Chapter Thirty-Two
O n the twenty-fourth of May, at about two in the afternoon, a very fine coach and four rumbled into Meryton. Thanks to Mrs. Bennet, the entire town knew that the Earl and Countess of Matlock were to attend her daughter’s wedding the next day, so there was no mystery as to who was traveling in such style. For those who had doubted Mrs. Bennet’s claims, the coronet with eight strawberry leaves emblazoned on the door of the coach was impossible to mistake.
The coach pulled up to Netherfield Park, and its inhabitants were soon seated comfortably in the drawing room. Mr. Bingley watched his wife with awe; she served tea and cakes to her guests as if she entertained such august visitors regularly.
“I cannot thank you enough for coming,” Mr. Darcy said, for the third time.
“I told you we would,” his aunt replied, frowning at him. “But perhaps you receive so little support from your own mother that you can scarce credit it coming from us,” she added, one aristocratic brow elevated.
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “Not so,” he insisted. “My mother is only absent today because she was not informed of the event.”
“And why was she not so informed, then?” Aunt Eleanor asked, with a touch of querulousness in her voice. “Because we agreed it was better to present her with a fait accompli, if I recall correctly!”
“Perhaps this is not the place, m’dear,” her husband said, hastily.
“Quite right; my sincere apologies for bringing our family troubles into your peaceful drawing room,” the Countess addressed Mrs. Bingley, politely.
“Not at all, my lady,” Mrs. Bingley replied, serenely. “All families have their difficulties.”
“Will we meet the bride today?” the Countess asked.
“My sister is simply waiting for me to send a note, requesting that she come here. She wished to make certain that you were given time to rest and refresh yourselves,” Mrs. Bingley said.
“Very thoughtful; perhaps in about an hour, then,” the Countess said, and then stated that she would repair to her room for a brief rest.
***
Elizabeth received the note from Jane with trembling fingers. “Come at four,” the note said. She had already received permission from her father to take the carriage; even he understood that she could not appear in front of the Earl and Countess of Matlock having walked three miles!
Her mother snatched the note from her nerveless fingers. “I still do not know why they could not come here, instead of sending for you like a servant girl! No, I do not like it at all, Lizzy, and nothing you can say will make any difference.”
Indeed, Elizabeth had attempted to explain several times that it was for her to attend them , not the other way ‘round, despite Elizabeth being the bride. Of course, what could not be said was that the manners of Mrs. Bennet and the younger Bennet girls would not stand up to close examination; Elizabeth did not, under any circumstances, wish to contemplate her mother or younger sisters in close conversation with the Earl and Countess.
At twenty minutes till the hour, she was ready, carefully dressed by Kate, and with what felt like a thousand pins anchoring her curls to her scalp. She had no jewelry other than a topaz cross, which she wore so as not to feel too…well, too poor.
***
When Elizabeth entered the Netherfield drawing room, William came immediately to her side and offered his arm. She smiled up at him, thanking him with her eyes for this courtesy and support. He presented her proudly to his relatives.
Elizabeth noted that the Earl was a large man with a round face; his florid complexion spoke of a good many sumptuous meals and large glasses of brandy. His wife was quite different, being pale and slender. Her hair was beginning to silver, but her face remained unlined. She was perfectly dressed and bejeweled; Elizabeth felt the meagerness of her amber cross, but was determined not to blush for it.
“You are very pretty indeed, my dear,” the Countess said, kindly.
Elizabeth curtsied deeply. “I thank you, my lady. And may I also extend my heartfelt thanks to you and the Earl for coming to see us wed; I know it means a great deal to William.” She was proud to note that her voice was even and calm; if she was quaking inside, no one could know. “I am sorry not to see your son, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“Oh, I had forgotten that you met him at Rosings; no, he is with his regiment, but I wrote to tell him of your wedding, and he asked me to convey his best wishes and fond regards.”
“That is very kind of him. We had a most pleasurable time together in Kent.”
The Countess glanced at her nephew and nodded, almost imperceptibly. Mr. Darcy felt some part of him, some part he had not known was tense, now relax. His aunt was on his side.
“But where is her ring?” the Earl demanded.
“Oh! I have not yet shown her the jewelry I brought from Darcy House! Wait, Elizabeth, I will return directly.”
The Countess indicated a seat beside her, and Elizabeth sat, gracefully and gratefully. Elizabeth was asked about her education and her family, and she did her best to answer.
When Mr. Darcy returned, he drew a small table up in front of Elizabeth, and emptied the contents of a large velvet bag onto it.
The ladies gasped.
“Heavens, Darcy, what are you about, treating such treasures in so cavalier a manner?” the Countess demanded.
Mr. Darcy shrugged. “Elizabeth, these are all yours. But you must select a betrothal ring to wear.”
“How am I to choose from among so many?” Elizabeth marveled. “I have never seen anything like it!”
The Countess began to separate them into piles: emeralds, sapphires, pearls, and so on. She noted the absence of the Darcy diamonds, a set that had been envied by the entire ton for decades; perhaps her nephew would give those particular jewels to his wife upon the birth of their first child.
Elizabeth simply watched, shaking her head in disbelief. “Wait,” she said. “What is this?” Her eye had been caught by a small black box. She picked it up and opened it, revealing a simple gold ring set with a garnet.
The Earl and Countess traded a quick glance. “That was my mother’s ring,” the Earl said, huskily. “And her mother’s before her. It is not the equal of the Darcy jewels, of course, and it is quite old.”
Elizabeth turned her shining dark eyes to his.
At that moment the Earl felt the power of those eyes, and he well understood why his nephew had been unable to forget the young lady to whom those eyes belonged.
“It looks as if it was well-loved,” she said, very softly.
