Chapter 17
Since she was a child, visiting the Gardiners had been one of Elizabeth’s favourite times of the year.
For as long as she remembered, her uncle Edward Gardiner had been the second most important man in the world to her, and she loved and trusted her aunt Gardiner with all her heart.
Since the first Gardiner child was born, Elizabeth’s attachment to the joyful, warm house in Gracechurch Street had grown every year.
However, that journey was different from any others before, and while she missed her relatives and was eager to see them, her heart and her mind were filled with images of another house — one she had never seen but made her heart pound.
The object of her speculations was Georgiana, and as the carriage approached London, her thrill increased, as well as her nervousness.
The reunion with Miss Darcy caused Elizabeth to fret almost as much as the prospect of seeing Mr Darcy again, though for different reasons.
Reasons that were still uncertain to her.
“I have a peculiar feeling about this journey,” Mr Bennet said unexpectedly. “It should be a mere visit to my brother Gardiner, but it feels different.”
“It feels different to me too, Papa. I cannot believe I shall finally see Miss Darcy again after ten years. Unless Mr Darcy has changed his mind, either of his own will or forced by his relatives, who have kept me away from Georgiana all this time.”
“Let us not turn it into a drama, Lizzy. Things were different back then. You were very young. Nobody cares about children’s opinions, especially when they are five or ten.
Mr Darcy sounded very decided when he suggested this visit.
He does not appear to be a man whose decision might be easily altered.
And if he is, we may return to Longbourn at any time. ”
“Of course, Papa. I find myself being unreasonable lately, as I tend to imagine the worst. My nerves seem to resemble Mama’s.”
“Heaven forbid! If that is true, I might leave you in London for a long time.”
Elizabeth smiled at the seriousness in her father’s tone.
“Speaking of Mama, I am uncomfortable knowing she was upset with me when I left. I cannot imagine she put so much hope in me marrying Mr Collins. It was an absurd expectation.”
“No quite so absurd, if we are to speak honestly, Lizzy. Many young ladies in your position would be pleased to receive a marriage proposal from my cousin. And many fathers — wiser than me — would have insisted upon it. I know you are too clever and too independent to marry such a man, but he is not an undesirable husband. I hope neither of us will come to regret the decision.”
“Papa, this is a subject not even worth mentioning. I am not arguing about Mr Collins being a desirable husband. He is just not for me, and I shall never regret that. I wonder how long he will remain at Longbourn. He did not seem bothered by your leaving.”
“I wonder too. I expected he would leave when we did, but he seemed determined to follow his plan. He might fear returning to Lady Catherine before he finds a wife. Perhaps he will propose to another of your sisters. Mary seemed to admire his sermons,” Mr Bennet concluded, whilst Elizabeth wondered whether he was serious or not.
“Papa, have you instructed Mama to supervise Kitty and Lydia? Especially in regard to the officers?”
“I have, my dear. I confess I even asked my brother Phillips to watch over them from a distance. But let us be reasonable — there is an upcoming ball. I imagine all the girls in Meryton are looking forward to the ball and dancing with the officers.”
“Lydia and Kitty behave with less decorum than other girls,” Elizabeth replied meaningfully. “It might affect their future, in more than one way.”
“I thoroughly believe Lydia and Kitty are too young, too silly, and too poor to catch any man’s interest.”
“Except if the man is a scoundrel who would secretly pursue a girl for dishonourable reasons…”
“Even so, Lizzy. A scoundrel will always choose a more…discreet, obedient, and quiet object for his pursuit, if you take my meaning. I understand you are particularly concerned about that Wickham fellow. But being in Meryton, among our family and friends, and considering his position as an officer in the regiment, I doubt he could be a danger to anyone.”
Mr Bennet’s voice and behaviour were too relaxed compared with Elizabeth’s worry, yet she could not say much more, as her father changed the subject.
In the late autumn, the day was short, and soon the sun lowered to the horizon.
Before darkness fell, the carriage arrived safely on Gracechurch Street.
The Gardiners received them with their usual joyfulness; Mrs Gardiner and the children immediately embraced Elizabeth, while Mr Gardiner welcomed them warmly.
In the middle of exchanging greetings, Elizabeth startled, dumbfounded, as she noticed the astonishing presence of Mr Darcy, waiting silently some distance away.
She stared at him, locking his gaze for a short, yet intense moment, enveloped by a strange nervousness, trying to say something and hoping he would speak first.
