Chapter 5 Aristocratic Reception #5
“I daresay awareness of my supreme fortune is growing on a daily basis.” Elizabeth smiled at Darcy, a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Why, just two days ago, we caught Mr. Darcy at Harding and Howell, where he declared his mission to educate himself on feminine requirements was so vital he sought assistance from any female willing and able to lend him a hand.”
“Harding and Howell? You actually went inside that place?” Richard dropped his spoon with a clank, the gape directed at Darcy bringing smiles of amusement around the table.
“Don’t look so aghast, Colonel. There may come a day when such knowledge will benefit you.
” At this Richard blanched and choked. Darcy grinned and passed the wine decanter—which Richard gratefully grabbed to refill his empty glass—and then turned to his aunt.
“I have you to thank, my lady. I recalled a conversation from some months back, in this dining room, when you mentioned the mall as superior to the Pantheon Bazaar.”
“Oh yes! Lady Hayes-Smithfield and I were talking about shopping. My word, I did not notice you listening. Impressive. My faith and hope in the masculine gender are restored. I pray you found what you were seeking?”
She glanced at Elizabeth and Darcy nodded. “I did, yes, even beyond my greatest expectations. Alas, Miss Bennet must wait an entire month to reap the benefits.”
“It shall be worth the wait,” Elizabeth assured. Her smile infused his heart with joy and rendered him momentarily speechless.
In fact, throughout the whole meal, Darcy struggled to interact coherently with the stimulating discourse or to remember proper eating habits.
All he wanted to do was observe as Elizabeth dazzled his family.
Her effortless ability to converse amazed him once again and was plainly pleasing to his aunt and uncle.
The conversation was fluid and sprightly, the perfect mixture of inquisitive delving to learn more about his mysterious bride-to-be and the general topics suited for the dining table.
“William, you must extend my love to Georgiana and inform her I shall call upon her tomorrow.”
“As you wish, my lady. She has been practicing a new musical piece and yearns to play it for you.”
The countess chuckled and shook her head.
“Yearns is perhaps too strong a word, don’t you think?
Do not forget that I am quite familiar with my darling niece.
She is such a sweet-tempered girl, and with maturity, I believe she will overcome her shyness.
Have you spent much time with Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet? ”
“Since we have been in London, we have dined at Darcy House several nights now, and yesterday my sister and I passed the afternoon in Miss Darcy’s company. She is an amazing young lady. So kind, witty, and prodigiously talented on the pianoforte.”
“Georgiana is gifted,” Darcy declared with brotherly pride.
“No argument on that front from me,” Lady Matlock concurred. “We encourage her to practice and explore her passion, although I doubt our urging is necessary. I have seen her lost for hours at the pianoforte with the only ‘encouragement’ required a reminder for her to eat and drink.”
“Miss Darcy’s bashfulness is charming. I believe, as you noted, Lady Matlock, that she will conquer her reticence in due time. I sense a firmness and fire within her, which emerges when necessary and will grow as she leaves youth behind.”
“I agree. Most astute of you to deduce after so little time in her company, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth flushed at Lady Matlock’s praise. “After passing the whole afternoon together, I noted similarities between Miss Darcy and my sister. Jane is quite reserved but possesses a strong spirit. The comparison is the extent of my astuteness.”
“It is impressive nevertheless,” the countess countered in a tone of finality.
“Then, if I may be so bold, perhaps it will please you to hear that she was the consummate hostess, of which she gave you the praise and credit. Her shyness disappeared. In fact, she kept us on our toes with her humor and excellent storytelling skills. There was nary a dull moment.”
Lady Matlock was studying Elizabeth. “Now that I have met you myself, Miss Bennet, I can readily comprehend what my son”—Lady Matlock indicated Colonel Fitzwilliam with a loving glance—“meant in claiming you would be good for Georgiana.”
Darcy’s soul rejoiced at the approval in his aunt’s eyes and tone. He knew he must have been beaming, based on the sensations swelling within his chest.
Elizabeth’s rosiness increased. “I only pray to be a sister to her, my lady. Love and friendship reap bountiful harvests for all involved. In Miss Darcy’s case, it is my pleasure, and I am blessed.”
“Very well said. I agree one hundred percent.” Lady Matlock smiled and then resumed eating.
The ladies chatter returned to shopping, with Lady Matlock and Priscilla Fitzwilliam heaping advice on the best shops for lace, flowers, clothing, edible delicacies, and more.
