Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
As Elizabeth and Jane prepared for a dinner at the Darcys’ home, Charlotte entered the room with a slim case in her hand.
“Jane, could you leave us for a moment? I wish to speak to your sister.”
When Jane had gone, Charlotte turned to Elizabeth. “Lizzy, your father gave me this as a gift when Lucas was born, but I have been saving it for a special event to wear it.”
Charlotte’s condition had improved dramatically since the phaeton incident. She had accompanied Mr Bennet, Elizabeth, and Mary to two dances at the assembly rooms, and seemed to be nearly back to her old vigour. She rarely suffered the excessive fatigue that had plagued her after her confinement.
Elizabeth looked down at the case, which Charlotte opened to reveal a lovely, ornate cross of pink topaz and citrine, set in gold, with a pair of matching ear drops.
Elizabeth had never known her father to purchase gold.
Even her own garnet cross which she received the day she came out into society in Meryton was set in silver, which was less expensive.
All of the crosses worn by her sisters were the same.
“It is beautiful, Charlotte,” she said without malice.
“You know, my father never gave my mother any such adornments for any occasion. She complained bitterly when we were given our crosses, but he said that Grandmama Bennet’s pearls suited her well enough.
You should wear it tonight. I am certain it would please him, as you seem to have done. ”
“I am certain that I will do so sometime, Lizzy, but I thought you should wear it tonight, to look your best for Mr Darcy.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Charlotte, I thought my looks were at their best tonight already.” Elizabeth was rather tart. “Besides, I have selected my pomegranate ribbons, which go very well with my ivory silk and my garnet cross.”
“It would be no trouble at all to change your ribbons, Lizzy,” Charlotte insisted.
Elizabeth was firm as she wrapped a string of seed pearls around her coiffure. “Charlotte, you are generous indeed to share such a gift, and I know that your motives are sincere, but I am content with my appearance as it is.”
Charlotte sighed. “I wish you were not so difficult.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “I am not being difficult. You wish me to accept attention from a gentleman, and I am doing so. You cannot expect me to allow you to dress me like your childhood doll. Perhaps you and my father should try for a daughter, if you wish for that. Or give some attention to Kitty. She was sadly neglected by Mama, as you know. She has blossomed under your affection. You ought to allow her out properly next year.”
“But you are so secretive about it!” Charlotte said in frustration. “I wished for you to be more open with gentlemen so that society would not talk of your indifference, and your reserve does nothing to help your sisters!”
“I am not reserved, I am discreet.” Elizabeth scowled.
“My courtship with a gentleman is about my future and my life, not about giving my sisters consequence. If I marry, they will receive all the consequence that you could desire. Mr Darcy is reticent by nature. I will not make a spectacle of him, nor will I allow you to make a spectacle of me.”
“When I married Mr Bennet, you and I promised that our friendship would never change, but you have ceased to confide in me as you once did,” Charlotte complained.
“Charlotte, that was silly of us, as you must now realise.” Elizabeth pulled on her evening gloves.
“Now that you are in an intimate relationship with my father, there are matters you cannot share with me. And you entered your marriage for a far different reason than my courtship with Mr Darcy. You were not in love, and so your feelings upon the matter were different.”
“Are you in love with Mr Darcy?” Charlotte asked eagerly.
“I do not know, for falling in love is not as simple as deciding to marry for a home and position of one’s own, and is not the work of a moment, at least not for me.
” Elizabeth attempted to speak gently to her old friend.
“But I do know that it feels like a very private matter. The most private, precious undertaking I have ever attempted. I have spoken of it with no one. Not even Jane, so you should not feel hurt.”
A knock came from the door, and Jane entered with an enormous box of blooms. “I am sorry to disturb you, but these arrived a few moments ago from Mr Darcy. The note says he hopes Lizzy will wear the red roses and calla lilies, and the rest are for the ladies of the house.”
“How lovely. Jane, would you assist me in working them into my hair?” Elizabeth turned and selected a small bunch of pink and yellow ranunculus and gave them to Charlotte.
“It is quite decided, Charlotte. These red roses would not look well at all with your lovely jewels. You must wear them yourself, and put these flowers in your hair. Ask Lydia to help. She is so good at it. My father will be so pleased.”
