Page 32 of Aunt Felicity

M uch interest was expressed by members of the Ton when word spread that the Earl and Countess of Matlock had brought some heretofore unknown nieces to London for the Little Season. Calls to Matlock House increased exponentially so that members of high society would be able to boast they had met the young ladies.

There was a sigh of relief by mothers and unmarried daughters alike when it was discovered that the beauty, who was Miss Jane Bennet, was engaged. That way she was not competition for men on whom they had focused their marital aspirations.

The second Bennet sister was judged by those who had the privilege to meet Lady Matlock’s nieces to also be very pretty, although not a classical beauty like the eldest Miss Bennet. The youngest of the three, Miss Mary, was not as outgoing as her next older sister but also very pretty as well. Due to their lack of dowry, the two younger sisters were discounted as competition in the marriage mart.

Only once it became clear that the Darcy heir was calling on her, did Miss Elizabeth Bennet become a threat to the aspirations of many ladies and their parents. On numerous occasions, William Darcy was present during calls and always next to or standing behind the second Bennet daughter. Word of his preference for Miss Elizabeth Bennet travelled through the ranks of the upper ten thousand like wildfire. This caused claws to be unsheathed as debutants and their parents, who had claimed the younger Darcy for themselves, swore to destroy the country upstart.

Any such thoughts of attacking the country nobody, who so closely resembled her aunt, were soon put to rest after she was seen at public events, like the opera, theatre, and balls. It was clearly noted that she was a favourite of the Countess of Matlock. She, her sister, and the friend with them were approved of by the powerful circle of Lady Felicity’s friends. Those friends included all the patronesses of Almack’s, and the Duchesses of Bedford and Hertfordshire. It was clearly a case of social suicide if anyone attacked any of the Bennet sisters, overtly or covertly, for that matter.

It was learnt that the friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas, was the daughter of a knight. When information that she was being courted by the second Fitzwilliam son made the rounds, there were few comments as Mr Richard Fitzwilliam was a poor second son who few of them would have considered as an eligible match. That all changed when word began to circulate that he was the master of an estate, owned a house on Berkley Square, and was the heir to a second estate. For the same reasons they would not attack the second Bennet sister, they would grin and bear it that another country Miss had stolen a member of the Ton out from under their noses.

When word spread that Miss Anne de Bourgh, the owner of Rosings Park and a large fortune, was not interested in marrying, females were relieved, but men who needed a wealthy wife were not so sanguine with the news. Thanks to the ever-present giant footmen, anyone who considered compromising Miss de Bourgh gave up on their plans.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“Her Majesty is to have a drawing room on the first Thursday in December, and you five will be making your curtsies then,” Felicity told her nieces and future daughter when they had been in London for a sennight. “That way it will not interfere with our date to return to Hertfordshire for Jane’s wedding as we had planned. I sent a note to Her Majesty, and she is looking forward to meeting my newly discovered nieces, Anne, and the lady Richard is courting.”

“That means we will have to wear those hooped monstrosities, will we not?” Elizabeth sighed.

“You will. You will begin to practice with the old dresses in the attics here. Some were mine, some were Bethie’s, and some belonged to others. Even if they do not fit perfectly, it is unimportant as long as you learn to walk in them and back away from the Queen without tripping,” Felicity related. “We will go back to Madam Chambourg on the morrow. She will make the dresses you will wear on the day.” Felicity saw Lizzy screw up her nose. “Yes, Lizzy, I am well aware you would rather be lost in the library than spending more time at the modiste’s, but it has to be done.”

Elizabeth was spared from answering when the butler entered the drawing room and bowed to the ladies within. “Mr William Darcy,” he intoned.

“Welcome, William,” Felicity smiled. “Where is Robert?”

“Father has some meetings this morning; he will join us for dinner,” William stated. He saw Jane looking around for Bingley. “Your fiancé had to see his solicitor; he will arrive here in a few short hours.” Jane gave him a grateful smile. William turned to his aunt. “Aunt Felicity, am I correct that Bennet gave Uncle Reggie authority over his daughters while they are with you?” His aunt allowed it was so. “If Elizabeth agrees to grant me an interview, I need to request Uncle’s permission.”

