Chapter Five
I t was a relief to reach Gracechurch Street. The carriage hired by the Gardiners was the largest available, but with all seven travellers within, it was a snug fit. It was fortunate that Isobel, Rachel, and Ned were well-behaved children; had they been so lively as Lydia as a child, the hours of the journey would have been torturous .
Ned, being young, was content to be held by his mother, Jane, and Elizabeth in turn. It was notable that each time he was handed back to Jane, she looked a little happier. Lizzy passed the time amusing Isobel and Rachel by reading to them and making a game of finding particular objects out of the window.
By the time they reached the outskirts of London, every occupant of the carriage was glad that the time on the road was almost over .
The Bennet sisters were to share a room for the duration of their stay. Mrs. Gardiner made no apology for this and neither did her nieces desire one. To be in close quarters with one another, for the space of a month complete, was an added source of delight. Upon entering their bedchamber, Jane supervised the unpacking of their trunks and Elizabeth bore little Ned about the room, entertaining him with one of her ribbons .
“It is a pleasure to be able to stand upright and walk about. I always think after a journey that I shall not sit down again for a week, but then I always seem to manage when summoned to dine.”
“Our aunt says that our meal will be delayed this evening, perhaps until six o'clock. I said that we should hardly mind if it is just a bowl of broth. We do not mind, do we, Lizzy?”
“I think young Master Gardiner here would prefer to eat my ribbon.” Elizabeth withdrew the now damp green length from the baby's clutches. “Did our uncle object to the suggestion that a full table would not be laid out? He is occasionally like Mama, I think, and believes that meals ought to leave one decidedly replete.”
Jane smiled. “Here, give him the handle of my comb to chew on. I think he must be teething — poor Ned.” The ribbon was duly exchanged for the comb and the baby in Elizabeth's arms was thus made less fractious. Jane went back to their gowns. “You wore this at Netherfield, did you not? Do you think we shall go to many parties while we are here? I did not bring much that is suitable, if so.”
“Ah! You have quickly stumbled upon my scheme. I give you a day or two, Jane, to recover from the journey and play with the children to your heart's content,” she pressed a kiss to Ned's forehead, “and then we shall be much occupied.”
“I meant to be a help to the Gardiners, rather than a burden — you cannot mean our aunt to escort us about when she has so much to do here.”
“I have already requested that a suitable servant be made available, who will remain with us as we go to a few shops. In fact, Uncle Gardiner was most helpful — again the similarity to Mama, for when I divulged my plan he became quite enthusiastic and made a suggestion that I think will do very well.”
Jane was obliged to laugh. “I had not thought Mama and her brother to be alike. You mean to be mysterious, I suppose, and will not tell me a single thing that is in your head.”
“I will tell you that I mean for you to enjoy yourself.”
“I cannot if I do not have a similar assurance that you will too.”
“Oh, all you must do to secure my happiness, Jane, is to let me have my own way. I mean all for good, I do assure you.”
“As though you could do otherwise!”
“There now, we may be comfortable. As a reward for your capitulation, I will tell you what idea our uncle put forth. He informed me that a business partner of his has just brought in a ship, the contents of which he has a share in. Upon that worthy vessel are stacked bolts and bolts of fine silks, amongst other, less important goods. Uncle says we may purchase some at a good price.”
Jane looked up from the pelisse she was smoothing over. “Is it too much to hope that Lydia has no hand in this? ”
“Now, how could Lydia know our uncle had access to silks?”
“You are prevaricating. I have an excellent memory, and very clearly recall one morning that Lydia wished me to look over patterns that should be in silk. ”
“Do you mean to say you would not enjoy making up a new dress with our aunt and then wearing it?”
“ Silk , Elizabeth!”
“Thirty-six pounds, Jane!”
“Oh, yes.” Miss Bennet allowed this point. “Well, I suppose that does sound enjoyable — you will also have a new gown and then I will be tranquil. Lydia said we ought to be matching in white.”
