Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 29

After Elizabeth’s nocturnal wander into the woods, Parker began sleeping in Elizabeth’s dressing room to prevent her wandering again. The servants readily accepted the explanation that Mrs. Darcy suffered from night terrors and occasionally required attendance during the night, and knowing their master’s views on gossip did not speculate further.

This arrangement had served them well the past few months, but Darcy worried what might happen when they removed to Darcy House, which was smaller, and had no adjoining dressing room to the chambers for the lady of the house. He brought up his concerns to Elizabeth.

“It may be dangerous for you to sleep alone, especially once we are in London. Suppose you wander out into the street and are kidnapped or set upon by robbers– or worse?”

“Your concerns are valid. I, too, have been thinking of what to do once our sisters are all gone from us. Perhaps Parker would consent to have a cot in my chamber?”

This solution satisfied Darcy for the present .

S

Following Easter, Georgiana departed for her friends’ home, accompanied by Mrs. Younge. Many embraces were exchanged between Georgiana and Lydia and Kitty, and Georgiana promised to write faithfully. She had especially grown close to Lydia in the previous month thanks to their talks and giggles, which had become a nightly occurrence. Lydia and Kitty promised to write too, although Elizabeth, knowing Lydia’s propensity to neglect her correspondence, guessed she might not be as diligent in returning Georgiana’s letters.

Once Georgiana was off, the Darcys prepared to travel south. They would stop in Hertfordshire for a few days, to deliver Kitty and Lydia to their parents, before journeying on to St. James’s Square.

The journey was easy, and they took their time over four days to reach Hertfordshire. Mr. Bennet, having suffered too long with only his wife for company, received his daughters with more gladness than usual.

“At last, I shall have some sensible conversation!” he said, greeting Elizabeth with a warm embrace.

“I do not know what he means by that,” Mrs. Bennet complained. “My conversations with him are as sane as anybody else’s.”

Kitty and Lydia, he found improved, with far less silliness than before. In the company of their elder sister, they had formed the ability to carry an intelligent conversation and to discuss topics besides bonnets and balls.

S

Mrs. Bennet seemed dismayed that her daughters had returned to her without any change in their marital status. Once out of Elizabeth’shearing, she complained to them. “I thought your stay at Pemberley might put you in the way of other eligible men of Mr. Darcy’s status,” she said. “Did Lizzy not take my suggestion to heart, to invite Mr. Darcy’s cousin to stay with you all?”

“No, Mamma, she did not,” Kitty told her. “We were a ways off in the countryside, with not much in the way of company, but we did further our acquaintance with the rector and his curate, whom you met, and another family nearby.”

Mrs. Bennet was not impressed. “It does you no good to fraternize with young married couples and poor clergymen. Your sister Mary was permitted to marry one, but only because he is the heir to Longbourn and will one day have this house.” She further railed because Lizzy and Darcy had refused to take Kitty and Lydia with them to London.

“I do not know why they should not– you are already out, and they have the means to introduce you to the first circles. It is entirely unfair.”

S

Two nights at Longbourn was enough to try Darcy’s patience. At Pemberley, he had plenty of rooms in which to escape, while Longbourn had few such places. He spent as much time out of doors as he could during their stay and when obliged to remain indoors due to the weather, he found refuge in Mr. Bennet’s book room, where he could entertain himself with a book and sit in quiet solitude with the master of the house.

He was grateful when they set off for St. James’s Square.

“I long to see Jane again,” Elizabeth said, as they drew near to Darcy House. “I wonder whether we might even call on her before the day is over.”

Jane’s letters to her the past few months had been few and infrequent. Jane used to write long, detailed letters to her when Elizabeth had lived with the Gardiners. But now her letters were short, almost in the hurried style of Lydia, and detailed little except the pleasure she took in various balls, card parties, dinners, and excursions to the theaters, the museums, and the parks. She had rekindled her friendship with the Bingleys and the Hursts, it seemed, and had also grown acquainted with Mrs. Jennings’ daughter, who resided nearby. There was also mention of a Mr. Rushworth, a young man of fortune from Northamptonshire, who was often of their party.

“If it pleases you to do so, I shall order the carriage to take us to Berkeley Street,” Darcy said.

An hour later, after a brief rest to change from their traveling clothes and eat a light meal, they set off. Jane was not at home when they arrived.

“I suppose I cannot complain, since she will not have been expecting me until tomorrow at least,” Elizabeth said sadly. She left her card, however, with a brief note informing Jane of their arrival.

When they returned to Darcy house, several letters awaited them.

