Sorry for updating this so often. I keep seeing errors. My brain is simply not working today.
The three Bennet sisters and Georgiana spent much of the following several days shopping. Jane had attempted, and failed, to convince her aunt that she did not need to spend nearly so much as Mr. Bingley thought she did. Mrs. Gardiner, having friends in the fabric industry, would not listen. By the end of the third day, an entire carriage was filled with silks, satins, fine muslins, lace, and various trimmings was to be delivered to the modiste.
Mr. Darcy was much occupied with business. He had asked the stewards of all his properties— besides Pemberley—to come to London, so he might meet personally with them and address their concerns. He also met with Mr. Gardiner on several occasions, for he wished to invest in the man's business. It was only a small amount to begin, but Darcy liked the fellow and was certain he would invest more after the initial portion had seen returns. Most of all, he spent his days trying not to think of a part of fine, dark eyes. It was difficult, for all the progress he made each day was undone each evening when he saw her again.
"Mr. Darcy?" asked the bewitching woman.
The Darcys had invited several people over for dinner that evening, but as the little Season had begun, only Richard and Bingley had accepted. Lord Barlow had meant to attend, but his father insisted he attend a ball given by a prominent member of parliament. The colonel, not being destined for the House of Lords, was not similarly engaged. Elizabeth had been discussing Bingley and Jane's wedding, but the conversation had soon turned to music.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth," he said, coming back to reality.
"Your sister said you play and sing as well. I asked why we have never heard you sing or play," said she.
"Oh yes," said Kitty, "It would be lovely to have a man to sing duets with. Our songs are so limited when we must sing only with each other."
"I do not sing or play in company," said he.
"You did not used to tease, but now you do," said Elizabeth, "You did not used to dance with young ladies at balls, but now you do. Perhaps playing in company is the next accomplishment we shall teach you to display."
"It is not proper for a gentleman to play in company when there are ladies who might wish to perform," responded he.
"That is only true if the ladies have not played yet," said she.
"And it is not as if there are a dozen gentlemen sitting about, waiting to fall in love with us due to our pianoforte skills. It is only friends here," said Kitty.
"They are correct, Mr. Darcy," said Jane, "Surely you can play at an intimate gathering such as this."
"If even Miss Bennet requests it, I suppose I must," said Mr. Darcy. Jane blushed and tried to demur, but he told her he was only displaying his accomplishment at teasing.
"I will play if you will sing, Miss Elizabeth," said Mr. Darcy.
"Brother, you must sing as well," said Georgiana, "I do so love to hear you sing and the Miss Bennets have never heard you."
Darcy agreed reluctantly. Miss Elizabeth and Georgiana spent a few minutes sorting through the music until they found one suited to both Mr. Darcy's and Elizabeth's voices. A piece by Mozart was selected. Elizabeth stood beside Mr. Darcy turning his pages as he played. Both sang the Italian love song beautifully. Darcy could not help but feel Elizabeth's nearness, most particularly when she bent forward to turn the page for him. Her bosom was so very near to him. While he considered himself a gentleman and did try to pretend not to notice, he was not entirely successful. More than once did he miss a note when she did so, which he was certain his cousin must have noticed.
When they finished the song, the others applauded vigorously. Georgiana then consented to play a duet with Elizabeth. Elizabeth was not at all certain that her skill was even approaching that of either Darcy, but she knew her young friend would not play for company if she were to play by herself. Therefore, she agreed and they played several songs for the others.
When Darcy sat down, he noted smirks on the faces of both his cousin and his friend. Miss Bennet seemed to notice her betrothed's amusement, but attributed it to the wrong source.
"Do not tease him, Charles," said Jane, "I thought he played and sang very well."
"He did," said Bingley.
"I did notice you missed a few notes every time a page was turned. You must look ahead to see what notes are coming up so Miss Bennet can turn the page without your erroring, Darcy," said Richard, knowing that the problem was not that of the page being turned in and of itself.
