Rose Cottage

by A K Madison

  “Oh, nothing of any importance. We were talking of the persons Georgiana is likely to meet when she comes to visit Netherfield.”

  “I trust you are not planning to stay in that swamp for an extended visit, dear Georgiana. Mr. Bingley seems to have taken leave of his senses, first in marrying a girl with barely a penny to her name, and second in actually buying that estate. In Hertfordshire, of all places.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s eyes had grown as large as saucers. “But Mr. Bingley is working with Mr. Darcy and a steward. Netherfield shall soon be one of the finest estates in the county. And my Jane is an excellent match for him. He did not need a wife with a large dowry, but she is a gentleman’s daughter, born and bred. She can ensure his entrance into the landed gentry. And she knows a great deal about the management of an estate.”

  “Ah, yes. It was a fine scheme, was it not, Mrs. Bennet?” Alexandra’s gray eyes were shards of ice. “And now there you are, living in the dower house with the rest of your brood.”

  “Alexandra, enough!” Lady Matlock’s voice was not loud, but it carried authority. “I shall expect you to keep a civil tongue while you are residing in my home and speaking with my invited guests.”

  Alexandra rolled her eyes in a manner reminiscent of Lydia and said nothing. It seemed an eternity until the gentlemen joined them. Lord Linville, having spent a few minutes in conference with his mother, came and retrieved Alexandra, moving with her to an out-of-the-way spot and beginning what looked like an earnest conversation with her.”

  “He’s learning,” observed the Earl without even an effort at quieting his voice. “But that one is a handful, indeed she is. I hope she did not cause you ladies too much distress.” He had seated himself beside Mrs. Bennet and took her hand in his. “You are most welcome in our home, and we are glad you are here, Mrs. Bennet. Your daughter is lovely, and we are delighted to welcome Miss Bennet to our family. We had begun to despair of our nephew’s ever finding a bride who suited him, and it is quite apparent that you are the one, Miss Bennet.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Elizabeth was seated beside Darcy, and he pressed her hand. “Your welcome, and that of Lady Matlock, have been warm indeed, and we feel at home in your company.”

  “Well, do not allow yourself to become too comfortable,” replied the Earl. “I had thought to request that you play for us this evening, but you have had a carriage journey and must be fatigued.” He looked over at his wife. “When are the Gardiners invited to dine?”

  “Monday evening, dear.”

  “Good. On Monday evening we shall all expect to be delighted with your music. Darcy can talk of nothing else.”

  “By Monday evening I shall be ready to play for you, sir.”

  There was some half-hearted movement toward getting up a game of whist, but no one could be sure that the Linvilles would return to the group, and nothing came of it. Lady Matlock and Mrs. Bennet fell into a conversation about gardening, and the Earl joined in. The younger members of the group began discussing whether it would be feasible to attend a concert and if so, what sorts of musical offerings might be available. Darcy had just promised to investigate when the Linvilles rejoined the group.

  “Miss Bennet,” began Alexandra. “Have not the ___shire Militia returned to the vicinity of Meryton?”

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Your family must be delighted, and particularly you and your younger sisters. Was not Mr. Wickham a particular favorite?”

  Elizabeth could feel Georgiana stiffen beside her, while on her other side, Darcy stared intently at his cousin’s wife. Of course, the woman was trying to cause distress to Elizabeth only; she could have no way of knowing of Georgiana’s unfortunate encounter at Ramsgate.

  “Oh, I really could not say,” Elizabeth answered carelessly. “As you may or may not have guessed from our attire, we are in mourning. Actually, our dear father died quite suddenly this past February. Several of the officers did wait upon my mother shortly after their arrival to express their condolences, but that was strictly a formal call. Colonel Forster and his lady accompanied them. I suppose customs may be different in Town, but out in the country, young ladies do not attend parties, balls, or other gatherings of a frivolous nature while in mourning. Tell me, Lady Linville, do mourning customs differ here in Town? Perhaps we are behind the times.” Elizabeth allowed her eyes to grow wide while her voice took on an astonished, breathy tone.

