A Most Civil Proposal (26 page)

Fitzwilliam laughed in good humour before both men bade the ladies farewell.

* * * * *

As Darcy and his cousin entered the small sitting room where Lord and Lady Matlock sat at tea, he could only hope that this interview would go more favourably than his meeting with Mr. Bennet. During the drive, he had acquainted Fitzwilliam of that uncomfortable session, and his cousin had clucked in disapproval at Mr. Bennet’s thoughtlessness.

But now Darcy had to deal with this interview, and as he greeted his uncle and aunt, he was unable to predict their reaction. Lord Matlock took seriously his position as head of the family, and he had often urged Darcy to have a care when choosing a wife, paying attention to both fortune and the connections of her family. He had at times remarked that Anne De Bourgh would fit those categories handsomely, but he had not urged her selection with any great fervency. His wife was more of a possible ally than her husband even though she herself came from a wealthy and landed family. Her good sense and optimistic nature had proved invaluable in raising the four Fitzwilliam brothers, three still living, and the single Fitzwilliam sister, all of them inheriting in full their father’s decisive and dominant nature.

No wonder Richard has made a good soldier
, thought Darcy,
and no wonder his brother Henry had made a considerable name for himself as a captain of one of His Majesty’s frigates. Their competitive family life well prepared them for open warfare with the French.

When both Darcy and Fitzwilliam had been served tea, Darcy addressed his uncle. “Sir, I have the honour to inform you that I am engaged to be married.”

Lord Matlock paused with his cup part way to his mouth. “Indeed? I have heard nothing. This is rather surprising.”

“What else could be expected?” murmured Fitzwilliam, and Darcy did not even let his irritation show. He had expected nothing else, and it was at least a relief that no part of the gossip in the paper had spread to Matlock.

“Who is the young lady?” asked his more practical aunt.

“She is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a landowner in Hertfordshire. I met her when I was visiting my friend Bingley last autumn.”

“Oh, yes, I remember Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Matlock. “A very cheery young man. I just read that he was also newly engaged; to who was it . . .” Her eyes widened as she made the connection.

“Yes, to Miss Jane Bennet, Elizabeth’s sister.”

“How extraordinary,” said Lady Matlock, pouring herself another cup of tea.

Her husband frowned. “I do not know of this young lady, Darcy. But I remember that a friend remarked of the announcement of Bingley’s engagement that his intended had no fortune and her family was completely unknown.”

Darcy nodded. “That is true. Her father is a gentleman who owns a small estate, and Miss Elizabeth is essentially undowered.”

“A fortune hunter, then,” Lord Matlock stated firmly.

He was startled by the hoot of laughter from his son. “Hardly, Father.” Fitzwilliam laughed. “I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth!”

The frown never left Lord Matlock’s face as he turned his attention to his bewildering son. “I know of no way in which you could be sure, Richard,” he said sternly. “I remember one of my friends at Cambridge was engaged to the most charming young lady, came from a good family, everything looked perfect. Only shortly before the marriage did it come out that her father had essentially gambled away the family fortune and that the daughter was desperately trying to secure my friend’s wealth through marriage. But he would not believe it and married the lady, only to find out the truth when it was too late. An utter disaster — she sucked him dry.”

“Father,” his son said, leaning forward and fixing his lordship’s gaze. “I cannot speak of the details, for it is a private matter, and you will have to take my word on this, but I know that such is not the case for Miss Elizabeth. I told Georgiana as much yesterday.”

Lord Matlock looked at his son in consideration, but was disturbed by a soft laugh from his wife. “Give it up, James. If you had to pick a man to judge a woman’s heart, you could do much worse than your son. And, in any case, it does not matter. Look at Darcy! Can you not see it in his eyes? After all these years, he has at last made a choice to marry. He is eight and twenty, after all. If he does not marry the woman of his choosing, he may well not marry at all.”

“Of course, he will marry,” said Lord Matlock. “He must, to secure an heir for the Darcy fortune.”

“Georgiana could provide an heir as easily as I,” said Darcy. “And I might submit that I need neither fortune nor name from the woman I marry, for I have a sufficiency of both. I will further offer that I would rather not marry than to marry without love, and Miss Elizabeth is the only young woman I have ever loved or likely will.”

“Believe him, father,” offered Fitzwilliam. “I know the lady, and she is indeed a good match for him in the qualities that truly matter.”

Lord Matlock looked at his son closely and he appeared to be completely serious, with none of his customary irony in his demeanour. At last, his lordship said, “Perhaps you are right, son. But even if you are, there still remains the matter of Anne. The assumption in the family has long been that only Anne’s health prevented her marriage to Darcy. How will she take this?”

“She already knows, or at least has guessed,” said Fitzwilliam.

Darcy nodded. “I assure you that Anne will not be hurt by this. She and I have spoken many times of Lady Catherine’s fixed and oft-repeated determination that we marry, but that determination is my aunt’s alone. Neither Anne nor I have ever desired a closer attachment than cousin, but we did not openly dispute it in order to avoid overt disagreement.”

“A wise thought,” murmured Fitzwilliam, “I could escape to Spain and have only Bonaparte’s legions to deal with. Scotland would not be far enough for you to escape our aunt’s wrath.”

Lady Matlock had to stifle a smile, her amusement stirred by both her son’s irreverence and her husband’s predictable glare directed toward that same son.

“I have dispatched letters to my other relatives, including Lady Catherine,” Darcy continued, “and the engagement will be announced in the
Times
. I have no doubt that my aunt will be upset, and I considered travelling to Rosings to inform her in person. I decided against it due to my belief that she would not refrain from openly abusing Elizabeth. This I absolutely will not tolerate, which would result in an open rupture of our relationship.”

