PART 4:
The door to the breakfast room burst open and a very pretty young lady tumbled into the room. Not needing to look up from her food Elizabeth said knowingly.
"Morning Harriette." Harriette went over and hugged her cousin in law from behind before kissing the top of her head.
"Morning Lizzy."As she had entered the room a good looking young man hurried into the room and grinned.She smiled at Georgiana before winking at Fitzwilliam. Her arms still around Elizabeth. She then released her new cousin and perched on the arm of her chair to Fitzwilliam's amusement and Elizabeth's vexation (for now she's never be able to finish her breakfast!).
"Well I say good morning all, shall we be off then?" Fitzwilliam got up and greeted his cousin. The Colonel in return embraced his cousin in a masculine clasp of hands and friendly gestures.
"In a hurry as ever Monty?" the said ignored his cousin's joke perposly.
"Have you breakfasted Monty?" Elizabeth asked. the latter took his sister's arm and replied in an out of breath voice.
"O yes, before we left Matlock." Elizabeth and Georgiana walked over to the party.
"I'm certain I shall be scolded by Mrs Reynolds! You both ran through the house like maniacs to be sure!" Harriette and Monty smiled inocently. Monty kissed Georgiana on the cheek before embarrassing Elizabeth and saying.
"My, my. You look more handsome then ever Lady Elizabeth." Elizabeth smiled, but Fitzwilliam shot Monty or Montgomery as his proper name was a teasing warning look.
"I agree that my wife does look well. And I see you know about the elevation to a Viscount, you sly creatures."
"O yes, rub it in why don't you that you won her!" Both men started laughing and Monty clapped Fitzwilliam on the back. Elizabeth interrupted.
"Well we're all ready, shall we be off?" Everyone agreed and set off through the house laughing and joking. Mrs Reynolds-the housekeeper rejoiced in seeing the group of handsome young people on the rampage. The master's new wife certainly had brought Pemberley back to life.
Five minutes later the carriage had been loaded and the party were sat inside on their long journey to Hertfordshire. The merry crowd consisted of the new Lord Fitzwilliam, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Georgiana Darcy, Lady Harriette Fitzwilliam and Colonel Montgomery Fitzwilliam. They all looked very becoming rapped up in thick scarves, muffs and gloves made of the most expensive materials money could buy. They were all talking about their plans and hopes for this season. Not to mention the trouble they intended to cause! Well all save Lady Elizabeth, who sat silently contemplating a letter she was reading. Her husband noticed this and turned to her.
"Are you quite well my love?" Elizabeth looked at him,
"O indeed, I'm just reading a letter from my sister Mrs Bingley." Fitzwilliam's mouth made an 'o' shape and he turned to the other passengers in the carriage.
"One cannot expect three words strung together when Elizabeth is reading a letter from her Jane." Everyone laughed, Elizabeth meanwhile raised her eyebrows.
"Indeed Fitzwilliam." Fitzwilliam put his arm around his wife and she gladly snuggled into his embrace. Everyone turned their mind to their own activities for a while before young Georgiana commented.
"Lizzy?" Elizabeth turned to her sister in law.
"Yes Georgiana. What is the matter?"
"O nothing at all! Well that is to say, would it be possible to have Miss Kitty to stay with us in town? I mean only if that is agreeable to you!" Elizabeth laughed at Georgiana and proceeded to relate to her the plan of having Kitty to stay for several months at the least…
"And so you see Georgiana it is settled between Mrs Bingley and I that Kitty is to spend as little time as possible at Longbourne, as society is not, well that is- O to be quite honest the only unmarried men are either ugly & old or complete bores with no fortune. So Kitty is to alternate her time between staying with the Bingleys and us. Would you like me to be quite frank with you my dear?" Before the latter could reply her brother butted in.
"You always do my love, and I seem to be at the brunt of it most of the time." Elizabeth shot her husband a mischievous look before wittily replying to her husband's amusement.
