Darcy, seated next to Elizabeth, took her hand as he responded. “I will send a message to my great-uncle first thing in the morning and request his assistance with the special licence,” he informed his family. “Then we will marry as soon as we have the licence in hand. We intend to invite Elizabeth’s aunt, uncle, and sister, who should return to London in the next few days. We are considering marrying from either Darcy House or here.”
Elizabeth spoke up. “Although Darcy House is lovely, I think it may be best to marry from here. It demonstrates your acceptance of the match in case anyone seeks to challenge it later,” Elizabeth said, looking towards Lord and Lady Matlock.
“You, of course, are speaking of Catherine,” said the earl. “Richard recommends we postpone visiting Rosings until after your union has been solemnised. Once you are wed, her attempts to interfere will be ineffectual.”
The dinner conversation drifted back to the wedding. Lady Matlock was happy to host the wedding and wedding breakfast, keeping the guest list limited to family. A definite time and date would be set once the licence was acquired. The couple would honeymoon for a week or two in Darcy House before participating in the remainder of the season, after which they would go to Pemberley. They would wait on news from MrBennet to determine if they would stop at Longbourn on their way.
Once dinner was complete, they moved to the music room and were surprised when Georgiana and Elizabeth entertained the group with the songs they had rehearsed earlier that day. The entire Fitzwilliam family and Darcy were pleased with Georgiana’s willingness to play in company, as she usually would not play for any audience larger than one or two people. Lady Matlock thought happily, “Elizabeth is already working miracles on these two.”
All too soon, Georgiana and Darcy rose to return to their own home. Elizabeth walked them to the door, and William gently kissed her fingers as he said good night. “I am pleased we have only a se’nnight or less to wait before we are married, Elizabeth. Then I will not have to leave you at the door of someone else’s home.”
She coloured slightly. “Good night, William. Rest well, as you have a busy day ahead of you.”
“I love you, Elizabeth,” he told her as he exited.
“And I love you, William,” was the reply. He quickly led Georgiana to the waiting coach, knowing he would drag out their goodbyes if he did not.It is less than a se’nnight until she is mine, he thought to himself.
Elizabeth excused herself for the evening, as did Lady Matlock, but Richard and the Earl retired to his study for a glass of brandy. “What do you suppose is behind this rush to the altar?” Lord Matlock asked his son.
“Mr Bennet gave Darcy no indication of why they should marry quickly or why Elizabeth should not return if she were notmarried. Mrs Bennet was unaware of gossip about her daughter when I spoke with her. The youngest is an unrepentant flirt; it is possible she could be in trouble, and they hope Elizabeth’s marriage will offer the family some protection. However, it seems more likely that Aunt Catherine is somehow behind this. If she knew or suspected Darcy sent the carriage that carried Elizabeth to London, she would have shown up here by now, so I believe she does not know where Elizabeth is and is making threats, possibly even blackmailing or threatening Bennet. She would have had to work fast, but it would explain why he was so pleased Darcy offered for her and does not want her to return unmarried.”
“I also suspect Catherine,” the earl said. “Were you able to speak to anyone who will keep you notified of any gossip in Meryton?”
“I spoke to several people at Longbourn and in Meryton who promised to send word about any gossip concerning Miss Bennet or the Bennet family in general,” Richard replied.
“Good,” the earl said as he finished his drink, then stood. “Good night, Richard. I have no doubt we will find out soon enough.”
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Darcy sent a note to his great-uncle and directed his staff to forward any response to him at Matlock House before he and Georgiana left to break their fasts with their family. While they dined, they made plans for the day: the ladies would shop on Bond Street with Richard and Darcy escorting them, and Darcy would add Elizabeth to the accounts where Georgiana regularly shopped. He hoped to accompany her to Hatchards and add her to his account there but doubted there would be time as he had errands of his own to accomplish, including meeting with his solicitor and having a particular ring from the Darcy collection cleaned and checked to present it to Elizabeth later in the day.
To her surprise, Elizabeth almost enjoyed the visit to the modiste, as Lady Matlock’s understated style and the modiste’s suggestions complemented Elizabeth’s colouring and figure. She always dreaded such visits with her mother as they included a ridiculous number of measurements and pins and many arguments over lace and other nonsense. However, she thought she would not mind repeating that day’s experience.
Rather quickly, Lady Matlock ordered quite a few dresses and gowns for Elizabeth, including partially completed gowns suitable for her wedding and the ball to be held in their honour. They were part of another order that had been cancelled, and the colours and styles were perfect for Elizabeth. The modiste promised to have the wedding gown ready for a final fitting the next morning and delivery to Matlock House in the afternoon. Several other dresses from the cancelled order complimented Elizabeth very well and needed only minor adjustments; these would be delivered to Darcy House as they were finished.
