“And so you are, my girl. He is a very fortunate man to have married a woman as amiable as she is beautiful.”
Mrs. Gardiner directed her attention toward Elizabeth. “And you, Lizzy? Does your Mr. Darcy also treat you like a delicate treasure?”
Elizabeth answered with a merry laugh. “No, ma’am. At Rosings Park, he discovered my friends and me out running one morning while dressed in trousers.”
Elizabeth covered her eyes. “I was a fright, Aunt Maddie, for my hair had escaped its pins and my clothing clung to me from the exertion. I may even have had perspiration upon my brow.” Her expression was comical.
Mrs. Gardiner’s brows rose. “No, my dear, I imagine he fell in love with you at that very moment. He must have found you irresistible.”
Both ladies laughed as Elizabeth grimaced.
“Never mind, my dear. When shall you marry?”
“His aunt passed away on the ninth of November. The Countess of Matlock declared he need wait only six weeks, but he warned me his uncle may prove disagreeably stubborn and insist upon a full six months.”
“That is unfortunate, Lizzy. I am sorry your marriage must suffer such a delay.”
“It is well, Aunt Maddie. Mr. Darcy does not intend to wait longer than two months, so I may become a married woman by the middle of January.”
“He is a very wealthy man, Elizabeth. I must take you shopping while you remain here. It would never do for you to appear dressed like a humble country girl.”
“Georgiana wrote that the Countess intends to dress me like a princess in order to ward off the criticisms of the high sticklers.”
“Does she intend to pass you off as more than you are, Lizzy?”
“No, Aunt. Mr. Darcy informed her he would not permit her to go so far. She merely wishes to muddy the waters, and with Jane married so advantageously, she believes society will assume I possess greater connections and fortune than I truly do.”
Mrs. Gardiner frowned. “Lizzy, this may go very poorly if the truth becomes known.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, I agree, and so does Mr. Darcy, but his aunt remains determined. I believe the Countess has enjoyed her own way for so many years that she will brook no opposition.”
“Well, my girl, I wish you the best. When do you go shopping?”
Elizabeth reached into her reticule and withdrew a letter. Her eyes ran down the page to the paragraph written in his own hand.
“Lady Helen intends to collect me on the thirteenth. She is very elegant, but her taste leans toward the matronly. I hope she possesses an eye for fashion suited to a woman of my age.”
“If you discover otherwise, you must speak plainly, for you shall move among the very flower of high society, and the women who have long sought Mr. Darcy’s affections will greet you with sharpened knives.”
Elizabeth sighed again, this time more heavily. “I do wish we were already married and hidden away at his country estate. I have no experience of fashionable society, and I fear I may reflect poorly upon him.”
“You must tell the Countess so. Perhaps she may hire a master of deportment to instruct you.”
“Yes, that is precisely what I must do lest I bring shame upon my intended.”
Lady Helen’s temper had worn thin. When had Fitzwilliam grown so obstinate? He had refused every social engagement for which she had secured invitations. Not even an intimate musical evening at Lady Sophia’s home could entice him, despite Miss Honeyfield’s presence among the principal performers. He had once bestowed upon her a most flattering degree of attention, and any sensible man would have pursued the attachment further, for the chit possessed beauty, wealth, and connections beyond reproach.
But there was no remedy for it now. Her nephew had fixed his affections upon the little milkmaid from Hertfordshire, and the burden had fallen upon Lady Helen to wrap the imprudent match in clean linen before the ton caught scent of it
Her nerves tightened at the sound of a carriage drawing up before the front entrance. A few minutes later, Miss Bennet and Georgiana entered the drawing room, followed by her insufferably mulish nephew.
When the niceties had been got over, Lady Helen addressed Mr. Darcy.
“Nephew, you will excuse us. We have a great deal to accomplish today.”
“Yes, Aunt Helen. I shall leave you to it. My carriage remains at your disposal for the day. May I inquire when you expect to return?”
“Not before five this afternoon. You are dismissed, sir.”
