Chapter 12
The first night of Elizabeth’s marriage was more restful than she had expected. She rose early enough so that she and Mr Darcy had a quick and rather silent breakfast, with only a few pleasantries exchanged and a quick summary of the day.
“I do not believe your signature will be needed for the money,” he said in a low voice. “But it depends on how the settlement was made.”
“Should I come with you?”
“No, your uncle will accompany me, and if you are needed, I shall send word to inform you about the next steps. In the afternoon, Mr Bingley will call on us with his sisters.”
“Yes, you told me. I shall be ready for their visit by the time you return. As for Lady Matlock’s invitation, I would be happy to accept it.”
“Excellent. I am not accustomed to this sort of thing, as my aunt took upon herself Georgiana’s education on the matter, but I think you will need some gowns. Perhaps you could ask Lady Matlock to recommend a dressmaker? Someone close to this neighbourhood?”
“You should not take so much trouble with me. You have enough on your mind,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “I shall ask my aunt to help me find a good one.”
“I just wish for you to feel comfortable in your new life. I am in your debt.”
“I am more comfortable than I expected, I assure you.”
After breakfast, Mr Darcy left. Elizabeth went to look for Mrs Green, and together they spoke to as many of the other servants as possible.
At Elizabeth’s request, the housekeeper spent some time answering questions about the general running of the household, and they discussed the forthcoming dinner for her family and possibly Darcy’s friends.
She then retraced part of the tour she had taken with Mr Darcy the previous evening, lingering for some time in the library, which, she was hardly surprised to find, was now her favourite room in the house; then she wrote to Jane and to Mrs Gardiner.
From her window, there was a clear view over Hyde Park, and she felt herself longing for a walk.
She could not ask Mr Darcy to accompany her — he certainly had more important engagements.
The park seemed so close that she could probably go by herself or take her maid as companion.
Maybe another day, but soon, she promised herself.
In the afternoon, Mr Darcy returned and informed Elizabeth that all was settled with Mr Gardiner and her solicitors. In less than a week, the amount of thirty thousand pounds would be at his disposal.
Elizabeth expected he would be more relaxed and calmer after the matter was resolved, but he appeared to still be distressed and preoccupied.
As tempted as she was to do so, she resisted the impulse to speak about that delicate subject.
But in any case, they did not have much time for conversation, as Mr Bingley arrived with his two sisters and his brother-in-law.
Mrs Louisa Hurst and her husband, as well as Miss Caroline Bingley, were introduced, and Elizabeth immediately observed their disapproving scrutiny and their exchanged glances. She needed a little while to remember she was the host and to ring to ask for tea.
While waiting for refreshments, she took the time to study the visitors.
Mr Bingley was young, younger than Mr Darcy by several years, with pleasant features and amiable manners.
She had met him the day before but had found little time to consider him.
He seemed desirous to please and often asked for Mr Darcy’s opinion or approval.
His sisters were handsome women, fashionably dressed, with an elegant if studied bearing, marred by an air of superiority; only a few words were enough to prove they were also captious and arrogant.
“So, Mrs Darcy, I hear your uncle is in trade?”
“He is a solicitor. I believe Mr Darcy is better acquainted with my uncle’s business.”
“Yes, Mr Gardiner is an excellent solicitor but also has a good head for business — just like your father did, Miss Bingley,” Mr Darcy answered.
“Mrs Darcy, did I hear your father owns an estate in Hertfordshire?” Mr Bingley enquired.
“Indeed, sir.”
“What a remarkable coincidence! I was about to let an estate in Hertfordshire — a place named Netherfield — but Darcy did not have the time to come and see it. I hesitated to seal the deal without his opinion and agreement.”
“Netherfield? The house is only three miles from Longbourn — our family estate,” Elizabeth said. “That is quite a coincidence.”
“I am glad you did not let the estate, Charles. Country living is so dull, the society so tiresome, and the activities so limited!” Miss Bingley said, while her sister bobbed her feathered turban in approval.
“Netherfield is a lovely place. I am certain Mr Bingley would have liked it,” Elizabeth replied, trying to keep a polite tone.
