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“What of smaller artifacts?” Sir Laurence asked. “Are they not better off intact as the personal property of a co
“Certainly. Not every relic in the world need belong to a museum. Many artifacts were created as personal possessions. Why should they not remain so?” Randolph paused, then added, “If obtained legally, of course. I ca
“Nor could I, of course,” Sir Laurence said. “But given circumstances similar to Lord Elgin’s, I would have done the same. Would not you, Miss Darcy?”
Georgiana appeared surprised to have her opinion solicited. “I ca
The conversation wandered from there to other subjects, as any conversation with Professor Randolph is wont to do. When the evening ended, Sir Laurence and his sister invited Georgiana, Darcy, and Elizabeth to dine with them later in the week.
Yes, Elizabeth thought as she prepared to retire, from Georgiana’s standpoint, the evening was a resounding success.
Nineteen
“Having long had as much money as he could spend, nothing to wish for on the side of avarice or indulgence, he has been gradually learning to pin his happiness upon the consequence he is heir to.… He ca
“I do not understand why A
Sir Walter had enlisted all five godparents to join him and Miss Elliot in greeting the company, that his guests might be sufficiently impressed; he also insisted that little Walter Alfred Henry Arthur Elliot be present for all to admire. The slighted would-be godmother, whom, based on her resemblance to Sir Walter, Elizabeth took to be the baronet’s youngest daughter, stood at the end of the receiving line with a gentleman Elizabeth assumed was her husband.
“I have been married much longer and have two children, while my sister has been married but months,” the affronted speaker continued. For all her professed domestic experience, she appeared fairly young, perhaps a year or two older than Elizabeth. “What does A
“Mary,” her husband said in a low voice, “when we learned Mrs. Clay was in the family way, you declared that you would have nothing to do with the child.”
“What does that signify? I still should have been asked, and you should have, too. You have been part of the family far longer than Captain Wentworth.”
Further discussion between the couple was drowned out by a cry—the latest of many from the guest of honor. Alfred had cried during his baptismal rite. He had cried upon leaving the church. He had cried upon arrival at the Assembly Rooms. Indeed, the celebrated Elliot heir cried so often and so vehemently that he was at considerable risk of being ejected from his own party.
Sir Walter was not pleased. Clearly, he had expected better behavior from the week-old future baronet. While he might tolerate his son’s wails in the privacy of their own lodgings, the public display was an embarrassment, particularly as the infantile protests took place under the judgmental gaze of Lady Dalrymple, to whom Sir Walter offered repeated apologies.
Miss Elliot was even more displeased. When Lady Dalrymple had attempted to hand off Alfred to his eldest sister, he had baptized Miss Elliot with a bit of his breakfast. Miss Elliot now had a damp stain on the front of her gown which a hastily borrowed fichu could not effectively cover as she strove to greet her guests in a dignified ma
And so Alfred had been passed down the phalanx of godmothers and sisters with each new outburst. Having exhausted the patience of his more exalted patrons, he was now handed off to the last of his godmothers just as Elizabeth was being formally introduced to her: A
Unlike her predecessors—who had awkwardly held Alfred at the maximum distance possible from their own fine attire while they forced the future baronet to face the press of well-wishing strangers—A
Captain Wentworth greeted Darcy congenially, the unusual nature of their initial meeting having done more to advance accord between them than would have weeks of stilted drawing room conversation. Mrs. Wentworth acknowledged him with equal warmth. Darcy, in turn, introduced the couple to Elizabeth and Georgiana.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Mrs. Wentworth said. “The Harvilles speak of you with great regard, not only for your recent rescue of their son, but also the kindness you showed to Mrs. Clay. I understand we have you to thank for Alfred’s safe delivery.”
Elizabeth gazed across the room, to where the Harvilles drank lemonade with a cluster of individuals whom she guessed to be fellow officers. Lieutenant St. Clair was among them. She was glad to see that Sir Walter had, despite their being “naval people,” demonstrated the grace to invite to Alfred’s christening the couple in whose home his child had entered the world, and the man who had helped carry the injured mother there. “If that is what the Harvilles told you, they were too modest about their own role.” Elizabeth turned back to the Wentworths. “Lady Elliot could not have known a better nurse than Mrs. Harville, nor a more compassionate household in which to spend her final hours.”
A shadow passed across Mrs. Wentworth’s expression, and Elizabeth regretted her statement. “Forgive me,” she added quickly. “I did not intend to mention her death at an event intended to celebrate life.”
“No—it is only that I am unused to hearing ‘Lady Elliot’ in reference to anyone but my own mother.”
Elizabeth now wanted to bite her careless tongue. She hoped she had not offended A
Lady Russell, who stood on A
Mrs. Wentworth thanked the older woman and turned back to Elizabeth’s party with a friendly look that assured Elizabeth that she had not given offense.
“I believe I also have you to thank for the assistance rendered to my friend Mrs. Smith the day before yesterday,” Mrs. Wentworth said to Elizabeth and Georgiana. “She told me that two ladies named Darcy helped her after she fell on the beach.”
“We were glad to have been of use,” Georgiana said.
“Is Mrs. Smith all right following the incident?” Elizabeth asked. “She appeared fine when she left us.”
“She is. In fact, she felt well enough this morning that she plans to join me and Captain Wentworth here; we expect her to arrive any time now. I know she would enjoy talking with you again.”