24. Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Four
January 1812 Longbourn-London Elizabeth
T he second day of the year dawned bright and cold. Ice crystals made everything look as though it had been encased in diamonds. The sparkle of the snow dazzled, and Elizabeth greeted the brisk morning air with pleasure. Their departure had been delayed due to the weather, and she felt eager to be off. She walked a full three miles, knowing that she would be confined to a carriage for a large portion of the day.
Mist rose off the jewel-encrusted fields, adding additional mystery and beauty to the day. Frozen leaves and sticks crunched under her feet as she made her way back to Longbourn. Her trunks were packed and waiting in her chambers. Everything of value and sentiment had been included in her luggage, for she did not know if she would return to Longbourn as anything other than a guest.
The breakfast table had been set, and the sideboard filled with warm scones, rashers of bacon, eggs, toast, and more. Mr. Bennet and Lord Elmwood were at the table eating, and as Elizabeth filled her plate, Lady Elmwood and Mary entered.
“Where is James?” Uncle Mavery asked testily. “He will not get to eat if he sleeps in. And I shall not humor his behavior by requesting a basket be packed for the journey.”
“Our son is dressing,” Lady Elmwood replied. “I have already knocked on his door and alerted him to be downstairs soon. Susan, too, is nearly ready and will come to the table momentarily.”
And she did. Susan skipped into the room dressed in a pretty blue gown. Her dark curls were done up simply in a chignon. “When do we depart?” she asked as she filled her plate.
“Soon,” Uncle Mavery replied. “The carriage is being loaded whilst we eat. I hope to be in London for tea.”
Elizabeth listened to the chatter with half an ear, her thoughts on all that needed to be accomplished before the season was in full swing. Her wardrobe needed refreshing, for one. Her aunt and uncle always saw that she and Mary were dressed in the height of fashion, but new things in the latest style would be necessary for their come out. And a court gown, of course. Elizabeth had heard all manner of horror stories about the gaudy, overly grand gowns required to meet the queen, and she did not look forward to the experience.
“Will we see the Matlocks in town?” Uncle Mavery asked as he looked at the paper in front of him.
“Yes, I have it on good authority that Lady Matlock means to secure matches for her sons and her nephew this year. Perhaps one of our girls?” She smiled mischievously.
“I imagine Lady Matlock will see some resistance,” Lord Elmwood replied, ignoring his wife’s suggestion that Mary or Elizabeth would suit one of the gentlemen. “Viscount Bramsley seems intent on being a confirmed bachelor, and the younger son is a colonel.”
“A highly decorated colonel,” Aunt Maria reminded him. “While it is true that he needs a wealthy wife to live in the manner to which he is accustomed, he has refused eligible ladies with handsome dowries before. This leads me to suspect he wishes for a little something more in his marriage. Highly unusual for the son of a peer. Not everyone holds our views that mutual affection in a marriage is essential.”
James wandered in, yawning. “Must we be awake and about at such an early hour?” he whinged.
“It is nine o’clock, boy.” Lord Elmwood frowned playfully and winked. “You can go back to town hours when we are in town.”
They finished eating breakfast in relative peace, the comfortable silence marred only by Jane’s entrance. She walked into the room, glancing around nervously before filling her plate and sitting at the far end of the table. The haughtiness of the months past had vanished, and she sat hunched over as if attempting to make herself invisible to the others at the table. Her countenance appeared sad, and for a brief moment, Elizabeth pitied her stepsister.
The others left the table and gathered their things. Mr. Bennet went off to his chambers, promising to return momentarily, leaving Elizabeth and Jane alone in the breakfast room. The air felt thick with tension, at least for Elizabeth, and rather than bear it, she pushed back from her chair and moved to the door.
“Goodbye, Lizzy.” The whisper came so quietly that she thought she was hearing things. She glanced back over her shoulder to see Jane regarding her anxiously. Her eyes looked sorrowful, and—dare she hope—apologetic.
“Farewell, Jane,” she said, nodding. Elizabeth left the room, a kernel of hope sprouting in her chest. Perhaps the old Jane would return.
Jane and the Gardiners would depart after Twelfth Night. She wondered if she would ever see her stepsister again and if their relationship would ever be the same.
Donning her pelisse and bonnet, Elizabeth glanced around for her father.
“Where is Bennet?” Uncle Mavery asked, voicing her thoughts.
“Here.” He entered the room, his arms laden with several velvet boxes. “I needed to retrieve these from my chambers.”
Elizabeth had never seen them before. The blue velvet boxes were of different sizes, and she suspected that they contained jewelry.
“Help me, Mavery.” Papa’s voice sounded thick with emotion. Her uncle, likewise, appeared to have tears in his eyes. Uncle took the cases and Mr. Bennet opened one at a time.
“This one is for Mary,” he said, turning to show his daughters, and the others gathered around the lovely diamond and ruby necklace. The gold setting glinted in the morning light, dazzling the beholders. “This was your mother’s favorite red set, as she called it. There is a matching bracelet and earrings.”
Mary took the case and sniffed, stroking the gems with her fingers.
“This one is for Lizzy.” He opened another, revealing an emerald necklace and bracelet set in silver. “Her favorite green set.”
Two more cases were opened. Both contained necklaces with pearls and gemstones. Sapphires were for Elizabeth and aquamarine for Mary. Additionally, Mr. Bennet gave them each a new necklace. A single large pendant hung from a braided gold chain. Mary’s was opal—her birthstone—and Elizabeth’s a garnet.
“Thank you, Papa,” she murmured, touched. "I had no idea Mama had jewelry. Well, I suppose I ought to have suspected, but I never thought to ask."
