Chapter 18 #2
“They merely enhance your natural beauty, my dear,” Fitzwilliam told her.
“You are stunning already, but these jewels will make you shine brighter. Now, allow me to assist.” He took the necklace from the box she held and clasped it around her neck before doing the same with the bracelet.
“I will not attempt to put the earrings on you.”
She picked up one and then the other, attaching them to her ears. “I have never felt so lovely as I do in this dress and with these jewels. I can scarcely believe it is truly me in the looking glass,” she said as she moved to stand in front of the mirror in the hallway. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”
“It is all you, my dear,” he said, kissing her hand. “I did not do anything besides give you the jewels.”
“No, I mean, thank you for loving me, for allowing me to be a part of your family. Your mother is wonderful, and I have never been as happy since I met you. I am so happy to be your wife,” she replied, tears gathering.
“Why are you crying, dearest?” he asked as his arms immediately encircled her.
“I am not truly crying, Fitzwilliam; I am merely happy. You have made me so very happy,” she said, leaning into his embrace. Taking a deep breath, she wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes. “We will be late if we do not depart now. Your mother will send a servant to fetch us soon.”
After putting on their outerwear, they entered the carriage and quickly travelled to Park Lane to retrieve Lady Anne.
Elizabeth spoke of a letter she received as they went through the streets.
“I know we are just settling into our home and prefer to be alone, but I would like to invite my friend Charlotte to spend a few days with us soon. She is now courting a gentleman staying at Netherfield Park this spring, but as he had to come to town, Charlotte has been unable to see him frequently. Her father has permitted the two of them to exchange letters, but she asked to come to London for a sennight so she might see him again before he has to depart for his estate in Lancashire County.”
“I knew a man at Cambridge from that county. What is his name?” Fitzwilliam asked.
“Andrew Livesay,” Elizabeth said. “Charlotte says he knew you, and he inherited his estate soon after graduating and has not been in town often since.”
“I remember him,” Fitzwilliam replied thoughtfully.
“He was studious, like me, and we saw each other most often in the library. I have never heard anything negative about him, and I believe many considered him a prude. Since I had a similar reputation, I always thought it spoke well of him. Perhaps if your friend Miss Lucas comes to stay, I can also meet with him again.”
She smiled, but Lady Anne entered the carriage before she could speak. “You are late,” she said to them both. “I had hoped we could enter the theatre before the rest of London arrived, but I am afraid the lobby will be rather crowded now.”
“It will be fine, Mother,” Fitzwilliam said. “We will not be so late; you merely wanted to arrive very early.”
Lady Anne grinned at her son. “You know me well, Fitzwilliam,” she said. “Now, what was this I overheard about you inviting a guest? After your insistence on leaving Darcy House for your own home, I am surprised to learn you want to invite someone to stay with you.”
“My friend, Charlotte Lucas, wrote hinting for an invitation so she might see the man she is courting, Mr. Andrew Livesay. He was staying in my home county, and after a few visits with my sister, he moved on to my friend Charlotte and asked to court her after knowing her for a few weeks. Unfortunately, business called him to town, and Sir William allowed the couple to exchange letters. Still, Charlotte would like to see him again before he must travel to his estate in Lancashire County,” Elizabeth explained.
“Yes, that is quite the distance from Hertfordshire,” Lady Anne said, then suggested. “If you were to invite Charlotte to visit you at Oakridge, she would be much closer to her beau.”
Elizabeth looked at Fitzwilliam, who nodded. “I will invite her to visit us in London in a fortnight, and she may stay until it is time for us to remove to Derbyshire. We intend to return home at the beginning of July, as we have much work to do before the harvest,” Elizabeth said.
“Oh, no, you must stay in town longer than that, my dear,” Lady Anne objected. “We will not depart for Pemberley until the end of July and had hoped you would stay until then.”
“You mentioned visiting us on your way to Pemberley, and we will need time to make sure things are ready for you,” Elizabeth insisted. “Besides, a month in London is more than enough for both of us.”
Lady Anne pulled a face but reluctantly agreed with their plan. “I do not suppose I can persuade you to change your mind,” she replied. “Now tell me about your friend Charlotte. I seem to recall an Andrew Livesay among your friends, Fitzwilliam.”
The two told her what they knew about the couple, and they discussed their plans to help bring the two together. Charlotte had shared more in her letter, but Elizabeth wanted to wait until later to share those details with her husband.