The day of her family dinner came and Elizabeth welcomed her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley, her parents, and the Gardiners, as the afternoon gave way to evening. The Gardiner children went immediately to the nursery to visit with cousins.
When Uncle Gardiner, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Bennet made their way to the library, Elizabeth led her sister, mother, and Aunt Gardiner to the salon. The younger Bennet sisters were already gathered there and happily employed with the making of paper ornaments for their younger relations.
Mrs. Bennet made a slow circuit of the salon admiring the furnishings and artwork. "Why Lizzy, you did not say how lovely was your new home! It is no wonder your sisters prefer to remain here. I must see their rooms after dinner. Who would have ever thought you would have such a home after marrying a soldier?”
Elizabeth was grateful her mother had arrived well before the Matlocks. She would not want Lady Matlock to have yet another reason to dislike her. “It is a lovely home but I was thinking of new paper upstairs. Just a small change so it feels like home."
Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands with glee. "What a lovely idea, Lizzy! You must allow me to help. I do have such experience with decorating a home.”
Shame filled Elizabeth as she hoped her mother would not remain so long in Town as to help her redecorate. Her own relationship with Lady Matlock was slowly improving but she was certain her mother would provide a set back to that situation.
Aunt Gardiner sat with Elizabeth as Mrs. Bennet went to greet her other daughters. "Have you thought of when you might tell the Matlocks about Richard?"
Elizabeth smoothed her skirts and placed a hand to her hair, nervous over the meeting of her family and the Matlocks. The motions did not distract her aunt.
"Lizzy, you are a vision in that new frock and your maid is skillful with her brush. You must think of revealing young Richard's existence soon, you know."
“I was thinking earlier that the time had come as Mr. Harley has already guessed. Gossip in London travels much faster than in the country.”
Aunt Gardiner agreed. “There is an efficient grapevine amongst the servants in Town, to be certain.”
The men joined the ladies and Elizabeth did not wish to discuss the topic further. In her mind, she thought perhaps after the new year she would speak first with the earl since he was possessed of a more even temperament than his wife.
Before her family might settle and wait for the remaining guests, Mr. Harley entered the salon with the Matlocks and Darcys. “Your guests have arrived, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and Cook has said dinner is ready.”
Standing to welcome her guests, Elizabeth forced a smile as introductions were made around the room. Lady Matlock appeared polite and mildly interested in her parents but her younger sisters seemed to irritate the woman. Elizabeth could understand, they often irritated her, so there was no ill feeling on that score.
Presently, they all went into dinner and Elizabeth spoke with the butler about the children coming down to take their meal in the breakfast room.
“It will be terribly exciting for them to enjoy the decorations there and practice their manners, don’t you agree? Be certain they remain there until after we have finished dinner and gone into the parlor.”
Mr. Harley nodded and called a footman to his side. “See that the children are brought down to the breakfast room as the first course is served. Mrs. Fitzwilliam wishes for them to remain there until after the adults are in the parlor. You shall serve them.”
Elizabeth was pleased with her plan and joined her guests in the dining room. She wanted to welcome them all as family and remember Richard before his parents.
“I am grateful you all have come. My family has grown these past weeks and I know Richard would be pleased by this gathering. He was kind, brave, and a pleasure to know. I am blessed to have been his wife.”
Glasses were raised around the room and the earl stood when Elizabeth sat at last. “It is a wonderful thing to gain a daughter. I only wish we might have known before the marriage vows were taken. Richard was a wonderful son, even when we could not see eye to eye. I wish he were here to see us gathered together. Thank you, Elizabeth, for having us with you tonight.”
Another toast went around the table and Mr. Darcy stood. Lady Matlock placed her glass upon the table and mumbled what Elizabeth expected was a request to be excused. Mr. Darcy began to speak but his aunt hastened to quit the room.
Elizabeth rose to go after her, placing a hand on Jane’s arm as a silent plea for her to remain. The earl and Mr. Darcy followed Elizabeth from the room after abrupt pleas for forgiveness. Mrs. Bennet rose but her brother and husband kept her from leaving the table.
In the hallway, Lady Matlock stood with her husband, turned away from Mr. Darcy to hide her grief. Elizabeth spoke softly, her words a beseeching apology for calling up the memory of Richard. “I only meant to honor him, to recall all that he meant to each of us.”
Lady Matlock turned to speak but the noise of many feet on the stairs startled her. The children had escaped Nanny and were joyously racing to the breakfast room. The footman tasked with overseeing their meal rushed to herd them together and line them up proper.
Elizabeth was grateful for his quick thinking. Her nerves plagued her as she could not move to encourage her son and single him out. “Now children, go with Thomas and mind your manners.”
The children turned and followed the footman quietly, their heads cast down at being caught on the stairs unaccompanied. Nanny came suddenly down the stairs, her face red and her eyes darting to her mistress. “I am very sorry, mum. It will never happen again, aye.”
Elizabeth nodded to the woman to go in with the children. They would speak later. As Nanny brought up the rear of the line, feverishly admonishing the children in strident whispers, young Richard broke away and ran to Elizabeth.
“Mama,” he said, and reached up for her embrace. “Mama, will you join us in the breakfast room?”