“I look forward to meeting that young lady as much as I do the two who may be our future daughters,” Lord Matlock boomed. “As much as I am disgusted that she needed to act in her father’s stead, I am ready to laud her for her quick thinking.”
Bingley had gone to Gracechurch Street to help convey that party to Darcy House. Thus, Bingley, the Hursts, four Gardiners, three Bennets, and one Lucas were announced by the butler. Introductions between those who had never met before were soon made.
It did not take Darcy long to see not only were the two Gardiner children who had been included very well behaved, but the Gardiner parents were fashionable and more like a lady and gentleman than many in theTon.
Elizabeth was grateful she had already begged Mr Darcy’s pardon. Had he not forgiven her, she was not sure she would have been able to attend the dinner at his house. Not even her desire to support Janey, Mary, and Charlotte would have overridden her shame if this had been before she apologised. As it was, Elizabeth felt herknees weaken at the dimple revealing smile she received from Mr Darcy, after he had warmly welcomed her, and those she arrived with, to his home.
‘That was another thing about which I was wrong,’ Elizabeth owned silently. ‘He does not look at me to find fault.’ At the same time, she understood she had told herself that lie because if she had acknowledged the truth, all of her beliefs she had still been holding onto like a tenacious dog grips its bone, would have been called into question; at that time, she was not yet prepared to see the truth.
While she knew she was not ready to be in a romantic relationship until after she confronted her father, Elizabeth could not but wonder what it would be like to be the object of Mr Darcy’s affections.
It was pleasing to see how accepting the Earl and Countess were of Charlotte and Mary and how at ease they were with their guests. Elizabeth was impressed the members of this family did not seek the things polite society dictated regarding an acceptable match. Indeed, compatibility, character, and love were more important.
Before dinner, Darcy engaged Miss Elizabeth in a debate aboutThe Chapter of Accidents, a play both had read but neither had seen performed, written by Miss Sophia Lee. Darcy argued it was a simple rewriting in English, ofLe Père de Familleby Denis Diderot, while Elizabeth maintained it was rather inspired by Monsieur Diderot’s writing, and not only a translation. She asserted had it simply been a rewriting, Mr Colman the elder, would not have produced it at the Haymarket Theatre in 1780; furthermore, at the time, it had been a great success.
Darcy conceded her point. He had not believed what he had argued but had been enthralled by Miss Elizabeth’s intelligence and ability to debate as well, if not better, than some of the Cambridge men who had been in the debating society with him at that venerableinstitution of higher education.
When Killion announced dinner, and thanks to no formal seating that evening, Darcy offered Miss Elizabeth his arm to escort her to the table. She had taken it without hesitation which left Darcy grinning like a schoolboy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
There was only a short separation of the sexes as three men wanted to return to the lady to whom he was openly connected. Darcy’s desire was to spend more time with Miss Elizabeth, who he hoped, when she was ready, would be willing to move beyond only a friendship.
Becca and Gigi, with Lilly and Eddy watching them, played a duet after tea and coffee had been served. The rest of those in the drawing room were split into smaller groups. The Matlocks were speaking to the Gardiner parents, while Jane, Bingley, and the Hursts were seated together, having a discussion. The Fitzwilliam brothers were respectively speaking with the lady who he was courting, while Elizabeth and Darcy were seated off on their own, furthest from the rest of those in the room. They were close one to the other, but still well within the bounds of propriety.
“You had told me you needed a period of introspection, how goes it?” Darcy enquired so she was the only one who would hear him.
“For now, I have suspended my self-discovery,” Elizabeth reported. She did not miss the way his eyebrows jumped up. “There may be more in the future, but so far, I have reached the conclusions I needed to reach.” She paused as she cogitated about the words she needed to use next. “I will return to Longbourn sooner than planned, but now the hard work begins. Putting into practice that which I now know I need to do.”
Knowing it was not his place to ask her to expound on what she had just told him, and that he may never feel it hisplace to do so, he asked, “How much longer will you be in London before travelling into Hertfordshire?” He was well pleased to learn she would return with them all.
Without Mr Darcy’s prompting, Elizabeth added, “I am sure you are trustworthy, and will not repeat what I am about to say, but one of my hardest tasks will be to confront my father. I will not go into the details of why, but safe to say, for me to face my father about what I need to, will not be pleasant.”
“If you need a friend, you need only ask,” Darcy responded. He had heard tell of how Miss Elizabeth had always been very close to her father, so he was sure, based on what she had just said, the coming conversation would not be an amicable one.
“It will be done after my sister and your friend’s wedding,” Elizabeth revealed. She explained why she felt she had to wait.
It impressed Darcy that as much as she felt it critical to face her father, she would do nothing to negatively affect her dearest sister’s wedding. Before they could continue the discussion, the Colonel joined them.
“Mary told us of the suggestion to seeThe Tempest. Mother and Father, and the rest here all agree that unless either of you object, we can go to the theatre for the Saturday evening’s performance. The Matlock box is available, what of yours?” the Colonel queried.
Darcy looked at Miss Elizabeth. “As long as my aunt and uncle have agreed, I am at their disposal,” she stated.
“They have,” the Colonel confirmed.
“Then yes, my box is available and I will be happy to open it for us all to see the play on Saturday,” Darcy agreed.
After his guests departed, Darcy sat in his private sitting room with one finger of brandy in a heavy crystal glass. Subsequent to what Miss Elizabeth had trusted him enough to relate this evening, he came to believehis hopes for a future with her were not unattainable.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After bolts of fabric were chosen from Gardiner’s warehouse, thanks to Lady Matlock’s influence—Miss Jane Bennet was after all the sister of her future daughter—Jane and her sisters were accepted as clients by the premier modiste in London—Madam Chambourg at her shop on Bond Street. She only accepted new customers if they were recommended by one of her important patrons. Even though her father had not given her very much money to buy clothing, her wonderful fiancé had insisted the bills be sent to him.
In the past, shopping had not been a favourite pastime for Elizabeth, in fact it used to be the opposite. However, unlike how she would have in the past, not one negative word crossed her lips. Also, there was no rolling of the eyes or any other non-verbal indications she would rather her fingernails be pulled out. She was there to support Jane, and Elizabeth understood her aversion mirrored her father’s. Like many things, she needed to discover her own opinions regarding shopping. So far it had been rather enjoyable.
The Countess was included among the shoppers so she could get to know all of them better—especially Miss Lucas and Miss Mary. While the ladies were busy ordering and acquiring Jane’s trousseau, the men who were free of business congregated at White’s to partake inmanlypursuits.
Jane was given a tour of her fiancé’s house on Curzon Street, and that evening dinner would be hosted there. On Friday, the dinner was at the Gardiners’ house and attended by all, including the Earl and Countess.
