Chapter 35 London
Darcy rose when his cousin was shown in. “Richard, when did you arrive in town?”
“We arrived last evening. Annie felt grateful to escape Rosings. Every chair, room, and hallway carries memories of her mother and Mrs. Jenkinson, and she was often overcome by tears.”
“I am sorry to hear it, Cousin. A sojourn at Matlock house should serve as a distraction.”
“I believe it will. I will hire a man to refurbish the main drawing room and the yellow salon at Rosings while we are away. We hope the alterations will be helpful.”
Darcy grinned. “What you truly mean is that the throne room is being dismantled. Did you remove the throne itself?”
“Yes. Anne consigned it to the attic. She could not bring herself to send it to auction with the other furnishings.”
“So, she does not wish for you to enthrone yourself upon that ghastly gold-plated monstrosity?”
Richard laughed. “No indeed, nor do I wish to see her chained to that throne.”
He placed a letter upon the desk.
Darcy picked it up and examined the seal. “Is this an invitation to the Worthington ball?”
“It is.”
Darcy broke the seal and unfolded the letter. “It is to be held on the eighteenth. Does my aunt truly imagine I shall attend a ball without Elizabeth?”
“She twisted my father’s arm into permitting you to attend society functions, provided you do not dance, and that you wear black, or if you prefer, you may wear grey, provided you wear a black band upon your arm to signify your bereavement.”
“Richard, she does not wish me to marry Elizabeth and hopes another woman may divert my attention.” He tore the invitation in half. “I shall attend no function unless Elizabeth also receives an invitation.”
“Mamma will be furious, Cousin.”
Darcy drew a clean sheet of paper toward himself and wrote a brief note. After sealing it, he handed it to Richard.
“You will oblige me by delivering this to your mother.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you need not trouble yourself, Cousin. I shall send Miller to deliver it instead.”
“May I ask what it says?”
“I informed her that, out of respect for the terrible loss my uncle and cousin have sustained, I would not dream of appearing at any social function for at least the next six to eight weeks.”
His chuckle carried genuine amusement.
“Let her attempt to force me to a ball after receiving sentiments such as those. In addition, it shall earn me some credit in my uncle’s eyes.”
Richard laughed. “You shall require a great deal of credit, Darcy. He wished you to marry the daughter of at least an earl. According to him, with your wealth, he might secure you the daughter of a duke.”
Darcy grimaced. “Which one? Surely, he does not mean the Duke of Eldon’s daughter. She is the most annoying person I have ever met. But my uncle would never trouble himself with character so long as rank and connections are impeccable.”
Richard grunted. “Darcy, there is nothing for it. You must rusticate in the country for a good six months while my father recovers from your defiance.”
“I should desire nothing more than to hide myself away at Pemberley with my lovely bride. That is precisely what I intend to do, Richard. I shall not languish here in town until Easter. We shall travel to Derbyshire as soon as we are married.”
Mrs. Gardiner kissed both her nieces before stepping back to look at them.
“You girls appear even more beautiful than when I last enjoyed your company.”
Jane’s brows drew together. “That is because Mr. Bingley had torn my still beating heart from my breast, Aunt Maddie. I thought I would die from the blow.”
“Yes, my dear, you did suffer, but look at you now.”
Jane’s eyes brightened. “Aunt, I am exceedingly happy. Every girlish dream has come true. My husband is kind and handsome, and he loves me. He looks upon me as though I were the only woman in the world, and he treats me like a delicate treasure.”
“And so you are, my girl. He is a very fortunate man to have married a woman as amiable as she is beautiful.”
Mrs. Gardiner directed her attention toward Elizabeth. “And you, Lizzy? Does your Mr. Darcy also treat you like a delicate treasure?”
Elizabeth answered with a merry laugh. “No, ma’am. At Rosings Park, he discovered my friends and me out running one morning while dressed in trousers.”
Elizabeth covered her eyes. “I was a fright, Aunt Maddie, for my hair had escaped its pins and my clothing clung to me from the exertion. I may even have had perspiration upon my brow.” Her expression was comical.
Mrs. Gardiner’s brows rose. “No, my dear, I imagine he fell in love with you at that very moment. He must have found you irresistible.”
Both ladies laughed as Elizabeth grimaced.
“Never mind, my dear. When shall you marry?”
“His aunt passed away on the ninth of November. The Countess of Matlock declared he need wait only six weeks, but he warned me his uncle may prove disagreeably stubborn and insist upon a full six months.”
