3. A Second Meeting
CHAPTER 3
A Second Meeting
T he following day, Darcy presented himself at the address his uncle had given him fifteen minutes before the scheduled appointment. Darcy hated wasting anyone’s time, including his own and preferred to arrive at appointments slightly early, allowing time for any obstacles.
Although he arrived at the warehouse early, he still managed to be late for the meeting. While a clerk was escorting him to Gardiner’s office, he caught sight of Elizabeth Bennet. She was with a slightly older lady who looked a bit familiar to him, and they seemed to be looking at fabrics.
Asking the clerk to wait a moment, Darcy approached the women. “Miss Bennet, I did not expect to see you today,” he said in greeting.
Elizabeth flushed at being caught unaware by the gentleman, and he grinned broadly at her discomposure.
“I was not expecting to see you, sir,” she stammered in response, then, after a gentle nudge from her aunt, collected herself enough to do her duty. “Might I introduce you to my aunt, Mr. Darcy?”
At his nod, she performed the introductions. Thankfully, her aunt was more composed and could speak to the gentleman while Elizabeth attempted to gather her wits about her. Finally, her aunt saying her name seemed to bring her back to the conversation.
“…Lizzy or my elder niece Jane often accompany us when we travel. For the last several summers, we have intended to travel to the northern part of the country, but circumstances have prevented it. It will be Lizzy’s turn to join us this summer, and I believe she will be delighted to see the Peaks and the Lake District. My husband is uncertain if we will be able to make it so far, but we intend to try,” Mrs. Gardiner said.
“Where are you from in Derbyshire, madam?” Darcy asked.
“I grew up in a small village called Lambton,” Mrs. Gardiner replied. “I believe you are familiar with it.”
Darcy smiled broadly at her. “I am indeed. Lambton is not five miles from Pemberley. It is a delightful village. Miss Bennet, your aunt claims that you enjoy the outdoors; if you are able to join them in travelling to Derbyshire, you absolutely should do so. While I enjoy visiting the Lakes District, I am partial to the Peaks myself, having grown up surrounded by them.”
“Oh, I would adore visiting both of those locations. I am afraid my aunt exaggerates how far we have travelled with her, for I have been with her once to Margate, and we were there only a fortnight before Uncle’s business recalled him home. Of course, that is farther than most of my sisters have gone, so I should not complain too much, but I have read of too many other places not to wish to travel more frequently. My uncle often allows me to look at his copy of The Universal Atlas and another travel book someone had given him. The illustrations are lovely, but I would adore seeing those places in person one day,” Elizabeth replied.
“If you make the journey to Derbyshire, I would be delighted to host your family at Pemberley,” Darcy said before turning when he heard his name called. He saw his uncle waving at him and recalled himself to his purpose.
“Forgive me, Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner,” he apologised. I arrived early for the meeting but lost track of time speaking to you two ladies. Miss Bennet, I am still looking forward to seeing you at my aunt’s ball, but I hope that I will see you before then. Mrs. Gardiner, I enjoyed meeting you and look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Mr. Darcy, you and your uncle would be welcome to join us for dinner one night. Your aunt, too, if she can spare the time, but you would be welcome any time. Please let my husband know if you will come,” Mrs. Gardiner said as the gentleman began to leave.
Darcy nodded. “I will need to consult my calendar, but I will send word. Thank you for the invitation,” he said before hurrying to where his uncle stood.
“Darcy, nice of you to join us,” his uncle said with a knowing look. “How did you find Miss Bennet this morning?”
“Oddly quiet at first, but once Mrs. Gardiner mentioned her niece travelling with her to the Lake District, she became more talkative,” Darcy replied, ignoring his uncle’s teasing. His ears felt warm, but he hoped his uncle did not notice them growing red.
After a moment passed and no one else spoke, Darcy took the initiative. “Uncle, perhaps you could introduce me to Mr. Gardiner so we might begin.”
Laughing, the earl did as requested, and for the next hour and a half, the three men spoke about various investments. Darcy found Gardiner very knowledgeable and, based on the results his uncle had already seen, elected to invest a substantial amount of money over the coming year.
“Now, Henry, Darcy, my wife informed me that I was to invite the two of you for dinner tonight, and if not tonight, to settle on a date when each of you might come. Of course, if they are available, Henry, your wife, and your sons are also included in the invitation. Darcy, I am told you have a sister who is a few years younger than Lizzy, and she is welcome to join us. But I will leave that up to you,” Gardiner said once the business discussion had concluded.
“Your wife mentioned the invitation earlier. I know I have an obligation one night this week, but I cannot recall whether it is tonight or tomorrow. Once I arrive home, I will consult my calendar and send a note,” Darcy said before offering his own invitation. “Yesterday, I mentioned to Miss Bennet that I would like to introduce my sister to her, but I am uncertain if dinner would be best. Georgiana can be shy; perhaps a shorter visit in a comfortable location would be better. Perhaps Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner could call at Darcy House one afternoon this week,” Darcy suggested.
