The three of them then went to Rosewood House, the townhome of Sir Ronald and Lady Inez Carlson, but were disappointed to learn they had already gone to their country estate, Broughton Abbey. As soon as they returned to Darcy House, Darcy sent an express to the Carlsons of the engagement. That left only two whom they thought they need to inform before the announcement was in the paper: Judge Sir Harold Darcy, Darcy’s father’s younger brother, and Lady Catherine DeBourgh, Darcy’s mother’s sister. Darcy knew both would be greatly upset by the news of the engagement and deciding to let them come to him, he sent both expresses of the engagement, knowing that each of them would receive it the next morning.
Darcy had invited the Gardiners, including their eldest daughter, Cordelia, to Darcy House that night and had asked Elizabeth to act as hostess. She was a little reluctant, but when Darcy told Mrs. MacGregor his suggestion, she thought it was a fine idea, so Elizabeth spent much of the remainder of the afternoon with Mrs. MacGregor and the cook planning the meal. Mrs. MacGregor discovered Elizabeth learned quickly and the more she and the cook were with her, the more pleased they were that she was to become their mistress. They had the feeling, Darcy House would become a much more joyful and socially active place in the coming years.
When the Gardiner’s arrived, there was enough commotion that Georgiana, being sure they had guests and curious who was acting as mistress, dressed in her best, and came down. When she entered the parlor, Darcy quickly went to her and said, “Georgie, I am glad you decided to join us. Let me introduce you do everyone. First, I am sure you remember, Mrs. Gardiner, do you not?”
“I do. I am happy to see you here.” Although in truth she was quite surprised, because she knew the Gardiners were merchants and her brother did not usually meet with merchants socially. She was then introduced to Mr. Gardiner, Cordelia, and Mary. Finally, Darcy came to Elizabeth.
“This is she whom I most want you to meet. This is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is my sister, Georgiana.”
Both women curtsied and then Georgiana said, “He called you Elizabeth. Is there something I have not been told?”
“Yes, there is, Miss Darcy, because we have not had a chance to tell you. We went to Miss Carrington’s school to speak with you late yesterday afternoon, but you were not there, and I believe your brother did not think it was an appropriate time to tell you when he was bringing you home. “
“Tell me what?”
“We are engaged,” said Darcy. “I proposed to Elizabeth Saturday in Hertfordshire, she accepted, and her father blessed our engagement. We will be married November 13. And you will not be gaining only one sister, but five, as Elizabeth has four sisters, of whom Mary is one. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are her uncle and aunt, and she stays with them when she is in town.”
Georgiana did not know what to say. Finally, she blurted, “But they are merchants. I thought you would not marry a merchant’s daughter.”
“They are my uncle and aunt, Miss Darcy. My father is a gentleman with an estate in Hertfordshire. It is certainly true, my family is not of your circle; however, your brother was willing to overlook our differences in station once we discovered how perfectly we fit together. Thus, he proposed, and I accepted, and now I am looking forward to having a new sister.”
Despite wanting to dislike Elizabeth, Georgiana found herself thinking Elizabeth seemed to be exactly the kind of woman she imagined she wanted her brother to have. She had a beautiful smile and seemed to exude self-confidence and poise. Still at a loss for words, she finally said, “But I have never heard of you. How could this have happened so quickly? When did he court you?”
Darcy put his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I first met her six weeks ago, and after four meetings, lasting, in total, less than four hours, I decided that was all I needed. I think I once told you, if I ever found the woman for me, I thought I would know her immediately, and that was what happened. However, I should also mention, Mr. Furness knows her well and suggested I should court her; and Farrington and Richard were both interested in courting her. She is also a favorite of Alicia, Aunt Helen, and Lady Inez and Sir Ronald Carlson.”
As much as Georgiana wanted to stay mad at her brother about taking her out of school and away from Wickham, she could not be mad about his engagement to Elizabeth. From looking at Elizabeth and then at Mary, who also seemed to be someone she would like, she suddenly felt, once her brother married Elizabeth, her lonely life might not be so lonely.
