Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Lady Barry’s drawing room was in a state of comfortable disorder.
There seemed to be a shawl thrown over the back of every chair, a book lying open upon every table, and the window open as it always was to the sea air, regardless of the season or the complaints of the maids.
Lady Barry lounged upon a sofa with a plate of sandwiches in her lap.
“The door, which had resisted every former attempt, now yielded to her trembling hand,” Elizabeth read aloud. “And disclosed–”
A tap on the door interrupted her. Elizabeth stood near the open window in the best light the room had to offer, a gothic novel by Mrs Worthington in hand and Belle at her feet, as the butler announced Miss Darcy and her brother.
Lady Barry did not even turn her head in their direction, waving them to seat themselves. “Sit down,” she instructed them. “Quietly.”
Disobedience, even hesitation, was impossible. Mr and Miss Darcy sank quickly into the indicated chairs as Elizabeth waited to continue reading, her manner theatrical and suspenseful in the most amusing fashion.
“Well?” Lady Barry demanded. “Must we all suffer for their arrival? Go on, Miss Bennet–she has opened the door–and I insist upon knowing what is behind it!”
Elizabeth grinned at Georgiana and resumed reading obediently, her voice passionate and captivating, as if she were reciting in front of an important audience. “...and disclosed…not the expected passage but a chamber hung in black, in which stood a figure–”
Lady Barry leaned forward in anticipation, ignoring her dog as the spaniel left Elizabeth to greet the newcomers enthusiastically, as if their arrival heralded the highlight of her day.
“...a figure so still, so ghastly pale, that for an instant, the lady believed it to be no living form, but when it moved–”
Their hostess curled her hand about her walking stick. “If it proves a dream, I shall never forgive Mrs Worthington.”
Elizabeth’s voice rose. “–when it moved, and slowwwllly raised its countenance toward her, she perceived–”
She stopped, grinning impishly.
“Well?” Lady Barry demanded imperiously.
Elizabeth snapped the book closed. “The end of the chapter,” she informed them.
For one uncertain instant, it seemed as if Lady Barry might commit an act of violence. “What an abominable woman Mrs Worthington is, though she is an improvement upon Mrs Radcliffe. Set it aside, we shall resume it later, when we are not at the mercy of expectation and civility.”
Elizabeth laid the book aside obediently.
“Now,” Lady Barry continued. “You may be acknowledged, Miss Darcy. I declare, there can only be one identity for the gentleman who accompanies you.”
“Lady Barry, may I present my brother, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.” Miss Darcy rose and curtsied as her brother bowed seriously. “Brother, our mother’s friend.”
“I remember you at ten years of age, young man,” Lady Barry said, before the gentleman could offer any greeting. “You were too grave for a boy then, and you do not appear any more amiable now. I see you have not improved.”
Elizabeth bent her head and lavished attention upon Belle to hide her grin. She suppressed a laugh under what was intended to sound like a cough.
“I recall that meeting, Lady Barry, and I apologise for your disappointment.” Darcy’s wit was dry. “I hope it is not too late to improve, and obtain your approbation.”
“You have my permission to try,” Lady Barry waved them back to their chairs as the butler returned with a new tray with a teapot and fresh cups. “It is more than most gentlemen ever attempt. Lizzy-girl, pour the tea, dear.”
She sat back and appraised Darcy with a keen eye as Elizabeth obeyed. “Your mother was a lifelong friend to my Isobel. For Lady Anne’s sake, you and your sister are always welcome.”
“My mother spoke of Mrs Hagerman and of you often,” Darcy answered. “She would be very happy to know that we have seen you.”
Elizabeth handed him a cup of tea, and steered conversation into polite territory with the assistance of Georgiana, at least as much as Lady Barry allowed with her frequent outrageous declarations, which made the visit highly amusing.
Elizabeth, however, was not surprised when Lady Barry dismissed Darcy as soon as his cup was empty.
“Now,” Lady Barry announced briskly. “You must not expect to be entertained, Darcy-boy. I was never a grandmother, and have not the talent for it. You may go. Leave your sister, if she wishes to remain, and you may send your carriage back for her in an hour or two.”
Georgiana eagerly agreed to remain, not having been invited to join Elizabeth and Lady Barry’s reading hours before. Lady Barry addressed her when her brother had gone.
“You may listen to the reading with me, Miss Darcy,” she allowed.
“The experience will either improve your nerves, or destroy them.” The next two hours were spent in delicious suspense, well-expressed hilarity, and a great deal of fun before Lady Barry waved them out when the butler announced that Darcy’s carriage had returned.
