I don't own Pride and Prejudice.
As all good things must come to an end, so did their time at Pemberley. Before long, the carriages were loaded and everyone was back in London.
To everyone's surprise Maria asked if she could return to London with them. When the request was made, they all noticed how she would glance between three different people in the party, though no one was surprised by it. She had always been most relaxed, feeling most secure, whenever William was around, and Elizabeth thought this was most likely because he was the first one to try and protect her and her sister. Charlotte was obviously the second person, but the third one was truly a surprise.
Lady Catherine had, from the beginning, taken an almost mothering role towards the young girl, and Maria had soaked it up. The betrayal of the mother she had always loved, and believed loved her in return, had been a huge blow to the young girl. It was no wonder that she would cling to a matron who seemed to care for her and had stood up to the one who had harmed her with all the ferocity of a mother bear protecting her cub.
It was for this reason, Lady Catherine informed the group right before they were to leave, that her town house was in dire need of updating, and that she and Anne would be staying at Darcy House for the season.
Andrew followed this up with claiming it would be a shame to separate all the young ladies, and requesting that he, Charlotte, and Maria would be allowed to join them. The request was quickly accepted, and Olivia begged to join them as well, and was issued an invitation.
Regina and Martin only came to town for a couple of weeks during the season, not wanting to leave his patients for long. However, this year they were going to cancel the trip, as they had been gone over Christmas. They were seen off with hugs and promises to visit all around.
"The girls and I will be taking Maria, Charlotte, and Anne to the warehouse to pick out their fabrics for new gowns. I hope to be gone until after you return." Elizabeth informed her husband as she sat at her vanity, preparing for the day.
He had planned to ride to Longbourn that morning to enquire after her father's health. However, they had not told her sisters of what they suspected, for fear of alarming them.
"With Aunt Catherine along, I would not doubt it." He kissed the top of her head, and she turned to receive a real one.
"I had heard such stories of your aunt Catherine, she was not what I expected at all." She smiled, having become very fond of the woman. She could see her itching to mother all of the Hertfordshire girls and Georgiana, but having the sense to only do so when it was welcome. She could also see how having a sick children had affected her, and wondered if the woman they were seeing now that Anne appeared to be getting stronger, was the woman she should have always been.
"She is much altered, and for the better I assure you." He gave her a knowing smile, having told her more than once that he felt that she deserved all the credit for that. She has argued, and said it is more the circumstances surrounding his aunt that has effected the change.
"For once my pocket book will survive a shopping trip." She laughed, as she knew he was only joking. He had told her more than once that he found it surprising her ability to economize. She informed him that it was what you get when you marry a upstart country nobody.
"Whose to say we won't be shopping for us as well?" She gave him a playful raised eyebrow.
"Then I shall be consigned to a lighter pocketbook. It will be well worth it each time I see a smile on your lovely face." He kissed her once more and was out the door.
They day of shopping had been longer than anticipated, but it was made even happier by the addition of miss Clark and Miss Anderson. Elizabeth had been thrilled to hear that Mr Anderson had called on Miss Clark a few times, and that the two were now courting, and that she and his sister were now close friends.
"We were hoping to run into you for one of these trips, so that we might beg an invitation." Miss Anderson spoke, and the invitation was quickly extended.
They met their aunt Gardiner at the warehouse along with Aunt Evelyn and Olivia. The Darcy women had met her aunt at her house, and driven her to the ware house in their carriage.
While Elizabeth hadn't planned on buying anymore for her and her sisters, her uncle had a new shipment of fabrics in, and they all delighted in the new options it afforded them. In the end, each ended up with a few new dresses, but Lady Catherine demanded she be the one to purchase them as she had been unable to give them Christmas gifts.
"Mary, promise me we will wear our matching gowns to the same ball!" Anne was delighted with the younger girl, and the two had grown close over the Christmas holidays. Mary's calm demeanor, was just what Anne needed when she had reached the end of her strength for the day.
"I would like that." Mary blushed, fingering the silvery blue silk she held in her hands.
"Mary, when you've outgrown the gown, might I have it?" Kitty asked shyly.
"Oh...of course, I should be happy to pass it along to you." Mary's surprise was palpable, as she had never had one of her sisters want one of her gowns.
"Surly, there is no need to share the gown, why, we can just have one made for you as well." Lady Catherine spoke up, clearly confused by the notion.
"But my sisters and I have always shared gowns, I have always enjoyed making them over. Not only that, but I sometimes pretend I can soak up some of their essence when wearing them, like Lizzy's bravery and good sense, or Mary gentle nature, or Jane's goodness and kindness." Kitty looked embarrassed to be admitting this. "I feel as though it is extra protection for when they are not close by."
"I should like to have a sister I could share dresses with like you do." Anne sighed wistfully, and Elizabeth saw the saddened look in Lady Catherine's eyes.
"But you are as good as our sister," Kitty looked confused, "You and Olivia both. I mean, Olivia shared a room with Jane the entire time we were at Pemberley, and you borrowed Lizzy and Mary's dresses. You embroidered with us, took lessons with us, and walked with us. Is that not what sisters do?" She frowned, looking to Elizabeth for confirmation.
"You are exactly correct, and while neither is a sister through blood or by marriage like Georgiana, they are sisters in spirit, which is just as good." Elizabeth smiled at the two girls, both had eyes shining with unshed tears.
Lady Catherine looked over to Aunt Evelyn and Aunt Madeline, "Well, I dare say that if sisters can work that way, then I dare say, do too should mothers. As the mothers of two such sisters, and aunt of many of the rest, I for one hope you shall come to see me as a mother figure."
"Me as well Catherine, I dare say, between this bevy of daughters, we shall finally have the large families we always wanted." Evelyn said, reaching out and taking Maria's hand.
"Good, now that that has been settled, let us be off to the Modiste, I for one am excited to see what this Mme Bellamy has to offer."
With that the younger girls were all herded out of the warehouse and into carriages to take them to their next destination. It was upon entering the shop that the ladies were truly in for a shock.
"How dare you speak to your betters in such a way!" An irate woman's voice filled the shop, and Elizabeth motioned to the younger women to stay outside.
"I'm sorry Ma'am, but Mme is already booked for the whole day with her best client. She can take your commission, but it will have to wait until the others she already has are done." The shop girl tried to explain.
"Those commissions will have to wait, I must have my gown prepared for the _ Ball." Caroline Bingley raged at the poor girl.
"That is quite enough madam, I will not have you abusing my help in such a wretched way. You can take your business elsewhere. Or perhaps just pay your bill at Mme Escoffier," she raised her eyebrow, "Oh yes, people talk..."
"Why I have never..."
"Ah, Mrs Darcy, how lovely to see you again. I hope your sisters dresses have been what you expected." Mme Bellamy spoke, officially ending her interaction with Miss Bingley.
"Yes, they were perfect as always." Elizabeth smiled at the woman.
"Miss Eliza Bennet, how...surprising, to see you in town, and for the season." Caroline looked her up and down.
"I am not sure what you find surprising about it, my husband has participated in the season for many years now." She put on a faked confused expression.
"Miss Eliza, I must insist you stop this infernal rumor that you are somehow married to Mr Darcy. If not for your own reputations then for that if your sisters." Miss Bingley spoke condescendingly.
"I am afraid it is no rumor, and I really must thank you. For it was your ball in which we were accidentally compromised. I find I could not have found a more kind or loving husband, and am very fortunate you have a fondness for such heavy furniture." With that she turned to the Modiste, and requested fittings for the ladies of her group, Mme Bellamy, making a show of clearing her schedule to take the commission.