Chapter Fifty-Three
S he did that? And then he said –” the Countess was all but stuttering, and her tone was one of absolutely disbelief.
“Yes,” Mr. Gardiner replied, grimly. “And last night I heard her crying her heart out in her room.”
The Countess looked at the Earl. “This is your sister’s fault, I am sure of it.”
The Earl responded, “I have no doubt of it, but I thought better of young Darcy. Why, he was absolutely besotted with her at their wedding!”
“And yet here we are,” Mr. Gardiner said, his tone flat. “She can stay with us as long as she wishes, of course, but I cannot think that the best thing for her.”
“No, indeed,” the Countess agreed, quickly. “The ton would learn soon enough that the new Mrs. Darcy has left her husband and is residing with her relatives. London’s Servant Grapevine is quite efficient, you know. And that is certainly not the introduction to society that I had in mind for her.”
“What do you suggest, then?” Mr. Gardiner enquired.
The Earl interjected. “She could stay with us, could she not?”
The Countess tapped a slender finger against her chin. “Or she could go to Darcy House and make that her base.”
“Her base?”
“Yes; she should redecorate it as she pleases, get herself a new wardrobe, and be introduced everywhere as our niece. That way, no one would suspect there is anything wrong at Pemberley. We do not want the gossips sharpening their knives on her!”
“Could that not be done if she is staying here with you?” Mr. Gardiner asked.
“Perhaps, but by having her own home in Grosvenor Square, she is working from a position of power, not of dependency. Do you not see that?” The Countess shook her head at this new evidence of male stupidity. “I will visit her at your home and we will make our plans.”
***
The next day, Elizabeth was surprised to learn that the Countess of Matlock was in her aunt’s parlour. She considered making her excuses and not going downstairs at all, but recalled then that the Countess had been nothing but kind to her at her wedding, and did not deserve such bad manners in return.
Upon entering the parlour, Elizabeth curtsied politely and seated herself beside her aunt.
The Countess eyed her. “You look pale, Mrs. Darcy.”
“I do not doubt it, your ladyship,” Elizabeth replied.
“I would like you to call me Aunt Eleanor, please,” that lady responded.
That these relatives could be so kind, and her own husband so very – ! Tears filled Elizabeth’s eyes. “I am sorry,” she murmured. “I do not seem to have my handkerchief.”
“Oh, you do not have one to pull from your sleeve, as my sister by marriage does? That is a trick you should learn, Elizabeth.” The Countess’ tone was ironic and Elizabeth now found herself giggling through her tears.
“Yes, laughter is better than tears, is it not? From what I hear, you have had quite a bit to deal with in the past months, so some of both is doubtless warranted.”
Elizabeth sighed. “My uncle…?”
“Yes, he called on us yesterday, ready to unleash heaven’s fury upon us as retribution for Darcy’s behaviour.”
“I thank you, my lady – Aunt Eleanor – but I think I shall be fine here with my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner and my little cousins.”
The Countess’ eyes narrowed. “Fine? I would like to see you do a good deal better than just fine .”
“Whatever can you mean?”
“Elizabeth, you are now Mrs. Darcy. You have a place in society which you claim.”
“I care nothing for society, and if Lady Anne is an example, I would prefer to stay far away from it.”
“Lady Anne? You may not believe it, but she was once a well-mannered young lady who had been taught all the important accomplishments and made a good, though not spectacular, marriage. She might have married a title, had she wished it, but she became fond of Mr. Darcy.”
“Fond? Such a tepid word!” Elizabeth said in disgust.
“I believe that in time they came to care for one another deeply, and she has felt his loss keenly. But it is true that she was always rather overly proud of being mistress of Pemberley. That served her as her title, if you will, as the Darcys are not members of the aristocracy.”
“And Lady Catherine?” Elizabeth asked.
“Oh, Catherine was a disaster from the start. Her air of superiority and her bad manners sent all the young men running away. Her marriage to Sir Lewis de Bourgh came about only as a result of the fortuitous combination of her dowry and his debts.”
“I do not yet understand why I must enter society. I would much prefer to live quietly here in London, and attract as little attention as possible.”
The Countess and Mrs. Gardiner both shook their heads. The Countess said, “Like it or not, you are Mrs. Darcy and must be seen as the lovely, intelligent, animated, gifted young woman that you are. Equally important, we do not want the gossips thinking that there is something amiss with your marriage. You must believe me when I tell you that you would come to regret it.”
Elizabeth looked unconvinced. Mrs. Gardiner added, “Also, having you succeed in society would put two noses firmly out of joint – Lady Anne’s and Lady Catherine’s. Oh, and a third nose as well, that of Miss Bingley, should you care to consider that factor.”
The Countess and Mrs. Gardiner laughed together, but it took another three-quarters of an hour of discussion before Elizabeth was persuaded.