“And the society, while it cannot compare to London, is pleasant enough if one is not too fastidious. For someone whose expectations are too high, I imagine any society might be tiresome at times.”
“Caroline complains about country living, yet she greatly anticipates going to Pemberley every summer,” Mr Bingley said with a laugh, shaking his head.
“Charles, do not be ridiculous,” Miss Bingley responded sternly. “You cannot compare Pemberley with any other estate. If you intended to let a property like Pemberley, I would certainly not oppose it.”
“I could never afford to let something like Pemberley, and even if I did, I would not know what to do with it. I know what I am capable of, and I am certainly not Darcy. Besides, we do not know, Netherfield could be similar to Pemberley, and we have missed an opportunity,” joked Mr Bingley, and Elizabeth appreciated his good humour more than the dour expressions on his sisters’ faces.
“I dare say you are perfectly agreeable being yourself, Mr Bingley,” Elizabeth declared, smiling.
“You are very kind, Mrs Darcy,” the young gentleman said.
“Bingley has wished to let an estate for quite some time,” Mr Darcy intervened. “Since Netherfield is so close to your family, Mr Gardiner might have some knowledge of it. I shall ask him, in case it is still vacant.”
“Excellent!” Mr Bingley answered enthusiastically.
“Since you are all here,” Mr Darcy continued, “we apologise for the informal notice, but Mrs Darcy and I shall host a dinner in ten days’ time, and we would be delighted if you could attend.
We have not sent the invitations out yet as it has only just been decided.
Still, we wanted to invite you as soon as possible.
If you do not have any other engagements, of course. ”
“I shall certainly attend, and with pleasure. Thank you, Mrs Darcy, Darcy,” Mr Bingley replied pleasantly.
“We do not have any other fixed engagements,” Mrs Hurst added, after exchanging a few questioning glances with her husband — who seemed to suddenly show an interest — and her sister.
“Mr Darcy, how is dear Georgiana?” Miss Bingley asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“She is well,” he replied sternly.
“We were shocked when we heard she married so suddenly! She is so young yet so accomplished! There were no announcements in the newspapers, were there?”
“There were not,” Mr Darcy answered. Elizabeth observed his cold expression and wondered why Miss Bingley would persist in such enquiries.
“I only heard the news yesterday, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Hurst tittered. “You seem to keep all the engagements in your family a secret.”
“Darcy is a private man — you should know that by now,” Mr Bingley said.
“Did your family not attend your wedding, Mrs Darcy?” Miss Bingley asked.
“No,” she answered, trying to keep her smile. “My father never travels in winter if he can avoid it. But my eldest sister will come to town soon.”
“The whole of London was shocked by Mr Darcy’s marriage, especially since you were from outside our circle,” Miss Bingley challenged.
“Elizabeth was inside my circle, and since I was the one marrying her, that should be enough,” Mr Darcy said. “As for the whole of London, I hope they have recovered from their shock by now.”
Elizabeth was as annoyed by the Bingley sisters’ manners as she was pleased by Mr Bingley’s.
A quick look was enough for her to realise Mr Darcy’s feelings were similar to her own.
She smiled as she considered that if all the ladies around Mr Darcy resembled Caroline Bingley, it was no wonder he preferred to marry a stranger.
While the visit lasted longer than a typical social call, she was relieved when the guests left long before dinner time.
“I am very sorry you had to bear Bingley’s sisters’ rudeness,” Mr Darcy said when they were alone. “I try to tolerate them because Bingley is a good friend and an amiable fellow.”
“I am sorry you had to bear them for so long,” she teased. “I assume Miss Bingley is one of the ladies who would have liked to marry you.”
He sighed. “One of the most annoying ladies, for certain. If not for my friendship with Bingley, I would never tolerate his sisters anywhere near me. You, however, are not obliged to show them any more politeness than they deserve.”
“I shall keep that in mind, sir.”
***
By the end of the first week of their marriage, the Darcys’ relationship was one of distant friendship. They shared breakfast and dinner, as well as brief conversations, and for the rest of the day, each attended to their own duties and occupied themselves in different ways.