Chapter 7
“Lizzy, dear, do you think there is anything we might do with this bodice? My shape has changed with age.” Mrs. Hammond pulled at one of the loose threads. “The last time I wore this was when Mr. Hammond and I were in Italy. Even though I thought my gown was lovely, having purchased it directly from Paris, I was severely over-dressed compared to the Venetian ladies. However, Mr. Hammond found it to be lovely. He always liked to spend his coins on my wardrobe. He enjoyed having a well-groomed lady on his arm.”
“He loved having you on his arm.” Elizabeth surveyed the gown. It was a beautiful shade of pale rose with an oval neckline that bared the shoulders. The bodice was heavily boned, lacing in the back. Elbow-length sleeves had tiers of lace flounces ending at the wrists. “I do believe there is enough fabric in the skirt alone to design a whole new gown, something modest and becoming to a lady of any age.”
“Then let us proceed.”
The fabric was delicate, so they took their time removing the stitches and the trimmings. By the time they were done with that task, they both admitted that the possibilities were endless. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Hammond fussed over where Mr. Darcy’s ribbon should be attached.
It warmed Elizabeth’s heart that he was attentive to Mrs. Hammond. She wondered at his motive since he had nothing to gain from the elderly lady.
Once the basic form of the new gown was established, they set aside their needles and thread. Elizabeth needed to return to Longbourn and work on redesigning her favorite garment for the ball. She wanted to look her best for the colonel.
Stepping outside the cottage, she was immediately hailed by Mr. Wickham, who was now wearing the uniform of a militia officer.
“I see that you joined the regiment, sir.” She acknowledged him out of politeness, nothing more. “Are you done with your training for the day?”
“Training? Me?” Mr. Wickham’s smile was like sunlight, bright and cheerful. “Colonel Forster has tasked me with selecting a gift for his bride. Thus, it is providential that you appeared when you did, for there is no one else in the neighborhood with your intelligence and natural good taste. If I might, could I impose upon you to accompany me to the haberdasher for that purpose?”
Even though the request was innocent, in the back of her mind was the warning Mrs. Hammond shared concerning the reprehensible conduct of some of the officers. She would be cautious. Therefore, she would keep on guard as he went about his most unusual assignment.
“Does the lady enjoy reading?” Elizabeth asked since she knew little of Mrs. Forster other than that she was the same age as Kitty.
“I do not believe so.” Mr. Wickham shrugged. “She is a silly girl who is easily distracted by pretty bobbles and bows.”
Her shoulders stiffened. Elizabeth wondered if Mrs. Forster resented being referred to as silly as much as she did.
“I am not skilled at determining which colors appeal to a lady. Green or red confuses my eyes, and my head aches when they are together. If you choose a ribbon, you will be doing the lady a kind service as well as myself.”
“Then perhaps we shall look through those that are either blue or yellow.”
He studied her face carefully, trying to charm her with his smile. “I believe her favorite color is green, I think.” He paused. “You did not share the color of your gown for Mr. Bingley’s ball. Perhaps it will compliment my new coat when we stand up for the first.”
He was bold. Too bold. She no longer found his charms to be untarnished. Her stomach suddenly felt unsettled, like having too many cups of coffee on an empty stomach. “My first is already taken. As your coat is red, sir, and as my newest gown is the same as Mrs. Forster’s favorite color, I fear we will not get on well at all. If that combination pains you, that will not encourage enjoyment of the ball.”
She heard the tartness of her own words reflected in his forced laughter. Randomly pulling an apple-green ribbon from the rack, she said, “I believe this will do for the lady.”
Politeness itself, Mr. Wickham bowed. “I am certain she will be pleased.
“If you will excuse me, sir. I must return to Longbourn.” Elizabeth gathered her basket to depart. She was taken by surprise when he grabbed it from her hands.
“Allow me to escort you. The roads might not be safe with all the strangers in the area. I know for a fact that Darcy can be unpleasant. His cousin, although raised as a gentleman, can be rough and tumble around the ladies.” His smile did not reach his eyes. “A lady cannot be too careful with her reputation, can she?”
Snatching the basket from him, she said, “As it so happens, it was Colonel Fitzwilliam who requested my first set, as a proper gentleman should. I have quite changed my mind, Mr. Wickham. Seeing these ribbons, in particular this pink striped satin, puts me in mind of Mrs. Hammond’s gown. I shall need to tell her of it before it is purchased by someone else. Good day to you.” Making sure not to catch his eye, she departed the building, walking straight into the chest of Mr. Darcy. Oh no! What bad timing.
The last thingDarcy expected when he stopped at the local haberdasher was for Elizabeth Bennet to end up in his arms. He might have held her a bit longer than necessary, except George chortled from behind her.Any consideration that he might have given to Wickham having a change of attitude toward him was gone.
Interesting! Her arms did not drop immediately from his chest. Was she in distress? With her bonnet on and her face lowered, reflecting her modesty, it was difficult to tell. Yet, there were clues. Her shoulders were pressed forward as if she was trying to distance herself from the man standing behind her. Slender fingers were gripping his lapels. Her elbows pressed into her side, making her basket jut out until it scraped the casing of the doorway.
What had Wickham done?
Fighting down intense anger, Darcy was surprised at the worry coursing through him. He knew his half-brother more than any other person on the planet while growing up. He knew his nature and impulses. Before Eton, George knew how to keep a promise and a secret. After, his record of seeking his own advantage meant he was untrustworthy. Although they spent little time together as adults, Wickham’s recent actions indicated more than words that he was unchanged.
