Chapter 30: Shopping At Kimpton
Elizabeth was walking through the hall when the butler approached and bowed. “May I help you, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Yes, Walters, I will need a carriage for one o’clock. My three sisters and I will drive to Kimpton. Do you know where my sisters are?”
“Yes, ma’am. Miss Jane is in the blue drawing room working on her embroidery, and Miss Georgiana and Miss Mary are in the music room.”
“Thank you, Walters.”
She found Jane seated near the window in the small drawing room her sisters favored, a length of muslin spread over her lap. Elizabeth sat beside her. “Jane, we must prepare for Mr. Bingley’s visit. He will arrive next week. Also, Fitzwilliam has agreed to invite Mr. Lewis and his sister. He says she is a little older than we are and quite amiable.” Her voice grew earnest. “And Mr. Lewis is single. Perhaps he will develop a tendre for our little sister.”
“Lizzy, you are scheming. When will you learn that such plotting invites trouble?”
Elizabeth sighed. “Very well, I will not scheme. But if our sister is well dressed, and if we can do something with her hair and spectacles, perhaps a gentleman somewhere, someday, will take notice and wish to know her better.”
“Perhaps,” Jane said mildly.
“I have my pin money, and I have ordered the carriage. We are to drive to Kimpton at one o’clock to shop. I will bring Miss Ellis along to help us, for I have learned that when it comes to clothing and style, she is a magician.”
Elizabeth drew a small bundle of notes from her pocket and began to count them, her eyes widening in astonishment. “He gave me so much money.”
Elizabeth looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Jane, all three of us need better gowns, especially Mary and me.”
She handed seventy pounds to Jane, who looked at the little pile of notes and shook her head.
“Lizzy, this is far too much. You should not spend all your allowance on me.”
Elizabeth took her sister’s hand.
“Jane, we must reflect well on my husband. And since Miss Lewis is to visit us this summer, we must be dressed at least as well as she.”
Jane said, “I have several new gowns that Mamma had the seamstress make up for me these past months. I will look through them now. I already have two suitable afternoon dresses, but no riding habit. I could use some fresh petticoats, stockings, and slippers, too.”
She rose from her chair. “I shall compile a list of what I need.”
Elizabeth counted out another seventy pounds, rolled it neatly, and tucked it into her pocket. “I am going to find Mary and Georgiana. Can you be ready by one o’clock?”
“Yes, Lizzy, I will be. But are you certain? This is a great deal of money.”
“Yes, it is,” Elizabeth replied cheerfully, “but if you marry Mr. Bingley, then it will have been a worthwhile investment, would you not say?”
They both laughed.
“Very well, sister. I agree. Being well dressed is indeed the first step toward finding a respectable husband.”
Elizabeth entered the music room, where Georgiana and Mary were seated at the pianoforte, their heads bent over a sheet of music.
“Ladies,” she said, “we are driving to Kimpton at one o’clock to find a modiste. Mr. and Miss Lewis will visit us for the summer, and we must be suitably dressed.”
She turned to Georgiana. “Have you outgrown all your gowns, my dear?”
“No, Lizzy. Only my evening gowns. The hems have been let down twice already.”
“Very well, we will order two new ones. Please meet me in the blue salon at one, so we can leave on time.”
She turned to her other sister. “Mary, come upstairs with me. I wish to see your dresses.”
