Chapter Sixty-One
September 1812
Elizabeth now possessed more clothing than she had ever before seen , let alone owned , and the Countess deemed it time to introduce her to society. “Just a small dinner party to start, Elizabeth,” she said.
“I put myself entirely in your hands, Aunt Eleanor.” Elizabeth tried to inject some enthusiasm into her voice, knowing that the Countess had gone to a good deal of trouble on her behalf.
The Countess was not misled by this apparent show of interest, but continued on. “I have invited a small group of influential people to Matlock House in two days’ time. Wear that lilac gown with the silver trim; it has just the right sort of elegance for my dinner.”
***
Elizabeth had paid close attention to Mrs. Annesley’s directions as to dinner etiquette, which she had conducted over a few evenings at Pemberley, and thus she had no concerns regarding the Countess’ dinner plans. Alice helped her into her gown and put up her hair, and then regarded Elizabeth carefully.
“It would be better if you had jewelry,” Alice said.
“Oh! I had forgotten.” Elizabeth went to her drawers and took out the velvet bag in which the jewelry her husband had given her still resided. Her pearl necklace, given to her by the Gardiners, was in the bag as well. She sorted through the treasures and drew out an amethyst necklace and matching eardrops. “Will these do?”
“Perfectly!” Alice fastened the jewelry and then stood back to admire her handiwork. “Oh, you look very nice indeed, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth had learnt that very nice indeed was Alice’s highest compliment, so she smiled and thanked her sincerely.
She could have easily walked to Matlock House, but the Countess had informed her that she must be seen arriving in a coach, so she apologetically put the Darcy coachman to the trouble of harnessing up the horses. “There is no point in you waiting around for the dinner to be over; come back to Darcy House and make yourself comfortable. The dinner is likely to last about four hours.”
The coachman thanked her, and helped her into the coach. Five minutes later, she was at Matlock House. There was a murmur of interest in the drawing room when her name was announced by Cunningham, and heads turned to survey her.
Head high, she advanced to the Earl and Countess and greeted them with a curtsey. “Uncle Henry, Aunt Eleanor, how lovely to be here.”
“Elizabeth, you look wonderful,” the Countess said. “Allow me to introduce you to my other guests.”
There was a whirlwind of names, which Elizabeth did her best to remember, and she was well able to greet everyone properly. She had been familiar with rank and proper modes of address long ago, but Mrs. Annesley’s lessons to Georgiana had been a timely reminder of such niceties.
“Come and sit beside me, dear,” the Countess said. It was a mark of high favour that was missed by no one in the room.
Elizabeth was then subjected to a barrage of questions. Everyone wanted to know where she was from, what her maiden name was, when she had married, and where her husband was. She answered as she had been coached by the Countess, saying matter-of-factly that she was the daughter of an unknown country gentleman who preferred the sanctity of his study to the tumult of Town, that she had been lucky enough to have caught the eye of Fitzwilliam Darcy while he had been rusticating nearby, and that her husband had suggested that she amuse herself by redecorating Darcy House while he was occupied with the harvest.
It was all very plausible, of course. Several of the ladies tittered when she mentioned redecorating the town house, and one – was it Lady Arlington? – said, “And how is Lady Anne?”
“She was in good health when I left Pemberley,” Elizabeth replied, calmly.
Once everyone’s curiousity about Elizabeth Darcy was assuaged, conversation returned to upcoming society events. Lady Arlington was hosting a ball in a fortnight’s time and promised to send Mrs. Darcy an invitation.
At dinner, Elizabeth was seated between two gentlemen who provided her with light conversation about the weather, the latest fashion in cravats, and the pitiable state of Caroline, the Princess of Wales.
When the Countess rose to lead the ladies into the drawing room, Elizabeth found herself sitting beside Lady Cowper. The lady’s name was quite familiar to Elizabeth, though she could not recall why. She was an attractive brunette, perfectly dressed and bejeweled.
“How do you find life at Pemberley?” she began.
“The estate is everything lovely, of course,” Elizabeth replied.
“And the inhabitants?”
Elizabeth felt she must now tread carefully. “I was delighted to have a new sister in Miss Darcy; I have four sisters of my own and so would not know how to live without one!”
“Miss Darcy is quite shy, I am told, though of course I have never met her.”
“She is shy, though she now has a companion who is helping her master her diffidence. Also, she is a musical prodigy, and I do not doubt that she will make quite a splash when she has her come-out.”
“And your mother-in-law?”
Elizabeth was silent. She could not immediately think of a reply that was both kind and truthful. Finally, she said, “She has been an excellent mistress for Pemberley, I am certain.”
Lady Cowper stared at Elizabeth for a long minute and then laughed out loud. “Well spoken, Mrs. Darcy! I know Lady Anne, and I cannot imagine dealing with her to be in any way pleasant. Doubtless you were happy to leave her behind. I believe this is your first visit to Town?”
“No, not at all; though my father dislikes Town, my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner have often invited me to visit.”
The lady’s eyebrows winged up. “Gardiner? Not Edward Gardiner, surely?”
“The very same.”
“How did I not know that?”
Elizabeth laughed. “I cannot answer that, my lady.”
“Well! The niece of Edward Gardiner! I will send you a voucher for Almack’s when you come to Town for the Season next year. That will ease your way in Town considerably.”
“That is kindness beyond anything, Lady Cowper.” So that was why the name was familiar; Lady Cowper was one of the patronesses of Almack’s. Privately, Elizabeth was not eager to attend that venue, and she had no idea if she would be in Town next year to do so, but she knew Lady Cowper was right; being seen at Almack’s would help her be a success in the London social scene.
***
Elizabeth was exhausted by the time her coachman came to take her home, but she was rewarded by the Countess’ whispered “Well done!” as she prepared to leave.