"I do not believe the green would become your complexion so well, Miss Bennet," the modiste hinted. Although she remained properly deferential to her client, her manner made it perfectly clear that Madame Leclair knew far better what would suit Miss Bennet than Miss Bennet did herself.
Elizabeth had spent the better part of the day being measured and fitted and poked and prodded, and felt a nagging discomfort at the prospect of spending so much of her father's money - even if he had insisted upon it. She had also been separated from Darcy for a good six hours; he felt no inclination to join the ladies for their shopping expedition, and a great deal of business that had to be finished before the wedding. At present, she was not in the most cheerful humour.
Most unpleasant were the curious gazes of Madame Leclair's clientele. All were very fashionable, superior sort of creatures - superior in their own minds, at least - who could not have appeared any more startled than if a trio of gipsies had entered the shop, instead of Mrs Gardiner and her two nieces.
It was only at that moment that the monotony was interrupted. Two ladies not far away were giving an attendant explicit directions as to what they wanted, but at Madame Leclair's remark, both fell silent. The younger of the two turned towards Elizabeth, pulling her reluctant companion.
"Miss Bennet? I beg your pardon, but are you - are you Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn?"
"I am," Elizabeth said, somewhat bemused. The other girl seemed at once a perfect stranger and almost - not quite - familiar, her tall full figure and mildly pretty features just like - just like - someone's. The turned-up nose and wide smile, however, were entirely her own.
"Why, Cousin Susan," declared the girl, "this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet!"
The instant Elizabeth looked at her companion, a handsome lady of about Mrs Gardiner's age, she knew them for relations of Darcy's. The startling eyes and delicately fair colouring were all but identical to his.
The girl said happily, "I am Cecilia Fitzwilliam, this is Lady Ravenshaw, and you are going to marry my cousin, Mr Darcy. I do hope you don't mind my just introducing myself like this? As soon as I heard your name, I just had to see if it really was you." She looked at Elizabeth with unabashed curiosity. "You're not at all what I expected."
"Oh?" Elizabeth was not certain whether to be amused or offended.
"Well, Lady Catherine wrote, and, well - "
"Cecily," said Lady Ravenshaw mildly, then turned with a gentle smile. "My dear Miss Bennet, we are delighted to meet you. I hope you will enjoy every earthly happiness."
Elizabeth was too well-bred to stare. "Thank you," she said, while her mind raced. There was intelligence as well as beauty in that face, and Elizabeth instinctively knew that this woman could not be summarily dismissed as Lady Catherine had been. "You are very kind, your ladyship."
"You must be Miss Bennet's sister," interjected Miss Fitzwilliam, her eyes falling on Jane. "Are you the one Mr Bingley is marrying?"
Lady Ravenshaw's expression shifted to one of cool composure, but she looked on Jane with distinct approval. Certainly an enigma, Elizabeth thought, and determined to reserve judgment. She seemed charming and sweet tempered, but Darcy's violent dislike clearly sprang from a very firm, very personal foundation.
"Miss Elizabeth, you must come," Miss Fitzwilliam was saying. "Oh, and Miss Bennet too, if you would like." There was a very slight trace of dismissal in her manner towards Jane, which was such a peculiar reversal of the usual way of things that Elizabeth could not help but find it as much amusing as galling.
"Perhaps the Miss Bennets are not entirely at our disposal, Cecily," Lady Ravenshaw interjected, with a wry smile. "We should be honoured to receive all three of you, however, at your earliest convenience."
There was no other possible response. Elizabeth accepted on behalf of all three, and her prospective relations swept away.
"I am so sorry to have kept you waiting," Elizabeth began, but Madame Leclair, her manner distinctly more conciliatory than before, shook her head.
"I understand perfectly," she proclaimed. "Your fiancé, he is one of the Fitzwilliam gentlemen, and the ladies wish to know you." She added matter-of-factly, "They are very nice people - not like so many these days, only concerned with themselves; not even the young ones. And so tall and handsome! you cannot find a handsomer family."
Elizabeth smiled, thinking of Polly. "Thank you, ma'am. I have not seen very many of them yet, but at least one is too handsome for his own good."
"You are to marry Mr Darcy then, Miss Bennet? Although perhaps Mr Fitzwil - but no. It must be Mr Darcy, for Miss Darcy ordered her new gown yesterday, and she said that she was to have a new sister." With hardly a pause, she continued, "Perhaps, since you like green, this would be acceptable?"
