Chapter 23 #2
“Uncle Reggie, the damage to my heart and lungs occurred after I contracted scarlet fever as a young child. Mr. Starkey thinks that, combined with some subsequent infections I had, it was what did the damage. I do not hold anything against you or any other members of the family. Recriminations are not what I need or want; I want to enjoy the time I have left.” Anne turned to Richard.
“Giving you Rosings Park was one of the best decisions I ever made. Your presence has made it a happy home. I no longer feel alone and am positive,” Anne took one of Mary’s hands, “that when you bring my new cousin back with you in February, it will be even more joyful than it is now.”
“Mr. Gardiner, how goes the removal of Lady Catherine’s items, those which reflected her poor decorating taste?” Richard asked.
“My clerk and his men catalogued it all, including the artwork you wanted removed. Everything noted was moved to my warehouse some ten days ago. I am pleased to inform you there are many other people with bad taste, for over sixty percent of the items have sold. Some of the items have been purchased at a higher cost than the original expenditure. Even after my commission, which you refused to allow me to reduce, you will have almost as much as Lady Catherine expended on all of the items. The rest should sell soon after Twelfth Night,” Gardiner reported.
“Then we will be able to begin with the furniture.” Richard turned to Bennet and asked, “Do I remember correctly that your family will be travelling to London after the wedding?”
“That is the current plan. Charlotte will take our two remaining betrothed daughters to help them shop for their trousseaus while I inspect the libraries of my future sons-in-law, the same as I did the Darcy House library last week,” Bennet revealed.
“I cannot wait to see the vaunted library at Pemberley I have heard so much about.”
“In that case, with your and Mary’s permission,” Richard looked to his betrothed, “may I request we deviate from the plan and take the four-hour journey from Town to Rosings Park? It will kill two birds with one stone. Mary will be able to see our home and the uncomfortable furniture within.”
“Richard is not exaggerating, Mary,” Anne de Bourgh interjected. “My mother did not choose furniture for comfort but for show. The only comfortable chair in the house was her throne; the rest are anything but. I think she felt it gave her some advantage over her guests if they were uncomfortable.”
“I would like to use all of the funds we have recouped from the items Gardiner has sold to purchase comfortable furniture. My hope is that after we view the items at Rosings Park, we will make a list of what is needed for each room, and then visit Chippendales to order everything we need. Gardiner,” Richard turned to his uncle-to-be, “will your men be able to accompany us to catalogue all of the furniture?”
“Already done, Richard,” Gardiner informed the master of Rosings Park.
Seeing his confused look Gardiner explained.
“When my men were noting all the artwork and other gaudy items you wanted removed, it did not take them long to see what would be next, so they made an extensive inventory of all of it. My clerk will accompany you to the estate with the lists, so all you will have to do is indicate which pieces you want removed and he will make a note of it. I assume you will do it in stages as new pieces arrive?”
“That is the most logical way, I believe,” Richard averred, more than pleased Gardiner’s men had the foresight to anticipate his intentions.
“I see no reason why we cannot make a detour to Kent. Do you Thomas?” Charlotte asked.
“Not at all. We will all accompany you so there will be no need for extra chaperonage,” Bennet allowed.
“We plan to depart Hertfordshire for London the day after Eliza and William’s wedding, so I suggest we depart for Kent after Jane and Mary have placed the orders for the clothing they need and have toured their betrotheds’ town homes.
That way, by the time we return from Rosings Park, it should be time for the first fittings of the new garments,” Charlotte suggested.
“As usual, my wife is eminently sensible. Are there any objections to Charlotte’s suggestion?” Bennet asked. There were none.
As planned, Elizabeth returned to London the Thursday after Christmas, this time accompanied by Charlotte, Jane, and Mary.
Very few alterations were needed. The bulk of Elizabeth’s new wardrobe would be sent to Darcy House and hung in Elizabeth’s currently empty walk-in closet.
Friday morning, the four Bennet ladies returned to Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The evening before her wedding, Elizabeth had Charlotte and her Aunt Maddie talk to her about the wedding night.
