Chapter 5
T he carriage took them from Gracechurch Street—near Cheapside, as Miss Bingley had pointed out more than once—to a gathering amidst the most illustrious members of London society.
Elizabeth’s heart was beating at a frightful pace when Fitzwilliam finally took her hand in his; she looked at him with bright eyes and then blushed, remembering they were not alone in the carriage.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered.
“Thank you, sir, you are very kind,” she answered politely and smiled nervously.
“I am being honest, I assure you.”
“Indeed, you look beautiful,” Georgiana said, and the colonel supported the compliment.
They all laughed with kindness, inviting Elizabeth to be at ease.
“So do you,” Elizabeth replied to her future sister-in-law.
“I am a little nervous about this evening,” Georgiana admitted.
“As am I,” said Elizabeth, trying to smile. “It is good to know I am not alone.”
“Neither of you is alone: I am here for you both,” Darcy said, kissing Elizabeth’s gloved fingers.
“Miss Bennet, I must tell you that my mother enjoyed dinner and company last evening. She told me she regretted the absence of my father,” the colonel said, and the meaning of his words did not escape Elizabeth.
“I am glad to hear that. Will Lord Matlock join us this evening?”
“He will. My mother insisted. And once my mother decides something, there are very few chances she will not succeed,” the colonel replied.
“I imagine most mothers are the same,” Elizabeth jested.
They were silent momentarily, needing to rest for the confrontation to come. Elizabeth wanted to laugh at her worries as it seemed they were heading not towards an opera but a battlefield.
“Lady Edwina has arrived; she is staying at our place. You will like her very much,” Georgiana declared in the enthusiastic way that characterised her so well when she was amid family.
“I am sure I shall,” Elizabeth answered, her tone less assured than her words. She had already endured unpleasant meetings with elderly ladies from his family. Even Lady Matlock, who declared that she ‘enjoyed’ the dinner, seemed not to totally enjoy Elizabeth’s answers to her probing questions. She looked at Darcy for support; indeed, he smiled, trying to make her feel comfortable during her first encounter with London society. Still, Elizabeth saw the shadow of a persistent worry in his face.
“We shall meet the others in the main upper hall,” he explained. “I expect it to be quite crowded. I heard there is not a single seat available. Most of our relatives will be there.”
“Oh…” Elizabeth murmured.
The colonel laughed. “Do not worry; they are not as frightening as they might appear. Dull at times but not frightening.”
Elizabeth returned the laughter. “Very few things must be frightening for the second son of an earl who is also a colonel in His Majesty’s Army.”
“Or for a witty young woman with noble character and strong determination,” Darcy said hoarsely, kissing Elizabeth’s hand again. Their eyes met and held for a long moment, and the bond between them almost subdued her anxiety. She could defeat any opposition when she had his love and trust.
Arriving at the impressive Covent Garden, they finally achieved a calmer attitude, although the crowd gathered at the entrance and on the adjoining streets distressed Elizabeth again. She could see Georgiana pale, holding her breath while gazing outside.
Darcy left the carriage first and then handed out his sister and betrothed. The colonel offered his arm to Georgiana, who clasped it quickly. Darcy put Elizabeth’s hand on his arm and covered it with his own as they walked towards the entrance.
She glanced around while Darcy and his cousin greeted several acquaintances. No introductions were made until the main hall where, in the centre of another impressive crowd, Elizabeth spotted Lady Matlock with her eldest son, another lady—probably Lady Edwina—and a severe gentleman with a grave countenance: Lord Matlock.
Amid many voices, laughter, and exclamations, Elizabeth was introduced to the earl, who bowed to her with cold formality, then to Lady Edwina.
Elizabeth curtsied, but rather than returning the gesture, Lady Edwina took her hands warmly, showing genuine pleasure at meeting her godson’s betrothed.
“Miss Bennet,” she said, “I am pleased to meet you.”
Her gracious demeanour stood in stark contrast to the indifference, if not outright disdain, with which the other acquaintances and family members had received her. Elizabeth felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Lady Edwina while silently admiring her flawless poise and the magnificence of her attire, which she carried with the serene grace of a queen.
