Longbourn to London

by Beutler Linda

  Elizabeth blushed. “I see. But none of you knew me, only of me.”

  Sarah rattled away. “Mrs. Chawton had a note from Mrs. Reynolds at Pemberley soon after, saying as she warn’t surprised. She said she met you and thought the master in love with you last summer. She wrote she liked you;you seemed sensible and kind and not taking on airs because you knew the master. Oh… I should not have…”

  “True enough, Sarah, but I appreciate hearing it.” Elizabeth considered. “Sarah, I would be pleased to have you continue as my abigail after this week is ended. Would you consider a move to Pemberley? Would you miss your family too much?”

  “Oh, Mrs. Darcy…” Sarah’s eyes widened, but she was clearly pleased. “Oh yes… I mean no, I would not miss my family. I am grown now; I make my own way. I could see those I want to when you come up to London, when there is time.” She jumped from her stool, curtsied as she beamed her delight, and sat down.

  “Sarah, you already know how…impulsive my husband and I are. We are not always discreet in the ways we express our affection for each other. One could make the case that we are too self-indulgent. You have already had to overlook a great deal. I fear, once we are at Pemberley, this situation will not improve. Although it might not seem fair, we would expect you to be much more discreet than we shall be. We must be able to rely upon you as we rely on Murray.”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. I understand. I do understand. I am honoured, ma’am.” Sarah repeated her curtsey, and seated herself in agitation.

  “And I may ask you to withhold information from my husband, Sarah. I say this because I wish you to understand that I shall be your employer, not Mr. Darcy. If I ask you to keep a secret from him and it angers or frustrates him, remember, it pleases me. He cannot dismiss you without my agreement.”

  “May I ask, ma’am, what sort of secrets?” Sarah’s voice betrayed a slight suspicion.

  Elizabeth tilted her head, pondering. “Woman things, Sarah, mostly. Or, gifts I have ordered for him, surprises I might plan. When I do suspect I am increasing, I may wish to keep the news just between you and me for a time. It is my belief that once I am known to be carrying the Pemberley heir, Mr. Darcy may become quite smothering in his attentions.” Elizabeth produced a private smile and settled lower into the water. She looked forward to the many new opportunities she would have to exasperate her husband once she fell with child.

  “Oh, of course, woman things. I understand, ma’am.” Sarah stood again, curtsied again, and sat again.

  Contented with her arrangements, Elizabeth splashed her toes in the bubbles at the end of her tub. “We shall consider it settled then, Sarah. I shall speak of this decision with Mrs. Chawton. Mr. Darcy will be informed that I am hiring you away from him.”

  ***

  When Elizabeth arose from her bath, she instructed Sarah as to her undergarment requirements. “We shall have a chemise first, then a full corset and a petticoat, then the ball gown, stockings and garters. I do not know whether he noticed my shoes, but he seems to notice everything, so I shall select a pair most like the slippers I wore then.”

  “A full corset, ma’am? But you are slender enough.”

  “It is what a proper country maiden wears to dance.” The corner of Elizabeth’s mouth curved up. “It seems we are to be accurate in all things.”

  When the ball gown was slipped over Elizabeth’s head and fastened at the back, she and Sarah looked at the refection in the full-length mirror. It was too big.

  “My goodness, ma’am!”

  “Oh, dear, Sarah!”

  “Was you taken ill, between then and now, ma’am?” This was the only plausible explanation Sarah could conjure for the noticeable loss of weight.

  “No, indeed.” Elizabeth sighed. “As I left Pemberley last summer, my family received some harrowing news about one of my sisters. My alarm caused a lack of appetite for many weeks. When Mr. Darcy came back into the neighbourhood, my disquiet continued but for a far happier reason. What shall we do? I do not think loosening the corset will help enough.”

  “The only quick thing I know is to set the buttons over ma’am. There is a sewing box in one of the wardrobes. Let me fetch it.”

  They removed Elizabeth’s gown, and Sarah set to work, seated on her stool. Elizabeth pulled the bench from the dressing table and began pulling up her white stockings, which also seemed to fit rather ill. She heard a floorboard creak, and looked into the mirror. There she saw the reflection of Darcy’s face peering through the partially opened door to the mistress’s bedroom, looking ever so much like a curious boy in evening dress. He was watching her hands smooth the stockings up her legs. Their eyes met in the refection, and Elizabeth suppressed a smile, shaking her head as if cross. Darcy started to blush from his immaculate cravat, the heat moving into his face.