“Mr Darcy! What a lovely surprise! I did not expect to find you here, sir!” Mr Bennet uttered, saving the moment.
“Mr Bennet, Miss Bennet, welcome! I am so glad that you arrived safely. That is the reason I disturbed Mr and Mrs Gardiner with my presence,” Mr Darcy replied, stepping forwards.
“How kind of you to wait for us. I would have wagered that you did not know where Gracechurch Street was,” Mr Bennet continued with a hint of humour.
“Mr Darcy has visited us before,” Mr Gardiner said. “His company is a great pleasure.”
“I am sure it is. It is a pleasure for us, too,” Mr Bennet continued, while Elizabeth chose to remain silent.
“Will you join us for dinner, Mr Darcy?” Mr Gardiner asked.
“Unfortunately, I must decline. In fact, I shall leave immediately. It is rather late, and my sister is waiting for me. But I hope we shall dine together soon. If you choose a date, I shall gladly arrange a dinner.”
“It depends on my brother Bennet,” Mr Gardiner said. “We have no fixed engagements except with our children.”
“Very well, then. We may speak more on this subject when Miss Bennet calls on my sister.”
“I would like to go tomorrow if that is agreeable to you,” Elizabeth finally interjected. “I confess I am rather eager for this meeting.”
“Tomorrow would be perfect,” Mr Darcy answered, and their gazes met again. “My sister and I are also eager for this reunion.”
“I would prefer to accompany Lizzy,” Mr Bennet said.
“Of course, sir. You are all welcome,” Darcy addressed the Gardiners too.
“I shall remain at home with the children. They are a handful for our maids. But my husband may join my brother and my niece,” Mrs Gardiner offered.
“Thank you. We look forward to your visit,” Mr Darcy responded with a bow, then took his farewell again.
Mr Gardiner showed him out, while Mrs Gardiner invited everyone to dinner. The children were placed on a separate table, and the conversation returned to the subject of their mutual astonishment.
“How come Mr Darcy was here?” Mr Bennet addressed the question that bothered Elizabeth too.
“He said he wished to know you had arrived safely, as he said,” Mrs Gardiner replied. “I understand your amazement. I would have never imagined Mr Darcy visiting my home. The first time he came to introduce himself, I was shivering like a simpleton.”
“I assume he is truly worried for his sister and wishes to be sure Elizabeth will visit her soon,” Mr Gardiner added, as he returned. “All in all, he is quite a pleasant fellow. Unexpectedly amiable, considering his situation and our brief acquaintance.”
“I agree. I find him pleasant, too,” Mr Bennet replied. “Some considered him arrogant and haughty, but he is my sort of man — smiling and talking just as much as necessary, well-educated, and fond of books. I need nothing else from a man.”
“He sounds like my sort of man too,” Mr Gardiner said. “Lizzy, I heard that your first impression of him was not so favourable.”
“My first encounter with Mr Darcy might be called challenging. Neither of us showed our best behaviour, but I hope both of us have improved in civility since then.”
“He told us he was rude to you, which I find rather difficult to imagine,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“He looked utterly miserable while confessing his faulty behaviour, which I admit to finding diverting, considering he is the master of Pemberley, and men in his position rarely apologise or even admit their flaws.”
“Once we clarified our misunderstandings, Mr Darcy proved to be a perfect gentleman,” Elizabeth admitted. “His worry for his sister might have added to his friendliness, though.”
“Speaking of that, my dear, Mr Darcy gave the impression that you might help Miss Darcy in some way. Which is strange, as he mentioned the doctor found no real illness that could have altered her state or could be healed. I wonder what is truly wrong with Miss Darcy, and I fear Mr Darcy has put too much faith in her improvement once she sees you.”
“From the little Mr Darcy revealed to me, I suspect it is not so much an illness but a lowness of spirits. I understand her to be very timid, withdrawn, even fearful of everything around her.”
“Which might be explained by the losses she suffered at such a young age,” Mrs Gardiner added thoughtfully.
“I know she was always a delicate child. That is why Lady Anne was so pleased when Lizzy befriended her. To lose her parents so early, with no brothers or sisters of her own age, with only a brother who was probably more like a father burdened by all sort of responsibilities, she must have suffered in silence and solitude. Poor girl.”
“With that, I can certainly help her,” Elizabeth said confidently. “I shall visit her tomorrow, and I shall allow her the liberty to choose how our acquaintance progresses. If she needs a trustworthy companion, I may be one for her.”