“Ten days, sir, if that would be quite convenient. I wish Elizabeth to meet my sister, Georgiana. She has just arrived in town from my estate in Derbyshire, and I would like them to become acquainted before the wedding,” Darcy explained nervously.
Mr Bennet, who had taken his usual seat behind his desk, looked thoughtful. He trusted Darcy implicitly and was willing to give his consent, but it was Elizabeth who must have the final say. If she were not inclined to go, then nothing would induce her to do so.
“Very well, Mr Darcy, you have my permission to take Elizabeth to London. However, we must let Elizabeth decide for herself if she wants to accompany you,” Mr Bennet cautioned him with a wag of his finger.
Darcy agreed. He already suspected nothing would induce Elizabeth to do something she did not want to. He recalled her refusal to dance with him not once, but twice before she finally accepted his invitation to the Netherfield Ball. Even when Sir William had tried to cajole her into accepting Darcy’s invitation at Lady Lucas’s soiree, she had stood fast in her refusal.
Darcy made his excuses and then hastened to find Elizabeth.
“You are alone, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked, somewhat surprised to see her so.
She smiled and put her book to one side.
“Jane and Mr Bingley have gone for a turn around the garden, and Mamma decided to leave when you did not join us.”
Then, trying to find the right words, she slowly asked,
“I understand Mr and Mrs Hurst have already left the country?”
Darcy nodded, reluctant to revisit that topic of conversation. But, after a moment’s pause, Elizabeth continued,
“I cannot pretend to be sad at the fact, for although I was not looking forward to meeting Mr Hurst again, it was Louisa I did not want to face. How could I look her in the eye, knowing what her husband had done, and say nothing?”
Darcy took the seat next to her and took hold of her hand.
“My dear Elizabeth, your concern does you credit, but I think Louisa already has a good idea of the type of man she married. He will, I imagine, be absent from society for some months. By then we will be married and live at Pemberley.”
Elizabeth gave a weak smile. She hoped that his absence from society would indeed change Mr Hurst for the better. As Mr Bingley’s brother-in-law, once Jane and Charles were married, their paths would cross often. She did not want either of them to feel awkward when they met.
Determined to raise her spirits, Darcy decided now was the perfect time to ask if she would like to accompany him to town.
Taking only a moment to consider, Elizabeth gracefully accepted his offer.
Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth loved her room at Airwhile House, Darcy’s Town residence. It was the biggest bedroom she had ever seen, dominated by an enormous four-poster bed in the centre of the chamber. With two sets of double windows that stretched almost from ceiling to floor, the room was awash with light. The matching drapes and bedspread had a base colour of cream and were covered with an array of summer flowers. With the bright colours and the warm fire that burned in the hearth, it was easy to forget they were in the midst of winter.
When they arrived late yesterday evening, Georgiana had been out with Mrs Annesley. So, Darcy had shown Elizabeth to her room and then arranged for a light meal to be brought to her. After her journey, he guessed she would like to retire early.
Elizabeth was grateful for the opportunity to rest. She could meet Miss Darcy tomorrow, refreshed and alert rather than travel weary and tired. Besides, meeting new people when food was involved could often be a mistake. Mr Collins had barely been at Longbourn an hour when they sat down to supper. Almost immediately a piece of green vegetable became lodged in his teeth, and due to his incessant talking and eating at the same time, it remained there for the entire meal. Lydia and Kitty burst out giggling every time he spoke, until finally, Elizabeth found it necessary to tap their legs with her foot under the table. Mr Bennet had tried to point it out to him after they had all retired to the drawing room, but Mr Collins had insisted on reading to them from Fordyce’s book of Sermons. And so, unbeknown to Mr Collins, he had been a source of amusement for the entire evening.
Sometime later, when Elizabeth went to kiss her papa goodnight, she teased him for not persevering in his effort to inform Mr Collins of his predicament, saying, ‘had he done so, they might all have been spared the last hour of sermons’.
Mr Bennet simply replied thus,
“It seemed rude to interrupt him once he had started, and when he had finished, it hardly seemed worth it.”
