Page 73 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

Darcy joined us shortly afterwards, bringing news of Richard. He cannot leave Matlock until the day of the fête, but expects to remain for the masquerade.

I kept my eyes upon Jane’s letter while Darcy spoke. I do not think anybody noticed that I had ceased to read it.

There is certainly enough to occupy us until then. Elizabeth has given me a list of things to attend to for the fête, and Kitty required me for another fitting this afternoon. My costume is beginning to look very pretty, though I am not certain she will ever consider it entirely finished.

Georgiana held the fabric clear of the floor while Kitty arranged the silver trimming. Luna was obliged to leave the room, having mistaken the proceedings for an amusement provided particularly for her.

When I was permitted to examine myself in the glass, I could not help wondering whether Richard would think I looked well.

I wish I could stop doing that.

He will be here again in a few days. I mean to keep myself busy until then.

12 September

This morning Mrs Reynolds asked whether I had finished checking the arrangements for the children’s refreshments at the fête. I had, but Elizabeth had since thought of something to add, and I could not remember whether I had written it upon my list or merely intended to do so.

It was upon the list, fortunately.

There are also seats to be provided for people who cannot comfortably stand for long, and places where the younger children may sit to eat. I went with Mrs Reynolds to look at the proposed arrangements, then came back to discover that Kitty required me upstairs.

My costume needed another fitting.

I protested that she had fitted it only last week, but apparently she had thought of an improvement since then. Georgiana came to help, and between them they contrived to keep me standing for some time while Mary read aloud a passage from her grandmother’s journal which she wished us to admire.

I did admire it, though I should have been more attentive if Kitty had not been kneeling at my feet with a mouthful of pins.

Christopher arrived this afternoon. He had taken his journey in stages and looked very glad to have reached the end of it. Mary put down her sewing the instant we heard his carriage, then picked it up again as though she had merely wished to examine the other side. Nobody was deceived by her efforts at nonchalance.

We were all pleased to see him, and Elizabeth insisted that he should have something to eat before being required to answer any questions. Mary sat beside him while he did so, looking utterly content. All is right in Mary’s world when her Christopher is near.

Mr Byerly came in later with Darcy. They had been occupied upon the estate, though Darcy assured Elizabeth that matters were proceeding well.

Hugh asked whether our own preparations were equally advanced. I told him that I had discovered how difficult it was to arrange a pleasure for a great many people without first giving oneself a great deal of trouble.

“I hope you have left some opportunity to enjoy it yourself,” he said.

“I shall be satisfied if everybody has somewhere to sit and enough to eat.”

He promised to help if anything had been overlooked. I thought this kind, though I hope there will be no occasion to call upon him.

After dinner Mary and Christopher went through the questions she had been saving for him. They are both looking forward to Thursday and Friday, but I suspect that neither thinks the festivities half so important as the wedding which is now less than a month away.

Richard is expected on Thursday.

I have scarcely had time to consider it today. I expect Elizabeth and Mrs Reynolds will see to it that tomorrow is much the same.

15 September

I am very tired, and have enjoyed myself exceedingly.

The fête began this afternoon, but our own work began much earlier. Elizabeth sent me to consult Mrs Reynolds, who sent me to discover whether something had been delivered, after which I was required to find Mary and ask her to come downstairs. I seemed to spend most of the morning upon the stairs.

By the time the first families arrived, I had ceased to wonder whether we were ready and begun to hope that anything forgotten would prove unimportant.

Very little had been forgotten.

It was delightful to see everybody enjoying themselves. Darcy seemed to know almost every person who approached him, and Elizabeth was soon surrounded by women wishing to speak to her. There were children everywhere, most of them remarkably clean and tidy when they arrived, though this condition did not persist.