“That is unfortunate, Lizzy. I am sorry your marriage must suffer such a delay.”
“It is well, Aunt Maddie. Mr. Darcy does not intend to wait longer than two months, so I may become a married woman by the middle of January.”
“He is a very wealthy man, Elizabeth. I must take you shopping while you remain here. It would never do for you to appear dressed like a humble country girl.”
“Georgiana wrote that the Countess intends to dress me like a princess in order to ward off the criticisms of the high sticklers.”
“Does she intend to pass you off as more than you are, Lizzy?”
“No, Aunt. Mr. Darcy informed her he would not permit her to go so far. She merely wishes to muddy the waters, and with Jane married so advantageously, she believes society will assume I possess greater connections and fortune than I truly do.”
Mrs. Gardiner frowned. “Lizzy, this may go very poorly if the truth becomes known.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, I agree, and so does Mr. Darcy, but his aunt remains determined. I believe the Countess has enjoyed her own way for so many years that she will brook no opposition.”
“Well, my girl, I wish you the best. When do you go shopping?”
Elizabeth reached into her reticule and withdrew a letter. Her eyes ran down the page to the paragraph written in his own hand.
“Lady Helen intends to collect me on the thirteenth. She is very elegant, but her taste leans toward the matronly. I hope she possesses an eye for fashion suited to a woman of my age.”
“If you discover otherwise, you must speak plainly, for you shall move among the very flower of high society, and the women who have long sought Mr. Darcy’s affections will greet you with sharpened knives.”
Elizabeth sighed again, this time more heavily. “I do wish we were already married and hidden away at his country estate. I have no experience of fashionable society, and I fear I may reflect poorly upon him.”
“You must tell the Countess so. Perhaps she may hire a master of deportment to instruct you.”
“Yes, that is precisely what I must do lest I bring shame upon my intended.”
Lady Helen’s temper had worn thin. When had Fitzwilliam grown so obstinate?
He had refused every social engagement for which she had secured invitations.
Not even an intimate musical evening at Lady Sophia’s home could entice him, despite Miss Honeyfield’s presence among the principal performers.
He had once bestowed upon her a most flattering degree of attention, and any sensible man would have pursued the attachment further, for the chit possessed beauty, wealth, and connections beyond reproach.
But there was no remedy for it now. Her nephew had fixed his affections upon the little milkmaid from Hertfordshire, and the burden had fallen upon Lady Helen to wrap the imprudent match in clean linen before the ton caught scent of it
Her nerves tightened at the sound of a carriage drawing up before the front entrance. A few minutes later, Miss Bennet and Georgiana entered the drawing room, followed by her insufferably mulish nephew.
When the niceties had been got over, Lady Helen addressed Mr. Darcy.
“Nephew, you will excuse us. We have a great deal to accomplish today.”
“Yes, Aunt Helen. I shall leave you to it. My carriage remains at your disposal for the day. May I inquire when you expect to return?”
“Not before five this afternoon. You are dismissed, sir.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
He bowed and withdrew.
Lady Helen directed her attention toward Elizabeth, and her gaze traveled slowly over the young woman from head to toe before returning to her hair. “I must dress you, dear. Your wardrobe will never answer. Come. Let us begin.”
During the drive, Elizabeth said, “Lady Helen, I have never received instruction in the proper forms of address and etiquette required when in company with the peerage.”
The Countess pressed her lips into a severe line. “Plainly not. I shall hire a master at once. You must spend no fewer than four hours each day under instruction until he pronounces you fit to enter society.”
She made a sound of irritation.
“I had better engage a music master as well, lest you provide my nephew reason for mortification in a crowded drawing room. Elizabeth, I trust you possess sufficient ability to learn two or three respectable pieces upon the pianoforte.”
Then she added, “Which reminds me, do you have a personal maid?”
“No, my lady.”
The Countess grunted in displeasure. “That explains the condition of your hair.” Georgiana pressed Elizabeth’s hand and offered her a sympathetic look.
“I shall set Dunn to interviewing candidates and engaging someone suitable.” She paused. “Or do you wish to meet the leading candidates yourself?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened.
Georgiana leaned nearer. “Lizzy, you must meet them and make the selection yourself. A personal maid shall witness you at your worst and during your most private moments. She will even assist with your bath.”
Elizabeth lifted a brow. “Yes, of course.”