The Colonel and the Lady (A Matter of Trust) Chapter 22 - Visitors, a pride and prejudice fanfic

For all of you who are hoping for a speedy resolution to R&E, I have to disappoint you.

You cannot learn to trust overnight, and PTSD takes even longer to mitigate. I will not say cure because I am told that in severe cases that may be impossible even after decades.

But as I understand it, it can get better if you have someone you trust completely and can talk to them openly. But it does take time.

Dear Guest. You are obviously significantly better educated than Mrs Bennet to understand the nuances of the word tomboy. Unfortunately, Mrs B does not have Google, and due to her prejudices, she associated the expression tomboy with a girl who prefers to spend time not only in outdoor pursuits but also being educated in subjects generally reserved for men. You will have to forgive her ignorance and live with it. 😉

~~H~~

Visitors

The Bennets and Mrs Farrington had returned to their own homes to prepare for the wedding and houseguests.

The day after her return Edith had an unexpected visitor.

'Cousin Fanny, what a pleasant surprise. I had thought you too busy to come and visit with me. Please come and have some tea.'

Mrs Bennet accepted the welcome and the tea but kept fidgeting while Edith enquired, 'I hope that all is well at Longbourn after your unexpected absence?'

'All is well at the house. Mrs Hill made certain that all is as it should be.' Mrs Bennet raised her eyes from her cup and squared her shoulders. 'Cousin Edith, it has been brought home to me that my manners may not be quite suitable for the likes of nobility. What with an Earl and a Countess attending the wedding, I thought that you might be able to help me not to embarrass Lizzy, you being a countess yourself,' she said in a rush as if worried that she would not be able to make the request if she spoke more slowly.

Edith considered that perhaps she had done Mrs Bennet a disservice by not mentioning her title before. The lady obviously was prepared to take advice from a countess, where she had refused to listen to Mrs Farrington.

'I would be happy to assist you, but we do not have much time,' replied Edith as her mind worked furiously.

'You mean it is impossible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear,' Mrs Bennet sighed in defeat.

That is not what I meant, and I owe you an apology. If I had not been so insistent on hiding, we could have had three years to work on your manners.' Edith blushed as she realised that she had just bluntly criticised her cousin. 'I mean —'

Mrs Bennet patted her had as she interrupted, 'I am pleased to see that I am not the only one who can on occasion speak without thinking.'

'Thank you for your understanding. What I was trying to say is that while we only have limited time, I can still help. As you pointed out yourself, you often speak without considering your words. If you can simply restrain yourself and think before you speak, you can appear much more genteel.'

When Edith paused, Mrs Bennet said, 'go on. While it might be difficult to restrain myself, that advice is not so difficult. What else should I remember?'

'Very well. Do not speak about money or how well off your daughters will be. Do not boast. Do you remember how Miss Bingley used to act?' When Mrs Bennet nodded, Edith grinned and said, 'as the daughter of a tradesman, she never learnt proper behaviour. She was always boasting about her dowry and her connections. In high society it is assumed that you have money and connections. It is unnecessary to speak of it. Anyone who does is considered gauche.'

Mrs Bennet tilted her head and pursed her lips. After a minute she said, 'so, if I model my behaviour on Jane, quiet and unassuming, I will be a credit to my girls?'

Edith beamed at the lady's understanding. 'Precisely. You have lived with Jane and know her very well. She behaves like a proper gentlewoman.' She paused before she added, 'and as much as you criticise Elizabeth, she too has exquisite manners. You might find her manners easier to imitate since she is a little livelier than Jane.'

A burst of laughter escaped Mrs Bennet. 'Who would have thought it. Me trying to act like Lizzy to be considered ladylike. I always thought that she was wild because she has such decided opinions and always has her nose stuck in a book unless she is running wild in the country.'

'Lizzy loves the outdoors, but in company her behaviour is usually impeccable.'

Another idea occurred to Edith. 'There is one more thing that you should never do, and that is to criticise and denigrate any of your daughters publicly. By all means, check Lydia's behaviour when she is being too hoydenish, but do it quietly and do not proclaim to everyone present that she is a hoyden.'

'You think Lydia is a hoyden?' Mrs Bennet asked with a stricken look.

Edith sighed. 'I am afraid I do. She is loud, brash and overly flirtatious for a girl her age.'

'Just like I was at her age,' murmured Mrs Bennet. 'Is that what you have been trying to tell me ever since you moved here?' At Edith's silent nod, Mrs Bennet sighed. 'I suppose that Lydia is still young enough to learn…'

After a moment's introspection, she returned to the subject at hand. 'Cousin Edith, do you truly think that by following your advice I will appear ladylike?'

'There is one more thing you might wish to consider. Too much lace on a gown is ostentatious. You are boasting to everyone that you can afford such expensive trimmings…'

'You mean that I have been putting up with all that itchy lace for nothing for all these years?'

'Yes.'

'Fu… dge,' exclaimed Mrs Bennet in disgust. Then she added with twinkling eyes. 'Yes, I did think as I spoke.'

~~H~~

The following day Elizabeth visited Edith.

'I do not know what is wrong with mama,' she exclaimed after they exchanged greetings. 'She is always staring at me. I cannot make it out.'

'I am afraid that is my fault,' Edith admitted with a chuckle.

'How can it be your fault?'

'Due to my influence, your mother now sees you as a shining example of ladylike behaviour.'

Elizabeth's eyes widened and her jaw dropped before she recovered herself and started to laugh. 'Now that is a turnaround.'

