Chapter 30 #5
Elizabeth imagined what it would look like with her gowns hanging within and how they would be organized.
Surely the day dresses would be closest to the front in case she ever needed to quickly change as all new mothers are want to do.
As she considered if everyone could see her blush, it burned hotter when she saw the enormous brass tub in the bathing room off her dressing room, one larger than she had ever seen and much larger than she would need.
Her blush had deepened when she realised that this tub could easily fit both her and her betrothed, and she wanted not to run, but rather to demand it be filled.
‘Oh my, I am just betrothed and already I have wanton thoughts, what will become of me?’ Elizabeth asked herself as she blushed crimson for all to see.
The mistress’s chambers had not been updated in over thirty years, so this was the only room in which Lizzy, in consultation with her Aunt, Charlotte, and Mrs Reynolds, planned a major redecorating effort, requesting that all items be saved for William and especially Georgiana to decide to keep or discard.
“Mrs Reynolds, if Georgiana wants to come in and select her pieces and William wants to save but one or two things, please make sure everything is stored or gifted to someone in the parish who has the need, but if neither choose all three vases, could one be left? I would like to keep fresh flowers in one as a thank you to Lady Anne for her gift of William and Georgiana, so she knows I appreciate them as she had hoped one day a lady would, and as a promise to us both that I will always do so,” Elizabeth requested as she lightly touched the two on the tables by the windows and the one on the table in the dressing room.
“What were her favourite flowers, Mrs Reynolds?” She asked, her smile honest and sweet when she turned to look at the housekeeper, eyes wide with alarm when she saw Mrs Reynolds crying and holding her aunt’s hand and Charlotte’s.
“I don’t think I have ever heard of any woman doing that when she is redecorating the mistress’s chambers,” Lady Gardiner said proud of the depth of her niece’s feelings.
“Maybe a favourite garden that the predecessor had planted stays under the care of a gardener, but this gesture I have never heard of, even when one has met their mother-in-law and they have bonded. I can but hope to inspire that when my sons marry.” Aunt Maddie beckoned Elizabeth over and she was hugged by all three women, the moment transcending society, roles, and rules, just the joy of having her in their lives.
“Lady Anne loved her roses above all other flowers. We have them year-round at Pemberley as the gardeners keep a selection growing in the conservatory,” the choked-up housekeeper answered as the ladies transitioned to the shared sitting room.
“I cannot imagine you changing a thing in here, Eliza. This is precisely the sitting room I would have designed with you in mind but for an extra pillow to throw when you need Mr Darcy’s attention and do not want to get up,” Charlotte teased as they returned to the sitting room, Elizabeth’s laugh filling it with unaffected joy.
“You are right the room is otherwise perfect. Mrs Reynolds, two additional pillows for the sofa, not one. If he is lost in Homer as I sometimes get, a second one may be required and I will not want to give up the one I am lounging on.” Lizzy smiled brightly at her friend and Mrs Reynolds laughed as she took the note.
Whether or not Lady Elizabeth meant it, they would be added to her settee.
The room truly did not need any changes as William used it all the time therefore it was up to date and very comfortable.
“I love the furniture and colours, and especially the fact that there are bookcases so that there will always be reading material for myself and William here,” she said wistfully.
“I do agree with Charlotte, Lizzy. This is the perfect proof that you and William are so perfectly matched,” Lady Gardiner winked at Charlotte as they had privately agreed that it had taken too long for Elizabeth and William to come to the point but had suspected it would happen once Lizzy was there for more than an hour.
As it happened, it had taken two so Charlotte had won the last chocolate truffle from the box they had procured before they left London.
They proceeded into the master’s chambers, which Lizzy believed perfectly epitomised her William.
The décor was very masculine, the walls hunter green with some light browns.
Lizzy blushed all over again when she saw that the bed in his bedchamber was the biggest that she could ever remember seeing.
Her escorts noticed what she was looking at and her blush so they all turned and looked elsewhere.
William had a bathing room as well, but his brass tub was of a size that would only hold one.
Elizabeth felt warm all over as she knew that she was looking at the bed that they would share at Pemberley.