Darcy and Elizabeth’s Valentine’s Meet Cute (Holidays with Darcy and Elizabeth)

5. Dinner at the Gardiners

CHAPTER 5

Dinner at the Gardiners

D arcy’s palms were slick with sweat as he sat in his carriage on the way to dinner at the Gardiner residence. After entering the vehicle, he had removed his gloves and absentmindedly wrung them in his hands as the horses clopped along the cobbled streets. Realising he was fidgeting uncharacteristically, he set the gloves beside him on the seat, only to find that now his hands felt even more restless.

He glanced out the window, watching the passing cityscape to calm his thoughts. Despite the constant movement of the carriage, it felt as though time had slowed, each second stretching longer than the last. It was a familiar sensation, one he had often experienced before an event that had the potential to unsettle him—though he could not entirely pinpoint why this particular evening was causing such unease.

Darcy had anticipated seeing Miss Bennet soon but had not expected Mrs. Gardiner to issue a dinner invitation so quickly nor for Mr. Gardiner to second it. He knew the invitation aimed to throw him and Miss Bennet together, and for the first time, he did not mind being nudged toward a young woman. Though their two interactions had been brief, her presence had lingered in his mind.

Darcy exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. It was only a dinner. Nothing more.

However, his nervousness returned as he recalled the conversation with his cousin earlier that afternoon. As he often did, Fitzwilliam had barged into his study unannounced, a grin already playing across his face. Darcy had been engrossed in a letter when Fitzwilliam arrived, and it did not take long for him to launch into one of his usual, incessant rounds of questioning.

“Well, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam began, a teasing tone in his voice. I have it on excellent authority that a young lady has entirely captured your interest. She must be quite the paragon.”

Darcy had been momentarily taken aback, his pen stilling in his hand. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Determined to tease, Fitzwilliam crossed the room to sit across from him, his smirk widening. “Oh, come now, Darcy. My father mentioned something about you calling on him yesterday to ask about a young lady, and I thought you might be willing to share a bit more with me. Who is she, then? Surely, you must have some idea of what you are doing when you call on her.”

Darcy had narrowed his eyes slightly, unsure how much to reveal. He had never been one to indulge in the kind of conversation Fitzwilliam was aiming for, yet there was no avoiding it now. He could feel his cousin’s energy crackling in the air, ready to pounce on whatever morsel of information he could extract.

Reluctantly, Darcy sighed, his shoulders stiff. “I met the young lady at Hatchards the day before yesterday. Her name is Elizabeth Bennet, and she is Mr. Gardiner’s niece.”

At the mere mention of her name, Fitzwilliam’s grin had grown. “Mr. Gardiner? The tradesman who Father does business with? You are considering attaching yourself to the daughter of a tradesman? She must have quite the dowry if you are considering her.”

“I know nothing of her dowry and have only spoken to her twice. I am dining at her uncle’s house after he and I met yesterday with your father to discuss my joining his investment. Your father has done very well with Mr. Gardiner, and I intend to do the same,” Darcy said in an attempt to redirect his cousin. It was not successful.

“Ah, now I understand,” Fitzwilliam had said, his eyes gleaming. “So, you are investing with the uncle to impress the girl. You must be truly interested in her. Is she a beauty?”

Darcy had flinched at his cousin’s probing, but there was little point in denying his feelings. “She is... an intriguing young woman,” he had admitted reluctantly, unwilling to go further.

“Intriguing?” Fitzwilliam had raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? My dear cousin, you must have more to say than that! Come now, do not be so modest. Tell me—what is it you find so fascinating about her to cause you to speak to my father and seek her out?”

Darcy had struggled internally, not quite ready to express his feelings, but Fitzwilliam was relentless.

“What I find most interesting about her,” Darcy said slowly, searching for the right words, “is her independence and wit. She is not one to simply agree with everything I say. She challenges my assumptions, and I find that refreshing.”

“Ah!” Fitzwilliam exclaimed as if the conversation had finally reached the point he had been waiting for. “A woman who speaks her mind! I see now. Darcy, my friend, you must act on this.”

Darcy had been about to protest—there were many reasons why acting on these impulses was not a good idea—but Fitzwilliam had not given him a chance.

“Listen, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam had said, leaning forward with an eager gleam in his eyes. “You cannot simply admire her from a distance. You must take action. Show her that you are a man of action. Call on her. Invite her to dine at Dacy House. Be decisive! If she has captured your attention, she must be worthy.”

Darcy had straightened in his chair, half-annoyed and half-bewildered. “Fitzwilliam, I do not court women in such a manner. I do not see the need to... act impulsively in this matter.”

But Fitzwilliam had only waved away his concerns. “That is your problem, Darcy—you think too much. A little spontaneity will do you good.”

