Chapter One
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief as the Gardiner children were whisked off by their governess, leaving her alone with her sister and their aunt.
Upon her arrival in Gracechurch Street, she was met with a gratifying level of enthusiasm from her beloved cousins, which was always charming, but she was impatient for the sharing of secrets that could only take place when she was alone with her favorite confidante.
Jane looked just as eager to discuss private matters as Elizabeth felt – and after her stay in Hunsford, Elizabeth had a great deal to discreetly impart – but Madeline Gardiner had other plans.
Aunt Madeline exchanged a knowing glance with Jane and then crossed the room to retrieve three glasses of wine and a very elegant letter.
Elizabeth raised a brow at being offered such libations so swiftly, and she scrutinized her sister’s face with an uncanny feeling that her aunt was about to persuade her of something she might naturally resist. Jane gave her a tight smile and the slightest shrug of her shoulders before focusing her attention on her own cup of wine.
“Well, Lizzy, your sister and I have much to acquaint you with!” Aunt Madeline toyed with the letter in her hands, looking very much as if she relished what she had to say, and wished to prolong the telling of it.
“You may recall that last year, at the annual Twelfth Night ball at Haye Park, your neighbors the Gouldings introduced your uncle and me to their relations from Sussex.”
“The old Goulding girls, as they are known by their kin in Meryton. Yes, meeting them was an experience I shall not soon forget.” Elizabeth laughed nervously, surprised by the direction her aunt’s revelation was taking.
“I recall they took an interest in patronizing Uncle’s warehouses, but that looks rather like an invitation. ”
Jane pursed her lips, her eyes shining in an unspoken confirmation, but Aunt Madeline clearly had no intention of curtailing her explanation.
“They have done just that, and I have struck up a friendship with Lady Blanche and Lady Rosamund in particular. They are both warm and gregarious, for all their lofty connections.”
Elizabeth had heard enough of the Gouldings of Sussex from their relations in Meryton to suspect exactly what her aunt meant to tell her, but she would not deny the good lady her satisfaction in revealing it. She sipped her wine and listened politely.
“Of course you will have heard of their lauded reputation in the ton. I have never known any widows nor spinsters whose company is so highly sought after; an invitation from them is quite a prize, though I shall confess I had hoped you girls might someday receive one. And here it is, Lizzy – you and Jane are invited to their upcoming house party.”
Aunt Madeline handed over the invitation, which Jane’s subdued interest suggested she had already seen.
Elizabeth studied her sister for a long moment before examining the invitation, which she had the distinct impression her sister wished to accept.
There was an air of doubt in Jane’s smiling countenance, as if she feared Elizabeth would be disposed to decline.
Gold foil embossing framed the thick paper in an elegant filigree pattern, and the details of the event were written in flourishing calligraphy.
Dearest Jane that is the material point.” Aunt Madeline nodded to emphasize her point, but she searched Jane’s downcast face as Elizabeth had done. She extended a hand to each of her nieces.
“The Goulding ladies are renowned for their matchmaking acumen. They have been doing this for ten years, and have made two or three matches each year. I believe there was one year that every lady present received a proposal! They know what they are about with their guest lists; you may depend upon it, Lizzy.”
Jane looked up and nodded her agreement.
“I wish to believe she is right, Lizzy. They must know enough about us from our neighbors at Haye Park. They would not have bestowed an invitation upon anybody without having someone in mind for her. Even if it is not Mr. Bingley, I may meet some other, equally agreeable gentleman.”
“And if it is Mr. Bingley? Can you forgive him? And what if his sister is invited?”
Aunt Madeline laid a placating hand on Elizabeth’s arm.
“If the ladies are aware of Jane’s connection with Mr. Bingley, they must surely be informed of what all of Meryton thought of his sisters.
Jane says they showed none of the local girls but herself any favor, and they used her very ill in departing so suddenly.
