Saving Jane

by Martin Hunnicutt

  But I want you to know that I understand my duty to my family. Therefore I am reconciled to the marriage. Mr. Collins and I shall marry from Longbourn in June.

  I miss you Lizzy and look forward to your return at Christmas.

  Jane

  ++**++

  Chapter 4.

  Elizabeth’s Meeting in the Park

  The morning following the arrival of Jane’s letter, Elizabeth found she could not rally her spirits and she retreated to her room to write to Jane but could not find the proper words and rather than waste valuable paper, she withdrew further to a chair by the window where she could watch the traffic on the street. The sun came out in London, a rare thing in November, and by afternoon, the weather was warm enough to tempt Mrs. Gardiner to take her children and niece for an outing in the park one-quarter mile from their Grace Church Street home. Mr. Gardiner remained home after luncheon to accompany his family and so with their nanny and footman, the Gardiners set out for the park with their three children and their niece.

  The sun was bright and improved everyone’s spirits, including Elizabeth’s. After a goodly time of play with her young cousins, Elizabeth approached her aunt and uncle for permission to walk the circuit of the park alone.

  “I wish for a few minutes to consider our conversation last night as well as the letters I have received from my father and Jane,” she explained.

  Nodding his head, her uncle gave his permission. “But there is one restriction; you must remain within my sight the entire time. That confines you to the pathway around the pond and the fountain.”

  Smiling, Elizabeth thanked her uncle and began her walk at a pace that took her past other families and couples enjoying the November sunshine. She found herself watching the men and women; wondering if they were married couples who had fallen in love or if their families had arranged the marriage.

  ‘I understand that arranged marriages can be happy ones,’ Elizabeth decided. ‘My uncle and aunt have an arranged marriage and they obviously love each other.’

  Watching a man and woman walking arm in arm without saying a word to each other, she decided they were not a happily married couple.

  ‘If only I knew Jane had a chance at happiness with this Mr. Collins,’ Elizabeth decided. ‘Mamma knew what she was about sending me to town. I am certain that Papa would never have agreed to this marriage if I had been at home.’

  Turning the corner once again, Elizabeth approached the fountain where several benches offered respite for the footsore pedestrian. On one of the benches near the fountain, she saw a young woman – a girl only the age of Lydia – with her head in her hands crying.

  “Whatever is the matter?” Elizabeth asked stopping and sitting beside the girl. “May I be of assistance?”

  Wiping her nose on a handkerchief, the girl replied between hiccups, “My companion has deserted me! She left me here in the park!”

  “Who is your companion? A friend?”

  Shaking her head, the girl said, “She is my lady’s companion, hired by my brother to chaperone me everywhere I go. We were to go shopping for new gowns but after we left the house, she decided that we should come to the park and she dismissed the carriage. My brother will be very upset when he learns the carriage returned home without us.”

  “With the sunshine, the lady must have wanted to enjoy a walk here in the park.” Elizabeth looked around, “It is a pleasant afternoon and there are quite a lot of people here today. Perhaps she just got separated from you.”

  Wiping her nose yet again, the girl shook her head and insisted, “My companion deserted me – she has not been satisfied with the position for several months since my brother decided that I should not have a vacation by the sea last summer. He kept me here in town and Mrs. Young urged him several times to allow us to separate from him for a time, but he repeatedly responded that I am too young to have an establishment of my own even for a time.”

  “I would think that means your brother cares a great deal for you,” Elizabeth responded. “My name is Elizabeth Bennet and I am just twenty years so I remain at home with my father, mother and four sisters. The notion of a quiet establishment is attractive but I remain with my family.”

  “I am Georgiana Darcy. My brother and I are all we have – our parents have both passed,” the young girl responded.

  “There – he cannot bare the idea of you leaving him,” Elizabeth assured the girl. “How old are you – six and ten years?”

  “I am five and ten years.”

  “Of course you are too young to have your own establishment. Now, why are you crying?”

  “My brother will be very angry with me for losing Mrs. Young. He insists that I keep to the appointments that we have agreed upon.”