Both Gardiner and Matlock hid a smile at the invitation, though for different reasons. Matlock knew his niece often suffered from nearly debilitating shyness, and he had long wished to introduce her to Miss Bennet, believing the lively young lady would make an excellent friend. He had not done so before for the same reason that he had never introduced Darcy to Gardiner—simple logistics. Georgiana had rarely been in town at the same time as Miss Bennet, which made the introduction impossible.
However, what amused him even more was Darcy’s evident interest in the lady. His nephew had always resisted any matchmaking efforts, whether from himself or his wife, yet here he was, seeking the company of a particular young woman entirely of his own accord.
Gardiner, on the other hand, smiled for an entirely different reason. He had seen how Elizabeth spoke of Mr. Darcy after their meeting—the uncharacteristic hesitations in her words, the thoughtful expression that lingered long after the conversation had ended. Though she likely had not fully admitted it to herself, something about the gentleman had left an impression. His niece was not one to be easily dazzled, and yet there had been a light in her eyes when she recounted their discussion the night before over dinner for Gardiner had inquired minutely into their conversation.
This development intrigued him. Elizabeth had been raised to value intelligence and character over wealth and title, and while Mr. Darcy possessed all four in abundance, his reputation among society was somewhat forbidding. That she had glimpsed something beneath his reserved exterior and that Darcy, in turn, seemed captivated by her was more than enough to make Gardiner curious about what might unfold between them.
Glancing at Matlock, he noted the amusement in the earl’s expression and suspected they were thinking along similar lines. Whether this was the beginning of a mere friendship or something more profound, neither man was inclined to interfere—at least, not yet.
Arriving home, Darcy wasted no time discovering that he was expected at a dinner party at his friend Bingley’s house that evening. While he liked Bingley well enough, he had little patience for his sisters and brother-in-law. However, when Bingley extended the invitation, he did so with such a hopeful expression that Darcy could not refuse him.
Bingley often reminded Darcy of a puppy—eager to please and too willing to follow the lead of anyone with a stronger will. Unfortunately, this frequently meant he was easily swayed by his younger sister’s whims. A year his junior, Caroline Bingley seized every opportunity to exploit her brother’s friendship with Darcy, determined to elevate her position through their connection.
Darcy met Bingley during his initial visit to Gentleman Jackson’s, a pugilist club favoured by the wealthy and the restless. His cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, had dragged him there the day after a particularly trying evening, during which Darcy had nearly been compromised twice by women seeking to entrap him into marriage. Fitzwilliam had believed a bout at the club would improve Darcy’s spirits, and in truth, it had—until he noticed Bingley taking a brutal beating from a much larger and far more skilled opponent.
Unable to intervene in the match, Darcy had watched, struck by Bingley’s refusal to yield. Though clearly outmatched, he had persisted, enduring blow after blow until he was finally knocked insensible. When no one else stepped forward to assist him, Darcy and Fitzwilliam had taken it upon themselves to see to his care.
Over the following month, the two men had met daily at the club, with Darcy instructing Bingley in the fundamentals he lacked. Fitzwilliam joined them when he could, though his duties to King and Country often occupied him. Through these sessions, a genuine camaraderie had formed, and despite Bingley’s occasionally exasperating nature, Darcy had come to regard him with a certain fondness—though he often wished the man were not quite so easily led.
His sisters, however, were another matter entirely. Darcy had little regard for either woman, but from the moment he had met the younger, it had been apparent that she desired him as a husband. While he had no objection to her connections, he did object to her character. Miss Bingley was far more haughty than her position warranted and frequently acted as though she were superior even to those above her in rank. She pretended friendship with Georgiana, but his sister preferred to avoid her whenever possible, for Miss Bingley had a habit of talking over her and disregarding her wishes.
Whenever Darcy was in company with her, Miss Bingley attempted to create an illusion of intimacy between them. She stood too near, took his arm without invitation, and sought to insinuate herself into his social engagements. On more than one occasion, she had arrived at Darcy House uninvited and unexpected, which had led him to cease inviting Bingley to his home altogether. Instead, they met at the club, where Miss Bingley could not intrude. However, he had been unable to decline this particular invitation.
The prospect of enduring Miss Bingley’s presumptions that evening was irksome enough. Still, it was all the more aggravating because he could not spend time in Miss Bennet’s company until the following evening. With a sigh, he sat at his desk and penned a note to Gardiner, explaining his prior commitment but accepting the invitation for the following evening. He also reiterated his invitation for Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner to call on his sister and, to accommodate their schedule, extended it to any day that week, requesting that they inform him in advance so he could be home to perform the introductions.