Chapter 7 Sensational Revelation
Sensational Revelation
For the subsequent two days, the Bennet sisters barely had time to breathe, let alone sleep.
The day of touring portions of London, while a welcome break from whirlwind shopping, , had been as exhausting as it had been fun.
Friday consisted of more shopping and the final wedding gown fittings.
On Friday evening Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner, in collusion with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, surprised the women with an evening at Vauxhall Gardens for a symphony performance.
The four young Gardiner children loudly expressing their dissatisfaction at spending so little time with Jane and Lizzy dashed any hope of relaxing on Saturday.
The women happily consented to pass the day with their adored young cousins doing whatever their wee hearts desired.
By unanimous agreement, the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London was the choice, as much a thrill for Jane and Lizzy, who had never been, as it was for the children.
While the women were occupied viewing wild beasts, the gentlemen, including Colonel Fitzwilliam, gathered together for the day.
They visited White’s Club, amongst other manly pursuits.
The Darcys hosted the group for dinner on Saturday, as usual.
Returning to the Gardiner townhouse from the menagerie late in the afternoon, Lizzy had scant time to relax before needing to bathe and dress.
All too soon she was wedged inside the coach making its way from Cheapside to the distant Grosvenor Square.
Between the silence of her equally tired family, the twilight shadows, and the rhythmic swaying of the carriage, Lizzy came close to dozing.
Jane’s subdued voice pierced the calm as if she had shouted.
“Perhaps, in time, we will grow accustomed to the changing pace of our lives as the wives of important men. At present, however, I confess to being rather drained. London has much to offer, to be sure, and when I was here in the spring, I developed an appreciation for the city’s charms. Of course, I was here for weeks and never engaged in the entertainments of high society.
I was largely at my leisure. Frankly, I cannot fathom how the ton manages the endless dances, dinner parties, and theatre events of the Season!
I feel a bit overwhelmed merely thinking of it.
Not that I regret our time here, Papa, and pray I do not sound unthankful for this sojourn. ”
Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner’s amused chuckling caused Jane to fall silent. Mr. Bennet countered humorously, “I do not think it is possible for you to sound unthankful, my dear.”
“Rest easy, Sister.” Lizzy gave Jane a gentle hug.
“I am confident we will adjust to our new lives, in due course. Remember that we have crammed much into a short period. Dwelling in the country where a walk about tiny Meryton can consume an entire day is ill preparedness for the bustle of Pall Mall shops. I say we have performed brilliantly under the circumstances.”
Jane rested her head against Lizzy’s, sighing. “We survived, I shall agree with that, and finished the mission.”
“We have what we need for the wedding and beyond, and did so without depleting papa’s pocketbook completely. Such bargain shoppers we are! You have taught us well, Papa, and must be bursting with pride.”
“I am indeed,” Mr. Bennet concurred, “particularly in light of the massive pile of boxes in the foyer of your uncle’s house. It looks to me as if the two of you bought out half of London, so I am shocked to have any funds left at all.”
“Only a third. We considered it polite to leave something behind,” Lizzy teased.
Mr. Gardiner added his jesting. “The children are enjoying the maze created by the bags and boxes. They will be devastated to see the piles gone. Nevertheless, another day or two of shopping and we may not be able to enter the house through the front door.”
“Oh! You two exaggerate,” Mrs. Gardiner scolded.
Exaggeration or not, the bounteous purchasing extravaganza had created a problem, which Jane addressed.
“We do face the dilemma of how to get all of it to Longbourn. Bless you, Uncle, for the lovely gift of new trunks, but we have stuffed so much into them already that we can barely secure the latches. Do you think we can manage the added weight and find the space in our carriage, Papa? Or have you come up with an alternative solution?”
“Your uncle did. He is conscripting one of the wagons he uses in his business to transport the precious cargo once the shopping is finalized, which, dare I hope, will be soon?”
“I believe our papa is homesick, Jane. Does the lure of Mr. Darcy’s well-appointed library no longer placate?”
