by Anne Louise
“Let be guess, you must be your father’s favourite?”
“I have told your brother the same thing. Though my father loves us all the same, I am just closer in temperament to him and we talk to each other often and have similar interest in books and other things.”
“So which daughter does your father wish most to come to town to visit the Gardiners?”
“That would be the middle sister, Mary, who practices on the pianoforte multiple times everyday. Mary is the family bookworm and is always correcting the others about our moral shortcomings. I started to say Lydia in place of Mary. Lydia is my mother’s favourite and is silly. Next, Kitty follows Lydia around, even though she is two years older.”
“Do you play any instrument, Elizabeth?”
“I play the pianoforte some, but very ill and I play the harp some as well. At Pemberley I saw a pianoforte and a harp. Do you play?”
“I play, but only the pianoforte. My mother played the harp.”
“Then, if we have time, I would enjoy hearing you play.”
“Perhaps we could play a duet before you leave?”
“I would like that, Georgiana.”
“And how will you be received when your return home?”
“My family will greet me with hugs and well wishes and my father will talk with me in private. I shall not be able to discuss our stay at Pemberley because it will feed my mother’s obsession.”
“And what is her obsession?”
Elizabeth told of the entail of Longbourn to the next male and told of her mother’s wanting to marry off her daughters before her husband died and left them destitute.
“Is you father healthy at present?”
“Thank you for asking. He is as healthy as might be considering he is the only male in a family of six females. My father mostly stays in his library and reads or attends to estate matters, though our little estate is small compared with Pemberley. Georgiana, I told your brother about my mother’s obsession and he acted surprised that I would tell him such a thing.”
“You need to know where he is coming from. There are many fortune hunter mamas out in society trying to marry off their daughters to my brother. I am sure it surprised him that you were so honest.”
“I had no reason to be dishonest and your brother is not a fool. He and I live in different worlds. As much as I would like to tell about your brother, I cannot. My mother would not let it rest and I would have no peace.”
Elizabeth was pleased with the young woman. She was shy, but friendly, and acted mature and was very well mannered.
“I am very happy that we have met. My brother said he was happy that you and your relatives were able to visit and he spoke of the flooding in Lambton and that you stayed at Pemberley.”
“He and Mrs. Reynolds and others at Pemberley treated us very well. I have been spoiled, I believe.”
Part of Elizabeth wished to know what else Darcy had written in his letter, but another part was afraid of what he might tell.
“From his letter, I can see that he wishes to see you soon. He said you and your sister will likely visit in town just before Christmas, but if he has his way, and he usually does, he will find a way to see you before then.”
“Elizabeth, you have been in the coach with your aunt and uncle for most of the last two days. You must dine with me this evening and we shall take you back later. If you write the missive, I will have a servant deliver it right away.”
Elizabeth agreed and knew this would be welcomed by the Gardiners. The two spoke of much that day and Elizabeth invited Georgiana to visit with her at the Gardiners the next day. “Do you like my brother?”
Elizabeth waited to answer the young woman. “Georgiana, I have no experience in these matters except what I have read, but I do like him. He was very kind and generous to the Gardiners and me. I only wish I lived closer to you both. You are both friendly and easy to talk to, but I do envy you having a brother.”
“And I envy you for having four sisters.”
The banter continued and Elizabeth sensed the young woman liked meeting her. She looked around and saw the single young woman staying in the mansion and it hit her all of a sudden that both Darcy and his sister were in some respects like prisoners in these great mansions. Neither seemed to have many friends. After the dinner, Georgiana and Elizabeth both played some and joined for a duet. Later, Georgiana and a maid accompanied Elizabeth in the carriage and returned her to the Gardiners home on Gracechurch Sreeet, but not before they settled on a time to meet at the Gardiner home the next day. Elizabeth had invited Georgiana to visit the Gardiners and the young woman was eager to meet them and the children.
That night the Gardiners asked about her meeting and Elizabeth said all went well and that she had invited Miss Darcy to visit on the morrow.
“That is good, Lizzy, but you will be leaving the following day for Longbourn.”
“I know, Aunt. You will like Miss Darcy.”
“Yes, I am certain that I will.”
Elizabeth did not stay up late that evening but helped put the children to bed before grabbing a book, but soon gave up on the notion in favor of a sound sleep.
The next morning Elizabeth joined the Gardiners for breakfast and they again asked more about her visit with Miss Darcy. They seemed pleased that the young women got on so well.
“It is a grand house, is it not?”
“Yes, Aunt, but the circumstances there and at Pemberley are so similar. In town we have Miss Darcy all alone, and at Pemberley, it is Mr. Darcy who is alone. Mr. Darcy did say he has an aunt and uncle in town and another aunt and a cousin who live in Kent. It is not a large family and Miss Darcy is very interested in meeting the children.”
“She likely has not often been around the little people.”
“That is what she told me, Aunt. She also said that she never had a girl friend near her age. There is something very sad about her life and also about her brother’s life. Mr. Darcy seems to get along with strangers quite well, but his sister was surprised to hear me say that.”
