Chapter 17
“Miss Bennet,” Lady Anne asked the following day during breakfast, “would you care to do a spot of shopping with us today? Georgiana has a few items she needs and I have some specific things I need to obtain before Lady Kavanagh’s ball next week.”
Elizabeth paled, “of course, my lady. I… well… however, I do not think I need much. But I will accompany you with pleasure.” She said and asked God to forgive her at the same time for the blunt lie she was telling.
She knew this would happen sooner or later but she had hoped it would be later.
But before they left for Bond Street, as Elizabeth readied herself, Lady Anne visited her in her bedchamber,
“Miss Bennet,” the lady said gently, “I know you are uncomfortable every time we talk about shopping. But may I speak with candour?”
Elizabeth nodded knowing exactly what was to come.
“Could this discomfort come from the fact that maybe your father could not afford to supply you with the amount funds you would have wished?”
Elizabeth looked down and tears immediately filled her eyes.
Lady Anne walked to her and holding her by the arm, led her to the settee by the fireplace, “Miss Bennet, may I call you Elizabeth?”
“Of course my lady, I was going to ask that you do.”
“Elizabeth, from the moment I met you, I loved you. I love how strong you were in the face of my son’s insult and how you refused to let him intimidate you any further.
I love how you braved Miss Bingley’s attacks with dignity, refusing to retreat, but also not succumbing to the same vitriol that lady displayed day in and day out. ”
“My lady,” Elizabeth interrupted, “I do not deserve such high praises, I was just as hurt by both your son and Miss Bingley’s insults as any other lady would have been under such mortifications.”
“I do know it and it is the very reason why I was so impressed with you. But I digress. What I really wish to say is, please allow me the satisfaction of showering you with the attention and affection that you deserve.” Lady Anne felt quite emotional as she held Elizabeth’s hand.
“Please do not withhold from me the delight I will have in dressing you as if you were my own daughter.” She discreetly touched her eyes.
“It will be a good practice for when Georgiana comes out.”
Elizabeth also dried her eyes, “well, what can I say?”
“Say yes… please.”
“I just… I do not wish to be a burden to Mr Darcy.”
“William has nothing to do with it; he is not the one who will be paying for my pleasure.” Lady Anne smirked, “to risk sounding a little arrogant like William, I am a rich woman in my own right; I did not become rich after marrying into the Darcy family, I brought my own fortune and I retained it.”
“Well, in that case, my lady, if you really wish to spend your precious money on somebody wholly unconnected with you and can guarantee that I will not be a burden, then I accept your generosity with my gratitude.”
Lady Anne’s face split into a beautiful smile, “I thank you my dear, and you have no notion of how happy you make me.”
Elizabeth kissed the lady on her cheek; she felt a new devotion to her new friend. Lady Anne was a very easy person to love and Elizabeth felt the full force of the privilege of being loved back by the lady, and of pleasing her, a woman worthy of being pleased.
“I am the one who is being benefited, my lady, so the gratitude is all mine.”
“It is entirely a matter of perspective my dear, therefore, from my point view the honour is all mine.”
Elizabeth smiled mischievously, “well then, let us not ruin it by fighting to see who is more grateful.”
“Agreed,” Lady Anne smiled and offered her hand and Elizabeth shook it sealing their understanding.
***
Mr Darcy had been right when he said that his mother and sister would dress her as if she was their new little doll.
She attempted to curb their enthusiasm but she did not wish to offend them.
And after all, she had given Lady Anne the freedom to bestow on her the lady’s generosity; she could not withdraw her permission now.
They spent the full day at Bond Street and ended it at Madame Jacqueline’s, the Darcy’s modiste and number one trendsetter for the Ton.
Lady Anne commissioned for Elizabeth four day dresses, four evening gowns and two ball gowns, as well as a new spencer, a pelisse, a riding habit and two shawls. With the first ball gown to be delivered before Lady Kavanagh’s ball a sennight away.
Elizabeth felt overwhelmed but schooled her expression to show the deep gratitude she felt.
She forced herself to curb her pride; after all, Lady Anne did not do it because she condemned Elizabeth’s country fashion, but because she wanted Elizabeth to fit in; to not stand out as the poor friend, left to be ridiculed by the unfeeling but better dressed ladies of the Ton.
That evening during dinner when Darcy predictably asked her if she had enjoyed the shopping spree her face went beet red,
“I… yes, it was very pleasant.”
“Elizabeth is the most obliging young lady, brother,” Georgiana said, “it was obvious that she would have preferred shopping for books instead, but she soldiered on obliging Mama and I in all we suggested.”
“Ah, in that case I think we ought to remedy that,” Darcy turned to her again, “I invite you and Georgiana to accompany me to Hatchard's tomorrow for an indulgence with the written word, Miss Bennet, what say you?” And he smiled that gorgeous dimpled smile, his charming signature shown only when he so pleased.
“You have found me out, Mr Darcy. That is a weakness that I have yet to conquer, for how can I say no to books sir?” Elizabeth smiled into his eyes and for a moment it seemed only the two of them were present in the dining room.
Lady Anne laughed, seemingly unaware of the charged air between the two young people,
“If I only had known that yesterday I would have added a bookshop or two during our shopping expedition.”
“You cannot have everything, madam,” her son feigned affront, “you must leave a little bit of Miss Bennet for me as well, after all I am disadvantaged with two to one against me.”
“In that case,” Lady Anne retorted, “I shall invite Emily, Brad, Richard and Duncan as soon as I can to even the field.”
Darcy twisted his nose feigning displeasure, “I beg you to do no such thing, for I am enjoying the attention of all the ladies without other gentlemen for competition.”
Georgiana and her mother laughed and Darcy smiled too, but for some odd reason he felt it had been more than a simple jest. His heart squeezed tight with the daunting idea of sharing Elizabeth with his more confident and handsome cousins.