Darcy plucked the first one, written in his sister’s hand, and read it quickly before sharing it with Elizabeth. “It is from Georgiana,” he said. “She writes that she has arrived safely at Culpepper Manor, and sends her love.”

“Excellent,” Elizabeth said, scanning the short missive before handing it back to him. “I hope she has a marvelous time with her friends.”

The next item bore the Matlock seal. “Lord and Lady Matlock have invited us to join them for dinner this evening at Fitzwilliam Place,” Darcy told her after he opened it.

“How did they know we are in town when we have only just arrived?” Elizabeth asked .

“I mentioned in my last letter to my uncle our plan to come down at this time for the remainder of the Season. He and Lady Matlock arrived a week ago. They must have planned to invite us.”

There was also a letter waiting from Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth took it and read it in her chambers.

Dear Lizzy,

How pleased I was to hear of your coming to town! I did not want to take the chance that my letter would not reach you at Pemberley or Longbourn before coming, so I directed it to Darcy House, knowing you would receive it upon your arrival. I have greatly missed you and look forward to spending time with you during your stay.

In addition to my eagerness to see you, there is a matter which I wish to speak to you of, concerning Jane. I will not put it to pen here, but I hope you will call on me as soon as it is convenient, so we may discuss it.

Yours sincerely,

M. Gardiner

Aunt Gardiner’s remarks puzzled Elizabeth, and she longed to ask her what she meant. However, there was no time.

She dispatched a quick note to Gracechurch Street informing the Gardiners she planned to call on them the next day. Then she turned her attention to the upcoming dinner and what she ought to wear to Fitzwilliam House. With Parker’s help, she selected a pale yellow gown which reminded her of a daffodil.

When dressing her for dinner, Parker coughed a few times, and again while styling Elizabeth’s hair.

“Dear me, Parker, I hope you are not ill!” Elizabeth said.

“Just a little sore throat, ma’am,” Parker answered .

“Do take care of yourself, please. I’m ordering you to go down to the kitchen and have Cook make you a cup of tea with honey, and some lemon, if any is to be had.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Parker smiled. “And thank you for your consideration.”

“Certainly! We cannot have you becoming ill. I do not know what I would do without you.”

S

Darcy frowned when he saw a familiar carriage ahead of theirs when they pulled up to the stately mansion on Grosvenor Street. “Lady Catherine is here,” he told Elizabeth.

“Is that not to be expected, considering this is her brother's house?” she asked.

“I was unaware she was in town. She often does not come for the Season, due to Anne’s health. The London air does not agree with my cousin. She must have gotten wind that we were to be coming and decided to make a spectacle of herself.”

Elizabeth’s brow furrowed. “What purpose could she have in doing so?”

“I believe she still intends to prove to the world that you are unfit to be my wife, as if it would somehow induce me to transfer my affections over to her daughter. Preposterous.” With a brief huff, Darcy exited the carriage ahead of Elizabeth.

S

Elizabeth gulped. Transfer of affections? That implied an existence of affections. Had she somehow misheard his words? Perhaps he only meant the sort of affections one has for a cousin or a friend. Best not to read too deeply into it . Besides, she had bigger issues to contend with, if it was true that Lady Catherine intended to prove Elizabeth as unfit to bear the title of Mrs. Darcy. She may not have asked for the title, but it was hers by right, and she could allow no person to shame her family–or Darcy– by trying to discredit her.

Standing up straighter, she took Darcy’s arm as he helped her up the stairs to the house. In the drawing room, Lady Matlock greeted her warmly and welcomed her to their London abode. Lord Matlock was polite, but stiff, while Lady Catherine gave only a nod in acknowledgement of her presence. Lady Catherine greeted her nephew effusively with a smile and pat on the back, so uncharacteristic of her, that Elizabeth was sure she must be putting on a display for some purpose.

“I hope you will not mind,” Lady Matlock said as they took their seats and accepted the glasses of cordial and sherry they were offered. “I have invited our neighbors, whom I believe you are friends with,Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and their guests, Mr. and Miss Bingley.”

Darcy’s face brightened at the mention of his friends, and he remarked how good it would be to see them again.

“I met Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley while I was out for a walk in the square the other day,” Lady Matlock explained. “After we had been introduced, they mentioned their connection to you, Darcy. I thought it only fitting to invite them, seeing how their residence is only a few doors from ours. They asked if they might bring their brother also, since you are acquainted with him.”

Elizabeth had forgotten Mr. Hurst kept a house on Grosvenor Street, but was reminded now of one of her earliest conversations with Mrs. Hurst, when the lady had asked her how far her uncle’s residence might be from Grosvenor. Mrs. Hurst had seemed rather dismayed when she learned Elizabeth’s relatives resided in Cheapside .

