Read Online Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation by Beth Massey - Free Book Online
Authors: Beth Massey
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her mind from day to day about what she would wear to her first assembly. It reminded her of Mrs Darcy’s inability to decide what colour pair she wanted to pull her phaeton. As a final touch to her toilet, Elizabeth decided to wear her new kid slippers. Looking at herself in the full length mirror, she was certain that her ensemble was perfect.
Mrs Gardiner had been given some lemons and oranges from the townhouse’s solarium by Mrs Darcy, and Elizabeth had told her aunt she would give some of the fragrance items Jane made to reciprocate. The oldest Miss Bennet had turned to the occupation as an antidote for grief in the wake of Thomas Trent’s death. Her lovely sachets—dried blossoms enclosed in small squares of handkerchief linen on which Jane embroidered the flower of the scent, and toilet waters distilled from crushed blossoms were highly prized gifts in both Hertfordshire and Cheapside among family and friends..
Mrs Darcy often complained of feeling anxious, so Lizzie prepared a basket of some of the lavender sachets, lavender toilet water as well as a special chamomile tea blend. It tasted quite pleasant, as Jane had added bits of dried apple and cinnamon. Once in the carriage, Lizzy presented her gifts and told her hostess how her sister had created the tea for their mother. Throughout their acquaintance, Lizzy had entertained Mrs Darcy with descriptions of her mother’s fluttering nerves and how they would come and go with spectacular speed depending on what was happening. The tea had always been quite helpful to calm her, but the best thing to dispel her mother’s anxiety was a visit from her Aunt Phillips with delicious gossip.
As they began their journey toward Grosvenor Square, Mrs Darcy took the opportunity to propose that the two begin using their given names. “I have never had a young lady so close in age to me as a friend. Please call me Anne… and please tell me you have no objection to allowing me to address you as Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth readily agreed and even added, “My family and close friends call me Lizzy.”
A momentary lull in the conversation while Anne examined the contents of her gift basket, prompted Elizabeth to think more deeply about the threshold she and Mrs Darcy had just crossed. They had certainly become more than common acquaintances and for her part she enjoyed Anne’s company. Despite her position as a wealthy young woman from a distinguished family, Lizzy was moved to feel compassion for her—especially when she admitted she lacked confidence in social situations. As someone who rarely felt ill at ease in company, Elizabeth could not truly understand the young matron’s anxiety but determined to help her in any way she could. The gifts she had brought had been selected with that in mind. Though not a great beauty, Mrs Darcy was handsome and amiable enough. And in Lizzy’s evaluation, her appearance had been steadily improving during the past month. She had recently engaged a French maid who was very skilled in arranging her locks in the most modish styles. In contrast, the Bennet sisters dressed each other’s hair. While Anne’s looks were not as robust as hers, she did not appear to be of such a sickly constitution that she was unable to pursue those accomplishments expected of young women in her circle. Elizabeth wondered whether Anne would engage a master to teach her to play an instrument, or perhaps learn to draw, now that she was in London and away from her mother. Elizabeth smiled as she acknowledged her own mother’s most ardent desire when she admitted to herself that Mrs Darcy was very fortunate to have a handsome husband with an engaging sense of humour, although she had to admit he did seem a bit distant toward his wife. She recalled his kissing her hand that night at the theatre and knew not what to make of his gesture… or even if she believed marriages of convenience were wrong… or whether one should only wed for the deepest love.
Anne
Mrs Gardiner had been given some lemons and oranges from the townhouse’s solarium by Mrs Darcy, and Elizabeth had told her aunt she would give some of the fragrance items Jane made to reciprocate. The oldest Miss Bennet had turned to the occupation as an antidote for grief in the wake of Thomas Trent’s death. Her lovely sachets—dried blossoms enclosed in small squares of handkerchief linen on which Jane embroidered the flower of the scent, and toilet waters distilled from crushed blossoms were highly prized gifts in both Hertfordshire and Cheapside among family and friends..
Mrs Darcy often complained of feeling anxious, so Lizzie prepared a basket of some of the lavender sachets, lavender toilet water as well as a special chamomile tea blend. It tasted quite pleasant, as Jane had added bits of dried apple and cinnamon. Once in the carriage, Lizzy presented her gifts and told her hostess how her sister had created the tea for their mother. Throughout their acquaintance, Lizzy had entertained Mrs Darcy with descriptions of her mother’s fluttering nerves and how they would come and go with spectacular speed depending on what was happening. The tea had always been quite helpful to calm her, but the best thing to dispel her mother’s anxiety was a visit from her Aunt Phillips with delicious gossip.
As they began their journey toward Grosvenor Square, Mrs Darcy took the opportunity to propose that the two begin using their given names. “I have never had a young lady so close in age to me as a friend. Please call me Anne… and please tell me you have no objection to allowing me to address you as Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth readily agreed and even added, “My family and close friends call me Lizzy.”
A momentary lull in the conversation while Anne examined the contents of her gift basket, prompted Elizabeth to think more deeply about the threshold she and Mrs Darcy had just crossed. They had certainly become more than common acquaintances and for her part she enjoyed Anne’s company. Despite her position as a wealthy young woman from a distinguished family, Lizzy was moved to feel compassion for her—especially when she admitted she lacked confidence in social situations. As someone who rarely felt ill at ease in company, Elizabeth could not truly understand the young matron’s anxiety but determined to help her in any way she could. The gifts she had brought had been selected with that in mind. Though not a great beauty, Mrs Darcy was handsome and amiable enough. And in Lizzy’s evaluation, her appearance had been steadily improving during the past month. She had recently engaged a French maid who was very skilled in arranging her locks in the most modish styles. In contrast, the Bennet sisters dressed each other’s hair. While Anne’s looks were not as robust as hers, she did not appear to be of such a sickly constitution that she was unable to pursue those accomplishments expected of young women in her circle. Elizabeth wondered whether Anne would engage a master to teach her to play an instrument, or perhaps learn to draw, now that she was in London and away from her mother. Elizabeth smiled as she acknowledged her own mother’s most ardent desire when she admitted to herself that Mrs Darcy was very fortunate to have a handsome husband with an engaging sense of humour, although she had to admit he did seem a bit distant toward his wife. She recalled his kissing her hand that night at the theatre and knew not what to make of his gesture… or even if she believed marriages of convenience were wrong… or whether one should only wed for the deepest love.
Anne
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