Chapter Nine
The next week, Elizabeth met with Aunt Madeline to purchase furniture for her bed chambers.
She reasoned Mr. Darcy would never willingly enter them; therefore, he would never see the changes made.
All deliveries were funneled through her uncle, which kept the shopkeepers and craftsmen in the dark about who the purchases were for.
Uncle Edward also had his own men set up her furniture, bypassing the use of Mr. Darcy’s footmen.
The only people who had any true knowledge of her activity were Burke, Mrs. Whittaker, and of course, Danvers.
There was no worry about Mr. Darcy stumbling across her uncle’s men as he was hardly ever in residence.
What he did with his time, she had no idea.
He also was conspicuously absent at night and from that quarter, she absolutely had no desire of discovering where and with whom he spent time.
She determined that if he tried to start marital relations, she would only proceed if he was thoroughly examined by her own personal physician.
She had no desire to contract some dread disease because her husband could not control his base desires.
All in all, she was delighted with her rooms which no longer made her feel as though she could barely move, let alone breathe.
Against the far wall, she placed an elegant four-poster bed with roses carved on the headboard and posts.
Beneath the window, overlooking the back garden, she placed a simple escritoire.
She’d had her uncle’s men remove the heavy armoires and replace them with four smaller ones as well as a dressing table.
All of her furnishings, made from beautiful mahogany wood, had matching roses carved on the legs and cornices.
To complete her ensemble, she commissioned two comfortable wingback chairs covered in a rich rose damask, which bracketed the fireplace.
A perfect spot to curl up and read a book at the end of the day.
Beside her fireplace, she’d had her uncle hire a craftsman carpenter to build clever bookshelves, which she would fill as soon as she attended her favorite store, Hatchard’s.
Today, her assignment was to commission new linens and after successfully choosing new fabric to replace her curtains, counterpane, and bedclothes, Elizabeth sat across from Aunt Madeline to enjoy a welcome break at their favorite tea shop near Bond Street.
They had just received their tea and confections when the door to the shop opened and an elegant lady, along with a handsome young girl entered and were seated on the opposite side of the room, partially hidden by a column.
Elizabeth hadn’t paid them much mind other than to experience a sense of familiarity with the girl.
Because she didn’t want to be caught staring, she turned back to her conversation with Aunt Madeline.
“I am delighted with what we purchased and will meet you next week at the seamstress I have always used for linens.” She took a sip of her tea before continuing.
“Has Uncle Edward reached out to find another family to lease Netherfield? I am quite certain the Bingleys shall not return and hate the thought of it lying vacant for yet another year.”
“No, he has heard nothing from the gentleman. Such a shame, how everything came about. How have you been faring with your gentleman? Jane wrote that he is a very handsome man.”
“He is more than handsome, which is why his ill temper and bad behavior are so jarring. The first time I laid eyes on him, I admit my heart fluttered and worried I might behave as silly as Lydia.”
“That is not like you.”
“No, it is not.”
“What changed your mind about him?”
“He spoke.”
Aunt Madeline’s bottom lip dropped ever so slightly and then she laughed, covering her mouth with her fingers although her eyes sparkled with merriment.
“Dear Lizzy, I truly can understand your disenchantment. Other than disappointed hopes, you are coping?”
“I am well, although I was left in no doubt the other day that I have no authority within the walls of his home. I find my days tedious. I do not know what I shall do once the renovations of my bedchambers are completed.”
“You have not met any of his family?”
“Other than his cousin, whom I told you of earlier, I have met no one else. I am sure, once the weather permits, he will haul me off to Derbyshire and leave me there until he feels the need to beget an heir.”
“He has not come to your bed?”
“No, he has not and at this point I am grateful. The thought of being intimate with him is beyond my capabilities at the moment. I will take as long a reprieve as I can.”
She flicked another quick glance at the girl and again wondered why she seemed so familiar.
“I must admit,” Elizabeth finally said, “I do not mind that he is absent from the house, although I am not used to the quiet solitude. Longbourn was always filled with conversation and laughter.”
“What will you do when he finds out you have refurbished the mistress’ chambers?”
“Truly aunt, he barely darkens the door of his own home. I have no fear of him peeking into my bedchambers, and even if he did, I have used my own funds.”
