"You have a letter from London, Lizzie," said Jane, knocking on their bedroom door and smiling at her sister as she jumped, her gaze flicking from the window to the doorway. "Daydreaming again?"
Elizabeth sighed. "I needed to get away. Mamma was anxious to know how far up Kitty and Mary would be able to marry once William becomes her son-in-law."
"Do call him Mr. Darcy in public, Lizzie," chided Jane, though it was hard to take her scolding seriously with the gentle smile on her face. "Mamma will not like it."
"Another reason to avoid mamma for as long as I may, then," smiled Elizabeth. She accepted the letter, not even glancing at the handwriting before opening it quickly. She blinked upon realising was not from her aunt, as she had expected, but in an unfamiliar hand. The end, initialled DH, however, told her what she needed to know. "It is from Diana," she answered her sister's unspoken question. "She thanks us for the wedding invitation, says she would be delighted to attend and that we must call on her when we arrive in London along with our aunt and uncle!"
Jane looked surprised. "She has never even met them."
"She says they are welcome to bring their children as well," continued Elizabeth, her eyes quickly scanning the letter. "Oh, Jane, William told me she absolutely fawns over every child she sees and she is so good with children."
"Poor dear," murmured Jane sadly. "Perhaps we should allow them to come, just this once?"
"I will ask my aunt when I next write to her," said Elizabeth decidedly. She folded the letter when she was done. "She says we are to bring whatever company we choose since she may not entertain us fully until her mourning is over. Oh, Jane!" Elizabeth looked up at her sister, her eyes wide. "We leave for London in scarcely a week!"
"Yes, we do," her sister's laughter was quieter, but just as happy. "And married scarcely a month after."
"Poor Pappa," Elizabeth bit her lip, her joy diminishing significantly. "Mamma's nerves will be sure to cause him a great deal of annoyance now."
"We can worry about that later," soothed Jane. "You should write back to Lady Herbert and tell Aunt Gardiner the news."
Elizabeth nodded and followed her sister out of the room. Diana's letter made her thoughts immediately jump to a conversation with her betrothed a few weeks ago. Darcy had received a letter from Colonel Fitzwilliam related to Diana, which he had brought for her to read. Elizabeth had been reluctant to go through it, at first, but Darcy had assured her that the contents would set her mind at ease. Though Elizabeth would not admit it to him, the letter had done the opposite. As much affection as she had for her future cousin, Diana's pain was something she could sympathise with much more than his. To have a mother who would do anything to have her daughter marry well was something Elizabeth was acquainted with, but despite her faults Mrs. Bennet truly loved all her daughters, and that was something Elizabeth was sure Diana could not say with conviction after what had happened to her.
True, it had turned out very well for her, mused Elizabeth as she sat down in a corner of the sitting room with her letters. Diana herself spoke of her husband fondly, and her jewels and clothes showed no sign of a miserable life. And yet, Elizabeth had seen the way she looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam from under her lashes, as if she was both afraid to catch his eye and yet yearning to do so. She had also seen the Colonel's entire demeanour change after he had greeted Diana. Though she knew him less than the others that had been present, she knew his actions were out of character: he was aloof, he hardly spoke, and his expression was one of incredible discomfort. Clearly, Diana knew that he had left her because of her mother, because there was no sign of hatred in her eyes.
Elizabeth wondered at Colonel Fitzwilliam's reasoning. Had not Lady Catherine done worse to her when she had come and demanded her to untangle herself from her engagement to Darcy, which at that point had not even existed? Elizabeth shook her head sadly.
!
"I hear we are to entertain in a fortnight," said Mina casually as her daughter entered the room.
"Not entertain, merely take callers that I can bear to be in company with," answered Diana briskly, retrieving her book from where she had accidentally left it in the parlour and making her way back towards the exit. However, a footman appeared at the door and opened his mouth to speak. Diana was forced to resist the urge to groan.
"Lady Alexandra Fitzwilliam!" he announced, stepping back to show Lady Fitzwilliam into the room.
"Is this a bad time?" asked Lady Fitzwilliam concernedly as she saw her friend's rigid posture and Diana's annoyed look. However, both women's stiffness eased upon her entrance, so she allowed her cheeks to be kissed and sat down near Mina.
"How are you doing, my dear?" asked Lady Fitzwilliam, gesturing for Diana to come sit by her. The younger woman obeyed and murmured something about being well. Lady Fitzwilliam smiled. "Darcy sent me a letter telling me of your invitation to the Bennet family. It was very kind of you."
"No kindness, my lady," Diana smiled and shook her head. "I have few friends in London, and Miss Elizabeth's family seems charming."
"Family?" questioned Mina. Diana kept her face pleasant, though inwardly she couldn't help but feel slightly smug at her mother's slight confusion. "It appears I am unaware of plans happening within my own home."
"Diana sent a letter to Miss Bennet asking her to call on her with the aunt and uncle that she will be in town with, along with her sister and her fiancé," Lady Fitzwilliam said, her tone pleased. "I just know it would be such a help if it were known about town that Elizabeth was invited to Diana's first thing, Mina."
"I'm sure your dinner will do any such work, Lady Fitzwilliam, I claim no powers of persuasion when it comes to London," smiled Diana. "I will attempt to entertain them once I am able to, however."
However, Lady Fitzwilliam's happy smile would not be diminished after her words, not even after Mina's look of slight horror. Diana stood up to ring for refreshments, unable to resist glancing at her mother to see how she was taking the news. She was aware that this uncle, a Mr. Gardiner, was in trade and resided in Cheapside. Her mother's new abode in Mayfair, it seemed, had made the thought of entertaining a tradesman highly disagreeable.
Diana felt a perverse delight at the thought of her mother's displeasure.
Hello again! Unfortunately this is my last update for a while, things begin to heat up after this (the greatly anticipated dinner at Fitzwilliam House for one) and I need to make sure I have all the chapters written out so I can stick to my schedule. I also have exams starting in May, but I will try to update as often as I can in between. Till then, I hope you enjoyed this little filler and do let me know what you're anxious to see happen, sooner rather than later!
Much love xx