A/N - this has been updated to correct grammar and spelling - a big thanks to my beta reader Ann ( goclimbatree), who has begun reading through and helping me fix errors and ensure clarity.

Let me know if you continue to see any issues. This story will be published on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited at some point once it is finished (August?).


Chapter 7

The next morning, Darcy sent a note to his great-uncle and directed his staff to forward any response to him at Matlock House before he and Georgiana left to break their fasts with their family. While they dined, the ladies made plans to shop on Bond Street that morning, and Richard and Darcy made plans to escort them, giving Darcy the opportunity to add Elizabeth to the Darcy accounts where Georgiana regularly shopped. He hoped to escort her to Hatchards and add her to his account there once the ladies' shopping was done, but doubted there would be time that day. He had errands of his own to accomplish, including meeting with his solicitor and getting a particular ring from the Darcy collection cleaned and checked so he could present it to Elizabeth later in the day.

To her surprise, Elizabeth almost enjoyed the visit to the modiste, as Lady Matlock's understated style and the modiste's suggestions complemented Elizabeth's colouring and figure. She had always dreaded such visits with her mother as they included a ridiculous number of measurements and pins, but the worst part were the many arguments over lace and other nonsense. She found she would not mind repeating that day's experience.

Rather quickly, Lady Matlock ordered quite a few dresses for Elizabeth, including a partially completed dress she could wear for her wedding and another that might work for the ball in their honour. It was part of another order that had been cancelled, and the colour and style were perfect for Elizabeth. The modiste promised to have it finished the following day for a final fitting the next morning. Once approved, it would be delivered to Matlock House in the afternoon. Several more dresses from the cancelled order complimented Elizabeth and needed only minor adjustments to make them ready. They arranged for those dresses to be delivered to Darcy House as they were finished.

Their shopping finished for the day, and the ladies headed to the tea shop where they were to meet the gentlemen before returning to Matlock House. Elizabeth was about to sit at a table with the rest of her party when they heard the familiar and unwelcome voice of Caroline Bingley. "Miss Eliza, whatever are you doing in London?"

She glanced at the ladies seated around her with a questioning gaze. At a nod from Lady Matlock, she returned the greeting. "Miss Bingley, I am shopping with friends this morning."

"Oh, Miss Darcy!" Miss Bingley cried in a patronizing tone. "I did not see you there. It has been such a long time since I have seen you." Then, looking between the two women, she spoke again in a disdainful voice. "Since when are you friends with Miss Darcy, Miss Eliza? How ever could you meet such elevated company in Hertfordshire?"

"We met recently here in London and have become rather fast friends," Elizabeth answered. As Lady Matlock was now standing and she saw Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam near the door, she spoke again. "You will have to excuse us, Miss Bingley; we are leaving now." They had all risen and began to walk toward the door, leaving Caroline behind..

Caroline recognised the Countess of Matlock in their party and had hoped that Miss Darcy would introduce her. It galled her that the detestable Eliza Bennet was in company with that lady, while she, who possessed an education from the best seminary, could not even obtain an introduction. Peering around and seeing Mr Darcy himself at the door, she considered speaking to him but hesitated as she remembered what he told her and her brother at their last meeting. That meeting had occured just after she had attempted to compromise him and he refused her brother's demand that he marry her and had threatened to cut her if she approached him or his sister again. She knew she risked a public cut if she spoke, but if he was keeping company with the likes of that Bennet chit, surely he would not cut her, would he? After all, as a wealthy tradesman's daughter, she was of a much higher station than Eliza Bennet, wasn't she? She decided to risk it.

Following the other ladies, Miss Bingley arrived at the door just behind them. She frowned when she saw Eliza Bennet on one of Darcy's arms and Georgiana on the other, leaving no open arm for her to grasp. "Mr Darcy! It has simply been an age…" she cried, but stopped abruptly as he glared at her with contempt before very deliberately turning his back to her. As soon as he acted, she began to hear the murmurs on the street and in the tea shop at the direct cut. She turned to re-enter the shop in spite of the stares and amused titters of the other patrons. Her sister, Mrs Hurst, who had warned her against approaching Elizabeth Bennet, shook her head at her sister's actions and escorted her to their carriage. Once home, she suggested to her husband they leave London for a time, and they determined to depart for his father's estate the next day. They would leave Caroline at an aunt's home along the way, and Charles could determine what to do with her, but it was clear she would not be able to remain to London.

Lady Matlock congratulated Elizabeth and Darcy for their handling of Miss Bingley. She had steadfastly avoided being introduced to Miss Bingley, but Charles Bingley had always been a good friend to her nephew for many years, and she was as puzzled and upset as William had been by the action leading up to the termination of their friendship.

