Chapter 10. Jane’s Happy Days #3
“My niece has lived in my house since December. Gracechurch Street is her residence,” Mr Gardiner interrupted Darcy to prevent mention of any other location.
“Yes,” Darcy agreed as the undertaker lowered the sheet to cover Jane Bennet’s face.
“And how should the name be listed in the newspapers, sir?”
“Jane Gardiner, of Gracechurch Street, died 15 June 1815,” Mr Gardiner stated.
“Last night sir?”
“Yes, late last night,”
The undertaker and his workers opened the coffin, then carefully moved the body, still wrapped in sheets, and placed it in the body of the coffin. They returned the lid on top of the coffin and fastened it with nails quickly hammered through the lid.
The undertakers and his workers began the trip down the stairs by first passing through the door on the third floor. The house was unnaturally quiet as Darcy and Gardiner followed the coffin bearing the body of Jane Bennet down three flights of stairs.
On the landing of the first floor, Darcy mentioned he would go and make certain the door to the parlour was closed.
Gardiner nodded his agreement but said nothing; his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
As he came down the last flight of stairs, Fitzwilliam noted the chambermaid standing vigil outside the parlour with the closed door.
“You do good service for Mr and Mrs Gardiner,” he told the girl as the men came down the stairs with the closed coffin.
They moved through the front door carefully and Mr Gardiner followed to the entry way but there he stopped.
Once the coffin was loaded onto the hearse, the undertaker returned to the house and spoke to Mr Gardiner.
“Reverend Alder will conduct the service at ten of the clock tomorrow,” the man confirmed with Mr Gardiner.
“And the grave?”
“Will be ready, Mr Gardiner.”
“Thank you,” Gardiner said as he handed over a purse.
The door closed, Mr Gardiner turned to the chambermaid and asked her to bring tea for Miss Elizabeth and her guest. Then he turned to Darcy and said, “It is early, but would you care for a finger of brandy?”
Darcy replied, “Yes, thank you.”
The two men walked down the hallway to a small room that held a sideboard with decanters as well as many boxes of books.
“Forgive the appearance of the room,” Gardiner said. “This was my office until the end of the past year, and we have not completed transforming it into a school room.”
The man poured brandy into two tumblers and then handed one glass to Darcy and took the second for himself.
“I forgot how quickly the undertakers move through a house,” Mr Gardiner said before he took the first sip of the brandy.
“It is almost summer…” Darcy said as an explanation.
“And we must bury the dead quickly,” Gardiner said. “Yesterday, Jane was smiling…”
“I have never known anyone who died so young,” Darcy said. “When my father died, we were at Pemberley and for three days, men came to the house to view the body and verify that the body in the coffin was my father’s.”
Gardiner stared at the brandy in his glass.
“May I attend the service with you tomorrow?” Darcy asked. Even in London, only gentlemen attended the funeral services.
Looking up, Gardiner asked, “Are you certain? There may be talk about the sudden death of a niece no one knew as here for many months.”
“Every family tragedy gets turned into rumours,” Darcy replied. “I care not for rumours when…a true friend is in pain.”
Gardiner nodded in understanding.
“And the babe?” Darcy asked cautiously.
“My son?”
“Yes sir.”
Gardiner took another swallow and said, “Edward Charles Gardiner was born last night.”
“Edward Charles?” asked Darcy, wondering at the name.
Gardiner did not look at Darcy when he replied, “His mother named the babe for his father.”
Startled with the realization of what Mr Gardiner was confining in him, Darcy asked, “Even after all this time?”
“According to Elizabeth, Jane’s dying breath was to declare her love for Charles Bingley. I must beg the Lord’s forgiveness, but I hope the man roasts in the everlasting fires of hell,” Gardiner swore.
“I…Mr Gardiner…”
The older man shook his head and said, “If Bingley were an honourable man, he would have married Jane. With his support and care, she would have more reason to live and might have survived…”
Darcy nodded and finished his brandy. “I believe we must return to the parlour. My sister and Miss Elizabeth will wonder at our continued absence.”
“Yes,” Gardiner said setting his glass down and leading Darcy back to the front of the house.
++++
After Mr Darcy promised to return tomorrow in time for the funeral, the Darcy carriage departed, and Uncle Gardiner assured himself that his wife and each of his children were well.
Alone for a few moments, Elizabeth sat and wandered about in her thoughts.
The delivery of Jane’s son–now Uncle Edward and Aunt Madeline’s son–left her with mixed emotions.
Her beloved sister died during the birth of her beautiful son. And the child’s cries elicited such strong emotions within her soul, she knew she would do anything necessary to protect him and give him a good life.
‘And Mr Darcy came and did not leave…he helped Uncle by escorting Jane’s…the coffin from the house,’ Elizabeth thoughts raced. ‘Jane…sweet Jane is…’
Minutes later, Uncle Gardiner returned to the parlour and sat beside Elizabeth, taking her hand in his and saying, “In a moment, I want you to go above stairs and visit with your aunt. The babe needs to feel Elizabeth’s touch and Aunt Madeline misses your presence.”
Blinking away tears and attempting a smile, Elizabeth said, “I shall spend the rest of the day with Charles and the other children.”
“I believe we shall call him ‘Charlie’ in the family.”
Now Elizabeth did smile as Uncle Gardiner said, “We must make certain the other children are not jealous of the attention the babe receives. I shall visit with them and Nanny as well.”
“That will be good.”
“Now, we must have an uncomfortable conversation,” Uncle Edward said. “I must write to Mr Bennet today. The news that Jane passed must be delivered to Longbourn as soon as possible. It would not do for your parents to read of Jane’s passing in the newspaper or hear it from anyone else.”
“What will you tell them? Charlie…”
“Later this week, I shall send a second letter announcing the birth of my second son,” Mr Gardiner said. “In my first letter, I shall tell Mr Bennet that Jane Bennet died of a broken heart.”
“Mamma will wail, and demand father bring her body home,” worried Elizabeth.
Mr Gardiner shook his head, “My niece, ‘Jane Gardiner’ will be interred tomorrow and there will be no funeral in Meryton.”
Elizabeth wiped away her tears and followed her uncle above stairs and into the bedchamber where Aunt Madeline and the wet nurse cared for new-born Charlie.
++++