“I meant to argue this point and insist that you alone should have new finery bought with money that you won, but that was when I had imagined we should go to the linen draper’s. Uncle Gardiner's business acquaintance will prove very useful. We shall at first occupy ourselves with our new gowns, then, and perhaps display them to advantage at a party or two next week. How fine we shall be! ”
“Enough silk for a new gown ought not to cost us more than a pound and five, Lizzy — we might buy enough for all our sisters with what we won at Netherfield. Little though I liked to take our hosts' money, it is amusing to think how we may spend it.”
“More fools the Hursts and the Bingleys, I say. But I do not mean to discuss them — my intent is to distract and see you happy. We will shop, we will sew, we will take the children out to the parks in London, and depend upon it, there will come a morning when you wake up as happy as a lark. Ned, little one, do not try to swallow Jane's comb. I will take him up to the nursery, I think, and he will have his nursemaid.”
“Shall I take him? At least we have occupied him long enough that Bella and Rachel will be settled.”
“And take you away from your efficient unpacking? You know I should not hang the dresses to your satisfaction. I will be back anon, dearest, and likely irritate you with my interference then.”
It was a quiet few days in Gracechurch Street. Both Jane and Elizabeth recovered from the journey with all the speed of youth. Mrs. Gardiner, who had an energetic disposition, was likewise ready to go to the warehouse with her husband and nieces after the third day at home.
Lizzy in particular found the enormous brick building, so neatly filled with goods, to be a source of fascination. Her uncle would not permit her to wander about, however, and so her curiosity went largely unfulfilled.
“You will not go from my sight, Lizzy,” he said firmly. “The men employed here are not my own and I'd not have you encounter anyone your father would not like you to meet. Stay close to your sister.”
The Miss Bennets were duly shown and invited to purchase two fine bolts of white silk for little more than a single bolt would have cost them elsewhere. Mrs. Gardiner herself inspected it and approved the quality. “I find that I like this notion of yours, Elizabeth — I had worried that you girls might find it a little dull in Gracechurch Street, but with such a project as this I am sure that you will be happy in your industry. I will assist you with the cutting and the sewing — I like nothing better than to make up a new gown.”
“We would particularly value your advice when it comes to setting the sleeves, Aunt,” replied Jane, seeing that Elizabeth was staring at the contents of the other shelves with interest. “For that part, I prefer to be directed.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “You are both accomplished enough at needlework that I am sure you hardly need me, Jane dear, but I do value your sweetness in including me. It makes me feel young again.”
“If it gives you such pleasure, Mrs. Gardiner, we ought to go back to purchase that bolt of velvet we saw. You might make up a frock or two for yourself,” pronounced her husband, offering his arm and smiling.
“It was black , my dear!” replied his wife, shaking her head. “No, I thank you; I still have the damask you brought me six months ago that I wish to make up.”
“We will help you with the needlework, Aunt — just say the word and we will work away for as long as the light lasts.”
“A fine hostess you think me, Elizabeth.”
“Oh, I do! So fine, Aunt, that you treat us quite as though we are family, which is what we like best of all.”
“We will complete your gowns first,” said Mrs. Gardiner firmly, “and then perhaps see how sore our fingers are. It is most sacrificial of you, Elizabeth, given I am well aware you would rather take Ned for a walk outdoors rather than sit with a needle in your hand.”
“I may do both. If I am to benefit, I ought at least to sew what I can. I shall enjoy wearing it and having so fine a gown myself.”
“My nieces will present a very pretty picture when we attend an assembly together in a week.”
“We hope to bring you credit, Uncle.”
“I have very few worries on that score, Jane. I will proudly introduce you as my nieces to all in the neighbourhood, and I am sure that they will think I have some very elegant relatives indeed.”
“I had better start a letter to Lydia before I go to bed tonight. She bade me promise I should keep her abreast of all that we were doing in London.”
“Do you mean to tell me that she did not stow away in your trunk?” said Aunt Gardiner, once she had been handed up into the carriage. “I declare myself shocked.”
“She would have delighted to have come, I am sure.” Elizabeth peered out of the window to see the other tall buildings as they left the warehouse. “I do not think Lydia thought her age a reasonable explanation as to why she could not.”
“Lydia dislikes to be uncomfortable,” said Jane, who was fairly pragmatic at times, “and to make a journey in a trunk would be uncomfortable, would it not?”
“Having never made the attempt, I could only make a supposition,” retorted their uncle, with a twinkle in his eye .
