Chapter 36 Gracechurch Street #2
The ladies’ eyes widened at this admission.
Darcy continued, “He informed me that what I required was practice. I must cultivate the habit of responsibility. Accordingly, he arranged for me to take my little Georgie out each day for an entire week upon a different excursion, that I might accustom myself to the pleasure and duty of caring for a younger sister.”
Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “That is a most charming account, sir.”
Elizabeth reached out and pressed Georgiana’s hand.
“She was a delightful child, ma’am,” Darcy said. “Her curls fell just below her ears and sprang out in every direction. She was an engaging little creature.”
They all laughed, Georgiana included.
“Well, my dear, are you prepared to depart?”
Georgiana’s expression fell. “Yes, brother. Though I confess I wish I might bring Lizzy with me.”
Elizabeth felt a flush rise in her cheeks. A brief glance at Mr. Darcy showed that he, too, was momentarily unsettled by the declaration.
Elizabeth said, “Would you care to join us tomorrow? We must return to the modiste at two o’clock.
If your brother will send you to us by eleven, we may read my new book together, and you may play one of your new pieces for me.
We will eat a simple luncheon, and afterward, you may accompany us and observe how your selections suit me. ”
“Oh, that would be delightful.” She turned eagerly to her brother. “I assisted in choosing Lizzy’s pattern, fabric, and accessories. It was as though I were dressing a beautiful doll. Pray, may I attend her tomorrow?”
Mr. Darcy addressed Mrs. Gardiner. “Ma’am, would the presence of a third young lady inconvenience you?”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “Not in the least, sir. Miss Darcy proved a most useful ally in keeping Elizabeth engaged while Jane and I were elbow deep in fabrics and patterns. She was of great assistance.”
Georgiana’s face shone. “Brother, may I?”
“Certainly,” he replied. Turning to his sister, though his gaze rested upon Elizabeth, he added with a playful gravity, “It forms no part of my design to prevent you from completing the adornment of your beautiful doll, my dear.”
To Elizabeth, the usually reserved Mr. Darcy appeared transformed. When he smiled at her, there was something almost rakish in his expression, and she felt the warmth rise swiftly to her cheeks. The careful barriers she had erected to guard her heart seemed to dissolve as she returned his smile.
She then observed a corresponding color rise along his cheekbones.
Could it be that he felt toward her as she did toward him?
Within moments, however, reason reasserted itself. Whatever his sentiments, he would conduct himself as the gentleman he had been reared to be and would choose a wife from among those of his own rank. That conviction she could not dismiss.
Yet even so, she took pleasure in being the object of his attentions, though she knew his regard could be no more than fleeting and would never lead him to offer for her.
With the arrangement settled, the Darcys took their leave.
Mrs. Gardiner regarded Elizabeth’s countenance with interest, yet she discerned no trace of romantic sentiment there and turned her attention to other matters.
That evening, Mr. Bennet presented himself at Gracechurch Street, arriving almost at the same moment as his brother-in-law. The two gentlemen withdrew to Mr. Gardiner’s study.
“Edward,” Bennet began, “I am indebted to you for receiving Elizabeth and Jane into your household. Jane has accepted an offer of marriage from Mr. Bingley, whom she first met while visiting here.”
Gardiner expressed his satisfaction, and they spoke at length of the engagement. Bennet then recounted the visit from Goulding earlier that morning and the letter he had produced.
“May I see the letter?” Gardiner asked.
Bennet frowned. “I regret that I consigned it to the fire in Goulding’s presence. I informed him that I yet lived and that Frances had not secured my consent to any such arrangement. I destroyed the letter to ensure that no proof remained.”
Gardiner nodded in approval. “That suffices. He possesses no written evidence of any agreement. The letter bore Frances’s signature, and under the law, she holds no authority to contract without her husband’s consent, as a woman has no separate legal identity from her husband.
You have nothing to concern yourself over. ”
Bennet released a long breath. “That is a comfort. Now I pray that he not speak of it to our neighbors. But I shall put that aside for now. I have one further anxiety, but it pertains to Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley’s intimate friend, a Mr. Darcy. Have you made his acquaintance?”
“I have not met him,” Gardiner replied, “though I am aware of him. He resides on Grosvenor Square and also has a considerable estate in Derbyshire. He is reputed to be extremely wealthy. What of him?”
“I am uneasy at the manner in which he regards Elizabeth. He watches her with an intensity that disquiets me. I fear for her.”
Gardiner’s expression grew attentive.
“I am aware,” Bennet continued, “that it is acceptable for a wealthy gentleman to entertain a mistress on a long-term basis, establishing the woman in a separate residence, providing for her. I cannot determine whether such is his design for Elizabeth. He has never spoken to her of marriage. Yet if you had observed him, Edward, I believe his conduct would have troubled you. There is something proprietary in it, as though he has claimed a right over her.”
“You have reason to believe he has behaved improperly?”
“No, I do not believe that anything has yet passed between them, for I observed Elizabeth closely as he assisted her with her outerwear, and she conducted herself as though he were no more to her than a father or a brother. And to say truth, I do not believe Elizabeth would accept an indecent proposal. Yet I do not wish her left alone in his company. I came prepared to escort her home myself should I observe anything untoward.”
“Maddie sent for me, asking that I return home early so that I might dine with my nieces. From her note, I understood that Lizzy traveled in company with Jane, his sister, the sister’s maid, and Mr. Bingley.”
“She did. Yet his manner remained possessive, as though she were already bound to him. It left me unsettled.”
“How long are they to remain in town?”
“Two weeks.”
“In that case,” Gardiner said, “you are most welcome to remain with us during that time and satisfy yourself as to his conduct. Let me summon Maddie and inquire what arrangements have been made for tomorrow.”
Madeline soon joined them in the study. She explained that Miss Darcy had invited herself to accompany the ladies, and that the young girl appeared to be much attached to Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley would not attend, as it was to be a ladies’ excursion to the shops.
“For tomorrow at least,” she concluded, “I believe Elizabeth is in no danger. If there is nothing further, I must dress for dinner, and I suggest that you gentlemen do the same.”