  Elizabeth squeezed the girl’s hand gently, “And your companion knows this as well so I am certain she is searching for you this very moment.”

  Now the blond head shook back and forth before she replied, “No, she is not looking for me. I saw her climb into a carriage with George and he kissed her.”

  Elizabeth was shocked for a moment before she asked, “They kissed in public? Here in the park? Is George her husband?”

  “Oh no, Mrs. Young is a widow and George is ‘George Wickham’, son of the man who once was my family’s steward,” Georgiana replied. “I have not seen him in three years.”

  “Are you certain the man was Mr. Wickham?”

  “Oh yes. George is beautiful – no woman can forget his face.

  Elizabeth laughed. “Is he a demigod from Greece?”

  A small smile came to Georgiana’s face and she nodded her head. “I have heard some of the maids and ladies back home say he is...”

  “Tell me, where is home?”

  Now the tears ceased and the young lady answered, “Derbyshire – our family is from Derbyshire.”

  “A county to the north I believe,” Elizabeth said attempting to draw out the young girl. “I have never been to Derbyshire. My aunt who lives in town was born in Derbyshire in a small town named Lambton.”

  Brightening at the familiar subject, Georgiana explained, “Lambton is only a few miles from our home. My brother and I attend Sunday services there when the weather is fine.”

  Now Elizabeth noticed her uncle and aunt walking toward her and she drew Georgiana to her feet. “Come, my family approaches and my uncle will return you to your home.”

  As Elizabeth rose from the bench, Uncle Gardiner asked, “Lizzy, have you had enough time for reflection?”

  “Thank you uncle, I believe I have. And I have met this young lady who needs our assistance. Her companion deserted her here in the park and she needs to return home to her brother.”

  “Deserted you in the park?” her aunt asked before approaching the girl on the bench and taking her hand as her two oldest children followed. “All will be well my dear! I am certain of it. My name is Mrs. Edward Gardiner and my husband will return you to your family.”

  “What is your name child?” Uncle Gardiner asked kindly.

  “Georgiana Darcy, sir.

  “Are you related to the Darcy’s of Pemberley in Derbyshire?”

  “Yes sir, my brother is Fitzwilliam Darcy,”

  “Then I know your brother – I act as his factor selling Pemberley wool each year. We are investing together in mills to spin the wool into yarn and then into cloth in nearby Derby.”

  “Mr. Gardiner, please!” fussed Mrs. Gardiner. “Miss Darcy is distressed and must be returned to her brother. She cares little for factories or yarn.”

  “Where is your home, Miss Darcy?” asked Elizabeth.

  “In Mayfair,” Miss Darcy replied.

  “That is almost two miles from here,” Uncle Gardiner announced. He glanced at his niece and said, “While that is a suitable distance for you Lizzy, none of the rest of us can walk four miles. I shall hire a cab and you and I shall escort Miss Darcy home.”

  He turned to his wife. “Mrs. Gardiner, are you agreeable to returning home with
Nanny and the footman to escort you and the children?”

  “Certainly, Mr. Gardiner,” his wife replied with a smile. “Children say goodbye to the young lady. When we return home, there will be biscuits and hot cider.”

  Mr. Gardiner watched his wife surrounded by his children and their servants begin the short walk back to their home before he turned to his niece and the young lady.

  “Miss Darcy, shall we walk to the street?” he asked offering his arm. “I shall hail a carriage and return you to your brother.”

  With the young girl on one arm and his niece on the other, Edward Gardner navigated the pathway to the entrance to the park and when they came to the street he was able to flag down a for-hire carriage quickly.

  He waved for the driver to remain on his seat and asked the young lady for the direction to her home that he then relayed to the driver before opening the door and handing first his niece and then Miss Darcy inside. When he climbed inside himself and everyone was settled on the seats, he knocked on the roof of the carriage and the driver flicked the reigns to set the horses to walking again.

