Chapter 3.13
Quarter of an hour sooner than the established hour, Elizabeth and Darcy arrived at the shop.
Lady Matlock was not there yet, so they decided to stroll around, waiting for her.
The place was animated, ladies of the latest fashion seemed to visit the same modiste, and through the windows, at least five maids mingled among the clients, attending to their requests.
Eventually, at the appropriate time, Elizabeth entered, followed by Darcy. Inside, they were approached by a young female, elegant enough, wearing an expression of superiority, who asked for their names.
At that moment, a din of cries, voices and barking startled them and from one of the rooms, through the open door, a pug, dressed in a lovely dog gown, was running away, heading towards the main door, with the clear intention of escaping into the street.
Several voices yelled "Dido! Dido!" but the dog ignored all the calls.
He ran through Darcy's legs, and as he approached the shop door – which was about to be opened by another group of ladies – Elizabeth ran after him, knelt on the floor and grabbed him.
The dog struggled in her hands but she caressed him and held him closer to her.
Darcy immediately hurried to help his wife up; countless eyes were staring at the little scene disapprovingly, shocked by such improper manners.
A lady in her second youth, extremely fashionable, tall, handsome, and with an air of superiority that spoke of her fortune and likely her social status, hurried to the dog, while two other maids ran to take it from Elizabeth's hands.
"Oh, good, you caught him! Thank God! Be careful, he is a spoiled brat at times, and bites everyone! He hates strangers," the older lady addressed Elizabeth, then turned to the two maids.
"Fanny, Betty! Where are you? Are you coming today? Take the dog!"
They tried to obey, but the dog barked and attempted to bite them. Elizabeth stroked him with perfect composure, and he seemed to calm himself.
At that moment, another lady arrived in haste, more agitated than the others.
"Oh, your ladyship, I deeply apologise! What happened? Why are you in the hall?" She called another woman, while Betty and Fanny attempted to take the dog from Elizabeth again, with equal failure.
"I believe he is a little bit frightened," Elizabeth said. "Perhaps I should keep him a little longer, and take him somewhere more private and quieter?" she offered.
The older lady appeared stunned by her daring suggestion. She measured Elizabeth from head to toe, scrutinising her with a frown.
"And who might you be?"
Darcy stepped forward and touched Elizabeth's arm.
"Lady Sefton, allow me to introduce my wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, to you."
The lady arched her eyebrow and gazed at Darcy with disbelief, then back to Elizabeth.
"You are Darcy's wife? You have just married, I read."
Elizabeth curtseyed, still holding the dog. "Yes, ma'am."
"Well, this is hardly a proper manner of introduction. You have done me a great favour by catching my dog - he escapes every time someone is not attending his duties properly and does not pay attention to my requests," she said sharply, glaring at those around her, who quickly lowered their eyes.
"It is the girl's fault, your ladyship. She left the door open when she entered," one of her maids said. All eyes turned to the private chamber's door, where a young girl with blond hair falling from her bonnet, dirty cheeks and fearful eyes looked at them.
"Madame Claudette, why is a child allowed to enter my appointment room?" Lady Sefton enquired severely. "Children must not be either seen or heard!"
The lady who had entered last – apparently the famous modiste – could hardly find her voice.
"She is not a child, your ladyship, she brought some more firewood. But she is worthless; you cannot count on her for anything! I shall punish her properly."
"She is a child," Elizabeth interjected. "A child should not carry firewood, and one can hardly count on such a young girl to accomplish such difficult chores."
Madame Claudette stared at Elizabeth in disbelief. The new Mrs. Darcy was the hottest subject of gossip in town and the fact that she had interfered in a matter that was not her concern was astonishing. Surprisingly, Lady Sefton seemed to agree with her.
"Mrs. Darcy is right. Hire proper help, do not send a child to bother us. I do not wish to see this girl again, and I wish you to assure me I shall not be disturbed again whenever I make my next appointment."
"Of course, your ladyship! I shall take care of everything," Madame Claudette responded obediently.
At that moment, while everyone was talking in the main hall and Elizabeth was still holding the dog, Lady Matlock and Georgiana entered. They stared at Elizabeth and Darcy enquiringly, and then greetings were exchanged with Lady Sefton.
