Expectations: The Transformation of Miss Anne de Bourgh (Pride and Prejudice Continued), Volume 1 Page 9

Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Anne posted a letter to the office of her mother’s legal representative in London. Mr. Barkin, Sir Gerald Pinzey’s chief clerk, had written to her several times over the years, asking if she wanted to spend any of the money her father had left her. The interest continued to accrue, and she might as well spend it. In her letter she asked him about the costs to travel and stay in Italy for six months and how quickly Sir Gerald could provide the funds. She also told him to keep this inquiry in confidence, even though she feared her mother would find out anyway.

  For the next fortnight, Anne went to Fairfax House for every dance lesson. She offered to pay Monsieur Saint-Vancomy for her part in the lessons, but he said with great civility that he could not accept since she only partook in one or two dances each time. So Anne offered the money to Madame Saint-Vancomy, who accepted with a gracious curtsey.

  Anne learned every slow dance, and she tried one of the faster ones. However, her stamina gave out and she had to sit down with trembling legs before the dance finished. Mrs. Jenkinson tended to her, but to Anne’s relief her shepherd did not scold her for trying. She noticed her former governess appeared to take pleasure in watching her efforts, and even when she fumbled a dance or felt exhausted on the way home, Mrs. Jenkinson never reproached her. Perhaps Anne deceived herself, but she felt that somehow during this time Mrs. Jenkinson’s loyalty might be shifting to her and away from Lady Catherine, at least a little.

  At the end of one lesson, Anne asked Madame if she would be willing to give her voice lessons. The grand dame of music was all smiles and asked Anne to sing her favorite song to demonstrate what talent she already had. To her embarrassment, Anne could only think of a single tune, Lili Bulero, but she could remember none of the words. So Madame played five notes on the pianoforte and asked Anne to repeat them. She did this several times to the best of her ability, and with diplomatic reluctance Madame told her that she had a sweet voice and a clear tone, but she lacked the breath to sing well. Madame suggested that she work on building up her strength, and then they could discuss this again next year. Disappointed—and knowing that her strength would be hard to find, let alone increase—Anne agreed.

  During the final week of Lady Catherine’s absence, Anne came down with a cold and had to miss her last chance for lessons. Wrapped up in blankets and sitting by a roaring fire in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room, she had her former governess play on her pianoforte the tunes of the dances she had learned so she could practice in her mind. At night, after she retired to her room, she reread the letter from Sir Gerald Pinzey himself, congratulating her on her plans to travel and detailing the costs. He assured her that obtaining sufficient money would be no problem, as long as her mother agreed to the transaction as she had ultimate authority over the accounts. Anne also practiced in her thoughts several arguments that she hoped might win over her mother. She had written to Elizabeth about her hopes of traveling to Italy for the winter, and her cousin had responded with such praise for the scheme that Anne almost felt as if she could succeed.

  However, on the day before Lady Catherine’s scheduled return, Anne received a letter from her mother that overthrew her confidence. Her mother wrote that she had arranged for a dinner party on the night of her return, the guests had all accepted, and the menu had been selected. She promised Anne a great surprise.

  Huddled before the fire in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room, Anne could only fear the worst. In order to write with such assurance, she must have found another suitor. Her mother would parade him before the neighbors, knowing they would spread the news throughout the county. Perhaps her cold would spare her the embarrassment of the scene, but she was getting better and that excuse might not work.