Chapter 28
The Gardiners arrived a little before the rest of the party were expected, as had been previously arranged with Lady Matlock.
Elizabeth was already in the drawing room with Lady Matlock and Georgiana.
Once the pleasantries had been observed, her aunt directly went to Elizabeth and, taking her hand, reassured her.
“Lizzy, I hope you are not too worried about the dinner. I am sure all of Mr. Darcy's family would be polite and courteous.”
“I see you have not mentioned warm and welcoming,” Lady Matlock commented with a knowing smile.
“I doubt Elizabeth has anything to be worried about when she has succeeded in capturing Darcy’s elusive heart.
His perpetual scowl seems to have deserted him and I have even seen him smile a few times,” she then teasingly added.
Seeing Elizabeth poised to defend her betrothed, she patted her shoulders affectionately and said, “I quite approve my dear. Darcy needed a strong woman in his life for he can be very intimidating. You are well matched in that aspect.”
“Lady Matlock, Lizzy, we wanted both of you to be aware that Mr. Bennet arrived in town accompanied by Jane this morning.”
“Did he seem very angry?” Elizabeth anxiously questioned.
“He seemed distressed dear, but I do not think that he is angry with you. He has expressed a desire to meet with you and Mr. Darcy tomorrow.”
“Mrs. Gardiner, I will send a note for you and all your family including Mr. Bennet and Miss Bennet to attend the theatre with us tomorrow. We can all have supper at Darcy House after that.” Lady Matlock answered.
“Lady Matlock, may I not go to Gracechurch Street tomorrow morning, and meet Papa?” Elizabeth quickly countered. She may have been upset with him for the way he had treated Darcy, but she still loved him and could not bear to be so cold towards him.
“If that is what you wish, my dear,” Lady Matlock answered, as Darcy walked in with the Earl and the Viscount in tow.
Soon the Gardiners were introduced to the Earl who though polite, maintained his aloofness.
He knew his nephew was set on marrying Miss Elizabeth and he did not want a break in the family but could not bring himself to be friendly to a family in trade.
The Viscount was the opposite. He took a seat between Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth and was quickly talking to them both.
“Darcy, what is this I hear? Your Miss Elizabeth is to meet her father tomorrow,” he spoke cheerfully from his seat and seeing Darcy’s eyes widen was quick to comment.
“See, Miss Bennet, I told you he will hardly sleep the whole night now plagued by nightmares about you locked up in a tower.”
Before Darcy could respond, a commanding voice from the door was heard, “What is this? Who is locked in a tower?” A lady with an enormous wig and a cane in hand stood at the door.
Her commanding presence apparent in her posture.
She easily towered over most of the ladies and was nearly level with the men.
Beside her stood a young lad no more than twenty years of age with a shock of unruly hair and glasses. ”
“Mrs. Ashcombe, please come in,” Lady Matlock got up to greet the lady and accompany her inside.
“Aunt Agatha,” Darcy bowed as he greeted the lady and then gestured towards Elizabeth, “I would like to introduce you to my betrothed, Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
“Elizabeth, my aunt Mrs. Ashcombe and her youngest son, Mr. Edward Ashcombe.”
“Hmm, so you are the girl who has created all the fuss,” Mrs. Ashcombe said as she waved her cane in Elizabeth's direction, and then suddenly, she looked towards Mrs. Gardiner and then peered at her.
“Darcy, introduce me to this lady,” she commanded, and Darcy dutifully introduced Mrs. Gardiner to his aunt who kept peering at her.
“Are you related to Madeline Lambast from Derbyshire?” Mrs. Ashcombe finally said with a thoughtful expression.
“I am her, madam; you must remember me from my time in Lambton.”
“Of course, I remember you, I even tried to look for you, but no one seemed to have your directions.”
“Darcy, Mrs. Gardiner is the niece of Mr. Lambast of Whispering Woods. After I was widowed, I stayed for a couple of summers at Pemberley with my brother. My girls were quite young and mischievous then. Madeline here befriended them and would keep them occupied. They were so proud of the charming friend they had made.” She spoke to her nephew, then turned and addressed Mrs. Gardiner again.
“Mrs. Gardiner, I hope you will accept my condolences at your uncle's passing, however delayed they may be. He was a good man.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. He was a very kind man, and his passing was so sudden that we are very grieved. The heir was a very distant relation and unknown to me as such, I moved to London, to live with some cousins and that is where I met my husband.”
At this point Mrs. Ashcombe was introduced to Mr. Gardiner, “Well sir, I am disposed to approve of you, for you have made an excellent judgement in your choice of wife.