As captivating as it was to observe the woman he loved forge a bond with his favored aunt, the subject matter was far down Darcy’s list of interests.
Fortunately, Colonel Fitzwilliam inquired about his previous evening’s appointment at the Jockey Club. A conversation on horse racing and thoroughbred breeding was much more to his liking. With Mr. Bennet, Lord Matlock, and Jonathan Fitzwilliam contributing, the remaining hour passed swiftly.
As they rose from the table, Darcy touched Elizabeth on the elbow, drawing her slightly to the side. “Before I leave you for the obligatory separation of the sexes, I wanted to tell you how proud I am, Elizabeth. You have utterly dazzled my entire family.”
“Thank you, William. Although, let’s be honest—is it truly possible to ‘dazzle’ Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam? You know them better than I, so perhaps their bedazzlement is expressed in ways too subtle for my perception.”
Laughing lowly, Darcy grabbed one of her hands. “My love, the desire to kiss your beautiful mouth is fairly overwhelming at present. It is taking a monumental effort, but I can resist the urge, provided I settle for a kiss to your hand.”
When the men rejoined the ladies in the parlor an hour later, Mrs. Fitzwilliam was playing the pianoforte while Lady Matlock and Elizabeth were deep conversation on the sofa.
The older woman was speaking of Derbyshire and the Matlock area she called home, and Elizabeth was listening intently.
She was so engrossed, in fact, that she greeted Darcy with a quick smile and immediately turned her attention back to the countess.
“You speak so fondly of Derbyshire, my lady. Are you originally from the region?”
“No, Miss Bennet. My familial roots are Welsh and English, with estate lands near Shrewsbury and Rhayader in Powys. I married Lord Matlock and settled at Rivallain as a new bride. The countryside is vastly different, yet I soon fell in love.”
“I have traveled minimally outside of Hertfordshire, so can only imagine the differences based on what I have seen on canvas or described in books.”
Elizabeth’s tone was wistful. Lady Matlock patted her hand and looked upward at Darcy. “In due course, you will visit much of the country. William is fond of travel, although not as fond as he is of staying at Pemberley.”
“With a home as beautiful as Pemberley, I can understand.”
Eyes widening in amazement, the countess exclaimed, “You have seen Pemberley? I was not aware! When was this?”
“In August,” Darcy answered for her. “Divine providence brought Miss Bennet, along with her aunt and uncle, to my very doorstep.”
“That is an accurate account,” Elizabeth laughed, her gaze sharing in the joke with him.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner asked me to accompany them on a trip to the Lake District. At the last minute their plans changed, so we traveled to the closer Derbyshire instead. My aunt lived near Lambton when she was young, you see. Naturally, the draw to tour Pemberley was immense.”
“I do believe the draw of the estate’s fishing ponds were the enticement for Mr. Gardiner,” Darcy teased.
“And I was drawn to the famed Pemberley library I had heard so much about from Mr. Bingley. It may well be that I fell in love with the library before its owner.”
“Perfectly understandable.” Lord Matlock intoned from the massive chair where he sat beside Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet raised his glass toward the earl in an agreeing gesture, then addressed his daughter. “You also traveled to Kent. A most enlightening experience, I have gathered.”
For the span of several heartbeats, both Darcy and Elizabeth froze.
They exchanged an alarmed look, followed by Elizabeth shakily giggling.
“I almost forgot. Thank you, Papa. Kent and Derbyshire I can boast, although neither holiday was extensive or involved high adventure. Is this sufficient to qualify me as being well travelled with worldly sophistication?”
“Perhaps not according to some,” Lady Matlock amusingly admitted.
“However, take heart, Miss Bennet. You have an advantage many new brides do not have, including me at the time. You have been to Pemberley, whereas I had never laid eyes on Rivallain. Who knew if the library was worth my leap of faith?”
Lord Matlock’s eyes rested upon his wife, his countenance atypically unguarded to reveal his great affection for the countess. “Alas, the library at Rivallain does not rival that at Pemberley. I suppose this means I had only my attributes to recommend.”
In response, her eyes as emotive, Lady Matlock disclosed, “Rivallain was overwhelming to me. Fortunately, I married a marvelous man who aided my adaptation to a new environment. Mr. Darcy shall do the same for you, I am confident—”
“Indeed I shall,” Darcy inserted firmly.
“—but if he does not, alert me and I will take care of it.” Lady Matlock peered at her nephew with a mischievous smile.