Chapter 9. Mr Darcy’s Visits
Life outside Gracechurch Street continued at a slower pace.
In February, the social season began for the rich and powerful in London with plays, dinners and a few balls.
The newspapers reported the names and obituaries of notables who died over the winter, the attendees of every social event, their dress, the food served, and every hint of scandal.
Fitzwilliam Darcy remained in London over the holidays and new year.
His sister remained in the north in the company of his aunt, Lady Matlock, but Georgiana’s many letters assured him of her contentment with the arrangement for the winter.
During these dinners and meetings with his social peers, Mr Darcy found himself continually comparing the young ladies thrown in his path with Miss Beth Gardiner.
They failed to rise to her standards without fail.
He also knew that the Gardiners would not be invited to any dinners, but they could appear at various balls and assemblies during the season.
‘Miss Gardiner is of suitable age to court,’ he reminded himself. Suddenly he felt a jolt of fear when another stray thought crossed his mind, ‘What if some other man is already courting her?’
He sat motionless in his chair for a moment and wondered if he truly wanted to court the daughter of some unknown gentleman and the niece of a man in trade. After another moment’s consideration, Darcy decided, ‘Yes. Most assuredly yes.’
It was late afternoon when Fitzwilliam Darcy made this decision, but good sense made him wait until the next morning to call at Mr Gardiner’s warehouses. Once there, he was surprized when a foreman gave him direction to a specific house on Gracechurch Street.
“Is Mr Gardiner at home today?”
“Yes and no,” the foreman replied. “Mr Gardiner has an office directly beside his residence. He says it lets him spend more time with his children and wife.”
Approving of Mr Gardiner’s wish to spend time with his family, Darcy returned to his carriage and found the trip of just four blocks passed quickly.
Stepping down from the carriage again, Darcy found himself in front of a door like every other on the street.
Once he knocked, the door was opened by a young man dressed in good, clean clothes as would be worn by a secretary or clerk in an office.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy for Mr Edward Gardiner,” Darcy replied when asked his business.
The young man’s eyes grew wide, but he stepped back and allowed Darcy to enter the office where the clerk worked.
The atmosphere inside smelled of new plaster and fresh paint.
A wall that enclosed a space where the staircase most likely stood, appeared new, as did a door with a shiny lock.
The clerk ushered Darcy to a waiting area of two smartly upholstered chairs before disappearing through a doorway.
Rather than sit, he remained standing to survey the environment closer; there were no paintings or prints hung on the walls as of yet.
It was only a moment before Mr Gardiner appeared, thanking his clerk and sending the young man back to work at a desk where large amounts of paper, quills and ink waited for him.
“Good morning, Mr Darcy,” Gardiner said offering his hand. “How can I help you this morning?”
“Good morning, Mr Gardiner. I wish to have a word in private; may we speak in your office?” Darcy asked.
“Certainly sir,” Gardiner said and led the man through the door into an office with chairs, table, desk and bookcases. With the door closed, Gardiner motioned toward another pair of comfortable chairs rather than taking his chair behind the desk.
“I have come on a personal matter this morning,” Darcy said. “I wanted to inquire if Miss Gardiner… if Miss Gardiner was at home and if she…if she would receive callers.”
“Callers?” Mr Gardiner asked.
“My sister…I thought to bring my sister to visit with Miss Gardiner,” Darcy stammered.
Gardiner’s face reflected surprise, but he replied saying, “I believe that my niece is home but only for invited guests.”
“Oh.”
“Might I inquire as to the availability of your sister to call and then I can invite you to bring her for such as visit?”
“My sister…my sister will be returning to London later this month.”
Gardiner’s lips twitched as he fought a smile before continuing, “Perhaps it would be best if you came alone…in the beginning…to ensure that my niece is willing to receive Miss Darcy.”
“Ah… yes, an excellent idea,” Darcy replied. Gardiner continued looking kindly upon Mr Darcy before he took a deep breath and added, “But there is something you should know before you accept my invitation.”
“What?” Darcy asked, fearful that Gardiner would announce that his niece was engaged to some other fellow. “I beg your pardon. What do you wish to tell me?”
“The true name of my niece.”
“What? Miss Gardiner…”
“…is indeed my niece. She is my sister’s second child and has lived with my wife and I for several years now. Her father’s house was full of daughters and Elizabeth’s interests did not suit with the simple country life.”
