The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (27 page)

Chapter
25

Elizabeth’s first few days at Matlock House were pleasantly spent. Lady Matlock
was correct in assuming the sisters would want to be together, and Jane was
quickly moved into the room next to Elizabeth’s. Each morning, they would have
breakfast with Lord and Lady Matlock, occasionally joined by Cyril, who was
hardly ever there, and then the ladies would go shopping with Mrs.
Gardiner. 
Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Matlock were friendly to each other, and the four of
them spent many happy hours looking at lace and fabric and choosing dresses
that flattered Jane’s coloring and figure.
Jane wanted to wear green for the wedding, but was convinced by the others that
blue was more appealing on her and brought out her eyes. They settled on a
decadent pattern to be done in blue with green trim and embellishments. Lady
Matlock had gotten them in to see her rather exclusive modiste, who was to make
the wedding gown. Mrs. Gardiner had been on a waiting list for an appointment
for several months, so she took the opportunity to purchase a new gown for the
occasion as well as a ball gown. 
Mr. Bennet had provided enough money for Jane’s wedding clothes and trousseau,
as well as two new gowns for Elizabeth and a new dress for the wedding, as she
was to stand up with Jane. Mrs. Gardiner was buying Jane two new nightgowns
with robes as a wedding gift, and offered to purchase another gown for
Elizabeth as well. 
Unfortunately, Elizabeth was not having much success. Most of her attention was
rightly focused on Jane, but she still needed to choose her own purchases. She
simply could not find a fabric that she liked from the modiste’s selection. It
was their third day of shopping; Jane had chosen three dresses for her
trousseau as well as the colors and pattern for her wedding dress, but she had
yet to find the accompanying fabric for it and was feeling the same level of
frustration as Elizabeth.
“I do not know why I simply cannot find the right thing!” Jane said
exasperatedly. She was quite uncharacteristically irritated.
“Perhaps I could help you better if I knew what you were looking for exactly?”
Elizabeth asked delicately.
“Oh, Lizzy! I know I am being difficult. I cannot describe it properly, I
simply know that I shall know it when I see it.” The older ladies smiled at
her, remembering the stress of their own weddings and how finding the perfect
dress suddenly seemed to be the most important thing in the world.
“Would you like to visit the drapers? They are likely to have a greater
selection and we can have the fabric sent over,” Lady Matlock suggested
helpfully.
Jane lit up at the hope of finally finding what she was looking for when her
aunt interjected.
“I have an idea.” She leaned forward secretively, motioning for the ladies to
come closer. “I should not be telling you this, and in such a place, but I have
it on the best authority that a shipment of silk from the Orient, as well as a
large consignment of muslin, has recently come into London – as recently as
Monday. It is sitting in Mr. Gardiner’s warehouse as we speak, awaiting
delivery to the drapers,” she whispered and looked at them conspiratorially, a
sly grin on her face.
“Oh, Aunt! Could we?” Jane was trying to control her excitement, but after
three days of searching through hundreds of bolts of fabric, this was very
welcome news.
“I believe we can. What do you think, Lady Matlock?”
“I think I should call for the carriage.” She rose with alacrity and instructed
the assistant to inform the modiste that they would go to the drapers and that
anything they found would either be sent over or brought back by themselves.
An hour later, the grand Matlock carriage was pulling up in front of a
warehouse near Cheapside. The building was nondescript and had no storefront or
shop, but had a well-kept exterior with a red door and a sign that read, 
Gardiner Imports
, in neat gold letters.
Lady Matlock had the appearance of a child sneaking cookies from the larder.

They were shown in by one of Mr. Gardiner’s assistants, a young man of about
twenty-two, tall and broad, and with quite a lot of brawn. He obviously spent a
great deal of time working in the loading dock. Lady Matlock smiled and raised
her eyebrows at Mrs. Gardiner, and Elizabeth wondered if she was seeing the
beginning of a friendship. 
