Chapter 10
While the sixth Duke of Northampton was feeling his way through the labyrinth of the ton at the fifth Duke’s funeral, the women of his family, accompanied by Mr. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s brother, boarded the Longbourn carriage for their eagerly awaited holiday in town.
Mr. Gardiner rode on the box with the coachman to avoid the inevitable chatter of five exuberant women.
Contrary to expectations, the atmosphere inside the carriage was subdued rather than festive.
Mrs. Bennet detested long carriage rides and requested her daughters lower their voices to spare her nerves.
Lizzy looked out of the window, trying to commit every inch of Longbourn to memory because she might not return there for a long time, if ever.
Mary immediately took out her copy of Fordyce’s Sermons, pretending to have something to do, even though she was not accustomed to reading in a moving carriage.
She soon closed her eyes to rest. Kitty was stuck in the middle seat of the backward facing bench and could not stop fidgeting.
Lydia was the most excited, murmuring and giggling into Kitty’s ear.
Soon after they passed Meryton, Lydia and Kitty started bickering, which became louder and louder.
“Kitty, I saw the lace first. You must lend me money to buy it. I shall scour every milliner’s shop on Bond Street.
It will look darling on my ball dress, much more attractive than on any of yours!
” cried Lydia breathlessly with her hands clasped in front of her bosom in ecstasy over the not-yet-purchased piece of lace she had no money to buy.
Kitty, on the other hand, was not so generous now that she was going on a once-in-a-lifetime shopping trip to town. “No. I need the money to buy things I like. You should not have spent all your pin money within the first week of the quarter.”
“Oh, bother! How should I have guessed papa would take us to town without any warning? It is not fair! Kitty, you promised! You cannot go back on your word! You are mean! I promise I shall let you borrow the lace if I am not using it.”
“Lydia, no! Not this time.” Kitty had never been defiant toward her younger sister, especially when her mother was present. Mrs. Bennet always took Lydia’s side. However, in view of a memorable shopping trip, she stood firm.
“Kitty!” Lydia shouted, expressing her displeasure forcefully, which usually would bring Kitty to submission, but Kitty simply sat forward to distance herself from her unreasonable sister.
“My nerves! My nerves! What is all the squabbling about? Lydia was right about your father not telling us about this trip to town until three days ago.” Mrs. Bennet intervened after a particularly rough patch of the turnpike.
She turned to Kitty and said, “Kitty, Lydia is the youngest. Humor her and stop this noise. My head already hurts terribly being jostled in the carriage, and you have to add to my wretchedness.”
Kitty felt ill-used—she was not the one shouting, so she started sobbing pitifully.
Elizabeth usually stayed out of her two youngest sisters’ constant strife, but this time, the injustice inflicted by her mother on the less-favored sister was too blatant.
She said soothingly to her heart-broken sister, “Kitty, do not fret. Perhaps papa will give us extra pin money for shopping so Lydia will have her own money to buy her own baubles. After all, this is the first time we have gone to town during the season.”
The sisters were pleased by Elizabeth’s assurance and quieted down because they knew their papa would likely advance them extra pin-money if Elizabeth asked. Even Mrs. Bennet had been accustomed to the fact that her second daughter held more sway over her husband than she did herself.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, felt an increasing trepidation about her family’s ability to enter the exalted and judgmental society of the nobility without sullying the good name of the dukedom, their newly-gained high rank notwithstanding.
She turned back to look out of the window when the carriage turned into the courtyard of the coaching inn where the family would take a light repast. They would then transfer to a post-chaise that would take them to town while the family carriage returned to Longbourn.
“Oh!” Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise. “The Royal Oak!”
Mrs. Bennet asked in confusion, “What about ‘the Royal Oak,’ Lizzy? It has the appearance of a fine establishment. I am sure we shall be comfortable there while waiting for the post.”
“Yes, mamma. I was surprised because we usually change coaches at the ‘Red Bull.’” Inside, she smiled at her father’s wit.
“I wonder why this inn, so far from Shropshire, should be named after the tree in which King Charles II hid to escape from Cromwell’s pursuit,” remarked Mary quizzically. She had enjoyed reading history before discovering Fordyce’s Sermons.
Lydia chimed in then. “I prefer the ‘Red Bull.’ The proprietor there lets us stay in a room upstairs when Kitty and I go there to meet the post. It is great fun to lean out of the window to shout down at the travelers when the post arrives.”
