Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
The dinner at Darcy House was a delightful affair despite the different social statuses of the guests, and the conversation was lively and intelligent as their families became better acquainted.
After dinner, during the separation of the sexes, the gentlemen discussed their business interests in sufficient detail that Lord Matlock and Darcy were considering investing with Gardiner.
Gardiner shared that he lived near Cheapside to make spending time with his family easier, and he was considering purchasing an estate in the next few years.
Darcy offered to assist in selecting an estate and running it once purchased.
He made his offer hesitantly, not wishing to offend but genuinely wishing to be of service, and Gardiner accepted it in the spirit intended and thanked him for it.
They rejoined the ladies and found Elizabeth and Georgiana entertaining the rest with a duet.
It was late when the families separated, and Darcy and Elizabeth retired. They spent the remainder of the weekend secluded in their chambers, although they did attend Sunday services. Recognising their relative isolation would end on Monday, they relished these last few days of their honeymoon.
Monday morning found Elizabeth and William once again at Matlock House, where they were invited to join the family for breakfast. Over breakfast, plans for the day and the ball were discussed.
“Darcy, come with me to my club this morning,” Lord Matlock insisted.
“I have been receiving congratulations on your behalf for the last two weeks; it is time you hear them. There were a number of bets on who you would finally marry and when you would take a bride, and there has been much gnashing of teeth over the losses. I believe several other bets will be lost and won after the ball on Friday night.” Matlock laughed at this, remembering some of the comments he heard regarding Darcy’s marriage to an unknown country miss.
Darcy scowled. “I can only imagine,” he stated dryly. “I dare say at least one fool made or lost a fortune on some such foolish wager.”
“Likely,” Colonel Fitzwilliam teased. “I made several hundred pounds off your marriage on a bet I placed years ago.”
“You bet on who or when I would marry?” Darcy asked, incredulous.
“Well,” the colonel hedged. “It was a stupid bet I made when we were at university. I wagered three hundred pounds that you would marry before thirty years of age, and my winnings increased for every year you were younger than thirty when you married. Since you are twenty-seven, I received nine hundred pounds.”
Darcy looked angry, but Elizabeth rolled her eyes and touched his arm. “It was foolish, yes, but it does not affect you in any real way.”
He scowled at the colonel as he spoke to his wife. “I hate being the subject of wagers, especially by someone in my own family.”
Elizabeth squeezed his arm, and he calmed, although he was still obviously frustrated with his cousin, and she imagined there would be further conversation on the topic.
Darcy hated being gossiped about and was aggravated by his cousin’s wager even as he realised that far worse bets had likely been placed about him, and it was foolish to remain angry over a bet made years ago.
Darcy was aware that some ridiculous rumours circulated about him, fueled by his rather rigid moral stance and his refusal to partake in the immoral habits of many members of the ton.
In university, he held himself aloof and did not participate in the drinking and debauchery of many of his peers, particularly avoiding association with Wickham, who was sponsored by his father.
Likewise, Darcy ensconced himself at Pemberley shortly after he graduated from Cambridge when his father fell ill and died, and he suddenly found himself responsible for the Darcy properties and investments.
Only when his aunt insisted did he participate in the season; he assiduously avoided bestowing any notice on the many sisters and daughters paraded before him and rarely lasted longer than a month or two in the social whirlwind that he so despised before he retreated to Pemberley.
Darcy led Elizabeth into a private room to receive a moment of comfort from his wife before he accompanied Lord Matlock to his club. His aunt glared at him, but since Elizabeth’s appearance was just as it had been, she had no real reason to complain.
The first callers arrived at Matlock House shortly after the gentlemen left. Lady Matlock prepared Elizabeth for those expected to visit that morning, and most of the calls proceeded regularly, although one or two were rather memorable.
Lady Jersey, a good friend of Lady Matlock’s and a patroness of Almacks, had been rude, asking intrusive questions. Elizabeth was convinced the visit had begun badly.
