Saturday May 15, 1813 – Gracechurch Street, London
It was not the same as in the past. Of course, it could not be. Jane was a married woman now and Elizabeth could no longer expect to enjoy long talks with her sister that lasted into the early hours of the morning. She had learned that all too well at Pemberley and in York. Nonetheless she had managed to separate her elder sister from her husband for several hours this evening after dinner. They were now ensconced quite comfortably in Elizabeth's room and endeavouring to relate each to the other all that had happened during their month long separation that could not be comfortably encompassed in a letter.
Elizabeth was most concerned to learn about Mr. Bingley and his involvement in helping her sister and her husband to acquire an estate. If the reason for her interest was to better sketch Mr. Bingley's character on Georgiana's behalf, this was not something she could relate to Jane. While it was not difficult to conclude that Mr. Bingley had earned a reasonable degree of admiration from both Jane and Amos Stovall, it was also easy to ascertain that the admiration was that which would be bestowed on a good friend. Jane was very quick to praise Mr. Bingley but Elizabeth could detect nothing of her former feelings in such praise. With an easier heart she encouraged her sister to talk about the estate which she and Amos hoped to make their home when he left the navy.
"Oh Lizzy, I will so love to have you visit. I will never be able to keep you in the house since you will wish to walk and ride all over the estate's park which is not as large as Pemberley but has as many beautiful views." Jane paused for a moment or two before smiling, "According to Amos, the winters are quite cold and snow is plentiful. He is already talking about acquiring a sleigh or even two for driving about in the winter."
Elizabeth laughed, "Jane enjoying a sleigh ride? I do not believe it to be possible. You are a creature of the gardens and prefer a warm room to being out in the cold."
"I think I might enjoy a sleigh ride a great deal if my husband is next to me!" Jane's blush prompted a most unladylike snort from Elizabeth which she tried to hide by pretending to cough but eventually gave up the effort and laughed at her sister who also began to laugh happily.
"Jane, I am so pleased to see you so happy. I will be most willing to visit you at Edgemont when you take up residence. Of course, I will insist on William accompanying me and a sleigh of our own." Elizabeth's arch look elicited a knowing grin from her sister. "Of course, Lizzy. Of course!"
The two sisters continued to talk for another hour as Elizabeth described all that had happened to her and Darcy since they returned to London. Elizabeth found that as she talked to her sister the events which she found somewhat overwhelming when they occurred could be placed in perspective. She had met members of the social elite and survived the experience quite nicely. She had been on public display and, if understandably nervous at the time, she had been in command of herself and thought she had acquitted herself well. With the support of William, the Matlock family and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her first tentative steps into London society had been taken without accident. Doubts that she harboured about her ability to be a good Mistress of Pemberley in all of the facets involved still existed but they no longer seemed ready to overwhelm her. She could face the future with more confidence in her abilities.
Sunday May 16, 1813 – Darcy House, London
Darcy was there to welcome them all when they arrived at Darcy House. It had been over a month since he had been in company with Jane and her husband and he welcomed them both with particular warmth. The intensity of his gaze as he turned once again to Elizabeth was matched by hers and as he placed her hand on his arm to lead them all to the drawing room, he murmured, "I have a small surprise for you." At her quizzical look, he continued, "I shall show it to you very shortly."
As they entered the drawing room, Elizabeth was surprised to see Mr. Bingley talking to Georgiana. "Is this your surprise, sir? I admit it to be a pleasant one."
"No indeed although I am pleased Bingley arrived in time for the dinner tonight. I rather expected he might be late." Since the Gardiners had not previously met Mr. Bingley, Darcy made the introductions. The Gardiners were very interested to make the acquaintance of one of whom they had received such varying reports. While he had apparently disappointed their niece greatly by his withdrawal of his attentions, he had also been very generous in his assistance to her and her husband in acquiring an estate. It seemed likely that he might be in the company of the Stovalls in the future and it behooved the Gardiners therefore to think well of him. It did not take overmuch time for them to be convinced of his amiability and worthiness.
After a few minutes Darcy spoke to the room, "I have no wish to disturb any conversations taking place but I would like to show Elizabeth her chambers that we have refurbished to her specifications – I hope. Would any of you wish to accompany us?"
Jane and Mrs. Gardiner were quick to show their interest and Darcy led them upstairs to the Mistress Chambers. Before throwing open the door, he asked Elizabeth to close her eyes until told to open them. After some teasing on her part, she complied with his request, her anticipation increasing her reluctance to delay viewing her rooms. Leading her carefully into the room followed by Mrs. Gardiner and Jane he stopped her in the middle of her bedroom and asked her to open her eyes. Despite being warned by the appreciative murmurs of Jane and her aunt, she nevertheless was overwhelmed by the changes that had taken place. Gone were the ornate furniture, brocades and the clutter of furnishings. In its place was a room designed to provide light and warmth and comfort. She walked around fingering the curtains and the small settee in front of the window. Walking into the bedroom she admired the fittings and coverings.
"I hope this meets with your approval." Darcy's voice was low and his breath tickled her ear.
"Indeed it does, William." She paused and turned her head slightly towards his, her lips within inches of his and her voice equally quiet – and she hoped indistinct to her aunt and Jane, "However, I hope to spend but few nights in it!" At Darcy's uncomprehending look, she broadened her smile a trifle while a blush pervaded her face, "I hope to spend most of them in your bed, William."
"Truly?"
"Truly!"
