Chapter 39
“Madame Lanchester,” the dark-haired lady said. “Please introduce your patrons to us.”
“Of course, Lady Matlock, Lady Howard,” she said, and introduced the ladies in order of precedence, starting with Mrs Gardiner, as she was unaware that Mrs Bennet outranked her sister, and she was the lady she knew best in the group.
The ladies all curtsied again as they were introduced, but Elizabeth was most curious to see how Lady Matlock would react to the introduction; she was, after all, Lady Catherine’s sister in marriage.
“Bennet,” Lady Matlock noted, “why is that name familiar?” she asked their mother, and when their mother looked to Jane and Elizabeth, Jane, as the eldest, replied.
“We have recently visited with our cousin in Kent. He is parson to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Lady Catherine hosted us at Rosings for dinner several times during our visit,” she explained.
“Richard!” she said. “That was it, my son, Richard, said that he had met two ladies of rare beauty and sense during his recent visit to his aunt’s, and so now I see that he did not exaggerate, your beauty, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth.”
“Let my companion have your directions,” Lady Howard said, and it was only then that they noticed a small lady holding a parasol. The lady was introduced as Mrs Whitney, and the Bennet ladies and Miss Farnsworth acknowledged the introduction.
“Tell me, is young Darcy in town?” Lady Howard enquired of Lady Matlock, and that lady owned that he was. “We must ensure that the introductions are made with these fine young ladies,” Lady Howard said.
“We are acquainted with Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said, and a blush arose on her face, which his aunt and her friend quite misinterpreted.
“Indeed,” Lady Matlock replied, “you must have met in Kent, for he and Darcy always visit with Catherine together.”
“We did see him in Kent, but we had also met him previously in Meryton, the town closest to our father’s estate of Longbourn.”
“Hertfordshire,” Lady Matlock exclaimed, obviously remembering some other fact tied to the name Bennet in her memory.
Lady Howard looked at her, and she merely gave a little smile and nodded, and some unspoken agreement must have been made between the two, for Lady Howard then continued, and in a way that gave much pleasure to Mrs Bennet and her daughters.
“I am hosting a ball next week. I will ensure that you, Mrs Bennet, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth are added to the invitation. Oh, that will be a treat for you girls, for as you know, Darcy is a fine tall fellow, though not so engaging as Colonel Fitzwilliam, but he is a very fine dancer.”
The ladies spoke for some short minutes further, before recalling the errand which had drawn them to the shop– a gift for the daughter of a friend– and biding them all adieu, with promises of invitations to follow.
This happy meeting had given new impetus to the acquisition of dresses, and the modiste now looked to choose both fabrics and designs for the coming ball.