Page 13 of Elizabeth’s Choice

“What is it, papa?” She asked.

He held one of her hands and lifted it up to spin her around in a circle. “Do not be afraid to be the beautiful woman you are, Lizzie, it is up to you to show your true self to those deserving of you, but remember that you are just as much a woman in trousers as you are in a skirt. The strongest men in history have been befelled by a beautiful woman and your intelligence as well as beauty is a powerful combination. You have confidence in who you are and it is now your choice to be seen how you wish, whether in a dress or a suit, and you can now afford to be honest to yourself about what you wish to do with your life. You are beautiful no matter what you wear and I encourage you to learn about what it takes to be a woman because it will help you to be even stronger.” He kissed her head and said, “I pray you do not give up on the idea of marriage so soon, and my one other piece of advice is to know when to ask for help. You are very wise for your age and I know you will figure out your life soon.”

“I hope so, papa. I do not feel so wise but am striving to learn. I will be very happy to put on my suit again tomorrow for my travels but have been considering wearing dresses more often than on Sundays. I made a new friend last month who is eager to help me dress more fashionably so I suppose I will be a student again but it will be in an uncharted territory!”

They both laughed and enjoyed their time together until it was the last dinner before Elizabeth was to depart back to London.

Mr. Bennet was content to have the entire family present around the table again and Mrs. Bennet was overjoyed about how her second daughter would be able to provide for their future, and Elizabeth found that she did not mind her family so much now, even with Mary’s eccentricity, and Kitty and Lydia’s thoughtlessness about anything in life except to capture husbands, especially officers who would be settling in the area for the half-year starting next month.

The following day, Elizabeth bid her family goodbye and left on the post back to Gracechurch Street, excited to plan for moving into Ashworth in October and to see Miss Darcy again soon. Any thoughts of the gallant Colonel Fitzwilliam and the amenable Mr. Darcy were pushed out of her mind but she dreamt of them both after her eyes closed and woke up more confused than ever, realising that perhaps her heart might be shifting, which was never expected nor desired.

Chapter 9

“Please allow me to introduce Mrs. Annesley,” Elizabeth smiled broadly at Mr. and Miss Darcy after entering the townhouse in Mayfair.

Miss Darcy responded happily, “It is good to finally meet you. Lizzie has spoken highly of you and told us stories of how you helped her through some of her difficulties.”

Mrs. Annesley laughed, “Miss Fairf… I mean, Captain Fairfax now, has had her share of growing pains but she has always been eager to learn and has succeeded where few women would dare dream. I am also prodigiously proud of her for her latest accomplishment. It is a rare sight but that she is donning a dress today and is considering learning how to play the pianoforte is completely new, and I believe you were the one who inspired her. I understand you play beautifully and hope to have a chance to hear you soon.”

Darcy offered the ladies to take their seats and asked with furrowed brows, “I believe we have met before, Mrs. Annesley. I recognise you but cannot recall how we are acquainted.”

She smiled as she answered, “You have an excellent memory, sir. Most ladies do not notice a companion and it is even rarer for gentlemen to remember me. You were just a young gentleman when we met about nine years ago when I was the companion to the Late Dowager Countess of Grey. I was with her for four years and then spent the next two with Lady Sterling before her marriage to Lord Sterling. I spent a year with my second daughter to help care for her children and then met Miss Elizabeth and we had four years together until my first daughter fell ill.”

Elizabeth held the older lady’s hand and explained, “Mrs. Annesley is actually my aunt’s sister. I do not believe I explained before that we are related. My mother’s brother who lives on Gracechurch Street, his wife is Madeline Gardiner and Mrs. Annesley was Henrietta Weston.”

“Weston!” Darcy exclaimed. “Yes, that is why I remember you. I heard Lady Grey speak of your being from Lambton and why I took notice of you. What a small world! I did not realise Mrs. Gardiner is also from the area.”

