Vol 2, Chapter 2 #3
“Did I not mention that this morning, William?” Elizabeth asked innocently.
“No, Elizabeth, you did not. You acknowledged you were wealthier than known and who your connections are,” Darcy’s arched brow brought out a delightful smile from her, and he would be glad to learn her secrets for the rest of his days, should he be so fortunate.
“May I tell him about the town houses, Lizzy?” Richard asked and Elizabeth nodded. “You know the two houses opposite Darcy House that are leased out?” Richard asked.
“They belong to the Bennets?” Darcy asked in genuine surprise.
“They do,” Elizabeth explained the part of the story she knew about an ancestor winning five acres and allowing the land to become part of Grosvenor Square in return for the houses.
The housekeeper knocked on the door and entered at Charlotte’s answer. “Miss Anne de Bourgh, mistress.”
“So this is where all my cousins are hiding?” Anne asked irreverently as she sat down next to her friend. “Your husband is commiserating with my mother while she gets used to the new reality which is less than a month away.”
Anne explained the terms she had laid down in return for her mother not being banished to the dower house, and Darcy was most pleased at the embargo on talk of the phantom engagement. “I am sorry we left to change and missed the fun,” Richard stated with a grin.
“As I am determined to redecorate and make my house a home, what should I do with all of the gaudy pieces my mother bought?” Anne enquired.
“I think I know someone who could help you with that, Miss de Bourgh,” Elizabeth told the frail young woman.
“That is Anne to you, Miss Elizabeth,” Anne responded airily.
“Well then, Anne, it is Elizabeth or Lizzy to you. You are not aware yet, but we will soon be cousins.” Anne looked at both of her male cousins with raised eyebrows.
“It is neither of us, silly goose,” Richard teased her with his long-used term of endearment when they were together as children. “Lizzy’s older sister is betrothed to Andrew.”
“This is rich,” Anne giggled. “Mr. Collins had been telling Mama about your low connections and how you are a poor family of no consequence. I have not been to Town for many a year and am not educated on the latest fashions, but even I can see your clothing is of high quality. You may be a lot of things, but I suspect poor is not one of them.”
“May I tell Anne who your grandparents are?” Darcy asked Elizabeth, his eyes alight with mirth.
“So William knows?” Richard looked questioningly at Elizabeth.
“Not before he apologised,” Elizabeth stated succinctly. “Go ahead William.”
“The Earl and Countess of Jersey!” Darcy said grinning.
“How?” Anne asked. Elizabeth briefly explained her family history to Miss de Bourgh, who was fully laughing by the end of the retelling.
“I am sure my mother will make some insouciant comment to Mr. Collins’s “informed” statement about your family.
Please do not reveal the truth until then.
I cannot wait until she finds out your sister will be her niece and will soon rank above her. ”
Elizabeth readily agreed to her new friend’s request. “Eliza, I think you should wear a Chambourg creation tonight, I know you have some with you,” Charlotte advised.
“You have some gowns here that Madam Chambourg created?” Georgiana asked excitedly.
“I do, Gigi. Would you like to see them?” The younger girl nodded emphatically.
“While I am gone, why do you not tell William and Richard how you got Anne’s mother to order your husband to remove the shelves from the closets?
” Elizabeth suggested with a tinkling laugh.
It was music to Darcy’s ears, the same laugh which had made him really look at Elizabeth for the first time.
Anne had her cousins in stitches as she told the story from her perspective.
Richard was happy that it seemed Charlotte was able manage his aunt as well as she did her husband.
After the two descended from viewing Elizabeth’s gowns, the three cousins departed for Rosings.
Elizabeth promised that the next time she and Gigi were in London at the same time, she would take Gigi to Madam Chambourg’s for her own special fitting.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not long after the party from Rosings departed, a most agitated Collins returned. “My dove, Miss Elizabeth, you will not believe what an infamous way Miss de Bourgh is treating her mother!” He was indignant for his poor patroness.
“In less than a month, Miss de Bourgh turns five and twenty, and Rosings becomes her property.” Charlotte said pointedly.
As Mr. Collins sputtered she added, “I would listen to the daughter and not the mother, if I were you. After all, in a few weeks, Miss de Bourgh will be your patroness and it would not do to alienate her, would it, husband?”
Mr. Collins became still as the wheels turned slowly in head and he returned to his study without another word. No matter how he tried, he could not think of a way not to support his patroness fully without ignoring his actual patroness’ wishes.