Chapter 18
Soon after breakfast, as promised, Darcy, Elizabeth and Georgiana left to visit the book shop. Elizabeth felt as giddy as a child on Christmas Day.
Elizabeth and Georgiana sat on the forward-looking barouche bench lacing their arms together while Darcy sat opposite them and smiled at the two ladies, happy maidens who giggled like little children.
For Darcy's part he was always ready and very happy to please his sister.
She was uncomplicated and asked very little of him but attention.
He knew that as Georgiana's older brother, herself being a young woman who had lost her father while she was still very little, she would naturally look up to him as some sort of hero.
And in his arrogance he was more than willing to be that hero.
As for Miss Bennet, she was a breath of fresh air that had intruded upon their lives without apology. Now Darcy realised that Elizabeth was slowly taking over every space available to her.
However, he told himself confidently, as bewitching as she was she was not for him, so he should proceed with caution in order not to give her the wrong idea and break her heart in the process.
He sighed and felt sad… Elizabeth was everything lovely a man like him could wish for, completely unaware of her own goodness. But he was certain some other man, likely undeserving, would be the beneficiary of her graciousness.
When they arrived at Hatchard’s Elizabeth’s eyes widened, as if to receive all the glorious sights in at the same time.
She was mesmerised.
She bought a book for herself, a sentimental novel by ‘A Lady’ called Sense and Sensibility. But when it came to finding something for her father she struggled to decide what to choose.
Darcy understood her dilemma since he understood her father already had a number of first edition titles of which he was very proud. He had met her father only once and although he had not spent long talking to him, he perceived he was an intelligent and witty man.
His daughter was very much like him.
“Miss Bennet, here is an illustrated edition that I think your father would like very much,” he passed her a book and she turned it in her hands examining it.
“A specially illustrated edition from the collection of The Canterbury Tales?” Her face brightened, “he would adore it. The actual book is one of his favourites... what a beautiful binding. ” Then she paled as she saw the price tag on the back.
“However, I would have to rob a bank in order to afford this.” She put the book back on the counter with a sigh, “another day perhaps.”
She remained looking and finally settled on a book of poetry by George Crabbe. Her father would enjoy the unsentimental depiction of provincial life and society. “This will do,” she whispered.
Once her purchases were completed Darcy took the ladies to Gunter’s Tea Shop for ices and cake.
As soon as they entered the shop, Darcy and Georgiana spied and waved to two ladies sitting towards the back. They waved in return and signalled for the Darcy’s party to join them.
The older lady was of an age with Lady Anne and the younger was a pretty blonde with piercing blue eyes who could not be much older than Elizabeth.
“Aunt Matlock, Emily, allow me to introduce to you, Miss Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Miss Elizabeth Bennet this is Lady Matlock and Lady Emily of Matlock House in London and Matlock Manor in Derbyshire,” Darcy said after kissing both of them.
The ladies curtsied to each other as Darcy had the seating adjusted for them to join his relatives.
Lady Matlock smiled at Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, Lady Anne told us of your visit and we are so glad you could join us for the season.”
Emily joined her mother in welcoming Elizabeth into their midst by lacing her arm with Elizabeth and pulling her to sit at her side, “It will be wonderful having another young lady to spend time with.” She looked pointedly at Darcy, “if Darcy sanctions your friendship with his mother and sister, you must surely be the most outstanding sort of young lady; precisely the kind to meet the approval of my exceedingly fastidious cousin.” She laughed.
Elizabeth liked the young lady immediately; it would indeed be wonderful spending time with another woman who was not afraid of Mr Darcy and did not worship the very ground on which the man walked.
“Lady Emily, I assure you, my lady, I am far from outstanding, as Mr Darcy can testify himself, but the pleasure will indeed be all mine,” She said and smiled mischievously at Darcy who chuckled in turn.
Emily shook her head vehemently, “there will be none of this my lady business between us Miss Bennet. None of my friends call me that, for it makes me feel as old as Mama here.” The young noble laughed as her mother shook her head in good humour.
“In that case, Emily, there will be no more Miss Bennet either, we shall simply be Elizabeth and Emily.”
“What about me?” Georgiana asked and pouted exaggeratedly before she burst out laughing.
“Very well, then,” Elizabeth said as if placating a recalcitrant child, “Emily, Elizabeth and Georgiana.” She stressed the last name to Georgiana’s satisfied giggle.
“There! Are you all happy now? May I carry on with what I was going to say? My goodness, I can see the three of you will be a handful.” Lady Matlock said genially.
Darcy chuckled, “but you only have one third of the trouble, I have two thirds,” and he winked at his sister and Elizabeth, who felt her heart rate increasing with those blasted dimples on full display.
“Regardless,” the lady continued, “I was going to say, I talked to your mother this morning and she agreed that you have no previous engagement for tonight. Therefore you shall dine with us at Matlock house.”
