Page 37 of Wickham Likes 'Em Young
The important parts of the message were that the mine repairs were ahead of schedule, and that he and Georgiana would arrive at Netherfield on November 18. His aunt and uncle had been visiting Pemberley when he arrived—Matlock was but four hours away by coach—and they promised that they and at least one of their offspring would come to the wedding, arriving at Netherfield on the second of December. Darcy also assured Elizabeth that he would write to Mr Bingley with all the pertinent information.
Later that same day, an invitation from Netherfield Park arrived by way of a footman. Mr Bingley, apparently, was planning an engagement ball two days after Mr and Miss Darcy were to arrive. Suddenly the gowns meant for the wedding were reconsidered for the ball. Elizabeth’s father was adamant that Lydia was not old enough to dance at the ball, but he decided to allow her to go until the supper—and he promised her that she would be sitting with him the entirety of her time there.
Lydia seemed to be at least somewhat reformed. She had been astonished to actually have been “imprisoned”—as she described it—in her room, but Mr Bennet had stuck with his orders, and Lydia eventually realised that she had better change her attitude so that she would be allowed out of that room. Also, the arrest of Mr Wickham and his attacks on both Lizzy and Jane—and perhaps especially the implication that he had ruined little Abby—had all impacted Lydia in a most unpleasant way, and shefinally disavowed him and the feelings she had thought she had for him.
It was not as if Lydia were suddenly helpful and generous and kind, but there was almost no whining and very little complaining, now that she knew that she really, truly would be locked away from the fun if she indulged in such.
Elizabeth could see that her mother was substantially less anxious with two daughters engaged and a ball in the near future. She seemed to be in her element, and she even seemed overwhelmingly positive about Elizabeth, formerly known as her “most troublesome” daughter. Elizabeth’s father, too, seemed a bit more relaxed than he had been. Obviously, Mr Goulding was not close to Darcy in wealth or consequence, but he was the heir to his father’s estate, and that estate brought in between two and three thousand per annum. Jane would have servants and a carriage, in addition to a roof over her head; Elizabeth of course would have many servants, many carriages, and many roofs…and so it was no longer as upsetting that Longbourn was entailed away from the female line.
Several days scurried by with Elizabeth’s wedding preparations. Cook was now soaking the baked cake layers in brandy; Lydia and Kitty produced a myriad of ribbon-roses; Mrs Bennet and Mary emptied the cedar chests of the most precious of the Bennet table linens, which were aired out and then pressed. One morning everyone helped form and dye marzipan sculptures of flowers and fruits; they would eventually decorate the tiered, iced cake.
Jane did not help with any of the wedding preparations. She made the excuse that she had to see to her own trousseau, not having a London modiste; she stitched and embroidered, smiling contentedly (or not—Elizabeth could no longer rely on her sister’s expressions) at everyone else’s bustle.
Boxes of gowns and lingerie and other clothing had begun to arrive from the London modiste, and Elizabeth had to try everything on and model her new clothing for her sisters and mother. Lydia was famous for her unerring taste and had several excellent ideas about ways to accessorise each gown, and Lydia and Kitty worked together to trim a bonnet to match the pale yellow gown that Elizabeth had chosen for the wedding. Elizabeth took several of the garments to Meryton’s dressmaker to adjust the fit.
“I am certain I can make the alterations, Mama,” Elizabeth said, “if you will pin them for me.”
“No, Mr Darcy already paid Mrs Taylor to do the fittings to our satisfaction.”
“Of course he did,” Jane said in her sweet voice. There was no hard edge of sarcasm…and yet…
“Have you and Mr Goulding chosen a date for your wedding, Jane?” Elizabeth asked. “I do hope I will be able to attend it, but Fitzwilliam has so many plans in place for the Festive Season, I fear I might not be able to do so.”
“We have not yet made a firm decision,” Jane said smoothly. “And you need not worry; I will know that you are there in spirit if you cannot attend.”
Of course, Mr Goulding continued to call most days, and he sat near Jane, watching all her endeavours with sewing and needlework. One day he brought her a gift of truly beautiful Belgian lace. “It is not just Belgian, it isMechlinlace,” he informed her proudly.
“And that means?” Elizabeth asked him with a smile.
He grinned back at his soon-to-be sister, saying, “Which means that my mother is especially proud of it, for reasons that escape me but which are certainly to my intended’s credit.”
“Certainly! It is beautiful,” Elizabeth said with an earnest nod.
“When does Mr Darcy return?” he asked.
“Tomorrow!” Elizabeth said. She briefly closed her eyes. She truly could hardly bear to wait.
CHAPTER 16
18 - 19 November 1811
“Mr and Miss Darcy,” Hill announced the next afternoon.
Elizabeth sprang up from her chair with a wide smile.
Everyone else stood and curtseyed as well when Darcy introduced his sister.
Georgiana Darcy was not dark haired, as her nightmare had envisioned her, but had pale skin, grey blue eyes, and straw-coloured hair. She was quite tall but still managed to look very young. Even more than young, she seemed as shy as her brother had said. She looked up into Elizabeth’s eyes, looking quite eager and happy to be introduced, but her immediate reaction to the eye contact was to duck her head and drop her eyes down to the floor.
Elizabeth crossed to Miss Darcy’s side and took her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “I am overjoyed to meet you at last,” she said. “I so enjoyed your letters.”
“Ienjoyedyourletters!” the girl said softly but emphatically. She shot another look up at Elizabeth, and gave her another smile.
“Well, shall we take a little tour of Longbourn, Miss Darcy?”
“Please call me Georgiana.”
“Yes, indeed I will, for we are to be sisters. And you must call me Elizabeth or Lizzy.”
