Chapter 21 The Influenza
The day dawned bright and fair, and Elizabeth delighted in the comfort of the spacious bed and the softest mattress she had ever known.
She turned toward her friend and saw that the young girl was still fast asleep. It seemed they had both had a good night. Elizabeth had not been troubled by the nightmares she feared might come, and perhaps Georgiana had escaped them as well, for she had not stirred or called out in the darkness.
As Elizabeth lay staring at the lace canopy overhead, she wondered what the day would bring. Surely the solicitor would send a note explaining how matters stood with Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Younge. She only hoped the news would not further distress her friend.
“Lizzy, are you awake?”
Elizabeth turned and smiled. “Yes. I believe the bright sunshine has woken me.”
Georgiana’s voice was filled with wonder. “All that we endured last night now seems like a dreadful dream, nothing more.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed, “especially in the light of a new day.”
“Do you think we shall hear from the solicitor?”
“I do. It is his duty to keep you informed.”
Elizabeth hesitated, then said, “Georgiana, perhaps we ought to go out today. We might do something to distract our minds.”
The young girl fell silent, considering.
“We could walk along Oxford Street and visit the shops,” she said excitedly, “or we might go to Harding Howell. Either would be entertaining. But, if we walk along Oxford Street, I have heard there are a few shops at the far end, along one of the side streets, that sell exotic birds.”
“That sounds truly delightful,” Elizabeth replied. “Just the thing. Let us do it.”
She slipped out of bed at once. “I will ring for my bath. We may take breakfast up here after we are dressed, if you like. It will save the servants some trouble if we eat upon trays.”
Georgiana nodded. “I will ring for Jenny and let her know of our plans and that we are to go shopping today.”
Later that morning, Elizabeth and Georgiana were handed down from the smallest of the Darcy carriages. The coachman was instructed to return for them in four hours, and they began their walk along Oxford Street, followed by two footmen in full livery.
Elizabeth could not help but feel conspicuous with such splendid attendants following discreetly behind them. She smiled to herself at the absurdity of it.
Georgiana said, “I do not know where the exotic animals are sold.”
“Perhaps your footmen know of such places.”
Georgiana turned at once to the taller of the two men.
“Dunn, I wish to see exotic birds. Can you direct us?”
“Yes, Miss Darcy. There are two or three merchants off a narrow road at the far end of Oxford Street. When the carriage returns, I will ask Gibbs to drive us there.”
Contented with this answer, Georgiana said, “Then let us begin here, Lizzy. This is one of my favorite haberdasheries. You will find that it is large and well-stocked.”
Both women paused at the window. Elizabeth had never seen so grand a shop in her life. There was certainly nothing so large or elegant in Cheapside, where she had shopped with her aunt.
They entered, and Elizabeth was astonished by the vast assortment: fans, stacks of silk stockings, lace and ribbons, plumes, and costume jewelry made of paste.
She and Georgiana stopped before a display of delicate muslin handkerchiefs, edged in fine lace and beautifully embroidered. Elizabeth was just thinking they must cost a fortune when a shrill voice cut through the air.
“Why, Eliza, fancy meeting you here. I should have expected to find you shopping in Cheapside.”
Miss Bingley stood before her, speaking loudly enough to draw attention.
Elizabeth curtsied. “Miss Bingley. Mrs. Hurst.”
Caroline Bingley barely returned the civility, but Mrs. Hurst smiled broadly and curtsied in earnest.
“Miss Elizabeth,” she said, “I do not see your sister.”
Elizabeth answered, “No, my sister is at home with my aunt.”
Miss Bingley’s eyes narrowed as she noticed the liveried footmen standing nearby.
“I say, Miss Eliza, are those Mr. Darcy’s footmen?”
Her gaze swept the shop at once, as though searching for the gentleman himself. Then her eyes fell upon Georgiana.
“Why, Georgiana, I did not see you standing there.”
She curtsied, though her attention continued to wander about the room before she turned back to the young lady.
“Is Mr. Darcy with you?”
“No, Miss Bingley. My brother is out of town for some weeks.”
“Oh, I see,” Miss Bingley said, her tone sharpening. “Surely you are not out shopping with Eliza?”
Mrs. Hurst discreetly elbowed her sister and hastened to intervene.
“Pray excuse my sister. She did not mean that as it sounded. What she ought to have said is how very pleasant it must be, Miss Georgiana, to have so lively a companion for your excursions.”
