Page 47 of The Slipper Scandal
Beside her walked a distinguished gentleman with shrewd eyes and a jovial countenance.
This must be the countess and the earl.
"Darcy," the woman said with a smile. "You have brought your guests."
Mr. Darcy stepped forward. "Aunt, Uncle, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy of Heatherington Castle and Netherfield Park, their daughter Miss Abernathy, and their friend, Miss Bennet."
The countess’s keen eyes assessed Elizabeth with undisguised interest. "Miss Bennet. I have heard much about you." She extended her hand. "My nephew tells me you have an appreciation for sculpture."
Elizabeth curtsied deeply. "I do, Your Ladyship, though I claim no expertise. I merely admire the skill required to capture a fleeting moment or expression in stone."
The countess nodded. Approvingly, Elizabeth thought.
Lord Matlock stepped forward, taking Elizabeth's hand with cheerful warmth. "So, you are the young lady who has captured our nephew's attention. I daresay if you can make Darcy smile, you must possess remarkable qualities indeed."
She lifted an eyebrow. Surely he was aware of how the engagement had come about?
"Uncle," Mr. Darcy said, a hint of warning in his tone.
Lord Matlock laughed. "Do not mind me, my dear. Politics has taught me to speak with diplomacy."
She turned her head towards Mr. Darcy. “So not like you, then,” she said, repeating his words from the Abernathys’ dinner.
All he did was chuckle softly. “No.”
"With diplomacy, he says,” the countess scoffed, but there was true fondness in her voice. “Not nearly often enough." She turned back to Elizabeth. "Tell me, Miss Bennet, are you familiar with the theories of the picturesque? I find Gilpin's perspectives particularly compelling."
Elizabeth felt a flutter of excitement. Her father had several volumes by William Gilpin in his library, and she had devoured them. "Indeed, Your Ladyship. I find Gilpin's distinction between the beautiful and the picturesque has influenced and improved how I view landscapes, both in nature and in art. I particularly appreciate his discussion of roughness and irregularity as sources of visual interest."
The countess’s eyebrows rose slightly, clearly pleased. "Most young ladies speak only of art in the most general terms, but I see you have actually read Gilpin."
"And Price," Elizabeth added. "Though I find myself drawn more to Knight's perspective that the picturesque lies in the observer's educated eye rather than in fixed qualities of the landscape itself." She stopped, realizing that she was monopolizing the conversation. "But forgive me, I am perhaps too enthusiastic."
"Remarkable," the countess murmured, casting a glance at Mr. Darcy that Elizabeth could not decipher.
Lord Matlock chuckled, shaking his head. "It is all as incomprehensible as Greek to me, I am afraid. Give me a good debate on the regency any day."
"We are soon tohavea regent, I hear," Mr. Abernathy said.
"We are indeed," Lord Matlock replied. "Early February. Lord help us all."
Lady Matlock’s hum was a warning. "No politics today, please."
"Yes, my dear," Lord Matlock said with a genial smile.
"My husband claims ignorance," Lady Matlock explained, "yet somehow always manages to select the finest pieces when we visit galleries. He has what the Italians call 'buon occhio'—a good eye."
"I know what I like," Lord Matlock said with a shrug. "No theory required. That fellow over there, for instance.” He gestured to the Icarus. "He speaks to me. Something about reaching too high and the consequences thereof. A lesson many in Parliament could stand to learn."
"Ah, you see?" The countess smiled. "He pretends indifference yet extracts precisely the intended meaning."
Elizabeth found herself warming to the couple. They were very grand but seemed to genuinely respect one another. And they were very welcoming to her.
"You must see the new acquisition in the Blue Room," the countess said. "A remarkable marble nymph by Canova's protégé, Raimondo Trentanove. Most evocative."
Trentanove had been a good deal more than Canova's protégé for at least a few decades, Elizabeth thought, but she was greatly anticipating viewing the nymph.
"Helena has transformed our home into something of a museum," Lord Matlock said proudly. "Though I draw the line at the Egyptian mummies. I cannot understand the rage for unwrapping parties.”
