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“Do you know how long it takes for a baby to be born after conception, Lizzy?”
“Ah! Well, for sheep it is about half a year, and for cows about nine months, so I would guess it is somewhere in between?”
Aunt Gardiner laughed. “I didn’t know that, but it looks like we are closer to cows. Do you know what happens if a baby is born out of wedlock?”
“It is illegitimate?”
“Correct. So, we don’t want that happening. Understand?”
“Yes, Aunt. But surely Mr Darcy is too ill for anything of that nature?”
“I cannot say, Lizzy. It is certainly not a topic that Mr Gardiner would broach with Mr Darcy. As his bride-to-be, you take him for better or for worse. Nonetheless, liberties are often taken during the betrothal period that result in many babes arriving only a few months into the marriage. In the case of a long betrothal, you cannot be too careful.”
“Yes, Aunt,” said Lizzy, belatedly blushing. Finishing her coffee, she feigned a yawn and declared herself ready for bed.
Understanding her niece’s embarrassment, Mrs Gardiner wished her goodnight, but as Lizzy left the parlour, she reiterated her earlier advice: “And don’t forget to clear the air about that other matter! Remember, you can still cry off!”
A fourth bunch of flowers arrived after breakfast on Thursday, and when Mrs Gardiner saw these were wild primroses, she knew Mr Darcy was getting desperate. The accompanying note begged Elizabeth to take tea at Darcy House after her shopping trip with his sister. Mrs Gardiner had been expecting this. She endorsed the visit, hoping Lizzy would not flinch from putting the questions to her betrothed that needed to be asked.
When the Darcy carriage arrived promptly at midday, Elizabeth emerged wearing her best dress and bonnet, generally reserved for Sundays. Georgie was in high gig. It was a merry party of three that wended its way to Bond Street. Elizabeth was a little unsure what was required of her. Her aunt had explained that all her purchases would be added to Miss Georgiana’s account until after the wedding, when an account would be opened for her. Uncertain what she should buy, Elizabeth had wisely decided to let Georgiana be the arbiter of her purchases.
The early afternoon was spent at Georgiana’s modiste, Madame Fournier. Upon Georgie’s explaining the situation to Madame, Elizabeth’s measurements were taken and entered into a new book that would be devoted to her orders. Lizzy found the styles initially suggested from the fashion journals to have more in common with her mother’s taste, but once the modiste discovered that Miss Bennet favoured plain styles, she sketched more tailored creations to be made up with beautiful fabrics. Princess Brunhilda, who also wore plain styles because of her great height, nodded her approval. When Elizabeth chose a beautiful coffee-coloured silk for one of the gowns, Georgiana enthusiastically ordered a dress in the same fabric, although with more frills and furbelows.
Satisfied with their orders, the ladies decided to walk the short distance to Gunter’s to purchase the treats for afternoon tea—to pay for their sins before they should commit them, laughed the princess—leaving their carriage to follow in their wake. They had just reached the corner of Bruton Street when a white barouche-landau drew abreast of them. Recognising it immediately from her first trip to Bond Street, Elizabeth prepared herself for an encounter with the Bingley sisters.
“Why, Princess Brunhilda, Georgie!” said Caroline. “Imagine running into you here!”
Having recognised the princess first because of her great height and Miss Darcy second on account of her hat, Miss Bingley’s gaze shifted to their companion, but upon recognising Elizabeth, a look of startled surprise registered in Caroline’s eyes before they quickly flitted away. No further salutation was forthcoming.
Elizabeth mentally rolled her eyes at Miss Bingley’s impolite behaviour. It seemed there were some things not well taught at exclusive ladies’ boarding schools.
“Are you heading back to the Darcy townhouse?” asked Louisa, leaning on the blue silk upholstery and toying with the silver fringing.
“Come! Let us give you a lift!” said Caroline.
“Thank you, Caroline!” said Georgiana. “We decided to stretch our legs. Our own carriage is following us.”
“Am I correct in assuming you are on your way to Gunter’s? Louisa and I were just going there. Do let us treat you!”
“Thank you, you are most kind, Caroline, but we did not intend to sit down. My brother is expecting us at home.”
“Oh! How is poor Darcy?” asked Caroline. “Much improved, I hope? Charles said he saw your brother out and about in his carriage the other day.”
The reason for the sudden re-animation of Caroline’s solicitude for Mr Darcy after cruelly abandoning him in Europe became apparent to Elizabeth.
“He is getting stronger, thank you, Caroline,” replied Georgiana, “but is currently not well enough for visitors.”
Caroline’s eyes flicked back disdainfully to Elizabeth.
“I beg your pardon,” said Georgie. “May I introduce you to my friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who I soon hope to call my sister?”
Caroline looked horribly blank for a moment as she contemplated how Miss Darcy could possibly lower herself by an alliance with a mere country squire. But upon recalling the entail on the Longbourn estate, she recollected with a shudder that the Bennet sisters did not have a brother. Miss Bingley’s eyes flashed as her face turned alternately red then white when the implication of Miss Darcy’s pronouncement finally dawned on her.
“We met in Hertfordshire,” said Caroline, still not deigning to look at Elizabeth. “Please send your brother my felicitations.”
Without another word, Miss Bingley signalled the driver, and the handsome equipage moved off down Bond Street with the hats of the sisters drawn close together as they discussed the scarcely credible information that had just been imparted to them. They seemed to have forgotten their wish to attend Gunter’s.
Georgiana, who was rarely dealt a snub, looked at the princess and Elizabeth in turn in astonishment. “What extraordinary behaviour!” she gasped.