Lord Matlock made no response to this, because, while he loved his sister, he could not deceive himself about her temperament. She was so used to getting her own way that she would indeed do just as Darcy predicted. An open insult of that sort could not be ignored, and Darcy was likely correct in his estimation of the result.

For his part, Darcy had decided against mentioning either the gossip at Rosings that had prompted this chain of events or the published item in the
Chronicle
. He anticipated the announcement in the
Times
would be sufficient to kill any further interest in that disreputable organ.

“Uncle, I will be hosting a small dinner party tomorrow night for the Miss Bennets, their family, and Bingley. I would be honoured if you and my aunt would attend.”

Lord Matlock was reluctant to accede to this request. He knew nothing of the lady beyond his son’s assurances, and he was desirous of a private talk with Richard before accepting an invitation that would be tantamount to official approval of the match. While he was trying to phrase his rejection, however, his wife disturbed his thoughts.

“James,” she said softly, putting her hand on his arm and leaning closer. “Remember, it is Darcy’s choice here — not ours.”

“But Sophie, if we attend, it will be the same as saying that we approve of the match, and I am not sure I am ready to do so at this time.”

His wife just looked at him, not saying anything, but thirty years of marriage enabled him to read her thoughts as clearly as if she had spoken them aloud. At length, he sighed in defeat. “Very well, Darcy, we would be pleased to attend.”

“Thank you,” said Darcy in relief. “Would seven o’clock be convenient?”

“Quite convenient. We will see you then. Richard, if you would be so good as to stay behind, I will provide transportation to return you to Darcy’s house later.”

“Certainly, Father,” Fitzwilliam responded easily, turning his head to give Darcy a wink where his father could not see. “I will see you later in the evening, Cousin.”

Darcy bid the three of them farewell, somewhat troubled knowing his uncle’s purpose, but that matter would have to be left to Richard’s discretion.

* * * * *

Mrs. Gardiner called on Darcy’s townhouse shortly after the gentlemen left in order to assist Elizabeth in ordering a new gown for her wedding. She was doubtful that the task could be accomplished in the available time, but she suggested that they might go first to one of her own favourite shops. Georgiana was reluctant to contradict Mrs. Gardiner, but the older woman recognized that she had something to offer and was quick to solicit her opinion.

“I think I know a shop that might complete Elizabeth’s gown in time,” she said timidly. “I have had several dresses made there, and I know that others have commissioned dresses in very short periods of time.”

When she named the shop, Mrs. Gardiner was familiar with it. “I have heard of them, but they are frightfully expensive for even the most ordinary items.”

“My brother was adamant that Elizabeth should spend as much as she needed,” offered Georgiana triumphantly. “And he said I should ignore her protests against it!”

Mrs. Gardiner laughed as Elizabeth turned red and looked away. “That does sound like Elizabeth. We must be careful to follow your brother’s advice, Miss Darcy.”

The owner of the shop recognized Georgiana immediately, and upon being informed that Elizabeth was to marry Mr. Darcy on Saturday and that a new gown was desired in time for the wedding, was most insistent that the task could be accomplished in time.

“If a suitable dress and fabric can be selected today,” he told them, “I can have the gown ready for a first fitting on Wednesday evening and a final fitting on Thursday. We will have it delivered to your hands by no later than Friday afternoon.”

Elizabeth started to ask how expensive this would be, but her aunt stopped her by laying her hand on her arm. Georgiana was obviously in her element when shopping for clothes, and she quickly arranged with the owner for a room to be set aside for the ladies and a variety of different styles and materials made available for their perusal. Georgiana also gave instructions that all bills were to be sent to her brother, and that all necessary accoutrements — stays, chemise, stockings, garters, and slippers — were to be included. The owner was solicitous and quickly escorted the ladies to a room with several couches and low tables where they made themselves comfortable while the various selections were prepared.

Soon, a procession of different dress styles and materials were presented for their inspection. Tea was served as the seemingly unending stream of choices left Elizabeth quickly bewildered by the variety. But Georgiana and Mrs. Gardiner made an alliance, recommending certain dresses and materials be left for examination while others were rejected as unsuitable. Elizabeth was inclined towards simplicity of style, and that was taken into account, but Georgiana proved an excellent judge of what was currently fashionable while Mrs. Gardiner proved an equally excellent judge of what styles would be most flattering on Elizabeth. Georgiana was unwavering that the cost of materials or sewing was of no significance for her new sister, and she would not even allow the subject to be brought up.

Soon a common ground between Georgiana’s fashion-oriented suggestions and Elizabeth’s desire for simplicity was found, and by four o’clock, an elegant gown to be made up in pale green silk had finally been selected. By five o’clock, all arrangements were complete, appointments made for fittings, and the carriage had been summoned. Before it was a quarter past the hour, the ladies were clattering back toward Darcy House, leaving Elizabeth feeling totally overwhelmed by the whole experience.

“I feel more exhausted than if I walked all the way back to Longbourn,” she complained. “I only sat on a couch and sipped tea and watched other people bring in items for my inspection, and I am completely done in!”

Georgiana laughed. “It was rather a whirlwind, but at least our task is accomplished. Or, at least,” she said slyly, “our main task, your wedding gown, is accomplished. Now we shall have to shop for the other things you will need to fill up your closet.”

“Georgiana,” Elizabeth pleaded, “have mercy! I am overwhelmed, and I demand that we do no more shopping for at least one day. Else I shall have to talk to your brother about Gretna Green!”

“But Elizabeth, you will need to shop for Pemberley also,” Georgiana teased. “It gets very cold in Derbyshire, and you will need fur-lined gloves, boots, cloaks, and bonnets, as well as any number of evening gowns for the opera, the theatre, balls, and dinners.”

“Gretna Green, Georgiana!” Elizabeth threatened, to general laughter in the carriage.

Chapter 19