“This does not surprise me, Lizzy. It is likely that he does not get on so well with strangers, and it must take some time for him to feel comfortable. I believe he made an exception in your case. It did not take me long to see that he liked you and I know that he saw that you are very different from all the other women that he had ever met. In fact I would bet that he has never kissed a woman.”
Elizabeth was not sure she wanted to have such a conversation so early in the morning with her aunt but she did blush and it did not go unnoticed.
“Yes, Aunt, I do believe he is innocent in matters of the heart. The man has essentially been working himself to death and hopefully this setback will be a change for the positive. In the future, I hope he will delegate more responsibility in managing the Darcy estate, and he definitely needs to get more sleep.”
“Well, I am not so certain about that, but I believe that you both may have a future together. I hope that is the case.”
“Lizzy, it has been interesting listening to you and your aunt, but I must leave now to go to work. Please enjoy your day with Miss Darcy and give her my best and thank her and her brother for their kindness. Should you need anything, you know where you can find me. By the way, Lizzy, things have changed at my business, and provided you have the time, I would like for you to see my new warehouse today.”
With those words said, Mr. Gardiner left the house to go to his office. Already, Elizabeth could hear the sounds of the town as it awakened for a new day and she caught her own excitement as she anticipated another visit with Miss Darcy.
Later that morning Miss Darcy arrived and was welcomed inside by the maid. Elizabeth next introduced her to her aunt and the children. After pleasantries were said, Elizabeth accompanied her friend and her cousins upstairs where they went to play.
Almost immediately, Georgiana was surrounded by the children. They asked her many questions and wanted to show her their toys and play games wi
th her. Elizabeth watched all of this and could see Georgiana’s smiles as the children hugged her and pulled at her, all the while, giggling in excitement. Georgiana laughed in return but Elizabeth could see the young woman wipe away happy tears and she thought that Georgiana was much like her sister, Jane.
“Elizabeth, I have never been around children until today and I sincerely regret that I missed that in growing up. Your cousins are very loving and seeing your aunt and reading my brother’s letter makes me wish for a large family when I marry.”
“I am certain you will marry well and will be very happy.”
“Yes, this is my fervent hope and I do wish the same for my brother. I would also like to see you again and hope we can both become better friends. Would it be asking too much if we can write to each other? Of course, you will be leaving on the morrow for your home, but I hope that we can keep in touch and meet in town later.”
“And I wish the same thing, Georgiana. How else can I discover news about your brother and yourself?”
“He will return to Darcy House soon but it will be a long time before Christmas and I do look forward to meeting your sister and seeing you again before Christmas.”
“Perhaps you can join us when we go shopping?”
“I would like that very much.”
“Georgiana, just last night I was thinking that you and my older sister, Jane, are very much alike in temperament and you are both kind and friendly. I believe that I also mentioned my uncle’s import and export business in town? Well, before he left for work this morning, he invited us to stop by and see his new warehouse. It is not far from here and if the weather holds up, as it is now, I suggest that we take a walk to the waterfront later after we have had tea and a light lunch.”
“I would like that very much. Often my brother and I walk to the Thymes. It is something to behold on such a lovely day.”
Later the two friends began their walk to the warehouse. Along the way they saw many people in their daily routine and Elizabeth marveled at the crowds and the busy activity once they arrived at the waterfront. They could see the ships being loaded and unloaded with cargo and passengers and ships were both arriving and departing. Moments later they entered Mr. Gardiner’s new warehouse. Earlier he had mentioned to Elizabeth that he would be in his office in his older warehouse, and that is where they entered. No sooner had they come inside, when Georgiana had the great surprise to see her uncle, The Earl of Matlock.
Mr. Gardiner and the man were talking when they both turned to see their nieces who were approaching.
“Now, what do we have here, replied the man?”
“Your Lordship, I would like to introduce you to my niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is the young woman who accompanied my wife and I when we journeyed to Lambton and toured Pemberley.”
“And I wish to introduce you to Miss Darcy.”
The young women dropped curtsies and exchanged pleasantries as Georgiana’s uncle continued. “So Miss Bennet, your uncle tells me that you stayed at Pemberley some nights due to the flooding?”
“Yes, your Lordship, we were touring Pemberley when a great storm struck and Mr. Darcy was afraid for our return to Lambton due to the chance of flooding, so later he was so kind as to invite us to stay.”
“And Georgiana, I see you and Miss Bennet have come to see my friend’s new warehouse? Would you like to take a tour with us?”
“Yes Uncle, we would like that very much.”
“Very well, I will leave it to my friend to give the tour.”
For the next hour the two men spoke with their nieces and watched as Elizabeth seemed to know much about the merchandise and the history behind a few of the pieces. Even Georgiana knew of some of these things and in a surprise to her uncle, she actually asked and offered her opinions, thus mimicking Elizabeth.
This was all quite an experience for her uncle, and he immediately believed that Georgiana would gain much by an association with Miss Bennet. Now he was beginning to believe that his nephew stood to gain even more, for he thought Darcy likely saw in Elizabeth a very intelligent young woman, full of charm and wit and beauty. Good God, Darcy is likely bewitched by this young woman. If ever there was a woman that would be good for Darcy and Georgiana, Miss Bennet is the one.
