by Leenie Brown
“Elizabeth beat Wickham?” asked Mr. Gardiner incredulously.
“With a very large book of poetry,” said Richard.
“I always knew she had a temper, and she has always said her courage rises at every attempt to intimidate, but you have to admit, that is impressive,” said Mr. Gardiner. “She really stepped in front of a gun to save my son?”
“It appears so. By throwing her parcel at Wickham and distracting him by moving, the bullet went wild. I shudder to think of the results if it had not.”
“As do I,” said a distinguished looking gentleman as he entered the room. “Mr. Thompson is nearly finished with the closures of the wounds which have been thoroughly cleaned and will be well-dressed by Miss Lucas. She is quite knowledgeable concerning wounds and the prevention of infection. She says it comes from having two younger brothers.” The gentleman greeted Bingley and then introduced himself to Darcy before continuing. “The bullet only grazed both Master Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth, although it appears to have nicked a bone in Miss Elizabeth’s arm,” said Dr. Clarke. “The quick thinking in tying off the injuries, Mr. Darcy, to prevent blood loss was most beneficial. I am convinced my assessment would not have been so positive if any more blood had been lost.” He gave an appreciative bow of his head to Darcy.
“They will both need to remain calm for a few days while the stitches take, and Miss Elizabeth’s arm will need to be kept in a sling for at least two weeks to restrict use in order for the bone to have time to heal. As I said, Miss Lucas seems to be quite capable of tending the wounds properly, but Mr. Thompson will, of course, return on the morrow to check on the patients.” He donned his jacket and straightened his waistcoat. “Master Gardiner suffered a blow to the head that will give him a headache for a while but will not put him in danger or be of lasting consequence.
“I am not sure which patient will be the hardest to restrain,” the doctor said with a grin that caused the skin of his face to crinkle, “but I have a feeling it will not be the young master.” He took his hat from Roberts, placed it atop his grey head and tucked his walking stick under his arm. “I have left some draughts for pain and sleep with Mrs. Gardiner should they be needed. Again,” he chuckled softly, “administering them may be a challenge, knowing from experience a certain young lady’s dislike of medicine.” He shook the hand Mr. Gardiner had extended to him. “Do not hesitate to send for me if the condition of either changes.” He picked up his bag.
“Are we ready, Mr. Thompson?” he questioned the younger man who had just entered the room.
“Yes, sir, we are.”
“Then I will wish you a good day, Mr. Gardiner, gentlemen.” He gave a final bow and took his leave.
Mr. Gardiner sighed in relief. “I think I shall go up and see the patients. Would you gentlemen care to join me?”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Thank you, Elizabeth, for protecting Andrew,” said Mr. Gardiner softly as he gave his niece a kiss on the forehead. “We wanted to see with our own eyes that you were well,” he said more loudly. “We shall leave you to rest, and to help you rest most easy, I want you to know that Wickham is in custody and poses a threat to no one. Tomorrow, the Colonel will be back to ask you some questions to verify Wickham’s statements.”
“But, I could answer them now,” protested Elizabeth weakly.
“No, tomorrow,” said her uncle. “The doctor’s orders are to rest. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
Each gentleman in turn stepped forward and gave their wishes for a speedy recovery, and then turned to go. Darcy was the last to give his well wishes. As he turned to leave, Elizabeth called him back.
“Mr. Darcy, I want to thank you for helping us. The doctor said the bandages probably saved our lives. I believe I owe you a new cravat,” she said with a slight teasing tone.
Darcy took a seat in the chair next to her bed and looked around the room. The others had proceeded to Andrew’s room ahead of him, leaving him alone with Elizabeth.
“You gave me quite a scare, Elizabeth,” he said gravely. “I am glad we—I—did not lose you today.”
Elizabeth smiled at his familiar address. The look in his eyes left no doubt in her mind that he held her dear. She blinked away the tears this realization brought to her eyes and placed her hand on his.
“Please be a good patient, Elizabeth. I could not bear to have you unwell for long. Take the medicine and rest. I will see you tomorrow.” He grasped her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze before leaving the room.