With one final look in the mirror to check her appearance, Elizabeth made her way downstairs for breakfast. She had slept well in the oversized bed and was now looking forward to meeting her young hostess.
Mr Darcy, who was waiting for her in the atrium, stepped forward and greeted her.
“Good morning, Elizabeth. You passed a comfortable night, I hope?”
Elizabeth assured him that she had, and together they entered the morning room.
Sitting with her hands folded in her lap, and her back held straight, was a young girl of about Lydia’s age. Her hair was golden and fell in ringlets at the nape of her neck. Her skin was clear and had a translucent glow, which together with her slender frame, gave her the appearance of delicacy
She rose, and with a shy smile, gave her curtsy.
“Miss Bennet, I am delighted to meet you. William has told me so much about you.”
Elizabeth smiled back and returned her salute.
“Thank you, Miss Darcy, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Unfortunately, Mr Darcy has told me very little about you, but I am sure we can remedy that.” Elizabeth joined Georgiana on the divan.
“I understand you like music, Miss Darcy; perhaps we could play together sometime?”
“Yes, I love to play the pianoforte, and I practise every day. William tells me that you also play very well, Miss Elizabeth. Shall we hear you tonight?” she asked.
Elizabeth cast Darcy an enquiring look, and in return, he raised his eyebrows in mock innocence and turned to face the hearth.
“I play quite well, but as with any instrument, practice is always the key to being considered accomplished. I fear in that area I am sorely lacking. Though I have heard, you described as a very accomplished young lady. But, in answer to your question, yes, I will play tonight, but only if you join me. That way, when I fudge my way through the piece, you can cover my mistakes,” Elizabeth said.
Georgiana smiled and nodded her agreement.
Breakfast was a brief, but convivial affair, with Elizabeth taking only toast and jam followed by a cup of hot tea. Then, Elizabeth and Georgiana spent the rest of the day getting to know each other.
First, Georgiana showed Elizabeth around the house. Then they chatted while doing some needlepoint. And when the subject turned to their families, Elizabeth explained the benefits and pitfalls of having four sisters. Georgiana, on the other hand, confided how she appreciated the sacrifices Darcy had made to bring her up alone.
Later that evening, when they had finished supper, they played a duet together on the pianoforte, at which Darcy clapped heartily. At the end of the evening, when she returned to her room, Elizabeth thought what a perfect day it had been. She had had no time to miss her family, and both Darcy and his sister had been excellent hosts. And, she had seen an entirely different side to Mr Darcy’s character. He had been charming and attentive to both his sister and her. So much so, she was convinced Darcy had let Georgiana win at Piquet. Indeed, he had smiled almost as much as the ladies. This was an entirely different man to the one she had first met at the Meryton Assembly. Not only did he seem more relaxed and content, but also unguarded. If this was his usual persona, it made the prospect of becoming Mrs Darcy less and less repulsive.
The next morning over breakfast, Georgiana asked Elizabeth if she would like to accompany her to the dressmakers. She had several new gowns on order and needed to ha
ve a final fitting.
Excited at the prospect of an outing, Elizabeth gratefully accepted.
They briefly stopped to look in the window before the cold drove them inside, where they were greeted by the proprietor, Madame Josephine Rollini.
“Mam’selle Darcy, how pink the weather has made your cheeks. Come, a glass of hot punch will warm you from the inside,” Madame Josephine said in a thick French accent.
Taking Georgiana by the hand, she guided her deeper into the shop until they approached a curtain. Georgiana glanced over her shoulder at Elizabeth, and before she disappeared from view, gave her an impish smile.
A moment later, Madame Rollini reappeared and approached Elizabeth with outstretched hands. She twirled Elizabeth’s around while making approving sounds as she did so.
“Yes… I think so…ah, parfait.”
Finally, when she had finished inspecting Elizabeth, she looked at her with a broad smile and said,
“It is wonderful to meet you; Miss Bennet, is it not? A figure like yours will do my clothes the justice they deserve.” Then she bent forward and quietly whispered,
“So many matrons and Mammas, they eat too much and walk too little, you understand my meaning Mam'selle?”
