Chapter 2
A restful sleep and a bright, warm morning raised Elizabeth’s spirits and dissipated her distressing thoughts. Yes, she had been imprudent and had exposed herself to danger the previous night, but it was all over now, and she could enjoy the sea again in the daylight.
The Gardiner children — Thomas aged five, Peter aged three and a half, and Margaret, just eighteen months old — loved the water as much as Elizabeth.
Unlike her, however, they had the liberty to enjoy it at any time, closely supervised by their cousin.
Taking their young charges to the water, Elizabeth and Jane had the opportunity to cool themselves, too, as they always became wet to their knees.
Usually after breakfast, Mr Gardiner would go to an office in the town where he saw his patients, and Elizabeth, Jane, and the children would stay at the beach till noon, when it was time for the children to rest. Mrs Gardiner joined them when she was able.
Farther down the beach from their cottage, there were several bathing machines lined up and a crowd of ladies rejoicing in sea bathing. The Gardiners were acquainted with many families in Brighton, but they rarely paid or received visits, preferring the tranquillity of their secluded little house.
“So, Lizzy, how was your swim? As pleasant as ever, I hope?” Mrs Gardiner enquired, looking through her correspondence.
“Very much so, Aunt,” Elizabeth replied, glancing at Jane.
“You know, I am torn between indulging your pleasure and imposing the rules of decorum,” Mrs Gardiner said in jest. “No respectable aunt should allow her seventeen-year-old niece to swim at night, and without a proper bathing machine.”
“I did offer to rent you one, in order to resolve this dilemma,” Mr Gardiner replied in the same tone.
“I would certainly not agree to waste such an amount of money on a bathing machine for us,” Elizabeth said in earnest.
“Well, Lizzy, you may pay for it yourself if you would accept compensation for your help with my patients,” Mr Gardiner continued.
“Dear uncle, we are forever in your debt — how could I accept any payment from you?” Elizabeth answered with even more seriousness. “I am happy to help you in any way I can. Besides, I enjoy learning about medicine from you. If I were a man, I would have become a doctor, just like you.”
“Lizzy dearest, your mother loathes your interest in medicine as much as your desire to swim or walk,” Mr Gardiner said with a laugh. “If you were a man and would inherit Longbourn, she would probably allow you to do as you please. As it is, her main concern is now to find you a good husband.”
“Husband? I am barely seventeen, and Jane is just nineteen. Who would want to marry at this age?” Elizabeth asked, appalled.
“Who? Most young women of your age, if they happen to receive a decent marriage proposal to secure their future,” Mrs Gardiner answered, also amused.
“But I am glad you think differently. A young woman should never marry until she is certain she has found a good match, not just for her security but for her heart and mind.”
“We have no fortune, and Longbourn is entailed on a distant cousin. So, apparently, we have little or nothing.”
“You are a gentleman’s daughters, Lizzy. You are all pretty and charming in your own ways,” Mrs Gardiner assured her.
“Still, it is unlikely we shall find any match, let alone a good one. Except for Jane, who is so beautiful, sweet, and gentle that she will certainly receive a good marriage proposal from a handsome and wealthy gentleman. As for me, I shall be content to remain a spinster, take care of all your and Jane’s children, and help Uncle with his patients,” Elizabeth said in a jesting yet determined tone.
“Do not be silly, Lizzy. You are just as pretty as I am and certainly cleverer,” Jane replied. “I would love to help Uncle too, but I do not have your strength. All those sick people would break my heart, and I would probably faint within minutes.”
“You help me enough at home, Jane. We all adore having you,” Mrs Gardiner said gently. “But I agree in regard to Lizzy’s strength. I confess I am not brave enough to work with your uncle in London. I did wish to, but I simply could not.”
“A nurse’s work is equally difficult and daunting, as well as praiseworthy,” Mr Gardiner said.
“It is as hard to find a good, loyal nurse as it is to find a good physician. I was fortunate enough to find Mrs Brett and Mrs Reed in London. Also, here in Brighton, Dr Crawford hired Mrs Lang and Mrs Dean, who are both highly experienced.”
“I assume this means you do not need Lizzy’s help on a regular basis and she is free to marry at any time, as her mother requires,” Mrs Gardiner concluded with another laugh.
