Page 11 of Why I Kissed You (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Biting her lip in an effort not to laugh, Elizabeth was forced to concede that he had a point.

“In the interest of full candor, I rather dread my mother’s lamentations more than Her Ladyship’s.

Mamma would probably be the first to point out that Darcy has quite money enough to buy an entire new wardrobe for his wife and then some. ”

“And in that one instance, if no other, I would agree with her,” Darcy interjected.

“My dear, consider that purchasing new clothes to help you ‘look the part’, as you said, will put you yet another step ahead of society’s gossip mongers.

Beat them at their own game by giving them nothing to criticize. ”

“Perhaps I ought to take some delight in vexing them,” Elizabeth mused. “And of course, my dressing the part of a rich man’s wife makes him look better by association—they can’t then criticize you, either, if I am always fashionably attired.”

Not just Darcy, she realized. By dressing well, she would be bringing additional gentility to her relations by association.

She especially wished for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to be well thought of, for though her uncle was in trade, he was every bit the gentleman and her aunt was most assuredly a lady.

Sighing heavily, Elizabeth inclined her head. “Very well, Mr. Darcy. I shall accept the purchase of a new wardrobe, if it must be done. I suppose I might think of it as your wedding present to me—should make the mortification of not being able to buy my own wedding clothes sting a little less.”

Darcy looked as though he might argue the point, but a motion from his cousin stilled his tongue and he merely pressed his lips together again; Elizabeth was grateful that Colonel Fitzwilliam had some effect on Darcy’s temper.

Her betrothed might think little of it, but it was embarrassing that the purchase of her trousseau would be his doing and not her father’s, because Mr. Bennet could not afford the expense.

After another quarter of an hour’s rest and discussion, they were off again toward London.

Elizabeth grew more anxious the nearer they drew to the city, fretting over how her sister and her aunt and uncle would receive the news.

Happy would be their ejaculations, certainly.

Jane, like Charlotte, had suspected at one time that Darcy admired her; she would take some small pleasure in needling Elizabeth that she had been right.

Mrs. Gardiner would be in raptures over her marvelous good fortune and no doubt hopeful of an invitation to Pemberley, a house she had admired all her youth.

Mr. Gardiner would be happy to see her so well settled, and hopeful of receiving the commission for the “happy” couple’s new carriage.

Not that Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire needs another carriage , Elizabeth mused sourly. He probably has half a dozen of them already .

“Are you well, Miss Bennet?”

She looked across the carriage to the maid. “Quite well, Miss Lacey. I just have a great deal on my mind.”

“Oh, just Penelope, Miss. I’m a maid, I know my place,” the other girl said.

Elizabeth flashed a grin. “Well, your ‘place’ is as my maid at the moment, so I shall afford you the same respect as any other lady’s maid.”

A thought occurred to her then. “Tell me—besides being a parlor maid, what other work have you done? Have you any other skills?”

“Well, like any maid worth her weight in gold, Miss, I can handle a needle and thread. I know how to read and write, though the latter isn’t too neat as I don’t have cause to do it often. And I can do basic sums.”

“That is good to know. I think I may already have a position for you, then—did not Mr. Darcy say he would find you work when we reached town?”

The maid nodded. “He did, Miss. Very kind of him to help me find a new position.”

“It is only right that he does, given he has taken you away from your post at Rosings to be of service to me, however voluntarily you came along,” Elizabeth told her.

“You would do just as well to serve as my lady’s maid as any other, I am sure, so long as you are willing to learn the position’s duties. ”

Miss Lacey’s eyes widened. “You are too kind, Miss! I must say, I do think I know a fair bit ‘bout what a lady’s maid does. Mason—that is, Miss de Bourgh’s maid—talked of what she does all the time during meals in the servants’ hall, even though we downstairs maids were lower in rank than her.

Sounds like a great deal of work, but I’d be happy to do it!

I like keeping busy, as then I don’t think so much about being all alone in the world. ”

Elizabeth felt a rush of sympathy for her. “How long have you been alone?”

“Eight years. I was fourteen when my parents died within days of each other from a fever that swept through Hunsford; I’m two-and-twenty now.

I almost died as well,” said Miss Lacey.