The talk Charlotte gave Elizabeth was vastly different from the one Lady Lucas had shared with her before she married Elizabeth’s father.
Rather than duty, which her mother had concentrated on, Charlotte reinforced the idea that pleasure would be discovered.
Even though receiving such a talk from one who had been just a friend before she married her father, Elizabeth appreciated Charlotte’s words. Her initial belief was reinforced by her Aunt Maddie.
After the two left her, Elizabeth looked around her room, the one she had slept in from the time she had left the nursery.
It was like saying goodbye to an old, familiar friend.
Although she had not seen Pemberley yet, Elizabeth was most keen to do so.
From the descriptions she had heard from the Darcys and Fitzwilliams, there was no doubt she would love her new home.
She could already see herself taking long rambles in the vast forest she had heard about.
She was not nervous about marrying William.
He was the best of men, and she was as sure as she could possibly be that he was her perfect match.
They had decided they would share a bed every night.
As much as she was in anticipation of never sleeping without William again, she was even more excited about the marriage bed.
When she thought about joining with her husband, the butterflies in her midsection took flight and she felt warm all over. Rather than apprehension, Elizabeth felt tranquillity and keenness when she thought about being one with her husband.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Come now, William, surely you need some pointers from your vastly more experienced cousin,” Richard ribbed as the cousins sat in Netherfield’s library.
“I need no help from you. Just because I was more circumspect than you does not imply I am less experienced,” Darcy returned.
“We do not need a cock fight before your wedding, William.” Andrew turned to his younger brother. “Rich, we are supposed to be helping him relax, not the opposite!”
“William knows I am ribbing him, and, for your information, I too have been circumspect. I was as wary of contracting the French disease as you were, William,” Richard informed his cousin. “Just because I am friendly, and flirt more than you does not make me less careful.”
“In a month we will be brothers, William,” Andrew observed. “If you had told me the three of us would marry three sisters even a few months ago I would have said you were insane. I did get the best Bennet sister though, as is my right as the eldest of the three of us.”
“What hogwash! It is I who have the best Bennet sister,” Richard insisted.
“Rather than argue the merits of each of our ladies, what say you we agree each of us has found the perfect lady for ourselves. Besides, my Elizabeth is superior in every way!” Darcy claimed with a huge grin.
He was rewarded by a sofa cushion being hurled at his head.
Darcy ducked, but Richard had waited, anticipating his move, and his cushion found its spot.
The three drained their glasses and headed for bed, but not before Darcy had Richard show him the rings to prove he had not lost them, as Richard was standing up for his cousin on the morrow.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth woke with the sunrise, and as tempted as she was to make for Oakham Mount, she restrained herself.
Sarah, the upstairs maid, helped Elizabeth bathe and wash her hair.
Once her body was towelled off, Elizabeth sat with her back to the roaring fire as Sarah brushed out her hair, drying it with the fire’s heat.
Jane and Mary knocked on the door and brought her a tray with some toast, jam, and tea. Charlotte had advised Elizabeth to have some sustenance in the morning as she did not want to swoon from hunger or thirst during the ceremony.
“It will be your turn in a month, sisters,” Elizabeth stated.
“We know. I know I wish it were sooner,” Jane replied wistfully.
“I do as well, Jane, but the month will pass quickly,” Mary rationalised.
Both Jane and Mary kissed one of their sister’s cheeks then they were replaced by the three younger girls. “I am so happy we will all be true sisters after today,” Georgiana gushed.
“As are all of us, Gigi. I take it you are happy you will remain here until we return before Jane and Mary’s wedding?” Elizabeth verified.
“Yes, I most certainly am. I will miss Lyddie though,” Georgiana pointed out.
“I will be back for Jane and Mary’s wedding and with all of you at Rosings Park at Easter,” Lydia stated.
Elizabeth noticed the hour. “It is time for me to dress. I will see you below stairs soon.” Jane, now wearing a pale pink dress, returned and helped Sarah slide the gown over Elizabeth’s head.