With their shopping finished for the day, the ladies headed to the tea shop to meet the gentlemen before returning to Matlock House. Elizabeth was about to sit at a table with the rest of her party when they heard the familiar and unwelcome voice of Caroline Bingley. “Miss Eliza, whatever are you doing in London?”
She glanced at the ladies seated around her with a questioning gaze. At a nod from Lady Matlock, she returned the greeting. “Miss Bingley, I am shopping with friends this morning.”
“Oh, Miss Darcy!” Miss Bingley cried in a condescending tone. “I did not see you there. It has been such a long time since I have seen you.” Then, looking between the two women, she spoke again in a disdainful voice. “Since when did you become friends with Miss Darcy, Miss Eliza? How ever could you meet such elevated company in Hertfordshire?”
“We met recently in London and have become rather fast friends,” Elizabeth answered. As Lady Matlock was now standing, Elizabeth saw Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam near the door and spoke again. “You must excuse us, Miss Bingley; we are leaving now.” They all rose and began to walk towards the door, leaving Caroline behind.
Caroline recognised the Countess of Matlock and hoped Miss Darcy would introduce her. It galled her that the detestable Eliza Bennet was in company with that lady while she, who possessed an education from the best seminary, could not even obtain an introduction. Peering around to see Mr Darcy himself at the door, she hesitated, remembering he threatened to cut her if she approached him or his sister after her attempt to compromise him and his refusal to marry her at Netherfield. She knew she risked a public cut if she spoke, but if he were keeping company with the likes of that Bennet chit, surely he would not cut her, would he? After all, as a wealthy tradesman’s daughter, she was of a much higher station than Eliza Bennet, wasn’t she? She decided to risk it.
Following the other ladies, Miss Bingley arrived at the door just behind them and frowned when she saw Eliza Bennet on one of Darcy’s arms and Georgiana on the other, leaving no open arm for her to grasp. “Mr Darcy! It has simply been an age…” she cried but stopped abruptly as he glared at her with contempt before deliberately turning his back to her. She immediately heard murmurs at the direct cut on the street and in the tea shop. She turned to re-enter the shop despite the stares and amused titters of the other patrons, but her sister, Mrs Hurst, who warned her against approaching Elizabeth Bennet, met her at the door, shook her head at her sister’s actions, and escorted her to their carriage. Once home, she suggested to her husband they leave London for a time, and they determined to depart for his father’s estate the next day. They would leave Caroline at an aunt’s home along the way, and Charles could determine what to do with her, as it was clear she could not remain in London.
Lady Matlock congratulated Elizabeth and Darcy for their handling of Miss Bingley. She steadfastly avoided being introduced to Miss Bingley, but Charles Bingley had been a goodfriend to her nephew for many years, and she was as puzzled and upset as William by his participation in the compromise attempt that led to the termination of their friendship.
“I can scarcely believe the nerve of that woman,” Darcy growled as they entered the carriage. “I cannot believe she approached me after what transpired with her and her brother. And for her to disparage you, Elizabeth, is ridiculous. The woman is a tradesman’s daughter; does she not understand that she ranks below the daughter of a gentleman? Has she forgotten that her dowry is gone? I certainly want nothing to do with her or her brother after what they attempted.”
The group decided to return to Matlock House for refreshments since they left the tea shop before they could order. The encounter with Miss Bingley soured the idea of continued shopping, although William still hoped to take Elizabeth to the bookstore soon. Upon their arrival, the butler handed a letter to Mr Darcy. “This is the note from my great uncle,” he said. “If you will excuse me momentarily, I will read my letter in Uncle’s study.”
A few minutes later, he joined them in the drawing room and accepted a cup of tea before sitting next to Elizabeth and whispering to her. Her eyes widened, and then she smiled at him. Knowing everyone in the room was observing them, he quickly answered the unspoken question. “The licence will be messengered to Darcy House tomorrow morning so we may marry any time after that. The Gardiners should arrive at home this afternoon or tomorrow, and as soon as we speak with them, we can set a time and date for the wedding,” he said before turning to Elizabeth. “My love, did you have a specific day in mind for our wedding?”
She blushed at the endearment spoken so easily in front of his family. “The modiste had a dress ready that needed only minor alterations to be perfect for me. The order was cancelled due to the family going into mourning, and I feel terrible for whoever ordered it, although it will work out perfectly for us. It will be ready tomorrow afternoon. Would you prefer to marry on Saturday or wait until the following week?” Elizabeth asked.
“Let us plan the wedding to take place Saturday morning,” Lady Matlock interjected. “William, have you arranged for the bishop to officiate the ceremony, or is that a matter you have yet to address?”