"I can scarcely believe the nerve of that woman," Darcy growled as they entered the carriage. "I cannot believe she approached me after what had transpired with her and her brother. And for her to disparage you, Elizabeth, is ridiculous. The woman is a tradesman's daughter, does she not understand that she ranks below the daughter of a gentleman? Has she forgotten that her dowry is gone? I certainly want nothing to do with her or her brother after what they attempted."

The group decided to return to Matlock House for refreshments since they left the tea shop before they could order. The encounter with Miss Bingley had soured the idea of continued shopping, although William still hoped to take Elizabeth to the bookstore soon. Upon their arrival, the butler handed a letter to Mr Darcy. "This is the note from my great uncle," he said. "If you will excuse me for a moment, I will read my letter in Uncle's study."

A few minutes later, he joined them in the drawing room and accepted a cup of tea before he took a seat next to Elizabeth and whispered to her. Her eyes widened, and then she smiled at him. Knowing everyone in the room was observing them, he quickly answered the unspoken question. "The licence will be messengered to Darcy House tomorrow morning, so we may marry any time after that. The Gardiners should arrive at home this afternoon or tomorrow, and as soon as we speak with them, we can set a time and date for the wedding," he said before turning to Elizabeth. "My love, did you have a specific day in mind for our wedding?"

She blushed at the endearment spoken so easily in front of his family. "The modiste had a dress ready that needs only minor alterations to be perfect for me. The order was cancelled due to the family going into mourning, and I feel terrible for whoever ordered it, although it will work out perfectly for us. It will be ready tomorrow afternoon. Would you want to marry on Saturday or wait until the following week?" Elizabeth asked her betrothed.

"Let us plan the wedding to take place Saturday morning," Lady Matlock interjected. "William, have you made arrangements for the bishop to officiate the ceremony, or is that a matter you have yet to address?"

He smiled. "I did not ask, but in his note, he assured me he would be happy to do so. Once we have a definite time and date, I am to let him know."

They continued to make plans over tea and refreshments until William remembered that he needed to visit the Gardiners to find out if they had returned. "Might I accompany you, William?" Elizabeth asked. "I would like to see them to explain matters, especially Jane, and invite them to the wedding in person."

"We do not know they will be there," he said but then considered for a moment. His eyes lit up when he came up with a solution that would allow the privacy he desired. "We could take a phaeton, and I could drive us there. If they are not returned, we can leave a note. Do you foresee any problems with that plan, Aunt?"

She smiled at him and agreed with the plan. "How quickly can you return from Darcy House with the phaeton?"

He estimated he could return in half an hour. Lady Matlock ushered Elizabeth upstairs to help her prepare for her ride across London with William and loaned her a bonnet appropriate for the open carriage. The half-hour passed quickly, and William was in the entry waiting for Elizabeth when she arrived alone. He greeted her as though they had been apart much longer than just half an hour, and they exited the house slightly breathless as Elizabeth adjusted her bonnet before she smilingly boarded the equipage.

She teased him as he helped her into the open carriage. "If you had always greeted me that way, we would have been married long ago."

"If I had greeted you like that on our first meeting, you would have slapped me," he teased, and she laughed out loud.

"You might be right about that," she laughed, "but it would have been a very different meeting! You never know, I might have been tempted beyond my ability."

He groaned at her teasing volley. "I love you, Elizabeth. You are incredibly handsome, the most handsome lady I have ever known, and if I told you how very much you tempt me, you would slap me for sure." He relished the light laugh and blush his comment caused.

William took the long route to Gracechurch Street, giving them more time to enjoy the other's company. As they made their way through London, Darcy and Elizabeth relished the opportunity to discuss their plans for the remainder of the season and their wedding trip. Darcy would have taken her nearly anywhere she wanted to go (there was a war on the continent to be considered) and was pleased that, most of all, Elizabeth wanted to see Pemberley. After seeing Darcy House and hearing that Pemberley was far more impressive, she could not imagine going anywhere else.

In plain sight of everyone around them, he leaned over and kissed her. "I have dreamt of taking you home to Pemberley, my dearest Elizabeth., but I wonder, after some time at Pemberley, would you like to visit the Darcy cottage at the Lakes? I am afraid I will not be able to give you the attention you deserve at Pemberley;too many people need my attention there."

She smiled up at him. "And you do not know how to ignore such demands on your time, do you, my dear man? You are very attentive to all of your duties, and I admire you for it. Yes, I would adore a trip to the Lakes with you. Perhaps we can stay at Pemberley for a month before travelling to the cottage for a fortnight or so?"

He kissed her again. "That would be perfect, dearest."


Copyright 2023 Melissa Anne