by Don Miller
Both of them smiled at his compliment and Kitty said, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I think that is the nicest compliment I have ever received from a gentleman.”
When they arrived at the Gardiner’s house, Mrs. Gardiner and the two sisters were there to meet them. After all had exchanged greetings, Elizabeth drew Darcy aside and said, “If all of my family were not here, I would give you the biggest kiss. I have missed you all day.”
He smiled at her. “You should have seen me pacing in the foyer, waiting for the girls, even though they were not late. I was so impatient to get here because we have not been apart this long during the day without seeing each other for a long time. I was wondering if you were missing me as much as I missed you. I have to admit I am happy you did.”
“And I am glad you missed me. I love you, Will Darcy, but I need to say goodbye to my aunt.”
As she left, Darcy felt a hand on his shoulder. “That is a magnificent set of four young ladies you are escorting to the dinner, do not you think so, Darcy?”
“It is indeed, Mr. Gardiner, and the slightly older woman with them is not outdone by them. They are such a family as I never dreamed I might have. I am looking forward to the coming years.”
When they were ushered into the sitting room at Matlock House by the butler, there to greet them were Lord and Lady Matlock, Alicia, and, to Darcy’s surprise and delight, Capt. Phillip Rutherford, Alicia’s husband. Capt. Rutherford quickly arose and laughingly said, “Good lord, Darcy. Have you been collecting beautiful women?”
Darcy led Elizabeth to him and said, “No, Rutherford, but I have brought four of the loveliest young ladies you will ever see to meet you. Elizabeth, this is Alicia’s husband, Capt. Phillip Rutherford. Phillip, this is my betrothed, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth curtsied. “Captain, I am happy to finally meet you. I have heard much good of you.” After receiving his return greeting, she disengaged from Darcy and walked over to her sisters. “Captain, may I introduce my sister, Mary, who is next in age to me and is now living with my aunt and uncle here in London and this is my sister, Catherine, who is now living with the Darcys and has in a few weeks become a best friend of Georgiana. They plan to debut together next Season.”
After greetings and introductions were finished, Lord Matlock turned to Darcy. “You certainly were not very forthcoming, Darcy. You told us about the elder Miss Bennet’s beauty and, of course, we know about Miss Elizabeth’s, but you made no mention that all of the Bennet ladies were so pretty. First we discovered Miss Mary and now Miss Catherine. Why have you been holding out on us?”
“I have not been holding out on you, Uncle Robert. I have to acknowledge it is only within the last few weeks I have come to appreciate how pretty all of the Bennet sisters are. In fact this very evening I was astonished as I watched Kitty and Georgie come down the stairs toward me. It dawned on me what beautiful and desirable young ladies they had become. I suspect marrying into such a family will make my life much more interesting.”
“Will,” said Lady Alicia, “I think marrying Lizzie will make your life much more interesting. Getting all these sisters in the bargain is just icing on the cake.”
He laughed and looked at both Kitty and Mary. “That is true, but I am now beginning to realize how much the icing is enhancing the cake.” He was rewarded by a blush from each of them.
“Where is Richard?” asked Elizabeth. “I thought he was to have returned by now.”
“He will be down shortly. He just returned from the War Office and wanted to freshen up and change into another uniform.”
That had no sooner been said than Col. Fitzwilliam entered the room. “Right on cue, here I am. Lizzie, it is good to see you again and you cannot know how pleased I am you and Darcy finally saw the light. Of course, we all knew weeks ago you two would eventually come to an understanding, but it is wonderful to see it has finally happened.”
He then noticed Kitty. “My heavens, this beautiful young lady must be another Bennet sister. Does the supply of them never end?”
Elizabeth introduced the blushing Kitty to the colonel. “This is Catherine, my next to youngest sister, Richard. Catherine, this is Col. Fitzwilliam. I was telling the others, Richard, she and Georgiana have become very close; she is going to live with us, and the two of them intend to debut together next season.”
