CHAPTER 48 #4
“I am very sensible of the kindness of everyone who means to attend the wedding,” Elizabeth said.
“Mr. Darcy and I are grateful for it. The service will be short. The breakfast here will last two hours. At the end of that time, Mr. Darcy and I shall leave for Surrey. Everyone else will be asked to depart.”
Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth.
Elizabeth continued.
“No one is to remain in the house after we leave. No one is to receive callers here. No one is to go upstairs. No one is to alter the arrangements because they are family.”
“But surely,” cried Mrs. Bennet, “family—”
“Family gives you a place at the table, Mama. It does not give you command of the house.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes moved from Elizabeth to Mrs. Bennet and then, more thoughtfully, to Mrs. Albright.
Elizabeth went on before amusement could take hold of him.
“There is one further matter. On the wedding morning, Mrs. Albright will have the direction of the household, the breakfast, the servants, the carriages, and all proceedings at Portman Square.”
Mrs. Bennet blinked. “The housekeeper?”
“Yes,” said Elizabeth. “The housekeeper. She knows the house. None of you do.”
Mr. Bennet’s mouth moved. “I believe I was here once as a boy.”
“Then you may be trusted not to contradict the clocks,” said Elizabeth. “Nothing more.”
Lydia laughed. Kitty tried not to. Mary looked at the clock as if considering whether contradiction of it were possible in principle.
Mrs. Bennet did not laugh.
Elizabeth’s voice remained calm. “Mrs. Albright has my confidence. To contradict her is to contradict me, and I do not wish to be contradicted on anything.”
There was a silence.
Mrs. Albright, who had stood near the door with the breakfast list in her hand, inclined her head as if Elizabeth had merely confirmed the correct number of spoons.
Bingley, who had the appearance of a man realising that happiness might sometimes require military support, said heartily, “Very sensible.”
Jane looked at him with such gratitude that Elizabeth forgave the heartiness.
Mrs. Gardiner said, “A clear arrangement is always kindest.”
Mr. Gardiner added, “Especially when carriages are involved.”
Miss Bingley, who had been silent with the alertness of a lady receiving information she might one day find useful, said, “A wedding breakfast without clear arrangements is hardly a breakfast. It is only an opportunity for relations.”
Mary looked at her with new respect.
Mrs. Bennet looked from one face to another and discovered, perhaps for the first time, that the room had been arranged before her feelings entered it.
“I am sure I do not wish to contradict anybody,” she said, in a tone suggesting that she wished to contradict everyone and had been deprived of proper tools.
“Then we shall do very well,” said Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy’s expression did not alter. Only his hand moved, once, against the back of the chair near him, as if he had checked the impulse to reach for hers.
Mrs. Albright then consulted the list with Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bingley as though commanders had been summoned to discuss bridges.
Mrs. Bennet was informed where she would sit, who would escort her, and when the travelling carriage would be brought round.
Jane was placed where she could be admired but not required to soothe.
Mrs. Gardiner was placed where she could intercept distress before it became movement.
Mr. Bennet was given duties so few and so definite that even he might accomplish them.
“Family feeling,” Mrs. Albright said later, when Elizabeth joined her near the side table, “does not alter the number of chairs.”
“No,” said Elizabeth. “It only attempts to.”
“We shall be ready, miss.”
“I know.”
That was the truth of it. Elizabeth did not trust the morning to Mrs. Bennet’s better nature, or Mr. Bennet’s punctual conscience, or Jane’s kindness, or Bingley’s optimism, or even her own temper.
She trusted Mrs. Albright, the servants, the list, the clock, the locked rooms upstairs, the carriage ordered before breakfast ended, and the small house in Surrey waiting at the end of the road.
It was not coldness.
It was care arranged before injury could require forgiveness.
Mrs. Albright came in with the final breakfast list after the last carriage had gone.
“All guests accounted for, miss. The Bennet family, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley with Miss Bingley, Miss Hall, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Belwick, Mr. Hartwood, Mr. Beaker, Judge Darcy, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. No callers admitted. No additional places laid.”
“And Mama’s bonnet and gloves?”
“Sent to Gracechurch Street with the others. Mrs. Gardiner has acknowledged receipt.”
“Good. Mr. Darcy’s man?”
“I shall see him tomorrow. He will have the inventory and the keys for the dressing room. Nothing will be altered.”
Elizabeth looked toward the staircase, where Mr. Darcy’s rooms waited behind closed doors.
“Thank you, Mrs. Albright.”
“The house will be ready, miss.”
Elizabeth looked again at the list: family, friends, witnesses, servants, rooms, road. Not happiness guaranteed; that was beyond even Mrs. Albright. But space had been made for it.
“Then so shall I,” said Elizabeth.