“ Then turning to Elizabeth she spoke again, “So, Miss Elizabeth you are Madeline’s niece and a beloved one at that if her adoring expression towards you is anything to go by. That does speak well of you.”
“Mrs. Ashcombe, while I am very happy that you hold my aunt in such high esteem, should not your nephew’s preference for me have already assured you of the same.” Elizabeth responded with an impertinent smile.
Mrs. Ashcombe banged her cane on the floor, as she laughed out loud.
“I approve of your betrothed Darcy, though Miss Bennet I would like to point out that I am no fool to trust a man, that also one so clearly smitten. Are you quite set on him dear for Edward here is also a good prospect. If nothing else, you will be an excellent addition to my dinner table.” She said pointing to her son.
“Mother, I am not even one and twenty,” the young man exclaimed.
“Do you have any younger sisters, then?”
“Three actually and my father would quite approve if his youngest is married soon enough.” Elizabeth responded irreverently.
“So, Darcy is the only one he disapproves of,” she said with an impetuous smile.
“You should not have been such a stick in the mud, nephew. I told you the brooding thing was overdone. Then you must have done something right, to charm this delightful creature. I would like to meet your father, Miss Bennet. I am a Darcy by birth and take strong objection to anyone refusing a Darcy out of hand.”
“I am to visit him at my aunt’s house tomorrow morning. You would be a welcome companion.” Elizabeth offered.
“And an insurance that he would not lock you up in a tower.” The Viscount chimed from his seat, not one for missing the fun.
Darcy was smiling softly for he had not expected such ease in convincing his aunt. Mrs. Ashcombe was notoriously difficult to please but very well respected in society.
Soon the rest of the guests also arrived and were introduced to Elizabeth and the Gardiners.
The dinner was an enjoyable affair where Elizabeth was seated between Judge Darcy and Mr. Ashcombe.
She ended up having a stimulating discussion about a recent case the former had presided over.
Lady Margaret had arrived a few minutes after Mrs. Ashcombe and had been mostly observant.
She seemed to be satisfied that Elizabeth was not an embarrassment, but otherwise spoke little to her.
Lord Matlock and Lord Hawthorn were busy discussing a new bill that had been introduced in the parliament which also held some interest for both Darcy and Mr. Gardiner.
As the night ended, Elizabeth was satisfied that Mr. Darcy’s family seemed to have accepted her though some more reluctantly than the others.
The next morning Elizabeth arrived at her aunt’s house with some anxiety.
She was accompanied by Mrs. Ashcombe, who had questioned her thoroughly on their way to Gracechurch Street.
Unlike Lady Matlock, Mrs. Ashcombe did not mince her words and was forthright in all the challenges Elizabeth would face in society.
“If Darcy continues to be as visibly hen-pecked as he looked last night, no one will cause much trouble, for nobody would wish to cross him.” She finished, as they arrived at the Gardiners’ residence.
Soon Elizabeth was out of the carriage and entering the drawing room where the whole family was gathered.
She was greeted warmly by Jane, who after giving her a hug gently admonished her.
“Lizzy, how could you have been so reckless as to go to Mr. Darcy’s house,” causing her to blush deeply.
“My dear Lizzy, I hope you will not hold this whole debacle against your poor Papa. I was only trying to look out for your happiness.” Mr. Bennet said as he held his daughter.
“Papa, I am sorry, but I had to come. You have been unjust with Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth responded as she let go of her father. Then remembering Mrs. Ashcombe introduced the lady to both her father and her sister.
“Mr. Bennet, I come prepared to defend the Darcy honour. My nephew is pompous, egotistical, and condescending but he also has the Darcy stubbornness that has been passed down the generations. If he has decided to keep Miss Elizabeth happy, you would be hard-pressed to stop him.”
At this Mr. Bennet laughed out loud, “Indeed Mrs. Ashcombe, it seems it would be detrimental to try. Lizzy, I have to say your Mr. Darcy does have an interesting variety in aunts. There was first my cousin’s patroness, Lady Catherine and now Mrs. Ashcombe.
I am all anticipation to meet Lady Margaret and Lady Matlock. ”
“I assure you sir that none of us can even come close to the fearsome ruler of Rosings.”
It seemed that Mrs. Ashcombe and Mr. Bennet had found a kindred spirit in each other, and the visit passed by in good cheer. Mr. Bennet assured Elizabeth that he would be present at the theatre and that he would be civil with Darcy during the supper.