Page 43 of The Fire at Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Madame Blanchet’s Establishment

London

The next day

“Miss Darcy, Mrs. Annesley!” Madame Blanchet said, stepping forward and curtseying toward one of her favorite customers. “It is an honor to see you today. May I ask whether…”

She trailed off and turned a respectful gaze toward the two ladies accompanying Miss Darcy.

Both young women were handsome and sufficiently alike that they must be sisters.

The elder one, presumably, was the lady engaged to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, but she must tread carefully.

It would not do to start off this relationship, which had every likelihood of being a financially remunerative one, on the wrong foot.

“Madame Blanchet,” Georgiana said softly, “may I please introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who is engaged to my brother, and Miss Lydia, her youngest sister?”

“Miss Bennet, Miss Lydia,” the modiste said, congratulating herself on her perspicacity, “it is truly a great honor to meet you both.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” Elizabeth said, looking around herself appreciatively at the tall mirrors, the delicate chairs, and the oriental carpet which was a delicate mixture of reds, blues, and gold. “You have a lovely establishment, Madame.”

“Thank you, Miss,” Blanchet replied. “Now, please, how can I assist you today?”

“My sister and I only wish to be fitted for one gown each today,” Elizabeth said confidently. “My wedding to Mr. Darcy will take place after Christmas, and following that I will be purchasing a more extensive wardrobe. Is it possible for our dresses to be made up in that time, Madame Blanchet?”

“Of course, Miss,” Madame Blanchet replied, turning away to hide her curiosity.

As one of the foremost modistes in London, she was well acquainted with many a highborn family, and she knew that young Miss Bennet was not a member of the haut ton.

However, there was no uncertainty in the lady’s demeanor, and based on her grace and remarkable beauty, she would prove a most charming adornment to Mr. Darcy.

“Do you have any particular styles and colors in mind?”

Miss Bennet did, and Miss Lydia as well, and within minutes the sisters were chattering happily with Miss Darcy, who seemed remarkably at ease compared to earlier visits to Madame Blanchet’s establishment.

The modiste was an expert at dressmaking, not love, but she was quite certain that Mr. Darcy had chosen based on true admiration and attraction, and that he had chosen his bride well.

/

Darcy House

The next night

Richard relaxed back against the exceedingly comfortable cushions of the loveseat in his cousins’ drawing room.

The fire flickered in the hearth, warming the room and helping the candles illuminate the company.

Georgiana sat across from him, her hands folded demurely in her lap as she asked eager questions about his travels in Portugal.

Richard kept an easy smile on his face as he answered.

He could not imagine horrifying his delicate young cousin with a regaling of the true nature of war, but Georgiana was delighted to hear of the more mundane aspects of the locales where he had been.

The people and their fashions and their lives, all fascinated her.

Darcy sat nearby, head propped lightly on his loosely curled fingers as he listened, eyes shifting between Georgiana and Richard.

There was a sudden flurry of movement and voices from the vestibule, and Darcy’s eyes lit up.

He sprang to his feet with unwonted enthusiasm, and Richard broke off, eyeing his cousin with both amusement and interest. He rose to his feet more languidly and offered Georgiana his arm, following in Darcy’s eager wake.

Georgiana was smiling, her hand on his arm relaxed, neither tense nor trembling. Interesting, very interesting indeed.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth,” Darcy said to the newcomers, who were standing in the entrance hall, “Please, may I introduce you to Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, my cousin? Richard, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners.”

Miss Bennet was lovely, Richard assimilated quickly.

It was astonishing that her elder sister was said to be even more handsome.

His concerns as to her character and intentions eased as he observed the warmth in her eyes and brilliance of her smile when Miss Bennet looked upon her betrothed.

No clever fortune-hunter this one, it was obvious how she cared for Darcy.

The men bowed and the ladies curtsied and Darcy said, “Do come into the drawing room; dinner will be ready in a few minutes, but I am certain you wish to warm yourselves.”

Darcy entered first, Miss Bennet on his arm, with Richard and Georgiana right behind.

Mr. Gardiner escorted his wife, and the ladies disposed themselves prettily about the room.

