“Not as tall as Reginald,” Charlotte responded.
“True enough, true enough! Tell me, Miss Lucas, do you play?”
“I do, yes.”
“And dance, and sew, and all the usual things?”
“I believe I possess the usual feminine accomplishments, Lady Catherine,” Charlotte replied, evenly.
“I understand you are well-acquainted with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have brought her here at your behest.”
“I am very grateful, Lady Catherine,” Charlotte said, bowing her head. “Eliza is my very best friend, and I could not imagine being married without her by my side. Thank you for bringing her to me.”
“Do you know, at one point, I thought of Reginald for my own daughter, but as he is rather strange, I think Darcy a better choice,” Lady Catherine said, conversationally.
The Countess scoffed. “Darcy will never marry Anne, Catherine, and we are very fortunate that Charlotte Lucas finds our son delightful and original, rather than strange. In any case,” she cleared her throat and addressed Charlotte. “Reggie wishes me to tell you, Charlotte, that he would have very much liked to visit you today, but this troublesome tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding prevents him.”
Charlotte decided she had had enough of Lady Catherine’s scrutiny, and she sat down near her future mother-in-law. Smiling, she replied, “I am surprised he was willing to agree to the tradition.”
“It was not easy to get him to do so, I admit,” the Countess laughed. “Only when he was reminded that after tomorrow he would spend all his days with you, was he willing to be patient and wait.”
Charlotte blushed. “He is very sweet.”
“He is, he is! How wonderful that you see that!” the Countess was delighted. “Oh, my dear, I simply could not be happier!”
Chapter Ninety
As Anne had told Elizabeth, she had been to Hunsford, but always under the supervision of Mrs. Jenkinson, who had been directed by Lady Catherine not to allow Anne to make her own decisions as to what to purchase. Thus, the shops that lined Meryton’s main street, small as they were, entranced Anne for the simple reason that Mrs. Jenkinson was mercifully absent, and so Anne could actually buy something for herself. Her reticule, which she had carried with her to Meryton, was stuffed full of notes and coins.
Elizabeth, eyes wide upon beholding the contents of Anne’s reticule, whispered, “Anne, you did return the three thousand pounds to your mother’s safe, did you not?”
“I did, of course, Lizzy, as you asked. Why do you – oh, I see! No, this money is my pin money, which I receive every quarter but am never permitted to spend. Oh, Lord, look at that lovely shawl! I must have it.”
Inside the shop, Anne saw so many lovely fabrics and ribbons that she stood, entranced. Mrs. Alcott, who served as Meryton’s modiste, frowned upon seeing Anne’s gaudy dress and came to her at once. “May I help you, Miss?”
Anne turned to her at once. “I need a gown for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!?”Mrs. Alcott raised her eyebrows. She turned to Elizabeth in unspoken appeal.
“It takes several days to make a gown, Anne,” Elizabeth said.
Anne shook her head, determinedly. “No, I must have it for tomorrow.” She opened her reticule. “How much? I need it delivered to Longbourn before breakfast tomorrow.”
“Mrs. Alcott, perhaps there is something you were making for someone else that might be adjusted for Miss de Bourgh?” Elizabeth suggested. “My friend is willing to pay extra for the difficulty involved.”
“Well, I suppose some arrangement could be made,” Mrs. Alcott said.
Kitty and Lydia watched, open-mouthed, as a price was agreed upon and paid in advance. Lydia murmured to Elizabeth, “She is quite rich, is she not?”
“Quite,” Elizabeth whispered back.
“You will need shoes to match, Anne,” Kitty suggested. “And a nice new bonnet!”
“Oh, I shall, of course! Where do I get them?”
What followed was a veritable frenzy of shopping. Kitty and Lydia were each presented with a new bonnet, new gloves, and more ribbons than they had ever imagined. Both were utterly delirious with joy, and thought Anne de Bourgh the most wonderful friend imaginable.
Elizabeth was offered gifts as well, but she could not feel easy about Anne spending her pin money on the Bennets, and so declined, and all of Anne’s urgings could not sway her.
