Chapter 3

The previous night Elizabeth Darcy had a long conversation with herself. She promised herself that she would not look for the worst possible motives in anything that her husband did or said. She also realised that assumptions and suppositions were counterproductive and would only lead to misunderstandings.

She resolved to talk to her husband at the first possible opportunity and truly start over indeed and not just with words. She admitted to herself that her resentment over the compromise had led her to pay lip service to a new start, but that her heart had not been in it.

Her husband had been nothing but solicitous of her feelings and it was incumbent on her to respond in kind. The members of his family, that she had met, had been accepting of her and had censured William for his actions. She liked them all, surprisingly that included Lady Catherine de Bourgh. That great lady had pledged herself to change so Elizabeth Darcy could as well.

Upton helped her mistress dress and have her directions to the breakfast parlour. It was unnecessary as her husband was patiently waiting in the hall and offered her an arm to guide her downstairs. Rather than barely touch his arm as she had yesterday, she wound her hand around his arm causing him to raise his eyebrows.

"Did you sleep well Elizabeth?" Darcy asked.

"Yes William, I most certainly did. That is the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on. I had suspected that I would not sleep well without sharing a bed with Jane, but I fell asleep almost as soon as my head was on the pillow," Elizabeth informed her husband.

Darcy was heartened by the difference that he saw in his wife. He did not believe that a fairy had waved a magic wand and caused her to fall madly in love with him. What he did see was that she was trying. He felt waves of pleasure wash over him as he felt that she had at last truly allowed herself to begin again.

Darcy led Elizabeth into a nice sized parlour where she spied a sideboard with what looked like enough food to feed a small army, not just the two of them. "This is the small dining parlour Elizabeth. We use it for breaking our fasts and meals when there are not many people," Darcy explained.

"If this is the small parlour, I hesitate to think what the large one is like," Elizbeth returned with an arched eyebrow.

"May I make you a plate Elizabeth?" Darcy asked. His wife nodded her agreement. Darcy had paid attention to her preferences at Netherfield and surprised her by selecting the items that she would have for herself.

After a footman poured tea for her and coffee for him, the newlyweds were left alone, and the doors closed. "William, I have something to tell you, but first, I need to ask your permission for one thing," Elizabeth opened.

"I hope that you will never not ask me anything when you feel the need," Darcy responded.

"You remember that you met my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at the wedding?" Darcy nodded. "May I invite them to Darcy House, I know with my uncle being actively engaged in trade…" Elizabeth stopped her question as Darcy raised his hand.

"It will not be my habit to cut you off when you speak Elizabeth, but I want to make sure that you understand what I am about to tell and that there will be no misunderstanding. You, and you alone, are mistress of all our houses, including this one! It is your prerogative to invite whoever you choose to. As it so happens, I found the Gardiners both intelligent and gentle and I would enjoy getting to know them better," Darcy stated emphatically. "All I ask is that you notify me who you are inviting, if there is anyone that I object to, I will inform you. You will be told the why and then you will be free to make your decision."

Elizabeth was silent for a minute. This was not the man that she expected. She knew that she had made the right decision to try. She did not know if she would ever love her husband, but for the first time she could see them becoming friends. He had just moved from the 'tolerate him' to the 'want to get to know him' column.

"I owe you an apology William." Elizabeth saw that her husband was about to object. "Please wait until I have completed what I would like to say William." Darcy nodded. "I told you before our wedding that I agreed to start again, but that is not what I did. I was still looking for the worst in you and refused to see that not only are you an honourable man, but a good one too. You have my word of honour that from now on I am looking for the positive, not the negative.

"What I would like to propose is that if either of us do not understand the meaning of something the other says or does that we do not assume. There have been too many misunderstandings, so I pledge to ask you, to talk to you if I ever do not comprehend something." Elizabeth was not built for sadness so unless she actively changed some of her attitudes, she would have a sad existence.

