Elizabeth laughed softly as she reached into her reticule and retrieved the paper her mother had sent with her to London. Her eyes scanned the lengthy list as she read, “A few pairs of evening gloves, a parasol, and plenty of ribbons and lace.” Elizabeth looked up with a smile and scanned the shop. “I believe we shall find all we need here and perhaps a bit more.”
Elizabeth laced her arm through her aunt’s, and they smiled at each other as they ventured down the aisles of the large establishment.
“Are you jealous of Jane, Lizzy?” her aunt asked with a feigned indifference when they stopped to browse a rack of ribbons, as if she were merely commenting on the weather.
Elizabeth gave her aunt an impertinent rise of her eyebrow. “Well, Aunt, you seem most direct this morning.” She laughed and continued, “Of course I am not jealous. Mr. Bingley is perfect for Jane, and she could not be happier. Her felicity is mine.”
Her aunt studied her and said, doubtingly, “You do not always appear happy to hear her say she loves him.” She turned to inspect another ribbon. “You always look away or your smile seems to freeze on your face.”
Elizabeth tried to deflect the import of the subject with humor. “Aunt Gardiner! I did not know you were such a studier of persons. Pray tell, are you hoping for a career as a Bow Street runner?”
Her aunt turned to her with a serious look. “Lizzy, tell me you have not also developed feelings for Mr. Bingley. Is that why you seem uncomfortable when Jane speaks of her love for him?”
Elizabeth’s heart melted at the sincerity in her aunt’s voice. Her concern was obvious and touching. She never could speak to her own mother about her feelings, and although she often spoke of such things with her father, not having another woman to consult was difficult. Elizabeth rested a warm hand on her aunt’s arm.
“Dear Aunt, do not be troubled for me. I do not love Mr. Bingley; he is to be my brother, and a brother’s love is all I would wish from him.” His friend, however, is a different story. She smiled at her aunt to reassure her.
After scrutinizing her niece’s face for a few moments, Madeline gave a sigh of relief and patted the hand on her arm. “I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear you say so, Elizabeth. I had begun to worry for you.”
Elizabeth laughed softly to dispel the serious nature of their conversation. “Well, you need not be worried, Aunt. I hear Mr. Collins might have a cousin for me.”
Her aunt gave her a censuring look before covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, and they began browsing again.
Outside the shop, Mr. Darcy helped his sister and her companion down from the carriage. He again scanned the street around them and smiled at her.
“Would you like me to come with you?” he asked, kindly. But Georgiana could see the subtle distaste in his tone and she laughed.
“William, I know how much you dislike browsing the ladies’ shops with me.” She laughed again at his chagrined frown and acknowledging nod at the truth of her words. Georgiana lifted her chin and smiled cheekily at him. “Though, why, I do not know. There are always lovely ladies inside, and I am sure you can learn much more about a lady in a shop than on the floor of a ballroom.”
Darcy smiled at her and kissed her forehead. “Perhaps you are right. I shall go in this one directly, and if cupid is on my side, I shall find a wife and a pair of slippers for her all at the same time. What a time saver that shall be!”
Georgiana laughed cheerfully at her brother’s silliness and then abruptly stopped and covered her mouth. She looked around to see if anyone had witnessed her most unladylike show of amusement. Upon seeing no one around, she smiled at her brother and said, “No indeed, Brother. You would have no such luck. Your taste in lady’s fashion is something atrocious, and I am sure you will not find yourself a wife. But even if you should, the slippers you choose would drive her away just as quickly.”
Darcy smiled broadly, revealing his dimples and causing his sister’s smile to widen. Neither had seen the other smile so genuinely in quite a while, and both were glad for it. Darcy looked at his sister with affection and continued to tease her. With a dramatic pose of his hand over his heart, he said, “You wound me, Georgie! How can you say I have poor taste when, just days ago, you were so delighted with the gloves I gave you for Christmas?”
