Page 26 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

Before you receive this, dear Sister, I will begin my journey to Staffordshire. After our father’s funeral, I will go directly to Oxford. Forgive me for not returning to you before term begins on the 11th, but I fear I will not make it on time even without the detour to London. Louisa and Hurst will care for you and will be with you soon if they are not already. Take heart, and I will see you in London at Christmas.

“Charles cannot even be bothered to come to see me!” Caroline complained. “What kind of brother is he to neglect me so?”

“You know he should not be late for the start of term,” Elizabeth soothed. “Do you know where Louisa is now? Charles expects she will be with you any day now.”

“I do not know where she is,” Caroline huffed. “If not for you, I would have been left entirely alone.”

“Then I am pleased to be of service.” Elizabeth curtsied, bringing a smirk to Caroline’s lips, as she had hoped. “What would you like to do? Talk of your father or be distracted from his memory?”

They did both as more days went by. Elizabeth still worked with her masters, but she neglected her private study in favor of her friend’s needs. When Louisa and her husband finally appeared one afternoon more than a week later, Caroline went to live with them at their Grosvenor Street townhouse.

Elizabeth, emotionally exhausted, slept the rest of the day and was more than ready to resume her studies the following morning. She could not shake the discomfort she had felt again of late, however. Having offered sympathy to both Georgiana and Caroline after the losses of their fathers, she could not help but think of her own. She knew Papa Oliver had died in the carriage accident with her mother. But what of her true father—the gentleman, Mr. Asbury? Could he be yet alive? She could write to her Uncle Bennet to ask, but she knew he would not reply. She instead told herself it did not matter, as the unknown gentleman had not wanted her when she was a baby and would not want her now.

The rest of autumn flew by not only due to her studies but because Aunt Gardiner gave birth to her first son later in October. Baby Eddie distracted Elizabeth in the best way. She had to force herself away from him to study and to attend to Caroline when she and Mrs. Hurst summoned her. Although they were in mourning, they requested her company several times each week. To help accommodate their need for additional compassion at this time, Elizabeth arranged for her painting master to give his lessons at the Hurst home again, so Caroline could participate and Elizabeth could fit in all her activities.

Elizabeth had liked the small studio she and her aunt had created in a well-lit attic room in the Gardiner home, but she also appreciated the companionship gained in the Hursts’ largest parlor. She and Caroline even set up their finished pieces in the spacious room as though it were a fine art gallery. When the girls were not painting, they resumed playing the pianoforte together, as well as their previous quiet activities. Elizabeth embroidered a great deal while the sisters poured over fashion magazines, lamenting that they would not be able to wear anything but black all winter.

“You will still come out in the spring, though, will you not, Caroline?” Elizabeth asked, knowing their six months of mourning would end in the first days of April.

“Yes, but it seems so far away. I suppose school will distract me after Christmas, and then I will come back in April and begin taking part in all the Season has to offer.” Caroline looked up from her magazine. “How can you always have something to embroider, Eliza? What do you work on every day?”

“I am making Christmas gifts for my family,” she said.

“I thought you were painting pictures of your cousins for your aunts and uncles,” Caroline said. “Who are these for?”

“I have embroidered two handkerchiefs for each of my Bennet cousins and three each for my aunts and uncles.” She did not mention the handkerchiefs she had already embroidered for her two friends. “Now I am working on softer material for blankets for my youngest cousins and, if time permits, for their dolls.” Elizabeth held up the large fabric to show a pastoral scene along the edges full of intricately embroidered farm animals. “This one is for Amanda. She has seen few animals, but I intend to introduce her to all of these represented when we go to Hertfordshire next month.”

Louisa and Caroline approached to admire her fine stitching.

“Your cousins are fortunate indeed,” Louisa said.

“Thank you. I feel fortunate to have been raised in the homes of my aunts and uncles, so this is the least I can do.”

Caroline looked to the floor, and Louisa reached out for her sister’s hand.

“Forgive me, Caroline. I did not mean to remind you⁠—”

“It is not your fault I no longer have a home⁠—”

“Caro, you know you will always have a home with Reginald and me.”

Caroline nodded and turned back to the fashion plates and pointed to one of the designs.

“I wish to have a gown made after this pattern for my first ball. I appreciate your hospitality, but I intend to marry a wealthy man as soon as possible and gain my own home.”

The girls all laughed, but Elizabeth could tell Caroline was serious. She had often spoken of her desire to marry in her first Season, but since her father’s death, she had a new urgency. She hoped Caroline would not be disappointed.

Chapter Fourteen

Charles had a six-week break from school at Christmas, and due to the family being in mourning, he would spend the whole of it at the Hursts’ home. Elizabeth had by that time adjusted her schedule such that she was with Caroline and Mrs. Hurst for the better part of three days each week at their townhouse. She arranged for her teachers to visit Gracechurch Street on the other days, aside from the painting master, and she took books and sheet music with her when she called on her friends.

“I am sorry for your loss, Charles,” Elizabeth said the first time she saw him in December.

“Thank you, Lizzy. And thank you for taking such good care of Caroline. I was sorry not to be able to see her, but I know you were of far more comfort to her than I would have been.”

Elizabeth noticed another man coming into the room, and she began to back away, not being out, when Charles must have noticed him, as well.

“Darcy!” he said. “Come meet Lizzy.”