"I wonder that he does not have such trouble when he plays with his sister," said Bingley.
"Not here, I beg you," said Darcy, his eyes falling upon Jane and Kitty who had resumed looking through fashion plates.
"Very well," said Richard. Darcy was aware that he had only delayed the questions and teasing, but at least Elizabeth's sisters would not hear of it. He could only hope Elizabeth had not noticed what his friends had.
The next day was to be spent at the modiste, turning the beautiful fabrics into gowns. Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley were to go with them, for she had grown several inches in the previous year and many of her dresses could be let down no more.
"I had forgotten to tell you all," said Georgiana while Jane was being measured, "that Lady Matlock has invited all of you, including Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to dinner on Thursday. I am very sorry for such delayed notice, Mrs. Gardiner."
"It is no trouble at all, dear Miss Darcy," said Mrs. Gardiner, "for we were only planning to have a family dinner that evening."
"I was only reminded by the dinner dresses, else I might have forgotten to tell you ar all. Brother believes that she means to invite you all to her ball, but wishes to meet you first before extending the invitation," said Georgiana.
"Miss Darcy," said her companion, "you should not have said that. Now if Lady Matlock decides not to extend the invitation –for whatever reason –the Miss Bennets will think she does not approve of them. Your brother was only speculating as to Lady Matlock's motives. He does not know for certain."
"I did not think," said Georgiana, "I apologise to you all."
"Dear Georgiana," said Elizabeth, "We are not offended. Pray, think no more of it. We will not think ill if Lady Matlock does not issue an invitation to a ball. We know that a hundred things may occur from the time one plans a ball to the time the invitations are sent."
Mrs. Annesley smiled her thanks, but Georgiana yet looked on the verge of tears. Elizabeth tried, and somewhat succeeded, to cheer her friend with looking through the modiste's various sketches of gowns.
"That would look very well on you, Miss Elizabeth," said Mrs. Annesley, distinguishing a particular evening gown, "It would make you appear taller than you are and give your neck a swan-like appearance."
"I do hope I would not appear too much like a swan," said she, "for I have always felt that descriptor rather disconcerting." Mrs. Annesley only smiled in response to Elizabeth's wit.
"Perhaps in the green silk?" Mrs. Annesley added, "for that should make your eyes look very bright."
Elizabeth agreed, secretly thinking that the gown would do very well if they should attend a ball –particularly one thrown by a countess. She was certain she did not now own anything fine enough.
After they finished with the modiste, they were very hungry. Georgiana, having visited that modiste several times before, directed them to a nearby tea room with private parlours for ladies.
"They do not have sugar?" asked Kitty when their tea came and there was no sugar to be found.
"They do not use sugar here," said Georgiana, "only honey or fruit sweeten their sweets and tea. They do not wish to support the sugar trade."
"Why not?" asked Jane, not comprehending Georgiana's meaning.
"Sugar is harvested mainly by slaves, dear," explained her aunt, "It is not the sugar that they object to, but slavery."
"Oh!" exclaimed Jane, "but will not the slavery continue regardless of what one tea room does?"
"Yes," said her aunt, "but if people cease their dependence upon it, and make their reasons known, it will make the trade less profitable. Surely you have noticed that your uncle and I import only very select goods from the Americas and that I was particular in which warehouses we bought our cloth from."
"I had not noticed. I simply assumed those warehouses are better," said Jane.
"They are, for they do not cause human misery," said her aunt.
"My brother agrees. He is most particular as to where we buy cloth from. He also has recently begun an apiculture program at Pemberley so we might use more honey as well. Cook has been very angry, but Brother says it is not right to contribute to human suffering simply so Cook may continue with her old recipes."
"I applaud him," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"He says it shall help the harvest as well, for the bees will pollinate the plants."
"I suppose he must be correct," said Elizabeth, "It is good that he cares so about lives so wholly unconnected to him. I had never considered how my cloth or my sugar might impact people on the other side of the world."
