The Heiress of Rosings

Chapter three - To London

Lady Catherine was unhappy yet again with her daughter’s Ann’s unmarried status. She had refused Colonel Fitzwilliam’s proposal of marriage! Was the girl a simpleton? She had not thought so, previously. But from what details Ann had shared with her of the proposal, Lady Catherine was starting to believe it to be so.

Ann even claimed that Henry had not actually proposed at all, only that he had asked her opinion on whether it were a good idea or not. And apparently she had not thought the idea to be a good one at all, to the great Lady’s dismay.

“His heart was obviously not engaged in the matter,” Ann had tried to reason, to her mother’s great displeasure. “In truth, I do not believe that he truly wished to marry me at all.”

“Men never really do wish to marry,” Lady Catherine replied back, disdain evident in her very manner. “What has the heart to do with marriage, anyway? It is but a foolish organ, that knows nothing of reality or truth. It is the brain that should guide you in everything that you do! And I expect you to use yours judiciously. You need a man who will help you to preserve your wealth and property, not some fool spouting insipid poetry and not a penny to his name, nor any idea of how to manage a great estate such as Rosings Park!”

Ann conceded that her mother was indeed correct, but wished to spend the winter season in London anyhow. She promised the great lady that if she had not found any other suitable husband within six months, then she would resign herself to marry her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam just as her mother wished.

After much debate and sulking on both sides, it was agreed upon that they would both go to town for the winter season. They would stay at their own house in Grosvenor Square, rather than be indebted to the Darcy’s of whom the great lady was still angry with over the insult she felt she had received over her nephew’s marriage.

It was not the plan that Ann had wished for. But still, she was quite overjoyed at the prospect of her first season in London at the ripe old age of 21. She would finally have the chance to dance at balls, go to the opera and the theatre, and perhaps go to evening parties where people actually enjoy themselves rather than listen to her mother drone on about whatever topics she deemed to be of importance all evening long. Plus Ann would be able to enjoy the shops and the museums, as well as the parks during good weather.

Ann had not spent any time in London since before the death of her father Lord Rupert, not since she was just 15 years of age, and deemed too young to have been allowed to enjoy much of the sights in London at the time. Now the whole of the city and its amusements would be open to her!

In contrast, Lady Catherine had been to London on many occasions since her husband’s death. She usually went twice a year to visit her solicitors as well as her friends and the shops in town. But as she always said it was for business, and never for more than a fortnight, she had never thought to bring Ann along with her.

The afternoon before they were to set off, they happened to have the Collins’s over for tea one last time. Mr. Collins, as expected, was quite distressed that the fine lady and her daughter were to be gone from the neighborhood for such an extended period of time.

“Everyone I know talks of nothing else!” He said with great feeling. “It is a shocking thing for us all to lose you for the entire winter.”

“I do not wish to go, of course,” Lady Catherine admitted readily. “But my duty to my only child requires it. And I have other duties that must be dealt with, and many friends who would be offended if I do not visit them while I’m there.”

“Everyone we know in Hunsford are all in great hopes that you will return as soon as may be possible with news of the most welcome kind!” Mr. Collins hinted as to the main purpose of the trip. “Perhaps an addition to the neighborhood of a most pleasant sort, one besides the one which Mrs. Collins shall soon bring forth.”

“It is very likely we will not return until my daughter is no longer Miss de Bourgh,” Lady Catherine stated. “But in any case, it should be before the summer.”

Ann blushed at the idea.

There were many wishes for future happiness given from both parties when it finally broke up. Mr. Collins mentioned more than once that the neighborhood would expect nothing less than a lord for Miss de Burgh, but preferably someone as grand as an earl or a duke before he was finally reminded by his wife that he had yet to finish this week’s sermon.

The trip itself was indeed exciting, if a bit uncomfortable and tedious. One just sits in a carriage for hours at a time with little to do besides chat with her mother or Mrs. Jenkins. Neither of whom had anything new to say. But she could watch the scenery change as they proceeded at a decent pace to their desired destination.

And so eventually they had arrived together in London, conveyed to their residence in Grosvenor Square by their barouche-landau, after night had already fallen and while it was too dark for anyone to take note of what they wore. Their clothing, while considered quite elegant and stylish by country standards, were last years fashions, and they must have all new before being seen anywhere in public within a stones throw of London. The modiste had been scheduled to arrive first thing in the morning for a fitting, as Madame Collette had been engaged by letter to provide them a whole new wardrobe, their measurements and particulars of taste having already been noted in their file.

The modiste arrived by 8 am sharp with a small army of seamstresses, and several gowns along with coordinating accessories that were nearly completed, as well as several more that were ready to begin. They were to have entire ensembles in the latest fashion ready to wear for 3 days by noon, and by the end of the week mother and daughter would be completely outfitted for the entire season, including several gowns for balls, the theater or the opera, morning, afternoon, and evening, as well as a riding habit and 2 walking outfits complete with matching sturdy walking shoes. They would be ready to be seen in public no matter the occasion, having spent the equivalent of 2 year’s living expenses for a small family.

The few gowns that they had brought to town with them would then be altered by Mrs. Jenkins, for Mrs. Jenkins own use, as they were hardly used and perfectly acceptable to the paid companion. As well as much better than anything she could have afforded on her own.

Once they were properly attired, they had their carriage brought around. It was crucial at this point that they should leave their calling card at the homes of the friends they knew to be in town already, to let them all know that they were also in town and available for visitors. Soon they would not only be called upon by visitors, but begin to be invited to all the various parties and evening engagements of their many friends and acquaintances.

So around to all of Lady Catherine’s friends they went, giving their beautifully embossed cards to the butlers of the Dalrymples, the Marlbournes, the Kellers, Lord and Lady Jersey, the widow Mrs. Grey, the Blanchards, the Belmonts, the Musgroves, the Wallingsfords, the widow Mrs. Ferrars, the Pembrokes, and lastly, the Darcy’s, although it pained Lady Catherine greatly to do so.

The important thing was to get her daughter decently married to a suitable husband, one who was reasonably elevated in society, and one who could manage her daughter’s vast property as well. If the matter required the assistance of her nephew in meeting acceptable young men, then so be it.

Ann was to be given six months to find this paragon of a man and get him to propose marriage, or she had promised to marry Colonel Fitzwilliam. One way or another, Lady Catherine was assured that her daughter’s future husband would soon be decided upon. She did not like to think of what could happen to her daughter and the Rosings Park estate if she were not soon married.