“Your uncle has more,” he said, dabbing his eyes with his handkerchief. “Most of your mother’s valuables have been kept in a vault in London.”
“Yes, these are some of the less impressive pieces. Olivia favored simplicity.” Uncle Mavery smiled sadly. “Here, give them to Jones and he can secure them in the carriage.”
Hugs were exchanged, and soon Elizabeth boarded the carriage with her relations. She did not look back as the carriage trundled away from Longbourn. No, it would do her no good to look on the past. Her future awaited, and she expected it would be very grand.
The journey to London took four hours. They stopped halfway to rest the horses and seek refreshment at a coaching inn. There, their bricks were reheated and a basket of food was procured from the inn’s kitchens. Elizabeth munched happily on a scone and some cheese as her cousins rattled on about museums and shops in town.
“Your appointment with the modiste is already scheduled,” Aunt Mavery told Elizabeth and Mary. “Madame Dubois is an expert with a needle. She has a keen eye on what colors suit a lady, and we always take precedent over her other customers.”
“Dare I ask why?” Elizabeth stated teasingly.
“Oh, it is not for our fortune, I assure you.” Aunt Mavery smiled. “Madame Dubois serves those in the first circles, and not all of those that have that designation are as kind and polite as I am. She makes it a habit to first serve those who treat her and her staff well. My order has been fulfilled before the daughter of a duke before.”
“How very original.” Mary smiled. “I look forward to the experience. Do you think we will need a great many gowns?”
“Oh, yes, I believe you will.” Aunt Mavery smiled. “Though fashionable, your attire is more suited to the country. London gowns typically have more ornamentation and adornment.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Not overly so, I hope. I do not wish to be smothered in lace and ribbons.”
“I think embroidery would suit you better. A little lace at the neck and the sleeves. Perhaps a lace overdress, too, but I think more subtle ornamentation would be best. Madame Dubois made me a lovely dark green gown last season. The embroidered design on the skirt was done in a slightly darker shade. The overall effect was beautiful. Of course, we could always have embroidery that stands out, too.”
It sounded complex, but Elizabeth nodded in agreement. Her aunt had never steered her wrong before.
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of Elm House on Audley Street. The door of the townhouse stood out amongst the others on the row, for it had been painted dark blue whilst the others were red or brown.
Jones helped them down, and they climbed the stairs wearily. Travel always exhausted Elizabeth, and she looked forward to a long soak in a bath and a night’s sleep on the soft mattress in her chambers.
She and Mary had never been to Elm House before. The earl and countess spent very little time there. The house was occupied during parliament, but Aunt Maria used the time to purchase a new wardrobe or visit intimate acquaintances. Rarely did they attend social events, and those they did frequent were private affairs.
This season would be different, however, for the earl and countess were determined to launch their nieces on society with all the pomp and circumstance they deserved. It all sounded rather exhausting to Elizabeth, but she merrily agreed to anything her relations wished.
They were introduced to the housekeeper and butler. The former shed a few tears, declaring Mary to be the very picture of her mother, and that Elizabeth was a lovely young lady, too. They thanked her for her kind words and followed their aunt up the stairs.
“Here is your chamber,” Aunt said, opening a yellow door. “I thought you might like a view overlooking the gardens, Elizabeth. They are not much to see now, but in a few months, they will be lovely. And that door there adjoins Mary’s room.”
“Thank you, Aunt,” Elizabeth replied. She entered the room and looked around. It was very like her chamber at Elm Grove, done in blues, creams, and greens. The bed looked very inviting, and she suddenly wished to sleep for an entire day, buried in the feather pillows and soft coverlet.
“There is a washroom this way.” Aunt Maria pushed open another door, revealing a tiled room and a large tub. It had already been filled with steaming water.
“Do you mean to spoil me?” she asked. “What work it must have been for the servants to carry all that water upstairs!”
“I mean to spoil you and Mary,” her aunt replied seriously. “You have not experienced much motherly love whilst staying at Longbourn and I wish to rectify that immediately.”
Elizabeth turned and hugged her aunt. “Thank you.” Her voice was thick with emotion, and she breathed in the soothing scent of her aunt’s perfume.
Aunt Maria returned the embrace and then stepped away. “Come, Mary,” she said, sounding rather emotional herself. “Let me show you where you will stay. Elizabeth, I have brought Millie from Elm Grove. She is pleased to serve you again. Nora came too, Mary. Oh, and I have word from Miss Lane. I fear it will disappoint you. She writes to give her notice. Her sister’s needs are more than what she anticipated, and so she will remain with her. I am sorry, my dear. ”
“Dear Gerty!” Elizabeth sighed unhappily. “Oh, how I shall miss her!” Elizabeth had counted on seeing her friend and companion soon and hoped that Gerty would help straighten out all the confusing thoughts in her mind.
“Yes, and she has expressed similar sentiments about you. She writes that she would appreciate letters from you both when you have the opportunity. We shall have to send a servant and a footman with you for now, for you must be properly chaperoned at all times. Jones and Smythe will be your permanent footmen. No, Elizabeth, it must be so. I know you had more freedom at Longbourn and at Elm Grove, but we are in town now.”
“I supposed one must accompany me on my walks,” she grumbled.
“Yes, my dear. If you walk in our garden, you may go out alone, but any journeys to the park are to be accompanied.” Aunt patted her arm tenderly. “I do not wish anything to happen to you.”
Nodding, Elizabeth replied, “As you wish.”
Satisfied, Lady Elmwood led Mary from the room. Millie made quick work of undressing her mistress and taking her hair down. Sinking into the hot water scented with bergamot and rosemary, Elizabeth leaned back and sighed. If this is what it felt like to be smothered in motherly affection, she had no objections whatsoever.