Chapter 21 #8
“Oh, my dears, I was so happy to hear of your engagement! The best news since my son married Selina! My dear Elizabeth, you look so beautiful! And Darcy—you are more handsome than ever. I am sure all the ladies will envy Elizabeth. Oh, you are such a beautiful couple! Just look at you! And you will marry in two weeks? Well, just seeing how you look at each other, I understand why you want to marry sooner! And I imagine you will lock yourself in at Pemberley after the wedding!”
“Your ladyship is very kind and amusing, as always,” said Darcy with his usual composure while Elizabeth blushed violently. “Yes, we will go to Pemberley.”
“Oh, well, I am so happy! Who can believe Darcy would make a love match with a girl from Hertfordshire?” Lady Brightmore laughed. “The heart has strange ways.”
“Yes, very strange. Who would believe such a thing, indeed? Mr Darcy, such a surprise to see you here!” They turned in surprise at the newly arrived guest, and Elizabeth startled, slightly uneasy as Darcy greeted the lady.
“Eve, such a surprise to see you here,” Lady Brightmore said, and Lady Sinclair smiled.
“I came with my cousin as I did not receive an invitation myself. I imagine you forgot to invite me, Lady Brightmore.”
“I did not forget; I purposely did not invite you as Lord Matlock seemed quite upset with you,” Lady Brightmore said bluntly. Lady Sinclair attempted a laugh.
“You are so amusing, Lady Brightmore—and so is Lord Matlock.”
“No, I am not. And I really wish you to leave, dear.”
“Excuse us,” Darcy said as he took Elizabeth’s arm and walked to where his cousins were standing, allowing the two ladies to continue their argument. They noticed Lady Sinclair pass undisturbed through the group, ignoring Lady Brightmore’s disapproving gaze.
“I hope you will not permit her to ruin your evening,” Darcy whispered.
“Fear not—the days when Lady Sinclair succeeds in upsetting me have passed.”
“I cannot believe Eve dared to come here,” Lady Selina said angrily. “What on earth is to be done to keep her away?”
“Are we to talk about Eve the rest of the evening?” asked the colonel. “For heaven’s sake, a whole week we talked about Wickham; now we change to another annoying character. Anne, you must secure me a dance tonight, and you too Miss Bennet.”
Anne de Bourgh stared at her cousin, eyes wide in disbelief. “What do you mean dance? This is not a ball, is it?”
“It is not a ball, but surely there will be a chance to dance.”
“But I never dance in public,” Anne whispered.
“Well, this would be an excellent moment to start,” said the colonel.
“Then I must secure a dance, too.” Darcy smiled, and Anne turned to him in surprise.
“Well, Cousin Darcy, it is strange that you discover a willingness to dance precisely when it will make me uncomfortable,” Anne said seriously while the others could only laugh.
The first part of the evening passed equally pleasantly; at supper, they sat close together, a united family sharing joy and support.
After dinner, the gentlemen briefly retired to the library for brandy; as the colonel anticipated, four musicians were preparing to perform, and the ladies happily anticipated the pleasure of dancing.
Elizabeth poured herself a cup of tea and moved into a far corner, needing a peaceful moment as her thoughts were still preoccupied with Lydia.
She was surprised and puzzled to see Lady Sinclair approach and address her directly.
“Well, well, Miss Bennet—I must say you are the author of the most astonishing surprise of this year. To make Darcy marry you—it is quite extraordinary.”
Elizabeth smiled politely and made no reply.
“In truth, one cannot help wondering what sort of accomplishments a woman must possess to convince a man of excellent position and wealth—desired by many eligible young ladies—to marry her. Especially as she does not have anything exceptional—neither beauty, nor fortune or title—except a sister married in haste to hide the shame of an improper elopement. Will you be so kind as to enlighten me, Miss Bennet? I must say I misjudged you completely when we first met. I thought you to be a little country girl of not much consequence. My first impression of you has proven completely wrong.”
Elizabeth turned her eyes to Lady Sinclair, holding her impertinent gaze for a moment in a silent battle of wills. Then she allowed a large smile to spread over her face.
“That is true for both of us, Lady Sinclair; my first impression of you was wrong, as well. I thought you to be a lady. It seems we both misjudged the other completely.”
Lady Sinclair went white; then her cheeks coloured with anger.
“I was told your chief quality is your insolence, and this has proven to be true. How dare you speak to me in such a manner? Do you have the presumption to believe that, in marrying Darcy, you will become our equal? Do not expect to be noticed by anyone of consequence. You will be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with Darcy. Your alliance will be disgraced and your name will never be mentioned by any of us. You shall never be invited nor visited by any of us, you must be aware of that!”
Elizabeth smiled again, glancing quickly to the other side of the room.
“These are heavy misfortunes,,” she replied without attempting to hide her amusement.
“But the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she, upon the whole, could have no cause to repine. And if no one ever issues an invitation, as you so kindly warn me, I shall be forced to spend more time at home alone with my husband. I dare say that would be to my advantage, would you not agree?”
As Lady Sinclair paled again and seemed to stop breathing, Darcy approached them, a glass in his hand, watching with uneasiness. He met Elizabeth’s eyes and noticed their mischievous sparkle. He smiled at her.
“Forgive me, ladies. I hope I am not interrupting anything.”“No, not at all,” answered Elizabeth, returning his smile. “Lady Sinclair was curious to know how I succeeded in convincing you to marry me.”
“Oh, I see…and did you tell her the truth—that it was I who struggled for months to convince you to marry me?”
“No… that I did not tell her,” Elizabeth replied as his dark gaze and mischievous smile caused her heart to race.
“Well, it is fortunate that I came just in time to extend to Lady Sinclair all the details she needs. Now, if you will excuse us, I wish to dance with Miss Bennet. In truth, I can hardly stay away from her for more than a few minutes.”
Darcy took Elizabeth’s arm and held it tightly.
She turned her head to meet his eyes and smiled at him.
He leaned his head and kissed her hands, then took her to the dance floor while Eve Sinclair, her pale face barely concealing the anger that twisted her usually beautiful features, left the house in haste.
Lady Brightmore, a glass of her finest port in hand, considered that she should host such parties at least once a month as this one proved to be most diverting.