01x05 - Chapter 5

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"Dear Mother...

"..I write to let you know

"that I will not be joining you
at Pemberley just yet,

"as I am still very much needed
in London.

"The Gardiners' governess
has indeed returned,

"but we find ourselves quite overrun
with social engagements.

"You will be excited to hear

"that I have been invited to

"one of Lady Winspear's
weekly ba*ls.

"I am very much looking forward
to it.

"I miss you all..."

"..Yours, Mary."

The Gardiners' governess has
returned from Norfolk, has she not?

Yes, yes, a week ago.

Well, then, the ball is perfectly
timed for you to find a husband!

A husband?

Whatever else do you plan to do?

Someone who was once a friend

told me that a woman has two choices
in life -

marriage or misery.

What do you think?

Oh, Mary!

It is not too late for marriage
if that's what you're asking me.

And I do believe it's the better
choice, but not the only one.

Some marriages are miserable.

I agree.

I mean, I did once try to find
a husband, but it was unsuccessful.

My mother has always said no-one
will marry a girl in spectacles.

Mary, that is nonsense.

What a terrible thing
for your mother to say.

Well, you may not have had luck
in the past,

but this time is different.

This time, you have me.

Under my tutelage, you will become
the star of London society.

It's all about confidence.

A certain coolness.

I think you care too much.

Really?
Hmm.

Have you ever polished your skin?

We put this in the pipkin

and the pipkin in the fire
until the wax melts.

Then we spread it on your face.

You're going to look radiant, Mary.

Oh, I, um,
I'm going to smell like soup.

What on earth?!

There.
Thanks.

Mary, you have stew on your face.

I know.

Oh, now we need to work
on your walk.

Step into the room like
you are Lady Winspear herself.

Hmm.

Walk normally.

I am excited for you, Mary.

New love is the most romantic thing.

New love?
Yes! The first throes.

Oh, you must not take it for granted

because the feelings soon pass
and then everything becomes...

..quite ordinary and it's almost
impossible to remember

how one felt at the beginning.

Now walk.

Shoulders back.

Chin up.

Chin down.

Chin up a little.

Don't look scared.
It's quite hard not to.

Remember, you are only allowed
two dances with the same partner.

Make eye contact fleetingly with
the men you want to dance with

and avoid the eyes of those
you do not.

If a man asks you to dance,
do not look too happy,

nor too disappointed -
depending on who he is.

You must look nonchalant, carefree.

Mary, think back to those times
in your childhood

when you had not a care
in the world.

Remember, Mary,

the most important thing...

..is to be yourself.

Oh, look!

Isn't it beautiful?

It really is!

Do not fret!
The night has only just begun.

Good evening, Miss Baxter.

Miss Bennet.
Doesn't Miss Bennet look beautiful?

Oh, um, well, as do you, Ann.

Mr Hayward, how would you like to
dance with Miss Bennet?

No. Oh, no, I couldn't.

It will show how eligible you are.

Well, I don't suppose you have much
room for me...on your card.

But if there is, I would be very
glad to dance with you.

Oh, oh, um, there might,
there might be.

Let me just check.

Yes, yes.

We could dance.

Thank you, Mr Hayward.

Mr Hayward, how are you?

Miss Bennet.

I am very well.

How are y...?

- One, two, three,
one, two, three...

Thank you, Mr Hayward.

Miss Bennet.

What a fine minuet.
Mm.

Oh, now you two,
you must dance together.

Um, I'm going to go and...

Oh, oh, Mary, do you mind?

Excuse me one moment

Ah. It's you.

It is indeed.

William Ryder.
Of course. Mr Ryder.

Well, it is a pleasure
to see you again so soon.

Would you like to dance?

Well, um, perhaps later.
My feet are quite... Ah.

Then let us sit
and gather your strength.

Mm. Ah!

I find these occasions really
quite intolerable.

All these poor young ladies
parading about,

bearing the weight of
their parents' expectations.

It's not in the least romantic.

I think these occasions mean a great
to deal to many young women,

and for good reason.

None of them wants to fail.

But...

..doesn't it seem to you,
Miss Bennet,

that most people give
far too much weight

to the idea of marriage?

Because for some people, that is
their only means of survival.

In matters of men and women,

the only thing that should guide us
is the heart.

Do you really believe that
to be true?

Well...

..I believe we should sweep away
these tired old rules

and follow our inclinations
as we wish.

I think you will find, Mr Ryder,

that the liberty in such situations

tends to be enjoyed by the man.

While the consequences are borne -
quite literally in many cases -

by the woman.

Perhaps you're right.
I know I am!

Dance with me, Miss Bennet!

Come on.

It is supposed to be fun, I think.

You are allowed to breathe
while you dance, Miss Bennet.

I am breathing!

I heard that you are a great reader
of very serious books.

I am reading Wordsworth currently.

