Chapter 8 #2
Elizabeth accepted Mr Vernon’s change in topic with as much grace as she could, feeling a jab of disappointment. Mr Vernon, a charming and affable young man, did not seem to relish debating serious life topics with young ladies.
“I very much wish to go.” She offered him a look of gratitude. “Perhaps we could get a small group of us together. I wonder if Mr and Miss Mansfield would be interested. Are you acquainted with the Mansfields?”
“Mr Simon Mansfield?”
“Aye.”
“I am a little acquainted with him. I have not met his sister.”
“She has just come out this Season.”
“Well, I say the more the merrier.”
“When we return, I shall ask my aunt. We could pen a note to Miss Mansfield and see which day would suit.”
They only walked a short while longer, then turned and retraced their steps.
When Elizabeth re-entered the drawing room, alone, Mrs Gardiner looked at her with raised brows.
“Well, Lizzy?”
“Mr Vernon is everything charming…”
“But…”
“I believe he and I shall only be friends.”
Her aunt expressed regrets, which Elizabeth rushed to reassure, “The Season is still young, Aunt, surely there will be plenty of opportunities to meet gentlemen.”
~ / ~
Notes were sent back and forth and within a day, everything had been settled for an outing to the museum.
Attending would be Elizabeth and Mr Vernon, with Mr and Miss Mansfield, who asked if one of her friends and older brother might join.
As the party would be a large one, only one companion was deemed necessary, and everyone would meet at the museum.
As previously arranged, Mr Vernon arrived at the Gardiners to drive Elizabeth in his carriage, with a maid accompanying them.
As he assisted Elizabeth down from the carriage, she saw Miss Mansfield and her brother waiting near the entrance.
“Mr Mansfield, Miss Mansfield. How nice to see you again. Mr Vernon, I believe you know Mr Simon Mansfield, and this is Miss Abigail Mansfield. Miss Mansfield, this is Mr Vernon. I met Miss Mansfield soon after my arrival in London and had the great fortune to hear her perform on the piano.”
Miss Mansfield blushed and curtseyed as the men bowed. “Very nice to make your acquaintance.”
“A fellow music lover. How charming.” Mr Vernon smiled. “My introduction to Miss Bennet was at a musicale.”
“I beg you, do not start speaking of music, it will be all she wishes to converse about.” Mr Mansfield smirked at his red faced sister.
Elizabeth took the young man to task. “I believe we have had this conversation before, Mr Mansfield.”
He lifted his hands in a placating manner and ceased his teasing.
Just then they heard a female voice call, “Abigail,” and everyone turned to look.
Miss Mansfield moved towards a young woman, a little taller than Elizabeth with blond hair in a shade similar to Georgiana’s.
“Rosamund, I am so glad you could join us,” the two girls clasped hands and kissed each other on the cheek. “Come and meet Miss Bennet.”
Behind the young women stood a tall man in a military uniform. Elizabeth heard Mr Vernon inhale.
“Fitzwilliam! Well met.”
The young man, not handsome by Society’s measures, became quite comely when he smiled. “Vernon, you scoundrel, what do you do here?”
“Richard,” the young blond lady hissed.
“I beg your pardon,” he bowed to the entire company. “Will someone kindly make introductions all around?”
“I shall, as it seems for the moment, I know everyone.” Vernon gestured with his hands as he indicated toward each of them.
“May I introduce Mr Simon Mansfield and Miss Elizabeth Bennet to your acquaintance? Mr Mansfield, Miss Bennet, this is the Right Honourable Captain Richard Fitzwilliam and his sister, Lady Rosamund.”
Elizabeth curtseyed, eyeing the young captain. The surname tickled her mind, like a memory she knew she should recall.
Lady Rosamund brought forward a middle-aged woman Elizabeth had not noticed before, “and this is Mrs Annesley.”
When all the courtesies were complete, Captain Fitzwilliam clapped his hands, “Well, now that we are all here, shall we go in?”
They entered as a group and left their outerwear in the cloakroom.
Miss Mansfield and Lady Rosamund had their heads together, with Mrs Annesley standing not far off.
When everyone was ready Elizabeth asked, “Will anyone object if we visit the Egyptian room first? I have been looking forward to seeing it.”
Mr Vernon offered her his arm and she took it. “Dear lady, this expedition is your idea. Lead the way and we shall all follow.”