“That is wonderful. So, Georgiana, you are gaining not one close sister, but two. I suspect that makes you very happy.”
“It is like a dream come true, Richard. I do not think I have ever been happier. I am so much looking forward to the coming years with Lizzie and Kitty. Somehow I knew when Will wrote to me about the Miss Elizabeth he met in Hertfordshire, it would lead to good things, but I never dreamed how good they would be.”
Col. Fitzwilliam then turned to Mary. “Good evening, Miss Mary. I am pleased to see you again so soon. May I say that you are looking as lovely as ever?”
“Thank you, sir. I will take that as a compliment, even though it might be applicable even if you thought I was ugly.”
Everyone laughed at her rejoinder. “I will never learn you have to be specific with these Bennet women. Let me change my statement to say that you look lovely tonight, Miss Mary.”
Elizabeth looked at her sister in amazement. Who was this rather pretty young woman who looked like her sister Mary? She is teasing and speaking confidently with a gentleman of the ton. She looked at Kitty and Darcy and could see they were just as astonished as she was at the repartee between Col. Fitzwilliam and Mary. That was not the demeanor of the Mary they had known. This time in London seemed to have caused a major change in her personality. She was equally surprised when Col. Fitzwilliam chose to sit beside Mary, which caused Mary to blush when she saw Elizabeth look at her questioningly.
During the ensuing conversations, Lady Matlock informed Darcy and Elizabeth the party to celebrate Richard’s knighthood, at his insistence, was not a ball, but rather a party at which food would be constantly available and the dancing would be informal—no long dance sets.
Col. Fitzwilliam then said, “I am very disappointed the Bennet ladies cannot attend the party. I had so hoped to have a chance to dance the new dance sensation, the waltz, with them. Darcy and Lizzie, have either of you learned and danced the waltz? I have found I like it very much.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth. “I have never asked you. I have practiced it with Georgiana, so I think I am sufficiently proficient I can lead you. Have you ever learned it?”
“Of course I have. What do you think five sisters do in their leisure time? They practice dances. I have played both the woman’s part and the man’s,” then she put her arm through Darcy’s, looked in his eyes, and gave him a bright smile, “although with you I would expect to do the woman’s part.” She then nodded at Kitty and Mary. “My sisters also know how to dance the waltz, do you not?”
Kitty and Mary looked at one another and Kitty answered first. “Yes, I do, but I do not think I would feel comfortable dancing a waltz with a man at a party or ball. I do not have a feel for music you and Mary do. I think I would have to practice it with a man before I would feel comfortable doing it in public.”
“I know the steps, but like Kitty, I have to believe it would feel very different dancing with a man rather than with one of my sisters. It seems to be a very intimate dance and I am not sure how comfortable I would feel having constant contact with a man. I do not have nearly as much experience dancing as my sisters do.”
“Then, I am sorry you cannot accept my invitation,” said Col. Fitzwilliam.
“And what invitation is that,” asked Lady Matlock.
“When I was at the Gardiners’ two days ago, I asked Mary if she waltzed and she gave me much the same answer she just gave here. Therefore, I suggested she come to Matlock House to practice with me, assuring her there would be a chaperone in attendance at all times. In fact, I convinced Rutherford and Alicia to practice with us, if she chose to come. She was concerned it might
not be appropriate, and Mrs. Gardiner agreed she should probably not dance with me during her full mourning period.”
“You did not mention that to me.”
“No, I did not mother, since she said she could not do it. Would you have had an objection?”
Lady Matlock looked at Mary and Col. Fitzwilliam sitting together, both of whom were looking at her intently. “No, I suppose not, but I would always like to be informed when anyone is invited to my house.” She then looked directly at Mary. “May I ask, Miss Mary? If you were not in full mourning, would you have accepted my son’s invitation?”
Mary blushed, knowing everyone was looking at her. After a little hesitation, she answered, “Yes, I think I would have, my lady. Developing my social skills is one of my goals and I think learning different dances is a skill I need to develop.”
