Page 47

In short order, the practicalities were worked out.

The dressmaker and her son would accompany the ladies back to Gracechurch Street and set up in a spare room to take their measurements and discuss their preferences.

The following day, she would return with sketches for them to consider and they would visit Mr. Gardiner’s warehouse to consider fabrics and notions.

Madame Lavoisier’s excitement rose even further once she comprehended that she would have access to a vast array of imported textiles right off the ship.

So it was that the ladies returned home in far better spirits than might have been expected, considering their morning’s experience.

Petit Laurent was sent off to play with the Gardiner children while Jane and Elizabeth were closeted with his mother.

By the time she was ready to depart, she had filled pages of her notebook with cryptic scribblings and sketches.

That night when Mr. Bennet sat down to dinner, he was entertained for a time by his two most sensible daughters positively bubbling over the prospect of their new frocks.

It did not take more than a few minutes before he had had enough, however.

“No more lace, I beg you! I may be forced to warn your gentlemen that they are marrying spendthrifts!”

Jane looked slightly taken aback but Lizzy merely laughed.

“Oh, Papa… if that were so, we would have allowed Madame Claudette to drape us in her overpriced finery.” Elizabeth went on to describe several of the worst designs in such an arch manner that even Mr. Bennet was forced to chuckle.

Eventually though, she took pity on him.

As a certain gentleman was never far from Elizabeth’s thoughts, a new topic of conversation was easily chosen. “Have you heard anything from Mr. Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam, Papa?”

Lydia had been remarkably quiet during the meal, but her head snapped up at the question.

Mr. Bennet frowned but answered rather grimly; “I know no more now than what they informed us of yesterday. Mr. Wickham’s court martial was to be today with General Arlington presiding.

Colonel Forster appeared to believe that it would be finished quickly enough that he might return to Hertfordshire tomorrow or the day after. ”

The youngest Miss Bennet could not help but ask, “What will happen to him?”

Before her father could make some cutting remark about his youngest daughter’s paramour, Mr. Gardiner spoke quickly; “At worst, Mr. Wickham could be hung or sent to debtors’ prison (which some say is a fate worse than death).

At best, he will be deported to the penal colonies in Australia and never allowed to set foot on English soil again.

” Lizzy had convinced him and his wife that their best hope for reaching Lydia was with brutal truths .

The youngest Miss Bennet tucked her chin and stared at her plate, obviously stunned by the harshness of the penalties.

Elizabeth attempted to lighten the conversation.

“Mr. Darcy seemed to think that transportation was more likely. Mr. Wickham is fortunate that there are still some who will speak on his behalf, even after all that he has done to them. Though it seems to me that it is all rather hard on the Australians…”

The remainder of the meal was spent in a spirited discussion of the moral right of Britain to send her criminals abroad rather than incarcerating them domestically.

Although Elizabeth enjoyed the debate, she found herself wondering what her fiancé, with his broader education and greater knowledge of the world, might say.

Lizzy felt a deep ache at his absence, even knowing that she would see him on the very next day.

In the morning, Elizabeth entered the breakfast parlor in time to overhear her aunt and uncle discussing a problem at his warehouse.

When she inquired, Mr. Gardiner admitted that he might have to miss the tour of Mr. Bingley’s house that afternoon.

“One of my clerks has been very ill. His assistant assured me that he could manage, but I’ve been checking over the account and found a number of errors.

Unfortunately, the ledgers must be turned over to my investors by tomorrow, so I’m afraid that I’ll be putting my nose to the grindstone this afternoon rather than touring Jane’s future home. ”

“But surely I could help, Uncle? I know your system—you taught it to me yourself.”

“Lizzy, that’s very generous of you, but you’ve quite enough to fill your time. Isn’t your new dressmaker returning this morning?”

His niece grinned. “Obviously you weren’t paying attention last night, Uncle. Our appointment with Madame Lavoisier is not until eleven. Please let me help. You and Aunt Maddy have been so good to us—it would make me feel that I have repaid some small part of your generosity.”

“Oh, Lizzy, don’t be silly,” responded Mrs. Gardiner. “You’re family. We’re so very glad to have you and Jane here during such a happy time.”

“And your new connections have certainly allowed us to make some momentous acquaintances,” added her husband with a bemused look.

In the end, Mr. Gardiner accepted his niece’s help with the accounts, although only until Madame Lavoisier arrived. Elizabeth brought the ledgers into the breakfast room so that she might enjoy the morning sunlight streaming through the east-facing windows and it was there that Lydia found her.

“Whatever are you doing, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth looked up blankly, having been entirely caught up in summing a long column of expenses.

After blinking a few times, a smile ghosted across her face.

“I’m helping Uncle Edward with his accounting.

” She explained the situation of the ill clerk.

“I like to feel that I’m assisting the Gardiners in some small way, especially given what generous hosts they’ve been to us.

Would you help me, Lydia? You were always the best of us at arithmetic. ”

So it was that a relatively short statement, spiced with guilt and leavened by praise, resulted in the youngest Miss Bennet joining her sister at the table.

She quickly caught on to the organization of the accounts and soon the sisters were engaged in a friendly competition, racing to finish their sums and then exchanging their work to check the other for errors.

Such was the pleasant sight that greeted Mr. Gardiner when he returned from his office several hours later.

The business that he had expected to take up his entire day was nearly finished, and perhaps more importantly, the youngest Miss Bennet showed a remarkable degree of pride in her contribution.

After checking over the girls’ work, Edward turned to them.

“Elizabeth, Lydia, this looks excellent. Indeed, I don’t see a single error; I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your aid in this.

” He was gratified to see Lydia turn to her sister with a satisfied grin, linking arms and showing none of the spoiled petulance that had become her normal mien in recent days.

He considered them for a moment and made a decision.

“Well then, girls. I hear Madame Lavoisier in the hall. I believe a dress for each of you would be adequate recompense for your work today. Is that acceptable?”

His answer was a happy squeal from Lydia and an approving smile from Elizabeth.