Chapter 16
After a week of spending time together, Elizabeth, Tiffany, and Georgiana became as thick as thieves. Elizabeth had not yet shared her past; she was having too much fun in the present.
It seemed she had not forgotten everything she learnt as a child about how to ride.
It did not take many lessons before Elizabeth was riding well enough for the three to ride along Rotten Row.
Unlike most in society, they rode for exercise and the enjoyment of one another’s company, not to see or be seen.
They always finished their rides or walks well before the so-called fashionable hour.
Lord and Lady Matlock, after the first few days the young ladies spent together, insisted Elizabeth call them Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine. They were amazed at Elizabeth’s ability to draw Giana out. In five days, she had accomplished more than the rest of them combined had done since Ramsgate.
The first time Tiffany and Giana visited Gracechurch Street, Lady Elaine accompanied Mrs. Annesley and the girls.
She had expected no less, as she found an elegant, well-appointed house on a street of similar townhouses.
Many would say they were in Cheapside, erroneously; they were not?they were near?not in.
Andrew and Marie, the Viscount and Viscountess Hilldale, had attended the family dinner.
By the end of the evening, Marie loved Lizzy as much as the rest of the Fitzwilliams and one Darcy present.
Additionally, Lords Matlock and Hilldale had made an appointment with Gardiner to consult about investing with him.
The only member of the family Elizabeth had not met was the middle son, a colonel in the Royal Dragoons who had been on duty for the past fortnight.
She had heard Tiffany refer to her older brother Richard but only recently had Elizabeth realised the brother she had not met was the man who featured heavily in Charlotte’s letters.
Once she realised Tiffany’s brother was the man to whom Charlotte seemed attracted, she asked her Aunt and Uncle if she could invite Charlotte for a visit.
Knowing Maria would get along well with Tiffany and Giana, Elizabeth requested Maria be added to the invitation. The Gardiners happily acquiesced.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy was torn. He had to decide whether to return to London and be with the family for Christmas or remain at Pemberley in solitude, continuing to mourn the loss of Miss Elizabeth Bennet—who was surely Mrs. Collins by now. He chose the latter; he knew he was not yet fit for company.
He was intrigued about his sister’s new friend, who seemed to be garnering universal praise, not only from Giana, but all of the Fitzwilliams who had met the young lady—a Miss Elizabeth Gardiner, from the same part of Hertfordshire as his Elizabeth before she moved to Hunsford.
How was it she knew Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the Bingleys, and himself and he did not remember her?
He racked his memory and for the life of him he could not remember anyone with the name Gardiner in the area while he was there.
To his shame, he had not been very interested in meeting the locals, so mayhap it was a family to whom he had refused to be introduced.
Elizabeth was a common enough name, but it was quite a coincidence Giana referred to her friend as ‘Lizzy,’ the pet name he had heard Miss Elizabeth Bennet called. He supposed it was a coincidence as he was sure there were many Elizabeths in the realm called Lizzy.
As he sat behind his huge oak desk, the one used by the masters of Pemberley for many generations, he opened and read his sister’s first letter about this wonderous friend who had brought his sister back to life.
19 November 1810
Matlock House, London
William,
I met the nicest young lady today. Guess what! She has heard of you and the Bingleys as well as the Miss Elizabeth Bennet you wrote to me about, as she used to live near Meryton in Hertfordshire. Before I ramble on too much, her name is Miss Elizabeth Gardiner.
Aunt Elaine and her mother are on some charitable committees together.
As you know, Aunt Elaine has not found a companion for my cousin who fits her need to be active.
Lizzy loves to walk and although she fell and broke her arm when she was learning to ride on her estate, she has agreed Tiffany and I may teach her to ride.
You were such a good teacher for me when I learnt to ride, so I will use what you taught me to help Lizzy. As you can see, we are all on familiar terms. Before I forget, I let it slip I do not like Miss Bingley and Lizzy agreed. She called her supercilious; I think that moniker fits the lady well.
Please say you will join us here for Christmas.
Aunt and Uncle will not be returning to Snowhaven this year for Christmastide and Andrew, Marie, and Richard will all be with us here.
I would hate to think of you all alone at Pemberley, rattling around in that big house while we are enjoying one another’s company.
