“I could never decide which of you was more childish.” Darcy retorted, “My good friend, or theactualchild you saw fit to compete with.”
“I shall ask her.” Elizabeth promised, “She will be relieved, at least, to hear that we know the truth. As to the rest, sir… I cannot promise anything. I will not make her do anything that makes her feel uncomfortable.”
“Ask her.” Darcy repeated firmly, and smiled savagely, “She is stronger than you know.”
Chapter 60
Overwhelmed by the preparations for the midsummer ball, Elizabeth and Mrs. Reynolds barely had time to breathe. Jane helped as much as she could, but Elizabeth was wary of overtaxing her sister who had only just begun to recover from her awful winter. She insisted that Jane spend half of each day with Georgiana - a most satisfactory arrangement for both ladies, but one which left Elizabeth with even more work to do.
Georgiana recovered from her shock remarkably quickly when she heard that Caroline had been banished. Her sweet smile grew rather vicious when Elizabeth confided that Darcy had ordered the ostentatious gowns Miss Bingley left behind to be burned. All the illustrious lady would recover was her jewellery - and that would only be when Bingley decided to hand it over. From the look on his face when he told Georgiana about this, they all knew that Miss Bingley’s jewels would be cold and unworn for quite some time.
The mention of the ball clearly frightened Georgiana, and Lizzie was resolved not to ask a second time. To her amazement, Jane came to her a few hours later and told her that Georgiana was willing to try. As Darcy said, the desire for revenge had given his little sister a surge of stubborn strength.
“She is speaking more.” Jane explained with a smile, “She managed ‘ball’ and ‘yes’, in her own dear sweet way. I told her that we shall spend the day choosing a dress from her wardrobe. I will help her look like a princess.”
“How are we to actually…” Elizabeth searched for the right words, “She cannot move!”
“There shall be no way to hide that she is unwell, but that is not an issue. We can say that she has had a fever. She only needs to be seen. Perhaps she can sit in that little balcony that overlooks the garden. You can see the paving from there where everyone will be dancing. Georgiana can listen to the music - I believe she will like that.”
“Pray that it does not rain.” Lizzie sighed, at once distracted. The thought of having the dance outside had seemed so romantic when she thought of it, but now she dreaded the thought. Jane gave her a rallying smile.
“It shall not, dearest. If it does, then everyone can move inside.”
“Yes, and I have decorated the ballroom in case that happens. How irritating it is, Jane, to have done all that work and hope that nobody will see it!”
There were only five days left to prepare the dower house for Mrs. Bennet’s arrival. Since it had been Mary’s idea, Elizabeth asked her if she would be willing to oversee the preparations there. Mary was delighted to be asked. She enthusiastically threw herself into the task.
As the middle child, Mary had never had any chance to manage staff other than the occasional maid. Since she was destined to be a spinster, her mother had not troubled herself to educate her overmuch in that field. Jane and Lizzie were each given a part of Longbourn to manage from a young age, since they were sureto have their own households in time. Mary never would, and so did not need the experience. Why upheave the household just to indulge a fantasy?
Mary had learned what she could from books but found herself ignorant of many essentials. Several times a day, she had to seek out Lizzie or Jane to ask for help. After the third day of this, the housekeeper took her aside and handed her a fortifying cup of tea.
“Miss Bennet, may I offer you some advice?”
Mary balked, fearing criticism. Mrs. Reynolds rested a cool, soothing hand on her wrist.
“You must have confidence in yourself, Miss Bennet. You are doing very well! Your instincts have never been incorrect. When I ask questions, it is not because you have made a mistake. It is only because I want to ensure that I haveunderstoodyou. This house has become both elegant and welcoming under your direction, and you should be proud of yourself. I congratulate you, Miss Bennet… but the next time you doubt yourself, I shall scold you!”
Mary fidgeted. She was overcome with a tingling mixture of pleasure and embarrassment. She had no talent for being either praised or teased and knew not how to respond to it.Particularlywhen it came from a servant!
Elizabeth had introduced Mrs. Reynolds to Mary like a trusted friend and made it clear that she respected the older woman’s judgement above even her own. After days working alongside Mrs. Reynolds, Mary understood why. The woman was formidable.
Mrs. Reynolds, it had to be said, was not at all happy to be readying the dower house for a ‘strange woman’. Of course,any woman with a true claim to live there was long dead, but Pemberley had been built on solid customs, and by those same customs it would persist.
Elizabeth assured Mrs. Reynolds that the arrangement was temporary. After next week, Mrs. Bennet would never set foot on the estate again.
The days passed in a busy blur. Before they knew it, the sisters were gathered for their last dinner together before their mother arrived. It was a quiet affair, as the gentlemen had taken the chance to go for an evening ride while the house was still quiet. Only the ladies remained, looking sourly down at their plates.
“At least we have mutton tonight.” Kitty attempted, “It is your favourite, isn’t it Mary?”
Mary pretended her mouthful needed diligent chewing and did not answer. Beside her, Jane reached out and picked up her glass of fruit juice. Her hand shook and the liquid spilled. Everyone pretended that they didn’t notice.
Their excitement at the coming ball had been completely eclipsed by Mrs. Bennet’s impending arrival. It seemed to be affecting Lydia most at all. She had barely smiled all week. Only she and her older sisters knew about what had happened with Georgiana, and shame still weighed down her every moment.
The morning arrived.
Elizabeth and Darcy had agreed to greet Mrs. Bennet alone. They were the hosts, after all, and it was not common practice for other guests to wait upon newcomers to the party. Of course, daughters would generally make an exception for their own mother. Unfortunately for Mrs. Bennet, it just so happened that Jane, Mary, Kitty and even her favourite, Lydia, had all forgotten the time.
Elizabeth had been wearing her old dresses all week, preferring to feel comfortable while nobody cared about her appearance. She was pulled in all directions with the preparations for the ball and had resigned herself to being fashionably uncomfortable the second the guests started to arrive. To meet her mother’s inevitable judgement, however, Elizabeth Darcy had dressed herself for battle.