Darcy had shaken his head, trying to suppress a smile at his cousin’s insistence. “And what would you suggest I do, Fitzwilliam? Write her a sonnet?”

Fitzwilliam had burst out laughing at the suggestion, but he had not stopped his pursuit. “Perhaps not a sonnet, but something more practical. Take her to the theatre, or invite her to walk through the park, something that will give you a chance to speak with her, to... get to know her. You obviously enjoy her company.”

The idea of being alone with Elizabeth and speaking with her freely and without the walls of propriety or formality both intrigued and unsettled Darcy. Fitzwilliam’s suggestions only reminded him how little control he had over the situation.

Before he had time to further process Fitzwilliam’s relentless suggestions, his cousin slapped him on the back with exaggerated cheer. “You have nothing to lose, Darcy! Show her the man you truly are. You may find she appreciates the effort.”

The conversation lingered in Darcy’s mind, and any number of unanswered questions swirled through his thoughts as the carriage began to slow. Would he take Fitzwilliam’s advice and act spontaneously? He had already done so by asking her to dance the supper set. He laughed to himself; he realised he had not mentioned that to his cousin. Without a doubt, Fitzwilliam would not have ceased his teasing had he mentioned it.

Upon entering the house, Darcy immediately went to Elizabeth’s side after greeting his host and hostess.

“Miss Bennet, how are you this evening?” he inquired.

“I am very well, Mr. Darcy,” she replied, her cheeks tinged with pink. “My aunt told me that we will be visiting your sister tomorrow. I am looking forward to meeting her.”

“Yes, she sent me a note earlier telling me the same,” he said. “I have told my sister to expect callers tomorrow, but I am afraid she is anxious about the visit. She is worried that you and your aunt will be more along the lines of my friend’s sisters, and she always dreads their visits. I have attempted to cease their calls, but they can be relentless. However, I feel certain you will quickly put her at ease as you did with me.” His eyes were warm, and Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed again at the compliment.

Immediately trying to regain her composure, Elizabeth opted to tease the gentleman.

“What sort of sisters does your friend have, Mr. Darcy?” she asked, laughing lightly.

“They sound as though they must be quite fearsome.”

Darcy chuckled at the thought. “Fearsome is not quite the right word, but I am not certain of a better one. My friend, Charles Bingley, and I are opposites in many ways, but we have become rather friendly over the last two years. However, he has a younger sister who has made it her mission to become Mrs. Darcy. Her actions often make me uncomfortable, and I am never quite certain how to deal with her.”

“For instance,” he continued, “last night, I was invited to a dinner party at their home, which turned out to be a meal with her family and me. The whole situation was uncomfortable, especially since she seated me on her right as the guest of honour and then attempted to monopolise my attention all evening. It would be ungentlemanly of me to correct her behaviour, yet despite my hints to her brother, he has not done so.”

“On seven occasions, I have tried to indicate that I do not appreciate her grabbing my arm every time we are in company, especially when it is not offered, but she cannot seem to understand that. Her brother claims she simply refuses to listen to any suggestions he gives her about her behaviour towards me or that an invitation is not meant to include her.”

“And so,” Darcy sighed, “I have stopped inviting him to my home and instead always opt to see him at my club.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “And at your club, no women are allowed, so she cannot join him there. I would guess she is rather displeased at this change in your behaviour.”

Darcy smiled slightly. “Very much, but I have no intention of doing anything else,” he said. “Now, let us speak of something more agreeable.”

Darcy then asked Elizabeth about the books she had purchased at Hatchards the morning they met. They began discussing those books along with several others. Darcy was intrigued that the lady read books about agriculture to assist her father with his estate. He was further interested when she mentioned other purchases, including a volume of Cowper and another by Wordsworth.

“What did you think of The Lady of the Lake ?” he asked.

“Oh, I found it most enjoyable,” she replied. “I have read it already twice and hope to read it a third time. It is such an interesting tale.”

Darcy could do little but agree. Before either of them realised it, dinner was announced.

Mr. Gardiner escorted his wife into the dining room, leaving Darcy to escort Miss Bennet. Once again, even through the layers of clothing, Darcy felt Elizabeth’s touch like a lightning bolt to his heart. It was an odd sensation, unlike anything he had ever felt.

At dinner, the conversation was more general, and all four diners participated. The topics ranged from politics (with frequent news about the Regent and his excesses) to matters of fashion (which were of less interest to the gentlemen, but they indulged the women in speaking of which muslin was best). Finally, they discussed the investment Darcy had agreed to the previous day.

Darcy was surprised at the breadth and depth of knowledge of his host and hostess, and of course, Miss Bennet was likewise delightful.