He would protect her.
“Miss Elizabeth, I beg your pardon.”
“Ah, so you prefer a wealthy man to an officer,” Wickham remarked, his tone scathing.
In a dance as old as time, Darcy twirled her until she stood immediately behind him. By the time he turned around, George had retreated to the counter, attempting to romance the lady into giving the ribbon for free. Darcy was thoroughly disgusted. Wickham’s propensity to seek advantage was long-standing. Since their youth, George wanted everything for nothing. It mattered not to him that this meant that others sacrificed food for their table or money for rent.
Sighing heavily, he glanced back at Miss Elizabeth. She regained her confidence, looking directly at him, her brow arched. She would not appreciate any prevarication on his part when he explained his relationship with his old friend in a way that would not reveal any secrets.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth. Your appearance took me by surprise. Might I escort you home?”
Without hesitation, she replied, “I was returning to Mrs. Hammond. If you would not mind, I would appreciate the company.”
Offering her his arm, she politely refused. “Sir, if Mama were to hear a report of us being arm in arm while strolling in public, her expectations would be raised even if mine were not.”
What? No expectations? For the past five years since he inherited Pemberley, every female from eight to eighty eagerly pursued him. Would she not want him, too?
“I…I thank you?” Darcy was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable he felt walking alongside her, especially after seeing Wickham. Typically, it took hours or days to regain his equanimity. He was trying to think of something witty to say when she interrupted his thoughts.
“Have you heard of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s progress north? I do hope the weather holds and the journey is without obstacles, especially for your sister and aunt. Is there a chance they will stop at Netherfield Park for a rest after leaving London?”
He tried with difficulty to be pleased with her interest in his cousin, failing spectacularly. Georgiana always looked forward to Richard’s company, too. Not for the first time, he wished he could let down his guard and be his true self around others. With his circumstances, it was impossible.
His sister, after the failed elopement, was also reticent. He suspected that Miss Elizabeth was born happy.
She said, “You are smiling. This must mean that you will soon be in company with your family and that you look forward to the prospect.”
Not at all. How could he explain to her that his thoughts were only of her? He was nonplussed. Shrugging, he said, “I am grieved to say that they do not plan to stop unless there is a problem with the carriage or one of them is ill. My aunt is a determined woman who, once she decides on a matter, will follow through expediently. From experience, I suspect they will not stop until nightfall other than to rest the horses. My sister is used to Aunt Helen’s habits since she spends most of her time with the family.”
“She does not stay with you?” Miss Elizabeth gave him her full attention.
He directed her around two men gossiping in the street before he answered. “I am a bachelor who spends a large part of my day managing my estate business. Until this summer, Georgiana has been away at school. In truth, we know little of each other.”
“How sad for the both of you.” She added, “Other than a few times when I have stayed as a guest at my aunt and uncle’s house in London, I am almost constantly with my sisters. Jane is the best companion in the world since she is agreeable to my suggestions. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia have interests much different than my own. Nevertheless, we have found ways to entertain ourselves through the cold winter months. It might surprise you to know that both Kitty and Lydia enjoy being read to as they untangle Mama’s thread spools. Mary, who prefers religious texts, will bend enough to act out characters from Shakespeare’s comedies. She is a wonderful Beatrice. When Lydia reads the part of Juliet, no matter how many times I hear her, she makes me weep with her portrayal. It is as if her heartbreak is sincere.”
Surprised by her comments, he never would have expected any depth of character from her younger sisters. He could not help but note, “Yet, none of your sisters aided you to build the great pyramid or the hanging garden of Babylon.”
Miss Elizabeth laughed. “As you might have noticed, I am taller than Jane. My other sisters were too young. They would have caused more work than they could have completed.”
“I see.”
“Tell me, Mr. Darcy, did you and your cousin ever have grand adventures when you were young lads? I cannot imagine two healthy, intelligent boys not coming up with some mischief.”
He stopped. Her interest in his cousin unsettled him.
“Richard is three years older than me. My cousin was born to lead, which is why he is an excellent colonel. He was always coming up with one idea after another when it came to mischief. I was the responsible one. It is my nature to consider consequences before I act.”
“I can see how that could be.” She tipped her head to look up at him. “You are much different than the colonel then, despite your similar backgrounds. It is the same with my sisters and me. Yet you seem to be particularly close to your cousin.”
“I am. I was barely out of the nursery when I realized that our futures would differ, much to my chagrin.” Darcy added, “Before I left for Eton, my father began training me to one day be master of Pemberley. He was the best of men, studious, hard-working, and diligent. After my mother died, my father gave his full attention to the estate. During his tenure, Pemberley prospered. His expectations for me to do the same are instilled deep in my soul. I cannot imagine living a life where my occupation puts me in constant danger (like Richard) because too many individuals and families are dependent upon me. Thus, even while a lad, I carefully considered my steps. Having inherited far younger than I ever wanted, I am grateful I was not frivolous in my youth. To put it simply, I cannot fail.”
He studied her expression, relieved to see empathy and compassion in her eyes. That she understood him melted some of the ice he always felt encapsulating his heart. If he was not careful, he…well, the danger was real. Elizabeth Bennet was someone who would not fit in his world, would she? What would his life be like if she was an intrinsic part of it? What would it be like without her?
Darcy rubbed his chest before they walked on.