It was decided that Elizabeth and Jane would spend the following morning with their aunt Gardiner doing some last minute Christmas shopping, followed by tea with Aunt Susan, after "accidentally" running into her. It was Elizabeth who came up with the plan of using the seemingly sudden marriages of Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley to take the focus off Georgiana's scandal. It was for this reason they kept their plans to just themselves and their husbands, they didn't want to get Georgiana's hopes up.
What the ladies didn't know, was that their husband were also planning to follow their example in the hopes of spreading the gossip even further.
"Thank you for joining us uncle, having never purchased jewelry for ladies not born into the family." Darcy spoke loud enough to be heard, but not so loud as for it to seem as though he wanted to be overheard.
"Happy to help my boy, it also gives me a chance to shop for your aunt's gift as well." His uncle smiled as they joined him at the counter of one of London's finest jewelers. This close to the holiday it was packed with men doing some last minute shopping, and they could see more than one trying to subtly listen in.
"Indeed, I have my eye on this piece for your aunt, but thought you might like any of these other pieces for your ladies boys." His uncle spoke as he pointed at one of the more expensive items in the case, and the man behind the counter practically salivated over the amount he was very likely about to make.
"They are all perfectly lovely pieces, however, Mrs Darcy tastes tend to run toward much simpler items." Darcy spoke with a love sick grin on his face, causing many whispers to come from the men around them.
"I'm afraid my Jane, I mean Mrs Bingley, is much like her sister in that regard." Bingley spoke up, the smile of his face had to be causing pain it was so large.
"Might I offer a suggestion." They all turned in surprise at the new voice, having not thought to invite Mr Gardiner into their plan, and now kicking themselves for their oversight.
"I would greatly appreciate your help Uncle, your knowledge of your nieces would be indispensable at the moment." Darcy spoke, and was rewarded with a look of love and pride normally bestowed on the man's eldest nieces. They were then guided over to a case that held simple pendants, but still rather pricy due to the quality of the stones.
"I was actually planning on purchasing this ruby pendant for Mrs Gardiner, but this emerald one brought the new Mrs Darcy to mind when I saw it. It was the same when I saw the sapphire one and thought of Mrs Bingley." The simplicity of the pieces seemed to add to their elegance, making the items perfect for their suggested owners. The intricate cuts as well as the clarity of the stones would also do well to show off the wealth and status of the ladies.
It seemed there was no further need to shop, and the items were wrapped and made ready for purchase quickly, as though the man selling them feared the four gentlemen would change their minds. However, he was in for another shock, "Uncle Gardiner, I was hoping you would help me find a gift for my new mother in law. With the kindness and love she has bestowed upon my sister and myself, price is no issue." Mr Gardiner was happy to oblige, showing off multiple pieces he thought the matron would love.
On the way out of the shop a display caught Darcy's eye, and he asked his companions if they would mind waiting for him to make one final purchase.
After a pleasant morning of shopping with Jane and Aunt Gardiner the ladies headed to the designated location for the "accidental" meeting with Aunt Susan. "Why my dear Mrs Darcy, what a delight seeing you here today." Aunt Susan exclaimed when they were close enough for it to still be proper.
"What a pleasant surprise Your Ladyship," Elizabeth spoke with a curtsy. It had been decided ahead of time that Elizabeth and Lady Susan would do the talking. "We had hoped to call on you later today, before we head back to Hertfordshire in the morning to spend they holiday with our family."
"Well please, allow me to introduce you to my friends." The Countess then went around and introduced them to one other Countess, a Baroness, and the wife of another untitled but wealthy gentleman.
"Well, I dare say, it is quite a surprise to find out Mr Darcy has finally decided to settle down, and to one so wholly unknown to the rest of the ton." The Baroness spoke with a derisive sniff. She had been invited, not because she was a personal friend to Lady Susan, but more because she was a horrendous gossip.
"Yes, my goddaughter's parents have never been very fond of town, and it would not be proper for and old bachelor to host her and her sisters by themselves." Elizabeth was quite thankful to have told her husband and his aunt and uncle about her godfather, as she wasn't sure how well Lady Susan could have held her composure.
"My Lord, I...we had not heard of you being in town." One of her new aunt's friends spoke, clearly stunned.
"I found I had business in town that could not be avoided." Elizabeth's "uncle" and godfather, the Duke of Wellingshire spoke as he bowed to the ladies before turning his attention to Elizabeth. "I had been hoping to write to your father and beg an invitation to spend the holiday with your family, rather than alone here in town."