  “Silly man.” Elizabeth carefully mouthed the words into the mirror, so Sarah would not be disturbed.

  Darcy smiled, giving an unrepentant shrug, but backed away from the door.

  In a few minutes, Sarah was ready for Elizabeth to try the gown again. The effect was somewhat improved. “Thank you for your clear head, Sarah. The dress did fit a little better before, but our only other alternative would be to sew me into it. We had better not.” No wonder Darcy was attracted that night, she mused. I must have been the very picture of a buxom country maiden. I had no idea I had lost so much weight. She remembered all the mornings she had set out from Longbourn as the family awaited news of Lydia, and how her walks had invariably become sprints to expend the bottled frustrations and unease.

  Sarah turned her attention to Elizabeth’s hair and drew from a chest of drawers the box containing Elizabeth’s pearls and hairpins.

  They had just fastened the necklace, and Elizabeth pronounced her three saucy curls perfect, when a polite tap came at the hall door. Elizabeth stepped into the middle of the room, feeling her cheeks colouring as she nodded for Sarah to open the door.

  Darcy stood bewitched as the opening door revealed his smiling Elizabeth. She waited a heartbeat before extending her gloved hand to him. “Mr. Darcy, I am ready.”

  Chapter 25

  Mr. Darcy Learns to Waltz

  “Friendship is constant in all other things

  Save in the office and affairs of love.

  Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues.”

  William Shakespeare

  Much Ado about Nothing

  “Miss Bennet, I have never seen you looking so well.” He folded Elizabeth’s hand in his elbow and addressed the maid. “That will be all, Sarah.”

  Elizabeth turned to her and winked. It was anticipated that Sarah might be needed later, assuming Darcy would be confounded by the number and complexity of his wife’s layers of clothing.

  Of course, he can get between my legs easily enough. Elizabeth smirked. Oh, how you have fallen, Lizzy!

  She joined in the game of being Miss Elizabeth Bennet with alacrity. “May I be so bold, Mr. Darcy, as to tell you that you are looking more than merely tolerable this evening? I believe you may be handsome enough to tempt me.”

  He gave her a look of mock surprise. “I suppose I should have expected a comment of that nature. Surely, Miss Bennet, you do not intend to fling a gentleman’s ill-chosen words back in his face.”

  “You have never specifically apologised for it, you know.” She smiled provocatively before looking down with a poor semblance of maidenly modesty. “I trust you will judge my nature forgiving, eventually…”

  “Miss Bennet, you are everything that is generous.”

  “Thank you, sir. I do not wish to encourage your vanity, but in truth, you are more handsome than ever. I thought so particularly when you were spying on me just now.” She still did not meet his gaze.

  “Miss Bennet! Whatever do you mean? Of what are you accusing me?”

  Elizabeth could only laugh. “Merely that you tend to a dangerous curiosity, sir!”

  “Surely not more dangerous than yours, Miss
Bennet.”

  ***

  Footmen opened the ballroom doors. The room was ablaze with light. The orchestra began playing the music that Elizabeth and Darcy had danced to at the Netherfield ball. An elegant gentleman in evening dress bowed. “My dear,” began Darcy, acknowledging the man’s bow, “allow me to introduce the dance master, Mr. Leigh. Mr. Leigh, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

  Elizabeth blushed that Darcy would continue the charade with a relative stranger, and Mr. Leigh seemed disconcerted.

  “Excuse me,” Darcy fumbled. “Mrs. Darcy, now. You will both pardon me if I confuse the past and the present. Indeed, it is my purpose to do so all evening.”

  Both Elizabeth and Mr. Leigh nodded their amused acceptance.

  “If sir and madam would be so good as to demonstrate the dance you shared previously, I can assess your talents.”

  Darcy stepped in front of Elizabeth, and bowed politely. “May I have the honour, Miss Bennet?”

  “It will be my pleasure, Mr. Darcy.”