“Your Aunt Gardiner’s generosity to serve as escort saved me from tromping behind the two of you, up and down noisy streets entering an endless number of bustling shops.
Mr. Darcy’s hospitality in sharing his outstanding collection of fine literature occupied my time in the best possible way.
For both kindnesses I shall be eternally grateful.
Nevertheless, this old country gentleman is only truly at peace in wide-open spaces where the air is fresh and natural sounds prevail. ”
“After just over a week doing the tromping, and scant time for the joy of solitary communion with Mr. Darcy’s books, I admit to yearning for the pastoral quiet of Hertfordshire. I suppose we are, in the end, simple country creatures like our papa,” Lizzy said. Jane murmured her agreement.
Clearing his throat,= and darting a glance to Mr. Gardiner, who nodded encouragingly, Mr. Bennet asked hesitantly, “Then, if we have accomplished the purpose of this trip, do we need to stay the full two weeks?”
After a startled minute, Lizzy answered, “Honestly, I do not see why we must. Our wedding dresses are unfinished, but we have had our final fitting, so Aunt can send them to us when the modiste delivers them. What say you, Jane? Shall we ask Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy if a Monday return to Hertfordshire is doable?”
What Lizzy did not add was that as the days ticked away, the realization that she would soon be leaving the only home she had ever known pressed upon her heart.
Unlike any other period away from Longbourn, this week in London had aroused rare sensations of homesickness.
At first, she had shrugged off the laughable feelings, but as they intruded stronger upon her consciousness, Lizzy was forced to evaluate the meaning.
Focusing on Mr. Darcy, the wedding, and the desire to be alone with him had overridden her emotions over parting from her entire family and moving out of Longbourn permanently.
She was impatient to begin her life as Mrs. Darcy and trusted that the joy of being with William at Pemberley would soothe most bouts of sadness.
Mostly, she was far too practical to dwell on the negative.
Nevertheless, she planned to relish every moment of her current life, including soaking up each minute with her ofttimes annoying family.
That meant departing crowded London on Monday.
As had become the routine, Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy welcomed them in the parlor, joined on this occasion by Colonel Fitzwilliam.
After proper greetings and brief conversation, they were escorted directly into the dining room.
It continued to amaze Lizzy that no matter when they arrived, the table setting was complete, the butler was uncorking the wine, and servants were on their way from the kitchen with the first course of what was always an excellent meal.
She fancied Mr. Darcy had a sentry posted at a top-story window whose sole job was to watch for their carriage.
Whether this was true or not, she did not ask.
It was more fun to live with the mystery.
Of no mystery was the strict adherence to dining formality standard practice at Darcy House, and at Pemberley, as Lizzy recalled.
Precise to the last detail, from the rigidly poised footman in impeccable livery to the flawless execution of the meal service to the unblemished, and costly, tableware, it was a sharp contrast to a typical dinner at Longbourn.
Or rather as evening dining was before Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy joining them.
Mr. Darcy, particularly, was a man of elevated rank with staunch protocol and exacting manners woven into the fabric of his character.
His inclusion had affected the Longbourn servants and the family in a host of ways, the dining table only one of them.
Lizzy had amusedly observed how her betrothed adjusted to the casual atmosphere and playful table conversation—to a degree, that is—while unaware of how his presence caused the household to improve its dining standards.
Once in charge and in his natural element, Mr. Darcy had instantly reverted to the rigid customs of dining in high society.
That had lasted all of two days—a party including Mr. Bennet, Lizzy, Charles Bingley, the Gardiners, and the effervescent Colonel Fitzwilliam was doomed to backslide into frivolity.
Not utterly, of course. On this Saturday evening, the proper dinner topics and formality lasted for three courses.
Then the women related the details of their menagerie adventure, accented with animal vocalizations and the expected hilarity consuming a bulk of the time.
Mr. Bennet's opportunity to broach the subject of departing London on Monday arose between the fifth and sixth course.