"Have you completed what you wanted to say?" Darcy asked when there had been a little time with silence. Elizabeth nodded. "Who, if not I, deserved your disapprobation? That been said, you must know that your words bring me much joy. All I ask for is a chance to show you who I truly am. As to your proposal to talk or ask and not make suppositions, I agree completely." For the first time Darcy's smile revealed his dimples.

'Oh my, this man is very handsome, especially when she smiles!' Elizabeth acknowledged to herself.

"When we were at Longbourn I heard tell that Mrs. Gardiner is renowned for her decorating skills. Would you like to wait to tour the house until she is with you?" Darcy asked.

"Yes, please William, that would be perfect." Elizabeth was not blind. Not only was her husband pleased and much more relaxed by her decision but so was she. It seemed that he would go out of his way to make her happy.

As they exited the dining parlour, they heard a knock on the door. When Payton opened the door, Ladies Elaine, Catherine, and Jaqueline along with Georgiana and Anne entered.

"Ladies," Darcy bowed to his relations.

"We are not here to see you, William. Elizabeth how soon are you able to get ready?" Lady Elaine asked.

"Where am I going Aunt Elaine?" Elizabeth asked.

"You are going shopping with us. It will accomplish the practical purpose of your acquiring a new wardrobe while allowing you to be seen by London society with our approval," Lady Catherine commanded.

"It will not do for Mrs. Darcy to look like a country hoyden," Lady Jaqueline stated rudely.

"That will be more than enough Lady Smithson. You will not come into our house and insult my wife!" An angry Darcy retorted while the other arriving ladies looked scandalised.

"Do you remember the penalty for bad behaviour towards your new cousin in public?" Lady Elaine asked her daughter-in-law acerbically.

"Yes, I do! We will lose our allowance for three months for each occurrence. In my defence, we are not in public here," the Viscountess could not help herself making a snide remark.

"How dare you call my wide a hoyden without having ever met her?" Elizabeth found that she quite enjoyed the umbrage her husband took with the haughty woman who had insulted her. "And pray tell Lady Smithson, what would you call one who violates his or her marriage vows, with more than one person? Any decent person believes one it too many," Darcy shot back at his cousin's wife whose face turned red and was pinched in such a way that he was reminded of the shrew, Caroline Bingley.

While Elizabeth ascended the stairs to change, Darcy asked his aunts to put as much as was needed for Elizabeth on the Darcy accounts. Suspecting that Elizabeth would be uncomfortable spending that much money, he further asked his aunts to make sure that she would have enough of everything. "Unlike some," he looked pointedly at the Viscountess, "my wife does not like to waste money just because she can."

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"Cousin Mary," Collins pulled his cousin's attention from the book she was reading. "Do you object if I join you?"

"Certainly, Cousin Collins, I was not doing anything of consequence." Mary welcomed Collins indicating he should sit as she blushed becomingly enjoying her cousin's attention.

"What are you reading if I may so bold as to ask?" Collins enquired.

"Shakespeare's Much ado about nothing," Mary responded as she showed him the cover.

"You seem to favour his comedies?" Collins noted.

"To tell you the truth this is only the second of the Bard's works that I am reading. Papa recommended I start with the comedies after reading Fordyce, which he calls a tragedy," Mary explained.

"Fordyce was a fellow man of the cloth, but in my opinion, I would not recommend his work to any young lady. I like to write my own sermons and do not use other's words. Do not get me wrong cousin Mary, I occasionally look at other's sermons to get an idea, but then I write it in my own words trying to apply the lesson to my parishioner's lives. I own a copy of Fordyce's sermons, but it is a book that only gathers dust," Collins related.

"It seems that my copy will have the same fate now," Mary revealed. "Papa requested it from me, and I know not where he placed it. Will you not call me Mary without the cousin appellation before my name?" Mary blushed again at her forwardness. Making such a request was out of character for the middle Bennet daughter.

