“That is most suitable,” the lady nodded affirmatively. “You must come to London to shop for your trousseau. I shall be pleased to host a soirée for you and to introduce you about Town as my future niece.”
Elizabeth drew a grateful smile. “I thank you, your ladyship. My aunt and my mother have been helping to make a beginning here, as we felt it in better taste at present.”
Lady Matlock blinked in some surprise. “The future Mrs Darcy, obtaining her wedding clothes from Meryton? Well, now that is… original. I commend your practicality, Miss Bennet. You will, of course, need at least a few items, to begin with from the top tier seamstresses in London.” She sniffed, then her tones softened reasonably so that even Mrs Gardiner could not feel slighted, though she was quite firm. “You will occupy a rather notable position in London Society from now on, my dear, and you must make an impression in the beginning to smooth your way. However, I applaud your taste and resourcefulness at the present moment; it is far more than most young ladies would consider.”
Elizabeth dipped her head at the rather backhanded compliment. “I thank you, your ladyship.”
“Mrs Gardiner,” the lady turned toward Elizabeth’s aunt, “my husband tells me you have some connection to Lambton. It is not far from the Matlock estate, you know. Are you familiar with the Boyce family?” The two chatted amiably, finding a few mutual acquaintances. Elizabeth was surprised at the breadth of Lady Matlock’s knowledge of the local merchants. Evidently, she and her sister-in-law were not of a kind.
After a pleasant interlude, Lady Matlock tactfully turned her attention at last to Mrs Bennet. Elizabeth could not decide if she had been coached or if Darcy’s aunt had intuitively discerned that Mrs Bennet would perform better if given some time for her nerves to settle. Either way, Elizabeth was grateful. She queried Mrs Bennet about the best local millinery, the militia, and even found gentle questions soliciting Mrs Bennet’s advice on her economical housekeeping.
Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner exchanged wide-eyed glances. Mrs Bennet had clearly never felt quite so honoured. While still not fully grasping the differences between her own station and Lady Matlock’s, Mrs Bennet managed to conduct herself with minimal embarrassment for her daughter. She slowly monopolized the conversation with boisterous phrases and expressive hand gestures, though Elizabeth noted a twinkle in Lady Matlock’s eye. It was not without her leave that Mrs Bennet was suffered to prattle on.
The peeress was subjected to a treatise on Jane’s beauty, Mr Darcy’s magnificence, Mr Bingley’s amiability, Mary’s cleverness, and Lydia and Kitty’s lively cheer. A flick of Lady Matlock’s gaze indicated that she, too, had observed the youngest girls’ high spirits. Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana were at that present moment doing their best to keep up with the younger girls’ enthusiasm. Elizabeth hid a smile. She was going to enjoy her new relatives.
“My lady,” Mrs Bennet ventured with growing boldness, “May I say, we are pleased to see you in such health. Why, I feared such a journey to come to us here in Hertfordshire might be too much!”
Lady Matlock looked curiously at Elizabeth. She had quickly discovered the young lady to be uncommonly clever and caught a small wink. An audacious gesture, to be sure, but something of a kinship grew out of it. Her future niece would have something to explain later, she sensed.
“No, Mrs Bennet,” she returned to that lady. “My health is quite sound.” She did not elaborate further, but she was quick to discern a faint dampening of Mrs Bennet’s spirits. Before she could wonder at it, Mrs Bennet spoke up again. “I understand, my lady, that there is another estate in your family? Might I… inquire as to… where it might be?”
“Oh, that place!” Lady Matlock trilled a hearty laugh. “A tumbled-down castle in Ireland! Oh, my dear Papa left me that ruin, and I have not the least idea what to do with it! It is more a liability than an asset, I assure you, Mrs Bennet.” The lady smiled charmingly back at her inquisitor as more good cheer slid from Mrs Bennet’s hopeful face.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks tugging mercilessly and decided she ought to save her mother. “My lady, may I say I have been greatly honoured to become acquainted with Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is a kind and noble man. Your ladyship must be very proud.”
“Ah, Richard, yes. He is a good son.” Lady Matlock’s shrewd gaze lingered on Mrs Bennet another moment. Elizabeth’s hint had confirmed for her the other matron’s rather mercenary motives, but rather than offence, she could only find amusement. After all, when a woman had five daughters to marry off, it behoved her to take an active interest in the sport.
Asthevisitingnobilitybegan to make their farewells, Bingley, who had no intention of leaving his fair one so soon, suggested a walk for the younger crowd. All accepted, even Anne de Bourgh, to Elizabeth’s great surprise. The rain had ceased with the prior night’s darkness, and the parties involved feared a dreary afternoon indoors more than a little mud. The earl and Lady Matlock determined that they would remain at Netherfield for a few days, at least, so they could become better acquainted with their future niece, and to that house, they repaired.