“It does not seem possible to me that Will could meet and fall in love with you so quickly. And even if he did admit he loved you, he would think and ponder and delay before he would propose. The brother I thought I knew would never do what he has done.”
Elizabeth reached out and took Georgiana’s hand. “I heard about that man you thought you knew and was as amazed as you are that he proposed so soon, but you must know my father and sisters are just as amazed to hear I did not think and ponder and delay before accepting his proposal. It seems we were meant to be, Georgie, and we both discovered it at the same time.”
Elizabeth then squeezed Georgiana’s hand. “I hope you will accept me and my sisters and let us enfold you in our sisterhood. I think you will like it. And please call me Lizzy and my sister, Mary.”
Tears came to Georgiana eyes as she considered what she had done with Wickham without telling her brother and was humbled that Elizabeth, who, she was sure, knew all about it, showed no signs of being upset with her or wanting to censure her, but seemed to honestly want her love. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to go into Elizabeth’s arms and cry, but she suppressed the urge and just grabbed Elizabeth’s hand with her other hand, saying, “I expect it will be something I will greatly enjoy.”
The dinner and the rest of the evening were another revelation to Georgiana. First, it dawned on her that the staff was treating Elizabeth as mistress. When it was time for dinner, Mrs. MacGregor came into the parlor and told Elizabeth, and it was Elizabeth who invited them all into dinner. It was also Elizabeth who informed them when it was time to serve the various courses.
Second, she could not remember ever having dinner in such a pleasant atmosphere. She could not miss how much her brother and Elizabeth looked at each other and how evident their love for each other was. She was also impressed with the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. They had been married for many years, but the affection and respect they had for each other was evident, as was the pride and love they had for their daughter and their nieces. There was much pleasant conversation, teasing, and laughter, and they made every effort to include Georgiana in the conversations.
Third, after dinner, the Gardiners asked Darcy and Elizabeth if they would play a rubber of whist with them, and when they agreed, it was Elizabeth who suggested the three girls go up to the music room to prepare some music pieces to perform for them later in the evening. The subsequent practice with Cordelia and Mary was one of the most enjoyable times she had had in weeks. They searched for music they could play together, Cordelia on the violin and Georgiana and Mary on the piano. Georgiana had feared Cordelia and Mary might not be very good but discovered that both were quite competent on their instruments. There was no doubt she was the most proficient, and the other two acknowledged it, but they were able to find music which they quite enjoyed playing together. By the time they left music room to join those who had been playing whist, they were calling each other Georgie, Leah, and Mary and were greatly enjoying each other’s company.
The first to perform was Mary on the piano, followed by Mary and Georgiana playing a piano piece for four hands. Then Mary accompanied Cordelia when she played an Irish country dance. Finally, Georgiana played a Mozart sonata. When Georgiana completed her performance, she stood and said, “Mary and Leah assure me you are a wonderful singer, Lizzy. Furthermore, they said you did not need any accompaniment. Therefore, I think it is your turn to entertain us.”
When everyone agreed, Elizabeth acquiesced and told them she would sing them
a Scottish love ballad. However, before she could start, Darcy said, “Wait, Elizabeth. Before you start, I need to do something.”
He left, but soon returned and said, “Alright, I am ready.”
Without further ado, she sang the song in Scottish, and Georgiana was mesmerized. She had not guessed, when Mary and Leah had told her Elizabeth was quite good, that she was, in fact, wonderful. She could hardly contain her enthusiasm when she said, “Lizzy, you are wonderful. I hope you will let me perform with you after you and Will are married.”
“Of course, I will. It is one of the things I look forward to when we go to Pemberley.”
Not long thereafter, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner decided it was time for them to depart, and of course, Mary and Elizabeth would go with them. Elizabeth wanted to thank the staff for such a wonderful meal, so she and Darcy went to the staff lounge in the basement to see Mrs. MacGregor and the cook and whoever else might be in the lounge. When they entered, all the staff rose and after she had thanked them, MacGregor stepped forward and said, “Miss Elizabeth, we all heard you sing and must tell you, we thought your performance was excellent. It gives us another reason to look forward to you becoming our mistress.”
