Chapter 2.5 #3
“I am very pleased to see you. We arrived a little earlier. Lady Ellen does not enjoy throngs and disorder. She is already in our box with the other ladies in our party. My father and Thomas are greeting some acquaintances.”
The colonel politely pulled aside the thick curtain that covered the entrance to the box where Lady Matlock, Georgiana, Lady Beatrice, and four other ladies were carrying on a rather cold conversation.
Three of the ladies Elizabeth remembered seeing at Lady Matlock’s private ball; the fourth was a young girl of Georgiana’s age—Sophia.
Greetings were exchanged, and Lady Matlock invited Elizabeth to sit near her and her niece. Elizabeth thanked her aunt then embraced Georgiana affectionately.
Darcy took the chair right behind his wife then tenderly kissed his sister’s hands.
“My dear, you look lovely.”
“I am happy to see you, Brother; I missed you both so much.”
“We missed you too. I believe we should speak of your return home sometime soon,” Darcy whispered to Georgiana, whose eyes shone with delight.
“I think congratulations are in order for your marriage. It was very surprising to hear of your engagement and then of your rather hasty wedding, Mr Darcy. Quite unexpected.”
“I thank you, Lady Pemberton. It is true that our marriage might be considered surprising, but that makes it even more happy,” Darcy answered.
“Mrs Darcy, may I ask you how you met Mr Darcy? We are all curious. I understand it happened somewhere in the country?” asked Lady Marianne.
Elizabeth glanced at her husband, wondering how she should respond to such a daring question. She was uncertain how close friends the ladies were, and what tone was proper to use with them.
“It is hardly appropriate for a young lady with high education to ask such direct questions,” Lady Matlock intervened sternly. “And very appalling in gentlemen’s eyes, I assure you.”
“Lady Matlock is right, Marianne. You are not sufficiently acquainted with Mrs Darcy to make such an inquiry,” Lady Pemberton censured her daughter.
“I was only curious, Mama!”
“Indeed, I see no harm in such a question, and I am sure Mrs Darcy has nothing to hide from us.” Lady Beatrice entered the conversation, and Lady Matlock favoured her with a cold glance.
“I was taught that a young lady of genteel breeding must always know when to speak and what to say. I am proud to say that, although so young, Sophia’s manners are beyond reproach,” interjected the Countess of Wellford. “When she comes out, I am confident she will be much admired.”
“I can testify to this. And so will my niece Georgiana,” Lady Matlock added.
Sophia and Georgiana both blushed and thanked them for the praise, not daring to form a reply.
Elizabeth could hardly conceal her amusement. The conversation, which was first directed to her, turned into a fierce argument among the ladies in the group. It reminded her of discussions between her mother and Mrs Philips or Lady Lucas—and her smile widened.
“So—will we be allowed to ask Mrs Darcy any question at all? It would be awkward not to since we will spend an entire evening together. And I heard the first play is a silly comedy. I am sure I will not enjoy it at all.” Lady Beatrice’s question was addressed to no one in particular, but the three elder ladies threw her displeased looks.
“You might ask some, but naturally this will give Mrs Darcy the privilege of doing the same and inquiring about subjects of a personal nature too,” Lady Matlock concluded, and the countess approved.
Darcy followed the exchange carefully, tempted to intervene if his wife should be placed in an uncomfortable situation.
Then he reconsidered: Elizabeth’s expression, her eyebrow slightly raised and her lips twisted in a smile, showed him that she was perfectly capable of handling the situation by herself.
But again—she had showed him that long before, even when they were in Hertfordshire.
She was not the kind of woman who needed her husband’s continuous protection.
Her wit was as bright as her sparkling eyes, and he was as enchanted by her cleverness as he was by her beauty.
“Please ask me anything you wish,” Elizabeth replied.
“Although we are not closely acquainted, your familiarity with Lady Matlock—whose opinion I much value and admire—is enough reason for me not to mind any questions at all. Although, I might be unwilling to answer some of them. And yes, I met Mr Darcy in Hertfordshire in a small town called Meryton.”
“You live in that town Meryton? Is your father in trade?” Lady Marianne quickly inquired.
“My father is a gentleman; he owns a modest estate near Meryton. However, my uncle Mr Gardiner—who lives in London—is in trade, and I am proud to say he is very successful.”
She raised her chin forward with determined pride as she spoke about her family.
“One of the finest gentlemen I have met in a long time. Lord Matlock was quite impressed by Mr Gardiner’s knowledge in business.
As for Mrs Darcy’s father, I have rarely met anyone with a more profound love for books and understanding of literature.
In this, I dare say Mrs Darcy resembles him.
” Colonel Fitzwilliam settled things without any doubt left regarding the Bennet family.
A short pause followed, and then Lady Pemberton addressed Darcy.
“You must understand our curiosity—we had come to believe that you would never marry since, for several years, you showed little interest in the social events in Town. Then we suddenly heard news that you are engaged and now already wedded. Many people wondered how Mrs Darcy managed to persuade you.”
“I hope your curiosity will soon pass, Lady Pemberton; please believe me, there is nothing worth your preoccupation. And it was not Mrs Darcy who persuaded me, but the other way around. She quickly engaged my heart and my mind—and I saw no reason to waste any time in beginning to share my life with her. That would be all.”
He noticed Elizabeth’s bright eyes watching him, and their smiles spoke to each other. Silence fell over the group, quite strange among all the other crowded and noisy boxes.
Then Lady Beatrice turned to Elizabeth again.
“Mrs Darcy, have you ever been to the theatre before? Do you know the subject of the play that will be performed tonight?”
Georgiana turned pale at such an offence and Lady Matlock’s cheeks coloured discreetly. Darcy’s expression darkened, but Elizabeth smiled as charmingly as she used to do with Caroline Bingley.
“Yes, I have been to the theatre many times. It was our favourite way of spending the evenings with my uncle and aunt. And Hamlet is one of my preferred plays.”
“Oh, I see…well, this time, you will surely see the performance much better. I am sure your uncle does not own a box.”
“Oh, one cannot attend a spectacle if one does not own a box,” Lady Marianne said animatedly. “I wonder if those people”—she pointed toward the balcony and the stalls, where the majority of the spectators were crowded—“can see anything at all.”
“Well, I doubt they understand much, anyway,” Lady Beatrice added.
Elizabeth breathed deeply to keep her control.
“No, my uncle does not own a box, and we used to purchase tickets as close to the stage as possible. But I assure you there is no reason for concern; the view is reasonably good from everywhere, especially if there is a true love of theatre. And I am confident that people who need to pay for the tickets out of their limited incomes are doing it precisely because they understand the spectacle and love it.”
“Mrs Darcy possesses an impressive knowledge of literature and theatre—and much more. I am sure she will be happy to expound on any subject with you during the intervals. I confess she put me in a difficulty with her judgement more than once, but I am happy and proud to face such a challenge,” Darcy said, kissing his wife’s hand.
Many pairs of eyes stared at such an intimate gesture, and both Lady Beatrice and Lady Marianne remained pale and silent.
“I doubt Elizabeth will have a female partner to debate tonight on any subject besides lace, bonnets, and reticules. And perhaps the latest gossip in town,” Lady Matlock concluded sharply.
That moment, the curtain was pulled aside, and the viscount and Lord Matlock entered together with the Earl of Wellford and Lord Pemberton.
A new round of introductions was performed, then the first play of the evening began and the party remained in their seats.