Turning to Mr. Bingley, he said, “You have the list of repairs that should be made at Netherfield Park; if you chooseto purchase the estate, the cost of those repairs should be considered when setting the purchase price.”
Chapter Ninety-Seven
Elizabeth was delighted to see two letters next to her breakfast plate – one from the Viscountess Worthing, or so the elaborate seal proclaimed, and the other from Anne de Bourgh.
Dearest Eliza,
If you could see where I now live, you would indeed feel, as do I, that I have fallen into some sort of delightful dream! The Matlock Estate is grander than anything I ever imagined, and my own suite is three rooms plus a dressing room!
The Countess – or “Mother” as she now wishes to be called – hired a lady’s maid for me from London. Her name is Durham, and she is quite strict with matters of dress and coiffure. It is important, she insists, that I look the part of the Viscountess at all times. Unspoken here is the concern that my dear Reggie certainly doesnotlook the part of the Viscount at all times, much to his valet’s despair! Reggie and I have a good laugh about it, for neither of us care to look so very elegant every day; it is far too much effort.
My husband is everything wonderful, Eliza. He does work several hours each day on his History of England, but that is fine, as I have many duties to which I must attend on theestate. We see a good deal of one another despite his work and my duties, and he plans little surprises for me, like roses on the bedside table when I wake up. Or orange juice for my breakfast, squeezed that morning from oranges Reggie selected himself from the orangery!
I have never before felt so loved, and so loving in return.
Of course, the Earl and Countess will return here to the estate once the Season is over. Reggie says that he thinks his mother and I will get along quite well even living in the same house, but if that is not the case, there are several other estates to which we may relocate.
That said, though, Reggie assures me that you will soon be living close by, as he is certain that his cousin intends to propose to you quite soon. Having you nearby would certainly dissuade me from wishing to live elsewhere. Indeed, by the time you receive this letter, you may have already received the hoped-for proposal! You must write and tell me!
Your dear friend,
Charlotte
Elizabeth was laughing out loud in her delight by the time she finished the letter, and passed it around the table so that everyone might share in such good news.
Dear Lizzy,
I can never thank you enough for advising me to go to London with the Matlocks! You were quite right about everything! Aunt Eleanor has taken me to her own modiste, who took one look at the gown I was wearing (one of my mother’s choosing) and nearly fainted inhorror. Aunt Eleanor and I did our best to contain our amusement at her reaction, but it was no use, we both started first to smile and then finally roared with laughter.
The modiste had something ready-made that required only a few quick alterations, and she was insistent that I wait for her to make those few quick adjustments so that I might wear it out of her shop, rather than the dress I had worn when I arrived. “For,” she said, “I would not want anyone to see you wearing anything so very dreadful when leaving my premises!”
Packages arrive nearly every day to Matlock House, and Aunt’s maid is kept quite busy unpacking for me. Aunt found a lady’s maid for Charlotte, as you may have heard, a rather terrifying creature, in my opinion, and Aunt says I must have one as well. But I insist on choosing her myself! I do not want another Mrs. Jenkinson hovering over me!
Aunt has hired a dancing master, to begin next week. I admit to some anxiety regarding the dancing. I have always considered myself rather clumsy, but I hope to at least master a country dance or two.
Aunt says again and again how very happy they are to have Reggie married! They love Charlotte like a daughter, and truly could not be happier!
Write to me! I must know what is happening in Meryton!
With love,
Anne
Elizabeth finished her breakfast quickly so as to write to her friends with the wonderful news of the upcoming double wedding!
Chapter Ninety-Eight
Mrs. Bennet was doing her best to host a wedding breakfast that was worthy of the excellent matches her two daughters had made. She could not expect to compete with Lady Lucas’ wedding breakfast for Charlotte Lucas, now the Viscountess Worthing, but she certainly did not want the neighbourhood to realise the full extent of Longbourn’s financial difficulties. Again and again, she made lists of needed ingredients and added up prices, and she was ready to throw up her hands in defeat. She could not begin to understand how she would manage anything that would be good enough.
Her surprise and gratification can be imagined, then, when Mrs. Hurst came to her and begged – actually begged! – to be permitted to host the wedding breakfast for her brother. Mrs. Bennet made a pretense of reluctance, but very soon allowed herself to be persuaded. It had been Mr. Bingley who had pressed his older sister to make the offer, but Mrs. Bennet never knew it, and thus had nothing but kind words for Mrs. Hurst thereafter.
Longbourn’s restricted finances had made it impossible for the brides to order new gowns, but Mrs. Alcott helped them remake the best of their existing gowns. Both Jane and Elizabeth were delighted with the results.
***
Jane and Elizabeth spent a good many nights whispering under the covers about what married life would be like. They had already received “The Talk” from Mrs. Bennet; but there were few surprises. As Mary had pointed out to her aunt, living on a farm had a way of educating young ladies on the relations of males and females.
They wondered what that would be like, of course, but they also wondered when – or even if! – their hands would stop tingling, their hearts would stop racing, and they would stop the endless blushing. For, as Elizabeth pointed out, it would be most inconvenient to have one’s heart racing all day long.