  He led her to the middle of the room, and they pantomimed the complicated steps as if joined by a line of imaginary dancers. At one point, Elizabeth and Darcy joined hands and paced four steps forward towards the orchestra, then turned and walked four steps away. As their backs were turned to the musicians, Elizabeth heard the swish of skirts and dance pumps quickly approaching, and was elated to have her free hand taken by a beaming Charles Bingley. Elizabeth heard her sister Jane’s melodic giggle as she took Darcy’s hand. Elizabeth stopped, too delighted to continue, and prepared to embrace Jane in a fierce hug.

  Darcy noticed Jane plant her feet to brace for the onslaught.

  “Ahem! Mrs. Darcy! You do not attend to your dancing!” Mr. Leigh scolded, beating the rhythm with his cane.

  Radiantly smiling at Darcy, tears of happiness in the corners of her eyes, Elizabeth resumed her place. The Bingleys and Darcys continued the figure for several more measures before all were again pacing forward, away from the ballroom doors. Elizabeth heard more commotion, and when the two couples turned to execute the next figure, she saw—with uncontainable joy— that their set was joined by Georgiana dancing with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, this is in every way wonderful. Thank you so!” She squeezed his arm when the dance presented the opportunity.

  “Mrs. Darcy!” censured Mr. Leigh.

  Elizabeth laughed, uncaring.

  The next time the couples progressed away from the doors, it was all Elizabeth could do to not turn her head. She heard more footsteps approaching and, when allowed to, saw Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had joined the dance with Charlotte and Mr. Collins lined up behind them.

  “Now our little party is complete,” Darcy informed her.

  Elizabeth nodded towards Mr. Collins and murmured to Darcy, “This shows great forbearance, sir!”

  “He has been thoroughly schooled by his wife, Georgiana, and your aunt, let me assure you. He will not fawn over me or cast improper glances at you. Whether he treads on his wife’s feet is for Mr. Leigh to attend, not you and me!” Darcy smiled. “But I wanted all of the people you love most to be here, and I would not deny you your Charlotte. She was more instrumental than we know, I think, in bringing us together, Miss Bennet.”

  “Indeed, Mr. Darcy, I believe she knew your heart well before I did. She suspected you even at Lucas Lodge.”

  The couples executed all the figures of the dance several more times before the music ceremoniously ended.

  “Now, Mr. Leigh, may I embrace my guests?” Elizabeth challenged the dance master.

  “As you wish”—he bowed—“but quickly.”

  Elizabeth bestowed her enthusiastic embraces on everyone, even her cousin Mr. Collins.

  “Ahem, ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention. First, Mr. Darcy has allowed me to employ an assistant for the evening. Let me present to you…”

  Mr. Bennet swept into the room, executed a practiced twirl, and arrived next to Mr. Leigh, ending with a deeply exaggerated bow. Elizabeth squealed with delight and ran to embrace him, then returned to her husband, nearly knocking the wind out of him as she flung her arms around his chest in as crushing an embrace as a smallish woman could administer to a tall, well-built man who was not expecting it.

  Darcy gasped, laughing. “So this is what it takes for me to receive a famous ‘Lizzy Hug’?”

  Elizabeth was crying and smiling. “Is there such a thing?” With her husband in her arms, she looked at her surrounding friends and family. They all nodded, even the Hursts.

  Jane was crying because Elizabeth was crying. “Indeed, Lizzy, the enthusiasm of your embrace has been spoken of in Meryton for many years.”

  The appropriate gentlemen produced handkerchiefs for their tearful ladies as all gathered around Mr. Leigh. “Now, if Miss Darcy will step forward, she has already had a lesson, so she will demonstrate with me. Could we have just the melody line on the pianoforte please?”

  The three-quarter rhythm was beat upon the floor with Mr. Leigh’s cane by Mr. Bennet. Georgiana straightened her back, lowered her shoulders, and lifted her arms. At arm’s length, Mr. Leigh assumed the same posture, taking her right hand in his left, and putting his right hand just above her waist, with her left hand resting gracefully upon his shoulder. “One, two-three, one two-three,” he counted as he and Georgiana twirled.