"Darcy just introduced his wife to me, after she caught my dog," Lady Sefton explained briefly.
Lady Matlock smiled. "Had Dido attempted to escape again?"
“Yes, but it was all the servants' fault. I am not even surprised; one can hardly expect solicitude and care from the servants."
Elizabeth was already flushed from her growing ire, and she felt Darcy's hand on her arm, pressing gently in an attempt to calm her. She breathed deeply.
"Perhaps I should help each of you to return to your appointment rooms?" Darcy offered elegantly.
Lady Sefton took his arm. “Yes, certainly. Mrs. Darcy, would you be so kind as to bring the dog? Strangely, he seems to favour you. And someone should close the door, then take this girl from here," she demanded, and everyone moved at her request.
Someone from the shop grabbed the girl's arm and pulled her out hastily. The girl tried to walk with her small feet, her lips trembling, and she glanced at Elizabeth. Elizabeth put the dog inside the indicated room, curtsied and exited.
While she, Georgiana and Lady Matlock were directed to their chamber, Elizabeth looked at Darcy, her heart heavy with distress. He recognised her feelings and whispered, "What do you wish to do?"
"I will complete this appointment, of course. I cannot disappoint your aunt and your sister. Will you fetch us later?"
"Of course. Would two hours be acceptable?"
That question, Lady Matlock heard. "Oh, that will not be necessary. Your uncle is waiting for you at the club. As soon as we finish here, we will bring Elizabeth home."
Darcy exchanged a quick glance with his wife and she nodded in approval. "Yes, that would be best. I shall meet you at home later."
Neither of them had a light heart, nor any interest in gowns or the club.
The small scene had made a deep impression on Elizabeth, as now she had the confirmation that she had seen the girl carrying heavy packages in the rain and accomplishing chores beyond her strength.
She was not older than seven or eight, she was thin, pale and obviously exhausted; the fear and the emptiness in her eyes was something that had cut Elizabeth's heart.
"Lady Sefton is one of Almack's patronesses," Lady Matlock explained to Elizabeth privately.
"One of the six. They pretend themselves to be the arbiters of London respectability.
They decide who is admitted at Almack's, and they have a great influence among London's ton.
It is good you saved her dog; that will surely help in giving her a good impression of you. "
"I doubt that; I hope you will not be too disappointed. Lady Sefton was appalled that I caught the dog by kneeling on the floor, and displeased we did not have a proper introduction," Elizabeth replied. "But I did not save him – the poor thing was in no danger…"
"Ahhh, but you are wrong in this, my dear! He has run away several times, and she has been devastated! Trust me, she will not forget your gesture. It will carry more weight than any proper introduction."
Madame Claudette and two other young women arrived and introduced themselves, expressing their delight at seeing Lady Matlock and Georgiana again, as well as their excitement at making Mrs. Darcy's acquaintance.
Madame Claudette's skills were beyond question.
All six dresses ordered at Lady Matlock's suggestion – although with no other measurements than one of Elizabeth's old gowns – fit her almost perfectly.
Two of them – the pale gold one and the pale pink one – were almost ready and would be delivered the next day.
Lady Matlock and Georgiana also each had two new gowns ready.
Elizabeth could hardly pay attention to the chattering around her and to the dressmakers' measurements and even less could she enjoy her new purchases. Her thoughts were troubled by the young girl, and she could not restrain herself long from asking about her.
"Madame Claudette, if you do not mind me asking, who is that girl?"
"Oh, I do not mind you asking, Mrs. Darcy.
She is an annoyance for everybody, but my kind heart does not allow me to throw her out on the street.
She is the daughter of one of my seamstresses, who eloped with a man two years ago and she left the girl here!
Can you imagine? I have never imagined something like this!
Outrageous, I know, but she was such a good seamstress!
She must have lost her mind, somehow! She wrote to me once, asking me to keep the girl and saying she would pay me for the effort!
Pay me? How could she pay me? I paid for her for four years and she abandoned me with her child at the door!
All I can do is to use the little help the girl can provide. "
"How old is she? The girl…"
"She must be eight, Mrs. Darcy, from my calculation. But she is short and weak for her age and not very clever; one can hardly count on her to do anything. She forgets things, she pretends to fall ill all the time, and she tends to sleep late! A true annoyance!"