All eyes turned to Elizabeth, who blushed. “I have no objection to William addressing me,” she allowed. The truth was that since he had begun calling on her, each day the tender feelings she felt for William had deepened.

“In that case, I will go to Uncle Reggie,” William said. He turned, and with purpose, left the drawing room.

“Has Mary seen Lord Sed since he asked her for two dances at the Jersey ball?” Anne asked with a smile. “Has he called on you?”

Mary blushed deeply. “He has called,” was all she said. She could not fathom that a marquess had asked her for one dance, never mind two. If that were not enough, he had called twice since the ball. Mary knew that Lord Sed Rhys-Davies, the Marquess of Birchington, was five and twenty, and in the times they had had to speak, she had noted that he was like anyone else, and did not allow his titles to make him unapproachable.

“Twice,” Bethanne added.

Mary was saved from further embarrassment when William returned to the drawing room with their uncle’s permission to address Lizzy.

“You may use the yellow parlour,” Felicity permitted. “There is a footman on duty in the hallway, and I am sure your uncle gave you an allowed time as well as instructions regarding the door.”

William nodded, stepped in front of Elizabeth, and offered her his hand to assist her to stand. He did not miss the heightened colour in her cheeks. He took that as a sign she was in anticipation of him speaking to her. Once she was standing, he offered her his arm and led her out of the drawing room to the yellow parlour.

He pulled the door partially closed behind them, keeping in mind his uncle’s requirements. William led Elizabeth to a settee which was furthest from the door. “Elizabeth, thank you for being willing to hear me today,” he began. She inclined her head. “I am fully aware that my feelings are deeper than yours, at this time at least. As such, my request is that we enter a courtship.”

She arched an eyebrow and smiled. “Is that not what we have been doing these past weeks?” Elizabeth teased.

“Technically, I have been calling on you,” William returned her smile. “What I am requesting now is a formal courtship with the aim that your feelings will deepen to the point where you will accept my hand in marriage.”

“The truth is that my feelings have undergone a complete change from what the first impression I had of you was.” Elizabeth saw William was about to apologise again, so she forestalled him. “You have no more for which to beg my pardon. I granted it without reservation that day on Oakham Mount. What I am trying to say is that although I am not in love with you today, I do have very tender feelings and believe that they will become love soon enough. So yes, William, I grant my permission for you to officially court me. To be honest, I believe it will not be long before I am ready to hear a proposal from you.”

Listening to her words, William felt like he would float to the sky; he was enveloped by such happiness. To think that his previous attitudes, combined with his thoughtless and rude words, had almost destroyed any chance he had of securing the best woman for him he would ever meet. “You have made me a very happy man. I will go speak to our uncle,” he managed. He knew he had a stupid grin on his face, but he cared not.

“And I will return to the drawing room…” Elizabeth began to say. William took her hands and assisted her to stand. He did not relinquish them; instead, one at a time, he turned them over and allowed his lips to linger with a tender kiss on each of her wrists. Elizabeth’s heart raced, and she felt weak at the knees. She wanted to feel his lips on her own, but she needed to be patient, sure she would experience her first kiss when they became engaged. In her mind, it was not if, but when.

“You were saying?” William enquired with a cheeky look in his eyes. He had not missed how she had been affected by his kisses, and the reaction had been very pleasing.

Elizabeth huffed. When had William learnt to tease her? “I will see you in the drawing room,” she said as she marched out of the parlour, her nose in the air, to the sounds of William’s chuckles. She was met with seven pairs of expectant eyes when she entered the drawing room. “I agreed to a courtship and William is with Uncle Reggie now.”

“Anna will be greatly pleased to have more sisters soon!” Bethie exclaimed. Even though they were cousins, she counted Anna as a sister.

