Update ch 46
With plans to meet Mr. Darcy later in the day, Elizabeth spent her morning with a visit from Johnny with fabrics for her to choose from which she then took to the modiste for a fitting for her trousseau. Her father had given her a set amount to spend, though it was larger than expected, for he decided they might as well buy Jane's trousseau at the same time to avoid the need for future trips to London. Elizabeth laughed at her father's letter while the modiste pinned, measured, and planned for a new wardrobe for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's mood did not last for the entirety of the visit, but Jane noticed that Elizabeth was far more at ease than on previous visits to London. "You shall be so pretty in these new designs. Mr. Darcy will not be able to take his eyes off you."
"He already does not take his eyes off her." Mrs. Gardiner laughed good naturedly. "But you are stunning. You seem different today. Your betrothal has made you more willing to shop."
"That is because there is a reason for new gowns. Usually, Mama just wants me to get new gowns because we are in London. I must dress for my new station, though I shall not adopt all the new trends. I have no wish to be buying gowns after I am married. I hope to be ensconced at Pemberley, enjoying the new trails and neighbors."
"Pemberley!" The modiste exclaimed, "You are to marry Mr. Darcy!" At Elizabeth's blush, she continued. "Mr. Darcy is one of the best customers. I have his sister's measurements saved, and he can buy her a gown whenever the mood strikes him. I shall add your measurements to hers so that he can also shower you with attention. You will be the envy of London at the ball tomorrow, not only for having the best gown, but also for having the best prospects."
Elizabeth blushed further, but she boldly stated, "That is good. If he buys my gowns, I shall not need to visit the modiste more than before. I should be glad to spend more time in the parks." She did not remark on the ball, for she was trying to encourage a brave face she did not feel. She anticipated the angry looks of many ladies and eager looks of many men when they learned of her betrothal. Would she be able to convince them that she belonged as part of their set?
"You must try this new style!" The modiste intervened, putting her measurements down and pulling out a ready-made dress of a flattering light blue with dark blue embroidery that traveled up the bodice on one side and on the front. The dress was exquisite, and Elizabeth looked at it with pleasure. "My sister designed it, and her designs are the first to be taken up. You are the first to see it, and it can be altered to fit you very quickly. Everyone will visit my shop in the next week to get one made for themselves. Tell them Miss Endersby made the dress and they will know it is of the best quality."
Elizabeth bit her lip and asked about the price. "I have already ordered 10 dresses, and I had already planned to wear my white muslin."
"You cannot wear white muslin to a ball when announcing your engagement!" The modiste declared. "You must stand out! The gown is just a trifle. You will give me the best business, so I shall give it to you for ten pounds."
"That is a bargain." Mrs. Gardiner stated. "We should be on our way, as we have shoes, gloves, and undergarments to purchase."
The modiste led Elizabeth and Jane to a private room so that they could change back into their day gowns and correct their hair. Mrs. Gardiner then arranged for her husband to pay the modiste, and they went on their way. The rest of their shopping was rushed, and they were thankful to have taken two footmen with them as they returned with many more boxes than Elizabeth had thought necessary.
The weather was too damp to go for a walk, so Elizabeth was stuck inside. Eager to expend energy, she took up teaching her oldest niece, Lucy, to play the pianoforte. The instrument was old, but it was in tune, so they sat together and laughed as they learned to play nursery rhymes to the delight of little Henry, who danced around the room happily. It was a merry party until they heard the sound of a knock at the front door. As it was outside appropriate calling hours, they assumed it was someone looking for Mr. Gardiner, and were very surprised by the entrance of a maid announcing the future Lord Matlock, Viscount Matlock.
Elizabeth stood quickly, turned, and curtseyed without tipping over the stool, a feat she was rather proud of considering her shock at seeing the visitor. Lucy and Henry hid behind Elizabeth, not used to visitors. Not known to be intimidated by rank, Elizabeth calmly introduced her niece and nephew.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am sure." The viscount said politely.
They stood there for a moment as Elizabeth waited for him to continue and state his purpose. She had heard from Darcy and the colonel that he was a rather eccentric fellow. Realizing that he had no intentions to do anything of the sort, Elizabeth asked the maid to bring tea and send the children to the nursery for their lessons.
Deciding to act as though this was a normal visit, Elizabeth began to move to a more appropriate chair for conversation. He stopped her, "No, do not move from there, for you play remarkably well. I should like to hear you perform some more. Do sit down with me." He did not wait for her to reply as he brushed past her, taking her elbow gently and sitting beside her on the stool. "You must play for me, for music brings joy."
Elizabeth blushed at his words, not feeling up to playing for a stranger, even if that stranger was Mr. Darcy's cousin. The propriety of sitting alone with him was felt all the more with how close he sat. She moved the sheet pages around without bothering to find a piece she wished to play, and she was relieved by the prompt appearance of her aunt. Elizabeth attempted to move away while she introduced her aunt to the viscount, but he again declared that she should play, and Mrs. Gardiner agreed she would like to hear Elizabeth play also. Elizabeth sat back down and began to play a song she knew well and did not need to find the sheet music.
Recognizing the tune as one he had danced to at many balls, he hummed along with her and turned the pages. She looked at him oddly, trying to make out his plan.
"Many people complain that I never turn the pages on time." He said as he attempted to understand her mood.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "That is probably because you never learned to read music."