  After almost thirty minutes of London street traffic, the driver halted the team in front of a large, four-story brick house. Mr. Gardiner stepped down from the carriage and reached in to help Miss Darcy down. Before Miss Darcy was on the street, the front door of the house flew open and a tall, dark haired man rushed down the stairs to the girl’s side, taking her in his arms for a moment.

  “Georgiana, where have you been? Where is Mrs. Young? You were to be home an hour ago!”

  When the older brother released the young woman, he turned to Elizabeth’s uncle who tipped his hat, bowed and said, “Mr. Darcy, my niece found Miss Darcy deserted in the park and after calming her, brought her to me and I immediately brought her to your home.”

  Darcy frowned. “I imagine you expect a reward...”

  Having joined the others on the sidewalk Elizabeth was silent at the man’s words. Uncle Gardiner frowned only so slightly but replied, “Mr. Darcy sir, I am your business partner, Edward Gardiner.”

  “And is this some scheme to draw my favour for your proposals?”

  “A scheme, sir?” Uncle Gardiner asked, surprised and offended.

  Finally, Elizabeth intervened, unwilling to hear her uncle so ill-used, “There is no scheme sir! Interview your sister and she will tell you that when I came upon her in the park she was crying and upset. As soon as I calmed her and my uncle arrived, he immediately wished to return her to your home.”

  The man – handsome and tall with black hair and blue eyes – frowned but did not say more as his sister took his arm and whispered in his ear.

  “We shall leave now Elizabeth,” Uncle Gardiner said.

  “Yes, I think that is a very good idea Uncle,” Elizabeth agreed. “Good day Miss Darcy.” But she turned her back on Mr. Darcy without taking his leave and climbed back into the cab.

  “Good afternoon Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy,” added Mr. Gardiner as he bowed to Miss Darcy and tipped his hat to Mr. Darcy again.

  ++**++

  As the carriage travelled back across London, Elizabeth and her uncle discussed the afternoon’s events once more.

  “Miss Darcy said that her companion, Mrs. Young, left her to ride away with a Mr. Wickham,” she explained. “She said that the man kissed Mrs. Young when she climbed into the carriage with him.”

  “But he wasn’t her husband, this Wickham?” asked Uncle Gardiner.

  “Miss Darcy said that her companion was a widow.”

  His brow wrinkled with thought, Mr. Gardiner asked, “Where have I heard the name ‘Wickham’? We must speak with your aunt.”

  “But uncle, what of Miss Darcy’s brother? He insulted you thinking you attempted to curry favour with him through some scheme.”

  Shaking his head, Mr. Gardiner replied, “I shall make inquiries through my solicitor; it may be that Mr. Darcy has had swindlers and schemers attempt to steal his monies. He is one of the richest men without a title in the kingdom. As a matter of fact, I do not understand why the king has not made him a lord before now.”

  “A lord? He looks so young!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “And that does not excuse his bad manners. You brought his sister home to him without thought of recompense.”

  “Perhaps the man has had poor experiences with strangers in the past, Lizzy. And he was frantic to locate his sister apparently – her companion had deserted her on the street so let us not judge him too harshly.”

  ++**++

  Upon arrival at the Gardner home on Grace Church Street, Elizabeth and her uncle were greeted by Aunt Gardiner who asked, “My dears, did you safely return Miss Darcy to her family?”

  “Yes, her brother was most anxious for her safety,” Mr. Gardiner replied.

  “But it was most strange,” Elizabeth added. “He suggested we were part of scheme to take money from Mr. Darcy.”

  “Truly? Whatever could have caused him to think thus?”

  “I have no idea, my dear,” Uncle Gardiner told his wife.

  “Aunt, do you recognize the name George Wickham?”

  As soon as Elizabeth said the name, she saw her aunt grow pale and reach for her husband. Uncle Gardiner took his wife in his arms and turned to his niece. “Elizabeth, will you fetch a glass of sherry from my library for your aunt?”

  She hurried down the hall, poured the sherry and hurried back to the parlour where she found her uncle sitting on the sofa holding his wife who was in tears.

  Handing the glass to her uncle, Elizabeth pleaded, “Aunt Gardiner, please do not cry. I am so sorry for whatever it was that I said.”

