Chapter 5 #3
“When I leave in the morning, I will be apprising my mother, the Countess of Matlock, of what happened here last night so she is aware. Unless Caroline Bingley speaks of it, no one else will ever know, but William and I want my mother to know the details in case it ever does come to light,” Richard explained.
“Good morning, everyone,” Darcy greeted his guests as he entered. “I take it you were informing the Gardiners of the particulars from our ‘excitement’ last night?” he asked his cousin.
“Yes, I have apprised them of the pertinent facts of last night’s madness,” the colonel said. “Now, cousin, eat up so we can go fishing. And I heard there is to be a riding lesson this afternoon. Do you need my assistance?”
“I am perfectly capable of teaching the lady to ride, Richard,” Darcy asserted.
Richard scoffed and puffed his chest out. “I am a member of His Majesty’s dragoons. I am clearly the better rider.”
“Be that as it may, I intend to be the one who teaches my fiancée to ride,” Darcy told his cousin. “You will not be needed.”
Richard shot Darcy a speaking look. Darcy broke eye contact first, his ears turning slightly red, while Richard snorted to contain his laughter. Uncle Gardiner cleared his throat and glared at Richard.
“I apologise, sir,” Richard said sheepishly to the older gentleman.
Gardiner nodded at him but kept his stern gaze on him. Richard looked abashed and soon excused himself from the room.
“Mr. Gardiner, I apologise for my cousin. He forgets himself sometimes,” Darcy said quietly.
“I do not doubt that he is used to making such jests with his comrades-in-arms, but they are inappropriate in front of ladies. I will speak to him more explicitly while we fish,” Gardiner said.
“He meant no disrespect, sir. I know my cousin would not intentionally offend. But, please, before you take him to task, wait for me to be there. It is not often that my cousin is dressed down, and I will enjoy watching him squirm,” Darcy laughed.
Gardiner laughed in return. “I must say, it was amusing to watch a colonel in the army squirm under my glare.”
Elizabeth, seated with her plate, looked at her aunt enquiringly, not understanding what had been said that her uncle objected to. That lady just shook her head at her niece but would not fully meet her eye. She would need to ask her aunt in private later.
The conversation drifted to the plans for the day.
The ladies and gentlemen would separate for the morning—the women to find a riding habit for Elizabeth while the men fished.
Luncheon would be served at one in the afternoon, and Elizabeth’s riding lesson would occur after.
The Gardiners intended to make a few calls that afternoon, and Richard and Georgiana would attend the riding lesson, both to offer their advice and to act as a chaperone for the couple.
Elizabeth walked with her aunt to their rooms to find Georgiana, who had broken her fast in her room. “What was the colonel apologising for earlier, Aunt? William’s ears were red, and Uncle was angry,” she asked as soon as they were alone in the hall.
“Elizabeth, I know you possess a curious nature, but I must ask that you not pursue this further for now. The colonel made a rather crude insinuation that was wholly inappropriate for mixed company,” Mrs. Gardiner told her firmly.
“But he did not actually say anything,” Elizabeth protested. “At least, I do not think he did.”
“He did not say anything directly, but it was implied in his look at Mr. Darcy. The comment embarrassed that gentleman and angered your uncle. Leave it be, Elizabeth.” Her aunt’s voice made it clear the conversation was done.
They arrived at Georgiana’s room and knocked on the door, which Georgiana quickly opened.
“Good morning!” she cried. “I have several habits laid out for you to try. We are of a similar size, although I am a bit taller than you, so I hope we can find one that will need only a little adjustment.”
“Good morning to you, Georgiana. I am sure we can find one that will do,” Elizabeth said.
“I like this one for you, Miss Bennet,” the girl said, pointing out a dark green riding habit with a detachable train. “It is one of my older ones so that it may fit your height better than some of my newer ones. Will you try it on?”
“I would be happy to, Miss Darcy. But I have one request to make of you first. Since we will be sisters soon, I would ask that you call me Elizabeth or Lizzy,” Elizabeth told her.
“Then you must call me Georgiana. I have always wanted a sister.
Not one like Miss Bingley, who is not very sisterly even with her own sister, but one I could laugh and talk with.