“Or she could do both — my nurses are married and excellent at their duties,” Mr Gardiner replied. “But I doubt my sister Frances would agree to such plans. In fact, she might not allow Lizzy to spend any more time with us if she foresees such a prospect.”
“Then we should not tell her any of this. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with you,” Elizabeth said.
The conversation was carried mostly in jest, and it was just one of many similar ones. While Elizabeth did not aspire to a career as a nurse, she did enjoy learning from her uncle and helping him as much as she could.
“My dear, I forgot to mention it yesterday, but I noticed the Darcys’ house had been opened. I spotted a carriage and several servants,” Mr Gardiner said.
“Oh, has it?” Mrs Gardiner replied. “I wonder who is staying there? It has been closed for the last three, or perhaps even four, years. It pained me to hear of Mr Darcy’s death last year. Such a lovely family, who lacked nothing except good luck and good health…”
“The Darcys?” Elizabeth enquired, sharing a puzzled glance with her sister.
“Yes, do you not remember? You girls met Lady Anne Darcy years ago. A beautiful, gentle lady, who was spending her summers in Brighton at her doctor’s suggestion.
Her daughter, Georgiana, and her husband joined her regularly.
She had been ill for several years, and the doctors believed the sun and sea would be beneficial to her.
Sadly, she died five years ago, the year our son Thomas was born. ”
“I am not sure I remember her,” Elizabeth said.
“I do,” Jane replied. “She used to sit in front of the house, close to the water, on an armchair, under a parasol. Her daughter was very young. She must be around Lydia’s age now.”
“Indeed, Miss Georgiana Darcy must be eleven or twelve years old now.”
“Now that Jane mentions them, I do remember the armchair and the parasol,” Elizabeth responded. “Though I cannot recall the faces of either the lady or her daughter. I assume they were a titled family? Were you the lady’s physician, Uncle?”
“The Darcys own the largest and most beautiful estate in Derbyshire. It is called Pemberley,” Mrs Gardiner explained. “I was acquainted with them as I grew up in Lambton, a town only five miles away. We met here by chance, after I married your uncle and we purchased this cottage.”
“She was treated by the best physicians in London. I had the honour of being asked to examine her here in Brighton and share my opinion,” Mr Gardiner added.
“The late Mr Darcy tried every possible treatment for a few years. He ordered herbs and medicines from all over the world. However, her illness remained an unsolved mystery. It took all her strength away, day by day. She became weaker and thinner until she was confined to her bed, then slowly burned out, like a candle, until she was entirely consumed.”
“How is it possible? Was there nothing to be done? She just died, with no reason?” Elizabeth asked, bewildered.
“Sadly, yes. I admit that it tormented me too. Even after she was gone, I tried to find answers by myself and with other doctors, with no success. It was one of the many illnesses about which we — as doctors — still know very little, if anything at all. We cannot look inside the human body, so we can only assume and try to treat what we can see. Therefore, we are often wrong and often fail.”
“What a sad story,” Jane whispered. “So now Mr Darcy has died too, and Miss Darcy is an orphan. I hope she has other family to comfort her.”
“She has a brother, the young Mr Darcy. He is much older — he must be her senior by ten years or so. I remember he was a young boy while I still lived in Lambton, but I have not seen him in many years,” Mrs Gardiner responded.
“Why is that?” Jane asked.
“He was at school most of the time. I heard he was very diligent with his studies, as he is now with his responsibilities. People in Lambton speak highly of him, though they say he is not as amiable nor as easy-mannered or engaging with people as his parents were.”
“A master of such a great estate, with so many tenants and servants depending on him, is not required to be amiable or easy-mannered,” Mr Gardiner said. “He only must be dutiful, kind-hearted, and generous — if possible. But more than anything, he must be honourable and fair.”
“I agree with you, my dear,” Mrs Gardiner answered. “His father was just like that, and I hope his son follows in his footsteps.”
Elizabeth listened to the conversation but did not contribute much.
The subject was of little interest to her, except for the grief caused by the early deaths of two excellent people and her sadness over the orphaned young girl.
After breakfast, Mr Gardiner went to tend to his patients, while the rest of them returned to their daily routine.
Four more days passed, and nothing special happened to interrupt their enjoyable time. However, the area became more animated — during both the days and the nights — so Elizabeth abandoned her habit of swimming in the moonlight, which she missed exceedingly.