The Hurst and the Bingleys arrived soon after. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were cool but polite towards Elizabeth, while Mr. Bingley was, as usual, cheerful and amiable to everyone. Mr. Hurst merely grunted his acknowlegements before moving towards the footman carrying the sherry.

Lady Catherine eyed the newcomers with suspicion, as if contemplating whether they were worthy to appear at Lady Matlock’s table. During dinner, she asked them a series of questions, and learned Mr. Bingley’s father had been in trade.

“My father was successful in his business endeavors. He purchased a cotton mill in Lancashire, which, I am pleased to say, is now mine,” Mr. Bingley told her proudly.

“A cotton mill; how industrious!” Lady Catherine said dryly. She was even less impressed to hear that Mr. Bingley owned no estate, lived in rented quarters while in town, and was leasing a property in Hertfordshire.

“Yes, Lady Catherine. In fact, if it were not for my taking up residence at Netherfield Park, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy may not have met!” Mr. Bingley said brightly, failing to observe the sour expression forming on Lady Catherine’s lips.

Elizabeth saw it, however, and changed the subject. “Mr. Bingley, I am told you have seen my sister often, as of late.”

Mr. Bingley bobbed his head. “Oh yes, we continue to be great friends, as always. She often accompanies us to the parks or the theater. Why, only this afternoon, we all had a lovely carriage ride together!”

“Yes, Miss Bennet has become a regular fixture in our outings,” Miss Bingley echoed. “She calls so often at Hurst Place, it sometimes feels as though she lives there.” Elizabeth discerned the touch of bitterness in Miss Bingley’s tone, but she was certain it escaped the others’ notice.

Bingley was certainly oblivious. “I am exceedingly grateful to Mrs. Jennings for inviting Miss Bennet into her home, so our acquaintance could continue without interruption. I do not know when I shall return to the countryside; London is so diverting! At this rate, I may not return until the summer months, when the Season wanes,” he said.

Lady Matlock overheard part of their conversation and decided to join in. “Your sister is in town, then, Mrs. Darcy? Had I known of it, I would have invited her to join us tonight as well. You must arrange an introduction at the next available opportunity.”

“Certainly, Lady Matlock, I would be pleased to do so,” Elizabeth replied.

Lady Matlock turned to her husband. “Do you not think we would have room to include Miss Bennet, along with the Darcys, in our boxes for the opera Saturday sennight?”

“For the production of Don Giovanni? No, I don’t think so,” Lord Matlock replied gruffly. “The Linningtons have already accepted our invitation for that night, as has my sister.”

Lady Catherine nodded her agreement.

“Well, then put them in Jamie’s box. It is right next to ours. I want Miss Bennet there,” Lady Matlock argued.

Mr. Bingley cleared his throat. “I believe Miss Bennet is already engaged. I myself will be at the opera, as a guest of Mr. Rushworth, and I am told Miss Bennet and her chaperone are to be of our party as well. Mr. Rushworth has a box at Covent Garden also, although probably not as favorably situated as yours is.”

“Then it’s settled,” Lady Matlock said. “The Darcys shall accompany us, along with the Linningtons. Lady Catherine may sit in Jamie’s box, if she pleases, so we shall not be overcrowded.”

Lord Matlock gave her a look of displeasure, but did not argue further.

Elizabeth was confused. “I apologize for not knowing, but who is Jamie?”

“My eldest son, James,” Lady Matlock said .

“Though you may address him as the Viscount Fitzwilliam,” Lord Matlock added.

“Ah, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brother!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I will be pleased to meet another cousin of Mr. Darcy’s.”

Lady Catherine gave her a strange expression, as if she were astonished that Elizabeth would not know about all of Mr. Darcy’s relations to the fourth generation ancestor by now. Nevertheless, Elizabeth survived the dinner without incident and even found herself looking forward to the opera the following week. She was determined to prove herself worthy to be on Mr. Darcy’s arm at such a public place.

Elizabeth decided she would go shopping for a new gown before the opera. Mr. Darcy had been generous in his gift of pin money to her, insisting she deserved to be spoilt with new gowns and accouterments befitting her station. She would take him up on it.

She kept thinking about Mr. Darcy’s remarks about his aunt looking to discredit her as his wife, and the slip of the tongue which suggested he might have some affection for her. But what is that to me, anyhow? It is not as if I hold him in any affection. He is merely my husband in name only. I only have to appear in public as his wife and not embarrass him in any way.