I cannot think why the Goulding ladies would invite such a person – it would not behoove them to fill their parties with such self-important fortune hunters. ”
Jane looked down again to conceal a gratified smile at her aunt’s harsh words, which were well-deserved after the Bingleys’ poor dealings with Jane since she had been in London.
Elizabeth grinned at her aunt. “You make a compelling case, I shall grant you. I heartily consent, of course. I only wanted to be sure that you are truly content with the scheme, Jane. I would not see you hurt again.”
“I shall look upon it as I daresay you intend to, Lizzy. It will be diverting and undoubtedly very grand. We shall make some interesting new acquaintance and have many diverting experiences.”
“That is just what I think! How clever to take the words from my own lips, sister mine.”
Jane imitated the arch look Elizabeth had long perfected. “And if one or both us happen to be swept off our feet by a dashing baronet, I should hardly repine.”
“You already know I require a vast deal – I cannot think whether our hostesses are prepared for my exacting standards.” Elizabeth’s bright smile flickered as she was struck by the image of Mr. Darcy recoiling in despair from her castigation.
Aunt Madeline gave her a playful nudge. “I hope I need not fear they should present you with any beaux worth refusing as soundly as you have done before.”
Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath. Of course, her aunt could only mean to remind her of Mr. Collins, but once again, it was a different dark shadow that lurked in her heart.
She remembered how he had stared so deeply at her when he handed her his letter that day in the grove, every bit of hurt she had given him welling in his emerald eyes.
And then a terrible, shattering notion crept into her mind. The Goulding girls were indeed prone to inviting guests who had previous dealings with one another. Perhaps it was not Jane who was soon to meet with a gentleman she thought never to see again.
Elizabeth knew not which would be better – which would be worse – if either circumstance was to be dreaded or desired. Confusion nipped at her every attempt to affect sanguinity before her companions.
They spoke a while longer of the preparations to be made, of gowns and shopping, and every expectation for excitement and felicity in the house party, but Elizabeth struggled to mind the conversation.
Instead, she was consumed in the consideration of how publicly Mr. Darcy had once insulted her, how openly she had besmirched him in Meryton, and how likely it may be that the Gouldings of Meryton had mentioned these circumstances to their relations in Sussex.
That night, when the sisters had their first moments of privacy all day, Elizabeth told Jane everything.
As they lay in their bed, larger and softer than the one they shared at home, Elizabeth spared no detail as she described Mr. Darcy’s proposal, the colonel’s revelation, and the contents of the letter she could practically recite from memory after so much examination.
Jane made no acknowledgement of Mr. Darcy’s responsibility for Mr. Bingley’s defection in the autumn. Instead, she only asked, "Do you wish to meet Mr. Darcy again?”
“Of course not! It would be horribly awkward!” Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably, as if her pillow had sensed the hasty falsehood and disobliged her in return.
She pushed her shoulders back against it, running one hand over her face in anguish.
“I suppose I should like to make amends, to see that he is not terribly distressed, and not despising me. I still resent his wrongs against you, but I was wrong about Mr. Wickham.”
“Good Heavens! Imagine if it were Mr. Wickham you met with at Richmond Cove!”
Elizabeth groaned. “I certainly made no secret of my fondness for him – though all that is certainly at an end. I am sure I have not liked him so well since he tried to run off with Mary King, but what I know now is beyond the pale!”
“Or perhaps it will be the colonel you meet with at Rosings, who was so attentive to you. Perhaps somebody in Kent is amongst their correspondence.”
“He was friendly, Jane, but that is all. And he is Mr. Darcy’s own cousin!”
“Well, I refuse to entertain any expectations of whom we shall meet with, Lizzy, and I think you ought to do the same. There is no point in tormenting ourselves for the next week.”
“Well said, Jane! You are perfectly right, of course.” Elizabeth was proud of her sister’s resolve, after so many months of despair. And yet, she found herself unequal to such calm.
As the days grew nearer to their departure southward, Elizabeth became increasingly anxious about the possibility of meeting with Mr. Darcy. It differed from one hour to the next, whether she felt hope or dismay, but the thoughts of him were never far from her mind.