Chapter 30
The next night the party in Darcy's box for the theater consisted of the Darcy's, Lord and Lady Bramhurst, the Gardiners and the newly betrothed Jane and Bingley. In the box next to Darcy's was Col. Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Lord and Lady Matlock and Edmund. There was space in Darcy's box for Georgiana and the Colonel but Lady Matlock had insisted on them staying in the Matlock box to keep their party more evenly split. She assured her nephew that his sister's presence in their box was social strategy. Society, Lady Matlock proclaimed would see that Bingley, as well as Darcy's new marriage, had the support of the Bramhursts and Matlocks. Georgiana being in the Matlock box was part of communicating this, she tied the two boxes together, as did Edmund. The other part of Lady Matlock's strategy was to have Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana arrive with the Bramhursts and have all of their party be seen together before taking their seats. Bingley's continued friendship with Darcy in front of the ton would make it clear that Miss Bingley lied, in case any where inclined to believe the gossip that Darcy had proposed to Miss Bingley to bed her, but then married the current Mrs. Darcy instead. The endorsement of the Matlocks, Bramhursts and Darcys would show that Miss Bingley had been cut off from society, but not Bingley.
Darcy, mindful of the eyes that where on their party as they stood in the lobby, drew Elizabeth closer to him. Her dress was stunning but he was tempted to put his coat over her when he caught some of the more well known rakes of the ton skimming her figure with their eyes. Some of the openly hostile glares of the marriagable females and their mother's directed at her he met with a cold look, silently daring any of them to disapprove of his choice vocally.
"Easy there, lad," Edmund said cheerfully. "You are so busy glaring at every rake and hostile miss that I just might steal Elizabeth from you while you are distracted. After all such a beautiful woman deserves to be on the arm of a happy man." Winking at Elizabeth, Edmund added, "and I can assure you, I would be very happy to have her gracing my arm."
"I believe I will keep my wife on my arm," Darcy said dryly. "You can fend for yourself, uncle."
"Cut to the quick, Lizzy. I express a wish to get to know my new niece better and he denies it," Edmund said addressing Elizabeth instead of Darcy.
"And here I thought you had already gotten to know me when you decided to arrive hours early to escort me to Matlock House to see Georgiana and spent your morning planted in Darcy House's drawing room during calling hours," Elizabeth said teasing him.
"I had to share you with all the curious then. It is an eccentric uncle's prerogative to stay well past the accepted time and make sure none are to impertinent," Edmund said with a shrug. "I would have stayed longer had my own dear nephew not have shown up and given me the boot. To show no hard feelings I am willing to go take a look at this property the agent found, especially if Elizabeth will provide me with a letter of introduction to her family in the area."
"Ho, you aren't going to Hertfordshire without me, Eddy," Matlock declared. "I suggest we have Bingley open his estate back up and host us all there for a week respite from town. A certain fellow of our aquintance there I was recently considering would do much better in the Navy than the Milita. Had my son of seen fit to keep me informed about that scoundrel's actions he would have never had the chance to join the Milita," Matlock said with a hard look at Col. Fitzwilliam.
"Same," Edmund said with a glare at Darcy. "But what's done is done. And Georgiana knows she need not hide her story from us. We love her just the same."
"I am sorry," Georgiana whispered blushing.
"Your incorrigible uncles should apologize for eavesdropping, " Elizabeth said stoutly.
"We aren't just Georgiana's uncles, we are yours to now, missy," Matlock reminded her. "I won't apologize for finally getting down to what has been ailing my niece. I am grateful she had you to confide in and praise your wisdom. It is time though that someone dealt with the scoundrel before he attempts to ply his trade elsewhere. Your wife has sisters, Darcy, meaning you have other sisters," Matlock added meaningfully.
"Now is not the time to discuss this," Col. Fitzwilliam said firmly breaking into the conversation.
Earlier in the day Georgiana had unburdened herself to Elizabeth regarding her near elopement with Wickham. Elizabeth had helped her to work through her feelings about it after her uncles had burst into the music room at Matlock House determined to reassure an upset Georgiana. The two had overhead part of the two's conversation and demanded they be told what was going on. Elizabeth had been reluctant to share what she considered not her story despite their hurt that they had not been trusted with the truth before. Darcy had admitted he only would have told them and his aunt if it became necessary when he was summoned. Georgiana had been fearful her brother would be upset with her for telling Elizabeth after he had told her not to speak of it to anyone. He had reassured her that she had done the right thing by telling Elizabeth. While Elizabeth comforted Georgiana, Darcy had recounted the story to Lord and Lady Matlock and Edmund, including that Wickham was now in Hertfordshire as part of the militia. Darcy's Navy Uncles came firmly down on the side of Col. Fitzwilliam that action must be taken against Wickham. Col. Fitzwilliam wanted to have him transferred to the regulars and sent to the front, Edmund and Matlock wanted to impress him into the navy as a low ranking seaman.
"I am perfectly willing to have you all as my guests at Netherfield," Bingley agreed cheerfully. "Jane believes her mother will summon her home now that we are engaged so I plan on re-opening Netherfield when that happens."
"Before you plan your first house party Mr. Bingley, keep in mind that Elizabeth and Darcy need to be seen in town this season," Lady Matlock reminded them. "Though I suppose a week in the country after they run the gauntlet this next week might be necessary."
"The gauntlet?" Georgiana asked curiously.
"The balls and events they will be required to attend," Lady Bramhurst said. "From tonight onward they will have an engagement with society, being seen and quelling gossip."
"Tomorrow night is a ball at Lord and Lady Montrose's. The next a musical evening at Winston's then a ball at the Almonds, followed by another gathering at Lord and Lady Talbot's, and then Lady Bramhurst has secured an invitation to a dinner at her cousin's," Lady Matlock said. "Then of course is another ball the next evening. Following that we will put in an opperance at the opera."
"Poor Darcy. How many balls is that?" Col. Fitzwilliam asked.
"Focus on the bright side, lad," Edmund said to Darcy. "As a newlywed you can dance with your wife two or three times each ball."
"If I am attending a ball I expect to dance with Elizabeth more then that if she will allow it," Darcy said grimly.
"I will, but the question is will Aunt Miranda?" Elizabeth asked in a faux whisper designed to be heard by that lady.
"I never thought I would say this, but while I will not condone Darcy dancing every dance with you like he wishes, I think it would be wise to partner for three dances each night. The Ton thrives in scandal but they are not adverse to a good romance. What do you think, Lady Bramhurst?"
"I agree," Lady Bramhurst said. Silently she added that the sight of Darcy, usually so reserved and severe, in love with his wife would set tongues to wagging and would quickly dispel any unsavory rumours other then in the minds of those to obtuse to see what was in front of them. Anyone that saw the way he treated his wife, she thought, would have to be a fool to believe an honorable man like him could make an offer of any sort to another, particularly one such as Miss Bingley. Having spent time observing Darcy she also suspected much of the previous salacious gossip that had been circulating within society recently about him was false and grossly exaggerated. She had been hard pressed to believe it in the first place considering his character as she knew it in passing, otherwise she would have been very disturbed to find her old friend's niece married to him, especially after finding out just how much Elizabeth reminded her of Meredith.
"Upon your return from Hertfordshire, we can host a ball at Matlock House in your honor," Lady Matlock said decisively.