Page 6 of The Marriage Game

Elizabeth, Georgiana, and the Countess spent an entire week shopping. Elizabeth and Georgiana agreed that it had been fun for the first few days; after that, they no longer enjoyed the exhausting process of being measured, selecting fabrics, and looking through innumerable fashion plates. The Countess, on the other hand, was utterly indefatigable.

“How does she do it?” Georgiana whispered to Elizabeth. “She must be, what, fifty years old!”

“I do not know,” Elizabeth replied. “But I suspect the secret is that she is enjoying herself, while we are not.”

***

Finally – finally! – they were done. All their orders had been placed, and elegant calling cards had been printed.

Elizabeth knew it was far past time to visit Bingley House. She had sent brief notes to Jane, apologising for her absence, but she knew Jane would be feeling hurt. She could delay no longer! The butler admitted her immediately, and ushered her into the drawing room. Jane rose at once to embrace her. “I thought you had forgotten me,” she whispered.

“Impossible!” Elizabeth declared. “I have been through what can only be described as a nightmare of shopping.”

“Was it as bad as all that?” Jane asked, trying not to laugh at the expression on her sister’s face.

“Worse!”

“Have you seen the Gardiners yet?” Jane asked.

“There has been not a moment to do so, but I must make amends as soon as possible. Will you come with me?” Elizabeth and Jane sat together on a sofa.

“Of course! I sent a note to Aunt Gardiner telling her to expect me tomorrow, and I know she would be delighted to see you as well. Will that suit?”

“Suit for what?” Caroline Bingley had entered the room in time to hear that last question.

“To visit our relatives, the Gardiners,” Jane replied. “Should you care to join us?”

“And be seen at Gracechurch Street? I hardly think so,” Caroline retorted. “We have not seen much of you, Eliza. Or am I now to call you Mrs. Darcy?” Her tone was just short of insolence.

“You may call me either Elizabeth or Mrs. Darcy,” Elizabeth returned. “But I will not be called Eliza.”

“Does not Mrs. Collins refer to you as such?” Caroline enquired tightly.

“Yes, but she is a dear friend.” The inference that Caroline was not a dear friend could hardly be missed, and Caroline was curbed for a brief moment.

“Elizabeth has been kept very occupied by the Countess.” Jane broke the silence.

“Shopping?” Caroline asked.

“Yes, indeed, and a good deal of it. We arrived with almost nothing suitable for London, and we both had to have morning gowns, visiting gowns, walking gowns, carriage dresses, dinner dresses – Heavens! – far too much! And wraps, shawls, spencers, pelisses, cloaks, redingotes, gloves, stockings, shoes! There was no end to it all! And then we both had to have presentation gowns ordered, and they are the ugliest, gaudiest things you can imagine.” Elizabeth flopped back on the sofa in disgust.

“You are to be presented?” Caroline’s envy was unmistakable.

“The Countess insists. I dread every moment of it, but I suppose it will be good for Georgiana to have me beside her.”

“Really, Eliza – Elizabeth, rather – you are very odd. Most young ladies would give an eye to be presented to the Queen by the Countess of Matlock.” Caroline sounded puzzled now, rather than envious.

Elizabeth shrugged. “It is no secret that I am not much interested in such things. But, Caroline, if you can continue to remember to address me as Elizabeth or Mrs. Darcy, and Georgiana as Miss Darcy, I would be happy for both you and Jane to come to tea next Tuesday. I will invite a number of other young ladies to meet Georgiana, and it would be good for you to meet them as well, Caroline.”

Both Jane and Caroline agreed with alacrity.