The Duke had been one of Mr Bennet's closest friends in school, almost like Mr Bingley was to Mr Darcy. The man's father had sent him to Oxford, not wanting to "waste" money to have a second son education at Cambridge. When the current Duke's older brother and father had been killed in a carriage accident the now Duke inherited everything from the title to the failing estate. Fortunately for him, he had made many friends with many men who would become prosperous tradesmen, and had been able to bring the estate back from ruin as well as amass a handsome fortune separate from the Dukedom. As he had no wife and no son to inherit, the Dukedom would pass to a distant relation, so he kept prodigious paperwork to ensure his personal funds could never be claimed by the estate. Instead, he would be leaving those funds to whomever he chose. However, having never seemed close to one single person, it was highly speculated on whom he would leave said fortune to.
Though in possession of a sharp mind, he was seen as an eccentric for his preference for the country to town, and his disdain for the season. However, his title and wealth carried a lot of clout, so there were not many who would speak against him. This quality was used against his friend's older and titled brother, making said brother and some of his friends persona non grata among some of the members of the first circle.
"I'm afraid Papa's home is full to near bursting at the moment, but I'm sure Jane and Mr Bingley would have no issue with you joining us at Netherfield." Elizabeth spoke with a genuine smile. "I am sure Mr Darcy would enjoy having you in residence to play chess with."
"Of course Uncle Arthur, I mean Your Lordship." Jane spoke with a blush.
"I shall always be Uncle Arthur to you Janey, and be very cross indeed if you should call me anything else." Uncle Arthur spoke with a booming laugh.
"Well then, Mr Bingley and I shall be very pleased indeed if you would join us for the Christmas season." Jane smiled brightly, practically glowing with pleasure when her invitation was gladly accepted.
"Well, now that that is accepted, please keep this to yourself girls, not that I no longer need to stay with your parents, I shall be happy indeed to surprise them." After hearing that his business in town was in fact concluded, it was decided he would follow the two couples returning to Hertfordshire in his own carriage the following day, before leaving to go on about his day.
"My dear Caroline, we came as soon as we heard the news." Louisa looked up from her stitching in the corner of the parlor to see Caroline greet the three ladies admitted to the room. The three newcomers were ladies her younger sister considered to be her very best friends, but Louisa always felt like they seems to be laughing at her sister. As such, it was hard to believe the concern they seemed to display was genuine.
"To be sure. Why when we all heard Mr Darcy was to be a member of the party traveling with you, we all assumed we would be wishing you joy on your return to town. To hear you had retuned alone had been shocking, but then to find out that he returned with a wife in tow...I don't know that I could bear the disappointment had I been in your shoes." Another one spoke, though it almost sounded like she was holding back laughter.
"I bear the betrayal as best I can." Caroline sniffed, but Louisa was struggling to tell how much of the disappointment in her sister's voice was truly meant, and how much had been fake. Granted, could it truly be considered a betrayal if the gentleman in question had never even shown a marked preference for Caroline. It wasn't as if Mr Darcy chose to go to Netherfield to spend time with Caroline specifically. In fact, he had been abundantly clear he had been there to help Charles and nothing else. Whatever else Caroline said, and gossip she spread regarding his intentions, did not change the truth of them.
Indeed, acting at Caroline's chaperone in her brother's absence had opened her eyes some to the true nature of her sister. Though, that wasn't really true, her eyes had begun to open long before taking responsibility for Caroline. In fact, seeing Elizabeth Bennet walk three miles in the mud and filth to see to her ailing sibling, made her re-examine the relationships she had with her own siblings. This brought to mind Caroline's behavior a few months ago when Louisa lost the babe she had been carrying. Rather than helping her through her grief, her sister had remarked that Louisa was probably delighted not to have to deal with the horrible sickness she had been experiencing because of her condition, and would be able to truly enjoy her nights out at balls and other excursions. This remembrance got Louisa wondering how Jane or Elizabeth Bennet would have reacted to the news, if they would have consoled her?
She had always done what she could to foster the best sisterly bonds she could with Caroline, as she herself did desire that type of relationship. However, what she got for her effort was indeed lacking, but she settled as Caroline was the only sister she had, and therefore the only one she could share said bonds with. However, that was no longer the case, for she now had another sister available to her. Perhaps this time she could have the bonds she so desired with a sister.
With this thought in mind she moved over to the small writing desk in the corner. Fortunately the call was coming to a close, and she realized she had listened to hardly anything her sister's friends had had to say, and did not regret the gossip she had missed. No, she had a couple of letters to focus on.