When the final course was served and the table cleared, Mrs. Gardiner stood. She and Elizabeth left the room to allow the gentlemen a few minutes alone. Once the door shut behind her, Mr. Gardiner spoke to Darcy.

“Mr. Darcy, I realise that we only met yesterday, and this is your third meeting with my niece. However, given the difference in your statuses, I would like to ask, what are your intentions towards her? Elizabeth is a wonderful young lady, and we treasure her, but I would not have you toying with her affections.”

Darcy was a little surprised at the directness with which Mr. Gardiner spoke to him, but as he considered it momentarily, he appreciated the concern. It was clear that he cared for his niece deeply and wished the best for her. He would likely do the same thing if someone began paying attention to his sister.

“I cannot say fully what my intentions are now,” Darcy began, “but I would like to get to know Miss Bennet better. As you said, we have only met three times, but I have enjoyed speaking with her each time. We have never run out of things to talk about. She is unlike any woman I have ever met, and I have been out in society for more than five years. Quite a few fathers and mothers have courted me, and I have been in danger of being compromised a time or two by unscrupulous women, but I have always managed to avoid such actions. However, your niece intrigues me, and while I cannot commit to a courtship or a proposal at this moment, given the brief time of our acquaintance, I would like to see where things go between us.”

Mr. Gardiner nodded. “So, your intentions are honourable?” he asked to clarify.

“Certainly, sir,” Darcy replied. “I would not toy with anyone’s affections. However, I also truly wish for her to befriend my sister. Regardless of what may happen between Miss Bennet and myself, she has a lively character that I think my sister needs. I myself am rather reticent, and my sister is almost painfully shy. A woman like Miss Bennet might assist her in bringing her out of her shell, and I feel that she will be honest with my sister and not attempt to use her relationship with me to forward her acquaintance with me.”

Mr. Gardiner seemed to consider this for a moment. “Tell me more about your sister,” he said.

“Georgiana is young—soon to be 15. I have a companion for her, but she is an older woman, and I am not always certain how well she and Georgiana get along. In some ways, it seems Mrs. Younge is leading Georgiana and directing her, which is as it should be, but it sometimes seems that Mrs. Younge ignores Georgiana’s wishes in favour of her own. I cannot be certain since Georgiana will not say anything negative about her, but I feel that the woman is hiding something. Although I cannot put my finger on precisely what it is. I hope that perhaps your wife and niece can observe the interactions as well, for I do not think she behaves in the same manner when I am in the room as she does when she is alone with Georgiana.”

“If you do not trust the woman,” Mr. Gardiner said, “why do you not discharge her and find a new companion?”

Darcy sighed. “I wish it were that simple. Since she was recommended to me by my Aunt Catherine, I cannot dismiss her without a valid reason.”

“Why is that?” Mr. Gardiner asked.

Darcy groaned. “In part because my aunt will never let me hear the end of it if I dismiss a worthy employee without cause. The fact that I simply have a bad feeling about her—or not even a bad feeling, just a suspicion—would not be enough to bring my aunt from Kent to London to berate me. Of course, she may do so if I dismiss the lady with cause, but at least then, I will have more than a feeling to back my reasoning. Perhaps I should worry less about what my aunt thinks, but family can be difficult.”

Mr. Gardiner had to laugh. “You are correct about that. I should warn you that if you are interested in my niece, you should know about her parents. I have told Lord Matlock before that my brother is far more indolent than he ought to be, which is a matter of tension between Bennet and me. I have tried speaking to him and encouraging him to invest so his daughters will have a proper dowry, but he refuses. You should know that Lizzy, should you decide in her favour, will come to you with practically nothing. Given what I know about you after our meeting yesterday, I doubt that will be a problem for you, but you should know it.”

“Her mother, however, is another matter entirely,” Mr. Gardiner continued. “Her mother is my sister, and Fanny often acts more like a spoiled child than a grown woman. Lizzy is in London with my wife and me because Fanny blames her for running off a suitor for her elder daughter, Jane. The young man informed the two girls that together, they were ideal, for one had beauty and the other had brains. Each was offended, but Jane preferred to blame Lizzy for his defection. It seems Jane would not speak to the gentleman, so Lizzy did, and that was enough for her sister to fault her.

“My sister’s main goal is to marry off her daughters, although she is convinced that only her oldest and youngest will marry well. They are most like her in looks and spirit, and the rest take after their father in appearance, so she dismisses them. She is highly critical of Lizzy, and this is not the first time she has come to London to escape her.”