Ah! But what do you really
enjoy reading, Miss Bennet?

Histories.

No. I mean,
what's your secret indulgence?

What I really enjoyed reading,
as a child...

..were the servants' pamphlets.

They detailed the most
grisly crimes!

I knew there was a bold and
curious side to you, Miss Bennet.

I had to hide them from my mother!

Ha-ha! I bet you did!

Oh, my gosh, look at her.

A bit of a showman, I think.

Da! Da! Oh! Oh! Oh!

It's the onions.

You tripped.

I did not trip, it was a deliberate
embellishment of the gavotte.

Mary. Miss Baxter.

I was just about to ask
Miss Bennet to dance again.

Oh, um, thank you, Mr Ryder,

but I will sit this one out.

Ah, then allow me to fetch you
both some ices, ladies.

Hmm, he might be handsome, Mary,

but beware, he also fancies himself
above all the rules

that govern the rest of us. He
enjoys the privileges of his class,

as well as good looks.

I cannot say I took much notice
of his looks.

Mary.

I did not.
Well, he certainly noticed you!

That is kind of you to say,

but he doesn't think of me
in that way,

and, actually, that makes this
much more enjoyable.

We were just talking about Mr Ryder.

Yes.

William Ryder.

Ices!

Oh, thank you.

And, the biggest one
for Miss Mary Bennet.

Thank you.

Oh, Hayward, don't look
so downhearted.

Here, you can have mine.
I-I wouldn't dream of taking yours.

Mr Hayward,
I seem to have found myself

without a partner
for the next dance.

I'm quite tired.

But I would love to dance.

What flavour's yours?

Um, crunchy.
Crunchy?

Mr Ryder!
What on earth happened to you?

Oh, Miss Bingley.

Well, well, Miss Bennet.

How good to see you again.

Ah, are you two ladies
already acquainted?

Oh, I have known Miss Bennet
for some years.

Ah.

Pianist. Singer. Raconteur.

My brother married her sister.

I heard you were a governess
in London,

though I didn't think
it had quite come to that.

I am no longer in that position.

So you are in London for a husband?

No.

Miss Bennet is a radical thinker!

Is she now?
Well, it makes me all the more glad

to be spending the foreseeable
future here,

where I can be thoroughly
enlightened by your thoughts.

Miss Bennet, I'm holding
a small supper this Thursday.

You should join us.

Why, thank you, Mr Ryder.

You must sing.

That is, I mean to say,
I may not be able to.

I very much look forward to you
joining us on Thursday.

Come, Mr Ryder.

Ow.

How did you find the ball
last night?

Most pleasant. Thank you.

Young William Ryder called while you
were asleep this morning, Mary.

He left this bundle of crime
pamphlets, it's peculiar.

Is this really to your taste?

Thank you.

Oh, and he confirmed our invitation
to supper on Thursday.

Oh, what fun! Jethro.

You could wear your red dress.

Um, regarding supper,
I fear I may not be able to attend.

You have not been yourself

since I saw you talking to
Caroline Bingley last night.

She seems to delight in being
horrible to me.

I have no idea what I've done
to provoke her.

Did she not once fancy herself
as marrying your sister's husband?

Mr Darcy?

She did, yes.

Perhaps she feels threatened by you.

Caroline Bingley is not
threatened by me.

She's better than me.

I know that - very well.

She's always beautifully dressed

and she has
extraordinary confidence.

She does not appear to lack
confidence, that is certain.

Perhaps underneath that
brittle exterior

lies doubts and insecurities,
the same as everyone else.

And she treats you as though
you're beneath her

to make herself feel good.

It riles her to see you
blossoming in London.

Blossoming?

You've changed!

You smile more.

And you laugh.

Well, I...

Oh...

The thought that you're worth less
than Caroline

really only exists in her mind.

We do not run and hide from
the Caroline Bingleys of this world.

We stand our ground.

For there will always be one.

Miss Bennet.
How wonderful to see you.

Oh, um...

Um, I-I very much like your, um...

..insects.

Why, thank you!

They were my late father's.

He was a very great collector
of all things strange or,

or unusual in that line.

You have an extensive book
collection, Mr Ryder.

Ah, yes. They are for show.

Although Grimms' Fairy Tales
proved a fine read.

Not as fine as those brilliant
pamphlets you sent me.

I want to hear about the strangest
cases over dinner.

Ah, yes, Miss Bennet,
inspired by you,

I have been reading some of
those particular works myself.

And I found something that made me
think of you.

Of me?

Hm-mm.

Allow me to find it?
Well, of course.

Miss Bingley.

I am so glad you took my advice.

Lady Catherine De Bourgh
looks magnificent there.

I was just about to read something
to Miss Bennet

that made me think of her
this morning.

Made you think of...

..Miss Bennet?

Yes. Exactly.

