Chapter 17 Wednesday, You Dreadful Day
Wednesday, You Dreadful Day
“This will not do.” Elizabeth threw a pink gown onto the bed, on top of the pile of gowns already there.
“What about the green? It brings out the flecks in your eyes,” suggested Jane.
“It is two years old and has been laundered more times than I care to think about. It is a favorite, but I do not think it appropriate for meeting a countess.”
“I am sure we will think of something. Aunt is only a little taller than you. She has said you may borrow one of her gowns.”
“I had not wanted to do so, but it may be necessary. Oh, why must you be so tall and elegant so that I cannot share in your new gowns!”
They laughed together. Jane had ordered several new things when she came to Town, as they usually did.
Part of Mr. Gardiner’s import business included fabric, and he was a source of quality cloth the Bennets were happy to take full advantage of.
Jane would look lovely at dinner in her new blue silk evening gown, but Elizabeth was the one on trial, and she was no closer to finding something suitable than she had been a half hour ago when they began their search.
Just then, Mrs. Gardiner came bustling into the room. “Girls! You will never believe my good luck!”
“What has happened?” asked Jane.
“I stopped in at Madame Claudine’s to pick up my new dress this morning, and look what I found!”
The maid behind her held up an elegant evening gown in a soft yellow, tiny crystal beads sewn onto the bodice.
“Aunt, did you have this made?”
“No, and that is the lucky part! As I was trying on my gown, Madame told me about a young lady who had had a new wardrobe made up for the Season, then at the last moment, the lady decided not to come to Town, and not to pick up her order. Madame was terribly put out, as you can imagine, and I could not help but notice that the gowns looked very near to Lizzy’s size.
She compared the measurements and you are surprisingly similar.
With a tiny bit of adjustment, this gown will fit as if it were made for you. ”
“Aunt, you didn’t!”
“I most certainly did! No niece of mine will go into an earl’s house feeling underdressed. I am not married to the best fabric supplier in London for nothing.”
Elizabeth could not help but be relieved as she touched the delicate silk of the gown.
It truly was perfect. The style and cut were those she favored, and the color would be flattering on her.
She had not liked to think of it, but she was nervous about meeting Mr. Darcy’s family.
His sister was easily the most important person in the world to him, even more than herself, and she knew he took his duty to his family very seriously.
She would not like to fail such an important test.
“Aunt, you have saved me!”
“Say that after you have tried it on.”
In short order, Elizabeth was taken out of her day dress and had slipped into the new gown. “I am afraid to move for fear of breaking such a delicate concoction. It is lovely.”
She twisted slowly in the mirror, looking at the intricate bead work around the neckline, and the way the back fell slightly longer than the front, almost but not quite a train.
“It fits beautifully! A tiny tuck in the bodice and it will be perfect.”
Elizabeth was more active than her sisters, and thus had always been a fraction slighter. She was also less well-endowed with womanly curves than Jane and Lydia. Only Kitty had a similar figure to hers, and their tastes were so different that they rarely shared clothes.
Mrs. Gardiner’s maid marked the dress where it required a tuck, and Elizabeth gladly handed it over to her. She promised to have it ready in plenty of time to dress for dinner.
“I am so glad you like it, for I have something else to tell you.”
She led her nieces to her dressing room.
“Oh, Aunt! You didn’t!”
Mrs. Gardiner laughed delightedly. “I did! The entire wardrobe cost barely more than a few gowns. Madame was eager to be rid of it, and you know she owes me a favor. I told her we would take it all if you liked it. Oh, do not make that face, Lizzy! Your father sent your uncle funds for new gowns, and this was barely more. It is not every day one is courted by Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.”
Elizabeth was wavering. She hated to think of her aunt spending so much on her, but if the clothes had truly been inexpensive, and her father had sent money for them, she could not complain.
And how lucky to find gowns already made up!
They had found a similar gown for Jane once several years ago, and it had felt like winning a thousand lottery tickets.
“Very well, Aunt, I accept.”
Mrs. Gardiner squealed, though she would never admit to such an unladylike sound, and they began sorting through the clothing hanging in the dressing room.
There were ballgowns, dinner gowns, and two more ornate gowns suitable for the theater.
There were several walking dresses and those suited for morning calls.
