Page 41 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
A round ten o’clock, Elizabeth noticed Molly slowly enter the room and take Lucky out. The maid returned a minute later and helped Elizabeth dress while informing her that the others were already downstairs for breakfast.
“And ma’am, a little earlier someone brought a large package for you…an apprentice from the shop… she said there are two of your new gowns. I shall fetch the package at once.”
“Very well, thank you,” Elizabeth said and hurried to the dining room.
She noticed that her husband looked rather tired and wondered how difficult the previous night was for him.
Strangely, she felt content that he seemed preoccupied with their fight.
It was the best proof that his remorse was sincere.
Breakfast passed mostly in silence. Towards the end, Mrs Annesley began a conversation about the upcoming party and asked Elizabeth whether she was pleased with her gowns.
“I have had no chance to see them, but I will do so immediately. Would you both like to come with me and help me try them on?”
The ladies’ response was as animated as expected, and while they left together, Elizabeth felt her husband’s gaze on her. She did not turn her eyes towards him, though.
“Elizabeth, if it is convenient for you, I would like to see you in the library for a few minutes. There is something I need to give you, and there has been no chance as yet.”
“Of course, I shall meet you after I try on the gowns,” she answered briefly.
The unpacking and trying on of clothes brought her more joy than she expected, encouraged by the enthusiasm of her companions.
The garments fitted her perfectly, and while Mrs Annesley admired the skills of the modiste, a thought suddenly crossed Elizabeth’s mind and made her blush violently: her husband ordered the gowns and seemed to know her measurements perfectly.
Both gowns were splendid, but all three agreed that, for Elizabeth’s first London ball, the perfect choice was the cream with golden threads at the neckline, shoulders, waist, and hem.
It was impressive in an elegant way with no ostentation, and Mrs Annesley said it perfectly complemented Elizabeth’s hair and complexion.
Half an hour later, she went to speak to her husband, and her anxiety increased. She knocked and waited. He was in the doorway, stretching out his hand to her.
“Are you pleased with the gowns? Do they fit properly?” he asked while she took the same place as the day before.
“Yes, very pleased—they are beautiful and they fit perfectly. I must say, your taste in ladies’ gowns is exquisite; Mrs Annesley said so,” she teased him, and a smile appeared on his lips.
“I am very glad you like them. I shall only detain you a little, as perhaps you should rest before the ball. I wondered—did you have time to read the settlement? If you approve of it, I would like to mail it to Mr Bennet tomorrow.”
“I confess I have not read it. My mind was occupied with other things, and I could not concentrate on it. But as I said, I do not have the smallest worry, so please mail it to my father. I can read it anytime. I have no concerns in this respect.”
“Very well, as you wish.” He opened a drawer, brought out three large jewels boxes, and put them on the desk. One by one, he opened the boxes, exposing the pieces to her curious eyes. She gasped in surprise, her palm covering her lips as her eyes opened widely.
“These are splendid,” she whispered. “Truly beautiful…” She gently brushed her fingers over the jewels, which were arranged in sets of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings of the same stones and colours.
“I have not opened these boxes since my mother passed away,” he said in a low voice. “There are several others at Pemberley. Hopefully, you will see those too very soon.”
She glanced at him, overwhelmed by the beauty in front of her, which took her breath away—not so much because of their obvious value but because of their beauty and by what they meant: the legacy of Lady Anne for the new Mrs Darcy.
Did she truly deserve that title, acquired through an arranged marriage?
Surely, Lady Anne never imagined such a possibility.
Otherwise, she would have made a codicil regarding what a mock “Mrs Darcy” should receive.
And yet, her husband had been insisting for the last two days on giving her the jewels when he could have postponed the gesture or never done it.
“William, I do not think you should give me these jewels. I should not wear them.”
His face darkened, and he frowned.
“Why would you say that?”
“Lady Anne prepared these jewels for your wife, but I doubt she considered you might enter into a forced marriage. I am not sure that, at this time, I am the ‘Mrs Darcy’ for whom these jewels were meant. I feel I am claiming something that is not rightfully mine.”
