“I don’t think I could have ever forgiven him,” Georgiana exclaimed passionately. “Not for saying such a thing. I can hardly believe it.”
“He has manyothervirtues,” Elizabeth replied, relieved that the girl had not asked her about eitherconversationorfortune hunting.
“Do come over here, over here.” Lady Susan stood and waved them back to her. “I’ve a matter to ask you about before Darcy shows up again.”
It took an effort to make herself don the appropriate mood to reply to Mr. Darcy’s cousin, but with a quick effort Elizabeth did so, and walking over to the two ladies, she put down her cup of thick chocolate next to one of the vases of freshly cut flowers. Just how much money did they spend replacing these flowers every morning?
She should check the accounts if she wanted to know,which likely she did not.
“Cousin Susan,” Elizabeth said in a cheerful tone, “as long as you do not intend to give me the name of your modiste again, I am one ear, from head to toe.”
“She is by far the most—”
Elizabeth waved her finger in Lady Susan’s face. “No, no! Not the modiste.”
Behind her she was aware of Georgiana’s intent observation of their conversation.
“You really are a pretty thing, and I just want you to look the best, like Georgiana does. You have an eccentric beauty that must be polished. I told Darcy that,” Lady Susan replied with a downturned frown.
“An eccentric beauty?” Elizabeth laughed. “I’ve not heardthatabout myself before.”
“But what I wanted to ask you about is this,” Lady Susan said. “Help me convince Mr. Darcy to dress as he ought.”
Lady Matlock rolled her eyes, and clearly from her manner she thought this conversation was ridiculous.
“How ought he to dress? — I’ve found nothing wanting.”
“Better — the way my husband does. Oh, there is nothingwanting. But he could be so muchmore. And he owes it to the world. Now you must know I love Charlie beyond all reason and sense.” Lady Susan’s voice was filled with delight. “He is my perfect match, but a woman would need to be blind to not see that Mr. Darcy is wholly his superior in figure, mien, and even carriage.”
Elizabeth had not expectedthatto be where this conversation would go.
She felt as a jolt the memory, Darcy’s lips on her. The way his intent eyes always studied her. Her cheeks heated up. “A fine looking man, no one has ever denied that.”
“It is his duty!” Lady Susan growled. “I have thought thatsince the first time I saw him, when we visited old Mr. Darcy for Christmas for the first time after my marriage. He had only begun his studies at university, but he was so tall — and dressed in that drab, serviceable style. Why… why…? It is not fair to the world! He could be a fashion plate for a magazine titledHandsome and Dull Quarterly— but he is not dull at all. A sharp mind. A loving brother, son, cousin. But he never allowed me to convince him to dress as he ought, even though he always let me suggest clothes for Georgiana.”
“Horrid,” Elizabeth said. “To ignore well-meant advice upon the matter of his own dress. I could never imaginehimdoing so.”
Lady Matlock looked at Elizabeth with a repressed smile, but Lady Susan was too intent on her cause to detect any sarcasm. “Yes, well, you are better matched than you might think. Now you see, I have a notion of how you could convince him to select a better style. Mostly you must simply wheedle him, use your arts and allurements, say—”
Lady Susan pressed the back of her hand against her head and dramatically threw herself back on the couch, “Oh, Fitzy, it would fill me with delight beyond imagining, and a tingling longing for your touch were I to see you dressed in such a coat as is in this fashion plate. Dearest, will you not buy and wear a waistcoat such as this, with all that lovely goldwork? Just for me?”
“Are you in jest?”
“I never,” Lady Susan sat up straight, “jest about matters of fashion.”
“At the least, I cannot imagine ever referring to Mr. Darcy asFitzy.”
“Well, why not?”
Lady Matlock laughed. “Do not let Susan deceive you — she does not either. No one would but the children. ExceptRichard, and even he left it off around the time he was made Captain.”
“While that would… I am certain it would inspiresomethingin Mr. Darcy if I were to speak to him in such a manner,” Elizabeth replied, “I do not think I—”
“Eliza! This is serious.”
“I hardly think it is.”
“Do you not wish Mr. Darcy to dress to his full potential? He does not.”