Of everyone who attended, Elizabeth seemed to get the most out of seeing all the interesting artefacts.
The others oohed and aahed appropriately but seemed more inclined to talk amongst themselves.
At one point Elizabeth looked up and saw Abigail Mansfield on Mr Vernon’s arm.
The young lady was gazing up at him, looking a little star-struck, listening as he spoke animatedly.
Elizabeth knew not what they discussed but was bemused by the pairing.
She hoped her mother never found out about the young man who slipped through her fingers to get caught by another.
“Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth turned to face Captain Fitzwilliam. “Captain, are you enjoying our visit to the museum?”
The captain huffed out a laugh. “I fear I am more a strategy man, than...” he flapped his hand around to encompass the room, “a stodgy historian.”
She raised one brow, “Do not you think there is much to learn about strategy and war from the histories?”
“Actually, I do. I am just not sure I can learn it from the,” he leant over to look at the closest display case, “Bolinus Brandaris, a snail known for the purplish red dye it secretes.”
Elizabeth giggled, “Perhaps not.” She observed him for a moment, “Would it be untoward if I asked about your service?”
He moved his hand in a forward motion and they began walking together. “What do you wish to know, Miss Bennet?”
“From the newspapers, I get the impression we are to believe the British Army wins most every skirmish and the casualties are downplayed. I find it difficult to believe our losses are not greater, by virtue of it being war. Not to mention the vast number of young men who return home in drastically altered physical condition.”
The captain breathed out a sigh. “War is ugly, Miss Bennet. When you are in the thick of it, there are no winners or losers, only survivors. The battle is to keep our brothers in arms alive. ‘Win or lose’ is the big picture and the reason we go to war in the first place.”
“And that would be?”
“In this war? To keep the British people and the world safe from the little Corsican. In the next? Who knows?” He looked at her and for a moment a reflection of the darkness he had witnessed shaded his eyes. Then he blinked and smiled, “Come, Miss Bennet, let us catch up with the group.”
They meandered about the paintings section of the museum for a short time longer before the other ladies claimed themselves fatigued, and ready to depart.
When they were putting on their outerwear, Lady Rosamund approached Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, I regret I did not get the chance to speak with you at length today. I hope to have the opportunity in the future.”
“Thank you, Lady Rosamund, I should like that as well.”
Mr Vernon came up to where the two ladies stood talking, “Miss Bennet you have my gratitude for insisting on arranging this outing. Tell me, what do you have in store for us next time?”
“I, sir?” Elizabeth looked around at all the faces watching her and smirked. “I see how it is. You are all so busy, you require a secretary to plan your outings and events?”
This was greeted with cries of denial and cheerful laughter.
“Well, what say you to a picnic? That is, if this fine weather remains with us.”
Lady Rosamund wrinkled her nose at the idea of a picnic, but then clapped her hands, “Or a garden party! It would be perfect.” She turned and asked her brother, “Do you not think so?”
“I think,” replied he, “You had best speak to the countess before making plans.”
“Mama will not mind. We shall invite all the young people we know. And I will tell her you expressed an interest in meeting my friends.”
He glared at his younger sister. “You had better not. Or I will inform her it was you who spilled ink on her favourite carpet.”
Lady Rosamund gasped, “You would not!”
Richard just gave her a smug look.
“Oh, very well. I will ask Mama and see what she says. But I have no doubt of her agreement.”
With that everyone went their separate ways and Mr Vernon escorted Elizabeth back to the Gardiners.
“Thank you for suggesting today. I believe everyone enjoyed the outing. Miss Mansfield seemed pleased.” Elizabeth’s eyes were twinkling as she looked at her companion.
Mr Vernon’s eyes twinkled right back at her, as he slowly waggled his pointer finger at her. “For shame, Miss Bennet, matchmaking does not become you.”
She laughed in response. The remainder of their drive was taken up discussing the exhibits they had just viewed.
Mrs Gardiner was waiting for her niece. “Well, Lizzy, did you enjoy yourself?”
“I did, Aunt. Mr Vernon sends his regrets; he could not come in.”
Waving that away, her aunt replied, “’Tis no matter. As long as you had a good time. Who were the other young people to join your group?”
“Captain Richard Fitzwilliam and Lady Rosamund.” Elizabeth saw her aunt’s eyes widen. “Aunt?”
“Lady Anne is sister to the Earl of Matlock, Lord Henry Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes, and exhaled. “They are cousins…” she whispered.