“Thank you, MacGregor. However, I can assure you, you do not look forward to it as much as I do.”
As they were returning to the main floor, Elizabeth said, “May I assume you left to tell them I was about to sing?”
“Yes. I had told them how good you were and promised I would give them a chance to hear you. I thought that was a perfect chance.”
“You could have asked them to go into the room. I would not have minded.”
“I know you would not, but they were reluctant to do it. They preferred to stay in the hall. I assume you noticed that I left the door open.”
“No, I did not. I am happy I sang one of my better songs. I would hate to have disappointed them.”
“Elizabeth, I do not think you can ever do anything to disappoint me or them.”
She laughed. “Will, I can see I have you completely fooled. I assure you, ere long, you will discover this pedestal you seem to have placed under me will start showing its cracks. I just hope I can keep them covered long enough to ensure you will always be there to catch me when I fall.”
After the guests had all gone and Georgiana was alone with Darcy, she turned to him and put her arms around him. “Please forgive me, Will. I do not think there is anything you could have done to show me how foolish I have been than to have the Gardiners here tonight and to have Lizzy act as mistress. She is incredible; and I cannot ever remember spending such an enjoyable evening, despite my thought, when I came down, that I was going to show you how much I hate it. As I watched the Gardiners and you and Lizzy, I realized he and I could never have anything like the family I saw tonight. Also, watching you and Lizzy, I could see how much you love each other, and I know George and I did not have feelings like that. But I have been miserable lately, Will. I felt I needed something, and suddenly, there was George ‒ handsome, articulate, kind ‒ and I thought maybe George could give me what I needed. Thankfully, I have you as a brother and you saved me again, and tonight you, or maybe it was Lizzy, showed me what I needed. I think Lizzy and Mary and the Gardiners and maybe Lizzy’s other sisters are just what I need.”
“I am glad you have been able to see that, Georgie. Somehow, I knew Lizzy would help set our life right. You and I have both been miserable, and I fear it was my misery which caused yours, because it kept me from giving you the attention you needed. But, I still worry that you do not believe me about Wickham. I know you do not want to hear it, but will you let me tell you all I know about him.”
“Yes, I am ready now. I think, in my heart, I knew you were not lying, but I did not want to admit how foolish and inappropriately I had acted. Let us go to your sitting room and sit in front of the fire, and you can tell me everything.”
For over an hour, Darcy told the full story of Wickham, as he knew it, and they discussed how she had felt and why she had done what she had. By the time she left for bed, she felt as if she was a new person and that the closeness she had once felt to her brother had returned. That night, for the first time in months, she had pleasant dreams about a happy life at Pemberley and having Elizabeth and Mary as close sisters.
Chapter 17: Disgruntled Relatives
On Monday morning, while Darcy and Elizabeth had been visiting friends and relatives to inform them of their engagement and upcoming wedding, Mrs. Gardiner had gone to Madam Tellier, to show her the design of the wedding dress Elizabeth wanted and to set up and appointment with her on Tuesday morning to discuss all Elizabeth’s needs for wedding apparel and a trousseau. She could not tell Madam Tellier who Elizabeth was marrying, because not all family and friends had yet been notified, but she assured her cost would be no object and that she would probably be highly surprised when she learned who it was.
The next morning, Darcy sent Georgiana in his best carriage to the Gardiner’s house to pick up Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner, and Mary to take them to the modiste. When the four of them walked in Madam Tellier’s, the lady who greeted them knew who they were and that they were expected. Thus, she immediately led them to Madam Tellier’s office. When they walked in the office, Madam Tellier took one look at Georgiana, and exclaimed, “Miss Darcy. Does your presence with these ladies mean what I think it does?”
“If you think it means my brother will marry Miss Elizabeth, then, yes, it does.”
