Chapter 10 Elizabeth #2
That evening, Uncle Edward enthusiastically gave Mr Darcy permission to escort Elizabeth to events, and they decided to attend a musicale as a couple.
The event would be held the next evening, and Mr Darcy wrote to the hostess, Mrs Brummel, asking if a last-minute acceptance of her kind invitation would be convenient.
He sent the message with a footman, who waited for an answer and brought it back while Mr Darcy was still at the Gardiners.
Mrs Brummel’s reply was prompt and enthusiastic, and Elizabeth felt briefly worried that she would become a feature of the evening to those who loved to gossip.
But she shrugged, deciding that she did not truly care what complete strangers thought of her, and she did not think her suitor cared, either.
The next afternoon, the countess made a surprise appearance at Gracechurch Street, hours before the time when Mr Darcy had promised to arrive with his carriage.
With a wide smile, the countess said, “My nephew has relayed his delightful news, and I wished to ensure that Elizabeth—may I call you by that name, dear?”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
The countess said, “In private, I would wish you to call me Aunt Helen, although we should keep to the proprieties in public. At any rate, I wish to ensure that you will look the part you are playing. May I see the gown you will wear tonight?”
Elizabeth did not wish to be managed, and she had no intention of allowing even Mr Darcy’s kindly aunt to force a change on her, but she kept her composure and showed the countess her gown.
“This is beautiful,” the countess said, smoothing the Pomona-green silk and delicately touching the overlay of gold-and-silver embroidered silk net.
Aunt Maddie agreed. “Yes, the materials are first rate in quality, and with Madame Lanchester as modiste, no one will denigrate the gown.”
Aunt Helen said, “I have brought several headdresses, which remain in the carriage for now. I have a turban of gold, which will look lovely with this gown, and I have a bandeau that is a silvery grey, and it also will complement this gown. Both have ostrich feathers.”
“I shall not wear a headdress, Aunt Helen. And I shall certainly not wear ostrich feathers. I am short enough, when compared with Mr Darcy, that I should be a torturous means of making him sneeze if I were to wear such.”
Both of the aunts looked startled at her words—and perhaps at her very firm declaration—but then they looked at one another and started laughing.
It took several minutes for the countess to regain control, and she apologised.
“I have rarely in my life been set down so firmly by any lady, of any age, not even the crotchety Duchess of Claremont. But you are quite correct, my dear, the feathers would have been a disaster!”
Aunt Maddie had tears in her eyes from laughing so long.
She said to the countess, “I believe that your nephew values my niece’s determination to give her opinions.
I hope that does not bother you, my lady, because I believe she will always, always be this way.
However, she also tends to be correct in her opinions. ”
The countess waved her hand in the air and said, “Please, we are almost family now. No ‘my lady’ while in private or a family group. I shall be Helen to you, and I hope that I might call you Madeleine or Maddie?”
“Of course…Helen.”
Turning back to Elizabeth, the countess said, “I accept you do not wish to borrow the turban or the bandeau, and I absolutely apologise for my foolish ostrich-feather suggestion, but I presume you have some appropriate cap or hair ornament?”
Elizabeth said, “I intended to wear a single gold comb and to use green ribbons in my hair style.”
“That sounds delightful,” Aunt Helen said. “I brought jewellery you might borrow, if you have nothing appropriate.”
Again, Elizabeth firmly stated, “I wish to wear my own pearl-and-garnet necklace that my father gave to me. Its fittings are, like my comb, made of gold. I have always enjoyed the dark red acting as a contrast to green and yellow gowns—those are favourite colours for me, along with white and ivory.”
Aunt Maddie said, “It is a simple necklace, Helen, but Lizzy is quite young, and I believe it will look appropriate even at this event.”
Aunt Helen looked doubtful, and Elizabeth decided to speak her mind again.
“Aunt Helen, I dearly appreciate your efforts on my behalf, and I accept that you know far more about the circle of people I will see at tonight’s event.
However, I am not mercenary, and I would love Mr Darcy every bit as much were he a third son whose father and two elder brothers were healthy.
Indeed, I had no idea of his circumstances the evening I met him, but the way he spoke of sights he had seen and books he had read…
. I admit my heart was lost then, although of course my mind attempted to find evidence of his character.
Thankfully, I discovered that he is as good a person as he is a delightful conversationalist. Given the fact that this is not a courtship based on monetary considerations, I truly do not wish to borrow jewels or pretend that I am something I am not.
Of course, I should not dream of embarrassing him, but I believe that my own gown, my own jewellery, and my own hairstyle will not give him cause to repine. ”
She was relieved that the Countess agreed, although she asked if she could stay and see the final result.
Two hours later, Elizabeth presented herself to the countess. “I am ready for my inspection, madam,” she said with mirth in her voice.
Aunt Helen looked her up and down. Elizabeth could see that the countess approved but was still happy to hear her say, “You look simply beautiful, my dear.”
At that moment, the Gardiners’ housekeeper appeared and announced, “Mr Darcy.”
Elizabeth looked up to see her smiling suitor. She was surprised that his smile evaporated, and he gaped, his eyes flitting over her from head to toe and back again.
“Mr Darcy,” she said.
The other ladies greeted him as well, but his eyes were riveted on Elizabeth, and he seemed to struggle to speak. Finally, he said, “You—look utterly ravishing, Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you. You look very well, yourself, sir.”
With that, Mr Darcy seemed to recover his manners, and he bowed to Elizabeth and then tore his eyes away from her and bowed to the other ladies. He said, “Mrs Gardiner, Aunt Helen, you both look lovely. Are we to have one or both of you as chaperones this evening?”
Aunt Maddie said, “I am afraid I have plans, as does your aunt, Mr Darcy. I thought to send Becky with you.”
“Thank you, madam. Are you ready, Miss Bennet?”
“I am, thank you.” He held her cape for her and escorted her out the door and into his most luxurious carriage.
When they were seated on facing benches, with Becky next to Elizabeth, Mr Darcy leant forward and whispered, “I…I may have given you the impression that you look more beautiful than usual in your current finery. And I wish to say that you are every bit as stunning in more simple clothing; you are stunning in every dress or gown I have ever seen you wear, believe me. But somehow, seeing you in this gown gave me the thought that you might look thus on the day we shall marry, and suddenly I wished that we were marrying this very moment. The thought of you becoming, not only the queen of my heart, but also the mistress of my estates and the mother of my future children, caused me to forget to breathe.”
“And you now see fit to explain in a way that causes me to forget an important bodily function, as well?” Elizabeth teased breathlessly.
“I can almost not bear it, seeing you looking so lovely and not being able to….” He glanced at Becky and ceased speaking for the rest of the carriage ride.
Elizabeth allowed the silence to continue, for she too was experiencing feelings and wishes that were almost overwhelming. They were at the very beginning of their courtship; how could they already be thinking about its fulfilment?
To everything, there is a season, she reminded herself.