Chapter 2.20 #2
Sitting in a corner, a glass of brandy in his hand, Darcy admired his wife’s beautiful smile while he marvelled at the twist of fate that brought together Lord and Lady Matlock and Anne de Bourgh with the Bennet family of Hertfordshire and their relatives from Cheapside, all happily reunited at Pemberley.
That was the description of happiness for him.
∞∞∞
Mr Martin, the owner of Lambton’s clothing shop, was shocked to see Lady Matlock—together with another lady and two young girls—enter his store one morning. He bowed deeply, struggling to regain his composure.
“Lady Matlock, what an extraordinary surprise! I have not seen your ladyship in Lambton in more than six years. You are very welcome.”
“Mr Martin, I am glad to see you in such good health and with such an excellent memory.”
“May I help your ladyship in any way?”
“Actually, you may, sir. I understood from Mrs Darcy that you have extended your business lately.”
“If you are referring to the new seamstresses, indeed I have, ma’am.”
“I believe it was an excellent idea—this neighbourhood needed such service. I have come to order a few outfits. Is it possible? I warn you my requests are not simple.”
“Yes, of course it is, ma’am. Anything for you. Let me fetch Maud. It will only take a moment.”
Maud soon appeared, and she paled instantly on seeing Lady Matlock. Behind her was an older lady—her mother.
“Your ladyship, allow me to introduce to you Maud Lovell and her mother, Mrs Jenny Lovell.”
Lady Matlock nodded in a small gesture of acknowledgement.
“Miss Lovell, Mrs Lovell, I am pleased to meet you both. I was curious to see Mr Martin’s new partners, especially since my niece Mrs Darcy was very content with your services.”
“It is an honour to meet you, Lady Matlock,” Maud eventually answered, barely holding the lady’s intense look.
“I hope you have adapted well to Derbyshire. You were from Oxfordshire, I understand?”
“Indeed, ma’am,” Mrs Lovell answered.
“You have worked in Paris, I heard? For how long?”
“Yes, your ladyship. For almost four years.”
“Do you know how to make any type of gown?”
“I am trying, ma’am. Mrs Darcy was pleased with the dresses we made for her.”
“I was informed about that too. I wish to place several orders, starting with proper riding costumes for these young ladies. Let me tell you exactly what I have in mind.”
After a long discussion filled with many requests and specific deadlines, Lady Matlock and her companions left the store.
Several hours later, three additional orders were registered for Maud and her mother—and two other customers were waiting to be served.
∞∞∞
The people gathered at Pemberley were as varied in character and preferences as they were similar in amiability and mutual respect. Shared tastes brought people together in small groups and allowed everyone the pleasure of choosing their company.
The gentlemen amused themselves either in the library or on riding or fishing parties—except Mr Bennet, who rarely left the house and only after the united insistence of all four daughters.
The ladies found great enjoyment in conversation, walking, riding, and music. Anne de Bourgh slowly accommodated to her new and old acquaintances; her complexion improved, and her manners became shyly engaging.
Darcy, Bingley, and the colonel often split their time between the gentlemen’s group and the ladies’.
Darcy and Bingley claimed every occasion to be close to their wives, providing many opportunities for mockery by the other gentlemen.
Mr Gardiner mostly kept a wise moderation, avoiding any risk of displeasing his wife.
Darcy was careful to inquire about Elizabeth’s state several times a day in brief, private interludes that—they were certain—nobody would notice. They were rather eager to inform their relatives about the happiest of news but also enjoyed keeping the small secret just for themselves.
Two evenings before the ball, as everyone enjoyed drinks after dinner, the colonel suggested they go fishing in the stream at a spot situated rather far from the house.
“We may either ride or take the carriages. It is less than an hour at a steady pace. It will be worth the effort; the place is lovely and rich with trout. There is also a small waterfall. I am sure the children will enjoy that too. It will make a nice memory for everyone.”
“The place is lovely indeed,” Darcy answered. “However, we should consider that it is quite far away and the weather is very warm. It might be tiresome—especially for the ladies and the children.”
“Yes, but there are trees and shade to protect us from the heat. And we will surely take food and drink with us,” the colonel insisted.
“I would like to go,” Georgiana said, and immediately Kitty, Mary, Jane, and Bingley supported her.
“I would not oppose it, either,” Mrs Gardiner agreed. “I am certain the children will be delighted.”
“I would also like to join you,” Miss de Bourgh added.