Georgiana looked at her brother with a guilty smile. Twisting her reticule strings in her hands, she mumbled, “Well . . . ”
“You did not like them?” Darcy asked with astonishment. When he saw her guilty face lower again at his discovery, he said in a softer tone, “Georgiana, I am not offended.” He lifted her chin with his finger and said with a smile, “Perhaps you are right, then. I will have no such luck finding a wife in this establishment.”
The smile on his face disarmed Georgiana and she spoke softly, but with humor. “Leave it to me, William. I will find you a wife and some slippers for her as well. Go to that bookstore across the street that you always eye longingly whenever we shop together. Leave the ladies’ business to me.”
Darcy was chastising himself for ruining their happy banter, so he sighed in relief at Georgiana’s response. “You are a most clever girl, my dear. I wanted to speak to Mr. Jenkins anyway about a book I ordered last week. Now look how efficient we are! Do be sure to choose a pretty wife for me, dear.”
Georgiana laughed and shook her head at her brother as she turned to enter the shop. Darcy waited until she and Mrs. Annesley were safely inside before turning to his groomsmen on the carriage and asking one of them to sit inside the shop to watch over the ladies. He dismissed the carriage and headed across the street to the bookstore.
* * *
Elizabeth looked up automatically when she heard the bell of the door. She noticed a young girl and an older lady enter the shop before returning her attention to examining a few more ribbons.
She and her aunt had long since found many of the items on their list and were just enjoying looking through the shop’s abundant merchandise. Their conversation was companionable and happy as they moved throughout the shop. Elizabeth stopped briefly at a table of folded handkerchiefs and fingered their fine fabrics and embroidery. She looked up when a bit of color came into view on the other side of the table. It was the same girl she noticed enter a few minutes before.
Elizabeth watched as the girl and her companion quietly exchanged comments about the items on the table. Her eyes then caught sight of a most unusual but beautiful pattern embroidered on one of the handkerchiefs in the center of the table. Wanting to examine it closer, she reached for it just as the other girl did. Their hands nearly touched before Elizabeth realized they were reaching for the same item.
She looked up and smiled at the girl, who returned a shy smile and indicated to Elizabeth to claim the item. An expression in the girl’s eyes caught Elizabeth momentarily, and she felt drawn to her. She seemed timid, so Elizabeth smiled sweetly and said, “No, you go ahead.” She motioned towards the cloth and continued, “But I must say, you have excellent taste.” Elizabeth smiled again before leaving the table.
Georgiana’s lips twitched in a brief attempt at a smile and hesitated before reaching for the handkerchief. She watched as the lady who complimented her walked down the aisle and then began speaking with another lady while they held out various types of lace to compare. Georgiana admired her confident stride and the engaging smile she gave her companion. She looked down at the cloth in her hand and closely examined the embroidery. It was a combination of Lavender blossoms and Sweet Williams wrapped together with a twisting vine of leaves. It was prettily done and Georgiana turned to show Mrs. Annesley.
“Which lace do you think Jane would like for her veil, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth examined the fabrics. “I think this one would suit her best; do you not agree, Aunt?”
Her aunt pulled out the folded lace and lifted the tissue paper surrounding it. “I believe you are right, Lizzy. Though I wonder . . . ” She unfolded the fabric a little and frowned. “I do not believe there is enough here f
or what we need. I will ask the clerk if there is more in the stockroom if you will just excuse me.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Of course. I am going to go try and select the gloves Jane needs. Our hands are similar in size.”
Elizabeth walked towards the back of the shop where there was a small alcove devoted to various types of gloves. She admired the soft feel of a pair of leather outdoor gloves for a few minutes. She turned her hands around to inspect their stitching and fit before removing and returning them to their place. When she turned around towards the table with the evening gloves, she noticed the same shy girl from the handkerchief table examining a pair of white silk ones.
She walked up next to the girl and her companion and gave her a wink. “My compliments again on your taste.” She gently reached for the gloves in Georgiana’s hand. “May I?”
Georgiana looked at the pretty woman next to her and acknowledged her kind smile before handing them to her. “Of course.”
“These are quite lovely. I like the way they taper here at the edge.” Elizabeth leaned a bit closer to show Georgiana what she meant.