“Your concerns honour you, Elizabeth, but aside from the peculiar circumstances of our marriage, I am certain these boxes belong to you—in every possible way. I trust you will care for and cherish them as the person who offered them deserves.”
Elizabeth struggled to smile and prevent her threatening tears. He took her hands in his, and she allowed her fingers to rest in his palms while they gazed at each other.
“Then I shall wear the delicate set of garnet and diamonds tonight—and the tiara. I believe they will match perfectly the cream and golden gown.”
“A perfect choice,” he whispered, mirroring her tentative smile. “I still remember how lovely the silk flowers and small pearls shone in your dark hair at the Netherfield ball.”
She stared at him in complete surprise and released a nervous laugh as her face turned red.
“Your attention to detail is impressive, Mr Darcy.”
“It seems that is not always true, but this is another matter,” he said more lightly, releasing her hands and taking a sealed letter from his desk.
“I wrote to Bingley to inform him of our marriage, and I asked him for the favour of a private talk when he returns to London. I shall mail the letter express, and hopefully, he will receive it by tomorrow.”
“It is lovely that you send him news,” she said as composedly as she could.
“But I believe it is Mr Bingley’s turn to decide whether his future happiness is truly related to Jane and to act accordingly.
He cannot allow anyone to tell him what to do.
Forgive me if I seem harsh, but I am convinced that your blame for involving yourself in Mr Bingley’s life is equalled by his ease in allowing others to decide his fate. ”
“I understand your disapproval of both my and Bingley’s behaviour, but I beg your forbearance in his case. I believe his greatest fault is his modesty and lack of confidence in his own discernment. The blame for that situation was entirely mine.”
She said nothing, but her expression showed her disagreement.
“I also wrote to my Aunt Catherine two days ago, but I am afraid I have no doubt about the way she will receive the news. Unfortunately, we can shortly expect a very angry letter. I must tell you that I asked the servants to inform me about any letter or note sent directly to you unless it is from your family. I hope you don’t mind. ”
She laughed. “Not at all. I will inform you directly should I receive anything dangerous by mail. It is lovely that you want to protect me from the written revenge of your disappointed relatives. It is easily balanced by the amiability of the rest of your family.”
“I surely hope so. Now I believe you and Georgiana should rest a little before the party. I expect it might be a difficult evening. Shall I help you to take the boxes to your room?”
“No, thank you, I am fine. I shall see you later.” She took the boxes, and he kept her company towards the door where they separated with polite smiles.
About an hour later, Darcy found that his work suffered from lack of attention and decided to rest as well.
On the way to his apartment, he took a turn down the picture gallery out of a strong sense of longing.
He wondered what his parents would say of Elizabeth.
Even more—would he have ever met her if his parents were still alive?
As he moved along the hall, he frowned. In front of the portraits—so deep in thought that she failed to notice his approach—was Elizabeth.
A tight knot gripped his stomach and made him stop.
He silently admired her, mere inches away, for a few moments before he finally whispered her name so as not to startle her.
She turned to him, and he easily perceived the emotion on her face and the tears glistening in her eyes.
“I felt the need to see Lady Anne again,” she explained, slightly uncomfortable.
“I, too…and I am most pleasantly surprised to find you here.”
“I remembered something that I must have forgotten over the years. When we met in Brighton ten years ago, Lady Anne told me one day that my eyes were full of life and joy, and she told me never to allow that to change. At that moment, I did not know what she meant, but her voice went deep into my heart. I believe it was the last time we saw her…”
Elizabeth turned towards the image again, and she felt her husband’s hands gently resting on her shoulders.
She did not move or say anything, allowing the moments to pass in silence.
She observed that Lady Anne had the same blue eyes as Georgiana, but there was something in her gaze that resembled Darcy.
Next to her in the large painting, the late Mr Darcy looked tall, handsome, strong, and quite severe, and Elizabeth wondered how the delicate Lady Anne accustomed herself to a husband who seemed so different.
“What do you think your father and Lady Anne would say of this marriage? Would they approve of me?” she heard herself asking. She felt his hesitation and the tension in his hands, which still lingered on her shoulders.