Page 53 of Roses from Pemberley
Elizabeth lay back in her bed and smiled as Jane stood in the corner of the room and rolled her eyes. They both knew that Mrs. Bennet was being overly cautious but, when their mother got an idea into her head, it was almost impossible to rid her of it.
Once Jane and her mother left the room, Elizabeth contemplated this new development. That Mr. Darcy would offer to take her mother into the village was nothing short ofastounding! Especially after their argument a few days earlier. She could actually not think of any two people who were more unsuited to one another’s company than her mother and Mr. Darcy.
Impulsively she scrambled out of bed and went to the window. She leaned against the casement, feeling slightly dizzy from having gotten up so quickly. But this was something she did not wish to miss. Before long she watched as her mother and Mr. Darcy walked to the gate together and headed in the direction of the village. She stepped behind the curtain so she would not be seen. Darcy offered her mother his arm and she took it.
Elizabeth watched at the window as the two sauntered leisurely along the lane, her mother doing most of the talking and Darcy nodding occasionally.
*****
Darcy was still unsure if he was up to seeing Elizabeth that day because, for some reason, he could not bear the look of uncertainty in her eyes, nor the disappointment he would feel at seeing her think so meanly of him. But, when he saw Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Collins in the village, he took advantage of Mrs. Bennet’s need for new boots and offered to accompany her. It was irrational, he knew, but if he could not be with Elizabeth, he could at least spend time with her mother.
Now he walked along the lane with her on his arm as she chatted animatedly about her atrocious journey.
“Have you ever travelled by post, Mr. Darcy?” she asked at one point.
“No, I have not,” he answered, feeling a little embarrassed by his privileged upbringing.
“You are fortunate because it is a terribly mortifying experience. The smells in the carriage, sir! They are sometimes truly unbearable!”
Darcy did not know what to say to that and so simply nodded sympathetically.
At length she seemed to grow weary of the subject and began to ask him about Hunsford village. It was this subject they were discussing when they arrived at the bootmaker’s twenty minutes later and went inside. Mrs. Bennet was taken into an inner chamber where she was asked to remove her boots and show them to the proprietor, Mr. Crump, for inspection.
“I am afraid these are unsalvageable, ma’am,” said Crump. “The leather, you see, is falling apart, as the mud has irrevocably seeped into it.”
“I assumed that to be the case,” said Mrs. Bennet. “But can you make me a new pair? I am visiting my daughter, you see, and shall need them for various outdoor activities.”
“I can but it will take weeks.”
“Weeks!”
“I have other orders, ma’am, and cannot put yours ahead of them. It would not be fair.”
“True but…the other persons here likely have more than one pair of boots whilst I do not.”
“Nevertheless, madam…”
“Mr. Crump!” Darcy called out, causing the man to immediately come out from behind the curtains.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy, sir. I apologise, for I did not see you before. I - ”
“Mr. Crump.”
“Yes, sir?”
Darcy saw that Mrs. Bennet had now also come out from behind the curtains and was looking curiously at him.
“I just wished for you to know,” he said deliberately, “that Mrs. Bennet here is connected to…Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” He said his aunt’s name with a simultaneous flourish and gravity that would have equaled Mr. Collins.
“Oh!” cried Crump, who now looked both astonished and mortified. His eyes shifted back and forth before he finally said, “I apologise, Mrs. Bennet, I was not aware…” He swallowed then continued, “Will two days from now suffice?”
Mrs. Bennet took a glance at Darcy, then turned back to Crump and said, “I suppose it shall have to.”
“I will do my best to finish as quickly as possible,” said Crump.
“Very well,” said Mrs. Bennet.
He motioned for her to return to the back room and began to take her foot measurements while Darcy stepped out of the store and looked around. Fifteen minutes later, he was joined by Mrs. Bennet who regarded him gratefully.