Georgiana marveled at the easy nature of the stranger next to her. She had a confidence about her that was genuine without the self-absorbed way of the ladies Georgiana usually encountered while shopping. She gave a hesitant smile and replied so softly Elizabeth had to strain to hear her. “Yes, I liked that, too.”
Elizabeth gave Georgiana a sweet, satisfied smile. She handed the gloves back and picked out a pair she thought Jane might like. To Georgiana’s surprise, Elizabeth then turned to her to continue the conversation as if they were well known acquaintances.
“I am shopping for my sister who is getting married soon. I am having all the fun picking out items for her while she is forced to sit all day planning with my mother.” Elizabeth smiled conspiratorially and gave Georgiana a wink.
Georgiana giggled before quickly covering her mouth in embarrassment. To her further surprise, Elizabeth laughed as well. She smiled to herself and thought a moment while she pretended to examine another pair of gloves. The lady next to her was most peculiar. She was friendly and cheerful, and she did not adhere to the normal societal rules regarding speaking to strangers. There was nothing improper about her speaking to Georgiana, but the easy manners she displayed were surprising.
Georgiana thought of all the things her brother had told her about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Her description appeared, to Georgiana, to be similar to this lady. Both ladies seemed to have qualities Georgiana admired, and she decided it was time to try to practice them herself. She leaned slightly towards Elizabeth and said in her own conspiratorial voice, “I am here shopping for a new pair of gloves to replace the horrid ones my brother got me for Christmas.”
Elizabeth drew back in surprise, and for a moment, Georgiana froze, fearing she had gone too far. She relaxed when her anonymous friend smiled broadly and said with mock seriousness, “Men have no taste.”
While Elizabeth laughed heartily, Georgiana giggled softly.
“You are lucky, though, to have a brother. I have only several sisters and no brothers.”
Georgiana smiled in return. “I have only my brother. And although I should have liked to have a sister, having him does grant me many opportunities to shop.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “To replace the items he purchases for you?”
Georgiana nodded her head, and they laughed quietly together for a minute. Elizabeth tried on the gloves she had selected for Jane and stretched her arm out to pull one up above her elbow. As she turned her arm about to look at it, she said to her friend, “What do you think of these? They are pretty, are they not?”
Georgiana reached over to feel the fabric and tentatively took Elizabeth’s wrist in her hand as she turned it around to inspect a bit of embroidered lace on the underside of the glove.
She smiled softly and said, “Yes, they are quite beautiful. I like the lace right here.”
Elizabeth smiled at the boldness of her new friend in touching her arm. She seemed less shy and reserved than she had been earlier, and Elizabeth was enjoying her company while waiting for her aunt to finish with the clerk.
Georgiana suddenly began laughing and covered her mouth in a futile attempt to hide her amusement. When Elizabeth turned to her questioningly, she said, “Forgive me,” before erupting in another bout of laughter.
Elizabeth found her amusement contagious, and even though she did not know what her anonymous friend was laughing about, she could not help but laugh a little as well.
“You must tell me what you find so funny about these gloves!”
Georgiana took a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure. “It is not the gloves that I find amusing. I caught sight of that rack of slippers over there and was reminded of my task here in the shop today.” She pointed to the rack of slippers.
Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose in amusement and confusion. “And what is that, my I ask?”
Georgiana had become so comfortable with Elizabeth that she momentarily forgot she was speaking with a stranger. “You will think me most silly, but I had teased my brother that I would shop for a wife for him today and choose a pair of slippers for her as well. He was so pleased to get out of coming in here with me that he laughed and went along with it.” Georgiana then frowned as she realized her silliness.
Elizabeth laughed at the unusual declaration and said, as she glanced around the shop, “I did not see the ‘wife aisle’.”
Elizabeth smiled as her jest had the intended effect of bringing a smile back to her friend’s face, and they began giggling again.
