Chapter 7
“Mr Darcy has informed me everything is settled,” Mr Gardiner said. “He has arranged for you to marry at the Grosvenor Chapel, near his house on Park Lane.”
“Good news,” Elizabeth said, with a grip in her stomach.
She had hoped that in the days since the contract had been signed, she would have become accustomed to the idea of her marriage, but apparently it was the opposite.
However, there was only one path for her, and the destination was already established.
“Once the union is announced, you will likely receive invitations for all sorts of events — I am not sure whether Mr Darcy will accept them or whether he has already committed to some engagements already.”
“Whether he accepts invitations or not, you need to be prepared, my dear. There will be expectations of the new Mrs Darcy. You are in urgent need of wedding clothes. I shall make an appointment at the dressmaker tomorrow and insist upon the urgency,” Mrs Gardiner offered.
“Mr Darcy also asked whether you would like to visit his house, together with your aunt, and suggest any changes to your room. And he enquired whether you have your own maid or you would rather his housekeeper, Mrs Green, select one,” Mr Gardiner continued.
Elizabeth glanced from her uncle to her aunt, listening but hardly understanding.
“Mr Darcy is most considerate, but I do not think a visit is necessary. If I want any changes, I might see to them after we marry. As for the maid, tell him that I trust him and Mrs Green to assign someone to me. I am not fastidious, you know.”
“Lizzy dearest, I truly believe you should visit Mr Darcy’s house at least once before you marry,” Mrs Gardiner insisted.
“We shall accompany you, of course. You will not be alone. It would be helpful to meet Mrs Green and the other servants, and see the house, before your wedding. The day itself will be a busy and rather demanding one as it is.”
“I agree,” Mr Gardiner added. “We could take a ride in Hyde Park in the coming days, so you can become acquainted with the neighbourhood, then call on Mr Darcy briefly.”
The grip in her stomach tightened, and a lump in her throat kept Elizabeth silent and thoughtful for a few moments.
“Very well, we may do that. Perhaps the day after tomorrow? But please kindly ask Mr Darcy not to make it a formal event. It will be only a brief call.”
“Very well. However, you must consider that, once you are married, you will have to join Mr Darcy for dinner and breakfast daily. It is expected of the mistress.”
“Of course, Uncle. I did not even consider otherwise.”
“Good. I shall write to him now.”
“I hope few people will find out about our marriage in advance. I wish for a short ceremony, with only you in attendance. I am glad Papa decided not to come, though I would have loved to have Jane by my side.”
She spoke in earnest. She would be much more distressed and anxious if her stepmother and sisters were there; at least the Gardiners offered her calmness and comfort — and complete honesty in dealing with such a difficult situation.
The notion of visiting Mr Darcy’s house so soon was unsettling, and she hardly understood why it seemed such an imposition.
After all, as her aunt mentioned, it would be much more difficult for her to enter a completely unfamiliar place, full of strangers, immediately after the wedding.
Her response annoyed her as it seemed unreasonable.
She had signed a contract, most willingly, with her own conditions and based on her own demands; she had no intention of recanting, but as the date approached, her courage faded.
She had to find a way to raise her spirits, or at least to keep her composure and not make a complete fool of herself.
Later that morning, Mrs Gardiner confirmed the appointment with her dressmaker for the following day, and Elizabeth spent the remainder of the afternoon entertaining her young cousins.
The children were her means of fighting her own restlessness — one she had signed up for with her own hand.
But even with the children, she was not sheltered from her thoughts, as Mr Darcy arose in them often, for various reasons.
***
The next morning, after breakfast, it began to rain, and Elizabeth secretly hoped the visit to the dressmaker would be cancelled.
As unreasonable — and childish — as it might sound, she was in no disposition to be prodded and poked in and out of new clothes or talked into choosing patterns, colours, fabrics, and whatnot for a large part of the day.
The rain was hammering hard on the window panes when a surprise caller was announced.
Mr Darcy entered, together with a companion.
Elizabeth’s first impulse was to run to her room — another foolish response that made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
She composed herself and stood while her uncle and aunt hurried to greet the callers.
Even the children ran to them, crying out joyfully.
“Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet, please forgive my impromptu visit. I just came to inform you about the latest details and to introduce my cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam to Miss Bennet’s acquaintance.”
“You know you are always most welcome, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner replied warmly. “I am sure Elizabeth is as happy to see you as we are. And we are very pleased to see you again, Colonel.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth said, attempting a smile.
“Thank you. Miss Bennet, Colonel Fitzwilliam is the younger son of my uncle, the earl. Miss Bennet is the young lady to whom I have the honour of being engaged,” Mr Darcy explained.
“Miss Bennet, I confess it was I who insisted that Darcy introduce us. I was shocked when I heard just yesterday about his forthcoming marriage, and I admit I wondered about the reason for it. But after Darcy’s enthusiastic description of your character, and now that I have seen you in person, I can well understand him. ”
The colonel’s manners were open and engaging, his voice light and friendly, his smile large and warm, and Elizabeth could not help but smile at him in return.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Colonel. I am concerned that any praise you have heard from Mr Darcy is exaggerated and you might be disappointed.”
“I am sure that is not the case, Miss Bennet. Darcy can be rather fastidious, and as such he is more often sparing rather than too generous with his praise. I trust his description of you is accurate. Besides, were that not the case, he would certainly not have decided to finally marry — something we have all been awaiting for many years. He must be utterly enchanted, and I could not be happier to see that and to use the opportunity to tease him!”
The colonel spoke with obvious ease, half in jest, loudly, good-humouredly, while Elizabeth smiled, trying to remain calm while her cheeks burned. She glanced at Mr Darcy, who was watching the scene with a stern expression, then looked back at the colonel.
“We seem to have something in common, Colonel. I also enjoy teasing, but I have not tried it often on Mr Darcy yet. I shall practise once we are married.”
“A wise choice, Miss Bennet. Wait until after the wedding. Darcy dislikes being teased so much that he might call the engagement off for that reason.”
Elizabeth laughed, glancing at Mr Darcy again. “I dare say Mr Darcy would not break the engagement regardless, but I shall keep in mind your advice, Colonel.”
Mrs Gardiner invited them all to sit and offered the gentlemen refreshments, while the colonel continued to talk to Elizabeth.
“Mr Darcy, did you receive my note?” Mr Gardiner asked.
“I did. I am exceedingly pleased that you and Miss Bennet have decided to call at Darcy House tomorrow. I shall be delighted to welcome you.”
“Good, it is settled, then,” Mr Gardiner said.
“I might be there, too, if my presence is not undesirable,” the colonel said, proving he was also listening while making small talk with Elizabeth.
“Not at all,” Mr Darcy answered, casting a glance at Elizabeth as if to ask her opinion.
“I anticipate seeing the house, as well as you, of course, gentlemen,” she confirmed.
It was clear beyond any doubt that Mr Darcy had concealed the real reasons for their marriage from his cousin — very likely from his entire family.
If he had proclaimed love and affection induced their engagement, it would make her situation more difficult, as she would have to guard her behaviour and keep up a pretence in their presence.
When in public, she would have to pretend she was enamoured and to accept his overtures of affection — a task most daunting.
But in truth, he probably had no other choice, considering the gravity and secrecy of the true circumstances behind their union.
It was an unwritten part of their contract, certainly.
They should probably address the subject and make sure they were in agreement.
The gentlemen remained for more than an hour, and surprisingly, Elizabeth’s enjoyment made her quite forget her earlier gloom.
The colonel seemed well acquainted with Mr and Mrs Gardiner; furthermore, he seemed determined to like her, as the future wife of his cousin, and she found it easy to like him too.
As a cousin and friend, she hoped he would be a reliable support for Mr Darcy in handling any objections coming from the rest of his family and acquaintances.
For a moment, Elizabeth wondered what the colonel would think if he knew the truth, if he knew what a deeply disturbing situation Mr Darcy was in and what the nature and extent of her involvement was.
Considering the obvious close friendship between the cousins, it was another problematic matter, which she planned to discuss with Mr Darcy at the first opportunity.
They must carefully agree upon what to say and how to behave in order to avoid further difficulties.