“I understand you are the second of five daughters, Mrs Darcy,” Lady Jersey began. “And all brought up at home?”
“Yes, my Lady,” Elizabeth answered.
“I have heard that you had no governess,” she said next.
“No, my Lady, my mother did not feel such a person was necessary.”
“I can hardly credit it. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education,” the lady countered.
“Not at all. We were given the freedom to learn and read as much as we wished, and masters were brought in to educate those who wanted it,” Elizabeth responded.
“That is quite singular,” Lady Jersey responded. “Yet you seem well-spoken and educated, and I cannot imagine Fitzwilliam Darcy willingly marrying a stupid woman.”
“He did not, my lady. My father opened his library to me, and we discussed and debated what I read there. I was also trained in music and in French and Latin, as well as taught to manage our home and our estate,” Elizabeth explained.
“Those are unusual accomplishments for a girl,” the lady responded.
“I do not doubt that, but as Mr Darcy believes a woman’s most important accomplishment is improving her mind by extensive reading, I believe my accomplishments suit my husband, which matters most to me,” Elizabeth responded somewhat pertly.
At that, Lady Jersey laughed. “I do believe you will do well, Mrs Darcy. You will no doubt be asked even more impertinent questions, and if your new aunt has not already informed you, you will be judged severely for winning one of the most eligible bachelors of the ton. You are lovely, my dear, and your wit will serve you well. Helen and I wondered if Darcy would ever find a woman truly worthy of him, and I believe you are the rare one that will suit him very well. I offer you my most sincere congratulations on your marriage.”
Elizabeth was surprised but realised the rapid-fire questions had been a means of testing her mettle and seeing how she would respond.
Apparently, she passed the test, and the three enjoyed a pleasant conversation for another ten minutes before the next caller arrived, and Lady Jersey took her leave with a broad smile.
After a steady stream of visitors, Lady Matlock and Mrs Darcy were surprised when the butler announced, “Mrs Hurst, Miss Bingley.” Mrs Darcy shot a shocked look at her new aunt, who smiled slightly.
“We have come to wish you joy, Mrs Darcy,” Mrs Hurst said upon entering, casting a wary look at her sister.
“Thank you, Mrs Hurst,” Elizabeth responded. “It is nice to see you again. Have you made the acquaintance of my aunt, Lady Matlock?”
Mrs Hurst nodded and greeted the lady. Truly, they had only barely met, and she certainly did not know Lady Matlock well enough to warrant a morning call, but Caroline had been determined to come, and Mrs Hurst only tagged along to minimise the damage her sister would do, especially as they were scheduled to depart from London as soon as Mr Hurst finished with their business.
Mrs Hurst did not intend to return to London with her sister, as she had every intention of turning her over to their brother once they reached Scarborough.
He could arrange a place for her to live after this.
Miss Bingley had not been introduced to Lady Matlock, and it was the height of poor manners for her to appear at Matlock House uninvited.
In a further example of poor manners, she seated herself without being invited to do so and without speaking to either lady since she could not address Lady Matlock without an introduction.
Elizabeth and Mrs Hurst spoke quietly to one side. Lady Matlock occasionally contributed to their conversation, but Miss Bingley remained silent, hoping for an introduction to the countess that was not offered.
After five minutes, Miss Bingley reached the limit of her ability to keep silent. “Lady Matlock,” she began, “I am so pleased to see you again. It is a shame your nephew married so far beneath himself, but it is good of you to help Miss Eliza Bennet along in society.”
Lady Matlock stared at her coldly. “Mrs Darcy”—she emphasised her niece’s proper name—“is everything I wished for my nephew and niece. Mrs Darcy is, in every respect, my nephew’s equal, and he is blissfully happy with her.
Now, if you will excuse me.” She turned her back on Miss Bingley and spoke a moment longer to Mrs Hurst before that lady took her leave, forcing Caroline to stand and go with her.
The others in the room tittered, and Louisa was very aware her sister just destroyed any hope she had of ever being received amongst the ton.
