The door to the shared sitting room creaked open and Darcy appeared in the doorway. He came to her bed and climbed under the coverlet next to her. Elizabeth rolled over and snuggled into his arms. She felt unaccountably comfortable there, and his touch soothed away the snide remarks she had overheard that evening. She felt him kiss her hair and she snuggled closer inresponse. Breathing in the smell of sandalwood and cedar, she fell asleep.
Elizabeth awoke the next morning alone, and she felt a pang of sadness that she had not awakened in Darcy’s arms. His presence brought her comfort, and her heart softened toward him daily. She supposed that when one shared such intimacies with another human being, it would naturally lead to the sentiments she felt stirring within her.
She rose and rang for Smith, who appeared expeditiously, dressing her in a deep blue day gown. After being properly attired, Elizabeth left her chambers and went down to breakfast. Georgiana had already come down and awaited her sister-in-law.
“You must tell me everything,” she commanded after greeting Elizabeth.
“Very well,” Elizabeth laughed. Over breakfast, she related the details of the evening, answering Georgiana’s many questions as best she could.
After breakfast, Elizabeth meant to see to her correspondence, but first she wished to find her husband. They had dined together every day since their marriage, and she had missed him that morning.
She found him in his study. He sat behind his great desk, papers spread before him in an organized manner.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully.
He looked up, frowning. “Elizabeth, what do you mean by this?” He waved the paper in his hand at her.
“If you will show me what that is, I might better understand what you refer to,” she replied. Her cheer diminished in the face of his disapprobation, and old feelings of irritation and resentment pushed to the surface.What has he to accuse me of?
“This is a bill from Gardiner’s Imports. I believe that I specifically forbade you from going to Cheapside for fabric.” Hewaved the paper at her and then tossed it on the desk in front of him.
“I did not go to Cheapside.” She folded her arms, unrepentant.
“Then why do I have a bill?”
“A selection of fabrics was brought to Amelia’s home. We selected what we wanted and sent the rest back.” She suppressed the smug smile that wished to blossom on her face and kept a neutral expression.
He regarded her steadily, eyes narrowing. “I do not appreciate your attempts to circumvent my requests,” he said after several long moments.
“You said I must not go to Cheapside, and I did not. What have I done wrong?” Her temper flared and she struggled to push it down.
“You could have shopped at Bond Street as I requested. Yet, you defied me.” His frustration showed and he ran a hand through his hair, destroying his valet’s careful arrangements.
“Have you some objection to my selections simply because they came from my uncle’s warehouses? Where do you think the Bond Street shops get their wares? I shall tell you where—from Cheapside merchants!I did not go myself and am therefore completely within the bounds of yourdictates.”
“It is the principle of the thing, Elizabeth. Are you to circumvent every request I make?” He gestured with his hands as he spoke, his face showing his irritation.
“It was not a request. It was a demand. But I see now that it was not my presence in Cheapside that worried you. No, you are concerned that I shall sully the Darcy name if I wear anything even remotely connected to that area of town. Tell me, Mr. Darcy, did you not admire my gown last evening? Did you not express how it suited me perfectly? That fabric came from my uncle’s warehouses, and even Madame Dubois expressed her admiration for it.” She sucked in a breath, struggling to calmherself. “I shall abide by your orders, your dictates, and your requests when they are reasonable. If you command simply to control me, I shall do everything in my power to get around them without direct disobedience. In this circumstance, I have done nothing wrong, and you should have no cause to censure me. Now, I will bid you good morning. I have things to do.”
She turned and left the room, feeling anxious and irate that he had discomposed her. She did not regret her decision to have Aunt Madeline bring the fabric to Lady de Bourgh’s house and she would not apologize when she had done nothing wrong.
Retiring to her private parlor to see to her correspondence, Elizabeth had time to reflect on the confrontation that morning. After much thought, she knew that her true pique came because she chafed at the idea of being controlled. He was officious, yes, and so very used to having his every command obeyed. Darcy’s desire to command and direct all those within his purview interfered with her strong, independent nature, and she disliked feeling as though she could not make her own decisions without risking censure or disapproval. Besides, had he not married her because she was very different from the other more complying ladies he had met?
What bothered her further was that for the first time in her life, she did not feel confident in her decisions. She had never been made for sadness and never allowed poor spirits to linger for long, yet for some inexplicable reason, her depressed spirits refused to be kept at bay for longer than a few days.
Darcy did not appear for luncheon or when she left the house for tea and Elizabeth, in need of some time to think through her feelings, did not repine his absence.
Lady de Bourgh did not waste time upon her arrival and began dissecting the evening for Charlotte and Elizabeth.
“Lady Metcalf invites the entiretonto her ball,” she said. “Charlotte told me of the conversations you overheard. Do notlet it trouble you. Find like-minded individuals and befriend them. Remember, the Darcy name carries much weight and influence. Even the most disapproving will not wish to lose a connection of such value.”
“Can we not attend events that are less strenuous?” Elizabeth asked. “I did enjoy myself, but I would be happier with smaller, more intimate gatherings.”
“I have several that fit that description.” Lady Amelia leafed through a small stack of invitations. “There is a musical soiree in two days. Next week, Mrs. Turner will host a card party and Mrs. Simmons has scheduled afternoon tea. She has a lovely garden. Her gatherings are exclusive, you know, and it is difficult to secure an invitation.” Amelia listed two or three other events and Elizabeth wrote them into her little pocket notebook to be added to her calendar.
After tea, Amelia left them for a moment and Elizabeth told Charlotte all that had happened that morning.
“How can he be so contrary, Charlotte?” she asked, exasperated. “One moment I am comfortable in his company, desiring his presence, and the next I wish to be rid of him completely. It is nonsensical!”