  “No, my dear Miss Bennet,” replied the Earl. “Mourning customs are the same everywhere among persons of good breeding.” He looked sharply at his daughter-in-law. “Unless, Alexandra, it has become fashionable for ladies of the ton to dress themselves in unrelieved black. Perhaps it is a new style of which we bumpkins are unaware?”

  “No, sir,” the lady replied from between clenched teeth.

  Elizabeth felt Georgiana relax beside her, and on her other side, she could see Darcy also begin to relax. She realized that while she had won this skirmish, and purchased the peace of two people who were dear to her, she had probably also gained an implacable enemy.

  Saturday was a happy blur for the ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner awaited them in their house in Gracechurch Street, and the Bennets were embraced and greeted with delight. Then Mrs. Gardiner settled in the Matlock carriage, and the ladies were whisked off to what could only be described as a storehouse of wonders.

  The senior ladies all reached into their reticules, pulled out extensive lists, and began comparing notes. Georgiana wandered around, bewildered. Elizabeth had visited her uncle’s cloth warehouse before and knew how to act. Mr. Johnston, the clerk assigned to assist them, was full of helpful information on what was located where in the building and on which modistes had been interested in which beautiful fabrics.

  When at long last the requisite number of morning, afternoon, and evening dresses, ball gowns, pelisses and spencers, walking and traveling ensembles, and peignoirs, had been selected, Aunt Gardiner beckoned toward a small selection of the choicest silks and muslins. “My dear, these were some of the fabrics I saw that seemed appropriate for your wedding day. When you have made your selection, I want you to know that this gown will be a gift from your uncle and myself.”

  It did not take long for the bride-to-be to make her selection. For a country wedding, the fine muslins seemed the perfect choice. After some debate, Elizabeth’s choice was a pale primrose yellow with embroidery and a spencer in a slightly deeper shade of the main color.

  “Perfect for a country wedding,” replied the Countess. “The gown will be beautiful—almost magical.”

  Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet had chosen a dull black silk as well as sprigged muslins for Lydia, Kitty, and Mary in pale blue, rose, and green. Georgiana had also selected fabric for several gowns. “I cannot resist it,” she confessed. “And, ladies, do you realize that we have our choice among these materials before the rest of London knows they are here?”

  Once all the selections had been made, Mrs. Gardiner embraced her sister and nieces and said her goodbyes to the other ladies. Mr. Gardiner would be joining her soon and she had her own selections to make. They parted with the promise of joining the party for dinner at Matlock House on Monday evening. As the rest of the group prepared to enter the carriage, the Countess directed the coachman to a new confectioner’s shop. “Ordinarily, we would go to Gunter’s for ices,” she observed. “But this new shop will afford us more privacy and comfort, and we can enjoy talking over our morning’s work.”

  It was not long before they had arrived at the Silver Spoon, and they found it bright and comfortable with a variety of sweets in gleaming glass cases. They were seated at a large table in a little alcove and had soon ordered ices, lemonade, and a tempting variety of tiny pastries.

  As they chatted, Lady Matlock looked up and saw that Lady Alexandra and Caroline Bingley had entered. They did not see the party in the alcove and seated themselves nearby. Lady Matlock held up a finger, signaling to the others that she desired quiet.

  “My d
ear, I do not know how I will be able to hold my head up among members of polite society,” began Alexandra. “That upstart girl will ruin everything.”

  “Well, now you have some idea of how I feel. But fear not.” Caroline reached over the table and briefly took her friend’s hand. “The Bennet incursion stops with Jane.”

  “Tell!”

  Caroline sat back, simpering. “Darcy is a fool. He always spends the Easter holiday with his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at her estate in Kent. This year, Easter came and went without a sign of him. I just happened to be traveling through that part of Kent, and I called on Lady Catherine, using our association with Darcy as a pretext. Thankfully, it was enough.”

  “She actually received you?”

  “My dear, she welcomed me with tea and refreshments. She is, as you can imagine, dead set against this marriage, and she gave me to understand she has what she called ‘someone working on it.’ She wishes for Darcy to marry her daughter, unite the two fortunes, and found a dynasty. I personally believe that the ‘someone’ is that odd parson who has recently inherited the Bennets’ estate.”