  “Lizzy, it could have just as easily been me who said that name,” replied Uncle Gardiner. “Your aunt will be well in a moment.”

  He offered the sherry to his wife and she took the glass and sipped it until the glass was empty. Handing the glass back to her husband who set it on a side table, Aunt Gardiner looked at Elizabeth and said, “My dear, George Wickham is the very worst man in the whole of England.”

  “If Mr. Darcy is connected to Mr. Wickham,” Uncle Gardiner added, “I shall not conduct any additional business with the man.”

  Elizabeth sat in a nearby chair and said nothing until her aunt was calmed.

  “Mr. Wickham ruined my younger sister and when she began increasing, our father disowned her.”

  “I did not know you had a sister, aunt.”

  Aunt Gardiner sighed. “I have never spoken of her to you. She was younger by two years and we were close but when my father arranged my marriage to your uncle, my sister was unhappy that I was leaving home. After my wedding, my sister was in company with George Wickham several times at gatherings in Lambton and then he disappeared after promising marriage to my sister. This much I know from letters from my mother. When he remained gone for two months, my sister grew frantic and my father approached the master of Pemberley, Mr. George Darcy for assistance.”

  Aunt Gardiner paused before continuing, “But Mr. Darcy was not helpful, Mr. Wickham remained gone and my sister found she was increasing. I knew nothing of what followed until an acquaintance wrote me; my father was a strict churchman and he threw my sister out of the house without even a coat. Our mother grieved herself to death in just a few months.”

  Elizabeth was worried as her aunt sighed and closed her eyes before she continued, “I had one last letter from my mother but my father refused to allow me to return home to comfort my mother and when she died, I never returned to Derbyshire and never saw my father again.”

  ++**++

  To cheer her aunt, Elizabeth rallied her spirits that evening to play and sing for her the family after supper. But in bed, sleep was elusive and Elizabeth was disturbed when she realized she kept remembering Mr. Darcy’s blue eyes.

  ++**++

  Chapter 5.

  Mr. Darcy’s Visit to Grace Church Street

  The next day began better for Elizabeth with sewing and assisting her cousins with their lessons. Aft
er the usual hours for callers, Elizabeth and her aunt were alone in the parlour attempting to get through the mending basket when the footman appeared at the door and announced, “Mrs. Gardiner, a Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy has called and he asks to speak with Mr. Gardiner.”

  “Show him in Graves,” Aunt Gardiner replied though she was anxious and kept her sewing in her hands rather than returning it to the basket. Elizabeth quickly secured her needle in the shirt she was repairing and took her aunt’s sewing from her hands as the tall man from the day before walked into the parlour. His presence filled the room as Elizabeth placed her aunt’s sewing on top of the basket and then moved it to a nearby table.

  Turning around, she saw the tall, proud man bow appropriately to a lady in her home. “Good afternoon madam, Fitzwilliam Darcy at your service and I am seeking Mr. Edward Gardiner.”

  “I am pleased to meet you, sir. I am Mrs. Gardiner and my husband is attending to his business at this time of day. May I give you the direction to his offices?”

  The dark haired man’s face reflected his discomfort with the situation. Upset with the gentleman again, Elizabeth spoke up, “Aunt, allow the footman to attend me and I shall escort the gentleman to Uncle Edward’s warehouses.”

  “Nonsense, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, you will find my husband...”

  “I am here my dear,” Mr. Gardiner said coming through the parlour door. “Graves sent a boy to the office as soon as he saw the carriage at our door and I returned home post haste to speak with our visitor.”

  Turning to Mr. Darcy, Uncle Gardiner’s face was calm and Elizabeth wondered at his countenance. She glanced at her aunt who appeared calm as well though when she finally looked at Mr. Darcy, she saw his features were frozen and stern.

  “How can I be of assistance Mr. Darcy?” her uncle asked and Elizabeth noted that her aunt and uncle had remained standing at the door and had not invited the man further into the room or to have a seat. The call was unlike any social call she had witnessed before.