“Yes, her coloring is very fine,n’est-ce pas?And your eyes, Mrs. Darcy! So handsome.”
“We have some fabrics for you, Madame Dubois,” Amelia said. “I have procured some exceptional weaves from a warehouse in Cheapside.”
Madame made a face but nodded. Almost as if they had been waiting outside, Amelia’s footmen trailed in, bringing bolt after bolt of fabric. They lined them up along a table hidden behind some screens and departed. Madame Dubois trailed over and gasped in delight.
“Where did you get this?” she asked. “Ils sont magnifiques!I thought my shop had the best wares, and yet this is before me.”
Elizabeth made to respond, but Amelia put a staying hand on her arm. “Mrs. Darcy has connections that acquired the fabric directly from the importer. These bolts are part of a selection that was brought to my house for inspection.”
Amelia’s words were well said. They did nothing to denigrate the Darcys’ position, and also told the modiste that they had not ventured into Cheapside. Impressed, Elizabeth’s irritation cooled, and she turned to look in the mirror.
She wore one of her new gowns, one befitting her position as Mrs. Darcy. She silently thanked her mother for allowing the purchase; she did not feel so out of place in this fancy shop.
Amelia took a seat in a comfortable chair, a table with fashion plates on it in front of her. She leafed through them while Madame Dubois took first Elizabeth’s measurements, then Charlotte’s, and finally Georgiana’s. After each lady was measured, she joined Amelia and the other ladies in looking at designs.
Madame Dubois and Amelia selected several designs that would suit Elizabeth and Charlotte respectively before helping Georgiana choose two styles for her new gowns.
They were nearly done with their selections when the door to the shop jingled. In walked two familiar ladies, and Elizabeth turned away, hoping they would not see her.
“Miss Darcy!” came the shrill voice of Caroline Bingley. “How do you do, my dear friend? It has been anagesince we last met. My brother asked me only yesterday if I had called upon you.”
“Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst.” Georgiana’s cool greeting seemed lost on Miss Bingley.
“Are you here with your brother, Miss Darcy? Or a companion?” Miss Bingley glanced around, her gaze landing first on Amelia before spotting Charlotte and Elizabeth.
“Miss Eliza! I did not see you there. What brings you to this part of town?”
“Good morning, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst.” Elizabeth nodded and then turned back to the fashion plate Madame Dubois had placed before her.
“And Miss Lucas. We have not seen you since… last November, was it?” The sneer on Miss Bingley’s face could have curdled milk, so sour was her expression.
“Elizabeth, who is this bit of baggage?” Amelia asked. She tapped her walking stick against the floor, her imperious expression reminding Elizabeth of Lady Catherine.
“Baggage?” Miss Bingley squawked. “Howdareyou! Do you even know with whom you associate? How has Miss Eliza Bennet managed to worm her way into your condescension?” Miss Bingley gave Amelia a long look. “You are dressed fashionably enough. It is plain to me that you are someone of quality.”
“Lady Amelia de Bourgh, may I present Mrs. Louisa Hurst and her sister Miss Caroline Bingley?” Elizabeth cut in. “Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, Lady Amelia de Bourgh.”
Miss Bingley’s face paled but she rallied and curtseyed low to Amelia. “How do you do, your ladyship?” she said. Her sister followed suit.
“You are disturbing what was a pleasant shopping excursion,” Amelia said impatiently. “If you are here to lob insults at Mrs.Darcy and Miss Lucas, I suggest you depart immediately. I am an old woman, and I do not have the patience to trade words with a tatterdemalion.”
Miss Bingley gaped openly at Amelia, and Elizabeth smothered a laugh.
“Mrs. Darcy, did you say? I do think you have been misinformed. Mr. Darcy is averygood friend of my brother’s, and we would have known if he was to marry. Georgiana, you have not corrected this lady’s misunderstanding?”
“My brother married Elizabeth more than two weeks ago,” Georgiana replied quietly. She looked excessively nervous, and Elizabeth longed to comfort her somehow.
The strangled, choking sound that Miss Bingley emitted could only be described as hysterical. Mrs. Hurst, doubtlessly worried her sister would commit some other faux pas, herded the younger woman out of the shop with nary a word of farewell.
“Those are the two ladies who were in here the other day, spouting off their nonsense. It would seem they have beenabsolumentcorrected.” Madame Dubois smirked and the ladies returned their attention to their shopping.
Madame promised to have two gowns ready for fitting in four days, one for Charlotte and one for Elizabeth, and the rest completed in a fortnight. The ladies left the shop and journeyed to Gunter’s to partake of ices.
Amelia selected a table in the center of the shop, and as such, several of her acquaintances saw her and stopped to request an introduction of her young companions. Elizabeth found herself the object of their scrutiny. One gentleman examined her through his monocle, and another lady held up spectacles on a fine gold chain to get a better look. Everyone declared her to be lovely and promised to send an invitation to Darcy House for this or that event.
After each departure, Lady de Bourgh whispered details of their character to Elizabeth. “That is Mrs. Turner. Her husband is an ambassador, the second son of an earl. She holds lavish gatherings at the close of every season. Invitations are hard to come by, yet she said she would be sure to send one around.” Or “Lord Tippets is a widower thrice over. Each of his wives died in childbirth. He has three children, aged twelve, nine, and two.”
After leaving Gunter’s Lady Amelia returned Elizabeth and Georgiana to Darcy House, promising to collect them in two days to complete their shopping. Georgiana hurried to her room and after divesting herself of her outerwear, Elizabeth wandered toward her husband’s study, intent on greeting him.