* * *
Darcy walked across the street to the milliner’s shop after retrieving the book he had hoped to obtain. Upon entering, his level of discomfort rose immediately as all the ladies’ fashion accessories surrounded him. He had never really been comfortable in a shop for ladies and was suddenly very glad that Georgiana had given him leave to go to the bookstore instead.
He turned to the bored look of his groomsman who sat in a chair next to another gentleman, most likely waiting for his wife. Their faces clearly revealed that their discomfort matched his. He asked about Georgiana’s location, and the groom pointed towards the back of the establishment. Darcy began walking in that direction.
As he neared the back of the shop, he heard the most delightful and beautiful laugh. His heart stopped, and he instantly ducked behind a rack of bonnets upon hearing the very familiar sound. It cannot be — my ears deceive me! Elizabeth?! His heart raced as he again listened for the sound. He began to think he had certainly imagined it and was losing his mind. Just then, the tinkling sound again drifted to his ears, and he sighed as he allowed it to melt through him.
He had to concentrate to get his muscles to obey him and walk towards the sound as it had paralyzed him in place. He turned the corner towards its source and quietly walked along another tall rack of bonnets. Once again he heard the laugh, followed by another softer one that he recognized as Georgiana’s. Immediately, his curiosity got the better of him, and he hesitantly lifted a bonnet from its rack and peered through the opening.
The sight momentarily stunned him as he discovered, with wonder and delight, Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, talking animatedly with Georgiana. It was so much like the nature of his dreams that he closed his eyes and rubbed them just in case the scene was imaginary. When he dared to look again, they were still there smiling and talking to each other.
How can this be? He watched with wonder as they examined and compared various gloves before them on a table. His breath caught in his throat as he watched Elizabeth delicately try on a glove and pull its length all the way up her small arm. She was stunning, and he realized then that, for all the weeks he had not seen her, his mind had not done her justice, for she was beyond beautiful; she was exquisite. He stood, transfixed, looking at her as she splayed her hand and twisted her arm about to examine the length of the glove.
His heart beat faster as he watched his beloved
sister reach for Elizabeth’s wrist and turn it around in her hand. He was momentarily filled with jealousy at the act, at his sister’s touch on Elizabeth’s arm. He wanted nothing more than to be the one holding her small hand in his while giving soft kisses to the lace on her wrist.
He could not hear their conversation, but as he tore his eyes away from Elizabeth, for the first time, he saw his sister more animated and confident than he had ever before beheld. He watched her laughing as she leaned towards Elizabeth. She said something as she pointed in another direction in the shop. Elizabeth gave Georgiana a look of surprise and again laughed before saying something in return. He quickly replaced the bonnet in the opening in the rack when he saw Elizabeth’s gaze roam the shop before the ladies’ laughter again reached his ears.
He stood taller and prepared himself to make an appearance, but as he took a quick peek behind the bonnet again, he saw another lady come up and say something to Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and excused herself. Darcy realized, almost too late, that they were walking towards where he was hiding, and he moved the bonnet again to hide his location, just as their conversation reached him from the other side of the rack.
“Who is that you were speaking to, Elizabeth?” the lady asked. Darcy leaned closer to the bonnets to hear Elizabeth’s lovely voice for the first time in weeks.
She laughed as she said, “I cannot tell you, Aunt. I do not actually know her. We were just having a pleasant conversation over the gloves.”
The astonishment in the voice of the lady, who Darcy now knew to be Elizabeth’s aunt, was easily heard. “You do not know her? I thought perhaps you had a previous acquaintance with the lady. You seemed to be enjoying a familiarity with her.”
Darcy could imagine the smile he heard in Elizabeth’s voice. “Yes, she is quite lovely. We just happened to come upon each other a few times in the shop and began talking.”
“She looks to be a very nice young girl.”
“Did you find out what you needed from the clerk?”
“Yes, and I apologize for taking so long. My friend, who owns the shop, came out from the back and we began talking. Unfortunately, there is not enough of the lace we wanted for Jane, but she said she could get more from a warehouse outside of town tonight, and it will be ready with the rest of our purchases to pick up at this time tomorrow.”
Falling for Mr. Darcy Page 22