“I profess myself disappointed, sir, that you had no such exploits in your youth.”
“Not I, Lizzy — a very sober life I have lived until I met Mrs. Gardiner.”
“Do you mean to say that I have added insobriety , my dear?”
Their nieces smiled as Mr. Gardiner recovered with aplomb. “I meant nothing of the kind; only that you have livened up a dull existence with your presence, madam. I was thinking that you will look remarkably pretty yourself in that blue damask. Shall I put you all to shame in my sober black? Eh? What a pity you would not have the black velvet, with our nieces in white and us two in black we should have made a striking portrait when we attend the assembly.”
“Very striking, Mr. Gardiner.”
“Like the keys of a pianoforte, in fact,” Elizabeth interjected, pleased to show her wit.
Her uncle gave a shout of laughter, “We should earn ourselves a moniker, like those at the very top echelons of the ton — Apollo Raikes, Beau Brummell, and we, the Piano FOUR-te.”
Gracechurch Street
Dear Lydia ,
I write as I promised so faithfully I would. We have arrived in London and settled in. We did little at first but remain at home and play with the children. A few friends and acquaintances of the Gardiners called in the mornings to welcome them home. They are pleasant enough people. I particularly liked Mrs. Belling; she is a lively woman of our aunt's age and their children were also born at similar times. Bella and Miss Belling are periodically good friends. The pair of them remind me very much of you and Kitty, delighted with one another for short stretches of time but not so much if one outstays her welcome. I trust that our parents and other sisters are in good health. Jane means to write to them very soon. Our sister seems to be a little improved in spirit. I hope that the improvement will become more marked during our time here .
Our plans are well underway. You ought to behold the current state of the music room — it is a veritable sea of white silk. We have washed our hands any number of times in between laying it flat, making the first (terrifying) cuts, and beginning to stitch. I decline to count how many hours I have spent sewing in the last few days but I am proud of the number of stitches I have managed to make per inch without becoming lost to boredom. I reward myself by bundling up in half a dozen petticoats and shawls in order to take Ned out to the park. It is not so free here as it is in Hertfordshire; our uncle insists that neither Jane nor I step outside without a servant with us. I could almost pity Knowles — he has been obliged to trudge and freeze on my account most mornings once the callers have left us. I have seen no one that we know yet, but Jane has once or twice threatened that we ought to pay a call on Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, as she knows the address and also that they are currently in town. I shall go with her, of course, to lend my support, but I would much rather spend the time repeatedly stabbing my fingertips with a needle .
This afternoon we went with our aunt to a little-known market and purchased some delicate pearl hairpins for Jane and a length of white ribbon for me. I have decided that a slightly different style is in order for me when we go out to parties. Jane will be an angelic vision in pearls and white, and I must contrive to not ruin the effect. Do you think perhaps I might make do with a ribbon about my neck in the French fashion in place of a necklace? I have no pearls, of course, but with the style of my neckline, I do feel that something will be necessary .
If there is one difficulty that I cannot quite see my way through, it is how to gain entry into the parties that will have card tables set up. We do not know many people in London, after all, and those we are acquainted with are honest and hardworking tradesmen of whom the Gardiners are fond. I would not have Jane play at cards with any of them. It is the idle rich who remain the quarry. Alas, it seems that to have dealings with them one must already have funds available. It sounds very vulgar, to me, to decide an acquaintance based upon the fortune of the other person. Little doubt that is how the likes of Mr. Darcy assess the worthiness of their friends. Perhaps that is why Mr. Wickham fared so badly at his hands.
I do trust that upon our departure Mother has ceased to bewail both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Collins. I am sure that Jane consented to come to London largely to help me escape the constancy of Mama's complaints. At least our mother may be a little happier, now that I am away from her sight to remind her of my failures .
Bid Charlotte write to me, if you please, when you next see her — I did not have an opportunity when I saw her so briefly before we left. I wish that she might be rewarded with every good thing after her good service to me in taking Mr. Collins off to dine after Netherfield .
I will write again next week, hopefully to report the successful completion of our gowns, and will painstakingly describe how delightful we look in them. It may be that I can then more accurately predict if we will see anything of the Bingleys while we are in town.
With my love ,
Lizzy.