Page 43 of A Different Impression

She sat back and fixed Mr Bennet with an accusing look. “You have used me very ill by concealing our daughter’s betrothal and allowing her to go to London without me. And how is it that Lizzy is to marry before Jane? Jane is ever so much more beautiful. She should have the wealthier suitor⁠—”

“Mrs Bennet!” Mr Bennet’s voice rose sharply enough to silence her. “We have discussed this before, and you have just ignored every condition I placed upon your involvement. I see that you have no intention of helping your daughter plan the wedding she desires. You will return to your room, and I shall send Mrs Higgins to speak with you later this morning. Perhaps she will be able to persuade you to see sense.”

Mr Bennet pulled the bell. When Mrs Hill appeared, he instructed her to escort Mrs Bennet back to her rooms. His wife began to protest, but one look from him apparently convinced her that further argument would accomplish nothing. She rose with an injured huff and followed the housekeeper from the study.

Once the door closed behind them, Mr Bennet sank into his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. He had failed to curb his wife’s behaviour for far too many years, but this once, at least, he would not allow her folly to spoil Elizabeth’s happiness.

Elizabeth had already left Longbourn and remained unaware of the confrontation taking place in her father’s study that morning. She once again met William at the summit of Oakham Mount, accompanied as usual by Kitty, and was delighted to discover that Georgiana had ridden there with him.

While Kitty and Georgiana sat together, whispering over Kitty’s landscape, Elizabeth and William walked nearby and discussed what they desired for the ceremony and wedding breakfast. Taking advantage of the girls’ absorption in the drawing, they wandered a little farther away and exchanged one lingering kiss. By the time they returned to their companions, the principal details had been settled.

Later that morning, when William returned to Longbourn accompanied by Georgiana and Mr Bingley, Mrs Bennet remained in her rooms. Rather than wait for her mother to appear, William suggested that they walk to the church and finalise the arrangements with the rector. The licence had already been obtained, and they now needed only to confirm their intended date and discuss the particulars of the ceremony.

Georgiana and Mr Bingley remained at Longbourn with Kitty and Jane while Elizabeth and William met with the rector. Once the couple returned, the six of them set out for Meryton together. Mary elected to stay behind with her father to discuss the book they had both been reading.

The group walked in pairs, with Kitty and Georgiana leading the way, followed by Jane and Mr Bingley, while Elizabeth and William lagged slightly behind. Their engagement was not yet widely known, although Elizabeth suspected that many in Meryton had observed their courtship and already anticipated its conclusion. She hoped that making the engagement public that morning would prevent the wedding date from taking anyone by surprise—or giving rise to speculation that something improper had forced them to marry in such haste.

Taking advantage of their slower steps, William repeated his actions on the day they had walked into Meryton following his proposal. He drew Elizabeth behind a convenient tree, sheltering them from the view of their companions, and bent to kiss her.

Their kisses were no longer hesitant. Elizabeth rose onto her toes and slipped her arms around his neck, meeting his ardour with her own. His arm tightened around her waist as the kiss deepened, drawing her against the solid warmth of his body and sending an unfamiliar heat through her. By the time they parted, both were breathless, and Elizabeth found it increasingly difficult to remember why they must stop when he kissed her in that manner.

She possessed only a vague understanding of what might follow such sensations once they were married, although her aunt had promised to enlighten her before the wedding. The thought brought fresh warmth to her cheeks.

William pressed one final kiss to her lips before guiding her back onto the path. His actions drew Elizabeth from her increasingly dangerous musings as they hurried to catch up with the others.

Upon reaching Meryton, Elizabeth and William quickly caught up with the rest of their party. Their first stop was the milliner’s shop, where they purchased ribbons for Elizabeth’s bouquet and for decorating the church. Elizabeth made certain that Mrs Harris understood their purpose. Knowing the lady’s fondness for sharing news, she had little doubt that most of Meryton would know of the engagement before the day was out.

After leaving the milliner’s, the party visited the bookshop. Elizabeth was examining a newly published volume when she heard William make a quiet sound of satisfaction. She turned to find him holding a first edition with unusual care.

“I have been searching for this particular edition for some time,” he told her with a grin. Elizabeth smiled, pleased that their excursion had yielded something that delighted him.

Apparently deciding that he should not be the only one to profit from the visit, William insisted upon purchasing a book for each of the ladies. Elizabeth protested that such generosity was unnecessary, but he merely gave her a look that suggested he had no intention of being dissuaded. Georgiana and Kitty also selected several pieces of sheet music, which he added to his purchases.

Their next stop was Mrs Hudson’s establishment, where Jane and Mary’s ball gowns were ordered. The fabrics Elizabeth had selected in London had been delivered earlier that morning. Jane was delighted with hers, and Elizabeth hoped Mary would be equally pleased with the colour chosen for her. Elizabeth had deliberately avoided the sombre shades her sister generally preferred and hoped she might also persuade Mary to arrange her hair differently for the ball.

Whilst Jane discussed the details of her gown, William lifted a pale green silk shawl from a nearby display and held it against Elizabeth’s shoulders.

“This colour was made for you,” he said.

Elizabeth glanced at herself in the mirror and immediately recognised that the shawl would complement her new ball gown. “You have not even seen my gown.”

“No, but your expression tells me that I have chosen well.”

“You have,” she admitted. “It will suit it perfectly.”

William purchased the shawl before she could offer more than a token objection. As he settled it around her shoulders, Elizabeth noticed several ladies watching them with knowing smiles. If their engagement had not already been apparent, William’s attentiveness had surely confirmed it.

They visited several other establishments, including the cobbler and the tailor. While the gentlemen were occupied in the latter, Elizabeth took the opportunity to purchase fine lawn and embroidery silks. She intended to make several handkerchiefs for William as a wedding gift and was considering decorating some of them with sweet Williams.

“Sweet Williams?” Kitty whispered, peering at the colours Elizabeth had selected.

Elizabeth gave her a warning look. “Not a word. I have not yet decided.”

Kitty’s poorly concealed smile suggested that her sister considered the matter already settled.

Elizabeth wondered whether William would truly carry a handkerchief embroidered with sweet Williams. To be safe, she decided to decorate some with the flowers and others more conventionally with his initials.

Their final stop was the small tea shop in the centre of the high street. The six of them occupied two adjoining tables, with Elizabeth, William, and Georgiana at one and Jane, Mr Bingley, and Kitty at the other. Elizabeth soon noticed curious glances and heard whispers concerning Jane and Mr Bingley. Evidently, his frequent visits to Longbourn had not escaped notice, and the absence of any announced understanding had inspired considerable speculation.