Page 9 of The Marriage Game
Themorning of their first official “tea” was a busy one for Elizabeth.
She checked the drawing room first. The three sofas were upholstered in a lovely blue and cream stripe;
the accent chairs in a matching cream. The draperies, hung on either side of the tall windows, picked up the blue from the sofas perfectly.
The plasterwork on the ceilings had been recently repaired and newly repainted.
The rug was an Aubusson, with blue flowers on a cream background. The rosewood tables were gleaming, with vases of hothouse flowers on each. The white marble fireplace was already glowing, the room warmed in preparation for guests. There was a pianoforte – Broadwood, of course – and also a harp for any young ladies who wished to display their talents.
Elizabeth checked the flowers, nodded in approval, and then went to speak to Cook. “What have you decided for our tea this afternoon, Mrs. Babcock?”
“I have some receipts from Mr. Darcy’s mother’s time, and I thought we would serve small sandwiches of chicken salad, tomato and cucumber with herbed cream cheese, smoked salmon, and egg salad. Scones, of course, with clotted cream and the strawberry jam you brought from Pemberley. Then I thought tarts of different flavours – blueberry, strawberry, raspberry – and little chocolate cakes for those who do not care for tarts.”
“I am hungry just thinking about it! And the tea?”
“Mrs. Darcy used to serve – begging your pardon, ma’am, I mean Mr. Darcy’s mother –a black perfect.”
***
At half past three, Elizabeth and Georgiana were seated in the drawing room. Mr. Darcy came in and asked them to stand up so that he might admire them properly. After complimenting them both, he announced that he was off to his club, where he would spend the afternoon.
“Are you sure, William? I know the ladies would love to see you,” Elizabeth teased him.
“Particularly Caroline Bingley,” Georgiana added, mischievously.
“Miss Bingley is to be here? Is that a good idea, Elizabeth? This is your first tea, you know.”
“We discussed this, William. And Jane has warned her that she must be on her best behaviour.”
Mr. Darcy shuddered visibly, wished them luck, and departed.
Georgiana asked, worriedly, “Do you think she will behave, Lizzy?”
“Well, if she does not, this will be the last event she attends with us.” Elizabeth’s tone was firm and decided.
Taggart cleared his throat as he entered the room. Elizabeth and Georgiana rose to their feet as he announced the first guest. “Lady Amelia Fane and Lady Agatha Fane.”
Elizabeth and Georgiana traded quick glances. Thanks to the Countess’ list, they knew these ladies to be the mother and sister of the Earl of Westmoreland. Their attendance at this tea was a social coup for the Darcys.
Within ten minutes, every guest had arrived and introductions had been made. Jane was there, of course, along with Caroline Bingley. Lady Edith Russell, mother to the Baron de Clifford had come, as had a small number of untitled ladies whose sons or brothers were considered suitable by the Countess.
Miss Beatrice Dunfred and her mother, Mrs. Dunfred, were sister and mother, respectively, to a Mr. Alfred Dunfred, a young man of fortune and character. Mrs. Julia Whitcombe was mother to Mr. Daniel Whitcombe, another young man who had made his way onto the Countess’ list. Miss Clarissa Sawyer and Mrs. Josephine Sawyer were sister and mother to Mr. John Sawyer, another gentleman on the list.
Elizabeth and Georgiana had left cards at these ladies’ homes the past week. There had been a few notes of regret sent, but all in all, the ladies in the Darcy drawing room were a complete dozen, and Elizabeth was satisfied with her first venture into London society.
The tea trays were brought out, and there was a good deal of ooh-ing and aah-ing over the offerings. The tea was pronounced unique and delicious, and Elizabeth explained that it had been the favourite of Mr. Darcy’s mother.
As the foodstuffs were consumed, there were many questions about Elizabeth’s past. She simply smiled at each of the questioners, agreeing that she was indeed a country girl of no importance whatsoever, and she had been very, very lucky in securing the interest of as important and eligible a gentleman as Mr. Darcy.