There were matching reticules, spencers, and a long pair of elegant gloves that fit perfectly.
There was a cloak lined with soft satin, and more bonnets than she could count.
“I did not know Madame made bonnets,” said Jane.
“She does not make them, but she adorns the forms the milliner sends her.”
There were stockings, and stays and chemises, and a dressing gown so beautiful and soft that Elizabeth could not stop running her hand over it.
“Lizzy, this is …” Jane could not find the words to continue her sentence.
“I know, Jane. I cannot believe it myself. But I am so very relieved. Mr. Darcy is always so well put together. I would not like to appear dowdy beside him.”
“You could never look dowdy.”
Elizabeth gave her sister a look and Jane could not help but laugh. “Well, no one will dare call you dowdy now.”
“No, they certainly shall not.”
Elizabeth ran her hand along another gown and wondered how she would feel, adorned in such finery every day. Rather like she would feel as Mrs. Darcy, she imagined. What a wild thought!
The gown was ready in time for dinner, just as the maid had promised.
Elizabeth was bathed, dressed, and coiffed with an attention for detail she had thought only to see on her wedding day.
She had never been more well put-together, and the reflection in the mirror went some way to dispelling her nerves.
Mr. Darcy was in the drawing room when she entered with Jane and her aunt, and she had the pleasure of seeing him slack-jawed and wide-eyed for a full two minutes before he said anything.
Jane and Mrs. Gardiner shared knowing smiles.
Elizabeth could only blush and look to the floor, then thank Mr. Darcy for his compliment.
At least, she thought it was a compliment.
His voice sounded rather choked and his words were not entirely clear, but she felt that he was pleased by her appearance.
Soon they were in the carriage and on the way to Lady Hopewell’s townhome.
“Might you tell us a little about your family, Mr. Darcy?” asked Mrs. Gardiner as the carriage trundled through London.
“Of course. Lady Hopewell is my father’s younger sister.”
“Oh! I had thought we were going to the home of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s parents,” interjected Elizabeth.
“I apologize for the confusion. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s father is Lord Blackburn. He was my mother’s elder brother.”
“Is he older or younger than Lady Catherine?” asked Elizabeth.
“Lady Catherine is four years his junior. My mother was the second in her family.”
“I see.” Though she did not. Lady Catherine was terribly bossy for someone who had no younger brothers or sisters to order about.
Or perhaps that was why she was so determined to direct her environment now?
Elizabeth faced the window to hide her smile at the thought of Lady Catherine as a frustrated eight-year-old, desperately trying to get her elder brother and sister to listen to her.
“Lady Hopewell was my father’s second younger sister.
He was the eldest in his family. Next is my aunt Helen Brigsby.
She lives in Somerset with her husband—I do not know when we shall see her next.
Then my aunt Lady Hopewell whom we shall see tonight.
She is often in Town and is fond of entertaining.
My father had a younger brother who joined the Navy.
He moved to Upper Canada with his prize money when I was still at Eton and I have not seen him since. ”
“How adventurous! I had not realized the Darcy family was so large,” said Mrs. Gardiner.
“We are not overly so. My aunts each only have two children, and it has been so long since I heard from my uncle Darcy that I cannot be certain he is even still alive, but last I heard he had three children.”
“He does not write to you?” asked Elizabeth.
“He occasionally sends a letter, but I have not received one in at least three years now. His children were much younger than me, so I had not thought to write to them directly, though you make me think now I should.” He smiled at Elizabeth in the darkened carriage, and she returned it, wondering if they would ever make the journey to Canada to see his family. How exciting it would be!
“Will your aunt have any other family in attendance this evening?” asked Mrs. Gardiner.
“I am not certain of the entire guest list, but she assured me it would be only family. My uncle, Lord Hopewell, will likely be there, though he is so active with Parliament that he is often out.”
Elizabeth raised her brows at this. What sort of uncle would not wish to meet the woman his nephew was hoping to marry?
“My cousin Albert, Lord Winters, may make an appearance, though it is likely he will not remain for the evening. He is my aunt’s only son. Her daughter Clara should be there. She is entering her third season. Now that I think of it, you are likely of an age,” he said, looking to Elizabeth.
“Then perhaps we shall be friends,” she replied happily.