"I will be happy to address you as Mary as long as you call me William or Collins if you are uncomfortable using my familiar name," Collins responded. The more he was around Mary Bennet the more attractive she became for him. She was the most pious of the sisters and knew her scriptures almost as well as he, as a clergyman, did. She was kind and from, what he could see, always striving to better herself.

She was not as pretty as her two older sisters, in fact until recently he would have termed her plain, although that was not important compared to the pluses that he had noted in her character. Of late she was wearing less severe outfits and rather than her hair being pulled into a tight bun, she had started to style it. As he looked at Mary, Collins realised that she was very pretty in her own right. It was as if he was watching his garden in spring as everything started to bloom. Mary Bennet was blossoming before his eyes.

"I accept William," Mary said softly almost caressing his name with her voice.

Mary went back to her reading as Collins remembered the conversation that he had with his cousin the day that Mr. Jones had called.

Mr. Hill had requested that Collins join the master in the study. Bennet had indicated that he be seated.

"Before you came, I thought that I would be vastly amused by you as my only reference was your late father," Bennet had told him. "Instead, I have found an intelligent man who is a pleasure to have as a guest."

"Your words warm my heart Cousin. My father's description of you and the Bennet side of the family could not be more at odds with the reality that I have found at Longbourn. The best thing that ever happened to me was going to live with my aunt and uncle. You may have noticed that I do not partake even in a glass of wine." Bennet had nodded. "After my father and his penchant for the bottle I have never touched any," Collins had informed his cousin.

"The reason that I requested you to attend me this morning is that there is news I must share in fairness to you. Depending on the result, it may affect you greatly."

"Are you talking about your wife being with child?" Collins asked insightfully. Seeing Bennet's questioning arched eyebrow, he had added, "I have seen enough parishioners in that state to be able to recognise the symptoms."

"If we have a son, you will no longer be the heir presumptive," Bennet had stated with a note of apology in his voice.

"It will be by His will. If He gives you a son, I will be first to wish you and your son well. Unlike my late father, I have never coveted Longbourn. I love my work as a parson and will not be sorry if I remain in that vocation for the rest of my days," Collins had said with complete sincerity.

"You are not the only observant one, your attention to our Mary has not been missed," Bennet had stated. "My hope is that you are genuinely interested in her and not only of you inherit the estate."

"Bennet, I can assure you that my intentions are completely honourable and are in no way tied to my inheriting Longbourn. I find that Cousin Mary and I seem to be very compatible, and I am developing tender feelings for her."

"As long as it is her free choice with no pressure from any quarter, I will welcome you as a son if you are the one that she decides to spend her life with," Bennet had said earnestly.

"Believe me Cousin, I am not one of those witless men who would try and press his suit after the lady has refused him. I get the feeling that Cousin Mary is not indifferent to me, so I requested more time away from Hunsford and it was granted as my curate is doing an estimable job in my absence," Collins had assured his cousin.

"I do have one request Collins in the case that our new babe is a girl, which given the five daughters previously, the chances seem great. In the event that we do not have a son would you consider changing your name to Bennet? There have been Bennets on this land for many generations and if you agree, I would like to see Longbourn remain in the hands of a Bennet," Bennet had asked.

"As I am not particularly attached to my father's name, that would be easy for me to grant if it comes to that eventuality. You have my word of honour on that Cousin." Collins had stood and extended his hand which was gratefully accepted by Bennet.

Collins smiled as he watched Mary Bennet read while the different emotions played over her face depending on what section or act she was reading. 'I will not rush Mary,' he promised himself. 'It is imperative that she knows her on mind and knows what will be expected of the wife of a clergyman.'

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Five of the six ladies who set put to shop returned to Darcy House more than six hours later. None of the others had uttered word of opposition when Lady Smithson had requested to be returned to Matlock House halfway through the shopping expedition claiming an indisposition. There was no doubt that the sullen woman was prevaricating, she did however do the remainder of the shoppers a favour as their enjoyment was far more with the Viscountess' absence.