Now, where is it?

Mr Ryder, I wondered
if it might be helpful for me

to cast my eye across the dinner
table before the guests sit.

Um, very well.

Please excuse us.

I have to say, Miss Bennet,

how refreshing it is
to see a young woman

with the courage to defy
the dictates of fashion,

when most of us are foolish enough

to want to look as well
as we possibly can.

You are an example to us all.

Mr Hayward, we are here.

Where are you, Mary?

Um...

Are you all right?

Mr Hurst, have you ever read
Catharine Macaulay's work?

No. She's most insightful on
democracy, if you are interested.

No.

What think you of James Hutton's
theory

that the Earth
is perpetually being formed?

I have no interest in geology.

What DO you like, Mr Hurst?

Horses.

Horse racing.

Oh!

I know so little about horse racing,
I would be honoured

if you would teach me all you know.

We won't have time for that.

Well, let's just see how we get on.

Right, um...

Right, um...

..four legs.

Cannot vomit!

Ah.

Beautiful creatures, beautiful -
almost too beautiful.

More intelligent than
anyone at this table.

Perhaps if I was to construct
a horse, then we'd know...

I'd appreciate that.

Right, I've done this before,
I'm sure I can do it again.

Fascinating.
These are the front legs here.

We call these the cloppers.
Mm.

Back legs - the clippers.

Ah.

Clip-clop! Right?
You see what I'm saying?

I see.

You do not want to stand behind
a horse!

You do not want...
I do not want to try!

What can a horse do?

You tell me.

Well, um, it can run,
but it can also break your heart.

I can see it.

That is our horse.

What shall we name him?

Gerald...

Gerald...

Gerald! Let's enter him at York.

Probably faster than the horse
I bet on last week.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

I shall never wager any significant
amount of money

without consulting you first.

Ah!

Miss Bennet,
I was hoping to speak to you.

Really?

I couldn't let this evening pass
without having

the privilege of talking
to you properly.

It's a shame, then, that you chose

to seat me so far from you
at dinner.

You met Lady Catherine once,
did you not?

I did.

Only recently we were
talking about your family.

And she confessed herself astonished
at the great difference between you

and your sisters. She felt that you
were not as handsome as Elizabeth,

nor as provoking.

Not as beautiful as Jane
or as willing as Kitty,

and, well, who could measure up
to Lydia's...joie de vivre?

That was very candid of her.

She is known for her frankness.

I sometimes wonder if "frankness"

isn't just a poor excuse
for unkindness.

Hm.

Tell me, Miss Bennet,

do you intend to marry?

Let's assume we all must marry,
in the end.

Perhaps you might allow me
to offer you a little advice?

If you wish.

It seems to me that a great deal
of time is thrown away

in pursuit of attachments
that can never come to anything.

Such as Mr Ryder.

Do you mean to suggest
that I am pursuing Mr Ryder?

Or that he is pursuing me?

For both are quite
without foundation.

And yet it seems you do
all you can to please him.

I cannot imagine why else
he would...

..speak of you as he does.

What do you mean?

Confine yourself to your proper
sphere, Miss Bennet.

Presumptions of this kind
only lead to disappointment

and humiliation where matters
of the heart are concerned.

You seem to know a great deal
about rejection.

Is this a lesson you've learned
from extensive study?

Or do you perhaps owe it
to experience

of a more personal nature?

Ah, Miss Bingley.

Miss Bingley, welcome to the game.

I fear I've been a bad host...

That was a very thorough lesson
in horse racing

you had at dinner, Miss Bennet.

Uh, it was.

Yes, um, most interesting.

Well, I wanted to say that...

I wanted to ask...

..or that is, to say,
I noticed at the ball that Mr Ryder

had occupied a great deal
of your time.

And he often acts without thinking,

so I'd be very glad to ask him
to be more restrained,

if that is what you would like.

I very much enjoy his company.

I don't...

Ah.

I see.

Um, no, I... Of course, I...
No, no, no... Forgive my intrusion.

No, that is to say I, um,
I'm not drawn to him...

Who is she again?

That Bennet girl.
The one you said was plain.

Oh, the governess!

She was the only one of the five
not to marry. Can you imagine?

She didn't look very plain to me.
She was tolerable.

And you can see Ryder's
interested in her.

If I were him, I'd snap her up
before some other fellow does.

Excuse me.

I believe Miss Bennet
would like to sing for us.

How lovely, Mary!

Oh, I have no wish to do
anything of the sort.

Oh, come, Miss Bennet,
you must sing!

Sing! Sing!

- Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!

Sing! Sing!

SING!

Mary, Mary, we must get you
to Pemberley immediately.

We have received an urgent letter.

Your mother's been taken
gravely ill.

Oh! Oh!
Take the carriage and go now...

What happened?

Come on, Mary, you must hurry.

Come, dear.