“When, and I say when because sooner or later he will discover what you have done and wonder how you paid for all the furnishings and accessories. He is not a stupid man, Lizzy. When he receives no outstanding bills, he will ask you where the money came from.”
“Maybe in some way, that is why I am doing this. I wish to inform him, on my terms, that I do not need him or his vast wealth. I am still very angry over his behavior. I told him I would never ask him for money.”
The door to the shop jangled again.
“Marriage is for life, Lizzy. Please try to reconcile before it is too late—”
“What are you doing in here!”
A haughty voice sliced through their conversation. Elizabeth and Aunt Madeline looked up to find Miss Bingley standing next to their table, her face flushed in anger.
“As you can see, I am enjoying a cup of Oolong tea.”
Elizabeth held Miss Bingley’s gaze with unflinching resolve. To drive the point home, she raised her cup and took a sip before placing it back on the saucer.
“I demand the proprietor throw this wanton hussy from the premises,” Miss Bingley cried out in a loud voice, looking toward the rear of the shop.
An older gentleman came through a curtained entrance and approached them.
“I would ask you to lower your voice, Madam. You are disturbing my other guests.”
He cast a furtive glance toward the woman behind the column, hinting at her importance.
“Do you always serve courtesans in this establishment?”
Aunt Madeline’s mouth dropped open in surprise while Elizabeth sat stunned. The proprietor turned to face Elizabeth; his face showing disgust.
“I must ask that you leave immediately, and never enter these premises again.”
Elizabeth stayed seated, refusing to even look at Miss Bingley.
“I am not what she has intimated and frankly, very disturbed you would take the word of a virtual stranger without first finding out the truth of the matter.”
She could tell the man was surprised at how well she spoke and he looked toward Miss Bingley, who responded with, “I know for a fact that Mr. Darcy, nephew to Earl Matlock and a particular friend of mine, refused to marry this chit after she tried to compromise him.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes in embarrassment. Miss Bingley was not lowering her voice and now everyone in the shop could hear the venom she spewed.
“I shall ask you one more time to exit my shop and not return.”
The owner had obviously decided Miss Bingley held more sway. Unbeknownst to them, the lady had come to stand beside Elizabeth’s table. Miss Bingley audibly sucked in a breath at the arrival of the elegant woman, to whom the owner gave a deferential nod and began to apologize profusely.
“I apologize, my lady. If you return to your table, I will have Agatha bring out an assortment of sweets to make up for all this unpleasantness.”
“I do not want more biscuits, kind sir. I have come here to ask this person” – she indicated Miss Bingley – “why she accosted my niece in such a dreadful manner.”
Miss Bingley glanced toward the young girl, still seated.
“My lady, in no way did I infer your niece was deficient. I am speaking of this trollop, Eliza Bennet, whom I know is a fallen woman.”
“Miss Bingley – it is Miss Bingley, correct?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Pray, stay silent on this matter as you are in grave danger of making a fool of yourself, more than you have done already.”
“Excuse me?”
The older woman turned her attention to Elizabeth.
“Forgive me for not seeing you when I entered the shop, dearest Elizabeth. I must have been so entranced with what your sister Georgiana was saying about her new music master, that I did not even look around when we came in.”
Two things shot through Elizabeth’s mind like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the scene with perfect clarity.
One, the lady in front of her had to be Lady Matlock and two, the girl with her was none other than Miss Georgiana Darcy.
Elizabeth now realized why the young girl seemed familiar.
She had seen her portrait during the tour with Mrs. Whittaker.
A third thought began to germinate and that was, Darcy’s aunt was aware she and her nephew were married, most likely via her son, the colonel.
She rose to her feet and decided to let Lady Matlock carry the conversation.
“Thank you, my lady. I was so vested in my conversation with Mrs. Gardiner, that I also did not notice your entry.”
Not for the life of her would she divulge Mrs. Gardiner was her cousin’s aunt in front of Caroline Bingley. Through all this, Miss Bingley’s color rose and her mouth had thinned to the point of almost disappearing. Mrs. Hurst began to edge toward the exit.
“Mr. Darcy married you?”
“Yes, Miss Bingley.”
“When!”