In the next room, Andrew lay quietly on his bed. His father, Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam had already given him their well wishes.
“Papa?” said Andrew when he saw Darcy. “Might Mr. Darcy stay with me a while?”
Mr. Gardiner gave his son a puzzled look. “Of course, if you wish and Mr. Darcy is agreeable.”
“I would be honoured to spend some time with you, Master Andrew,” Darcy said with a bow that made the little boy giggle.
“Fine, then we will leave you,” said Mr. Gardiner. “Dinner will be in about an hour. Until then, we shall be relaxing in the parlour.”
Darcy nodded his understanding and sat in the chair next to Andrew’s bed. “What can I do for you, Master Andrew?” He asked.
“Mama says you helped me,” the boy stated, looking inquisitively into Darcy’s eyes.
“I had Mr. Bingley put a bandage on your leg, and then drove you home in my carriage,” explained Darcy.
“What happened to Mr. Wickedman?” asked Andrew.
Darcy smiled at the mispronunciation of Wickham’s name but thought it seemed most appropriate. He noticed how Andrew was anxiously winding his blanket around his fingers, and replied in a calming voice, “My cousin and some of his soldier friends have locked him up. He will never be able to hurt anyone again.”
A smile spread across Andrew’s face in relief. Then, his eyebrows drew together in a pensive look. “Did you help my Lizzy, too?”
“I did.”
“A gentleman always helps others in need, right?”
“Yes.”
“You are a very good gentleman, Mr. Darcy,” stated Andrew.
“Thank you,” said an amused Darcy. He waited as Andrew thought about something which appeared from the various expressions on the young boy’s face to be very important.
“Do you love my Lizzy?” Andrew put his small hand on Mr. Darcy’s arm and looked him straight in the eye. “I would like for you to love my Lizzy, Mr. Darcy, because you are a very good gentleman, and she is a lady.”
Darcy smiled down at the innocent face peering up at him. “Your Lizzy is a very special lady, Master Andrew, and yes, I do love her. But, only you and I know that, so it must be our secret until I have a chance to tell her, do you understand?” Andrew nodded his head. “Telling ladies you love them is not as easy for older gentlemen as it is for younger gentlemen.”
“And you must only kiss a lady when you stand under a gauge at the end of a court or something like that,” said Andrew his nose wrinkled in uncertainty.
Darcy chuckled. “You mean a gentleman may kiss a lady when he is engaged or betrothed to the lady. That means he has promised to marry her. Engagement happens after a courtship.” Andrew had propped himself up on his elbows and listened intently. Darcy took another pillow from the bed and placed it behind the youngster’s back. “A courtship is when you call on just one special lady so that you can get to know her, and she can get to know you. Then you can see if marriage is agreeable to both the lady and the gentleman. But neither a courtship nor a marriage can happen without permission from the lady and her father or another male relative in whose care she resides.”
“Oh,” said Andrew, his eyebrows knit together as he pondered what he had heard. “So, you must ask my Lizzy to call on her special and if she says yes, then you have to ask my papa or her papa?”
“Yes, and then if I wanted to marry your Lizzy, I would have to ask for permission all over again.”
A frown p
ulled at the corners of Andrew’s mouth. “That is a lot of rules,” he said at last. “Sometimes when I ask my papa for something I get scared he will say no. Is it scary like that for older gentlemen, too?”
“Yes, it is,” said Darcy with a smile.
“But, a gentleman must be brave,” Andrew said to himself. “You will ask my Lizzy and my papa, will you not?”
“Sometime, Master Andrew, sometime soon,” said Darcy. “Now, if you have no further questions, I believe it is almost time for dinner, and your mama will want you to rest. I should go join your papa and the others. A gentleman must be friendly to the men before he asks for permission.” Darcy gave Andrew’s nose a tap.
“I think you are very friendly, Mr. Darcy,” said Andrew.
Darcy smiled and stood to leave.
“Mr. Darcy?” There was a hopeful tone to the child’s voice.
“Yes, Master Andrew?”