Charlotte, Anne, Bethie, and Mary flocked around Elizabeth to convey their wishes for a felicitous future with William. Then came Jane. “I knew how it would be,” Jane insisted. “Even when you disliked William, I saw the way he looked at you, and it was never to find fault.” Aunt Felicity was standing next to Jane, and she arched one eyebrow.

Elizabeth gave a chagrined nod. “When we first met and our aunt indicated the flaws in my logic, I accepted I was wrong. I have learnt that my first sketch of a character is not always as accurate as I used to believe it was,” she admitted.

“I pray that you and William will be as happy as Charles and I will be,” Jane added as she hugged her sister again.

Aunt Felicity replaced Jane and pulled her niece into a warm hug. “As long as you both regulate your stubborn sides, you will do very well together. I learnt to do so, and I am positive you will succeed as well.”

Elizabeth was about to respond when Uncle Reggie, with a still-grinning William, entered the drawing room. He looked around at the ladies in the room. “I can see that I have no need to make an announcement about the courtship, as you all seem to know already,” he drawled.

“What courtship?” Richard asked as he entered the room. He had been at Fitzwilliam House meeting with Edward Gardiner, who was having a clerk inventory the furnishings to see what would be sold and what would be given to the needy.

“Elizabeth has granted me a formal courtship,” William told his cousin proudly.

“In that case, I will wait to speak to Charlotte on the morrow; I would hate to steal your thunder,” Richard told his cousin quietly.

“No, Richard, do not delay. If you have good news to announce it will add to, rather than detract from our happiness. I am sure if we canvassed Elizabeth she would agree. Like her, I do not want you to suspend your pleasure,” William insisted firmly.

Richard went and spoke to his mother quietly. She told him to use the yellow parlour as well. He went to Charlotte and spoke into her ear. She lit up with pleasure, and he led her out of the drawing room before too many of the others within took note of what he was about.

About ten minutes later, the couple returned. He was grinning, and she was aglow with pleasure. Both had swollen lips. Richard cleared his throat, which stopped the conversations in the room. “It is my pleasure to inform you that I just proposed to Charlotte Sarah Lucas, and she has accepted me. When we return to Meryton for Jane’s and Bingley’s wedding, I will seek Sir William’s blessing,” he shared.

There were many exclamations of pleasure and wishes for happy. When it was her turn, Bethie welcomed Charlotte as another sister. The reception from her future parents-in-law was everything warm and pleasing. She was invited to call them Mother and Father, as she used Mama and Papa for her own parents.

“Have you two discussed a wedding date yet?” Felicity enquired after the congratulations died down to a dull roar.

“No, Mother, we have not, but I would guess it will be after twelfth night. Charlotte and I spoke about including Lady Lucas and yourself in that particular decision,” Richard related.

“Well, this is a day full of good news,” Felicity observed. “William, is your father aware you intended to approach Lizzy for a courtship today, or will he be surprised at dinner?”

“The latter,” William declared. “I did not want to assume I knew the answer, so I decided not to say anything until, if, it became a reality.”

“Good answer,” Elizabeth smiled. She liked that he had not taken her agreement as a fait accompli . It was one of the many things she liked about William. She was sure had he still been the arrogant man she first met; he would have assumed he would not be refused by her or any other woman. That he had been able to amend his character to this extent was another thing she liked about him.

That evening the dinner was a festive affair celebrating both a courtship and an engagement. Jane and Bingley were well pleased that they were not the only couple who were happy about their futures. As would be expected, Darcy was more than pleased that William was in an official courtship. He made sure to tell Lizzy how much he looked forward to the day he could call her a daughter.

It was late when the four men made the walk across the green to Darcy House.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As tedious as the preparations for the presentations were, the five who would be presented got through it without too much complaint. The first time they had attempted to back away from the throne—Bethie was seated in a chair—all five managed to trip over the trains they were supposed to hold in their arms.

Just like Aunt Felicity promised them, the more they practised, the easier it became, until one by one all five were able to execute their curtsies and exit from the presentation hall flawlessly.