“The rules of mourning are so difficult to understand,” said Kitty. “I have been told it is acceptable for me to continue my drawing lessons while I am in full mourning, but I am not to attend social functions or undertake frivolous activities, although some social functions are acceptable. And I am not sure what constitutes frivolous activities.”
Lady Matlock smiled. “You are not alone, Miss Catherine. Even people such as me who have been in society for many, many years are uncertain about the rules. Your guardians have set a six month mourning period for you, which is very common for children mourning parents, but I believe many in the ton might say a woman of your age or older should mourn her parents for nine months or a year. Personally I think a six month period is reasonable. As for social events in which you may not participate during your full mourning period, the only ones of which I am sure are balls and large social gatherings. The rules are less defined when it comes to smaller, intimate gatherings. Certainly you can attend family gatherings and I believe it is common after a month or so, you can attend plays and concerts. As for whether it would be acceptable for Miss Mary to attend a private dance class with my son, I suspect that is not quite the same as being in a class with a master who is unrelated to you. For one thing, the activity of dancing, particularly the waltz, is much more intimate. I can certainly appreciate Mrs. Gardiner’s concern and reason for not allowing it. I suspect many would classify dancing as a frivolous activity.”
“As our Aunt Madeleine pointed out to Mary and me,” said Elizabeth, “there are probably those who would think the three of us attending this dinner is not proper for women in full mourning. After all, we are not yet family.”
Lady Matlock thought about that for a minute. “You are undoubtedly right. To tell you the truth, when I planned the dinner, I did not even think of that. I am glad she allowed you to come. As long as we are on the subject, have you thought how your mourning will affect your wedding plans?”
“We have discussed it and have decided we will marry after the full mourning period is over—sometime in early October. As you know, weddings are acceptable anytime during the mourning period, but Jane and I decided we would feel more comfortable if the wedding occurred after the full mourning period is over. Also, Will assures me that Pemberley will be alive with fall colors at that time, so it will be a beautiful time to hold the wedding.”
“That is true,” said Georgiana. “By the beginning of October the leaves are all changing colors and the fall flowers are in full bloom. It should be gorgeous. It is one of my favorite times of year at Pemberley. The views of the valley from the ridges are spectacular.”
During dinner Col. Fitzwilliam was seated beside Mary, which caused Darcy and Elizabeth to speculate about their relationship. They were both accustomed to thinking of Mary as the plain, very conservative, socially inept sister and to see her seemingly relaxed in the house of an earl and countess, speaking easily with their son, and looking surprisingly pretty, amazed them. As they thought back to their meeting with her at Meryton shortly after the fire, each came to the realization she had seemed more mature and more attractive, but neither had thought much about it.
Elizabeth began to recall the months after the Mr. Collins debacle, when Mary had been disappointed Mr. Collins had paid her little attention. She remembered Mary had seemed to change. She had become less critical, had started to take more interest in her appearance, and had expanded her reading preferences. She wondered when Mary had started to be interested in Mr. Thompson. Perhaps, because Mr. Collins had not noticed her and then she had found a man in Mr. Thompson, whom she did want to notice her, she had begun to think more about her demeanor and appearance. Elizabeth also wondered how much their Aunt Madeleine had worked with Mary to improve her appearance and personality. Whatever its cause, her transformation had been from a very unnoticeable young girl into a surprisingly attractive and personable young lady.
Darcy was having thoughts along the same line. As he watched his cousin and Mary talking animatedly, he tried to see Mary as his cousin had first seen her, just a week or so prior to that evening. Darcy recognized if he had not known and interacted with her in the past, she would indeed seem to be an attractive and desirable young woman. It came to him she was only a little over a year younger than Elizabeth, and he knew he would have probably been just enamored with Elizabeth fourteen or fifteen months ago as he was seven months ago. His cousin, having no preconceived notions of Mary and thinking very highly of her sister, Elizabeth, would see her in a much different light than Darcy did, despite descriptions of Mary that Darcy may have given him. Could his cousin actually be enamored of Mary and be thinking of courting her? He shook his head and thought, “Who would have thought a trip to Netherfield in October could have had the astounding results it has had?”