Before they left the warehouse the man asked Elizabeth how much longer she would be in town. When she replied this was her last day and she would be leaving in the morning to return home, the man said that he wished to invite her and her sister for dinner the next time they are available and Elizabeth thanked him for his invitation. After that the two friends departed and the two men each had a glass of port and talked about the young women.
“Well, Gardiner, I know you have spoken before about your nieces, but meeting Miss Bennet gives me hope for my nephew. Now tell me, how do you think Fitzwilliam Darcy reacted to her visit?”
“Of course, he was very kind to my wife and I and also to Elizabeth. I believe he likes her and that Elizabeth likes him. Still, I do not know where all this will lead, probably nowhere, but this is the first time that my niece has ever looked at a man that way. You can understand, I just do not want her to get hurt.”
“We are both strange creatures, but I feel the opposite as regards my nephew. It is time that he took an interest in a young woman. I hope he misses Miss Bennet and is pining for her as we speak. She is very enchanting and I hope that she and Georgiana will become good friends. Your niece is exactly what Georgiana needs for a friend. My wife will be interested as well. Indeed, if the two Miss Bennets return to town before Christmas, then I am certain that my wife will know of some Christmas ball that we can invite them to, and of course Mr. Darcy and his friend would be invited.”
“It looks like we are trying to make a match between your nephew and my niece,” replied Mr. Gardiner.
We have nothing to say on what will happen, but I shall know soon. Darcy will likely arrive within a fortnight and my wife will talk to him and learn his thoughts.
Earlier that morning, after arriving at the Gardiner home, Georgiana had given her driver instructions to return to Darcy House, and if she had not arrived back home by four, the driver should leave then to return to the Gardiners for her. Now that they were nearer Darcy House than Gracechurch Street, they walked that distance and stopped at a few shops along the way.
“Elizabeth, you have a good family and I like your uncle. He has a good business and two warehouses and I can see that he and my uncle are friends.”
“Yes, that was a surprise. Your brother never told me that his uncle is an earl, and neither did my uncle tell me these things.”
“My brother is not one to drop names. He probably did not want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Even so, I am impressed with your uncle, but after seeing Pemberley and Darcy House, nothing surprises me any more. Is your brother pursued by many fortune hunters?”
“Yes, I think that is one of the reasons he likes to visit Pemberley. In Derbyshire he can be free from the many young woman looking for a husband.”
“I hope he does not consider me to be like them?”
“No, and neither do I. How long did it take him to decide that you and the Gardiners should stay at Pemberley?”
“He was concerned by the heavy rain and knew that if it continued, that the Gardiners and I would be in trouble. There was also the business with the damaged carriage, but it was my aunt’s injuries that drove his decision. He knew she would get better care at Pemberley. He made the decision after he saw her.”
“I do believe that he often worries too much.”
Elizabeth did not want to tell so much but the words just came out. “Your brother said he had never seen so much heavy rain and made the correct call for us to remain at Pemberley.”
After resting for near an hour and planning on what they might do the next time they met, the friends exchanged addresses and Georgiana accompanied Elizabeth in the carriage back to the Gardiners.
As the carriage pulled
away, Elizabeth regretted that she would not likely see Darcy or Georgiana until the week before Christmas. Her opinion of Darcy weighed heavy on her heart but now that she had met his sister, she was more certain than ever that she wanted both of them in her life. That last evening with the Gardiners they discussed their time together and Elizabeth visited with the children and helped get them to bed.
“Lizzy,” her uncle said, “we will leave at seven and the coach leaves before eight. I have written a letter to your father that I ask you to deliver to him. Like I said earlier, you may expect to hear more on Mr. Darcy by way of his sister, so keep your chin up. For my part, I believe he likes you. Now get some rest and we will wake you early.”
Before sleep came, she could only think of her time with Darcy that night in the shelter house and the way she felt when she found him. Her heart was full of love for the man and she wanted to tell him, but did not know how to start. She remembered how she giggled in happiness on their ride back to Pemberley on Sampson. Though she was exhausted that night, he kissed her for the first time and it was her first kiss my a man and it brought new stirrings to her and later in bed back at Pemberley, she dreamed that she was married to him and they had made love.
With such thoughts comforting her, Elizabeth fell asleep. The next morning she was awakened by her uncle, who had let her sleep as long as he could and still get her to catch the morning coach to Meryton. She threw off the counterpane and completed her ablutions before donning her clothes she would wear during her trip. Her things had been packed the night before and so after breakfast, her uncle took her to catch her coach and waved as she left to return home.
PART V
The return to Meryton went well and Elizabeth had some passengers for most of the ride. On the last leg of her trip she was alone and had ample time to think of her visit and meeting her new friends and she wondered what they might be doing at that moment. As she looked out at the countryside she felt the road with every rut the coach encountered and with every noise from the under carriage she reflected on how comfortable and lavish the Darcy coach was. Indeed, her trip back to town was physically comfortable, but her heart longed to be with Darcy, and now she was not certain if they would ever meet.
