Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 16

Hookham’s Library

Mayfair

Late April, 1812

The carriage came to a gentle halt, and a moment later, the door was pulled open by one of the Bingleys’ footmen, who reached a gloved hand out to first help Mrs. Jane Bingley and then Miss Bennet out onto the pavement.

Elizabeth smiled her thanks and looked around with avid interest. Hookham’s Library was an impressive edifice; far larger than the bookshop and library in Meryton and built of red brick, with large windows to let in the light.

“Shall we, Lizzy?” Jane asked, and Elizabeth nodded and climbed the steps to the front door. The two ladies passed into the main area, and Elizabeth, after penetrating sufficiently into the room to no longer block the doors, stopped and looked around in wonder.

Hookham’s Library was very grand. The main room was filled with rows of bookshelves, between which ladies and gentlemen perused the stacks for a book of their fancy, each section labeled according to its contents. The daylight that spilled in from the windows was supplemented by lit chandeliers and candelabras, which would provide enough light to read even after dark.

Off to the right was the reading room, which offered plush seating that was as good of a place for the ladies of London to mingle and meet as it was for reading. Elizabeth marveled at the variety of books available to the public, from storybooks and myths to books on landowning and farming. Elizabeth was very fond of her home in the small town of Meryton, but she could not deny her envy for those who lived within accessible distance of this building.

“It is even more magnificent than you described, Jane,” she finally said to her sister, who was waiting patiently at her side.

“I knew you would adore it,” Jane replied, and then her beautiful eyes brightened and she said, “Oh, I see Mrs. Trowbridge. Do come along, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth allowed herself to be guided over to a small table near one of the large windows, where two ladies sat; one, a pretty woman of some five and twenty, was dressed in a dark green day gown which wonderfully flattered her auburn tresses. Beside her sat a younger woman, roughly Elizabeth’s age, clothed in blue muslin, whose countenance was similar enough to the older woman that Elizabeth guessed that the pair must be sisters.

The two women had risen at Jane’s approach, and the elder, whom Elizabeth could now see was in a family way, said, “Mrs. Bingley! What a delight to see you here today. I hope you are well?”

“I am very well, Mrs. Trowbridge. May I please have the honor of introducing my sister?”

“Please do!”

“Mrs. Trowbridge, my sister, Miss Bennet. Elizabeth, Mrs. Trowbridge.”

The ladies curtsied, and then Mrs. Trowbridge introduced her sister as Miss Storey. After yet another round of curtsies, Jane and Elizabeth were invited to sit down. Elizabeth did so, of course, though with a little regret. She wanted, more than anything, to investigate the multitude of enticing volumes on the shelves, but she also knew that Jane was eager to develop more friendships in Town.

“Miss Bennet,” Mrs. Trowbridge said with a smile, “have you been in Town long?”

“I only arrived three days ago from Hertfordshire, where my family lives. Jane and my new brother have kindly offered to host me and my sisters, one at a time, and I am blessed to be the first.”

“How many sisters do you have?” Miss Storey asked.

“There are five of us,” Elizabeth replied. “Jane is the eldest and I am next.”

“Oh, how lovely to have so many sisters!” the girl declared. “I have but one sister and one brother.”

Jane and Mrs. Trowbridge were, by now, discussing the best milliners in the area, so Elizabeth felt comfortable devoting her attention to Miss Storey.

“It is wonderful,” Elizabeth agreed. “Is your brother older or younger?”

“He is only two years older than I am, and two years younger than Eleanor. Has your sister been married long, Miss Bennet?”

“No. She wed Mr. Bingley a little more than a month ago. She and her husband have rented a house on Half Moon Street. How long have you been in London?”

“Oh, we go back and forth, you see. My father despises London, and my mother, though most loyal to Father, dislikes the country. We are currently living with my sister and her husband in Trowbridge House on Mount Street, and will probably stay for the Season.”

Elizabeth determined, from this artless description of a house in a very wealthy neighborhood, that the Trowbridges must be rich.

