the source?

She was prepared for her guest’s arrival with brushes and smile to prove that it most certainly was not.

[MISS JANE BENNET]

Jane had been somewhat surprised when issued an invitation from Charlotte Delaford for tea. It was a well known fact that the Bennet and Lucas families were longtime family friends. With the location of Lucas Lodge and Longbourn it was hardly surprising that the neighbors would take a liking to each other. It was also a well known fact that the Goulding and Delaford families also had similar connections. As such it was on rare occasions that the families crossed over. Jane was not on unfriendly terms with the Delafords or Mr. Goulding for that fact but she could also not claim more than a casual acquaintanceship with either family.

It would seem that her connection to Mr. Bingley had significantly expanded her social circle. Although Jane was of such a sweet and caring nature she did not always realize that some of the more recent events she had been invited to where not always with the best of intentions. Some of the other young single ladies in the village had merely invited her to tea or to dine out of mere jealousy, wanting to see what all the fuss was about. But it had happily also brought about a wonderful new friendship with Miss Felicity Cadwallader who had recently invited her to luncheon.

So Jane was of a hopeful nature when the invitation had been issued to assist Miss Delaford with her portraiture and to take tea. Perhaps it would lead merrily along the path that Miss Felicity had first tread upon and Jane and Charlotte would be able to further their own friendship. Jane had been somewhat nervous to assist Miss Delaford with her portraiture, for surely someone with as well a connected family as she had far more instruction in the art than dear Jane. Much of Jane’s instruction had been from books and simple attempts to copy what she saw with precious little formal training.

But Jane had collected her sketch book and charcoal pencils from their special place in the room she shared with Lizzie and had departed from Longbourn at the anointed hour. So nervous was she about making a good impression she had spent much of the morning pondering at what to do with her hair and what gown to wear and had nearly forgotten her art supplies all together oblivious to the fact that her bit of folly was still tucked neatly in the folds of her other creations.

The portrait of herself and Mr. Bingley dancing was nestled quite inconspicuously between a portrait of a sparrow in the nest and her sister Lizzie reading a book. Whenever she had a private moment to herself she would work on it, taking great care with every line that graced the page. But she always took great pains to keep it hidden lest anyone discover it and try and tease her quite unmercifully.

When she neared Hadleigh Court she couldn’t help but peek her head out of the carriage window and gaze in awe of the place. Jane could not remember the last time she had seen the impressive estate and now looked upon it as one who was seeing it for the first time. She fancied it was nearly two or three times the size of Longbourn! Once the carriage came to a halt she was helped down and greeted by the staff who quickly ushered her in to see the lady of the house.

Once she was announced she entered quietly with a small smile on her face. She executed a very correct curtsey and began with the customary pleasantries. “ Miss Delaford, so pleased to see you again. Thank you for your most kind invitation.”