Elizabeth examined the material, aided by Mrs Gardiner. "It is perfect, madam," she pronounced, and when she left the Frenchwoman's shop, it was with all of her wedding clothes ordered to her satisfaction as well as Madame Leclair's.
When Elizabeth returned home, she was startled to hear Darcy's voice as she passed Mr Gardiner's study. "It is not - I am not yet at ease with him, sir."
Mr Gardiner said something; he did not have Darcy's clear carrying voice and she could not make out the words.
"It is perfectly unexceptionable," Darcy said, and Elizabeth, recollecting herself, continued past and joined the ladies. It was several minutes later when he alone entered the parlour. Elizabeth smiled - he was instantly at her side, and after apologising to Jane on Bingley's behalf, allowed his hand to brush hers.
"Mr Darcy," Mrs Gardiner said, pouring him tea, "we met some relations of yours today."
Darcy instantly stiffened, his expression wary, and Elizabeth said hastily, "It was at Madame Leclair's shop - where we ordered our wedding clothes."
He relaxed slightly. "Oh, you saw the girls then?"
Elizabeth thought it a rather odd turn of phrase, considering that Lady Ravenshaw could not be a day under forty, but she nodded. "Miss Fitzwilliam seemed very . . . enthusiastic," she said, smiling, and Darcy's face lit up.
"Cecily was there? Excellent. I hope you will like her. She is - " he hesitated - "she does not have many friends."
Elizabeth stared. "Why - I cannot imagine anyone disliking her, Fitzwilliam."
"A delightful young lady," pronounced Mrs Gardiner. Jane was busy looking out the window.
"Thank you. She has many acquaintances, but she is careful not to allow them to ripen into friendship," he said, a little awkwardly. "She is . . . in some ways, very unlike the rest of us, so she is rather . . . lonely, although we are all very fond of her."
"I am certain I shall be as well," Elizabeth said confidently, then added, "Lady Ravenshaw was with her."
"I hope she behaved properly," he said, his face hardening.
"Perfectly," said Elizabeth, and he winced. Clearly communication within the Fitzwilliam clan was less than perfectly straightforward. "They invited us to call on them," she added.
Darcy blinked. "All of you?"
"Yes, my aunt and Jane and I." Hoping to reassure him, she said, "They were very civil, Fitzwilliam."
He shook off whatever mood had come over him, and smiled. "Yes, I daresay they were. Did you get everything you need? - Jane, forgive me, but Bingley's business will keep him occupied until at least four o'clock."
Jane sighed.
"Not quite all," said Mrs Gardiner, "but the majority of it is out of the way. I understand you had some business with Edward, Mr Darcy?"
"Not officially, but yes, I did wish to consult with him on some business matters, among - other things. I have been settling my affairs in order to provide adequately for Elizabeth and any children we may have." He nodded at her, and she could not help blushing happily at the idea of his, their, children. "My father invested several thousand pounds in what seems, to me, a rather uncertain enterprise, but as I am not very familiar with this type of commerce, I presumed to ask Mr Gardiner's advice."
Elizabeth knew, of course, that he esteemed her aunt and uncle, but this level of confidence was something else entirely. She beamed at him, and puzzled but by no means displeased, he smiled back.
"You look lovely, Lizzy," Mrs Gardiner said.
"I am dreadfully silly," Elizabeth said. "They are just - people."
"Of course," said Jane, throwing their aunt a worried look. "Your hands are cold, Lizzy."
"I am not frightened."
Mrs Gardiner's composure was not quite equal to the task of hiding her scepticism. Elizabeth conceded,
"I am . . . perhaps somewhat apprehensive."
"Lizzy, you are meeting the people who will be your family, people who do not know you and who are not disposed to approve of you. It is perfectly natural to be a little frightened."
"Oh, very well. A little frightened."
Nevertheless, it was with an appearance of cheerful equanimity that she entered the parlour, her back straight and her colour high. The room had only four occupants, Lady Ravenshaw, Miss Fitzwilliam, and two others. One of these was an elegant, elderly lady with a strong nose and green-hazel eyes. The other, a young woman, seemed one of that unfortunate class of females who always look less handsome than they really are. Her dark, rather insipid good looks could not have posed a greater contrast to the vivid pallor of the Fitzwilliams.
