***
That evening, at Netherfield, Colonel Fitzwilliam paid a visit on his cousin after dinner. “So, you will come to London after the wedding,” he began.
“Yes, as you well know,” Mr. Darcy replied, a question in his tone.
“I wondered if there had been any thought to having one of the sisters join you there.”
“Jane will be coming to London as well. Richard, you know all this already.” Mr. Darcy sounded exasperated. “Will you get to the point?”
The Colonel pretended to examine the heel of one of his boots. “I thought you might wish to invite Miss Mary to Darcy House.”
“Miss Mary?” Mr. Darcy was all astonishment.
“Well, to keep Georgiana company.”
“But that is what Elizabeth will – oh, I see!” Mr. Darcy was surprised.
“Took you long enough.”
“If you could just speak plainly, I would comprehend a good deal faster. You wish me to invite Miss Mary to join us in London; is that right?”
“Yes.”
“And you wish to claim that this is for Georgiana’s benefit, not your own.”
“I would prefer that, yes. And I think you owe me this much.”
“This much and a good deal more. Consider it done, Richard.”
Chapter Sixty-Eight
January 14th, 1812
Jane consumed a small breakfast on the morning of the wedding, but Elizabeth could eat nothing. Mrs. Bennet tried to coax her with buttered toast and jam, but she shook her head.
“You will be sorry if you pass out from hunger,” Mrs. Bennet warned, but to no avail. “Tea, at least,” she insisted, and she managed to get a cup of tea with a good deal of sugar into her second daughter.
“Are you nervous, Lizzy?” Lydia asked.
“Not nervous, exactly.”
“What, then?”
“Just…a bit jumpy, I suppose.”
“So, nervous,” Lydia insisted.
Elizabeth had to laugh at that. “Very well, then; yes, I am nervous. All of Meryton will be watching, not to mention…”
“Not to mention the Earl and the Countess.”
“Right. It will not make a good impression if I trip and fall flat on my face.”
“Papa will hold you up, Lizzy,” Jane promised. “You have nothing to fear.”
***
When the two girls finally walked downstairs, arm in arm, Mr. Bennet sucked in his breath. Had he ever before appreciated how beautiful his two girls were? Jane was in blue, her favourite colour, the hem and neckline beautifully embroidered with pink roses. Lizzy was in green, her favourite colour, the bosom and the sleeves decorated with silver leaves. Both wore crowns of flowers, which the Gardiners had brought from London.