  “Well, we all know that Lady Catherine has planned the union, dearest, but Darcy is violently opposed to it. And who could blame him, really? Anne is a nasty, sickly little thing. She even smells sickly.” Lady Linville gave a delicate sniff.

  “Yes, of course. Everyone knows that but Lady Catherine.”

  “So, what is your plan, Caro?”

  “Simple. One way or another, Eliza Bennet will no longer be a problem. If Darcy gives in to his aunt and marries Anne de Bourgh, I believe she will be dead inside a year. She cannot possibly give him a child, though her mother will insist upon it. In that case, all I need to do is wait. If he remains set against a marriage to Anne, I will be there to comfort him for the loss of the Bennet chit when the odd little parson manages to dispose of her.”

  “So, in order to gain your prize, you would be willing to wait for Anne to die?”

  “Dear Alexandra, I have only just turned twenty-two. For a chance at the Darcy fortune, and to be mistress of Pemberley, yes. I would wait a year, and it would be worth it.”

  “And what do you think Lady Catherine would say to the idea of a marriage between you and her prized nephew? Not to mention the rest of the family.”

  “I do not believe I care, Alexandra. With my money and my accomplishments, I do not have to care.”

  “Well, you were right about one thing. This confectionery is so much more private than Gunter’s. My family would never come here.”

  Lady Matlock raised an eyebrow and smiled, hoping that the other ladies at her table would catch her meaning. They did, and their performance was flawless. “Well, ladies,” the Countess said in a voice only slightly elevated. “I cannot speak for you, but I have certainly heard enough. Let us continue our talk at Matlock House.” With that she stood, linked her arm through that of Mrs. Bennet, and the party left two by two, completely ignoring the hapless Viscountess and the wretched Caroline. Even tender-hearted Georgiana was able to look anywhere but at them.

  Caroline and Alexandra stared at each other for a few minutes, waiting until they were sure the larger party had departed in its carriage. They then sauntered out with as much sangfroid as they could manage. Unfortunately, they were not quick enough to avoid hearing someone say, “Cut by her own mother-in-law. Heaven knows what it was, but it must have been very good indeed.”

  Lady Matlock was silent during the short ride home. As perfect as it had been, she knew that the insult she had delivered to her daughter-in-law would be common knowledge in no time, and she needed to evaluate the impact on her family. In short order she had made up her mind to inform her husband first of all, then to inform Darcy. The approach to Alexandra was that Caroline Bingley would no longer be welcome or received at Matlock House and that if any of the family saw Alexandra in her company, they would take no notice of her. That would apply to all family members, young and old, male and female.

  “She has brought this upon herself, Harry,” said the Countess as she informed her husband of her actions and her strategy. “We all heard her inform Alexandra that Elizabeth was to be exposed to some danger. She also had no compunctions about looking forward to the possible death of Anne. It is egregious, my dear, and Alexandra needs to be strongly discouraged from seeking out the company of this person.”

  “You are perfectly right, just as you always are, Alice. I take it you are not concerned that this means the social ruin of the Bingley woman. Remember, she will be connected to the family, however remotely.”

  “Her older sister is married to one of the Hursts, a perfectly respectable gentleman. Her brother is married to the former Miss Jane Bennet, sister of our Elizabeth and a perfectly respectable gentleman’s daughter. Mr. Charles Bingley, the brother married to Jane, has just acquired substantial holdings of land in Hertfordshire in the form of the Netherfield estate. He is reputed to be worth at least five thousand a year. Even his steward is a gentleman; Mr. James Emerson who was the steward at Elmwood. Elizabeth Bennet, despite her uncle in trade, has much more respectable connections than Caroline Bingley. I doubt if Miss Bingley will remain ruined for long. If she had any sense, she would marry a gentleman who needed her money despite its taint of trade.”

  “How shall we approach this with Alexandra?”

  “First and foremost, we must speak with Alpheus. No son of ours would ever condone that behavior, even from his wife. As for Alexandra, I plan to tell her just what I have told you: Associate in public with that woman and you will not be recognized in public by your husband’s family.”