She smiled warmly.
“Caroline and I have each other, so we are never at a loss for company, but you must depend upon a brother who, I daresay, would much rather be found at Jackson’s or Tattersall’s than amongst ribbons and lace.”
Georgiana and Elizabeth both laughed at the jest.
“Yes, Mrs. Hurst,” Georgiana said, “my brother does not care for shopping for women’s clothing, or fripperies, as he calls them.”
Miss Bingley’s lips tightened. “Would you join us for tea at Twinings, on the Strand?”
Georgiana hesitated, then answered politely.
“I thank you, Miss Bingley, but we have only just arrived. This is the first shop we have entered, and I do not wish for tea. We have only just breakfasted.”
She turned to Elizabeth. “Unless you would like it, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No indeed. I have a list of errands to complete, and if I do not apply myself at once, I shall be forced to make a second trip to the shops.”
She offered a restrained smile. “Thank you, but you must excuse me from the treat, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline looked decidedly put out.
“Well, I never…” she began, but once again, Louisa was quick to intervene.
“I understand completely. We have already been shopping for two hours, so we shall excuse ourselves. Good day, ladies.”
They curtsied, and then the two sisters were gone.
Georgiana drew nearer to Elizabeth and placed a hand upon her arm.
“Lizzy, I feared we should spend the entire day in Miss Bingley’s company. She has a way of attaching herself to one, and if you do not know how to release yourself, you must bear her company for hours on end.”
She paused, then added thoughtfully, “However, since she now knows that Fitzwilliam is not in town for some weeks, she probably has no real interest in my company. I am merely her entry to Darcy House, and to my estimable brother.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Yes, he is the honey that draws the bees. I imagine you are often obliged to fend off would-be friends who are anxious to attach themselves to your very eligible and attractive brother.”
Georgiana laughed. “I have never thought it amusing, but it is. You should see their faces when I explain that my brother is away at a house party, or in Derbyshire attending to estate business.”
“I imagine their expressions fall at once, and their attentions wane.”
“They do,” Georgiana said, “which is just as well for me, for most of the ladies who are attracted to my poor brother are not very amiable, Lizzy. I wonder why that is.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I could not say. Perhaps young ladies in this day and age are generally malcontents. Or perhaps they are the product of the select seminaries they attend.”
She reached toward a display. “Look at this one, Georgiana. Is it not exquisite?”
Georgiana examined the lace on the handkerchief Elizabeth held, then began sorting through the piles on the shelf.
After four hours, the two ladies were still in the first haberdashery they had entered. Much of their time in the shop was spent in conversation as they moved from one display to another, examining the wares.
When they at last left the shop, Elizabeth’s eyes wandered to the footmen carrying a variety of neatly wrapped parcels. Georgiana followed her gaze and giggled.
“I have spent a fair portion of my brother’s funds today, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth lifted her three parcels. “I have never spent so much upon myself. All my money is usually given to books.”
Both young ladies laughed, as though it were a jest.
Georgiana then turned to her footman. “Dunn, pray direct Gibbs to the stalls with the exotic birds.”
“Very well, miss.”
They waited a few minutes until the carriage approached, and then they were off.
Half an hour later, the carriage pulled up before a shop that catered to exotic animals and birds.
The two women entered the small London shop to find it crowded with cages of exotic birds, monkeys, squirrels, and even white mice. The air was filled with fluttering wings, bright chatter, and the peculiar scent of straw and seed.
As they walked along the narrow aisles, Georgiana suddenly stopped before the smallest, most brilliantly colored birds.
“Look, Lizzy,” she said softly. “What vibrant colors. I love this bright yellow lovebird.”
The keeper approached with a practiced smile. “We always sell them in pairs, miss, so they will not be lonesome.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. “May I touch one?”
“Yes, miss. Those are not trained, but you may handle my little pet.”
He disappeared briefly, then returned with a small blue parrot perched upon his fingers. He offered it carefully to Georgiana and then placed a pinch of seed in her palm.
They remained there for a quarter hour, diverted by the little bird, which chirped and displayed its tricks for their amusement. Even the footmen appeared entertained.
At last, Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. “I am going to purchase a pair, Lizzy. They will give me something to occupy my mind.”
She purchased a cage, a pair of love birds, and a small bag of seed.
The keeper offered last-minute instructions. “Miss, they eat fruits and root vegetables. They will take sallet, and you may feed them leftover egg or beans as well.”