Chapter 28 #3
“Not at all. Of course you may, my dear Miss Darcy. With your excellent taste, you can advise my daughters on choosing elegant and beautiful gowns like the ones you wear.” Georgiana smiled inside at the motherly praise.
It meant so much more coming from another woman, from an actual mother.
Mrs Bennet took Georgiana's hand and began speaking with her, asking about the shops she frequented and how large Pemberley and Darcy House in London were.
Mrs Bennet herself was in heaven too, to be here, with this dear, sophisticated girl at the first levels of society!
This poor dear girl who so badly needed a mother.
Fanny felt she had gained another daughter to fuss over and care for.
And it was just as well, because she needed one to replace the daughters that she was losing to marriage.
Mary and Kitty were grateful that Georgiana had intervened and assumed she had done so to rescue them.
They would never have imagined that she had acted because she longed for Mrs Bennet's attention and enjoyed listening to her advice, especially the warmth of her voice and the affectionate way she spoke to her while gently stroking her hands.
“I shall be delighted to show you all my favourite shops, Mrs Bennet,” said Georgiana, determined to play the role of the perfect daughter and thus bask in Mrs Bennet’s motherly praise.
“What a lovely, elegant, and well-bred young lady,” said Mrs Bennet, embracing Georgiana with genuine affection.
Georgiana could not help but smile. She was so gloriously happy. She thought, “I have gained several sisters, and now, even, a mother! Life can be so sweet, at times,” as she let out a soft contented sigh.
“Thank you, Mother, for organising this wonderful birthday celebration with all the people I love so dearly,” said Elizabeth as she embraced Eleanor.
“Don’t forget, my dear girls, I helped as well,” Marcus added with a smile. “We can’t allow your mother to accept all the praise.”
“Of course not, Father. I suppose I must thank you too!” Elizabeth replied, kissing her father on the cheek.
All the guests watched as Elizabeth laughed and embraced her parents. Mr Darcy could not take his eyes off Elizabeth, but he knew she needed time with her parents, and he did not wish to interrupt such a precious moment.
“Mr Darcy, now that we are to be cousins, I hope you will keep your promise to show me your family's collection of weapons. I suppose you will invite us to visit your estate some day,” John said excitedly.
“My son, you should not speak to a gentleman like Mr Darcy in that manner,” Mr Gardiner said, while his wife asked John to apologise.
Mr Darcy could not help laughing at John's remark. Ever since he had met the boy, he had been fond of him. John was intelligent, lively, and amiable. Indeed, he resembled Elizabeth very much in temperament.
“Do not worry, Mr and Mrs Gardiner. I invited John some time ago, and of course I shall keep my promise. I genuinely meant it at the time. Besides, you would be surprised at how few people truly appreciate the fine art of swordsmithing. I would be happy to share my limited knowledge of the craft with you. The other weapons, I fear, are much less refined. Few men and even fewer women even care to consider or discuss such things at all.”
“I will look forward to it. Thank you, Mr Darcy!” said John politely.
Mr Darcy had come to know the Gardiners much better and had grown to appreciate them sincerely.
“John, remember, before making any plans, that we shall soon travel to Spain,” said Laura, looking enthusiastically at Jane and Matthew.
“Mr Darcy, Cousin Matthew has invited us to visit his palace in Spain,” Laura explained.
“It is not Matthew; it is Mateo. When we are in Spain, we must call him Mateo or senoría. Do you know, Mr Darcy, that I shall soon have a marquis for a cousin in Spain? As you can see, I am learning Spanish too,” said John.
“No, John, you must call me Matthew. You may only call me Mateo only when you have learned to speak Spanish properly,” Matthew replied with a laugh.
“Then you will never call him Mateo,” Laura added. “John is not that clever.”
“At least I know I am more intelligent than you,” John retorted.
“You are both intelligent, and you will both learn a great deal during the months you spend with us in Spain,” Jane added in a conciliatory tone. “But learning another language is a very complicated thing that takes a great deal of time and patience.”
“John and Laura, we are here because it is Elizabeth's birthday, and she does not want you quarrelling like two little children,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“But we are children! So, doesn’t that give us both a good excuse?” asked Laura playfully.
Everyone smiled. The little competition between John and Laura had amused them all.
