After a cup of tea Jane said she was weary and wished to rest. They helped her out of her clothing, took down her hair and brushed it out before braiding it. A cloth dipped in cold water was placed over her eyes, once Jane laid down in the bed.
“Jane, I will stay if you wish me to.”
“No, Lizzy. I only wish for sleep.”
Elizabeth kissed her sister’s cheek and tucked the blanket more securely around her. With tears flooding her own eyes, she followed her aunt out of the room.
Chapter 28
The next morning the sisters met for breakfast in Jane’s room. In an unspoken agreement neither mentioned the events of the day before. They instead discussed their plans for the house or ruminated over what a visit to a Bond Streetmodistemight be like.
A knock on the door announced Mrs Fletcher, with a note in her hand. “Forgive me, ma’am. This arrived from the Countess of Matlock. I was not sure but did not think you would mind my giving it to you right away.”
“Thank you, Mrs Fletcher. You did well.” With a smile, the housekeeper bobbed a curtsey and exited the room. “Well, Jane. Shall we see if our experience on Bond Street shall begin today?”
Reading the note quickly, Elizabeth smiled ruefully. “We are summoned. You and I shall be joining her Ladyship and Georgiana this morning for a special appointment at hermodiste.”
“Lizzy, it is very kind of Lady Matlock to take the time to assist you in your entrance to Society.”
It warmed Elizabeth’s heart to receive this sweet rebuke from Jane. No matter how much Jane had endured, she was fundamentally unchanged from the sweet, kind lady she had always been. Healing may take time, learning to trust again may take longer, but Elizabeth believed it would happen, and her sistershall find her own happiness.
“Indeed, you are correct. Itiskind of her, and of the Darcys who are behind the countess’s actions, to be sure.” She stood and planted her hands on her hips. “Well, I shall go prepare. I would not wish to keep her Ladyship waiting.” The twinkle in her eyes matched the little smirk twisting her lips, “Come, Jane. Make haste, make haste.”
As she hoped, a chuckle was Jane’s reaction to her display, and she sashayed out of the bedroom. Poking her head back into Jane’s room with a mock horrified expression, “With fancy new dresses, we shall require lady maids to help us in and out of them. Oh, Jane. What shall become of us.” With a last roll of her eyes, she was gone.
Jane remained in her seat, still smiling softly at her sister’s antics. At length she sighed and turned her head to look out the window. In truth she still had a headache from her crying episode yesterday. She would have been much happier staying inside, remaining quiet with her thoughts. However, her sister could not afford to gain Lady Matlock’s ire.For if I begged off, she would insist on staying home with me.
Jane sighed again. On the other hand, if she was being honest, despite her current distress it was the best she had felt in a very long time. A massive weight had been lifted from her breast. Breathing came easier and the bundle of tight emotion had loosened, making her feel lighter than she had since… then.
Checking the time, Jane stood to hurry and prepare for their outing.
~ / ~
Darcy entered his club, acknowledging and reciprocating greetings to the other gentlemen there, as he walked towards the table where Bingley sat waiting.
“Bingley, it is good to see you.” He dropped into the seat across from his friend.
“Darcy.” Bingley’s grin was as bright as ever. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me here. I trust you cleared your schedule? It has been far too long, and I am most anxious to catch up with you. Iintend to hear all your news and to bend your ear with the repugnant details of mine.”
Darcy stilled momentarily. He had no qualms about listening to his friend’s tale of woe; however, it was Darcy’s habit to keep his personal life private. “Ahh, perhaps a meal is in order to soak up the drinks which I fear may be in my immediate future.”
Bingley laughed and shook his head, taking no insult from Darcy’s dry tone. “I shall begin, as I have no doubt my recent history is more distasteful.”
Over the next couple of hours, throughout a meal and several drinks, Bingley shared what had transpired in his life since Darcy had travelled. “You know my sisters, Darcy, they are intolerable.” At Darcy’s brows rising, Bingley sputtered, “Well, I know it now, more fool me. It took Caroline’s second attempt to ruin my future happiness to finally see the truth about her.
“I cannot believe I let her convince me Miss Sarah Eddington would make a good match for me. True, she was a very beautiful creature. Blonde hair, blue eyes, tall, with a lovely figure. Her connections were all Caroline could wish for in my bride. When I met her, she appeared all that was good and kind, and so sweet. I truly did not see any indication she was not as she seemed.” Bingley paused to take a sip of his drink and stared into the glass. “I had a rude awakening after the wedding.”
Giving his friend latitude to speak in his own time, the quiet sounds of their club filled the void. Soft chatter and the clink of cutlery on china commingled with the occasional raucous laughter infringed on Darcy’s hearing, whilst he waited patiently for Bingley to continue.
“Imagine if you will, Caroline, but twice as bad, no, thrice as bad.” He looked up to see Darcy’s eyes widen briefly. “Aye, that was my reaction, only for a greater length of time. I believe it was weeks before I overcame my shock. Gone was the sweet, kind lady I courted. I found myself sharing a home with the worst sort of shrew.” He huffed a bitter laugh. “I finally found the backbone I should have asserted with my sisters. I controlled her with money, or lack of it. Thank goodness for my business acumen. I looked over the marriage settlement with a magnifying glass, purely outof habit. At the time, the little ‘mistakes’,” Bingley made a face, “were brushed off as attorney errors and laughed over. Yet, I was still too blind to perceive the truth. Apparently, there was little fortune left in the family coffers. I know not how they managed to cough up the dowry, nor why they did not simply terminate the engagement. Not to mention, she would have gotten more from me if she had kept up her pretences.”
Waving a footman over, Bingley ordered another round of drinks. He leant forward and lowered his voice. “I was fortunate I suppose; she got with child early on. By that point it was distasteful to me, and I do not think she ever cared for the act.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face, then dropped them to his lap. “It was the longest eight miserable months of my life. My lady wife died of child bed fever, leaving me happier than I had ever been and I could not find it within myself to feel guilty over it. But she left me with a gift, Darcy.” His eyes gleamed with utter delight, “My Isabelle is a cherub. I fell in love the moment I laid my eyes on her.”
“I am sorry for your troubles, Bingley.” Darcy found it difficult to say more. Words of emotion never did come easy to him. He finally offered, “I should like to meet your daughter.”
“And so you shall. It would please me to introduce her to both you and Miss Darcy.”