Mr. Gardiner seated himself near Richard, and after a few preliminary courtesies, segued gracefully into the latest news of the war against the French.

Richard found himself impressed by the quiet merchant.

Mr. Gardiner was plainly well-read and well-informed, not given to believing the sensationalism with which gossip so rapidly adorned each piece of news.

The man was courteous and his wife quiet, refined, and charming.

Richard found himself very well pleased with them.

As the son of an earl, he had been brought up to look down upon his inferiors, but the grimness of war had taught him much about judging men by their characters rather than their stations in life.

He could certainly imagine his parents’ and his aunt’s reaction to the mild-mannered Gardiners, but for his own part, he found the couple both engaging and agreeable.

The door to the drawing room opened, and Richard looked up, expecting the butler to announce that dinner was ready. As much as he enjoyed speaking with Miss Bennet and her relations, he was a soldier, and a soldier never wanted to miss his meals.

He was disappointed.

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” the butler announced.

Georgiana gasped and even paled a little at the sight of the tall woman, dressed in elegant traveling clothes, who had stalked into the room behind the butler. The Gardiners and Elizabeth stood up, looking surprised, while Darcy rose to his full height, his face a blend of confusion and anger.

The colonel rose as well, caught up in a mixture of trepidation and wry amusement. This was likely going to be a battle of titans, and while he was certain that Darcy would be the eventual winner, Lady Catherine would probably strike a few verbal blows.

“Is this the girl?” Lady Catherine demanded, pointing at Elizabeth. “Is this the hussy who is trying to steal you away from my daughter, Darcy?”

“How dare you?!” bellowed both Darcy and Mr. Gardiner in unison, and Richard struggled, and failed, to suppress a grin. He had expected outrage from Darcy, but Mr. Gardiner, who had hitherto been all that was calm and amiable, was now as red faced as the master of Pemberley.

“How dare you , sir?” Lady Catherine demanded, ignoring Gardiner as she marched over to poke Darcy in the chest with one gloved finger. “How dare you set aside the rights of my own daughter in favor of this trollop !”

Darcy’s eyes blazed with anger, and his jaw worked dangerously, but he managed to control himself enough to turn to the colonel and say, “Richard, would you be so kind as to escort everyone else to the dining room? It seems that I need to speak privately with Lady Catherine.”

“I insist on speaking to both you and your so called betrothed,” Lady Catherine snarled.

“And I wish to speak to your aunt, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said in a composed tone. “But yes, everyone else should go enjoy dinner. I do not think we will be many minutes.”

Darcy turned toward his beloved with an expression of concern, whereupon she raised herself up on her toes to whisper into his ear, even as a confident smile graced her lovely face.

Darcy nodded at last and said, “Very well. Richard?”

The colonel was a little sorry to miss the upcoming fireworks, but Georgiana was trembling at his side, and Mr. Gardiner was obviously holding himself silent with difficulty.

“This way, shall we?” the colonel said, taking Georgiana’s arm and guiding her toward the door.

The Gardiners hesitated before following him out into the corridor, where Mr. Gardiner said to Georgiana, “I do apologize for raising my voice at your aunt, Miss Darcy. I believe she deserved it, but I had no intention of distressing you.”

“I do not blame you,” Georgiana said in a low voice, her eyes filling with tears. “I have always been a little afraid of Lady Catherine, but I cannot believe she would say such horrible things about Elizabeth!”

“She is very upset,” the colonel said diplomatically. “Now let us go to dinner and leave Darcy and Miss Bennet to sort out our aunt. I have no doubt that they will manage quite well without us.”

/

“Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine barked, looking down at the shorter woman, “I do not know what arts and allurements you used to draw my nephew into this despicable relationship, but I insist that you leave this house and go back to Hertfordshire where you belong!”

Elizabeth tightened her grip on Darcy’s arm and moved a little closer, not out of a need for protection, but to show the unwanted visitor that she had no intention of giving Darcy up.

“No,” she said baldly.

Lady Catherine blinked in astonishment, and she said indignantly, “You must, for Darcy is engaged to my daughter!”

“I am not, and never have been, engaged to Anne, and Elizabeth knows that,” Darcy said, turning a warm look on his intended bride.