"Brother says we must consider everyone when we make a decision, large or small. We must consider those connected to us, such as our family, friends and servants, but also the whole of Derbyshire, England, and the world, for all the world is connected."
"Mr. Darcy sounds very progressive," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"Oh! Brother has warned me of speaking of such things in company. I forgot myself," said Georgiana.
"Miss Darcy, as you and Mrs. Gardiner, and all the others here, seem to agree on this subject, I think it is well enough," said Mrs. Annesley, "but you would not wish to speak so when you do not know the opinions of others, else a disagreement can occur."
"It is not Miss Darcy's fault," said Jane, "I was the one who asked."
"As you had every right to, my dear," said Mrs. Annesley.
The rest of the meal passed with only the typical topics of conversation coming up. Then they returned to Darcy House, where their Aunt left them so she might return to her own home and family.
"Out with it, Darcy," said Colonel Fitzwilliam that evening as the men sat with their port.
"Out with what?" he asked, knowing full well that his cousin wished to discuss the previous evening.
"You admire Miss Elizabeth," said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"You cannot hide it," said Bingley, "for your distraction every time she leaned forward was most evident."
"One can admire a lady's bosom without admiring the lady," said Lord Barlow, "but I cannot imagine Darcy doing so. As I could not attend, I shall simply have to rely on the information given me by my brother."
"I was not admiring her bosom," said Darcy, his face heating.
"Were you not?" said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "That is strange, for you missed notes every time she leaned forward to turn your page. I have never seen you have such trouble before."
"She is quite pretty," teased Lord Barlow, "Do you think she would like to be a countess someday?"
"You know your father would never countenance it," said Darcy.
"I don't know. He is quite put out that I am now thirty and yet unwed. I think his standards for me have lowered considerably. He simply wants me to have an heir at this point."
"The problem is that you must first have the nerve to speak to a lady in order to marry her," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "something you, brother, seem wholly unwilling to do."
His brother did not respond, choosing to ignore the statement.
"It does not signify. I cannot marry her. Her portion is too small, and she has so few connections."
"I will remind you that come January her portion will increase a good deal," said Bingley, "Not that you require a dowry anyway. You are rich enough."
"I am aware," said Darcy, "but I must do my duty by my name. I must marry well."
"Why? So you may be miserable like the rest of the ton, sleeping in a separate bed from your wife and only visiting her to produce heirs?" asked Colonel Fitzwilliam, "You have your own fortune, Darcy. You may marry where you choose. Connections and dowries will not keep your bed warm during the long Derbyshire winters."
"This is my future sister we are speaking of," reminded Bingley, "I am still here."
"Sorry, Bingley," said Colonel Fitzwilliam with a smile that showed no remorse, "But Fitz, surely you see how happy Bingley and Jane are as compared to the couples in the ton. Do you not wish for a wife you like, even love? If I had your fortune, nothing would prevent me from courting one of the Miss Bennets, that is for certain. Either Miss Elizabeth or Miss Kitty. Both are quite handsome enough to tempt me." At Darcy's answering glare, the three other men laughed.
"Fine. I admit liking her, but what of Georgie?"
"Georgie adores Miss Elizabeth," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"No, Rich. Georgie's prospects depend on my connections. Surely you see that."
"Her uncle is an earl, and her dowry is 30,000 pounds. Georgie will do just fine without you marrying a title. I might like it better if you do not. We shall already have our hands full with the fortune hunters when she has her come out," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Just think about it, Fitz. No one is saying you must propose soon or at all. Just consider what is best for yourself for once in your life," said Bingley, "Now, I have lingered long enough. I shall go to my own lovely Miss Bennet while Darcy ponders his." He stood and went into the drawing room, followed by the two brothers. Darcy sat considering what had been said for several moments before following Bingley and his cousins to join the women.