After dinner Georgiana performed on the piano and then Elizabeth sang her first song with Georgiana’s accompaniment and her second song with no accompaniment. Finally Mary went to the piano to perform and as she sat down, Darcy leaned to Elizabeth, who had come to sit with him, and said, “Do you suppose her piano playing has had the transformation her personality has?”
Elizabeth smiled at him. “I know for a fact it has. I have been listening to her at my aunt and uncle’s house, and under the tutelage of the piano master, she has become very proficient. I think you will enjoy it very much.”
Elizabeth was right. Mary played a Mozart composition and a lilting Irish melody, and Darcy thought both were done extremely well. She was not as competent as Georgiana, but she was much closer to that level of performance than he had expected. He glanced at Col. Fitzwilliam as she was playing, and he could see that his cousin was watching very intently, as if weighing in his mind just how important Mary might become to him. Darcy wondered if he knew that Mary now came with a £20,000 dowry.
As Darcy was returning Mary and Elizabeth to the Gardiner’s house, Elizabeth asked, “Mary, why did you not tell us that Col. Fitzwilliam had called on you?”
“He did not call on me. That would not be proper while I am in full mourning. He called on the Gardiners, saying he wanted to know them better since they would soon be family. He did come with me when I took Cordelia and Roger for a walk in the park, and that was when he asked me about the waltz, but other than that, it was just a pleasant walk with a friend. It did not seem worth mentioning.”
“But I cannot understand why Aunt Madeleine did not say anything about it. She usually informs me of such events involving my sisters. How many times did he call?”
Mary grimaced and looked somewhat embarrassed. “Three times. Aunt did not tell you because I may have mentioned to her I did not think anything should be said about it.”
Kitty laughed and took Mary’s hand. “Mary, you are blushing. Until today I do not think I ever saw you blush. You are very fond of Col. Fitzwilliam, are you not?”
“He is a very congenial man whose company I find very pleasant, but that is all. We have just begun to know each other and I am sure he is only being kind.”
“Pooh. I do not believe it. See, you are blushing even more. I think you really like him. Do you think he will court you? I t
hink that would be so incredible.”
When Mary did not seem inclined to answer, Georgiana said, “Well, I watched my cousin tonight and thought that he looked at you often and he certainly sat with you as often as he could. What do you think, Will? Is Richard interested in Mary?”
“I think it is too early in their acquaintance for us to conjecture about Richard’s motives. Let us just watch and see what happens. But Mary, let me assure you I do not think you below him or undeserving of him for any reason. He is a gentleman and you are a gentlewoman and in that respect you are equals. Do not think as Lizzie did at one time that your social status makes you unacceptable.”
“It’s not social status which worries me. It is that he is so much more mature and sophisticated in the ways of the world and society. He is a very handsome and eligible bachelor who, I am sure, can have his pick of many young women. I cannot imagine why he would be interested in me. I am worried it is just a passing fancy engendered by his wish to have a relationship such as you and Lizzie have. I am not even close to as pretty or intelligent or talented as Lizzie and I fear he would tire of me quickly. Therefore I have tried not to encourage him, but he is persistent.”
Elizabeth could not help but laugh. “Mary, you will find that is a characteristic of the males of that family and I for one am glad they have it. If Will had not been so determined to win me, I fear I would have driven him away and we would not be the deliriously happy couple we are now. If Richard is like Will, he will have considered all of your age and personality differences and I assure you, if he asks to court you, he will have concluded the qualities you do have outweigh those you do not. As Will told me the day we became engaged, he examined all the pros and cons of marrying me and the pros won easily. Let us talk more about this when we get home.”