“I cannot believe it. People were beginning to speculate he would never marry. Miss Elizabeth, congratulations. I cannot imagine a finer young woman for him, but I am sure you can understand why I would be a little surprised.”
“Thank you, Madam. The fact is, he and I could not imagine a better woman for him either, so here I am, despite the fact many will think I am not worthy of him.”
“If you ask my brother, Madam. I am rather sure he would probably tell you he believes he is not worthy of her. And I have instructions to tell you that Miss Elizabeth can have anything she wants. You need not worry about the cost.”
“Now I can see, Mrs. Gardiner, why you showed me a design which, if made as depicted in the drawings you gave me, would be the most expensive wedding gown I have ever produced. Only Miss Perrault, who only works with ladies in the highest circles, would have produced such a dress. And, I must say, the artist who drew the pictures of the gown is highly talented. I could use her in my business. Would she be interested.”
“I am afraid my father would not let her work for you, Madam,” said Elizabeth. “She is only sixteen and draws dresses and gowns only as a hobby. But she will be happy to know her work is so appreciated.”
“I think I should tell you that if all the jewels and gold lace depicted in the drawings are used on the gown, it would cost as much as £300 if Mrs. Gardiner were not supplying the material.”
“Oh, my goodness. I thought be a as much as £100, but not £300. Can you make it so that it is much as pictured, but at a lower cost?”
“Lizzy, Will said whatever you want, you will get. If you want the dress as your sister drew it, then that is what you should get. Believe me, £300 is nothing to Will.”
Elizabeth looked at her aunt. “Aunt Madeleine, what is your opinion?”
“Lizzy, I had a thought the cost might be that high, but I did not want to say anything until we talked with Madam Tellier. You and Kitty have designed one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen – one I am sure your daughters and granddaughter would be thrilled to wear. It seems as if it is an enormous sum to us, but you must understand, you are marrying one of the wealthiest men in England. What do you think he would say, if he were here?”
“I am certain he would agree with Georgie, and even I might not hesitate if the wedding were to be a grand event in a cathedral here with many of the upper circles attending, but will it not be too grand for Meryton?”
“Miss Elizabeth, if I may be so bold. May I suggest we start making th
e dress as specified while you discuss it with Mr. Darcy. We add most of the gold, pearls, and jewels at the end, therefore, if necessary, we can make it with less gold, fewer pearls, and much less expensive jewels, and it will still be the most beautiful wedding dresses I have ever produced. You have plenty of time to decide. Also, I have seen the bolt of silk that your aunt has saved for the dress, and it is truly magnificent. I can assure you, even if it had no jewels at all, it will be the envy of many of the ton, as will your wedding ball gown, which will be made from the same bolt of silk. If you will give us permission to start producing the wedding dress and ball gown as specified in your drawings, why do we not spend the morning considering your trousseau?”
Accepting her suggestion as reasonable, Elizabeth agreed, and the four women spent the morning looking at designs for not only her trousseau, but also for gowns for all the other Bennet sisters. And, of course, Georgiana wanted to look for gowns of her own for the wedding.
******
While the ladies were shopping, Darcy was in his study going over documents he had recently received from the stewards of his various properties. He thought he heard voices in the entry hall and not long thereafter, MacGregor, the butler, knocked, opened the door, and announced, “Judge Darcy and Lord Matlock to see you sir.”
Darcy’s Uncle Harold Darcy then pushed past MacGregor and stormed into the room, crossing to Darcy’s desk and throwing the express Darcy had sent him about his engagement to Elizabeth on the desk. “What is this nonsense, Fitzwilliam, about you proposing to an unknown lower-class woman from Hertfordshire. Matlock tells me she has no fortune or family connections of any worth. Are you trying to ruin the Darcy name?”
Darcy stood and said, “Good morning to you, too, Uncle Harold. In answer to your question, it is not nonsense at all. She is the finest woman I have ever met; I have fallen in love with her; and we are to be married in three weeks. You have been invited. What more do you need to know?”
The Lady of the Mount and Patience Rewarded: Two Stories of Darcy and Elizabeth Page 14