“Perhaps we should stop the carriage until Elizabeth has regained her composure,” she said softly.
Mr. Gardiner rapped on the roof with his walking stick, and the coachman drew the horses to a halt. They alighted and walked together to a stand of trees, located just off the road.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth began to speak again, her voice steadier now. Her relations listened in silence as she told all that had passed, from Mr. Darcy’s insult at the Meryton Assembly to the repetition of a second insult at the Netherfield ball. She told of her withdrawal to the library and the compromising situation in which Sir William found her.
When she finished, she drew a shuddering breath. “Mr. Darcy told Papa and Sir William Lucas that we were already betrothed, and that therefore I could not marry Mr. Collins. Aunt, I could not have married Mr. Collins; he is not a gentleman. As for Mr. Darcy, he once said I was tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him to dance. Another time, he made a jest to the Netherfield party, saying that Mama had more wit than I had beauty. You can imagine how dreadful that makes me feel, and yet he is the man I am to marry at the end of the week. I blame this entire embroglio on Mr. Collins and Sir William Lucas.” She stopped speaking while she sobbed, then, after a moment,looked at her aunt. “Well, to be completely honest with you, I must also take some blame on myself, for I was so angry that I lost command of my own emotions and ran into an empty room and left myself open to compromise.”
Her aunt and uncle were silent for some moments. At last, Mrs. Gardiner said gently, “It is a sad business, Lizzy, but if this Mr. Darcy is indeed from Derbyshire, if he is the master of Pemberley, then he is a man of immense fortune and consequence. That must explain why your father sent so large a draft and required that we bring you a gown fit for a wealthy gentleman’s bride.”
All three of the day dresses were lovely. Elizabeth ran the silk between her fingers. “Aunt, I have never owned such an expensive day gown, let alone three.”
“It is not every day that you marry the master of Pemberley, my dear. Which do you prefer?”
Elizabeth studied the gowns as they hung in the dressing room. “They are all lavish, expensive silks, but I believe I would like to wear this soft rose-colored gown with the lace overlay.”
“It is a fine choice, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “The seamstress will arrive in about an hour. Your father will send her in the carriage. I brought you slippers to match each dress, silk stockings, ribbons, gloves, and this little pearl circlet to wear in your hair.” She placed it in Elizabeth’s hand.
“It is lovely, Aunt, simple yet elegant, not ostentatious, such as something Mamma would select.” The two ladies grinned at each other.
Mrs. Gardiner pulled out several night shifts. “These are for your wedding night, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth flushed. “Aunt, it will be months before I have a wedding night. Mr. Darcy agreed to allow me to wait, since we have not had a courtship yet. We do not know one another, and he does not even like me. Remember, he does not think me attractive. To him, I am only tolerable. It makes me wonder about the London beauties he is accustomed to. They must all be as beautiful and elegant as Miss Bingley, but more amiable, for though she is handsome and her hair striking, her dress always expensive and elegant, he does not like her at all.”
“Nonetheless, Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “you must bear in mind that once you are married, if he is faithful to his vows, he may not look to another except for you. If you withhold yourself from him, you may push him to seek solace elsewhere. I do not understand why you must wait months.”
Elizabeth was struck silent. “Aunt, I do not want my husband to look elsewhere. But I do not yet know Mr. Darcy, and he does not like me. How long do you suppose I have before he strays?”
“A man who is welcomed regularly into his wife’s bed is unlikely to stray, especially if you are both in love. Or, if you do not love him yet, you may still meet his needs and be welcoming to his caresses. But if you are cold and withholding, he may indeed stray. In your situation, if you speak openly to him, he will be more likely to wait until you are ready. My dear Lizzy, I have every confidence that you can keep the lines of communication open with your husband. You are one of the most articulate girls I know, as well as spirited and brave. You can do this for both your sakes. Will you make me a pledge to try? Speak to him every day and keep those conversations going. If you do, you will know him better than most couples know each other, for most do not try to understand one another.”
Elizabeth considered this. “Like my parents. They never speak. Papa makes jests at Mama’s expense, and she argues with him, but they do not know or understand one another.”
“Just so, my dear. You have taken my meaning. Lizzy, do not make him wait longer than two months, and each day give him hope that you will welcome him to your bed very soon.”
Elizabeth grew thoughtful. “Yes, Aunt, I will. I will make it my first duty each day to speak with him, that we may come to know one another as soon as possible. But if he finds me repellent, Aunt, I do not know what I shall do, how I shall bear it.”
“Lizzy, to be honest, I do not understand how any man could find you repellent. It is simply not possible. But since I have not yet seen the two of you together, I will reserve judgment. I must tell you, my dear, of the nature of intimate relations between a man and a woman. I would not have you face your first night with your husband completely unprepared.”
The conversation that followed was intensely embarrassing, yet when it was over, Elizabeth expressed her gratitude. “Aunt Maddie, I do not know how I have reached the age of twenty without any knowledge of something so basic to procreation.”
“Lizzy, you do not have a home farm, you have never been allowed to keep hounds, and your father owns but one horse. In other words, all of you have been very sheltered. I am not surprised you have reached this age without any such understanding. Do you have any other questions before we return to Longbourn? Your uncle must be anxious to be off; he cannot sit still for long.”
“No, but if I think of anything, I would like to be able to ask you later. May I?”
“Of course, my dear. Now come, escort me out of this great house.”
Chapter 16: Wedding Preparations
The seamstress arrived later that afternoon and fitted all three of Elizabeth’s new gowns before taking them back to Longbourn for alterations. The next morning, Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner paid a visit to discuss the wedding breakfast. Since Elizabeth had very little to say on the subject, they arranged everything between themselves.
Uncle Gardiner returned to London to purchase delicacies that could not be found in Meryton, as well as cognac and champagne for the celebration. Elizabeth had no time for a trousseau, but she supposed her practical husband would understand and not hold it against her.
The week of waiting soon fell into a pattern. Each morning, Elizabeth and her sisters walked in the garden with Mr. Bingley. They all breakfasted together, after which Jane joined Mr. Bingley and the Hursts in the drawing room; the women worked on their embroidery while the men discussed politics and current affairs. In the evenings, they asked Elizabeth to read aloud from the novel she borrowed from Mrs. Hurst. Miss Bingley made an effort to comport herself during dinner and then retired directly to her room, explaining to Louisa that she found the very sight of the country mouse nauseating. During the day, Elizabeth and Mary spent most of their free hours upstairs with Mrs. Gardiner and the seamstress, first altering the three exquisite gowns Mrs. Gardiner had purchased, then refitting four walking dresses made of fine fabrics, finer than any Elizabeth had ever worn, which Uncle Gardiner had brought along with him from his wife’s favorite modiste. Though the dresses were elegant and suited Elizabeth’s complexion, theyhad been intended for a much fuller figure and required considerable adjustment. Still, she would have seven fine gowns to wear when she arrived at Pemberley, and the seamstress was an expert at cutting and creating darts and refitting.
“Elizabeth,” Mrs. Gardiner said, “It was important to purchase at least a few very fine gowns so that you will not become the talk of the neighborhood. If you appear in rags, the maids will whisper, the servants will repeat it, and before long, even the shopkeepers will know the state of your undergarments. It would reflect poorly on Mr. Darcy.”
The three sisters were perplexed. Elizabeth said, “There is no such thing as privacy, is there, Aunt?”
“No indeed, my dear. That is why a trousseau, especially in your situation, is important. We must not have people think that Mr. Darcy found his bride in a backwater and that her family had no money to clothe her properly. Now, Lizzy, we must go through your things and discard whatever is too tattered to reflect well upon your husband.”
