Chapter Forty-One
E lizabeth glanced at the small ormolu clock on her office desk. The afternoon had flown by and it was time to dress for dinner. She went into her bedroom and pulled the cord. A young woman appeared promptly, curtsied, and said, “I am Abby, ma’am, and I am to be your maid.”
Mrs. Reynolds must have sent her, Elizabeth thought. It would be a relief to have someone near her who would actually speak with her! “Hello, Abby. Do you wish me to call you Abby? Lady’s maids are often called by their last names, you know.”
The young woman smiled. “My last name is a mouthful, ma’am; please just call me Abby.”
“As you prefer, Abby.”
“I am here to get you ready for dinner.” And with that, Abby looked through Elizabeth’s gowns, and turned to her new mistress with wide eyes. ”You have some very beautiful dresses here, Mrs. Darcy.”
“My relatives in London were very kind. Truthfully, I have not yet even looked at all of them.”
“Look at this lovely pale yellow gown; it will do very well for tonight. Have you jewelry?”
“Well, some very fancy pieces, but for every day I wear this topaz cross.”
“It will look very nice with the yellow gown, though we will want to use the fancy pieces soon enough,” Abby said. “Let us begin.”
***
There were only three of them at dinner that night; Lady Anne’s absence was noted but not regretted, as conversation flowed more easily.
“There seem to be fewer dishes tonight, though it is all quite delicious,” Miss Darcy said.
“I like it,” her brother agreed. “It feels less overwhelming! Elizabeth, I see you smiling.”
“I had a profitable conversation with Mrs. Thurston.”
“Who?” Miss Darcy sounded confused.
“Cook!” her brother supplied.
“Yes; Cook has agreed that meals would consist of fewer dishes, meaning less work for the kitchen and less waste.”
“Oh.” Miss Darcy clearly did not know how to react.
Elizabeth understood; the girl was happy enough with fewer dishes, but could not be seen to criticise her mother. She decided to address the issue directly. “Miss Darcy, I intend no criticism of the more elaborate courses, and I do understand that it was your mother’s preference. However, it was clear that neither of you even bothered trying many of the dishes, and since a good deal of time and expense was involved in preparing them, it seemed best to make a change.”
“I understand.”
Elizabeth thought it best now to change the subject. “William, you rather led me astray when speaking about your sister.”
“Led you astray? What can you mean?”
Miss Darcy looked suddenly afraid. “Have I done something wrong?”
Something wrong? What ailed the girl? “Oh, no, Miss Darcy, I meant only that he said you loved music, but he did not tell me that you are so very gifted!” She turned then to William. “We played a duet today, and Miss Darcy was very forgiving of my many errors.”
“You would be better if you practiced more,” Miss Darcy said, timidly.
“Georgiana!” her brother reproved her.
“No, she is quite right,” Elizabeth interjected. “But might I hope that you will play for us after dinner, Miss Darcy?”
The girl looked pleased. “If you wish me to, of course.”
They were treated to a fine concert after dinner, as first Mozart and then Pleyel filled the room. Elizabeth closed her eyes and allowed herself to float away on the music.
Until Lady Anne’s voice broke in. “Very nice, Georgiana, but I think that will do for now.”
The music stopped abruptly. Miss Darcy, red-faced and silent, retreated to her preferred chair.
Lady Anne moved to a sofa, sat and looked about her. Then her gaze was caught by Elizabeth’s hand. “What is that you are wearing?” She rose rapidly and all but ran to Elizabeth. “Why – why, that is my mother’s ring! What on earth are you doing with it?”
She tugged at the ring, but Elizabeth immediately snatched her hand away and held it protectively against her breast, crying out, “William!”
Mr. Darcy came immediately to his wife’s aid. “The Earl offered it, and Elizabeth selected it for her own, despite being given her choice of many of the Darcy elaborate rings. My uncle was most touched by her preference.”
“Take it off!” Lady Anne ordered. “Immediately!”
“I most certainly will not, and I never shall!”
The two women stared at one another; finally, Lady Anne whirled about; in a flurry of silk, she left the room.
No one spoke for several minutes, until Miss Darcy said, with a deep sigh, “Oh, Brother, whatever are we to do?”
There was no reply, as Mr. Darcy simply stared after his mother, shaking his head.