Chapter 8
Elizabeth was glad to be reunited with her family, and she passed an active, wonderful summer in Hertfordshire. She rambled the countryside, sometimes alone, often with her sisters and friends, engaged in social events that took advantage of the fine weather, and more.
In the latter half of September, she received a letter from Mrs Ryde, inviting her to travel to town for several months.
Consider it more than a simple invitation, Lizzy.
I am prepared to beg you to come keep me company.
You have become such a charming, beautiful young woman, and I want to show you off.
More than that, I do miss you. Julia Darcy, my dear friend as you will recall, assures me that she will be in town, and she is bringing her daughter Rebecca.
You and she will have a chance to renew your acquaintance, and you will meet so many other young people. I know you would find it entertaining.
Oddly, Elizabeth had not felt a desire for more diversion before reading the letter.
As soon as she had, an image formed in her mind of the long autumn months, the days growing shorter, and the sameness of life at Longbourn and its neighbourhood.
It shamed her, but something had changed for her after going to Ireland and experiencing so much that was different from her usual life.
Beyond personal considerations, did she not owe Mrs Ryde for all the kindness she had received over the years, even before the recent voyage abroad?
No matter how light-hearted the note was, she suspected that Mrs Ryde was lonely.
Showing the letter first to her father and then to her mother, she obtained their permission to accept the invitation. Mr Bennet grumbled and muttered about her leaving to seek her pleasure away from home. Mrs Bennet was very nearly elated.
“Of course you must go! There is no question of refusing. Spending weeks, months, in town with a lady of Mrs Ryde’s standing?
Her brother-in-law is an earl! Just imagine the people you will meet.
” Mrs Bennet waved a hand as though cooling her cheeks which had become pink.
“You will meet so many men of good fortune who are in want of wives. They could do no better than you, dear girl. I will speak to your father about money to purchase you new clothes. We shall go into Meryton to order them tomorrow morning.”
When the announcement of Elizabeth’s imminent departure was made at dinner that night, her younger sisters Kitty and Lydia complained that they had not been included in the invitation, but Mary professed no wish to ever spend so long in London.
“I do wonder why Jane was overlooked,” Mary said. “Mrs Ryde must know how close you two are, and it would be natural for you to have another lady nearly your age with you when you go into society.”
Jane, sensible and always inclined to think the best of people and situations, said, “You forget that I hardly know Mrs Ryde. I am content to remain at home with my family and leave the travelling to Lizzy.”
Elizabeth smiled at her assembled family. “And I believe we must allow Mrs Ryde to decide whose company she wants and when. I shall return in time to celebrate Christmas with you.”
“If God is good to us, you will be engaged. Then, once you are married, you can introduce your sisters to your new husband’s rich friends and relations,” Mrs Bennet said, her expression wistful, no doubt as she imagined a future in which all her daughters were suitably and advantageously settled.
Thus, with good wishes, Elizabeth went to London a fortnight later.
Soon, she was comfortably ensconced in a large, finely-furnished chamber in Lord Halsley’s townhouse, where Mrs Ryde had lived since her husband’s death.
Once Elizabeth had changed and refreshed herself, she and Mrs Ryde sat in a bright sitting room.
There were tea and small jam tarts set on a mahogany table, and the ladies occupied brocade armchairs at either side.
“I have so many plans for us. Too many, my brother-in-law tells me,” Mrs Ryde said. She laughed. “It kept me busy while I awaited your arrival. The first is meeting Julia and Rebecca. They will call on us later today.”
“I anticipate seeing them again,” Elizabeth said. “It has been years since I last did, yet my memories are strong. I am glad to be here. Have I said that already?”
“You have, my dear, but I do not mind hearing it. And no more of your thanks for inviting you. I believe I am benefitting more from your company than the other way around.”
They cheerfully spoke of their summers, Elizabeth sharing stories of her time in Hertfordshire, and Mrs Ryde telling her about the friends she had visited and the weeks she had spent at Lord Halsley’s Norfolk estate.
To Elizabeth, Mrs Ryde had become like a dearly loved aunt.
Indeed, since her Aunt Bennet’s death, Mrs Ryde had taken her place in Elizabeth’s life in many ways, and they had grown closer during their recent travel together, and she was extremely pleased to be with her again.
Mrs and Miss Darcy called at the appointed time.
The usual greetings were made, after which, Mrs Darcy immediately said to Elizabeth, “My goodness, you have grown into a lovely young woman! I would have known you anywhere. Your beautiful eyes will always give you away, no matter how time changes the rest of your appearance.”
Elizabeth blushed. “I am flattered, and hardly know what to say after receiving such compliments.”
“No false modesty, Lizzy,” Mrs Ryde said, adding to her friend, “Both of the girls are charming beauties. They are sure to turn the eye of a gentleman or two. We shall have to keep a close watch on them.”
Elizabeth’s and Rebecca's gazes met, and they smiled at each other. It had been seven years since they had last seen each other, which was a substantial period, given their ages. Yet, there was no awkwardness. At thirteen, they had become friends while exploring Lord Halsley’s estate—in and out of doors—while the adults amused themselves, and currently, at twenty, Elizabeth was confident those feelings of friendship still existed between them and would soon grow even deeper.
“Girls,” Mrs Darcy said, “we shall leave you to become reacquainted.” She patted her daughter’s cheek and smiled at Elizabeth.
With the older ladies chatting amiably on a settee at one end of the room, Elizabeth and Rebecca sat in another corner and did as her mother had suggested.
“I, too, would have known you anywhere,” Rebecca claimed.
“You remember that we used our Christian names when we were little girls? Of course you do,” she said before Elizabeth could respond.
“I think we still should. Even if we decided we must be ‘Miss Bennet’ and ‘Miss Darcy’ to each other at first, I predict we would abandon the practice within a week, so why should we not dispense with the formality at once?”
Elizabeth grinned; she had almost forgot Rebecca’s habit of speaking quickly and often using more words than was necessary.
“I am very glad to do so, and I am very glad I came to town and we could meet again. When Mrs Ryde mentioned you last spring, I regretted that we had not maintained a correspondence, and I had hoped we would see each other sometime.”
“Now here we are!” Rebecca said, giving Elizabeth’s hand a quick squeeze.
“Tell me everything. What do you like to do? Are you still fond of reading and walking? What are your sisters like? I insist you answer my questions before posing any of your own. If not, I fear I shall go on and on until Mama drags me from the house without you ever saying a single word.”
The Darcys stayed above an hour. Elizabeth and Rebecca had no difficulty filling the time with conversation; indeed, it would require many such opportunities to say everything they wished to.
Not long before they separated, immediately after Mrs Darcy mentioned she and Rebecca would have to leave soon, Elizabeth admitted that she had met Rebecca’s cousin in Dublin and was a little surprised her friend had not known already.
“You are certain to see him again,” Rebecca said.
“He is in town, as I believe my cousin Georgiana is, although she remained in the country with her mother’s relations longer than Darcy did.
I do not know why. What did you think of him?
No, do not tell me. We do not have enough time to do the subject justice.
He is seldom talkative, is he? It is a shame, for when he is comfortable enough to speak freely, he is interesting and amiable.
So intelligent and such a good brother and cousin.
My brothers adore him. I believe Freddie takes him as a role model, more so than our own father. ”
Fortunately, Elizabeth was not called upon to discuss her impressions of Mr Darcy.
What could she say? That he was taciturn and proud, and, at their last encounter, had insulted her?
I shall have to come up with a better response than that.
And I shall have to prepare myself to see him again.
Not that it mattered. She doubted Mr Darcy would deign to do more than the minimum politeness demanded of him when they met.