'I did mention that Jane is the perfect lady.' Elizabeth nodded vigorously. 'But your mother could never appear as serene as Jane. Since you also have excellent manners but are a bit more animated, I suggested to her that she might wish to imitate you in her quest to act like a lady in front of your future relations.'

'Thank you, Edith. You relieve my mind in two ways. I have not done anything wrong for which mama is trying to scold me, and that she is determined to moderate her behaviour.'

'You are welcome. But did your mother's observations drive you from your home?'

'No, but all that talk about the wedding did. Jane is kindness itself in the way she tolerates all that fuss, but I could not stand another minute of it without being fit for Bedlam.'

'If you just wanted some peace and quiet, I suggest you go and practice that new piece of music on the pianoforte. That should take your mind of your troubles.'

'Indeed. By giving me a new set of troubles to worry about,' Elizabeth complained but followed her cousin's suggestion.

~~H~~

The day before Bingley's family was due to arrive, Darcy and Fitzwilliam relocated to Purvis Lodge to provide the staff with sufficient time to refresh their rooms.

Edith greeted them and informed the gentlemen, 'I have put both of you on the second floor, where I will also accommodate your siblings. Except for the largest room, which I think should go to the Viscount and his wife, you two may choose which of the other three room you wish to occupy and which one will be reserved for Georgiana.'

'Where will you put my parents?' Fitzwilliam wanted to know.

'I reserved the spare suite on the family floor for them. Rank does have its privileges.'

'Excellent. I will not have to worry about mother wandering in,' Richard said jokingly which covered the relief he felt.

Darcy picked the room done in cheerful yellows for Georgiana and offered Richard a choice of the other rooms. 'Perhaps we should leave the smallest room for Reggie,' suggested Richard with a smirk.

'What happens if he does not want to share the… ah… room with his wife.'

'I suppose he could always sleep in the nursery which is also on this floor and unoccupied,' Edith suggested with a bland expression.

Darcy was puzzled. 'Pardon me for asking, but is not your son in the nursery?'

'No, he is occupying what used to be the mistress suite.'

'You accommodate your son in one of the largest suites in the house, but expect a Viscount and his wife to sleep in a guestroom?'

'Naturally. I did say that rank does have its privileges. You forget that your cousin is only a Viscount whereas my son is an Earl.'

Richard laughed at the bewildered expression on Darcy's face until his cousin recovered himself and joined in the laughter.

'I stand corrected… yet again,' Darcy sighed.

~~H~~

Over the next few days, Bingley wished that there were two of him. His relations wanted to spend time with him since they had not seen him in months, or in some cases in years, while he wanted to spend time with Jane.

Mrs Bennet solved the problem by bringing Jane to visit Netherfield, while she and Louisa Hurst, together with Mrs Nicholls were busy with preparing the ballroom for the wedding breakfast.

Bingley's problem was only partially solved though, as his family all wanted a chance to become acquainted with his bride.

Jane felt somewhat overwhelmed by the attention of the large Bingley clan and deliverance came from a surprising quarter. Caroline Bingley intervened on her behalf, explaining to her family that as a gently bred lady, Jane was unused to the boisterousness of the Bingleys.

After that the family confined themselves to conversing with Jane in small groups, much to the lady's relief. Bingley, who spent the whole time with his beloved, was ecstatic about the warmth and respect his family accorded his bride.

~~H~~

Meanwhile Elizabeth visited Purvis Lodge on a daily basis.

Darcy had suggested visiting Longbourn because he knew that Mrs Bennet and Jane would not be there to chaperone him and Elizabeth.

Mrs Farrington objected for the self-same reasons, although she told him that Mr Bennet would be pleased to see him as the gentleman enjoyed playing… chess with him. Darcy understood the message and Lizzy visited Edith instead.

But Edith was not completely cruel to the lovers. She did allow them five minutes of almost privacy, alone in a room but with the door partially open, during every visit.

Once after Elizabeth had returned to Longbourn for the day, Darcy complained to Richard. 'I cannot decide which is worse. Not having any privacy to kiss the woman I love or having just enough privacy to get a taste but no more than that. And knowing for what I must wait.'

'If you are that impatient, I suspect that you will have an enjoyable marriage,' Richard tried to console his cousin.

~~H~~

At last it was the Saturday before the wedding and the final guests arrived.

Since Mrs Bennet and Jane had remained at home to greet the Gardiners on their arrival, Darcy could be found at Longbourn conversing with Elizabeth.

When Lizzy saw coaches drive in through the gates, she pulled Darcy outside to greet her aunt and uncle. Darcy was astonished when he saw the Marlock coach stopped in front of the house and his uncle and a strange man exited the equipage, whereupon each of them handed out a lady.

Elizabeth flew towards an unknown lady to be enthusiastically embraced.

Darcy was shaken out of his stupor by his uncle who nudged him to remind him of his manners. He pulled himself together and greeted his relatives in his most amiable manner.

When the Earl of Matlock at last introduced him to Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Darcy had his emotions under control since he had already guessed at the identity of the elegant couple from the way Elizabeth had greeted them.

But he could not resist to ask, 'how do you know each other?' leaving unsaid the question how an Earl could apparently be friends with a tradesman.

'Eleanor and Madeline are involved in the same charities and have been friends for years. It was only a matter of time before Edward and I came to know each other and form a friendship.'

'How come that I have never met them?'

'I do not suppose it could have something to do how you avoid society, even when you are in town?' The Earl asked with a mocking smile.

Darcy decided that in future he had better suspend his judgements until he met people and had a chance to truly learn of their character, since all his preconceptions and prejudices were coming back to bite him.

~~H~~