"Lady Georgiana, Frederica," Miss Fitzwilliam announced, "this is Fitzwilliam's betrothed, Miss Elizabeth Bennet; her sister, Miss Bennet; and their aunt, Mrs Gardiner."
Jane, Elizabeth, and Mrs Gardiner curtseyed; although the younger of the two unfamiliar women inclined her head with gracious decorum in response, Lady Georgiana scarcely deigned to reply at all, merely looking at them with a critical eye.
"Miss Elizabeth," said Cecilia Fitzwilliam, "this is Fitzwilliam's grandmother, Lady Georgiana Darcy, and Lady Ravenshaw's daughter, Lady de Courcy."
"Do sit down," Lady Georgiana said quietly.
Lady de Courcy managed a hint of a smile. "It is an honour, Miss Elizabeth. My cousin has spoken very highly of you."
"Young men and their infatuations," his grandmother said lightly; "I hope for your sake, Miss Elizabeth, that his good opinion will last."
The implication was clear, and Elizabeth, just reaching for the offered cup of tea, froze.
"Fortunately," Miss Fitzwilliam said, "He is not whimsical or flighty in his opinions, like so many; he knows his own mind, and it is very rarely mistaken."
Lady Georgiana's lips tightened, and Lady de Courcy said hastily, "I understand, Miss Bennet, that you are to marry my cousin's friend, Mr Bingley?"
"Yes, madam, I am." Jane was rather overwhelmed by her surroundings, as much by the elegance of all four women as by the tense undercurrents she scarcely noticed.
"I hope you will be very happy," interposed Lady Ravenshaw. "It is an excellent match for you both; he is a most amiable gentleman, and considering his origins, is fortunate to do so well as a respectable gentleman's daughter." Jane blinked, and the countess turned to Mrs Gardiner. "You, madam, are a native of Lambton?"
"Yes, your ladyship."
"A charming town. You shall, I daresay, have more opportunities to visit."
Mrs Gardiner smiled. "I hope so."
There was only a moment of silence before Miss Fitzwilliam, with a nervous glance at Lady Ravenshaw, began, "My cousin was here this morning, Miss Elizabeth. He has been very busy, that must have been what kept him. I really had no idea how much dreadfully dull business there is to prepare for getting married. I hope it does not keep him from attending to you properly." She managed only a very slight curve of her lips, and Elizabeth's brow furrowed to see the ebullient Cecilia so spiritless.
"Oh, no," she replied cheerfully, "Mr Darcy is most attentive." She thought of their affectionate farewell the evening before, and blushed fiercely.
"How fortunate for you," murmured Lady de Courcy.
"How long have you known my cousin, Miss Elizabeth?" Cecilia enquired.
"About a year. We met last October."
"I told you," said Cecilia, lifting her head and briefly appearing the same Miss Fitzwilliam as before. "He would not have taken such a step without considering all the ramifications."
This, considering the very thorough explanation of the ramifications which had taken place at Hunsford, was undoubtedly true. "Cecilia, mind your tongue," Lady Georgiana said sharply. Cecilia lowered her eyes and demurely sipped at her tea, her pale cheeks flushed.
"It is good to know," Lady Ravenshaw said, "that it was a considered decision, not the impulse of the moment. And very like him. - Oh, you do look horrified. It is quite all right, we are all ladies here and we will be family."
Elizabeth sat upright. "With all due respect, ma'am, I cannot feel myself at leave to discuss Mr Darcy's attachment in any but the most general terms."
Lady Ravenshaw frowned; but Lady de Courcy's lips curled into a faint smile, and Lady Georgiana looked on her with something like approval. Cecilia threw her a conspiratorial glance before attending to the tea once more.
When they left Ravenshaw House, Elizabeth exhaled a sigh of relief. She was beginning to think that Lady Ravenshaw, for all her mildness, rather enjoyed having others under her power. Undoubtedly this explained the tension between the lady and her nephew's steely grandmother. Yet, despite her early disapprobation, she seemed fully prepared to accept the match. Cecilia and Miss Darcy already had, and while Lady Georgiana was hardly pleasant, she might be won over in the end. The unknown quantity was the Earl, but Elizabeth did not think it likely that such a man would be much influenced by his sister's mother-in-law.
"Well," Jane said brightly, "what interesting people!"
"Indeed," murmured Mrs Gardiner.