The viscount pretended his heart was broken. "You accuse me most unjustly. How can you doubt my abilities? Have we not sat through a quarter hour of your playing?"
"Yes, and you have yet to realize that the song I am playing is not the one on the pages." Elizabeth smiled archly as he looked at the music and saw a well-known nursery rhyme on the front page. With a laugh, she played the ending of the song, confident that they would not complain that she had skipped part of the song.
With determination, she declared she was tired of playing and rose to take a seat beside her aunt, giving him the choice of any other seat in the room. He took the chair closest to her sofa, and eagerly began eating a biscuit the maid had brought with tea. "I prefer plenty of sugar and milk in my tea." he stated between bites.
Mrs. Gardiner served the tea and watched the couple carefully. The viscount did not include her in the conversation, though Elizabeth clearly took the time to ensure that she was not alone in the conversation with them. After another quarter hour, Elizabeth wondered at his motives, for he did not appear as if he would leave. This was apparently not a normal social call. Feeling that she had best give him the privacy he must want, she applied to her aunt to summon a maid to fetch more biscuits. "The viscount seems to prefer these cinnamon biscuits, and I believe cook made a fresh batch."
Mrs. Gardiner watched her niece for a moment, acquiescing after Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders to say she would be fine. Leaving the door completely open, she declared she would be back as soon as she could.
The viscount wasted no time once they were alone to rise and take the seat vacated by Mrs. Gardiner. He sat closer to Elizabeth than she wished, and she politely turned her body away so that her leg would not touch his. He did not move closer, noticing her displeasure. "I have come to get to know you, and you are clearly a gem. I can see why my cousin is smitten. You are thoroughly charming, and I wonder if I could persuade you to my side."
"And what is your side?" Elizabeth huffed in annoyance. She did not wish to be rude, but she was tired of the viscount.
"My side! I am in need of a wife, and as my mother approves of you, and you are clearly pleasant company, I find that you would make an excellent viscountess and future Lady Matlock."
Elizabeth's look of astonishment lasted for half a minute while she stared at him as though he had sprouted wings. "You cannot be serious."
"Of course, I am serious. My mother has pestered all of us to get wives, and me most of all, for I must begin working on my heir before it is too late. The health of my lineage depends on it."
The thought of being intimate with this man was too much for Elizabeth. She moved to another chair to put distance between them. "You will not find a wife here." She stated emphatically.
He moved so that he was beside her again. "Better the wife of a rich viscount than a rich gentleman with no title. I do not gamble, and I shall not keep a mistress." He kept his eyes on hers to convince her of his seriousness.
Elizbeth laughed, "While those are good qualities, I happen to be engaged to your cousin, which you already know, as there is no other way you would know who I am."
"Engagements can be broken. You can marry me instead. Our children will be intelligent, beautiful, and rich."
"I do not know you."
"You know my family name. You know my appearance." He puffed up his chest like a regular dandy. Elizabeth laughed again, certain he could not be serious.
"This is a strange proposal, and I must decline. Mr. Darcy and I are well suited, and I have no desire to be a viscountess."
The viscount visibly deflated. "That is what I hoped you would say. I had to check that he was not being taken in for a fortune hunter." As her astonished look turned angry, he held up his hands. "My cousin knows how to avoid fortune hunters, but I still needed to know he had not been duped. You would not have been the first to try to ensnare my cousin. Though you are the first to actually get him to propose."
Elizabeth involuntarily smiled as she remembered Mr. Darcy's proposal. "So I have passed your test?" she asked politely.
"Yes, you have. And I am pleased to welcome you to the family. My mother, brother, and cousin, have all spoken highly of you."
Elizabeth was quick to notice a lapse in his family. "Your father is not listed among your other family. Did he disapprove?"
"He clearly wished to disapprove, for he had hoped Darcy would marry a woman with political connections, but he knew better. He does not pick battles he cannot win."
"What is the point of a battle if he is certain of success?" Elizabeth exclaimed, beginning to relax.
Mrs. Gardiner returned with Jane, and the four conversed pleasantly until Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were announced. They joined the merry party until the viscount declared that he ought to return home for dinner. "My mother may be busy planning a ball, but she will notice my absence. If she knows I am out, then she might have time to plan ways of putting young ladies in my path. Love at first sight could happen, but I have seen all of the current ladies, and they are all dreadful bores this year. I have no intention of being sat with them at dinner."
He exited to the laughter of the party, only turning at the door to fix Mr. Darcy a look that declared he approved of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy puffed up with pride.
Elizabeth saw the exchange and questioned Mr. Darcy about it.
Mr. Darcy deflated as she leveled an annoyed grimace at him. "No, I did not tell my cousin to investigate your intentions. What did he do?"
Satisfied, Elizabeth returned to her former humor and related the visit.
"If he had asked me, I would have told him you were no fortune hunter. I would have had no doubts you would be true to me, for I have it on very good authority you do not accept just anyone into your heart." He kissed her hand to show her how much he admired her.
She blushed in response and wondered how often he would make her blush before they were married. They then retired to Mr. Gardiner's study to play a game of chess.
AN: Second update this week! Woo hoo for fall break. Unfortunately, there are only 3 days left, so hopefully I can get us to the next wedding soon, or else I might not have time until Christmas. We are touring assisted living homes for my MIL today. Wish us luck. As much as I regret not being able to care for her, this is the best care for her.
Remember, reviews fill me with joy and encourage me to get the characters flowing through my head.