Caroline snorted very loudly the second time Elizabeth had said this, and Elizabeth finally said, “Caroline, did you wish to say something?” Then she turned to her guests and said, “Miss Bingley was there when Mr. Darcy and I met.”
Caroline could not resist, of course. “I recall he was not impressed at first, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth laughed gaily. “No, not at all! But his opinion obviously changed at some point.”
Caroline went on. “How well I recall how you looked when you walked three miles to Netherfield to nurse Jane!” Her tone was not friendly.
Jane began to look worried, but Elizabeth leaped in. “Yes, that was the first time Mr. Darcy began to think his first opinion of me might be wrong.”
“Were you very ill, Mrs. Bingley?” Mrs. Dunfred enquired, kindly.
“I had a rather bad cold,” Jane said. “But it was my own fault for riding in the rain. I sent a note home in the morning, saying that there was nothing much wrong with me, but Elizabeth would not be satisfied until she had seen me with her own eyes.”
“The horses were needed at the farm, so I walked.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Anyone who is close to a sister would have done the same. I fear Miss Bingley was rather scandalised, but Mr. Darcy told me later that he thought my eyes had been brightened by the exercise.”
“And it showed a good deal of sisterly love, which I am certain meant a good deal to him, given that he has a sister of his own,” Lady Amelia Fane said firmly.
Caroline fell silent, not about to contradict the mother of an earl.
Both Jane and Georgiana then spoke warmly about what a wonderful sister Elizabeth was, and how very lucky they were to have her. Caroline scowled, but said nothing.
The conversation than moved on to the social events expected for the Season. Almack’s was discussed at length, of course, with speculation as to who would receive vouchers and the best way to go about procuring them.
“Have you received a voucher, Geor – Miss Darcy?” Caroline asked, correcting herself in time.
“Not as yet, no, but I suspect my aunt will manage that for me,” Georgiana replied, not fully aware of how dearly such vouchers were coveted and how very, very dearly Caroline wished she might have one.
“Oh, yes, the Countess of Matlock will doubtless secure vouchers for you and Mrs. Darcy,” Lady Amelia said, nodding decisively.
“I hear it is not all that enjoyable,” Elizabeth said. “But of course I will go to support my sister.”
“It will do you no harm to be seen at Almack’s,” Lady Russell said. “My son, Edmund, will be there, as I believe he intends to marry this year. He has been reluctant in the past, but evidently something has changed.”
“Are all gentlemen reluctant to marry, do you think?” Elizabeth asked. This was a highly successful question in terms of creating a spirited discussion, as it was a full twenty minutes before that enquiry had been adequately deliberated, with the ladies evenly split between the belief that all gentlemen were reluctant to marry and the belief that all gentlemen were eager to marry.
As the conversation progressed, the young girls began trading seats so that they were clustered around Georgiana, laughing and giggling. Elizabeth looked on, gratified; she very much wanted Georgiana to have friends when she first ventured into a ballroom or dinner. She noted that none of the girls had wanted to sit beside Caroline.
Abruptly, Lady Amelia Fane asked, “Will you be at Lady Stewart’s ball next week, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Yes, as will Miss Darcy.”
“I shall look forward to seeing you both there,” Lady Amelia replied.
Elizabeth and Georgiana had brought their cards to Stewart House and had been delighted when Lady Stewart not only brought cards to Darcy House, but had also requested entrance. It was this visit that had resulted in the invitation to the ball. She had been invited to Elizabeth’s tea, of course, but had sent regrets due to an earlier commitment.
When both conversation and foodstuffs had been exhausted, the guests departed with thanks and promises of reciprocation.
“Jane, Caroline, stay a bit,” Elizabeth whispered as adieus were exchanged.
Jane and Caroline waited while the other ladies accepted their outerwear from Taggart and climbed into their carriages. Georgiana lifted an enquiring brow at Elizabeth who shook her head, slightly. Immediately understanding that her presence was no longer required, Georgiana thanked Elizabeth for a wonderful afternoon, curtsied to Jane and Caroline, and ran upstairs.
Elizabeth wasted no time. “Caroline, I was not pleased with you today.”