“That was one of the main reasons I believed Mrs. Annesley to be perfect to meet Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth stated, “since I heard about the grandeurs of Derbyshire and how much she loved Lambton. I had been thinking of visiting the county for a long time and am even considering looking for a house to perhaps take permanent residence there.”

Georgiana cheerfully chimed in about the beauty of Derbyshire and asked Mrs. Annesley several questions. While the two ladies were occupied in getting to know each other better, Elizabeth took notice of the sitting room in the grand townhouse and saw two small portraits on the mantle so she stood up to walk over to it. She saw an older gentleman’s and a lady’s faces and smiled, seeing the resemblance of the man to Mr. Darcy and the woman to Miss Darcy.

The master of the house walked towards her and said, “My father and mother, as you likely guessed. They spent most of their time in Derbyshire and rarely travelled to town. After my mother passed, my father never returned here. I suppose I am the opposite, rarely staying in Derbyshire because the house felt too big for just my sister and me, but with your visit and Mrs. Annesley joining us, it will be most welcome and Pemberley just might seem too small to house three accomplished ladies,” he smiled.

Elizabeth grinned as she replied, “We might drive you mad with our loud music and games, Mr. Darcy, and you might wish to quit it to return to London post haste. We will do our best to give you as much space as you need.”

“It will not be necessary at all and you would be most welcome to consider Pemberley your home while you are there,” he graciously commented. “Do you think Mrs. Annesley will be amenable to travel with us next week, then?”

She nodded her head, “I know she will be thrilled to have a position in your household and next week should be no trouble.”

He smiled again and after requesting to speak alone with Mrs. Annesley in his study, Elizabeth and Georgiana shared what happened during their week apart and made plans to see each other during the rest of this week.

After business matters were completed, Elizabeth kissed Georgian’s cheek before leaving, “I will see you tomorrow. I think I am more nervous to go to the modiste’s than any competitions I have been in!”

Georgiana giggled, “You look very well in your dress today and I will help you so you have nothing to worry about! I know you are used to wearing your suit in town and it will be a great project to help design a dress you will feel comfortable wearing more often. What fun we shall have, Lizzie!”

Elizabeth laughed and boarded the carriage with Mrs. Annesley and then departed for Cheapside.

Darcy asked his sister, “So, she will go to your modiste’s with you tomorrow?”

“Yes, and afterwards, the milliner’s, and then the cobbler’s. It shall be a full day of shopping, since Lizzie is seriously interested in learning the manners befitting a lady. I would love to have her order several dresses but she is so frugal that she wants only two for now. I hope we can find the best fabrics for her,” Georgiana explained.

Darcy cleared his throat and commanded, “Order a full dozen in every colour you like on her, Georgie. And whatever accoutrements and shoes she wants, order them as well. I owe another debt for her introduction to Mrs. Annesley and am too far behind in payment. A Darcy always pays his debt and I insist on it, but perhaps you can keep it a surprise until she arrives at Pemberley so she cannot refuse."

Georgiana clapped her hands in glee and embraced her brother, “Thank you, William! She will look so pretty for Richard when he comes to Pemberley in September and I hope she will change her mind about marrying him. He was right! I believe she is softening and I will teach her how to dance and play music and even embroider, if she wants to learn. But you must entertain her by riding out with her and surveying the lands and everything she enjoys doing out of doors. She still wants to teach archery but if she will wear a dress while doing it, it will be an incredible achievement!”

Darcy could only nod as he excused himself back to his study. He sat in his chair to look out the window to contemplate why Elizabeth would now want to become a true lady and guessed that it was to prepare herself to marry Richard. Although his cousin knew about his feelings for the woman, Darcy knew he himself could never marry Elizabeth, especially now knowing that she was related to a tradesman’s wife’s sister who would be Georgiana’s companion.

Darcy shook his head in disappointment and then made a list of items he needed to do before the week was out, with the first task being to compose a letter to Lord Grey about his late mother’s former companion.