The sun was warm on her face as Elizabeth pushed back her bonnet a bit and enjoyed the brisk salt-tinged freshness of the air. The front door closed behind them as a footman stepped down from the back of the Darcy carriage and lowered the step. Darcy stepped down, prepared to hand his sister in.
“Mr Darcy, Georgiana, it was very pleasant to see you.” Elizabeth curtsied. “I will meet you tomorrow morning at the sea bathing machines, Georgie. Have a lovely afternoon.”
“Pray do not leave us yet!” Georgiana objected. “My brother has promised me an outing today, and I cannot enjoy it half so well without your company.”
“You are very kind, my friend, but your brother is planning an outing for you.” Elizabeth smiled at her friend. “I would not intrude upon your day. I know you have missed his company terribly.”
“You could never intrude,” Georgiana insisted. “You can only improve.”
“If I can say anything that would persuade you, Miss Elizabeth, please, consider it said.” Darcy inclined his head. “For it would bring such sincere pleasure to my sister, and to myself, that I wish I had thought of it before.”
Elizabeth suspected by the glance exchanged by the siblings that it had indeed been thought of before, and that this was a premeditated and well-executed intention.
“If my absence would mar my friend’s day, then I can do nothing but accompany you, for I could suspend no pleasure of dear Georgiana’s.” She accepted Darcy’s hand and stepped up into the carriage.
First, there was some discussion of the seating, for Elizabeth had not presumed and taken the forward-facing seat. Darcy, a most insistent gentleman, would not hear of her facing the rear, and so she found herself next to Georgiana for the duration of the ride.
It was quite an easy distance, and in under a half-hour, they arrived at a very elegant confectioner’s shop. Elizabeth had visited another with her sisters the week before, but she thought that she must encourage them to return here with her, for they would like this shop very much.
The shop was bright and attractively stocked with arrangements of sugared fruits, marzipan, prawlongs, chocolate drops, and iced cakes.
It was a well-attended shop, filled with elegant ladies and gentlemen, and delicately set tables designed to encourage visitors to linger rather than purchase quickly and leave.
Darcy’s servant obtained them a table, and Elizabeth was amused at Georgiana’s eagerness.
“I have only been here once before, when I was a much younger girl,” Georgiana confided as the servant pulled out her chair and she seated herself. “And I enjoyed it so much that my brother promised me that the next time we were in Ramsgate together, we would go every day.”
“Every day! That is quite a promise!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“It seemed easily made at the time, and I hope it will be nearly as easily kept.” Darcy seated himself opposite them.
“How else will I ever try everything if I only visit once or twice?” Georgiana pointed out to the amusement of her brother and her friend. “You must advise me, Lizzy. For now that I am here, I am unequal to deciding what to sample.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Then we shall be undecided together, my friend. I fear this delightful shop has spoiled us for choice.”
“Allow me to oblige you ladies, by requesting a small selection, and the next time we visit, we may try something different.” Darcy turned to the shopkeeper and ordered a pot of tea, a tasting sampler of ices, an arrangement of marzipan sculptures, some iced biscuits, and a dish of candied peel for them all to share.
“Mr Darcy is all generosity.” Elizabeth was pink-cheeked as she surveyed the result of his beneficence as it was all served. “I must thank you again for inviting me.”
“Not at all.” Darcy shook his head. “Your company has improved us, I assure you. Without you, we would have been very dull.”
“It is true! Promise that you will accompany us every day, Lizzy!” Georgiana begged.
“I could not possibly impose upon your outing every day.” Elizabeth laughed.
“Oh, but you must! Do say that you will agree! It will be an adventure, and we shall try everything, twice!” Georgiana insisted.
“I quite agree with my sister that it will be no adventure at all if you do not embark upon it with us.” Darcy nodded approvingly of the plan as he placed two marzipan sculptures and a small parmesan ice on his plate.
“I cannot promise that I will be able to come every day.” Elizabeth hedged.
“My stepmother needs me, and I am at her disposal when she makes commitments. And my younger sisters must be chaperoned when they go out. They have made other friends here, and I must take my proper turns accompanying them. But I will come when I can.”
“We can ask no more than that, Miss Elizabeth. That is very fair.” Darcy discouraged his sister from pestering Elizabeth to promise more.
“Now tell me what it was like growing up at Pemberley.” Elizabeth turned the subject as she sampled another ice. “I have heard so much about it from Georgiana, Priscilla, and your father. It sounds like a fairy tale.”