The next two days were filled up with the compulsory occupations of all tourists’ first experiences of Paris. Upon rising on the first full day in the city, Darcy was engaged in assisting Mr. Harmon to find sufficient accommodation for their horses and carriages for the length of their stay. In his absence, his wife and sister employed themselves in looking at the new fashions, walking past the shops of tailors, milliners, shoe-makers and hairdressers. Having little desire to make himself sufficiently fashionable to please the French, Darcy excused himself from the afternoon’s occupations in order to pay a visit to the coachmaker in La Rue Beuve des Mathurins. Repairs were become necessary to the under-carriage of the coach, which, if left to its current state, might cause inconvenience on the onward journey over the Alps; accordingly, he left to assist Mr. Harmon in that errand, as the ironmonger was unlikely to speak English.

Walking along the boulevard, Elizabeth remarked, “I feel like one come from the provinces—I find the dearness of these items on display shocking! One would not think that the cost of things so similar would have such a difference in price. I do not believe that I require anything to such a degree that I could justify spending here what I would not spend in London.”

“I cannot disagree, Elizabeth.” replied Georgiana. “To be sure, I am as unable as you to understand what could produce such an increase of price. Perhaps it is just the fact that these goods are from Paris.”

“And, I suppose I must agree, having no better explanation. However, unless one wishes to affix a large French flag, or perhaps a paper that says, ‘Fabriqué à Paris,’ upon one’s bosom, such additional expenditure seems to return little for its having been made. It would not do for compensation that the bodice and nearly transparent skirts of the Parisian gowns announce themselves as such, as I do not think that the first impression of any Englishman or woman would be that the gown bespeaks someone who has been shopping in Paris—but Greece, rather.”

“Elizabeth!”