Molly entered the parlor bearing the tea tray. Archie recognized her and trotted to her side, sniffing in her pocket until she had deposited the tray on the table and extracted a treat from her apron.
“Thank you, Molly,” said Georgiana. “Stay a moment, please. You will want to hear this, I am sure.” The look she gave Darcy felt like a tap on the shoulder for him to carry on.
Once Aunt settled in her chair with her tea, Darcy said, “Since you are an admirer of Mario Rossi’s paintings, how would you like a portrait from the original artist?”
“A portrait?”
“You remember the sketch Georgiana showed you of my likeness?”
“How could I forget? Of course, I would love to have a Mario Rossi portrait!”
“Not a Mario Rossi, an original Elizabeth Bennet. Ifshe agrees to paint at all, she will want to do it with her own name.”
Her hand fluttered over her heart. “Catherine will be beside herself! Miss Bennet is welcome to stay at Matlock House as long as she needs, and you may court her there while I introduce her to Society. Does she have a maid or a companion?”
Georgiana smiled at the maid. “Elizabeth will need a lady’s maid?someone she can trust and help put her at ease. Are you up to the task?”
Molly bobbed up and down on her feet, smiling from ear to ear. “Oh, miss, it would be a dream come true!”
Aunt finished her tea and rose from the couch. “Come Richard, I have a letter to write, and I am not letting you out of my sight until my dinner party is under way.”
They departed, and Bingley followed with Archie. Not having more tasks, Darcy took a seat at the table across from Georgiana. “Do you want to go for a drive in the park with me?”
“Will the route you are planning take us by Gunther’s?” she grinned.
Gone was the melancholy girl with a broken heart and a lost painting. Darcy had not returned her Rembrandt as he had intended, but the past two months had brought them closer, and he was determined to continue giving her his time. “I will make certain of it.”
CHAPTER 40
Elizabeth held the sealed envelope in front of her. The paper was thick and heavy, the embellishments intricate, the wax seal grand. Everything about the letter was designed to impress, and Elizabeth sensed that her life would change once she opened it. She was equal parts excitement and fear.
“It looks like it could be from Queen Charlotte!” exclaimed Kitty.
Lydia squinted to read. “The Right Honorable The Countess of Matlock. Maybe it is an invitation to a society ball!”
“Matlock… Matlock… Where have I heard that name?” mumbled Mama.
Papa’s eyebrows furrowed. “I believe Mrs. Gardiner would know the name well.”
“The family name is Fitzwilliam,” said Mary, confirming Papa’s suspicion and creating a strong reaction around the table.
Lady Matlock was Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother! Mr. Darcy’s aunt.
“Come on, Lizzy, open it!” insisted Mama.
The whole family stared at Elizabeth around the breakfast table, their plates forgotten. Papa’s newspaper and correspondence lay untouched at his side.
“It must be important if it was sent by messenger,” suggested Jane.
What if it was bad news?
“If I were to receive a letter by messenger, I would open it immediately,” said Lydia impatiently.
Elizabeth cracked open the seal. The message was brief and written in an elegant hand. “Lady Matlock requests an interview. She will arrange for a carriage to convey me to London so that I may paint her portrait if I choose.”
Not bad news, but Elizabeth did not quite know what to make of it.
“What does this mean?” asked Mama.