Mr. Gardiner was out, but John, the young assistant with the tan skin and
friendly smile, showed them to a room in the back where there were several
crates standing on end so they were almost the same height as the ladies, their
tops off for inspection, long, cylindrical bolts of fabric barely visible
inside them.
“This just passed inspection this morning. Mr. Gardiner plans to check it later
this afternoon and tomorrow it’ll be off to the shops.” He looked at the four
women, all wearing expressions resembling children at candy shops. “Here are
some step ladders so you can see inside. I’ll be just outside if you need me.”
He smiled broadly and left, shaking his head. “All the pretty birds, lookin’
for feathers!” he mumbled as he walked out, though he didn’t seem to mind the
intrusion of four pretty women 
too
 much.
“Well ladies, shall we begin?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“Yes!” the other three echoed in unison, each quickly grabbing a stool and
heading for a box. 
There were about twenty crates in the room, each filled to the brim with
roughly a dozen bolts of fabric. They were all on the lookout for green and
blue silk for Jane’s wedding dress, as well as something that would complement
it and suit Elizabeth. And of course, each woman was careful to watch for
fabrics for herself as well. 
Lady Matlock let out an unladylike squeal more than once as she ran to the door
and called John back, requesting that he pull out three different bolts for
her. Poor John was called in so frequently, he decided it might be wiser to
just stay in the room, offering assistance where needed. 
Elizabeth was leaning over her second crate, still not having found anything,
when she came across a beautiful red silk. She had always loved red, but she
was too young to wear it, so she usually passed it by. But this one was so
lovely, she couldn’t stop running the smooth fabric through her fingers. Lady
Matlock was walking by and Elizabeth stopped her to show her what she’d found.
“Oh, Miss Elizabeth! You are quite right. This is lovely. I believe I would
like some of this. John!”
The bolt was quickly removed and set aside with Lady Matlock’s others – a stack
that was quickly growing. 
“You would look wonderful in red, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Do you think? I must confess that I have always wanted a red dress, but it is
not the fashion for ladies my age to wear such a dark color.” She sighed and
looked down, obviously disappointed.
“Oh, tosh! It would make a lovely morning dress, or a dressing gown. A
nightgown would be superb.” She smiled at Elizabeth, who blushed slightly at
the thought of wearing a red nightgown, and who she might wear such a thing for.
“All in good time, my dear! Soon we shall be shopping for
your
 trousseau, and we shall order
you a red nightgown. Your husband will love it, I am certain!” Elizabeth’s eyes
widened as Lady Matlock patted her hand and returned to her search, mentally filing
away her newly acquired information.
They continued the hunt for several more hours until the sun was low in the sky
and the pile of chosen materials was high. The draper next door kindly came
over and cut the lengths they needed, and Mr. Gardiner’s secretary recorded
everything and promised to have the bill delivered within a week. The fabrics
were bundled and piled into the carriage, and Jane’s wedding choices were sent
straight to the dressmaker.
Since they were already in Cheapside, they dropped off Mrs. Gardiner and three
very tired women returned to Mayfair. At dinner, they barely said a word, such
was their exhaustion, leaving Lord Matlock to wonder if anything was amiss.
When he finally asked how their shopping went, he was met by a barrage of
information, from the variety of fabrics to the style of dresses to the sheer
quantity of color choices, making him wish he had simply eaten his meal in
silence.

~

Caroline Bingley had decided to host a dinner, and she included Elizabeth and
Sir Malcolm on the guest list. The party was set for Saturday evening, and both
Bennet sisters had replied in the affirmative. 
Caroline dressed in one of her nicer gowns, though not the best, as she saw no
reason to waste it if Mr. Darcy was not to be there. It was a small party, only
fourteen people total, and she had secured the seat next to her for Sir
Malcolm, and had placed Elizabeth next to him. She practiced a kind smile in
the mirror for over an hour, while saying nice things about Elizabeth Bennet
and trying to look sincere. 
She thought she appeared believable. 