“I was first taken in by the old parson and his wife, to recover from my illness, because of course I couldn’t stay in my father’s house alone at such an age.

It was old Mrs. Baker that taught me to read and write and do sums, as she thought every young person ought to have at least that much education.

Then, when Reverend Baker died, Lady Catherine took me on at Rosings. ”

Elizabeth was glad to know more of the girl, with whom she had talked little on the first leg of the journey, so full of her own concerns as she had been.

“Well then, I shall be glad to tell Mr. Darcy that he does not need bother about finding a position for you or a lady’s maid for me, which I am sure he will insist I have,” she said.

Miss Lacey smiled. “But of course! Mr. Darcy is the grandson of an earl, and important people like him—and his wife—would have their own man or maid. I shouldn’t wonder at you having a lot on your mind, to be marrying so prodigiously wealthy and handsome a man.

Lady Catherine always talked of his marrying Miss de Bourgh, but I never thought he would.

All the girls at Rosings said she’s been sickly her whole life, and an important man like Mr. Darcy must have an heir. ”

Elizabeth suppressed a shudder at the thought. She knew that, eventually, she would be expected to give her husband an heir, but at present she still wasn’t sure she even liked the man! How was she ever going to lay with him to perform her wifely duties?

She could not dwell on that now, she mused, as the carriage was just then pulling up outside of her uncle Gardiner’s house in Gracechurch Street. In another moment, the footman was opening the door and setting the step, then Darcy was there to hand her out.

“Ready to begin the charade?” she quipped softly.

Darcy frowned in a way that gave Elizabeth pause—had she hurt his feelings with her remark? How could she have done? They had agreed that their happiness would all be for show … hadn’t they?

Pushing the thought aside, she placed her hand at his elbow when he offered his arm, and together they made their way silently up the steps to the Gardiners’ door, with the maid following behind; Colonel Fitzwilliam elected to remain outside as Darcy’s visit wasn’t to be long.

Darcy lifted the knocker and tapped it to the plate three times.

A minute or two later, Mrs. Reed, the housekeeper, opened the door.

“Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth,” the lady greeted her, then she stepped aside to allow the three of them to enter.

“Mrs. Gardiner is upstairs with the children, but your sister Miss Jane is in the drawing room.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Reed,” said Elizabeth. “Is my uncle home?”

Mrs. Reed nodded. “He’s in his study, Miss.”

“Will you be so kind as to ask Mr. Gardiner to come to the drawing room, and send one of the maids for Mrs. Gardiner?”

Mrs. Reed nodded. “Of course, Miss,” said she, then turned away and strode off down the hall. Elizabeth drew a breath and, after taking her hand from Darcy’s arm, squared her shoulders and led the way into the drawing room.

Jane looked up from her embroidery immediately upon their entrance, her expression first of delight and then of confusion. “Lizzy,” said she as she stood and approached to embrace her. “This is so unexpected. Mr. Darcy, how do you do?”

Darcy smiled as he bowed his head— Progress already , Elizabeth mused.

“Good afternoon, Miss Bennet,” Darcy replied to Jane’s greeting. “I am well. How do you do?”

“Quite well, sir,” said Jane, whose gaze flickered across each member of the party before returning to Elizabeth. “I am, of course, much surprised to see you all here.”

“Lizzy!” cried Mr. Gardiner cheerfully as he came into the drawing room. He stepped up to her and they kissed each other’s cheek. “What are you doing here? You were not to come until next week.”

He glanced at Darcy and Miss Lacey. “Will you not introduce your friends? ”

“Of course, sir,” said Elizabeth. “May I present to you Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire and Miss Lacey. Miss Lacey is my maid, at present, employed by Mr. Darcy to attend me from Kent. Mr. Darcy, Miss Lacey, my uncle Mr. Edward Gardiner. Miss Lacey, my sister Miss Bennet.”

The gentlemen bowed to one another and exchanged greetings. Mrs. Gardiner soon joined their party, and introductions were made again.

“Now, my dear Lizzy,” said her uncle, his brow drawn up in curiosity. “What has brought you hither a se’nnight earlier than expected?”

Darcy offered his arm again, and Elizabeth once more placed her hand upon it, forcing a smile to her lips as she said, “Mr. Darcy and I are engaged to be married.”