“I did nothing –“
“No; you know very well that you were trying to show me in a bad light. Look here, I am trying to help you! Why are you so reluctant to accept my conditions?”
“You? Help me? How?”
“How is it that you do not understand this? Jane, was the situation not explained to her?”
Jane shrugged, helplessly. “She hears what she wants to hear, Lizzy. You know that.”
Elizabeth lost her temper. “Caroline, despite your high opinion of your beauty and your dowry, you are now twenty-three years of age and unmarried. You have had three Seasons in Town, as I understand it, with no results. Surely you are aware that in another three years, you will be considered on the shelf.”
Caroline gasped and leaped to her feet. “I will never be –“
“I am not quite done,” Elizabeth said, teeth gritted. “Sit down.”
Caroline obeyed, now white-faced.
“I have offered to help you make a match, as you seem unable to do so on your own. I will host a number of dinners and teas, and of course a ball for Georgiana, and I will invite you to those events to help you meet eligible gentlemen. But I will not have you ruin Georgiana’s chances. The moment – the very moment! – that I think your behaviour is poor, I will cancel your invitations. Now repeat back to me what you just learnt.”
Caroline looked furious, and she shook her head.
“No? Then I think you have not understood me. Shall I repeat it? I will host –“
Caroline broke in, voice tight with rage. “Yes, I understand. You will invite me to your events as long as I do not anger you in any way.”
“Basically, yes. But it is less about angering me and more about poor behaviour. Do you not understand that saying negative things about one’s hostess is poor behaviour? For that matter, saying something negative about anyone is poor behaviour!”
“As long as that person is not in the room, you mean!” Caroline corrected her.
Jane and Elizabeth shared a baffled glance.
“Caroline,” Elizabeth spoke slowly now. “It is one thing to voice your opinion privately to a friend, but it is a completely different thing in a social situation. Hold on for a moment; I wish Georgiana to hear this as well.”
She went to the bell cord and pulled it. A maid appeared at once; Elizabeth asked to have Georgiana brought down.
Georgiana, now in a simple cotton dress, joined the group in the drawing room and sat down at Elizabeth’s request.
Elizabeth said, tightly, “I will start again. You may voice a poor opinion in a private setting, but only to someone you trust not to repeat it. A lady is expected to keep her poor opinions very much to herself. Expressing a poor opinion in company is considered very unladylike.”
Georgiana nodded. “That is what Mrs. Annesley says as well.”
“Ah, yes. Georgiana, will you ask Mrs. Annesley to join us?”
When Mrs. Annesley walked into the drawing room, she curtsied to the room at large and then asked, “How may I be of service, Mrs. Darcy?”
“I was just saying that a lady keeps poor opinions of others to herself. I thought perhaps you might discuss other attributes expected of a lady in ton society.”
“I shall be happy to, as Georgiana and I have discussed this at length. Modesty is important. A lady is expected to not be eager to call attention to herself; she is better served praising others instead. Kindness is highly valued by society, and this is not just kindness to one’s friends and acquaintances, but also kindness to servants and the lower orders. Berating a servant is the mark of someone who is not a lady. The servant’s grapevine, particularly here in London, is active and swift. Your servants will have no compunction about sharing their opinion of you with other servants, who will then report back to their mistresses.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Annesley,” Elizabeth said. “That is exactly what we needed to hear.”
Once Mrs. Annesley had departed, Elizabeth looked hard at Caroline. “The friendship of ladies leads to introductions to sons and brothers, so making friends with them is important. Ladies will not wish to befriend someone who cannot even be kind to a sister’s sister! Did you not notice that the young ladies in attendance today clustered around Georgiana, but not you? Do you understand, Caroline? If you cannot behave like a lady, I cannot have you associated in anyone’s mind with Georgiana. I will not allow you to lessen her chances. It is that simple.”
Caroline could bear no more. She rose and walked from the room. Jane cast a quick glance at her sister, saying, “Elizabeth, I will see you soon,” and followed Caroline.
Georgiana stared after them, and then said, “I hope she learnt something. But I rather doubt it.”