Elizabeth and Jane arrived in the Matlock carriage, Lord Matlock absolutely
insisting they take it. Elizabeth smiled at his solicitude and wondered if all
the Fitzwilliam men were so inclined. Caroline Bingley saw the crest through
the window and had to swallow the bile in her throat at the Fitzwilliam
family’s blatant preference for Elizabeth Bennet. She swallowed her anger and
focused on her mission: attach Sir Malcolm to Elizabeth. This was the perfect
opportunity, with Darcy away and no one to interfere.
The guests all gathered in the living room and Caroline made the introductions.
The only person Elizabeth knew besides the Bingleys and Hursts was Sir Malcolm,
and he quickly made his way to her side while Bingley monopolized Jane.
“Miss Elizabeth, I understand you’ve just come from a holiday in Kent.”
“Yes, Sir Malcolm, that is correct.”
“And dare I hope that you are to stay in London more than a day or two?” he
asked with a smile.
“Yes, I am to be here another three weeks, planning for my sister’s
wedding.” 
She wondered why he was still interested in her. Surely by now he'd realized
that Jane was the woman Bingley had fallen in love with last autumn; the same
woman who had such a terrible family that Darcy had felt obliged to separate
Bingley from them. What could he possibly want with a woman of such bad
connections and no fortune?
“Then I hope to see more of you.” He smiled again, and Elizabeth politely
smiled back.
Searching for something to say and not knowing anyone else to speak with,
Elizabeth asked him about his estate in Staffordshire.
“Ah, Haverdene. What would you like to know, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Where is it located?”
“It is near the eastern border of Staffordshire, not far from Derbyshire. The
nearest village is called Carlton, about three miles from the estate entrance.
The estate itself is rather large, about seven miles around, and has a lovely
river running through it, and a small forest filled with game.”
“It sounds lovely. Do you ever walk through the forest?”
He laughed lightly. “I prefer to ride, but yes, I often go through the forest.
I ride every morning as a rule.”
“And what is your horse’s name?”
Malcolm started. No one had ever asked him that before, at least not outside of
a stable – and especially not a woman. “He is called Validus.”
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side. “Latin for…strong?”
“Close – mighty.” He smiled down at her approvingly. “Impressive, Miss
Elizabeth.”
“It would have been more impressive if I had gotten it right!” She smiled. “And
what do you do when you are in town - unless you brought Validus with you?”
“No, he is safe at home. I often walk through Hyde Park. It is one of my
favorite places in London. Do you ever walk there?”
“Upon occasion.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I hope I am not being too forward, but it seems that every
time I meet you, you are headed off to someplace else entirely, and I would
very much like to see you again. May I call on you at Matlock House?”
Elizabeth flushed slightly from the earnestness in his voice and the expression
in his light eyes. “You may call, Sir Malcolm.”
As they waked into the dining room, Elizabeth on Malcolm’s arm, she couldn’t
help but wonder what she had just agreed to. She had long ago acknowledged that
she had feelings for Darcy, but she wasn’t entirely sure if she trusted him.
She had forgiven him and even understood his reasons, or at least understood
how they made sense to 
him
,
but she wasn’t sure if she would be able to get past his prideful nature. Yes,
he had made great strides and had befriended her aunt and uncle, but was that
enough?
She did not wish to be in a relationship where she was made to feel ashamed of
her family; where they were not welcome in her husband’s home,
her
 home. She did not wish to be
chosen in spite of her connections and expected to forget them except for the
occasional visit and odd letter. 
She wondered if Mr. Darcy would be rude to her mother and sisters and treat
them as lesser than he. Beyond that, she wasn’t sure he would ever even ask
her. They were friends, surely, and he had shown that he liked her, but was
there more? 
She knew that Lady Catherine would not approve, and while she was currently a
favorite of Lady Matlock’s, that might change if Elizabeth went after her own
nephew. It hadn’t slipped her notice that Lady Matlock had conveniently left
all her own family members off the list of eligible suitors. 
Would Darcy be willing to stand against them? For her? She had nothing to
offer, which had never bothered her before, but did it matter to him? Would he
make such a sacrifice? She wasn’t sure. 