When Anne had asked why she needed to be presented when she never intended to marry, Aunt Felicity explained that one had nothing to do with the other. She related that some ladies were presented a second time after they married, depending on who they married. She had given Mary a pointed look when she gave the example of a lady marrying into the nobility. She told how she had only been presented once because she had never made a curtsy for the Queen before her marriage to her beloved husband.

The only time Elizabeth whinged was during one of the repeated visits to the modiste. She did not enjoy shopping at the best of times—unless she was getting lost in a bookstore or circulating library—but unlike most young ladies, she found no pleasure in being poked and prodded in the name of fashion.

“I hope this is the final time we have to be here to try on these monstrous gowns,” Elizabeth huffed. She was somewhat taken aback when her aunt loosed a giggle.

“It is not you in whom I am finding my amusement,” Felicity assured her niece. “I am laughing at how close you are to me in character as well as looks. I had similar complaints before I was presented to Her Majesty. In the end, I realised that had I just practised and done everything without objection, it would have been a much more pleasant experience.”

After that, Elizabeth said not a word in complaint.

Word had permeated society that Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr William Darcy were in an official courtship. Some daughters who had fancied being the one to catch the Darcy heir, along with their mothers, approached Miss Elizabeth to offer their congratulations through gritted teeth. They could do no less under the watchful eye of the Countess of Matlock.

The morning of the presentation, three coaches departed Matlock House an hour before the time the debutantes would go before Her Majesty; one was never late for the Queen. She could make her subjects wait for her, but never the inverse. The ride to St James Palace was no more than ten minutes. When they arrived, they joined a long line of others who were there for the drawing room that morning.

After their names were confirmed as among those being presented that day, a footman in royal livery led them into one of the parlours where they would wait until summoned.

“As I am sponsoring you, I will enter with each of you,” Felicity explained. “Of our group of five, Anne will be called first, which will be after the daughters of nobility, then the three Bennet sisters, and last but not least, my daughter-to-be. Thanks to her being presented already, Bethie will be in the presentation hall with the men. Remember, you will only speak to the Queen if she asks you a question. Are there any more questions?”

There were five heads shaken nervously. They all knew they had practiced and were prepared, but they wished it was over already. About an hour later Anne de Bourgh was summoned, and she and Aunt Felicity followed the page into the main hall. Not too many minutes later, it was Jane’s turn. Aunt Felicity was waiting for her at the door leading to the presentation hall.

Elizabeth stiffened her spine when the page called her name. She smiled at Mary and Charlotte and followed the man to the huge, gilded double doors where her aunt waited for her. As she had been told he would, Elizabeth heard a major domo strike the floor three times with his staff, and then he read her name. She gave Aunt Felicity a quick smile, and the doors opened. She walked as she had been trained to do and stopped before the throne where Her Majesty was seated. She sunk down into a low curtsy and waited for the signal to stand so she could back out.

“My my! You were not exaggerating when you told us how much your niece resembles you, Lady Felicity,” the Queen drawled. “Rise Miss Bennet so we may see you next to your aunt.”

She had not expected the Queen to address her, but Elizabeth kept her features schooled as she rose and stood before Her Majesty.

“As you can see, Your Majesty, my niece Elizabeth looks just like I did at that age, and we both are very similar in looks to my beloved late mother,” Felicity told the Queen after curtsying to her.

“We hear you are being courted by your cousin, William Darcy. We hope you will have a long and felicitous union,” the Queen stated.

“I thank you, Your Majesty,” Elizabeth replied and curtsied like her aunt had done.

The Queen extended her hand, and Elizabeth kissed it. Next she backed out, without incident. While Elizabeth waited with Anne and Jane, Mary and then Charlotte took their turns.

By the time everyone in their party was climbing into the three coaches to return to Matlock House, word had already begun to spread that the Queen had offered a very public seal of approval to the match between the Darcy heir and Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn. It was an added reason why no one would be so reckless as to try attacking her as inappropriate for a member of the Ton .

The Monday after the presentations, they were on their way back to Hertfordshire.