“Only too well, Madame Rollini.” Elizabeth laughed.
“Good, I have not offended you. Come, you too must have some punch, and we will celebrate, yes?” Linking her arm through Elizabeth’s, she guided her behind the curtain where they joined Georgiana.
Madame Rollini poured them all a generous glass of the warm ruby punch.
“What are we celebrating today, Madame Rollini?” Georgiana asked.
“My dear Miss Darcy, I am French, and at the moment we need no excuse to celebrate other than being alive, n'est-ce pas?” Then she raised her glass to her lips, shouted, “Salute,” and swallowed the entire contents in one go.
Elizabeth and Georgiana watched wide-eyed, then turned to look at each other. Neither of them had ever seen a woman drink in such a manner.
Madame Rollini laughed at their innocence and said, “Vite, vite.”
They hesitantly followed her example and drained their glasses.
Georgiana gave a cough as the warm liquid slid down her throat, while Elizabeth fought to control the spasm in her throat.
Madame Josephine looked at Georgiana with concern as she coughed and spluttered, but as Georgiana rallied, the three of them burst out laughing.
Having finished with Georgiana’s fitting, they bade Madame Josephine good day and turned to leave, only to find their path blocked by a striking, middle-aged woman who had just entered the shop.
“Georgiana! I saw your carriage outside, come, kiss your aunt. Is that brother of yours with you? He has not replied to my invitation yet, most discourteous,” she said as she waited for Miss Darcy to oblige.
Georgiana slipped past Elizabeth and Madame Rollini and made her way to stand before her aunt.
“Yes, Aunt Abigail,” she replied sweetly, and then leant forward and kissed the woman on the cheek.
The grey-haired lady gave a sniff of acceptance, smiled, and then turned her scrutiny on to Elizabeth. Georgiana, not wanting another scolding, made the introductions.
“Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to, Lady Abigail Matlock, my aunt. Aunt Abigail, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Fitzwilliam’s fiancée.”
Lady Matlock took a step closer to Elizabeth, raised her lorgnette and gave her a long, hard stare.
Elizabeth, who thought it was very rude of her ladyship to peer at her so, lifted her chin defiantly and stared back at her.
“Yes, I believe you will do very nicely for him. You have spunk, girl, I like that. That sickly wallflower Anne de Bourgh would never have done for a man like Darcy.”
Elizabeth was lost for words at this unusual form of compliment, and so merely bowed her head in silent acknowledgement.
“Miss Bennet, my annual winter ball is in two days, and I would not be unhappy to see you there. Ladies are woefully underrepresented this season so I can guarantee you will not lack for partners. As for their dancing skills, well, that I cannot vouch for,” Lady Matlock said, causing Georgiana to break out in a fit of the giggles.
Elizabeth did not laugh. Lady Matlock’s comment brought back memories of a time not so long ago when her fiancé had refused to ask her to dance.
“She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humour to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”
“Will you come, Miss Bennet?” asked her ladyship.
Although her manner had been abrupt, Elizabeth liked Lady Matlock, and as she dearly loved to dance, she accepted.
“I believe I shall, Lady Matlock.”
Georgiana squeezed her hand excitedly and said,
“Now William must come, too.”
Elizabeth suddenly realised that by accepting for herself, she had also committed Darcy to be her escort.
She bit her bottom lip as a wave of apprehension swept over her. Perhaps Darcy had purposely not accepted the invitation and had no intention of going to the ball.
As if reading her mind, Madame Rollini bent forward and whispered in her ear,
“Do not fret Mon ami. If I am not mistaken, Monsieur Darcy will use this opportunity to introduce you to society. He is a man, no? All men like a beautiful woman on their arm.”
Elizabeth gave her a weak smile in reply. There was no turning back now, not without losing face. Though how she was to tell Darcy, she had yet to fathom.
Chapter Twelve
The night of the ball arrived quickly, and Elizabeth felt a flutter of excitement mixed with trepidation. Darcy had laughed when she nervously told him that she had accepted his aunt’s invitation, but he quickly reassured her that he had always intended for them to go. Indeed, he was looking forward to the opportunity of introducing her to the Ton.