“Then it is settled—we will all go.” Elizabeth smiled. “William already took me to see the waterfall, and I can testify that the colonel was correct in his praise.
“I am certain it will be a lovely day for you young people. Of course, one cannot expect that I will spend a full day outside wandering through the woods and streams, regardless of the weather,” Lady Matlock pointed out.
The earl also declined. “I am confident that I saw that place some years ago, so I would rather stay home with a book and a glass of wine. Mr Bennet, you will keep me company, I suppose?”
“I will, sir, without a doubt.”
“I will stay and rest too. And I still need to finish my second letter to my sister Philips. My nerves would not bear an hour-long ride in the middle of the summer,” Mrs Bennet said.
Darcy took his wife’s hand. “My dear, I am thinking that you should stay home too. You have already seen the place, and perhaps your presence will be needed here. There must be things to be done for tomorrow night’s ball.”
Elizabeth looked at him in disbelief. “Surely, you are joking. Why would I stay home? All the arrangements for the ball are complete.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment; then Darcy lightened his tone. “Perhaps we should discuss this later,” he whispered. “Now, may we have some music, please?”
The awkward moment had almost passed when suddenly Mrs Bennet turned to her daughter and said animatedly, “Lizzy, Mr Darcy is right: you should stay home. I know you always had a wild inclination and liked to roam the fields. But in your present condition, you must be careful. A lady in such a state should mostly keep to her bed to assure her safety.”
Darcy’s jaw dropped, and Elizabeth’s face coloured instantly. They exchanged astonished glances then looked around at their relatives, who all wore serene expressions. The young, unmarried ladies kept their eyes on the floor.
“Mama, what do you mean? What condition?”
“Your condition of being with child, of course. You must be very careful, my dear. I stayed in bed must of the time with you five girls. My nerves and weakness did not allow me to do hardly anything; however, my situation cannot be compared in any way to yours. You are carrying the heir to Pemberley—just look around. You girls were hardly that important, so you must take extra care.”
All eyes turned to Mrs Bennet at such a statement, but she remained untouched. Elizabeth was completely shocked, struggling to speak further.
“But, Mama, how did you know?”
“How? It is quite obvious. Everybody could see that. Now, Kitty dear, will you bring me another cup of tea?”
Mrs Bennet’s calmness and the others’ apparent knowledge of what they thought they kept secret disconcerted both Elizabeth and Darcy. They glanced at each other again and then at their relatives in a state of growing distraction.
“Lizzy my dear, is anything wrong?” Mrs Gardiner inquired with worry.
“No…I was only surprised. We planned to give you all the news at the ball. Was it so easy to notice?”
“It was easy enough,” Mrs Gardiner answered, embracing her. “Please do not distress yourself. We are all happy for you.”
“We did not say anything since you did not bring up the subject,” Jane added. “I hope you do not mind, but Mama is right. You should be careful.”
“Oh, you wished to keep it a secret?” Mrs Bennet asked, surprised and puzzled.
“Why would you do that? I planned to write to my sister Philips right away. I told Lady Lucas that you would be with child before Charlotte although she married sooner. Surely, one cannot imagine that Mr Collins could compare with Mr Darcy.”
“Mama!” cried Elizabeth, flushing with shame while the others averted their eyes, uncertain how to react to such a statement.
“Oh, do not be so missish, Lizzy. Everybody knows I am right. You should be happy. If you only give Mr Darcy a boy, he will be happy too.”
“Mrs Bennet, I assure you that we will be happy whether it is a boy or a girl,” Darcy said, still astounded by the turn of the conversation.
“Well, if there are no further secrets to be revealed, perhaps some music would be in order,” Mr Bennet intervened wisely.
Georgiana quickly headed to the piano, followed by Mary who turned the pages for her.
While everybody enjoyed the beautiful music, Mrs Gardiner and Jane sat next to Elizabeth, trying to calm her distress.
Darcy filled a glass with brandy and retired to a corner, joined by his cousin and uncle.
“Well, one thing is beyond a doubt with your mother-in-law: you never know when and what to expect,” Lord Matlock said. “She is quite the mistress of improper conversation.”
“Surely, she does not surpass Lady Catherine,” the colonel intervened.
“True,” the earl admitted after a brief hesitation. “I pray they are never together in the same room.”
The colonel patted Darcy’s shoulder. “I am sorry that your surprise was ruined, but we noticed the changes quite soon after we arrived. Elizabeth looks a little different—in a most enchanting way. You were always whispering to her, helping her do the smallest things. There were quite a lot of clues.”