“Oh how wonderful, Mama. We shall have so much fun.” Emily said smiling brightly.
Elizabeth could not help but love the young lady, for she made her feel so welcome.
As they talked animatedly, a sycophantic voice was heard from behind, “Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, how wonderful to see you in Town. I thought you were in Derbyshire, for it has been an age since we were last together in that dreadful little town in Hertfordshire.”
Darcy turned and glared at the woman, “Miss Bingley, you knew we were in Town, since my mother went to pay you a little visit a couple of days ago, did she not?”
Miss Bingley paled and her smile wavered. “Oh yes, it was wonderful seeing our beloved Lady Anne again.”
Darcy flattened his lips, “Madam, I do not wish to give you the cut direct as my mother threatened to do, but if you insist on disregarding our wishes, I will have no other alternative.”
Miss Bingley looked desperate, “Why are you treating me like this Mr Darcy, after we showed you and your family such hospitality?”
“Using my sister’s name to gain an advantage over a perceived adversary was not kindness, Miss Bingley.”
Her demeanour went from contrite and pleading to angry accusation within seconds, “those Bennets are a grasping lot, Mr Darcy,” she pointed at Elizabeth furiously, “I remember you saying if Miss Elizabeth was a beauty then her mother must be a wit. But I see she has improved in your estimation since then. And why is she in town? I wager she weaselled her way into your society to get an invite from your mother for a free season.”
Lady Matlock stood up abruptly, “I do not know who you are young lady, but I am sure you have heard the name Matlock before. Therefore, carry on with your business or I will get you thrown out of here and it will not be pleasant for you.”
Miss Bingley hesitated for a moment but then realised she had no friends in the establishment. Everybody turned their back on her and she found herself being escorted by the proprietor who secured her firmly by the arm and told her without mincing words to never return.
Elizabeth lowered her head in shame.
Darcy looked at her in consternation, “Miss Bennet…” he started.
She put her hand up to stop him, “no, please do not concern yourself, Mr Darcy; let us not allow Miss Bingley to destroy this beautiful day.”
Lady Matlock tried bravely to restore the camaraderie and Emily squeezed Elizabeth’s hand and whispered, “She is just jealous, Elizabeth, do not give her the power to ruin your joy.”
Elizabeth squeezed Emily’s hand in return and smiled gratefully, “no, of course not.”
The conversation carried on but the easiness between them had left for good. Soon they said their goodbyes and promised to meet later for dinner.
Darcy tried to catch Elizabeth’s eyes during the carriage ride home, but she would not look at him. She looped her arm with Georgiana and completely ignored him while he felt his frustration mounting.
When they arrived back at Darcy House, Elizabeth excused herself retiring to her bedroom citing tiredness, leaving the family to meet together in the drawing room.
“What happened?” Lady Anne asked, confounded.
“Miss Bingley happened.” Georgiana burst out. “I wish I could slap that woman.” The girl said angrily.
“What did she do and why did you, William, allow her to even look in your direction?”
“She caught us unaware, Mother; she descended upon us at Gunter’s when we were having tea with Auntie and Emily.”
“However,” Georgiana blurted out, “what really hurt Elizabeth were your own words about her and her mother. You gave Miss Bingley the power to hurt Elizabeth and I am ashamed of you.” Georgiana said waving her finger, her eyes shooting daggers at him.
Darcy sighed but made no reply.
“What happened?” His mother asked one more time.
Georgiana recounted the events of the afternoon and Miss Bingley’s words that she used like a knife to stab Elizabeth in the heart in front of her new friends.
Once Georgiana completed the tale, the lady turned to her son, “and what do you propose to do about that, William?”
Darcy looked miserably at his mother, “What can I do when she will not even look at me?”
“Oh, so you want her to make it easy for you, do you? You think you can walk roughshod over people’s hearts and then when it is convenient for you, they have to forgive you at the crook of your finger.”
“No, of course not… I…”
“You what?” His mother interrupted him angrily, “I remember hearing that derogatory remark at Netherfield and I was appalled by it. Imagine what Elizabeth must have felt hearing it and in front of new friends who do not know her.”
Darcy looked down to his feet, feeling chastised like a school boy.
“You seem to have made a profession out of insulting Miss Bennet, William. I do not know what happens to you when it comes to Elizabeth; she seems to bring out the absolute worst in you.” His mother berated him, “and let me tell you, son, if she refuses to forgive you it will be exactly what you deserve… to have lost the friendship of such an outstanding young woman. She will have proven that you, despite your protestations, really prefer the sycophantic adoration of the debutants of the Ton, who vie for your attention and blind approbation.”
Darcy winced, totally ashamed of himself, “I will apologise to her, Mother, at the first opportunity.” He said embarrassed, “I should be quite proficient at it by now.”
He then got up and left the house trying to flee his own skin.