“Miss Elizabeth. I am so glad you are here.” Darcy bowed, practically glowing with happiness as he took her hand briefly and pressed it. “I must help my father receive our other guests, but I will join you in the drawing room quite soon. My cousin is waiting for you there.”
Elizabeth smiled shyly and thanked him for the flowers, then greeted Darcy Senior and Georgiana, who would serve as hostess for the evening.
“Good evening, Georgie, you look lovely,” she whispered to her young friend.
“I am so nervous!” Georgiana whispered back anxiously.
“Do not be, my friend. Your father and brother know what they are doing, and they will guide you well.”
“But Miss Bingley will be here, and although she pretends to be kind to me, she is always so unpleasant.” Georgiana looked worried as the next carriage drew up.
“Always follow Priscilla’s lead, or in her absence, mine or Jane’s, until you are more sure of your replies,” Elizabeth advised as she followed her family into the drawing room.
The Darcy cottage was quite a bit larger than many others in Ramsgate, and the dining room was generous. As a result, including the Bennets, there were more than fifteen people in the drawing room when they arrived.
“How many people are invited?” Elizabeth asked Priscilla when she entered the room.
“Including your family and ours, the table is set for twenty-four.” Priscilla looked lovely as she spoke with the assembled guests. “The dining room only seats thirty, so the table shall be nearly crowded.”
Present was the Bennet family, two gentlemen who were calling upon Mary, the magistrate, his wife, their daughter, and two gentlemen calling upon her, as well as Mrs Younge, and Mr Wickham, who were talking quietly in a corner.
Ten minutes later, there was a commotion in the hall as Lady Barry arrived, a rare occurrence in Ramsgate, for the woman favoured nearly no family with acceptance for invitations.
A moment later, she entered the room upon Darcy’s arm, having denied the honour of being escorted into the drawing room by his father.
Darcy’s father and Georgiana followed them.
“Is this everyone?” Elizabeth thought it looked rather shy of twenty-four guests.
“All but the Bingleys.” Priscilla laughed derisively.
“They always arrive last. Miss Bingley believes it makes an impression, but then she gets petulant when her hosts do not wait all night to greet her by the door. Darcy has warned the butler that if they arrive after we have been seated for dinner, to turn them away.”
“Good heavens,” Elizabeth murmured as she turned and bussed Lady Barry’s cheek.
“Lizzy-girl, you look lovely, as always. How convenient that your flowers match those in the room. Quite the declaration. Miss Bennet, I hear that you have lately had a fright, but you look none the worse for it. Reggie’s girl, a pleasure to see you again.”
Jane and Priscilla curtsied in respect as Lady Barry turned to Georgiana. “Miss Darcy, this is all done up very handsomely. Your mother would be well pleased.”
Lady Nibsby, the wife of the magistrate, looked on in awe as the elusive neighbour who humoured no hosts and admitted few guests spoke to those around her with her own brand of affection.
“Young man, still your mother’s eyes and your father’s height and seriousness.
Poor boy, what misfortune to be born fifty years older than the rest of us.
You are improving slowly and imperceptibly.
I am quite certain I know why.” She eyed Elizabeth with a grin before turning to the magistrate’s wife, who had only ever been admitted to her parlour twice in many years.
“Lady Nibsby, is that your daughter by the window with that young rascal? She has grown up quite pretty.”
“Thank you, Lady Barry. Shall I call her over to be introduced?” Lady Nibsby blinked in surprise.
“No need, no need.” Lady Barry turned back to Georgiana. “I heard your father say as we entered the drawing room that not all of your guests have arrived. How inconsiderate of them to be late.”
As if her words had conjured them, the Bingleys were announced to the room by the butler, Mr Bingley looking sheepish, knowing they ought to have been on time.
Miss Bingley looked as petulant as Priscilla had predicted, eyeing Darcy with disappointment not to have entered the drawing room upon his arm.
Mr Hurst looked disinterested, and Mrs Hurst looked quite bored.
“Heavens, that gown is the most vibrant shade of coquelicot I have ever seen. Has anyone ever told her that it is entirely the wrong colour to complement her hair?” Lady Barry asked Elizabeth, making no effort to lower her voice.
“It seems to be a favourite shade of hers, this is the fourth gown I have seen her wear in that colour,” Elizabeth whispered as Miss Bingley glared at them.