“We should go to our box now; a noisy hall is not the proper place for conversation,” the earl said severely. “People are already staring at us; let us not make a spectacle here.”
Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment, and Georgiana turned pale. Lady Matlock cast a sharp look at her husband and spoke in a barely audible but decided voice. “Lord Matlock, we are counting on you to improve your disposition so we can all enjoy this evening. There is no worse spectacle than someone who cannot adjust his own mood to the requirement of the circumstances.”
“True,” Lady Edwina supported the harsh criticism that caused the earl to frown even more, “but we should go to our box. I look forward to talking to Georgiana and Miss Bennet.”
They continued walking, Elizabeth on Darcy’s arm, looking at the earl out of the corner of her eye. He made no effort to conceal his disapproval of her, nor was there any civility in his manners. And the curious glances and whispers around them made Elizabeth wonder if that was the general disposition regarding her.
Suddenly, the earl’s expression darkened further, and he lowered his head as if he wished to avoid someone. Across from him, Lady Edwina’s face brightened, and she leaned forward to Lady Matlock, whispering, “Look who is here.”
The party stopped, and Elizabeth tried to understand the reason. The two ladies, the viscount and the earl were in front while she, Darcy, the colonel, and Georgiana followed behind.
A short distance away stood a gentleman of an impressive stature. His clothes, posture, expression, and features singled him out among many other intimidating people. He was in the company of two younger gentlemen and a beautiful, elegant young woman.
Elizabeth’s companions stopped, waiting for him in evident respect; they all knew who he was except Georgiana, who seemed as puzzled as Elizabeth. Around them, other people lowered their voices, watching the encounter with evident interest.
“His Grace, the Duke of Blandford,” the colonel murmured to Elizabeth and Georgiana.
Silence fell over their group when the duke stepped forward.
“Lady Edwina, Lady Matlock, what a pleasure to see you,” the duke said with few words in a grave though benevolent voice. Both ladies curtseyed to him.
“Your Grace,” they responded solemnly.
No words were addressed to the earl. To the general astonishment, the duke stepped closer to Darcy. He lowered his head respectfully and smiled while Elizabeth curtseyed and, at the expression on his face, returned the smile. It was no more than an instant in time, but for Elizabeth, that moment was more precious than all she had experienced since their arrival at the theatre.
The duke’s voice startled her—and apparently everyone who heard him. “Darcy, I hear congratulations are in order!”
Darcy raised his head, staring at the duke. “Yes, Your Grace. Thank you.”
“Could this young lady be your future wife?”
“Indeed, sir. I am honoured to introduce my intended, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Your Grace,” Elizabeth said, curtseying again while she wondered whether her knees would support her.
“I am pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet. Well, I must congratulate you once again. Marriages based on affection are rare these days and therefore more praiseworthy.”
Elizabeth stared at the duke in disbelief. Did he just approve of her? She would have seen the same astonishment on every face if she had looked around.
“Come and talk to me if you see me during the interludes. I shall introduce you to my sons and daughter, too,” the duke concluded, departing without another word.
A few moments later, Lady Edwina turned towards the couple. “William Fitzroy, the 6th Duke of Blandford and one of the most preeminent figures in England, just expressed his public support for your engagement. Nobody will dare gainsay his acknowledgement.”
“How shocking,” Lady Matlock whispered.” I was not even sure he knew Darcy.”
“He is a horrible, annoying man,” the earl whispered with barely concealed fury. “I am sure he did that only to upset me. Did you notice he ignored me?”
“Oh, do not speak nonsense, sir. Why would the Duke of Blandford care enough about you to upset you? In truth, you must improve your disposition immediately before you ruin ours,” his wife concluded when they had entered their box.
Elizabeth and Darcy looked at each other, sharing their puzzlement. He smiled, then secretly placed a lingering kiss in her palm.
She smiled back, her eyes beaming with happiness. They did not observe the duke gazing at them from an opposite, distant box.