I do not believe it will be a stretch to say the Gardiners will join us for part of the holiday. They used to go into Hertfordshire for Christmastide, but something happened and they will no longer be visiting that branch of their family.
We will see Lizzy each day this week and the Gardiners will join us for a family dinner on Friday.
Did you know Richard is interested in a lady he met when he went to deal with you-know-who in Meryton?
She is a local knight’s daughter, Miss Charlotte Lucas.
He says she has a very small dowry but seeing as he will be installed at Rosings this coming Easter, he does not need a large dowry from a wife.
I love you Brother. Please write soon,
Giana
It seemed Richard had not allowed improper pride to inhibit him when he decided to pursue a lady. If only he had not been so wrongheaded! He should have apologised to Miss Elizabeth at his first opportunity.
This Miss Gardiner sounded intriguing. That she had been able to draw Giana out so effortlessly was wonderous to Darcy.
As his mind drifted back to Elizabeth Bennet, he remembered he had always believed she would have been the best of friends with his sister.
He berated himself again for not acting in Hertfordshire.
Now Miss Elizabeth Bennet was lost to him.
In addition to the letter from his sister, he received one from his Aunt Elaine, confirming much of what Giana had told him. He was relieved to see not only did his aunt and uncle approve of Miss Gardiner, but so did Andrew and Marie.
Like Giana, his aunt urged him to join them for Christmastide. She intimated that he would be sorry if he did not. That assertion made Darcy think. Aunt Elaine was not a matchmaker, especially not for him, as she knew how much he disliked anyone trying to push him toward some vapid debutante.
He could not understand what she meant, so he started to rethink his decision to remain alone at Pemberley. Even if he did not travel to London in December, he would still have to travel to Rosings Park for Easter. He would need all of his strength to see Elizabeth as the wife of that man.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Bingley had written to her friend, Miss Lavinia Hampton-Downs, asking her to go to Gardiner Emporium and mock the shopgirl Eliza Bennet. Miss Hampton-Downs was as vicious as Miss Bingley; she took the charge happily and was prepared to spread gossip about the lady at Miss Bingley’s behest.
“I am looking for a shopgirl by the name of Eliza Bennet,” the nasty woman demanded the afternoon she visited the Emporium. Had she not been on a mission for her friend, she would have enjoyed shopping at the store as it had a wide variety of enticing goods.
“You have my apologies, Madam,” the manager bowed to the imperious lady. “I have no one by that name in my employ.”
Lavinia Hampton-Downs was not one to brook disappointment. “My unimpeachable source said the nobody worked here, so you must be lying.”
Elizabeth, Tiffany, and Georgiana happened to be shopping at the store that afternoon and Elizabeth, guessing who the unimpeachable source was, decided to have some fun with the rude and pushy woman.
“May I assist you? I am the daughter of the proprietor,” Elizabeth approached the woman.
“What is your name, girl? I usually do not speak to those in trade,” Miss Hampton-Downs sniffed disdainfully.
“My name is Miss Elizabeth Gardiner, and I, unlike your source, am a gentlewoman. For one who does not wish to converse with tradespeople, you seem very close to one. I am sure your source is that social climbing daughter of a tradesman, Miss Caroline Bingley. I can assure you there is no Miss Elizabeth Bennet working here.”
Suddenly, the lady looked unsure of herself. “She told me they owned an estate near Pemberley and she was going to secure an introduction for me to the Darcys and Fitzwilliams,” the lady related.
“As she has been known to do from time to time, Miss Bingley lied to you. I have it from Miss Darcy that her brother has cut all ties with Miss Bingley. How do you suppose she is able to secure an introduction for you?” Elizabeth asked nonchalantly.
Behind her Giana and Tiffany barely supressed their giggles.
“How would one such as you know Miss Darcy and why are those two laughing at their betters,” Miss Hampton-Downs demanded. While the rude woman was speaking, Madeline Gardiner and Lady Matlock positioned themselves behind her.
“How dare you, Miss Hampton-Downs, speak to my daughter, my niece, and their particular friend in such a way?” Lady Matlock demanded.
The harpy spun around ready to berate the woman who spoke to her in that manner and found herself face to face with the Countess of Matlock. She stood there slack-jawed as the enormity of her faux pas dawned on her. “I…er…I mean,” the woman spluttered.
