“Very well, Your Grace,” said Mrs. Annesley. “I will write to her this evening.”
Chapter 7
The next day, the entire party went to Derby for some shopping. The town was about twice the size of Meryton, but since it was the largest town in the county, there were more shops than one might expect based on population alone. Many of the shops were set up specifically to serve the wealthier inhabitants of Derbyshire.
The duke separated from the party early to inquire about hiring some new staff. The ladies, accompanied by Mr. Darcy and two footmen, proceeded with their shopping.
Their first stop was a draper’s. There they acquired enough material for several sets of sheets. Elizabeth and Jane also picked out the finest material available for a couple of new gowns each. They requested that their purchases be delivered to Lockwood.
Jane had a plan to test the two maids who wished to open up their own shop. She planned to ask them to hem the sheets first. Then, and only if they were willing to do the boring job first, she would ask them to make the gowns for Elizabeth and Jane. That way, she could test how much she could recommend them to other customers, especially her mother.
They then spent some time browsing in various shops, all the while looking for blankets and wallpaper, though they did not pass up the opportunity to purchase some very fine-looking gloves and a couple of reticules.
For Elizabeth, it was a novel sensation. Never in her life had she gone to a shop knowing that she could purchase anything and everything she wished. While her father hadn’t given them a set allowance, she was certain he would not begrudge any little purchase they made. Even so, there simply wasn’t much she wanted.
At one point, they went to a jeweler’s. It wasn’t a particularly large shop, but Miss Darcy said it rivaled some of the shops in London for quality, though not for variety. Jane eyed a particular set of sapphires. It was a necklace and earring set, though when they asked a little more about it, the jeweler mentioned that he also had a thin tiara that matched them perfectly.
When Jane saw all three pieces together, she smiled. Elizabeth said, “You should buy them. Those sapphires would look perfect in your hair as well as against your skin.”
“Oh, do,” cried Miss Darcy. “It is almost as if they were made for you.”
“I do like them,” said Jane, still with a small smile on her face. “I shall ask Papa before we leave town. I think it might be a bit more than I am comfortable spending without permission.”
“I doubt he’ll say no,” said Elizabeth, “but if you wish to wait, I see no reason not to.”
They continued to look around. Soon afterward, her attention was seized by an elegant silver comb, studded with small emeralds and worked into delicate scrolls which almost resembled vines.
“It is a beautiful comb,” said Mr. Darcy over her shoulder. “It would look even more lovely against your dark hair.”
Elizabeth glanced around to see if Jane or Miss Darcy were close enough to have heard what he said, but they were on the other side, looking at something else.
“Perhaps, I shall come back for it another time,” she said, reluctantly. She did not feel comfortable asking her father for something so expensive when Jane would already be doing so. She was nearly certain he would agree, but the thought made her squirm, nonetheless.
They left the jeweler’s and headed for the bookshop. That was where His Grace finally caught up with them. He had gone to an agency that specialized in placing those who wished to find servant positions with those who needed servants. They served the needs of plenty of estates for about twenty miles in any direction as well as the more affluent denizens of Derby.
The duke had made inquiries into hiring three maids and an assistant cook. The agent, while tripping over his own feet in excitement for helping a duke, said they would consult their records and get back to him as soon as possible.
Duke Derby had also stopped at a shop that sold wallpaper to acquire some plain paper for his wife’s and daughters’ bedrooms. He knew it would not be perfect, but it would be good enough until the duchess could change it to something better.
While Elizabeth was perusing the books available for sale, Mr. Darcy left the shop for a bit. She was so interested in the merchandise, however, that she only realized he had been missing when the bell on the front door rang, and he re-entered.
She went back to perusing the philosophy books on offer. “You seem to have rather eclectic tastes, Lady Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said. Once again, he was looking over her shoulder. “When I left you, you were looking at romance novels.”
Without turning to look at him, Elizabeth said, “My taste in reading material was formed almost entirely by what was available in my father’s bookroom.”
Elizabeth heard the humor in his voice as he said, “It surprises me to hear that Mr. Bennet collects novels alongside Greek philosophy.”
“Believe it or not,” said Elizabeth. “To be honest, he finds them rather humorous instead of romantic. He says that the five most humorous books he has ever read were all romances.”
“And you? Do you find them humorous?” asked Mr. Darcy.
“To a degree,” she said. “The overdrawn emotions, the unrealistic behaviors and settings. Those do amuse me. At the same time, however, I have to admit that there is something there to interest a young lady who has no way of seeing much of the world around her.”
Just then, her father came up to them. “I have a neglected library to fill up, so I have just placed a rather large order,” he said. “Is there anything you wish to add?”
“Oh yes,” said Elizabeth, and she named five books she wanted.
As her father walked away, she thought it silly that she would willingly and easily spend nearly five pounds on books, but she still had not asked for that comb, which was less than two pounds.