Darcy considered this for a moment. “You are not the only one who has difficult relatives. As I mentioned, my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, can be quite the harridan.” He sighed heavily and then continued. “Since my father’s death, she had attempted to claim that she and my mother engaged me to my cousin when we were both in our cradles. There was never any mention of this before both my parents were gone. My cousin is sickly and cross, and even if she were inclined to wed, I would refuse to marry her simply because my aunt insists it is so. Even if it was discussed, our fathers never signed a contract. While my mother might have thought it a good idea when we were infants, I do not think she would wish it today. Regardless of how often I have told my aunt otherwise, she continues to insist. Should I engage myself to your niece, I do not doubt she would attempt to claim I am obligated to Anne.”

“Ha!” Gardiner exclaimed. “Is this, by chance, your uncle’s sister?”

Darcy smiled. “It is.”

“Then I will need to tease him about it sometime. He insists his family is nearly perfect, and now I know his secret.”

Darcy laughed at this. “You have not met his second son, Colonel Fitzwilliam, then have you? He certainly gives lie to that claim.”

The gentlemen then left the dining room and joined the ladies in the parlour. Elizabeth was at the piano, lightly playing as her aunt sewed, and Darcy immediately approached her.

“Might I turn the pages for you, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked. At Elizabeth’s nod, he sat on the bench beside her.

“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth whispered, and then hesitated.

“Yes,” he prompted, hoping she would continue. He thought she looked troubled and wondered what he could do to relieve her worry.

She sighed. “Your asking me for the supper set at your aunt’s ball—it was done impulsively, was it not?”

“It was,” he replied and watched her visibly deflate. “But that does not mean that I did not mean it or wish to retract it. When I heard you would attend, I looked forward to spending more time with you. The supper set allows me to not only get a half hour with you while dancing, but it also enables me to sit next to you throughout the supper.”

“But my aunt says you do not dance often. Our dancing together might be remarked on,” she whispered.

He barked a laugh and attempted to cover it with a cough. “It most certainly will. Does that trouble you?” he asked, his brow furrowing.

“I do not wish to embarrass you,” she replied.

“You could not. I will be honoured to dance with you and to be able to claim a significant amount of your time that evening. In fact, I had considered asking your uncle if I could escort you to the ball so I can keep you on my arm whenever you are not dancing with another,” he whispered.

“You cannot mean that,” she hissed, her mind racing. If Darcy escorted her, there would be no hiding from the whispers, the watchful eyes. Although the thought made her nervous, she could not deny the thrill of the idea—of being by his side, of him making his interest so very clear.

“Why ever not?” he asked, confused by her response.

Elizabeth looked away, her fingers tightening around the edges of her shawl. “Because it would give rise to speculation. People will talk and wonder why you are dancing with me. I am a nobody, a country miss with no dowry and connections to trade.”

Darcy studied her carefully, his expression unreadable. “They will talk regardless, Miss Bennet.” His voice softened as he leaned in slightly. “Would it truly be so terrible if they assumed I hold you in special regard?”

Her breath caught. “But do you?” The words were out before she could stop them, and she immediately wished them back.

He exhaled, his gaze intense. “Yes.”

She blinked, her heart hammering in her chest. He had answered without hesitation, without pretence. It left her feeling both exhilarated and unsettled. “Oh,” she murmured, unable to form a more coherent reply.

A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. “This is only the third time we have met, so I am not ready to speak to your uncle, but I would like to continue calling on you. I look forward to introducing you to my sister, and I cannot help but feel that you will become special to the both of us. My sister will like you very much, and I hope you will be able to inspire her confidence. I would not want to introduce you if I did not think you were worth knowing.”

Elizabeth smiled, though her thoughts still swirled. He was unlike any gentleman she had ever known—direct, sincere, and apparently unwilling to play society’s usual games. It was both refreshing and disarming and she contemplated this as she continued playing an easy piece that she did not need music for.

She swallowed hard. “You are very determined, sir,” she said finally.

He chuckled. “You have no idea, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth played a short time longer before the couple joined her aunt and uncle across the room. As they had done during the meal, the four talked pleasantly together and enjoyed conversation until it grew late.

“I think I must go,” Darcy finally said. “I look forward to you calling at my house tomorrow, Miss Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner.

Both ladies noticed that Darcy often addressed Elizabeth first, which was not what propriety would have dictated, but it made Darcy’s focus clear.

At her aunt’s urging, Elizabeth showed Darcy to the door.

“I thank you for a pleasant evening, Mr. Darcy,” she said as he donned his hat, coat, and gloves.

“I look forward to many more,” he murmured. “I will see you tomorrow, Miss Bennet,” he repeated, taking Elizabeth’s hand and pressing a light kiss to the back.

Elizabeth flushed, causing Darcy to grin as he nodded at her and exited the front door. She stood there watching him for several moments, her cheeks heating further when he glanced out the window and caught her watching him. Instead of joining her aunt and uncle in the parlour, she called out a goodnight before making her way to her room where she could think.