Darcy agreed saying, “She is intelligent and appears to have learned much of books, art and even politics.
“Much of that is her own initiative,” Gardiner explained.
“Last summer, when we began the endeavour to raise funds for your needs, I asked Elizabeth to oversee the creation of the inventory, but I had to protect her name from being besmirched with ‘trade’ or wages. She is a gentleman’s daughter, but her circumstances do not offer much prospect. ”
Darcy waited as Mr Gardiner finally explained, “My niece is Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter of Thomas Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
“She is the missing sister from Longbourn? Miss Gardiner is Miss Jane Bennet’s missing sister?”
Mr Gardiner nodded slowly, and Darcy sat back in his chair before saying, “Thank you for telling me.”
After only a moment, he sat forward and cursed, “God’s teeth! What you must think of me after that last conversation with Mr Bingley and his sister at my house!”
“Bingley is without honour, but I believed you to be honest. Elizabeth and I both believe you to be a forthright and honest man, Mr Darcy.”
Darcy stood and announced, “I tell you now that I cut most of my ties with Charles Bingley that day. I conduct business with him at our club, but my house remains closed to him.”
Relieved to hear these reassurances, Mr Gardiner asked, “So, would you care to call on Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Mr Darcy?”
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In their room above the Gardiner’s offices, Elizabeth and Jane prepared for bed. With the cold weather, the sisters continued to share one large bed. Jane brushed her sister’s hair as Elizabeth worried, “Why would Mr Darcy wish to call? He is a rich and powerful man, and I am…”
“You are a beautiful, smart young woman who has impressed him,” Jane insisted, refusing to allow her sister to doubt herself.
“I tell you Mr Darcy was always polite and knowledgeable whenever he spoke with the other gentlemen last fall. He never asked any lady to dance even though Miss Bingley wished it often and loudly.”
“Even at the ball at Netherfield?” Elizabeth asked.
Jane’s sad smile appeared as she remembered the night that once was so sweet but now conjured bitter memories.
“I only had eyes for Charles, so it is possible Mr Darcy danced with Miss Bingley once. But I am certain it was only once because she was in a temper the rest of the night.”
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It was the next day that Mr Darcy called upon the Gardiner household in the afternoon.
He arrived promptly at two of the clock and was ushered into the parlour where Mr and Mrs Gardiner waited for him.
Seated beside Mrs Gardiner was Elizabeth Bennet.
He smiled when he saw her eyes glance at him, but she looked away quickly.
Fitzwilliam noticed that she appeared slightly pale as though she was not walking about much during the day.
“Mr Darcy, may I present my wife, Madeline Gardiner who was born and raised in Lambton near your home.
Darcy took Mrs Gardiner’s hand and dipped his head over her hand before saying, “Mrs Gardiner, I do remember your father and mother at Barnes’s Mercantile. It remains a favourite shoppe for my sister and I when we are in residence at Pemberley.”
“Thank you, Mr Darcy. I remember you as a boy with Lady Anne searching for toys among the shelves of my father’s shoppe.”
“And this our niece,” Mr Gardiner said. “Allow me to introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet. We are blessed to have her living with us here at Gracechurch Street.”
This time when Darcy took the lady’s offered hand, he briefly touched his lips to the back of Elizabeth’s hand before he met her eyes and said, “I am most glad to meet you, Miss Bennet. For many weeks since we parted last fall, I have wanted to speak to you about matters. Let me begin by apologizing for the thoughtless words of Mr Bingley and his sister in my home. If I had known…”
“The plan to make a secret of my identity was not yours Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth replied. “My uncle and I thought to prevent any scandal or rumour attaching to your name or my name.”
He nodded and said clearly, “The subterfuge was complete and hidden from the people who might have made much of it. But I do assure you that scandal is quickly forgotten in London. The newspapers move onto the next rumour and yesterday’s scandal is regulated to the fireplace to burn away.”
Darcy noticed that his last comment left Miss Bennet confused but he did not press for explanation. Instead, he turned to Mr Gardiner and asked, “Sir, may I tell your wife about the ruin a member of my own family attempted to press upon me?”
“Your own family?” asked Mrs Gardiner as though she had never heard the story.
Mr Gardiner agreed to the request saying, “Please sir if it does not cause you too much pain.”