Anne de Bourgh had sat most of the time while they were out however, she was fatigued by the time they arrived at Darcy House to Elizabeth asked Mrs. Payton to show her cousin to an entrance level bedchamber, Georgiana had told her of their existence, so Miss de Bourgh could get some much needed rest.

During the time at the various modiste, mantua maker, and various and sundry other stores , Elizabeth and Georgiana had become close enough that they were addressing one another informally. Georgiana had felt comfortable enough to share with Elizabeth that she did not like the family nickname of Georgie. Elizabeth suggested Giana which Miss Darcy loved and told her new sister that she would request that everyone use the new nickname and not Georgie.

Due to her separation from the family Lady Catherine did not know her young niece very well and Georgiana had been intimidated by her aunt. Lady Elaine informed her sister that Elizabeth was doing wonders drawing their niece, who sometimes suffered from debilitating shyness, out. The Countess could not remember a time that she had seen Georgiana happier.

For her part Elizabeth had been horrified at the amount of money that was been spent on her. Her husband had the right of it, she tried to order the minimum; Ladies Elaine and Catherine, with input from Georgiana made sure that sufficient numbers of items were ordered at each shop. If Elizabeth had been aware of the actual amount of money that had been spent on her in that one day, she would have had an apoplexy.

Elizabeth rang for tea and her husband entered the drawing room at the same time that the teas did. Surprisingly, Elizabeth was pleased to see him. "How was your first foray of shopping with your aunts and sisters?" Darcy enquired after he received his tea. Darcy was pleasantly surprised! Elizabeth must have been paying attention at Netherfield Park because she prepared his tea just right without asking him.

"It was a most enjoyable time, especially after one of our party became indisposed and chose to return to Matlock House," Lady Elaine responded before Elizabeth could.

"It was enjoyable, except for the measuring, poking, and prodding," Elizabeth told her husband while she smiled so he knew that she had not suffered too much. "I was not comfortable spending so much money on myself."

"Quite peculiar for a young lady not to love shopping," Lady Catherine opined.

"I do have a suggestion," Elizabeth stated. "Before we go shopping again, let us visit my Uncle Gardiner's warehouses. He supplied many modistes and mantua makers with their fabric. We would be able to get first pick of new bolts that have not been seen by any other."

"Oh yes," Georgiana clapped her hands, "that sounds like a wonderful plan Lizzy. Please may we go brother?"

"There is no reason why not Georgie," Darcy agreed.

"William and aunts, I do not really like my name shortened to Georgie, it reminds me of a man's name. I prefer Giana," Georgiana said nervously. Darcy did not miss how his timid sister looked to his wife for moral support. His wife would be good for his sister as well as for himself.

"If that is your preference Giana, then I have no objection. You may have to bear with me as I get used to the change," Darcy told his delighted sister who has been concerned that he may think her too impertinent.

"May we join you when you go to your uncle's warehouses?" Lady Elaine asked.

"You are most welcome Aunt, I was not sure if you wanted to meet my family in trade at the warehouses near Cheapside," Elizabeth worried.

"You forget that we met your uncle and aunt at the wedding, they are estimable people who we would like to become better acquainted with," Lady Catherine replied. That was the last response that Darcy had expected from Lady Catherine.

"Why do you not send a note to invite them to call on you here like we discussed earlier Elizabeth. I hope dinner on the morrow would not be too short notice, then we may plan for a time to see the wares," Darcy suggested.

"If they accept for tomorrow and we are welcome, we would love to join," Lady Elaine informed the Darcys.

"We can celebrate Richard's resignation from the army," Lady Catherine remembered.

By the time the Matlock House party departed an hour and a half later, tentative plans were made. Anne felt much revived when her cousins wished her farewell after her rest. Elizabeth sent a note to Gracechurch street and asked the groom to wait for a reply. He returned with a happy acceptance of dinner from the Gardiners and was then sent to convey the news to the Countess of Matlock.