The Earl felt a lump rising to his throat – a lump! He, who had argued the previous day at Parliament for hours with no trouble, now had a lump in his throat! He could only nod.
“I thank you for offering this to us, my lord,” she told him, very gently. She then turned those dark eyes to her bridegroom’s. “This one, if you please, William.”
“But –“ He was quite surprised.
“Oh, the others are lovely, of course, and I am certain I will wear them on social occasions. But for us, for you and me, to show the love we bear one another – this is the ring for us.”
He took it from her, then, knelt before her and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly. The room was completely silent as the two stared at one another, each unable to look away from the other’s gaze.
Finally, the Earl broke the silence; he cleared his throat and said, gruffly, “My parents would be delighted.”
The Countess then surprised everyone by asking if she might speak with the bride privately. “Just a quick turn in the back garden, Miss Bennet, if you would oblige me.”
“Of course, my lady,” was Elizabeth’s quick reply. She could hardly refuse!
The moment they were out of sight of the house, Elizabeth stopped and turned to the older woman. “I know I am not good enough for him,” she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. “But I will do my best, every day, to make him happy.”
“Hush, child, is that what you thought I wanted to speak about? No, I merely want to say that you may not find a warm welcome at Pemberley, and that you may rely on me for assistance to whatever extent I may provide it.”
Elizabeth’s look of astonishment caused the Countess to chuckle. “We are not all monsters in the ton , you know,” she said. “Most, but not all. Believe me, no one could be happier than I that Darcy decided against Anne de Bourgh. That anyone could think such a woman capable of being Pemberley’s mistress – but I will speak no more of that.”
“Do you think his mother will be very angry?” Elizabeth blurted out. “She hated me when we met in Kent.”
“She may hate you all she likes,” the Countess declared. “But you will be the mistress of Pemberley, and that is the end of the matter. If she does not behave herself, you must banish her to the estate she was awarded in her marriage articles, as I do not believe Pemberley has a dower house. She lost her husband, but – heavens! – it has been three years now, and she still wants to be coddled as if it happened Tuesday last. But it must be admitted that she has been an excellent mistress of Pemberley for many years.”
Elizabeth shivered. “I am not a weak woman, but the idea of battling with my husband’s mother in her own home sits ill with me.”
“Do not let her bully you, Elizabeth,” the Countess advised.
“I shall do my best.”
“And her manners – well, you have met both of my husband’s sisters, so you understand what you may expect. Also, Georgiana may be her ally; watch for that.”
“Georgiana?”
“Does he refer to her as Miss Darcy, then?”
“Does who refer to – I am sorry, my lady, I am rather confused.”
“Your soon-to-be-husband’s sister, Georgiana Darcy.” The Countess was puzzled; was it possible that Darcy’s betrothed did not know that he had a sister?
Elizabeth was silent.
“You did not know he has a sister.” The Countess’ voice was quiet.
“No.”
“I am surprised that he never mentioned her.”
“As am I.” Elizabeth’s tone was wooden. What else did she not know? Then she took a deep, shuddering breath, knowing that she was in too far to back out now.
The Countess’ eyes narrowed. She and her nephew were about to have a serious conversation.
***
“You never mentioned Georgiana? How is that even possible?”
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “I do not know, Aunt; frankly, I do not think of my sister when in Elizabeth’s presence.”
“And did you plan, then, when the carriage rolled up to Pemberley, to just say, oh, Elizabeth, I forgot to mention that you have a new sister?”
“Aunt Eleanor, I told you of the circumstances that led to our hasty marriage. Truly, I thought Elizabeth and I would have time to discuss such matters before marrying.”
“What?! You have had weeks! You told me of your upcoming marriage a full month before it occurred. Truly, Darcy, I begin to think you simple.” His aunt shook her head in disgust.
“I promise to tell Elizabeth all about Georgiana, Mrs. Reynolds, and everyone else at Pemberley on the journey home. Will that content you?” Mr. Darcy could not admit even to himself that he had not wanted to dwell too long on the reception Elizabeth was likely to receive from his mother and sister.
The Countess just shook her head.
***
Elizabeth was relieved to be returning home in her father’s carriage. The Earl and Countess had been kindness itself, but she could not help feeling nervous. It was all very well for her to toss her head and say that titles did not matter when she was in the safety of her own home, but to actually be in conversation with the aristocracy was a different matter entirely.
As the carriage pulled up to Longbourn, she was delighted to see the Gardiner carriage. The Gardiners were not fashionable people, of course, and doubtless the Matlocks would have nothing to say to them; but their presence at the wedding would give Elizabeth great comfort.
She descended from the carriage, and joined the gathering in the parlour. Her aunt and uncle congratulated her, again and again, on her betrothal to Mr. Darcy. “You know he is the master of Pemberley,” Aunt Gardiner said.
“Yes, it is in Derbyshire,” Elizabeth replied.
“And is that all you know about it?” Aunt Gardiner asked, eyebrows raised.
“I do understand it to be rather grand.”
“Grand! I should say so,” her aunt returned.
“Do you know it, Aunt?”
“I do, indeed; it is not five miles from Lambton, where I grew up!”
“Oh! I did not know that. Have you ever been inside the house?”
“No, indeed, we moved in very different social circles at the time.”
At the time? Elizabeth wondered, but thought no more of it, as her mother caught sight of her ring.
“Let me see that,” Mrs. Bennet said, grabbing Elizabeth’s hand. “Why, it is rather simple for such a wealthy man.” She was clearly disappointed.
“There were a good many to choose from, Mama,” Elizabeth replied, firmly. “But I liked this simple ring, rather than one of the gaudier ones. And it is a family heirloom.”
Mrs. Bennet simply shook her head in disbelief.