  Anticipating his direction, the married couples joined hands, waists were encircled, shoulders embraced. Mr. Leigh handed Georgiana to her cousin and bid the entire orchestra play. Mr. Leigh walked amongst the dancers, offering suggestions and encouragement, though often saying to Darcy, “Sir, you embrace your partner too tightly. The torsos should not touch. It interferes with your frame and mars the elegance of the dance.”

  After such advice was given several times, Darcy muttered, “Miss Elizabeth, cannot the man see I simply do not care?”

  “Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth responded, her eyes twinkling, “what will people say?”

  “That I adore you, Miss Elizabeth? That I am captivated? That I have been willingly ensnared? They say nothing I have not said myself, so let them say what they will.”

  At the end of the tune, Mr. Leigh gave each couple a critique then bid the orchestra play another one suited for the waltz. During this dance, Bingley said something that made Jane chuckle and blush, and Charlotte Collins did not have her feet trod upon by her husband, even once. At the end of the second waltz, Mr. Leigh pronounced the lesson an unqualified success for all concerned.

  “Now there will be one more waltz, during which my esteemed assistant will pass amongst you, and he will judge your dancing to award a prize to the best couple.”

  There was some murmured grousing that he would undoubtedly choose Elizabeth, but as the dance progressed, Mr. Bennet appeared to be impartial.

  Comfortable now with the posture and steps, Elizabeth and Darcy covertly eyed the other couples and exchanged whispered commentary. “What I should truly like to know is how Papa escaped Mama, how the Hursts escaped Caroline, and how Jane and Charles escaped Netherfield.”

  “All I can ascertain is that there was surprisingly little prevarication all around. Truths were stretched, but I believe there was no outright lying. Are you happy with our anniversary celebration, Mrs. Darcy?”

  Elizabeth leaned towards him and whispered, “I am happy with you, Mr. Darcy.” Moistening her parted lips, she closed her eyes for a kiss.

  Darcy complied. They managed to continue dancing, but when they passed Mr. Bennet still kissing, he was heard to say, “That, I am afraid, is a disqualification.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy smiled as their lips separated.

  Soon after the kiss ended, so did the music. The couples assorted themselves in front of Mr. Bennet. He straightened his back and swelled his chest, making the most of the opportunity to hold forth. “Ladies and Gentlemen. If we could give a prize for the most passionate execution of the dance, I think there would be little disagreement as to who the winning
couple should be.” All eyes turned to Elizabeth and Darcy, who made a great show of curtsying and bowing, his arm still firmly around her waist.

  “However, that is not my charge. If I were to give a prize to the couple who blushed simultaneously and giggled throughout, there can also be little doubt of the victors.” Jane and Bingley obliged by turning several deeper shades of crimson.

  “And if I could give a prize to the best lady, regardless of her partner, Miss Darcy would certainly be my choice, but sadly I am to give the prize to a couple, and Miss Darcy was saddled with a dancing bear.” Georgiana blushed and Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed, enduring the criticism with amiable grace.

  “And the single best gentleman would be Mr. Hurst, who dances elegantly yet with a most disinterested manner.”

  “Damned silly waste of an evening, as far as I am concerned,” Hurst responded, his cheeks colouring slightly at the praise. Even Louisa laughed and nodded.

  Mr. Bennet continued. “I know most of you have had little practice, but if I had been asked, and I was not, to give a prize to the most improved dancer, then surely my cousin, William Collins, would earn that honour.” The plump vicar looked to his wife, and much to everyone’s delight, Charlotte kissed his cheek. There was general applause.

  “So, one and all, I am quite pleased to present the first annual Darcy dance prize, a magnum of champagne, to the graceful, and entirely unassuming, Madeleine and Edward Gardiner!”

  There was applause, and all gathered around the Gardiners to congratulate them. “May we open the champagne?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked Mr. Gardiner.

  “Aye, sir, I think we must. Mrs. Gardiner and I could never hope to consume so much ourselves, especially since she is in an interesting condition.”

  Darcy and his cousin advanced to the ice bucket standing against the far wall of the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam lifted the bottle and unpeeled the muselet. A footman came forward with the colonel’s sword. In what he assured his audience was the authentic French manner, Fitzwilliam made one sweeping motion with his blade, which grazed the cork and sent it shooting across the room. “Cousin Richard!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I am quite impressed. However did you manage that?”