Chapter 35
In early November, Elizabeth, with her mother, the Hurst ladies, Mary, and Gigi, made for London. The ladies were escorted by Hurst, Darcy, and Bingley. The latter had been told by Bennet that he was not to request a courtship with Mary until after her twentieth birthday on the twentieth day of May 1812.
After Darcy shared that Hilldale had waited until Jane was twenty before approaching her, and that the same held true for him with Elizabeth, Bingley was sanguine that it was not something special only for him. He would have to be patient and wait for May.
The aim of the group going to Town was twofold. Elizabeth needed to order gowns, dresses, and other items which would be added to her growing trousseau, and she would take a tour of Darcy House in Grosvenor Square.
The non-Hurst ladies were to be hosted at Matlock House, while the men, save for Hurst, would be residing at Darcy House. That first night in London, there was a family dinner at Matlock House. In addition to the host, hostess, and those who had arrived from Hertfordshire that day, the Gardiners, with their two eldest children, had been invited.
After a sumptuous meal, the ladies retired to the drawing room while the men remained to enjoy talk and libations.
“Madeline, when are you and your family planning to arrive in Hertfordshire for the wedding?” Lady Matlock asked.
“Edward and I discussed this recently,” Madeline replied. “If Fanny is sanguine with us arriving earlier, the children and I plan to arrive at Longbourn on the second Monday in December. Edward will join us by Tuesday of the following week.”
“Sister, you know that you and my nieces and nephews are welcome at any time,” Fanny said.
“Perfect!” Lady Matlock exclaimed. “Fanny, unless you were planning one already, I would like to host a pre-wedding ball, with Mr Bingley’s permission, at Netherfield Park, like I did before my sons married. I thought the Wednesday before the wedding would be perfect.”
“Lady Elaine, I know Charles will not object in the least,” Louisa replied with certitude. “My brother loves a ball.” She paused for a moment and saw her mother-in-law nod. “Harold is informing those in the dining parlour that we are the owners of Netherfield Park. Some of the Bennets knew this but given what will be revealed to the public in some months…” she trailed off. She realised that Lady Elaine was the only one not aware of their elevation. “Recently the Regent…” Louisa shared the news of their true rank and that for state secrecy reasons, it would not be announced for another nine months.
“My goodness, you are a countess and Leticia is a dowager. It could not happen to better people!” Lady Matlock exclaimed. “Especially now, Louisa, I insist that you call me Elaine like Leticia and Fanny do.”
No one noticed that Madeline Gardiner was not at all surprised by the revelations. Edward had been assisting in the endeavour to find helpful information for many years and was aware of what the Hursts did for the crown.
“Aunt Elaine, will you accompany us when we begin shopping on the morrow?” Elizabeth invited.
Lady Matlock happily replied in the affirmative.
As the men walked into the drawing room, the proof that Hurst had shared all with Matlock was evident as he was heardto hint that he would appreciate Hurst’s support in the Lords once the latter was seated.
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The first stop for the shopping trip was at Gardiner’s warehouse. There the ladies had first pick of new bolts of fabric—none of which had yet been supplied to any shops—that Gardiner had begun to keep to one side as soon as he heard Lizzy was engaged.
As much as she did not like being measured, poked, and prodded, Elizabeth bore the indignity with her head held high. How she wished she could be with the men—especially William—or at Hatchards, or playing chess, or anything but this.
Thankfully, that part of the experience was over soon enough. Next, Elizabeth sat with all the ladies in the party looking at Madame Chambourg’s fashion plates of possible designs. Based on her own preferences, as well as suggestions by the ladies with her, Elizabeth ordered more gowns, dresses, and other items of clothing than she had ever previously owned. She did not like spending so much of Papa’s money, but she knew all she was ordering would be needed.
The experience was far more pleasant than Elizabeth had imagined it would be. Since Mamma no longer tried to bedeck everything with bolts of lace, Elizabeth found her suggestions cogent and usually accurate.
Once all the selections had been made at the modiste, they went to a cobbler’s shop to order additional footwear, including wool-lined half boots for walking or riding out during Derbyshire’s colder winters. Last for the day was a millinery store where bonnets, gloves, fur muffs, warm tippets and the likewere ordered, a good number of them fur and wool-lined for the brutal winters in the north.
They planned to visit a furrier in the morning to have warm coats made for Elizabeth. The last stop for shopping on the morrow would be a visit to Schomberg House on Pall Mall in St James, where they would find Harding,HowellandCompany.
Even though she was not a great shopper, Elizabeth was excited to see this new kind of shop which offered four distinct departments: furs and fans; haberdashery; jewels and ornaments; and a perfumery. Being an inquisitive person, Elizabeth was caught up in Gigi’s excitement when she described the shop, which was like visiting many stores in one.
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Elizabeth had to admit that the foray into Harding, Howell and Company had been worth it. Even though she had not thought she would purchase anything else, she found items there. Among them were presents for Papa, Catherine, Lydia, and Tommy, who had all remained home.
From the shop on the Pall Mall, they made their way to Berkeley Square; a few doors down from Fitzwilliam House, they went to Gunter’s for treats and to satisfy Elizabeth’s sweet tooth. In addition to the men meeting them there, Charlotte made the short walk from her house. It was one of the first times she had left Sarah at home with Nurse and not been more than a room or two away. She was close enough that she would not allow her feelings of guilt to overwhelm her.
The treats were enjoyed, and they all accompanied Charlotte to Fitzwilliam House to see little Sarah. Lady Matlock could not be that close to her granddaughter without seeing her.After the ladies all admired the sleeping babe, they farewelled Charlotte.
The next stop was Darcy House. Elizabeth was accompanied by her mother and William as Mrs Killion led the future mistress on a tour of the house. The house was furnished with understated elegance, exactly what Elizabeth had anticipated. Other than a worn rug in one guest bedchamber and some peeling paper in a chamber on the family floor, Elizabeth requested no significant changes. The only suite she asked to be completely made over was the one belonging to the mistress. Elizabeth was not sanguine with the abundance of pink and flowers on the paper or the overly ornate furniture. She, of course, offered Gigi the opportunity to keep anything of her late mother’s she chose to take.
Before they left Darcy House, with her mother’s permission, Darcy took Elizabeth into his study, where the door remained open, and presented her with a ring which had been sent from Pemberley. It was the one his mother had worn; the same one Darcy heirs’ betrotheds had been presented with for some generations. It had a thick gold band, and by chance, the main stone was a large emerald, surrounded by eight small diamonds. Darcy loved it on her, as it matched the colour of her fine eyes.
