Page 55 of Elizabeth and Caroline
“Oh, positively everyone who meets you,” said Lady Matlock, but there was something in her tone, something that did not denote her being entirely genuine.
Elizabeth fought a grimace. Instead, she smiled. “That’s so flattering, really. But I assure you, I am a very ordinary person.”
“You are indeed not,” said Mr. Darcy. “I would not have been swept off my feet by your wit and beauty else. I met her and I knew, that was how it was. It was barely a week after we’d met that I proposed.”
“A week?” said Lady Matlock. “Truly? How extraordinary.”
That word again. Elizabeth felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. She did not think Lady Matlock approved of her, not at all.
Well,she thought,of course I knew this might likely happen.
“You haven’t done much with the house,” said Lady Matlock, looking around the sitting room.
“The house?” said Elizabeth. “Whatever do you mean?”
“The decorations, all of that. Is that not something that interests you?”
“I…” Elizabeth looked around the room. “I suppose I’ve been preoccupied, but I must say, the house is already decorated in a very pleasing fashion. I have no complaints.”
“With what have you been so preoccupied?” said Lady Matlock.
Elizabeth felt herself flush bright red. “I don’t know. Marriage is a transition, I suppose, and my husband and I—and well, getting to know Miss Darcy, of course, and wehave recently had quite a number of callers—I should be quite amenable to your suggestions, madam, if you think I should redecorate in an any certain way.”
“Come now, Mother,” said the colonel, quite amused. “They are newlyweds. Of course they are preoccupied.”
“Mmm,” said the countess, lifting her chin, studying Elizabeth. “Yes, quite. I also checked with the modistes in town, and you haven’t ordered many new dresses. Whatareyou spending money on?”
Mr. Darcy’s voice was quiet but firm. “That’s enough.”
Lady Matlock folded her arms over her chest. “You did this, Fitzwilliam, without any input from anyone in your family. Did you hope to escape scrutiny? Well, you cannot.”
“She did not marry me for my wealth,” said Mr. Darcy. “I shall not tolerate any implications otherwise. You will afford my new bride the respect she deserves.”
Elizabeth put her hand on her husband’s arm, shaking her head, about to convey that he need not protect her (though it warmed her) but she could not get a word out before others were speaking.
“You expect me to believe that this girl married you with no thought of how it would benefit her?” said the countess. “She does not seem particularly stupid, you know, and I cannot think you would say she was. She knew what it would give her to be your wife.”
“She has not asked for an increase to her allowance,” said Mr. Darcy. “We have not spoken about financial expenditures. It’s not about wealth. You yourself, however, have noted that she is a genius at ingratiating herself to people. She is, as you have noted, extraordinary.”
“I don’t know if she’s ingratiating herself so much as causing a stir!” said Lady Matlock. “She shows up at balls and essentially introduces herself?”
“That was my error. I was meant to be introducing her, but I forced her to dance with me for an hour instead,” said Mr. Darcy.
“I’d rather dance with her than introduce her to people,” said the colonel.
Mr. Darcy gave the colonel a sharp look.
“I’m only saying, you chose well,” said the colonel, making a hands-off gesture.
“She’s not even that pretty,” muttered the countess. “She’s tolerable, I suppose, but not really that handsome. She—”
“Aunt Adelaide!” said Mr. Darcy in horror. “How dare you?”
“It’s all right,” said Elizabeth breezily. “I well know that I am no great beauty, despite what you say to the contrary, sir. You are biased.”
“It’s something about the carelessness of the way she carries herself, the effortlessness of it,” said the colonel. “As if she simply can’t be bothered with such things as keeping her hair coiffed.”
Elizabeth’s hands went to her hair. Were there a number of strands out of place?
