Chapter 7 A Winter Wrong

As the three sisters boarded the Darcy carriage, Elizabeth tightened her hold on her reticule until her knuckles ached, and then she realized she was most fearful that today’s tea would sever ties completely with the Darcy family. The streets of London shortly transitioned from shabby to chic as Mr. Darcy’s street was fitted with the new lamp posts that illuminated the road despite the heavy fog threatening the day’s cheer. Thinking about the last time she saw Georgiana’s brother brought a strange memory to her mind as he had reached over to console her after she had rejected Mr. Collins. Armed with more information about the enigmatic Mr. Darcy and his charitable givings, once more she considered perhaps there was more to the man than she had first thought.

The grandeur of the town home made all of the sisters take a moment to collect themselves. Jane smiled and voiced a hope to see Mr. Bingley for a second time today, while Mary remembered that Miss Darcy had talked about a great love for the pianoforte at the toy store and hoped there would be a call for the ladies to perform at the instrument.

Elizabeth ignored her sisters’ mutterings and looked at the white brick building with a critical eye. With all of these resources, she could hardly credit that Mr. Darcy couldn’t spare a farthing for poor Lieutenant Wickham. She silently vowed if it was ever in her power to remedy that man’s situation, it was the least she could do to help a fellow victim of poor inheritance.

The ladies followed the butler up the steps to the main floor and released their cloaks. Dressed in hues of lavender and gray, the girls thought it best to attend the tea in half-mourning dress. Led to a bright yellow room near the back of the home, Elizabeth was delighted to enter a solarium styled parlor with a glass wall on the back side full of green, hearty plants and blooms.

An iron table was set, and an older woman with slight gray streaks on the edge of her dark hair sat with a flustered look as Miss Caroline Bingley chatted beside her. Elizabeth felt impressed with Miss Bingley’s conniving ways to weasel herself into places she clearly wasn’t invited.

Georgiana immediately rose and veritably skipped to greet the Bennets.

“May I present my aunt, the Countess of Matlock, and my favorite relation outside of my brother and cousin, of course?”

The Bennet sisters curtsied, and all exchanged a look. The stern eye of Lady Matlock didn’t miss the silent communication of bewilderment between the girls.

“I understood that Georgiana informed you of my presence? You all look as if I were a leprechaun sprung from the end of a rainbow.”

Elizabeth laughed and covered her mouth with her gloved hand as her sisters remained quiet, unsure of what to do.

“Yes, milady, Miss Darcy mentioned her aunt would be in attendance. We assumed she referred to her other aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Lady Matlock sniffed. “Oh heavens, no one would wish to take tea with Catherine!” And she winked at her niece who turned white. “How on earth are you acquainted with her?”

Jane decided to take on her proper place as the eldest Bennet daughter and speak up for the family. She explained that her father’s distant cousin inherited their estate and before this, Mr. Collins was parson to Lady Catherine.

Lady Matlock motioned for the Bennet sisters to take a seat and watched as her niece expertly poured them each a cup. Nodding her approval to Georgiana, she picked up her own cup and gave a keen inspection to the three young Bennet women. They were unaffected beauties, neither looking to preen or offend, and their manners were certainly pleasant. Margaret Fitzwilliam was most pleased that the spirited one, Miss Elizabeth, regularly redirected the conversation to include her niece, and cut that harpy Caroline Bingley short.

“I am all astonishment that you ladies would travel to London in such dreary weather. Did you not wish to stay at your father’s home after your cousin inherited?”

All three Bennet sisters turned red, but Caroline Bingley pounced first.

“They were tossed out, Lady Matlock when Miss Eliza spurned an offer of marriage from the cousin right at the dinner table. My own brother was present and appalled that a lady could dismiss such an advantageous match out of hand.”

As if swatting a gnat, Lady Matlock waved her hand in the air to her left to hush Miss Bingley. “Are you saying that you three are the victims of a winter wrong, that the heir to your father’s estate would dare to throw a widow and her five daughters out into the cold?”

Again, the Bennet sisters couldn’t find the words and Miss Elizabeth was the first to look up.

“He was not a very kind man, Lady Matlock, and my family suffered greatly after the death of my father. However, we are now under the protection of my uncle and pleasantly surprised to learn my father did set aside some monies for our care during his lifetime.”

“And it was Aunt Catherine’s fault! She wrote letters to Mr. Collins telling him to fire all of the servants and to marry one of his cousins. But he didn’t even ask Miss Elizabeth, he demanded. My brother told me so!” Georgiana felt brave enough to glare at Miss Bingley, reminding the woman that she had a brother, too.

Horrified, Elizabeth’s cheeks burned, and she looked all around the room for somewhere to focus and take her mind off her shame. Had everyone discussed her family’s particularly painful situation? Jane had joined the conversation, but Elizabeth couldn’t register all that was being said around her, and she finally settled on serving herself another biscuit for distraction.

As Caroline Bingley dropped another name for the third time, Lady Matlock finished her observations and made a decision. Directly turning her body to address Miss Bingley, a nasty taste rose in her mouth as the young woman sat up straighter and gave the falsest smile she had ever seen.

“Miss Bingley, when is it that you shall take tea at Lady Cornish’s? She is such a dear, and I hope to one day steal the recipe for her Cook’s lemon bars.”

