Page 67 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“Oooh,” his sister cooed, clearly enamored of the delicately shaped and patterned lace. “Do you think Mary and Lizzy will like some lace?” she asked her brother.

Before Darcy could say anything, the proprietress answered, “Every lady loves lace, miss.”

“Mrs.—?” Darcy began, raising his eyebrows at the woman.

“Mrs. Cooper, I am, sir.”

“Thank you. Mrs. Cooper is usually right. But I have seen Miss Mary on three occasions, and I have never seen her wear lace.”

Georgiana frowned in thought. “Mary loves to read,” she murmured to herself. She addressed Mrs. Cooper. “Will you show me your bookmarks?”

“Certainly, I will,” Mrs. Cooper said, whipping a muslin-lined tin box from beneath the table. A pile of various bookmarks filled the box. “We make ‘em nice and thin, we do, so the book isn’t damaged.”

“May I?” Georgiana asked, reaching for the top one.

“‘Course y’can,” Mrs. Cooper said, lifting out the bookmark and placing it across Georgiana’s gloved hand. It had a thin strip of white lace around the outside of a pink linen rectangle. The word “faith” had been embroidered down the center. “Each one has the same lace, but there are different colors and sayings.”

Darcy saw that the new top bookmark had a linen rectangle of soft-blue, and “hope” embroidered on it. Mrs. Cooper spread out a large linen square, and then arranged the bookmarks upon it so they could view them easily. Georgiana set down the pink one and read all the mottos arrayed before her. After only a moment, she pointed to the one that read “hope”.

“That one, please,” she said to Mrs. Cooper.

“Excellent choice, miss,” she said, gently folding it within a piece of plain ecru muslin. She fastened it closed with a ribbon. “Now, what would y’like t’see fer yer other friend, miss?”

Georgiana accepted the package, put it in her basket, and then chewed on her bottom lip. Looking up at her brother, she said, “I wonder if lace is right for Lizzy? Do you think I should look for something animal related?”

Darcy’s brow furrowed. “I imagine it might be nice for her to receive a gift that is for her, alone.”

“Yes, I see,” Georgiana murmured. She looked at Mrs. Cooper’s eager expression. “Could you show me some cuffs, please?” While the lady uncovered her cuffs, carefully covering up her other articles, his sister explained her thinking to Darcy. “Even though Lizzy will have to attach the cuffs herself, she will be able to choose which gown they will look best with.”

“Very sensible,” he said, taking out his wallet in preparation for purchasing the items.

They bought a lovely pair of white ruffled cuffs from Mrs. Cooper, who beamed and curtsied again as they left. Georgiana carefully placed them in her basket and latched the lid shut, having no desire to have her purchases pinched.

“Will you kindly take the cost of my gifts out of my next allowance?” Georgiana asked, gazing up at him with a determined lift to her chin.

Darcy smiled. “As you wish.”

“Thank you, Fitz,” she said, squeezing his arm. “You are the best brother in the world.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Shall we continue and see what else is on offer?”

“Yes, please.”

They walked along, weaving their way through the other shoppers, pausing to look over the wares in the leather-worker’s stall, and the tin wares in the tin-worker’s stall. Darcy picked up a plain, handled tin cup and examined it. He looked at the maker. “How much for one?”

The grizzled, tanned man pointed at the simple mug. “That there’s a ha’pint, sir. So, I’ll take a thrupenny bit fer it.”

“Three pence,” Darcy murmured.

“Why does this interest you, brother?” Georgiana asked. “Do you have a need for a tin mug?”

“Not I, no,” Darcy said. He fished around in his waistcoat pocket and brought out three pennies. He passed them across to the maker.

“Ta,” the man said, putting the pennies into a box.

“Did you make the mug yourself?” Darcy asked.

“I did, sir.”