Instead of dread, his spirits were light. He realized he was happy, and the discovery was a welcome surprise. Now his greatest task would be to convince his bride that he was a man worthy of love, a man she could trust. Yet was he such a man? Could he be relied upon not to injure her again with his thoughtless words and misplaced pride? He prayed he might learn restraint.
He spent much of the next two hours alternating between self-reproach and self-instruction. The miles passed quickly, and before noon, they reached Netherfield Park. His pulse quickened. He would see Elizabeth again after a week’s absence, and the anticipation unnerved him. A pang of fear struck him at how much he had missed her, how deeply he longed for her company. He had not felt this deep attachment during his previous courtship. If Elizabeth ever turned from him, the pain would be unbearable. He pushed the thought away. It was too late for doubts and fears; he was promised. There could be no retreat; now there must be only forward motion, whatever the cost.
Elizabeth lay wide awake in her bed. She dared not move for fear of waking Mary, who had not slept well since coming to Netherfield. Her sister was shy and easily discomposed by Miss Bingley’s sharp manner and Mr. Bingley’s elegance. Mary spent the larger part of her day with Elizabeth, walking, reading, or sewing the straight seams of the new gowns Mrs. Gardiner had purchased.
Elizabeth had been touched when her aunt arrived on Wednesday afternoon with a message from Mr. Bennet and money to purchase necessities in Harpenden. Elizabeth suspected the plan had been at Mrs. Gardiner’s instigation.The three sisters returned from their errand with new undergarments and discarded the old ones, tattered and thin from wear. “The Bennet sisters,” Mrs. Gardiner declared, “shall not disgrace Mr. Darcy on account of their linens.”
She had advised, “Lizzy, pack your worn garments in this satchel, and I will dispose of them at Longbourn. I would not put it past Miss Bingley to sift through the refuse in hopes of finding something to mock.” The sisters laughed at the jest but obeyed.
On Thursday morning, Elizabeth was attempting to dress Mary’s hair in Jane’s elegant mode when a knock came at the door. It was Millie, the little maid.
“Miss Lizzy, Grayson says Mr. Darcy’s carriages are on the road.”
Elizabeth and Mary hurried to the window. Two carriages and two horsemen could be seen in the distance. Elizabeth’s heart stuttered wildly in her breast. “Thank you, Millie. I will finish Mary’s hair, and we will be down shortly. Does Jane know?”
“No, ma’am. I’ll go to her now.” The maid curtsied and departed.
Elizabeth’s hands trembled as she resumed her task. Her entire life was about to change, and fear struck her. Would she embarrass her husband? Could she learn the rules of polite society and converse with people of his rank? She pressed a hand to her breast to steady the frantic beating of her heart.
Mary’s eyes were wide. “Are you feeling it too, Lizzy? Are you afraid?”
Elizabeth grimaced and then answered sheepishly. “I am, Mary. But we are clever girls. Look at our papa, he is learned and intelligent, and we are his daughters. We shall do well, you will see. Whenever I feel afraid or intimidated, I ask myself,What would Papa do? What would Papa say?It always helps mework through the moment. You should try it too; it is amazingly effective at giving one courage.”
Mary still looked troubled. Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “Do not worry. I will not leave you to manage alone. We shall walk through it together, and Jane will be with us. Our serene sister will keep us steady. Now, let me finish your hair.”
A gentle knock interrupted them, and Jane entered the room. “Lizzy, Aunt Gardiner made me promise to dress you in one of your new day gowns. She wishes you to look well for your intended.”
Elizabeth agreed and began to work on her buttons. Jane went to the dressing room and lifted a gown, a lovely shade of blue, from its peg. “This is the one she chose.”
Mary stood behind her sister and worked on the buttons Elizabeth could not reach, while Jane unbuttoned the new dress. Elizabeth stepped out of the faded muslin, and her sisters slipped the fresh gown over her head. Jane fastened the buttons while Mary fetched the new slippers. When she was dressed, Jane tidied Elizabeth’s hair into an elegant knot and brought forth a pair of small pearl earbobs.
Elizabeth stared. “Jane, where did you get these?”
“Uncle Gardiner found them in a jeweler’s window. Look, each has a tiny diamond above the pearl.”
Elizabeth lifted one and turned it in her fingers. It was delicate and lovely, her first pair of earbobs. Jane slipped them into her ears and stepped back. “Lizzy, you look elegant. You are a perfect match for that lovely man you are to marry.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “You mean for Sir Lancelot?”
Jane blinked, then laughed too. “Yes, Sir Lancelot, the very man you met at the Meryton assembly. Come, sisters; let us go down and be ready to greet Lizzy’s new family.”
The three descended the staircase and were crossing the hall when Caroline stepped from the drawing room.
“Is that your borrowed finery?” she sneered. “It is a pity neither you nor your relations have any sense of style. That gown is so plain it borders on puritanical. It has been said that one cannot dress up a fishwife.”
“Caroline,” Mr. Bingley said sharply, appearing behind her, “you will desist at once and return to your room. I will not tolerate rudeness toward my guests.”
Caroline raised her chin, but she obeyed with poor grace. When she passed her rival, she hissed in her ear. “You only have him because you entrapped him, and I shall make certain all my London friends know the truth.”
It was the first time Caroline had managed to frighten her. If she spread such gossip, Fitzwilliam would become the object of ridicule. Her face burned. This was meant to make him regret his choice, and perhaps the threat would achieve its purpose. Elizabeth resolved to tell him that evening, to give him the chance to draw back before it was too late. Her heart fluttered painfully.Why must everything be so complicated?
She joined her sisters and the Hursts in the drawing room, but her distress must have shown, for when Mr. Bingley returned after escorting his sister upstairs, he came to her side at once.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I bring you a restorative? Some Madeira, perhaps?”
She rarely drank alcoholic spirits, but accepted his offer. “Yes, that would be just the thing. I am feeling discomposed.”
“You are pale,” he said with concern. “What did Caroline say to you? I did not hear her last remark.”
