“No, sir. We were told not to speak. There were three of us farmers hired to load the wagons that traveled to London.”
Richard questioned the man further, but it was plain the farmer knew very little. Richard said, “I’ll send to the steward of the Blackwood estate, and if he knows you, we will let you go. You understand me and my men here will not tolerate any illegal activity in this region?”
“Yes, sir, I have no wish to cross you.”
Richard asked one of his men to ride over to Blackwood and bring the steward. Then he and Darcy returned to Rosings to plan how they would assist the six newly hired men over the next few weeks, while ensuring that all smuggling had been stopped.
Chapter 54: Wedding Preparations
Elizabeth did not enjoy shopping for gowns. She found the entire process tedious. “Aunt, perhaps we could visit several of the most popular shops and look through ready-made gowns. There are usually a few that, for one reason or another, were not purchased by the woman who placed the order. If there are any that could be altered to fit me, I would be happy to purchase them. It will save hours and hours of decisions on patterns, fabrics, and fittings.”
Mrs. Gardiner frowned. “Elizabeth, that is hardly the behavior expected of Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth pressed. “But, Aunt, we won’t tell them I am to be a Darcy. We won’t even use my name. Perhaps for this month, I can be Miss Gardiner.”
Mrs. Gardiner said, “Very well, we will go to my modiste first. She can do all the measurements for you, and we will see if she has any ready-made gowns. You can try them on, and we can see how they fit and if the colors and fabrics are flattering. Fortunately, most patterns at this time are for long sleeves and empire yokes.”
Jane accompanied the two ladies. They found three ready-made day dresses at the first shop and one at the next. By the end of the week, they had purchased twelve gowns for various occasions, including one riding habit and two travel dresses. All the gowns were taken to Mrs. Gardiner’s modiste, whose clientele were not from the higher circles and who would never have heard of a Darcy. This woman assigned one of her seamstresses to fit each dress to Elizabeth, and she guaranteedthat the alterations would be completed within a fortnight. They would send the gowns to the Gardiner’s home for the last fitting. If any further alterations were needed, Elizabeth was to return with those gowns, and they would do a final alteration. Elizabeth knew that she would accept the dresses, regardless of the fit, because she did not care enough to bother further.
At the end of a long day of shopping, Elizabeth said, “Aunt, I have enough gowns. I am done shopping.”
Mrs. Gardiner shook her head. “My dear Lizzy, that will scarcely see you through a fortnight at Pemberley. Your Mr. Darcy is always so impeccably dressed. He will expect his wife to appear no less distinguished. You must look every inch the mistress of a great estate.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Then I trust Mr. Darcy will not object if I depend upon his appearance to make us both admired.”
At Madame Yvette’s in Cheapside, she was fitted with particular care. The young woman who measured her, Miss Horatia Stevens, helped Elizabeth select the ready-made gowns that would flatter her figure and complexion. Miss Stevens knew how to dress a woman so she would look her best.
“You are very knowledgeable as concerns making the most of one's figure and disguising the flaws, Miss Stevens. How long have you worked with Madame Yvette?”
The girl answered frankly. “I have worked here three years, ma’am. Before that, I worked as a maid at Ravenwood Hall in the Bakewell area. One of the daughters of the house gave me her fashion journals once she was done with them, and I studied them. I taught myself how to sketch gowns as well as create them for my mistress. I brought my sketches to Madame Yvette, and she took a risk on me, and I was hired.”
Elizabeth said, “I am to be married in January, and I need a personal maid. Would you consider the post? My betrothed’s estate lies near Bakewell, though we shall be in London for parts of the season.”
Miss Stevens smiled. “My family lives in Ashford, on the river Wye, very close to Bakewell. If I am allowed a day each week to visit my mother and sisters, I would gladly serve you, madam.”
Elizabeth was much obliged. “I must speak with my intended to confirm your place as my personal maid, but I shall ensure you are taken to your family on your day off and brought back again. Miss Stevens, I shall be glad of your help in dressing my hair and planning my wedding gown. You have a rare gift for making a lady look her best, and I may now think of my wedding preparations with pleasure instead of dread.”
At the end of the month, Elizabeth returned to Hertfordshire. She discovered that her mother’s behavior had improved under Miss Farrow’s guidance, but not to the extent that she agreed to allow Elizabeth to decide on the arrangements for the wedding breakfast and the decorations of the chapel.
At last, Elizabeth appealed to her father. Mr. Bennet said, “Never mind, Lizzy, I shall take care of this at once. Ring the bell, my dear.” Alice appeared at the door a few minutes later. “I need to speak with Mrs. Bennet. Please ask her to come to my study.” Alice curtsied. “Yes, sir.”
When Mrs. Bennet appeared, she looked first at Mr. Bennet and then at Elizabeth. “Yes, Mr. Bennet?”
“My dear, it is Elizabeth’s wedding, not your own. She shall have her way in all the arrangements.”
Mrs. Bennet sniffed and said, “Very well.” She gave her daughter a look that seemed to say we will talk about this later and she walked away. Elizabeth pressed her father’s hand in a show of gratitude, then followed her mother out.
The first days after Elizabeth’s return to Longbourn were spent in receiving congratulatory visits from friends and neighbors. Among the earliest callers were Lady Lucas and Charlotte.
It proved an awkward interview. Lady Lucas, though smiling stiffly, was inwardly seething that this would be the fourth Bennet wedding in a single year, and all to eligible bachelors. Charlotte, for her part, turned a shade of green that was unmistakable. That Elizabeth, who had lost Alexander to Mary King, should now be on the very brink of marrying a wealthy, handsome gentleman, was almost more than she could bear.
Charlotte accompanied her mother, but she did not utter a single word. She sat rigidly, her hands folded tightly in her lap, her eyes fixed upon Elizabeth with an expression that was not congratulation but silent reproach. When at last the visit concluded, she quitted Longbourn more agitated than when she had entered.
Her agitation only deepened. By the time she returned home, she was in a tempest of resentment. To Alexander, she poured out her bitterness.
“Because you are a man, you may pick and choose among the eligible young ladies who catch your eye. There is no set time at which you are required to marry. Even when you reach your fortieth year, you will still be considered eligible. Everything belongs to you, and the most difficult thing you will have to face is which woman you will choose to bear your children. But women? If we are not married by a certain age, we are shelved,and then men turn their eyes to the young girls who are newly out. I have been overlooked again. Elizabeth Bennet is to be married. This is the second man whose eye she has captured, yet no man has ever set his eye on me.” She stood angrily in front of her brother. “She almost had you, and now she is marrying Mr. Darcy. She cares not that she is marrying above herself; her only wish is to be married, and now she has found a man who has offered for her.”
Alexander stared at her, incredulous. “What is this you say? I do not understand. How can this be? That man left Hertfordshire after the Netherfield ball. He has not been here since. He has certainly not been here courting Elizabeth.”