Their departure to the North would need to be hurried if possible, and Caroline would have to be persuaded not to venture out again.
When those visitors departed, Lady Matlock signalled to the butler that was the end of callers for that day. “What a horrible person!” she seethed.
“I heard your response but not what Miss Bingley said to inspire it,” Elizabeth replied. “Was it truly so awful?”
“She refuses to acknowledge you properly and insists you are ‘far beneath’ my nephew. She is a fool and deludes herself that she is superior. She cannot seem to understand that regardless of fortune, as a gentleman’s daughter, you have always been above her in rank,” Lady Matlock continued.
“She is fortunate no one else was here. I will cut her if she approaches me in public, and you should as well. I witnessed my nephew do that very thing, so I cannot understand what she is about.”
“William will not be pleased that she has once again intruded on the notice of his family,” Elizabeth said.
“I will ensure our butler refuses her entrance to Darcy House, although I expect that has already been done. I am afraid it will take a public set down before she stops attempting to gain his notice.”
Lady Matlock agreed, and they discussed the visits for a few minutes until Georgiana joined them, followed shortly by the gentlemen.
“How was White’s, my dear?” the countess asked her husband.
“Relatively uneventful,” he replied. “Our acquaintances congratulated Darcy and asked when they would meet his lovely wife. He told them she would be introduced at the ball on Friday night, and most were pleased—unless they had not been invited.”
“Aunt, I wish to take my wife to the theatre Thursday evening. Would that interfere with your plans for our debut at your ball?” William interjected.
She considered this for a moment. “That is a good idea, William,” she replied.
“Our box is next to yours; we will also attend and demonstrate our pleasure in your union. Those not invited to the ball will see the felicity between you and your wife. Oh! Make sure your servants know the Bingleys are not to be admitted for any reason—that Bingley woman intruded on Matlock House today despite having never been introduced to me. She refused to acknowledge Mrs Darcy whatsoever.”
William was disgusted. “I should be surprised at her brazen actions, but little that woman does shocks me. I have already cut her in public once, but I dare say it will take additional humiliation before she stops her pursuit. Speaking of that family, Bingley approached me today outside of White’s–I did not realise his membership had been revoked since it has become known I am no longer associating with him. ”
“What did he do?” Elizabeth gasped.
“He attempted to speak to me, nothing more, my dear,” William appeased his wife. “Now, would you like to return home, love?”
She grinned at him, but Lady Matlock forestalled them. “I still need to speak with the two of you,” she said. “Elizabeth, have you accepted the invitations we discussed?”
“I sent my replies on Friday, Aunt,” Elizabeth replied as she patted her husband’s arm.
“Good,” she acknowledged. “Who will you invite to the theatre on Thursday?”
“We thought to include the Gardiners and Jane,” William replied. “Now that you are also opening your box, we have room to add more to our party if you wish.”
Lady Matlock considered it for a moment. “I will invite two additional couples to share our box. Richard can share yours; that makes six, leaving no empty chairs. Elizabeth, what will you wear?”
Elizabeth described the gown she had been considering for the theatre. “That sounds lovely, dear,” Lady Matlock acknowledged. “Now, William, you have a set of rubies, do you not?”
He nodded his head. “That will be perfect,” Lady Matlock said. “If you come here first, we will all go together. Georgiana, will you accompany us?”
Georgiana nodded her agreement to the plan. “I would enjoy the theatre, William,” she replied. “I have not been in some time.”
“I will make the arrangements then,” Darcy said, pleased with this plan. “Now, I will take my wife home, and we will see you tomorrow morning. Georgiana, will you join our aunt on her visit?”
“My piano master comes in the morning, William,” Georgiana replied. “Although I confess, I am pleased to have a reason not to have to endure the ordeal.”
Elizabeth laughed at the girl’s description of visits with the ladies of the ton. “It can be an ordeal, Georgie, but Aunt Helen makes it more entertaining than it might otherwise be. You will feel equal to taking part soon enough.”
Georgiana merely grimaced slightly at this but nodded her acquiescence.