“Do you enjoy Town, then?” she asked.

“I do,” Miss Storey declared, her eyes alight, “especially now! I left school a little more than a year ago, and this is my Second Season. The first I found rather overwhelming, in truth, with parties every night. This year, my mother has agreed that I need not attend so many functions, so I will have more time to enjoy reading and attending the theater.”

“This is a marvelous shop,” Elizabeth said, looking around in awe.

“Is this your first time here, then?”

“It is.”

“My dear Miss Bennet, here I am chattering with you when you have not had a chance to sample all the delights of this place. Do come along.”

Elizabeth looked over at Jane, who nodded indulgently, and rose to her feet.

“What kind of books do you like?” Miss Storey asked her, and Elizabeth chuckled and said, “Everything really, though I suppose I am most excited about novels.”

“This way, then!”

The two young ladies made their way to one corner of the great room, where there were, indeed, a plethora of novels. Many were familiar to Elizabeth, but even more were not. Miss Storey, to Elizabeth’s pleasure, was a reader, and the two young ladies spent a happy fifteen minutes drifting from one section to another, talking about their favorite authors and books, and giving suggestions to one another.

When Elizabeth finally remembered her sister, she discovered that the table where Jane and Mrs. Trowbridge had been was now unoccupied.

“They are probably in the Reading Room,” Miss Storey said. “It has all the latest periodicals, and my sister loves them.”

This proved to be the case, as Elizabeth found the older ladies seated on a couch by the fire, each with a volume of the Ladies Monthly Museum in their hands.

“You would look marvelous in this yellow ensemble,” Mrs. Trowbridge declared, and Elizabeth, stepping up behind the pair and looking over Jane’s shoulder, could not but agree. The pictured gown in question was a sunny yellow, with fine French lace at hem and neck and sleeves, and a gauzy lighter yellow overdress.

“You would look marvelous,” she remarked and Jane started a little and turned her head. “Oh, Lizzy! There you are. I was afraid you would have trouble finding us, but Mrs. Trowbridge was confident that her sister would guide you here.”

Miss Storey appeared at this moment with a slim volume in her hand and said, “I knew you would not miss the periodicals, Sister, and besides, the couches here are far more comfortable than in the other room! Do sit down, Miss Bennet, before someone else takes the settee!”

Elizabeth obediently sat down with her new friend and bent a curious look at Miss Storey’s find. “May I ask what that is?”

“Ah, this is a volume of The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure ! It has all kinds of fascinating articles about science and gardening and philosophy and medicine. I am certain you would enjoy it.”

Elizabeth was in so much agreement that she immediately sought out a volume for herself. The four ladies spent another thirty minutes happily poring over their magazines before Jane, after glancing at the watch hanging on a chain around her neck, said, “My dear Lizzy, I fear it is time for our carriage to return to take us home.”

Elizabeth swallowed a sigh of disappointment and said, “Yes, of course, Mrs. Trowbridge, Miss Storey, it was wonderful to meet you both.”

“We are very pleased to meet you as well,” Mrs. Trowbridge said. “I hope we will see you again soon. Mrs. Bingley, are you invited to Lady Lowry’s ball next week?”

“Yes,” Jane replied. “Sir Christopher is a friend of my husband’s from Oxford, so we have been invited.”

“Wonderful! We hope we will see you both there.”

Elizabeth smiled but did not speak; she, of course, had not been invited, but there was no point in mentioning that.

“Lady Lowry and I are great friends,” Mrs. Trowbridge continued, turning a cheerful look on Elizabeth, “so I will mention that you are newly arrived in London so that she will send you an invitation. I know my sister would enjoy another intelligent woman to speak to at the ball. ”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth replied. “That would be delightful.”

She meant it, too. She greatly enjoyed both dancing and lively conversation, and with a new acquaintance in Miss Storey, she was hopeful that even if she was not asked to dance, she would have the opportunity to spend time with her new friend.