"Have you ever wondered why Fitzwilliam" she then diverted her attentions back to Georgiana, who finally managed to say what she was going to before.
"Of course you may be frank! Long as it is not too unpleasant!" Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"The reason we want Kitty to spend least time at Longbourne as possible is because of our sister, Lydia Wickham." A flash of fear went across Georgiana's face, but Monty put a reassuring hand on hers.
"You see Lydia has already sent many invitations asking Kitty to stay with her in Newcastle and of course if persisted on enough my father would be forced to let her go. Which could end up in another scandal in the family, which would now effect the Bingleys and the Darcys. Plus the Fitzwilliams too! I hope you understand." Georgiana bowed her head before looking at her brother's wife earnestly.
"I do Elizabeth, and I wish to help in any way possible of preventing our families' disgraces and to help further Miss Kitty's horizons so to speak." Fitzwilliam's heart swelled with joy to see his sister make such a brave statement in the style of his wife! They rest of the twelve hour journey went by in remarkable joyfulness for all were eager to meet friends and relatives. At every inn they stopped at the family were received with the deepest respect for their status and given the warmest welcome.
It had just gone six when they arrived at Netherfield an hour before their set arrival. The weary group were happily greeted by Mr and Mrs Bingley as soon as they pulled up in front of the house. Fitzwilliam had barely had time to help his wife out of the carriage before Charles Bingley came bounding up to him and shook his hand vigorously. Many greetings and compliments were passed before the party entered the house. The Derbyshire group excused themselves to go and refresh for the Mereton Assembly was due to start in two hours.
When Lord and Lady Darcy were alone in their chamber Elizabeth dismissed the made who'd been arranging her hair and her headpiece for the upcoming evening. Fitzwilliam came over to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders before proceeding to kiss her lovely neck.
"You look very fine this evening Elizabeth. The latter smiled at him in the mirror.
"As do you Fitzwilliam! I declare that I've never seen a more handsome picture!
"You must be mistaken my love! Tis you who are the picture!" This passing of wits was soon interrupted by Lady Harriette entering and declaring
"You are both wrong, my dear cousins! I am positive that singularly you both look well but when together, well let me say there is no finer couple in the world! Surely your family will be astounded when they see you?" Elizabeth grinned naughtily.
"You read my mind Harriette. That is the plan." Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes as Elizabeth stood up and smoothed out her satin gown before taking her husband's arm and walking past Harriette who said.
"Lovely headpiece." She was answered by a very proud Fitzwilliam who replied in mock annoyance.
"I should hope so! It cost all of Fifteen Pounds!" Elizabeth thumped her husband's arm while Harriette laughed.
"Well! I had never thought you the extravagant type Lady Elizabeth." Elizabeth smiled and eyed up Harriette's own adornment.
"Nor you Lady Harriette!" They all then exited the room and met up with Monty in the hallway who was praising Lady Darcy's appearance to the heavens before he was reminded by her husband that she was his wife. They all then went downstairs to where Charles, Jane, Miss Bingley and Mr & Mrs Hurst were waiting in the Entrance Hall. When Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam walked passed her, Caroline could find no snide remark to say. Jane came up to them and said happily,
"Oh Lizzy! You look so outstanding, majestic and oh so superior! Are you really the same witty and rather wild sister that left?" Elizabeth blushed as they walked out the front door and into the carriage.
"Jane please do not say such things! I am sure we are all aware tis you and you Grecian elegance that will be most admired." It was Jane's turn look be shy and blush. Charles Bingley then spoke to Georgiana.
"You look very well this evening Georgiana." Georgiana bowed her head and thanked him. By this point Monty had to have his part in the conversation.
"I must agree with Lizzy! Mrs Bingley looks absolutely ravishing in that get up where as our Lady Liz here… well what can I say." Elizabeth then whacked him very hard on the arm before hissing "Monty!" Montgomery grinned and kissed her cheek. Harriette rolled her eyes before turning to Jane,
"Do you see what Fitzwilliam, Georgiana and I must put up with Mrs Bingley?" she said quietly. Both looked at Elizabeth and Monty laughing and fooling around. Before Jane replied equally as quiet.
