“Yes, of course! What a splendid idea!” Mrs Bennet piped up.“I am sorry I cannot go. I am engaged to visit Mrs Long, but all of you girls should go and help your sister pick out the finest fabric for her wedding gown. I am sure Mr Darcy will send to London for anything else that is needed at the Pemberley estate for Elizabeth to do her duty as the next mistress.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks burned, and she found she could not stomach another bite. Her middle seemed to have turned into a great roiling pit, like the churning sea at the centre of a winter storm.
“I think it is a splendid idea as well. That is, if you are not too exhausted, Lizzy?” Mr Bennet father put in.
She could well imagine her father would relish some peace and quiet around the house.“No, I am not too tired. Thank you, Papa.”
In truth, she had been avoiding going into town with her sisters since the scandalous affair at the Netherfield ball. Yet it could not be put off forever. She would need to reenter society at some time. It would be awkward at first to see how people viewed her now that her reputation had been sullied, but there was simply no choice.
She sat back and nibbled at her food and tried to hide her yawning. Elizabeth had no wish to draw her mother’s censure yet again. Her talk with Mr Darcy and what they had discovered in the library and outside the side door had caused her to spend several sleepless nights. Even the evidence they had found — the hook and the boot print — would do little good unless they could find out who was responsible. It was only a matter of assuaging her curiosity that she would want to know why. What gain would come from someone forcing her to wed Mr Darcy was beyond her.
When breakfast was at an end, the girls got their things together, put on their bonnets and cloaks, and headed out for Meryton. It was, indeed, a fine morning. And once she was out of the house, Elizabeth felt her spirits lift. She had not been out of doors since visiting Netherfield. No doubt that had contributed to her worsening mood and anxiety. Elizabeth took a deep breath, exhilarated by the cool, crisp air filling her lungs and the slight chill in the air. Birds were flying overhead, disappearing to places unknown. If only she could be like those birds and fly away, leaving all her troubles like little specks far below her on the ground.
“We shall look for the most sumptuous fabric for your wedding gown, Lizzy,” Lydia said, linking arms with Elizabeth as they walked.“I think a nice soft blue would do very well. Or even a bright yellow?”
“No, not yellow,” Elizabeth said.“I like the idea of wearing blue on my wedding day,” she added.
“I would think a more subdued colour would be the order of the day. A wedding should be entered into with all gravity and decorum.” Mary chimed in with her usual severity.“I would think a dove grey, or even sensible black, would be more fitting. Besides, Mr Darcy does not strike me as one who would like his future wife to flaunt herself.”
“Nonsense,” Lydia argued, waving their sister off in total disregard.“One cannot wear mourning colours for their own wedding. What would people think?”
“One does not always have to care so much about what others think, Lydia, but only what is right,” Jane said from the back of the group.“I would think that Mr Darcy’s opinion would be the only one that Lizzy should consider.”
Elizabeth’s heart raced as her sisters discussed her future. Perhaps mourning colours would be more appropriate, given how she felt. But it would not do to punish Mr Darcy for the accident. He was, after all, being very gentlemanly about the whole situation. Though she doubted he would care one way or the other whether she wore yellow, grey, or any other colour.
Lydia pulled her aside, allowing the rest of the sisters to pass by, with Kitty trailing behind to listen in.“Blue becomes you, Lizzy. And the emerald green dress you have is very pretty, although I am sure we can find something a little richer for your special day.”
“I agree,” Kitty put in.“Mr Darcy will not mind, I do not think. Indeed, likely he will purchase you a whole roomful of new gowns when you are his wife.”
Elizabeth caught Jane’s eye and shook her head. All their younger sisters seemed to care about were pretty dresses, rich husbands, and being entertained. They did not seem to spare a thought for being suited to one’s partner in life.
The girls rushed ahead when they got close to the shops in Meryton. Elizabeth and Jane stayed near the back of the group, watching as the girls flitted from shop to shop. First, they went to the milliners to look at the newest bonnets, then to the dressmaker’s shop to pick out a bolt for Elizabeth’s gown. She allowed it since she did not yet see a way she could avoid her marriage to Mr Darcy. However, she did not allow them to choose the most expensive cloth, but opted for a simple cotton in a pretty shade of emerald green, as Kitty suggested.
When they had made all of their purchases, they started back toward home. Dark grey clouds were billowing in the distance. They would have just enough time to make it home before the drizzle started, Elizabeth thought.
“You are so lucky, Lizzy. I wish I had found a rich husband to fall all over me,” Lydia breathed with a dreamy, far-off look.
“Lydia!” Jane said in shock.
Elizabeth bit her tongue to avoid replying as angrily as she would have liked to. “Lydia, do not say such things,” she reprimanded her. “If you can, do not even think them, but at least do not speak so loosely when anyone might hear you.”
Even as she spoke, Elizabeth saw a cluster of militiamen gathered at the edge of town. Upon seeing Mr Wickham among them, a confusing mixture of emotions rushed through her. Once, she would have been simply glad to see him, but even an engagement of practicality deserved proper respect. She could not speak so freely with him as she had once done. Having such excellent manners as he did, he must feel the same. Surely there could not help but be an awkwardness and a coldness between them. The other gentlemen were his brother officers, out for a stroll during the few hours they had off during the week. Elizabeth recognised Captain Benny, a particular favourite of Kitty and Lydia, but knew none of the others.
“Ladies! How fortunate we have run into you this fine day! Shall we see you back to Longbourn?” one of them asked. Though Elizabeth did not recognise the man, Lydia and Kitty seemed to know him well and answered with a friendliness amounting almost to familiarity. It was more than a little concerning. After the hideous embarrassment of the Netherfield Ball, their family had no room for any missteps. If their father did not check his younger daughters, especially Lydia, they would go down in Meryton’s history as the silliest and most determined flirts that had ever made their family ridiculous.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Wickham said as he fell into stride beside her.“How good it is to see you.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth replied, but kept her tone formal.“It has been some time since we have seen you.”
“I was called away on a mission for one of my superiors. I hear that Meryton has had its share of excitement while I have been away. Or rather, Netherfield, to be more precise.” He gave her a curious grin, his smile wide.“Is it really true that you and Mr Darcy are engaged?”
“It is,” Elizabeth agreed, with no little disappointment. How strange to remember that she had hoped Mr Wickham might ask her to dance at the Netherfield Ball. It had only been less than a fortnight before, yet her life had changed completely.
He continued to smile at her, but his expression felt rather odd. Was there not something almost flirtatious about it? He leaned closer as they walked, lowering his voice.“How do you feel about the match? I thought, after what we had discussed before, that it would have been entirely odious to you.”
Elizabeth grew even more uncomfortable.“Really, Mr Wickham, I do not believe this subject is one that is entirely appropriate for us to discuss.” She had been trying to get back to life as normal, but even so, people looked at her differently. Even when they had been in town at the shops, people had looked at her with sideways glances.“What happened was an unfortunate mistake. Nothing more. And I should like to leave it at that, if you please.”
“Of course. Of course!” Mr Wickham said.“It is a pity there is not someone else who might step in and save you from such an unfortunate situation. Surely, Mr Darcy is not the sort of man you want to be saddled with for the rest of your days.”