When William first mentioned you in his letters from Hertfordshire, I began to imagine what it would be like to have a sister like you.
William was most impressed when you walked three miles to care for your sister when she fell ill at Netherfield.
I do not think he realised how much he wrote of you until I asked him about you when he returned from Hertfordshire.
“In Kent, he did not write of you, but Richard mentioned you were there in one letter. When I asked William about you when he returned, he was very abrupt, asking how I knew you had been there, and I think he was rather angry with Richard for it. I always thought William admired you from how he wrote about you, and I was very pleased to find you here when we arrived and learned the two of you are engaged.”
Elizabeth looked at her aunt rather helplessly. How was she supposed to explain her turbulent relationship with the girl’s brother? Clearly, William had not said much, but neither would she expect him to confide in a much younger sister.
“Let me go in the other room to try on this habit so we can decide what alterations must be made. My meeting with your brother here was quite by accident, but it was very fortuitous, and I am delighted to be engaged to him now. Later, you may have to tell me what he said about me in his letters so I may tease him about it,” Elizabeth said as she went into the dressing room with Georgiana’s lady’s maid.
After she was dressed in the riding habit, she came back into the bedroom to model for the other ladies.
Her aunt appraised her carefully. “It fits well. The length is good, as is the fit around the waist, but the bodice is a bit tight. How does the jacket feel?”
“It is a bit snug in the chest, I am afraid. That will not be as easy an adjustment,” Elizabeth told her aunt. “Is there another jacket that might work with the skirt?”
Georgiana held up another jacket. “What do you think of this one?” She held up another one that contrasted nicely with the skirt.
Elizabeth slid her arms out of the other jacket and tried on the newer one.
The chest was still tight, but she could breathe more easily in this one.
“I am afraid, Georgiana, I am a bit more well-endowed than you. Maybe when we go to Lambton to shop, we can look in at the dressmaker and see about having a riding habit made for me. If I am going to learn to ride, I will need a better-fitting jacket.”
“She is outstanding with taking older gowns and refurbishing them to fit. She would likely know how to make either of these jackets fit you better,” Georgiana offered.
“That is a wonderful idea, Georgiana. When we go to Lambton later this week, we can take these jackets and ask,” Elizabeth said.
“You would do well to order a few dresses from the dressmaker while we are there. Winters in Derbyshire are cold, far colder than you are used to. The dressmaker here will be better equipped to help you obtain what you will need,” her aunt suggested.
“Is it not a bit presumptuous, Aunt?” Elizabeth wondered.
“You are engaged, my dear. I think it is safe to expect that you will spend some time here soon,” Mrs. Gardiner replied.
“But we have not discussed…,” Elizabeth trailed off, remembering his comments from that morning about how he would always live at Pemberley if he could. “I do not have the funds to purchase several dresses right now. And Papa has not said yet how much I may spend on a trousseau.”
“Your uncle and I would happily purchase several dresses for you, my dear. They will be far less costly here than in town. And I believe purchasing here will help when you become the mistress of this estate,” her aunt wisely added.
They decided the outfit would work for the lesson that day and tomorrow’s picnic.
Elizabeth changed into her morning dress, and the group headed down to the music room, where Georgiana offered to play for them.
After playing a few short pieces, she asked Elizabeth to play a duet or two with her.
When the gentlemen returned after changing, they found the two girls playing together with Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana’s companion, chatting quietly.
William smiled to see the two women he loved best enjoying each other’s company.
Luncheon was announced, and the group entered the dining room. The conversation was easy between the six, with Richard entertaining them all with stories of the fish they caught, with Darcy and Gardiner occasionally offering clarification about one of the colonel’s more outlandish statements.
When lunch was over, everyone headed upstairs to prepare for the afternoon’s activities. Soon, the Gardiners were in their carriage directed toward Lambton and the rest toward the stables.
Several horses were saddled and ready when they arrived.
Georgiana demonstrated how to place the riding habit to ensure her legs were covered and the proper posture for riding sidesaddle.
Although Georgiana had used the mounting block, William lifted Elizabeth into the saddle and helped her arrange her skirts around her.
When he accidentally touched her ankle, he grinned unrepentantly, and she just glared at him, although she finally relented and smiled prettily at him when he offered her a compliment.