The walking crowd quickly split into two factions. Kitty and Lydia parted company from the others rather quickly, as they had shopping in mind, and the slower pace of the lovers bored them. Elizabeth, Mary, Georgiana, and Anne de Bourgh contented themselves with strolling behind Bingley and Jane. As Mary had once again attached herself to Georgiana, Elizabeth found herself beside Anne.
They had exchanged only a few words at the house, but now Anne gushed forth with her pleasure at Elizabeth’s engagement to Darcy. “I am so looking forward to getting to know you! You would not know, perhaps you could not, that William has always been rather quiet and not one to assert his opinions where it came to personal matters. I never saw anyone so altered as he was today!”
Elizabeth laughed. “Do you mean he is often unsociable and taciturn?”
“Oh, no. He was always very amiable. I know he avoided me because of my mother; he did not want to give rise to any hopes, although his efforts did not seem to clarify anything for my mother.” There was a hint of sadness in her tone, but she brightened again instantly. “I was always a little afraid of him. He seemed so imposing and aloof. I watched him, though, and he always seemed sociable enough with Richard, and of course, perfectly solicitous with Georgiana, but I could not believe he was really so amicable. I saw a new side of him today, and I think that is thanks to you, Miss Bennet. I hope now I will be able to come to know all of them better—and of course, you too.”
Elizabeth smiled, a genuine heartfelt expression. “I should like that, Miss de Bourgh.”
By the time their party reached Meryton, Anne and Elizabeth were on first-name terms, and they had firmly and unequivocally decided to become as sisters. Anne’s quiet delight knew no bounds. For too many years, she had lived in her mother’s long shadow. That was at an end now.
“SO,youstillhaveno idea where he is?” Fitzwilliam was flabbergasted. “How can he just disappear?”
Forster held up his hands. “I told you, Fitzwilliam, my resources are tapped. I have a brigade full of new recruits and only a handful of officers qualified to train them. I cannot spare all of my best men to hunt out one deserter. It sets a bad example, to be sure, but I was hoping you could help me a little more. You know the kind of haunts he frequents.”
Richard scowled, crossing his arms. “We take these things a little more seriously in the Regulars,” he sneered. Immediately he regretted it. “I’m sorry, Forster.”
The colonel waved a tired hand. “Darcy, you asked me to get in touch with Miss King’s uncle. I did send him an express, but the messenger returned, saying he was not to be found. My hope is that he is already aware of the young lady’s absence and had taken matters into his own hands before my man arrived, but I have no way of knowing. The butler apparently was less than forthcoming about his master’s travel arrangements.”
Darcy sighed. Spots danced before his eyes, and he rubbed them with his fingertips. A warm bed was nearly all he could think of at the moment… that, and a little company to go with it. “I understand, Colonel. Do keep us apprised, will you? In the meantime, we will try to turn up whatever we can. My uncle, the Earl of Matlock, has taken special offence to some of Wickham’s lies. He has set his own investigator from Bow Street Runners about London, and I have done the same. If Wickham turns up there, we should know about it.”
The colonel shook his head. “It’s a puzzle. Still, Darcy, Fitzwilliam, I thank you for your help. It is not often a regimental commander can expect aid from the gentry in such a matter.”
“Thank you, Colonel, for your information.” Darcy rose, and with a compelling look toward his cousin, made for the door. Fitzwilliam grimaced and followed him with less felicity, but equal enthusiasm. He had not suffered lack of sleep for the night and was bursting with energy to rid his corner of the world of this scourge, once and for all.
GeorgeWickhamtuggedasidethe drape of his boarding house, peering down at the street. The rain had stopped, and true to form, the Bennet family had emerged. He sat on the bed, positioned conveniently next to the window, and tilted his head to peer around the corner of the casement. Lydia and Kitty Bennet. Hmmm. Entertaining, to be sure, but not very valuable. Not worth tipping his hand for.
A little more patience rewarded him with the sight he was hoping for. Elizabeth Bennet and her entourage strolled into town, genially greeting everyone they encountered. Only one man was present. Charles Bingley was no remarkable challenge. Wickham had some passing acquaintance with the fellow from their school days, but by the time Darcy had taken up fellowship with Bingley, he and Wickham had largely parted company. Still, he was familiar enough with the man to suppose that Bingley ought to be easily distracted. It should not be difficult, for all the fellow had eyes for was that eldest Bennet girl.