Elizabeth was tempted at that moment to explain the Bennets’ connection to King Charles II, but she and her Uncle Gardiner had agreed to hold off the disclosure until they were near Northampton House lest Mrs. Bennet need a medical intervention after hearing the news.
If that happened, they wanted to be safely ensconced at St. James’s Place.
While the Bennet ladies were enjoying a superior luncheon at the Royal Oak, a magnificent coach drawn by six matched bays turned into the inn’s yard. Kitty, who loved horses, cried excitedly, “Have you ever seen horses as beautiful as these?”
In fact, Mrs. Bennet had. She remarked, “Oh, that looks just like the coach that came to Longbourn earlier this week. I recognize the coachmen’s livery.
So fine! What a feast for the eye! It would not surprise me if the trim is made of real gold threads.
I wonder what important personage is patronizing this inn. ”
Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth exchanged a significant look. Then Mr. Gardiner announced, “If you ladies are ready for the next leg of the journey, we should get on with it.”
As the ladies arrived at the courtyard, the footman of the opulent coach stepped forward, bowed deeply, opened the door, and let down the steps.
Mrs. Bennet stopped suddenly, covered her gaping mouth with her hand, and grabbed her brother’s arm and shoved him away from the carriage.
She asked urgently, “Brother, what is the meaning of this? Did that footman truly bow to me? He is the handsomest footman I have ever seen, especially with that splendid livery.”
“Fanny, this is indeed your conveyance to town. You will enjoy riding in such a luxurious vehicle and not feel any ruts in the turnpike. I wager you will get used to it very quickly.”
“You make little sense, Edward. Is this carriage yours? Did you make a million pounds in your last venture? Why did you not send this coach to Longbourn? All my neighbors should see us traveling in this grand style. Lizzy, you are in on this scheme as well. I saw you and your uncle exchanging secretive glances.”
Again, Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth exchanged glances, aggravating Mrs. Bennet further. She felt her position as matriarch of the family had been usurped.
Elizabeth saw the displeasure in her mother’s countenance but shrugged.
Mr. Gardiner said soothingly to his sister, “Fanny, this coach belongs to the Duke of Northampton. Please be patient. All will be revealed. I mean to preserve your nerves. Let us board this grand coach and make ourselves comfortable. I guarantee riding in this coach will not make you ill.”
“The Duke of Northampton! No wonder the coach and the footmen look so smart. Why did he send his coach for our use?”
“Patience, Fanny,” Mr. Gardiner counseled.
Mrs. Bennet eyed her brother skeptically, but proceeded toward the carriage.
Once the whole family was seated inside, the ooh’s and ah’s began.
“This coach is fit for royalty! And so spacious!”
“Look at this darling compartment! Oh, there is stationery here for writing letters.”
“A bottle of…what is this?” Lydia handed it to her uncle for a sniff.
“It is brandy,” remarked Mr. Gardiner casually.
“If this were my carriage, I would put a bottle of sherry here, the sweetest kind!”
As the carriage entered Mayfair via Park Lane, Mr. Gardiner cleared his throat to command the attention of the ladies still busy exploring the elegantly appointed carriage interior.
“Fanny, girls, I need you to pay attention.”
The talking stopped, and all eyes turned to Mr. Gardiner.
“Two days ago, I received an express from Thomas, announcing the most astounding news. He has inherited the Dukedom of Northampton…”
Mr. Gardiner purposely paused, expecting an outburst of excitement. However, what he saw were deep frowns on bewildered faces, except for Lizzy.
“Please no jesting, Brother. Did you say Mr. Bennet is now a duke? It would follow that I would be a duchess? It cannot be! I do not care to be a duchess, but being wife to a baronet would suit me very well indeed. I would enjoy ranking higher than Lady Lucas. Sir William is only a knight. Lady Bennet! How well it sounds!”
“Will I be called Lady Lydia if papa is a baronet?” Lydia chimed in.
Mr. Gardiner often thought his sister had a mean understanding, and that Lydia took after her mother the most of all his nieces. He truly worried about how his sister would adapt to her life among the highest-ranked ladies of the nobility.
“Like it or not, Fanny, you are now Her Grace, Duchess of Northampton, and you girls all have a courtesy title of ‘Lady’ in front of your Christian names.”
Mr. Gardiner’s announcement finally sank in. Mrs. Bennet’s eyes became round and bulging. “Where are my smelling salts? Quickly, girls! I feel faint!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet in distress.