“Yes, you are, but you must learn not to act like it. That is the beginning of maturity and refinement. It is an important lesson to learn in your younger years, for there are adults in this world who continue to act as children. They are considered most ridiculous by society in general. We don’t want that judgment to fall upon you two,” said Jane.
“We are sorry,” John and Laura replied together.
“See? You are already more mature!” said Jane.
The children both stuck their tongues out at one another.
“Oh dear, I fear I may have been too hasty in my praise,” Jane laughed.
Mr Darcy was so comfortable conversing with Jane, Matthew, and the Gardiners that he had almost forgotten about Georgiana.
Hearing a burst of laughter, he turned and saw Richard speaking with Mrs Bennet.
What surprised him most, however, was seeing his sister holding Mrs Bennet's arm and apparently enjoying the conversation.
He could scarcely believe that Georgiana could take such pleasure in Mrs Bennet's company.
“It is amazing how differently we are capable of seeing one another,” thought Mr Darcy after remembering how wrong he had been for so long about Elizabeth Bennet and how wrong she had been about him.
“You really cannot judge a person accurately until you know them thoroughly. First impressions can be powerful, yet they can also be entirely wrong. It would be wise to keep that in mind in both my future and social dealings,” he concluded to himself.
Lord Rockwell arrived somewhat later than the other guests, bearing welcome news. After paying his respects to everyone and indulging Mrs Bennet's conversation for a few minutes, he at last found an opportunity to draw Marcus aside and place an envelope in his hands.
“Marcus, read this immediately.”
Marcus opened the envelope, quickly read the document inside, and handed it to his wife.
“My dear daughter, we have a surprise for you.”
Elizabeth looked at her father and mother and saw that they were both in tears, though their faces shone with happiness.
“Tell me, Father. I am dying to know what this is all about.”
“My dear daughter, the adoption has finally been completed,” Eleanor said.
“You are now officially Elizabeth Bennet-Sinclair,” Marcus added.
“Welcome to the Sinclair family, my dear niece,” Lord Rockwell said.
“It is the finest birthday present I could ever receive,” said Elizabeth, embracing her uncle, a few tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Marcus then proposed a toast and shared the wonderful news with their family and friends.
He raised his glass and looked around at the assembled guests.
“My dear family and friends, before we continue our celebration, I should like to share some wonderful news with all of you.”
The conversations ceased at once, and every eye turned towards him.
“As many of you know, my wife and I have long awaited the completion of a matter that has meant more to us than words can express. I am overjoyed to tell you that the adoption of our beloved daughter has now been legally concluded. From this day forward, she is officially Lady Elizabeth Bennet-Sinclair.”
A murmur of delight spread through the room before the guests broke into warm applause.
“I ask you all to join me in drinking to our family, who, after twenty-one long years, have, at long last, been reunited.”
“To Lord and Lady Sinclair and Lady Elizabeth!” several voices exclaimed as they raised their glasses.
“To the Sinclair family!” echoed the rest of the guests.
Glasses were raised throughout the room, and everyone gladly drank to the happiness of the family who had finally found one another again.
At dinner, Lord Rockwell announced to everyone present that, in a fortnight, Lord Sinclair, Lady Sinclair, and their daughter, Lady Elizabeth, would make their debut in the ton. He would present them to society at the magnificent ball he was organising.
Throughout the dinner, John, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Elizabeth kept everyone entertained by sharing amusing anecdotes.
The colonel kept everyone amused with stories of hijinks amongst his troops in camp.
Elizabeth told stories of the elaborate games she and her sisters would create with one another to entertain themselves on long and dreary days.
“And Mary actually stayed hidden in that tree for over an hour, thinking she was winning, while the rest of us had all decided to stop playing!” laughed Elizabeth.
“It is a shame,” said Mary, “it really was the perfect hiding place. It was so comfortable. I think I fell asleep! I still consider myself to have won that particular game of hide-and-go-seek,” said Mary with a bit of mock exasperation.
Everyone laughed.
After dinner, Mr Darcy found an opportunity to speak privately with Elizabeth.
“My dear, once all this is over, I hope we may formally announce our engagement.” Mr Darcy did not wish to wait any longer. Nearly three months had passed since he and Elizabeth had kissed in Hertfordshire, yet they still could not become officially engaged.