“Lizzy usually reads to me, but Mama says she cannot. Would you read me a story tonight?”
“I shall return after dinner. It would be my honour, sir.” Darcy bowed his leave.
Downstairs he was met by a roomful of questioning eyes, but he just smiled and took his seat.
“You and Master Andrew spoke for a long time,” commented Richard.
“Yes, we did,” answered Darcy.
“And you spoke about….” prodded his cousin.
“He wanted to say thank you for helping him and Miss Elizabeth.”
“And that is all?” questioned Bingley. “Surely, that did not take so long?”
“He also wanted to know what happened to Mr. Wickedman. Is that not the best name for him, Richard?” said Darcy. “I think he was nervous about Wickham being able to hurt him again.”
“That is understandable,” said Mr. Gardiner. “But, I sincerely doubt it took very long to assure him of his safety.”
“No, it did not take very long,” said Darcy. “He had some questions regarding being a gentleman.” He noted Mr. Gardiner’s raised brows. “Do not worry, sir, I answered them very properly. And, Richard, Bingley, you will be happy to know that I have been declared a very good gentleman by Master Andrew.”
“That is a relief, cousin,” said Richard earning a laugh from Bingley. “Was there anything else?”
“Only that he made me promise to read him a story before I leave. So, I will have to skip our port after dinner, as a very good gentleman always keeps his promises.”Darcy chuckled.
~*~*~*~*~*~
After her visitors had left and as she was preparing for bed, Mrs. Gardiner said, “I heard most of Mr. Darcy’s conversation with Andrew before I joined you in the drawing room. ”
“Eavesdropping were you, Madeline? How improper,” teased Mr. Gardiner.
“I did not mean to eavesdrop. I had come up to check on both Andrew and Lizzy. I wanted to know if they needed anything. It was so sweet, dear. Mr. Darcy will make a wonderful father someday.”
“Is that all you are going to tell me?”
“Well, Mr. Darcy already told you most everything.”
“Most everything?”
“Yes, but the part he left out is a secret.”
“Madeline, you know I do not like secrets,” Mr. Gardiner said severely.
“Oh, Edward. It is nothing to be concerned about. In fact, Mr. Darcy plans to share the secret with you sometime soon.” She laughed at the perplexed look on her husband’s face. “Very well, but you must not let on that you know,” she cautioned. “Andrew asked Mr. Darcy if he loved Lizzy. And he asked him if he was going to talk to you about a courtship—although those are not the words Andrew used.”
“And?”
“And what, Mr. Gardiner?” She teased as she settled back against her pillows and opened the book she intended to read.
“And what did Mr. Darcy say?” Mr. Gardiner took her book from her and placed it well out of her reach on the other side of him.
“Mr. Darcy said yes to both questions. And our son has given him permission to love his Lizzy, so I hope that you will too when Mr. Darcy comes to you,” Mrs. Gardiner said with a laugh.
“I would not dream of refusing as long as Lizzy is agreeable,” said Mr. Gardiner with a grin.
“I do not think she will be disagreeable, dear.” Mr. Gardiner raised his eyebrows in surprise. His wife continued as she snuggled up to his side and slid her hand in the direction of her book, “She took her medicine without complaint tonight, and when I asked her why, she said because Mr. Darcy asked her to!”
He stopped her hand and held it to his heart. “Well, I dare say we must do what we can to keep him around then, my dear—at least until the doctor says she can stop the medicine.”
“I think I shall like having him for a nephew, Edward. And, I think her mother will forgive her about Mr. Collins if she brings home Mr. Darcy instead.” She propped herself up to look down at him. “Now, might I have my book?”
Mr. Gardiner shook his head and moved her book to the nightstand.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Darcy smiled more than normal on the way home that night.
“It seems young Andrew Gardiner has had a most pleasing effect on my cousin, Bingley. He has not stopped smiling all night.”
Darcy looked at Richard and taunted him by smiling even more.
“I believe he has put a spell on him, Bingley. I did not receive a scowl in return for my jibe.”
“And you shan’t tonight. Wickham has been captured, Elizabeth is safe, and I am a very good gentleman!” Darcy shot back.