“No wonder you are the only friend of that social climbing fortune hunter, Miss Bingley. Miss Gardiner spoke the truth. Next to her are my daughter, Lady Tiffany, and my niece, Miss Darcy. You can let Miss Bingley know, as it seems my nephew cutting all ties to her was not enough, I will make sure she will never be received in polite society again,” Lady Matlock stated stridently.
“And you, Miss Hampton Downs?let me hear one word spread about Miss Gardiner, her friend Miss Bennet, my daughter, or my niece and I will make sure you will never gain entry to society again.”
The lady, who looked as if she was about to be sick, gave a wobbly curtsy and turned to leave the site of her total humiliation when she was arrested by the Countess’s voice.
“If I were you, I would find friends who do not lie to you.” Lady Matlock admonished. Miss Hampton-Downs fled the shop.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Bingley had not heard back from her friend yet, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and wrote a letter to Mr. Darcy. She read over her handiwork; certain it would attain the results she intended.
24 November 1810
Thistlewait House, Scarborough, Yorkshire
My dear Mr. Darcy,
I cannot in good conscience keep from you information about your soon-to-be former favourite which I have recently learned.
Miss Eliza Bennet refused to marry her cousin even after her parents ordered her to do so. What a disobedient hoyden she is! She was banished from the Bennets’ so-called estate and now resides with Mr. Gardiner and his family, her tradesman uncle in Cheapside.
The best part is that Eliza and her fine eyes are now working as a shopgirl at her uncle’s store, Gardiner Emporium. If you doubt the veracity of my word, I urge you to go thither and see for yourself how far she has fallen.
As this information vindicates me, I would be most appreciative if you will convince Charles to stop this nonsense and recall me to London.
Yours in anything you require or desire,
Caroline Bingley
Very happy with her letter, Miss Bingley sealed it and then posted it to Darcy House on Grosvenor Square. She was sure the man would be back in London by now. She tittered to herself when she thought of the disgust Mr. Darcy would feel when he saw Eliza working in a common store.
She was desperate to escape back to Town as Aunt Hildebrand was not at all malleable and Charles had refused to provide her any funds in excess of her allowance. The woman forced her, seminary educated and a member of high society, to do chores!
At first Miss Bingley had refused until she went three days confined to her bedchamber, with nothing but bread and water. In addition, her aunt had threated to withhold half a year’s allowance.
The Monday after she posted her letter to Mr. Darcy, she received the long-anticipated letter from Lavinia Hampton-Downs. She broke open the seal with relish.
23 November 1810
Hampton-Downs House, London
Miss Bingley,
NEVER attempt to approach me in the future, and for that matter, do not show your lying TRADESMAN’S daughter’s face in society ever again! How could you lie to me about your roots?
You also lied about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She does not work at Gardiner Emporium and because of your lie, I looked the fool in front of the Countess of Matlock, Lady Tiffany Fitzwilliam, Miss Darcy, and their particular friend Miss Gardiner.
Lady Matlock told me to tell you that you are now persona non grata in society and if you dare show your face in London again, you will be shunned. You have been warned.
You lying harpy!
Miss Hampton-Downs
Miss Bingley reread the missive four times, hoping against all hope the words on the parchment would somehow change.
They did not. She was ruined and it was all that chit Jane Bennet’s fault!
She had been played for a fool. One thing she knew for sure was if her chances with Mr. Darcy were not zero already, they would be when he read her letter.
She wished she had never written it, but then she realised as Miss Darcy had been present to witness Miss Hampton-Downs’s performance, he would know regardless of her letter.
Miss Bingley knew her stay with her aunt would be of very long duration. As she considered her options, she decided to ask her brother to release her dowry to her and then take a ship to the Americas. No one there would know of her total humiliation so she could become a leader in society there.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy had instructed his butler that any notes or letters from Miss Bingley, whether addressed to himself or to his sister, were to be consigned to the fire unopened.
Even though he would not give in to a compromise, Darcy did not want people to think him a cad by for accepting a letter from a lady to whom he was not betrothed and then refusing to offer for her.
Hence, when Miss Bingley’s letter arrived, Killion followed his orders and dropped it into the nearest fire as soon as he saw the writer’s name.