"I…ah, I think we should view your dressing room also." If her aunt and Jane had discerned the cause of Darcy's reddened countenance or loss of composure, they gave no sign other than a slight smile from Jane. Darcy quickly ushered them into the dressing room in which many of Elizabeth's recent purchases had been stored. She looked around and nodded her approval. "I must convey to Mrs. Hodgkins my appreciation for the way she has carried out this refurbishing. I shall be most comfortable in these rooms." Darcy watched with great satisfaction as the three women wandered back and forth in the two rooms admiring the furnishings and the care that had gone into making the rooms so suited to Elizabeth. As Mrs. Gardiner so aptly stated, "I cannot envisage rooms that could more closely reflect your tastes and preferences, Lizzy."
Once they had rejoined the rest of the party in the drawing room, Elizabeth quickly went to Georgiana and taking her hands expressed her appreciation, "For I am sure that you had no small part in making my rooms so delightful." Georgiana's discomfiture at the praise was obvious and Elizabeth chuckled, "I can see I still have much work to do in teaching you how to accept praise." Further teasing was cut short by the entrance of Mrs. Hodgkins to announce that dinner was ready. Before she could depart, Elizabeth hastened to take her aside and express her appreciation. "Mrs. Hodgkins, you must allow me to thank you for your efforts to refurbish the Mistress chambers. It can have been no easy task to take the few comments I offered and effect such a delightful transformation and with so little time to accomplish it."
"Miss Bennet, I was truly happy to do so. I have been the housekeeper here for fifteen years and the happiness that has invaded this house in the last few months has been a joy to see." With that she patted Elizabeth on the arm and was about to leave when she turned back saying, "I have taken the liberty of writing Mrs. Reynolds at Pemberley about your preferences. She will see to the refurbishing of the Mistress Chambers there." She then bustled off about her duties. Elizabeth noted that Darcy was waiting to lead her to the dining room and quickly took possession of the arm he extended. At his raised eyebrow, she quietly answered, "I just wished to thank Mrs. Hodgkins for her efforts on my behalf."
He nodded and led her to sit at his right hand at the head of the table. Georgiana, acting as hostess for the family gathering, sat at the foot of the table which had been shortened to more comfortably suit the number of guests. Bingley and Mr. Gardiner had seated themselves to her right and left while Mrs. Gardiner sat between Elizabeth and her husband. The Stovalls sat to Darcy's left. Altogether it was an amiable company that sat down to dine and the presence of Bingley and Mr. Gardiner served to envelope Georgiana in an easy conversation that eased her discomfort at being the hostess. Conversation ranged over a wide variety of topics although, not unexpectedly, the upcoming nuptials and the Stovalls experiences in Yorkshire were of much interest. Darcy informed Elizabeth that his cousin, Lady Frances and her husband, would attend the wedding but that his Uncle, Lord Matlock, had declined to do so, citing a reluctance to travel to Hertfordshire. If there were other reasons, they remained unstated.
Elizabeth was pleased that she was able, from where she sat, to observe Mr. Bingley's behaviour towards Georgiana. Given that he had been a particular friend of Darcy for more than five years and had known Georgiana for as long, she was not surprised to see how comfortable they were in each other's company. She could not detect that he paid her any attentions beyond those of a close acquaintance; however, Georgiana's preference was more obvious and, although not improper in any fashion, more concerning. Elizabeth thought she should mention her concerns to Darcy when the opportunity arose.
When dinner was finished the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, leaving the four gentlemen to their port and cigars. Stovall and Bingley quickly fell into a discussion about York and the Stovall estate with Bingley also discussing his plans to purchase an estate in close proximity to York itself for as he said, "I am too much about my business in York to be separated from it for long periods and yet I like the easiness of country living and manners."
Darcy and Mr. Gardiner found common cause as their discussion centred on a common interest – business. Darcy had invested in the Gardiner business and both were considering opportunities elsewhere. Bingley had briefly mentioned that he was looking to expand and neither Darcy or Mr. Gardiner were adverse to such involvement. They would take the opportunity while in Hertfordshire to talk to Messers Johnson and Thompson about the possibilities although Mr. Gardiner was rather convinced that much of the discussion would fall to his lot since Darcy's thoughts would be much more pleasurably engaged. After a half hour they decided to join the ladies in the drawing room and were greeted by the sight of Georgiana and Elizabeth essaying a duet as they entered the room. The two young women played charmingly for a further ten minutes, becoming aware that their audience had expanded only by the volume of applause that greeted their efforts. They were pressed to continue playing and obliged for a further quarter hour at which point they joined the others for tea and coffee. Elizabeth took the opportunity to sit somewhat apart with Darcy on a settee, where they could converse in quiet comfort and deliberately ignored by the others. If there was no obvious contact between them, glances and brushes of a hand on an arm or hand conveyed the affection and desire each was feeling for the other.
Since their plans called for an early departure for Longbourn the next morning, they did not linger afterwards wishing to return home to make final preparations for their journey the next day. Once the Gardiner carriage had departed for Gracechurch Street, Darcy returned indoors to join his sister and friend. Georgiana wished to retire to her rooms to make her preparations and, if she was to spend more time considering the attractiveness of a certain gentleman, it was no more than might be expected of any young lady who was not yet seventeen. Darcy and Bingley enjoyed a companionable brandy in his study before Bingley acknowledged his fatigue from travelling and retired. Darcy's thoughts were almost completely of Elizabeth and the realization of his dreams and hopes to make her his wife. He did not attempt to deny to himself his anticipation of their wedding night and all the days and nights which would follow.