He had had several opportunities to declare himself and had not done so. The
morning she left Hunsford, he had said that her leaving was partially his fault,
but had not gone into any further detail. He neither affirmed nor denied his
aunt’s suspicions. She briefly wondered if he thought she might consent to be
his mistress, for it was clear that he enjoyed her company, but she dismissed
the thought almost as quickly as it came. 
She made her decision: She would allow Sir Malcolm to call. It was not an
official courtship, he had not made any declarations, and she did not believe
she was toying with him. But he had made himself clear. He wanted to see her;
he wished to know her better. She appreciated his candor and felt she knew
where she stood with him. 
Besides, she did like him and enjoyed his company. Sir Malcolm was the kind of
man you could easily fall in love with if you allowed yourself, and Elizabeth
imagined she wasn’t the first to be on the receiving end of his smiles.
Sir Malcolm sat next to Caroline, and Elizabeth next to him. The man on her
other side was Mr. Hurst, whom she knew from experience was not a good dinner
conversationalist, so she anticipated talking to Sir Malcolm all evening, when
he wasn’t being monopolized by Caroline Bingley.
Caroline was in rare form. She was charming and almost sweet as she exchanged
pleasantries and accepted compliments for the food. She turned her attention to
Sir Malcolm and with a bright smile, asked, “Have you told Miss Elizabeth about
Haverdene, Sir Malcolm?”
“A little, Miss Bingley.”
“I’m sure we would love to hear more about it.” She smiled convincingly.
He proceeded to describe his family’s estate, answering Caroline’s questions as
he went. She made sure Elizabeth was listening and made efforts to include her
in the conversation. She asked about the size of the house and the general
appearance of it. She inquired after the stables and the horses, to which he
answered that he thought he had one that would suit Miss Elizabeth well,
causing the latter to study her plate. 
Miss Bingley asked him about the neighborhood and the local wildlife,
attempting to find topics that would make it sound appealing to Elizabeth. She
wanted to know about the type and number of walking trails and asked after the
gardens. He answered all her questions in detail and with enthusiasm, clearly
proud of his home and heritage. He told the story of how his family became
established at Haverdene and of his favorite views and trails to ride. 
Malcolm was not interested in Caroline Bingley in the slightest, but he had
been around her long enough to know that this was not her usual mode of
behavior. He assumed she asked these questions for Elizabeth’s benefit, hence
his level of enthusiasm in answering them. He wondered why she was doing it,
and the answer wasn’t long in coming. 
Caroline Bingley had only one motivation: to claw her way to the top of the ton
by any means necessary. Her current plan to ascension: become Mrs. Darcy,
Mistress of Pemberley. If she was trying to match 
him
 with Elizabeth, it was not out of
friendship. Caroline Bingley didn't 
have
 friends.
He had wondered if Darcy had taken a liking to Miss Bennet, but Caroline’s
current actions confirmed it. He smiled inwardly and thought of his old friend
and him liking the same woman. He knew Darcy well enough to know that to him,
family was everything. He would likely never go against them and take a
dowerless bride, even if he loved her. 
Stupid man,
 thought
Malcolm. 
Stupid, stupid man.
Malcolm had liked many women through the years, but he was not constantly
fancying himself in love, like Bingley, or separating himself from the fray
like Darcy. He liked women; he was not ashamed to admit it. He enjoyed their
company and liked to look at them, and dance with them, and hear them sing to
him. Hence at balls, he generally danced every dance and was often sought after
by matchmaking parents and eager debutantes.
He knew he was wealthy and single, young and good-looking, all of which made
him a desirable match. However, he had never singled a lady out. Until he met a
young woman in a book store. That occurrence was singular enough, but to find
someone of the opposite sex who shared his interests, who could match him in
intelligence, and who stirred his soul with her vivaciousness, was truly a
wonder. 
He was not naïve enough to imagine himself in love with Elizabeth Bennet after
only a few meetings, but he knew he liked her and that he wanted to know her
better – something he had not felt about a woman in many years. Only time would
tell if more was to come of it.