“Some of my friends have accused me of inventing you. A figment of my imagination, to ward off the husband-hunting Mammas and their daughters,” Darcy teased, then chucked her under her chin.
Elizabeth wished the butterflies would stop fluttering in her tummy. Georgiana had tried to give her the names of a few prominent people she should give consequence to, but everything seemed to have flown out of her head.
When they first arrived at Matlock House, Elizabeth felt as though all of London must be in attendance. The queue of people and carriages stretched in front of them. The horses quickly grew impatient and started to paw at the ground, causing the carriage to rock to and fro.
Once they had alighted from the carriage, a liveried footman told them to join a long line of guests waiting at the front entrance. The queue of people wound from the main doors, down the porch stairs and ended in the front driveway.
Unaccustomed to queuing of any kind, Darcy decided enough was enough when he saw Elizabeth and Georgiana huddling together as they tried to keep warm. Taking them both by the hand, Darcy made his way back along the line and then guided them to the side of the house. When their path appeared to be blocked by a pair of tall, ornate gates cast in iron, Darcy merely pushed a hidden catch and then watched as they swung open with ease. He guided the women up one flight of stone steps which in turn led them to a set of double French doors.
“Ready?” Darcy asked.
They looked at each other and then back at Darcy.
“Yes,” they said in unison.
As they entered the ballroom, Elizabeth gasped. She had never seen such splendour. She gazed around, taking in as much as she could, even though growing throng of guests were beginning to fill the room. Pale lemon divans with azure blue trim were placed strategically along the walls for the ladies to rest on. While high-backed wooden chairs were set out for the gentlemen. This latest trend was aimed at stopping the men lounging on the sofas all night, where they would take snuff and gamble, instead of dancing. There were a further three sets of double French doors, all of which boasted beautiful drapes o
f gold, held in place by navy blue sashes. The room was illuminated by hundreds of wax candles that cast a golden glow over the whole proceeding. The candles sat in dishes of lavender water, which filled the air with a heady scent. At the far end of the room was a minstrel’s gallery, where several musicians sat playing their instruments. Dozens of liveried footmen weaved their way between the thronging guests, offering them drinks and sweetmeats from their silver trays. The married ladies were bedecked in an array of boldly coloured gowns, with green and copper being the predominant shades, while the younger, unmarried women adhered to the tradition of wearing white or pastel shades. The men had also followed tradition. Every man was dressed in a black tailcoat and knee-length britches which were accompanied by the obligatory white shirt and necktie. The only concession allowed to them was the colour and pattern of their waistcoat.
Darcy smiled as he watched Elizabeth scan the room, her eyes wide with awe and excitement. Seeing her pleasure made his heart lunge with love.
“Darcy, you rogue,” came a call from close by.
“I suppose you came in via the side door as usual. Never mind, I already know the answer,” Lady Matlock said dismissively.
Darcy smiled and kissed his aunt in good humour.
“I did,” Darcy replied, “And as usual, you have left the welcoming of the guest to others?”
“Touché, Darcy,” she replied, then she turned her attention to Elizabeth.
“Do you approve Miss Bennet?” she asked Elizabeth.
“Very much so. I think there are few who would not,” Elizabeth replied honestly.
Her hostess smiled contently, ignoring the notion that there might be others who would not approve. She indicated for Elizabeth and Darcy to follow her, intent on introducing Elizabeth to Lord Matlock.
Georgiana watched them go and allowed herself a smile. It was clear Lady Matlock liked Elizabeth, which was a good sign. She was renowned for being a formidable opponent when the need arose, but all those who knew her intimately, also knew she possessed a kind and tender heart. Unlike her other aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whose reputation was as a hard and dominating recluse, who browbeat her only child into submission in all areas. Georgiana gave an involuntary shudder as she recalled the latter. Lady Catherine doted on Darcy but found fault and scolded her at every opportunity. Only in Darcy presence did Lady Catherine treat her kindly.
To Love Mr Darcy Page 8