"I must say I do Lady Harriette." They looked back at the two.
"They are two peas in a pod. Do you not think?" Jane nodded in agreement before answering.
"Indeed, they are perfectly suited." The two continued to watch the two 'pranksters' fool around. Lady Harriette then frowned before leaning in close to Jane.
"I must say I wonder that Elizabeth married my cousin instead of my brother, did she never speak of any admiration of him? He did her." Jane glanced at her sister before replying.
"Yes, on many occasions. Tis a pity they did not for they look so well together and are perfectly matched in temperament." Fitzwilliam's eyes shot up before shooting to watch his cousin proceed to tickling his wife. A pang of jealousy went through his heart. Fitzwilliam sighed and stared out the window and hedgerows and trees went flying by. A couple of minutes later he felt an arm wrap round his and a warm head of dark curls rest upon his shoulder. His wife, his Lizzy. He looked down at her in contentment. It didn't matter what anyone else thought, he knew his dearest lovliest Elizabeth loved him. Both of the Darcy's then looked up simultaniously when Lady Harriette said exasperatedly.
"Lord how long is this journey going to take? The assembly will be gone and the rooms all locked up by the time we get there! Are you certain we have not gone wrong!" everyone laughed at her statement and Mr Bingley replied.
"Yes you ladyship, I am certain we have not gone wrong, why look! There they are now just up ahead. Shan't be long now." Elizabeth sat up leant forward to put a reassuring hand on Georgiana's own. The girl smiled in return. The carriage then pulled to a halt outside the assembly rooms, it seemed clear the grand party were slightly late for music was already sounding out for the upstairs. Bingley got out of the carriage first before helping Jane out, and then came Monty who didn't bother to hand his sister out but shot her a cheeky grin. Harriette muttered a curse under her breath. Monty then stepped back a couple of paces to help his young cousin Georgiana out of the carriage. She thanked him kindly. Fitzwilliam then got out of then carriage before taking Elizabeth's hand while she herself exited the carriage, he proceed to kiss her hand and take her arm in the crook of his. Bingley then stated to the group
"Well better late then never I suppose, shall we go in?" The Darcy's and the Fitzwilliam's went in first followed by the Bingley's. When in the door, a maid approached them to take their coats, she recognised Lady Elizabeth Darcy as a former Miss Bennet, but only just. She took the Lady's things before curtseying and taking the items to the cloakroom. In there she saw her sister, and said to her
"I've just seen the old Miss Lizzy Bennet! My I never knew how much two weeks could change a person! She was always a handsome creature to be sure but tonight has quite outshone Mrs Bingley who has always been acknowledged as the prettiest by far! She's so grand 'n' all now! Go look for yourself, I never seen so many jewels n fine satins in my life!" They both peered around the door just as the said person had taken her husbands hand and was pulling him towards the stairs, laughing and showing her pearly teeth.
"Yes indeed, to be sure!" replied the other.
The Netherfield party had made their way upstairs and there, standing by the door was an ageing man sat on a tatty chair with his wig askew. He was clearly dozing off at the time. Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. Nothing happened. He cleared it again a little bit louder, this aroused the man who looked up at them, when it registered in his mind who was before him, he jumped up and apologised profusely. He then saw Elizabeth and exclaimed.
"Why it's Miss Lizzy! I do beg your pardon, I meant Mrs Darcy. What could you be doing here? I thought that proud Mr Darcy had stole you away to Derbyshire!" Elizabeth laughed.
"Indeed he did Mr Dawson, but as you can see I'm a Hertfordshire lass, born and bred." She glanced at her husband. "So even the infamous Mr Darcy could keep me there for long." Fitzwilliam came up and took his wife's arm before turning to the man.
"Thank you indeed for your attention's to my wife though I believe you mistook her name…"