“Ah, yes, a very good gentleman. And pray tell what makes you such a good gentleman, Darcy?” asked Richard.
“I helped Andrew and his Lizzy.”
“And what has Master Andrew given you in return for your help on his behalf—aside from his ardent praise and devotion?”
“Permission.”
“Permission for what?” asked Bingley.
“Permission to love his Lizzy.”
Bingley and Richard laughed. “So no more standing between the two of you or taunting you by kissing her?” said Richard.
“No. I am free and clear, except I was cautioned that older gentlemen do not kiss ladies unless they are standing under a gauge at the end of a court.”
“What?” Bingley and Richard said in unison.
“Understanding, engagement, courtship,” explained Darcy.
“And were those the things you had to explain about gentlemen?” asked Bingley.
“Yes, those and a few other things,” said Darcy. “But the rest is our secret.” Darcy pretended to lock his lips and throw away the key. Then, he rested his head against the back of the carriage, closed his eyes and proceeded to ignore his companions for the remainder of the trip.
Chapter 6
“Good day, Gardiner,” Lord Matlock’s deep voice reverberated through the warehouse.
“Good day, Matlock. What can we do for you today?” asked Mr. Gardiner.
“Just stopped by to see about my order. I see it is being shipped as we speak. I can always count on you to get things done on time,” said Lord Matlock clapping Mr. Gardiner on the back.
“Thank you, sir. But you could have sent someone to check on it.” Mr. Gardiner eyed Lord Matlock suspiciously.
A laugh rumbled softly from his belly. “Never have been able to put one past you.”
Mr. Gardiner took his hat and coat from the hook on his office wall. “We have callers coming to check on the invalids today, so I was just on my way home. Two of them are your relatives. If you wish to speak to me, I suggest you join me.” Mr. Gardiner motioned for Lord Matlock to precede him out of the office. “I have an excellent bottle of port in my study—better than the vintage here in my office.”
“I cannot pass up a bottle of port if you say it’s excellent, now can I?” Lord Matlock followed Mr. Gardiner from the warehouse. “Allow me to offer my carriage as our transportation.” He motioned to the fine black equipage that stood in front of the warehouse. Mr. Ga
rdiner accepted and soon they were rolling up the street to the Gardiners’ townhouse.
“Richard has told me how your niece has been instrumental in removing a thorn from the side of my family,” began Lord Matlock.
“Not just your family, mine as well.”
Lord Matlock nodded his acknowledgement and continued, “I also understand she and your son were injured in the process. I wish to send my well wishes to your family along with my thanks. Richard has shared the story with me about how Miss Elizabeth dispatched of the scoundrel and put herself in danger to protect your son. She sounds like quite the lady.”
“That she is. She is a favourite of ours at the Gardiner house. Although having her visit now that she is grown is less strenuous than it was when she was a girl.” Mr. Gardiner laughed.
“Lively, was she?”
“Still is, but time and age have assisted in containing it within ladylike confines—most times. My children adore both she and her sister Jane, but Lizzy is the one who commands the brood with the efficiency of a military commander.” Mr. Gardiner peered through the carriage window. “My eldest son, Andrew, is most devoted to her—she is his favourite. It is Andrew who is injured.”
“She seems to be a favourite of my nephew, too. At least that is the word I get from Richard.”
“Ah, so we come to it.” Mr. Gardiner smiled. “Richard is not one to tell tales, my friend. I assume you are looking out for your nephew in his father’s stead.”
“Quite right. He is of age and does not require my approval for anything, but I would like to know what he might be getting himself into, just the same.”
“Naturally. I would do the same for my niece if I did not know your family as well as I do. The house is just here.”
Lord Matlock tapped the carriage roof.
“May I suggest an introduction to Elizabeth and a brief visit with the group that has gathered before we retire to my study for some discussion?”
“And port.” Lord Matlock took note of the carriage parked just up the street. “I see Darcy is here already.”
“And I would assume Bingley and the Colonel are with him,” said Mr. Gardiner.