Caroline could barely conceal her glee as she imparted that she was invited to tea in just two days, though she didn’t disclose that she was only invited thanks to her perceived connection to the Darcy family as a guest of a guest.

“Ah, what a pity, but what can be done? Thursday is the only day open at Madame Du Lac’s, and I had hoped to take all of you shopping as my personal guests to this year’s Twelfth Night Ball. I suppose it shall just be the five of us.” Lady Matlock smiled at Elizabeth Bennet and watched as the woman was genuinely honored at the gesture. “Georgiana and I shall be around at two o’clock to pick you up if it pleases.”

Finally finding her voice, Mary Bennet displayed her quiet strength by accepting the invitation. Once settled, Mary asked Georgiana about the latest music she was playing, and soon the two younger girls were off to visit in the music room.

Thoroughly incensed, Miss Bingley spoke of another engagement and asked the footman to retrieve her brother from the billiard room. As she exited the solarium, only Lady Matlock and the two elder Miss Bennets remained.

“Pardon me, my ladyship, but my mind is racing as to why you would invite my sisters and me to shop with you, and then proceed to invite us to what I’m sure will be the event of the holiday season at your home.”

“My, you are delightful!” Lady Matlock lightly clapped her hands and turned to address Miss Elizabeth more directly. “A direct question requires a direct answer. I know all about you from my nephew’s letters to my son, and my niece filled in a few more details.” The woman smiled as she waited for Elizabeth Bennet to digest this information.

“But how?”

“Sssshhh, we will discuss this later.” Lady Matlock quieted her new acquaintance as the white handle on the door to the solarium began to turn and opened allowing the Bingley siblings to enter with the master of the house, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Immediately upon seeing Miss Elizabeth sitting on his mother’s favorite settee, Mr. Darcy’s breath caught in his throat. Her cheeks were a delightful shade of rose, and the pale lavender dress made the dark curls framing her face contrast more starkly with her fine, light eyes. Making a deep bow, he greeted the Bennet sisters and remained standing as Bingley hastened to Jane’s side.

Miss Bingley stood awkwardly in the doorway, then settled on taking a few steps into the room. She paused to admire the art on the wall as she waited for her brother.

“Miss Elizabeth, it seems you are acquainted with my nephew from his visit to Hertfordshire. Do tell me how the boy behaves when he’s away from his aunt’s watchful eye?”

Elizabeth caught herself staring at Mr. Darcy and admiring the tight cut of his clothes on his person when she shook her head and gave a minxish smile. “Prepare yourself for something very dreadful…” she began and took great joy in laying out for his aunt that Darcy merely danced four times at the Meryton assembly when she first met him even though gentlemen were scarce.

Expecting Darcy to fight back with an explanation, she was surprised when he crossed the room to collect a chair on the far side and bring it closer to the group. As Darcy’s aunt spoke, Elizabeth watched as he took great pains to flick the end of his coat behind him as he sat to prevent wrinkles.

“And is there great beauty in your county besides the illustrious Bennet women, to entice a man such as my nephew?”

Elizabeth looked askew at the grand lady’s compliment and realized she was enjoying every moment of teasing the great Mr. Darcy as she was. Returning her cup to the table, Elizabeth made sure to look directly into Darcy’s eyes as she landed the final blow. “Oh, I believe some would not say we’re great beauties at all, but merely tolerable, and not fine enough to tempt anyone.”

As Mr. Darcy’s face ashened, the younger girls returned from their music room escapades and Georgiana nearly knocked Miss Bingley over in her exuberance.

“Georgiana!” Mr. Darcy bellowed, causing his sister’s face to crumple and her speed to come to a near halt. Closing his eyes, he modulated his voice. “I don’t want you to become injured, poppet. Now, what have you to show me?”

Georgiana lifted her face once more but looked at her brother with confused eyes. She shook her head. “I wanted to show this piece of music to Miss Elizabeth. Her sister and I just took time to notate our little duet and Miss Mary said her sister could read music.”

Elizabeth nodded and held her hand out for the sheets. With a smile, she recognized the first few strains of her father’s favorite concerto leading into a familiar Irish aire. Cocking her head to one side, she looked at Mary who was shyly standing behind Georgiana’s tall frame.

“Mary, this is brilliant. Perhaps with our next visit, you and Miss Darcy could perform it?”

The two young ladies were pleased with their efforts and nodded most vigorously. Lady Matlock rose to announce she was fatigued and planned to return home to rest before her husband’s dinner plans required her presence at the table of the odious Lord and Lady Cornish. With a practiced eye, Lady Matlock watched Miss Bingley flinch and satisfied that young woman took the hint, she hoped not to see her impose on Georgiana’s hospitality so often.

After farewelling the party, she reminded the Bennet sisters of their engagement and asked Darcy to walk her out. Unable to deny his aunt, Darcy bowed and followed her to the hall.

As Darcy took the fur wrap from the butler to place it on his aunt’s shoulders, she accepted his help and then grabbed his hand.

“Mark my words son, that delightful creature is everything you should seek in this world. But she has a chip on her shoulder where you are concerned, and you are in grave danger of losing her good opinion entirely.”

Without another word, Lady Matlock walked out of the grand home to her awaiting carriage. She couldn’t wait to impart the day’s intelligence to her husband and son.