Page 130 of A Most Beloved Sister
Here Darcy interjected, eager to avoid a confrontation that could potentially derail their matrimonial plans. “Perhaps it’s best we get back to discussing the wedding date? I think you made a very valid point, Mr. Bennet, in that it should happen sooner rather than later. Today is Wednesday, and as they say, Friday’s child is loving and giving. What better day for a wedding, do you not think?”
Both Bennets were engaged in a silent contest to see who would blink first, each staring intently at the other.
Mr. Bennet was the loser; his eyes darted away from Elizabeth’s. “Friday will work. I shall leave it to you, Elizabeth, to inform your mother.”
With that, he turned on his heel and marched from the room. Darcy gaped after him, then looked at Elizabeth in confusion.
She shook her head. “Papa has always been this way: a stubborn man who wishes to be troubled as little as possible. I didn’t always see it until Mama forced Jane to come here on horseback in the rain, and he let her do it because he wanted his peace. It is only luck that made it turn out as well as it did.”
Darcy murmured something sympathetic.
She gave him a wan smile. “I still love him, but I am more mindful of the flaws in his character than I was before. I wish he would have taken the time to involve himself in our lives. He could have helped Mama learn about being a gentleman’s wife instead of leaving her to figure things out on her own.” Shakingher head once again, she said, “Now, enough of that! There is much to be done if we are to be married in just two days!”
And indeed there was. Elizabeth had not even begun looking at wedding clothes, having been in mourning, but Louisa told her that she would much better purchase her trousseau in London so as to be in the latest style as befitting the wife of Mr. Darcy.
“But you should have a new dress made up here,” Louisa said, “for your wedding day. The seamstress seemed quite competent when Georgiana and I were getting her fitted up. I’m sure they can get it made in a day, for the right price.”
Louisa had no qualms about leaving her baby in the care of the wet nurse and nursemaid for the day and escorting Elizabeth to the seamstresses’ shop the following morning. Georgiana chose to remain at home and spend the day with her brother, as it would be the last time their family would be just the two of them. Once measurements had been taken and a beautiful length of silk had been chosen, Louisa then helped Elizabeth choose a matching bonnet, gloves, and shoes.
“Now, we need to talk about your nightdresses.”
Elizabeth turned a brilliant shade of red, but Louisa refused to allow embarrassment to stand in their way. The married woman gave the seamstress several specific orders, then led a scarlet-faced Elizabeth back to the carriage.
“Trust me,” Louisa assured her friend, “you’ll thank me later. Now, let’s go tell your mother that you’re getting married tomorrow.”
Elizabeth had been dreading this moment since her engagement. She knew that Mrs. Bennet would be ecstatic at having a son-in-law who was worth ten thousand pounds a year, but with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet still in mourning—as well as the bride and groom’s personal preferences—having the wedding so soon would definitely cause a fuss.
In fact, Elizabeth had been avoiding her mother ever since Lydia was sent to school. It hadn’t been difficult, as neither Netherfield nor Longbourn had been paying calls. Once Kitty had left for Brighton, the only time Elizabeth saw her mother was at church, and even then, their interactions were rather brief.
It was therefore a considerable shock for Elizabeth to have her mother sit quietly on the chair without saying a word in response to the announcement. “Mama? Did you hear me? I said that Mr. Darcy and I are going to marry tomorrow morning. He arranged it with Dr. Fields and Papa yesterday.”
“Yes, Lizzy, I heard you.”
Mrs. Bennet continued to sit in silence, and Elizabeth exchanged a confused glance with Louisa. “Of course, I know this seems quite sudden, but the banns were called a few months ago. We weren’t planning on anything large, since you and Papa are still in mourning.”
“Of course,” replied Mrs. Bennet quietly.
“Mama, are you… are you unwell?”
“Of course not. Why would you think that?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice was sharper this time.
“Oh, no reason. I just thought… that is, I expected you would be happier for me, that’s all.”
“Of course I’m happy for another daughter to be married. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Elizabeth and Louisa exchanged another concerned look; then Elizabeth said, “I’m glad to hear it. I will see you tomorrow, then? At the church?”
Mrs. Bennet merely nodded, and Elizabeth and Louisa stood to take their leave. As they walked towards the door, Elizabeth pulled Hill aside. “Hill, what is wrong with my mother? She doesn’t seem like herself.”
Hill scowled. “I think she done broke, Miss Lizzy. When Miss Lydia got sent away, she got real quiet-like. She doesn’t hardly speak no more, ’specially now that there’s no one to talk to. When she tries, the master just yells at her to shut her silly mouth.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together tightly. “I see. Thank you, Hill.”
Once in the carriage, Elizabeth was free to express her feelings. “My poor mother! Granted, she’s always been an embarrassment to me, and that entire debacle with Mr. Collins was beyond the pale, but she was always so happy! I may have wished for her to be more retiring or less effusive, but I never wished for her to be so repressed, so broken, so miserable. Not like this.”
“If only there was something we could do. But I’m afraid your father was right in sending Lydia to school. And it’s not as if you can cancel your wedding to move back home and take care of your mother, now can you?”
“No, definitely not,” Elizabeth agreed. “But surely I can do something. I’ll just have to think on it.”
