Page 10 of Elizabeth’s Choice

Chapter 7

“You have already had some lessons, then?” Darcy enquired in surprise as Elizabeth was able to strike and parry effectively during their fencing practice.

She wiped her forehead as she answered, “A little in Oxford. I watched the students fencing and practiced a bit on my own but I was twelve or thirteen years old. It is arduous to be on one’s feet to be on guard like this, though.”

“I will teach you the rules and some of the simpler techniques but it is too early to strain yourself so take note of the easier steps first. We will have many opportunities to practice and I can see that even my sister is now interested in learning.” He grinned broadly as he looked at Miss Darcy, “I believe we will need to visit Mr. Meyer to have a suit made for her now. It will be the fashion trend of ladies everywhere to wear trousers in the future.”

He turned his eyes back to find Elizabeth staring at him and asked in concern, “Have I offended you again? I apolo…”

“No, no! I am very happy to hear that you are considering teaching Georgie, sir. It is just that…” she blushed as she looked down, “I did not realise you had such dimples when you smile. You are usually very stern and one would never think you to be an amiable kind of gentleman.”

Georgiana exclaimed, “But he is always like this, Lizzie! He is the best of brothers, and he smiles and laughs most of the time with me, especially when we are at Pemberley.”

Darcy grinned, “Most do think me severe and unsociable in public and they are correct. I do not enjoy performing in front of others so I tend to keep to myself. Please keep my secret, Miss Elizabeth. I would hate for anyone to think me pleasant, heaven forbid!”

They laughed together and continued the lesson and were soon joined by Colonel Fitzwilliam for dinner.

After another delightful evening, Richard escorted Elizabeth back to the inn while Darcy sat with his sister in the drawing room.

“I am glad you are getting along better with her, William. I know she is unconventional but is also exciting and full of life and still very sweet and considerate. I think of her like a sister already and once she marries Richard, she will become my cousin and it will be wonderful,” Georgiana dreamily commented.

Her brother took another sip of his drink and asked, “Do you truly think she will accept him? I was under the impression that she will never marry anyone.”

“I hope she will marry him but you might be right. She said she has no intentions of ever giving up her independence and her trousers, but she knows Richard would be dedicated to her and seems to be changing her stance in her mode of dress. She said she owns two dresses that she wears on Sundays and only because her sister had them made for her,” she giggled, “But I convinced her to visit my modiste with me in town and she wants to have a few more dresses made. Can you imagine a lady who has never used a modiste? Lizzie is quite singular.”

Darcy replied, “That she is, Georgie. I believe Richard likes Miss Elizabeth sincerely and uncle and aunt already approve of her. I do not think she will change much, though, but she is a good friend to you and I still owe her two more favours. Let me know what you think she might like so I can offer to repay my debt.”

“I thought you had only one more,” she answered. “One was for fencing lessons and the other for the invitation to Pemberley?”

“I owed four to begin with so I still have two more to go,” he easily quipped. “We shall see what interesting requests she might think of next. I am sincerely happy that she is a good friend to you. I do not think I would have been as gracious as Richard to accept her eccentric ways if it were not for your growing friendship. I know you have been shy all your life but I saw the way she encouraged you at church and you have become livelier in public.”

Georgiana smiled, “She thinks of me like a sister and told me that her youngest sister is near my age. She has three younger sisters she has not seen in five years and is anxious to see how they all turned out. She sees her older sister Jane seven or eight months of the year and is very close with her, but she said that her other sisters are quite different from Jane and her mother took no effort to rein them in.”

“Five daughters and no sons? Do you know what caused the rift in her family? She has been living with her relatives for five years?” Darcy asked in apprehension, “Is there something we should be aware of if we are to host her for three months? Is it due to her mode of dress? With Uncle and Aunt Matlock still sponsoring her, it does not seem like there is a scandal she is hiding, but should we take more care to find out?”

Georgiana shrugged her shoulders, “I know not the particulars but Richard said it is nothing concerning. Her father is lackadaisical and her mother is of mean understanding, and something about her parents attempting to force her into a decision she did not want is all I heard. She fiercely guards her family name publicly so that there are no scandals or issues that would question her or her family’s respectability, William.”

Darcy nodded his head, “Family… they can be the best and they can be the worst. Speaking of worst, you do realise we have to visit Aunt Catherine next week, right?” He laughed loudly to see his sister’s crinkled nose, “Just one dinner and we do not have to stay at Rosings Park and can come back here to Sabrina Cottage. I was unable to visit last Easter and promised her that I would stop by.”

“I understand. She will drone on about you marrying Anne but you will ignore our aunt and it will be a long evening,” she retorted, “but it is what we do for our family and I can bear it. I am her favourite but infinitely grateful that she did not have a son to pass off as my betrothed!”

Darcy heartily laughed and they continued their conversation until after Richard returned and then turned in for the night. He continued to ponder about Elizabeth’s situation and how she had managed to live apart from her family for so many years and decided to try to ask her about it at a later time if the opportunity presented itself. He was grateful for Miss Elizabeth’s friendship with Georgiana and prayed that he would survive the summer with the peculiar woman under his roof.

~*~

After scheduling the appointment with her young friend to meet in London in one week, Elizabeth sat in the luxurious carriage with her maid and waved to Georgiana who was standing between Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. She smiled at the three of them and as the horses lurched forward to begin the journey, she thought about the two gentlemen further and pondered what kind of life she would have if she were to become a part of that family. She shook her head and laughed, as she considered that the colonel would have been an ideal brother if she could have chosen one but not more. He had been pleasant from their first meeting two years ago, and as much as he professed to love her and had proposed marriage, she had none of the feelings towards him that she thought she should have for a husband.

She examined her interactions with Mr. Darcy, and although he was handsome and had the most wonderful sister, he was a very rich gentleman who would not be able to accept a wife who dressed like a man with such an uncommon situation with her family. She ceased her thoughts of the gentleman immediately and turned her mind to what she needed to do next in order to continue her travel from London to Hertfordshire. Mr. Darcy had insisted on her using his carriage to her destination but did not know of her plans to return his carriage back to Ramsgate and then to board a hired coach to reach her parents’ home the very same day.

Although nervous about seeing her mother and three younger sisters again after nearly five years of separation, she gathered her strength to face them and practiced her speech to her maid repeatedly during the journey. After stopping at a coaching inn and then a brief nap in the comfortable carriage, Elizabeth arrived in London.

Several of her trunks were to remain at her uncle’s home along with her maid, and after hugging her relatives, she left Cheapside with only a portmanteau. Once aboard the hired carriage to Hertfordshire, she was ready to see Jane, her parents, and her three younger sisters, as well as to inspect Ashworth, which was a modest manor located five miles from Longbourn.

~*~

The mood inside Longbourn shifted as soon as she walked in and Elizabeth awkwardly curtsied to the occupants in the parlour and stood in silence for several seconds before Jane hurried towards her and embraced her. “Lizzie! How good it is to see you safely arrived. How was your fortnight in Ramsgate?” Jane pointed to their sisters and continued, “Have they not grown so much since you last saw them? Mama, does Lizzie not look so accomplished?”

Mrs. Bennet sat impassively in her chair and commented, “So, you have finally come home. Let me see you, child.”