  “I will speak with Alpheus, dearest. You should get back to our guests. They must be distressed by what has happened.” The Earl rang for a footman as he spoke and ordered that his son join him in his study.

  Lady Matlock hurried to rejoin her guests, finding them calm but perplexed. Georgiana was the most distressed of all, and Mrs. Annesley was sitting beside her, conversing quietly. Elizabeth sat by her mother, who looked pale but self-possessed.

  “My dears,” she began. “I am so distressed that you should have been subjected to that little performance. My husband is talking with Alpheus, and you may rest assured we will be having a little chat with Alexandra. As for Miss Bingley, she will no longer be acknowledged or received by any of us.” She looked around. “Now tell me, how are you all faring? Elizabeth, I am particularly concerned about you.”

  “Miss Bingley has always regarded me as a troublesome upstart and a threat to her supposed entree with Mr. Darcy. Alas for me, I have always regarded her with a great deal of amusement. I am astonished that she would have traveled into Kent to call on Lady Catherine. And I am horrified and shocked by her callous statements regarding Miss de Bourgh.”

  “What about her statements regarding you?”

  Elizabeth gathered her thoughts before replying. “I have been the target—one of the targets—of some misconduct by William Collins, formerly rector of the church at Hunsford. Monday evening, he came to our home and found me seated in the garden. He grasped my shoulder so tightly that he left a bruise. Fortunately, there was a footman at the door, and Mr. Collins was escorted from the property with a warning. The very next morning, he accosted my mother and sisters on the street in Meryton, attempting to force my mother into his carriage. My uncle Philips, came to their rescue, and he was publicly reprimanded by our justice of the peace who happened to be passing by. He has inherited my father’s estate, Longbourn. His wife is a lady from our neighborhood, the former Miss Lucas, who was a dear friend.”

  “Was?”

  “Yes, sadly, was a dear friend. Mr. Collins has also attempted to establish himself as what he calls ‘head of the family’ several times, despite my mother’s widowed status and the fact that he is but a distant relative. He has avowed his intention of stopping the wedding by whatever means he can find, including attempting to set himself up somehow as guardian or trustee or the like. He has al
so stated that he plans to gain control of my mother’s fortune.”

  Mrs. Bennet joined in. “His insults and injuries to our Elizabeth would have been enough. But he has also taken over the church in Longbourn village and barred its rightful vicar and curate from holding services there. My daughter Jane has extended her hospitality to them, and they are at Netherfield awaiting word from our bishop.”

  “My gracious! I had no idea all of this was going on. I suppose Darcy has told my husband and he has decided to keep quiet about it. No wonder he wanted to bring you here into our safekeeping.”

  “The dreadful part of it,” added Elizabeth, “is that Caroline Bingley is now the sister of our sister, Jane. Jane is dear to all of us, and she is constantly prepared to see only the good side of everyone she encounters. This will grieve her excessively, though it will certainly teach Caroline a lesson.”

  The ladies were surprised by the arrival of Darcy in evening dress. “Gracious! Look at the time! Ladies, I have just declared this to be an informal dinner. Come in what you are wearing. Oh, and Alexandra will have a tray sent to her room. As far as I am concerned, she has been sent to Coventry for the remainder of her visit.” Lady Matlock turned to her nephew. “You will be astonished at what has happened, Darcy.”

  “Aunt, I have already spoken with my uncle.” Darcy greeted the Bennet ladies and his sister. His look was more angry than troubled. “Please do not let this concern you too much. Miss Bingley will not be allowed to interfere any further. She will be stopped, just as Collins will be stopped. In the case of Collins, Uncle is planning to write the Archbishop. That should ensure some progress in Hertfordshire. And sadly, we can no longer avoid preferring charges, Elizabeth. He must be stopped.”

  Elizabeth attempted to summon a smile, but it was forced.

  “Darcy, since we have decided not to dress for dinner, why do not you take your betrothed for a little stroll in the side garden? She has had a dreadful afternoon.” Georgiana’s eager nod seconded Lady Matlock’s suggestion. Elizabeth stood, and Darcy offered her his arm. “We will send someone for you when dinner is served,” his aunt said.