Chapter 2
Elizabeth sat on the thick rug in front of the fire, playing with the four Gardiner children.
The eldest, at almost nine years old, a real young lady now, was Emmeline.
Two boys followed in steady succession, David being seven and Thomas five.
Julia, the youngest, was barely three. They were distant cousins but closer to her and more loving than most of her family, except perhaps Jane, the only one of her sisters to whom she was not related by blood.
With the Gardiners, Elizabeth had always been happy, comfortable, unconditionally loved, and allowed to love in return.
Their house was ‘home’ for Elizabeth when Longbourn stopped being one.
At first, it had been the young gentleman Edward Gardiner, whom Lizzy Bennet had known as ‘uncle’, a distant cousin of her late mother’s.
He had visited her often and was always welcomed by her father, despite the new Mrs Bennet’s barely disguised and constant disdain.
Then ten years ago, Mr Gardiner had married, and she had been introduced to her aunt Madeleine — pretty, gentle, affectionate, with a warm smile and a soft voice — who became one of Elizabeth’s favourite people in the world.
Mrs Bennet despised Madeleine Gardiner, but Mr Bennet, as well as Jane and even Kitty and Lydia, came to love her.
Mrs Bennet rejected everything and everyone that Mr Bennet approved of and loathed everything Elizabeth did or said, but the young Elizabeth did not care much as she spent most of her time either reading in the library with her father or taking long walks as far from Longbourn as she could.
When she turned eighteen and received the first portion of her fortune, Elizabeth’s circumstances changed briefly for the better, as Mrs Bennet treated her like a princess — until Elizabeth refused to purchase more gowns for her sisters or pay for them to spend the Season in London.
Furthermore, at Mr Gardiner’s suggestion, Elizabeth declared she would only contribute a rather generous but limited amount to the family’s expenses and needs.
From that day, quarrels became common in the family, Mrs Bennet resenting her greatly and the youngest sisters blaming Elizabeth and calling her selfish while accusing Mr Bennet of being a careless father, incapable of providing a comfortable life for his daughters.
Since her father offered Elizabeth more affection than protection, and preferred solitude to any heated argument, the only one by her side was Jane — timid, kind, and gentle but determined in defending Elizabeth.
Being in London, with no intention of returning home soon, Elizabeth missed Jane exceedingly, even more than her father.
While Julia laughed at something and turned to her demanding cuddles, Elizabeth meditated on the gentleman she had happened upon and his strange conversation with her uncle.
He was handsome, to be sure, but there was a certain cold austerity and arrogance in his voice that made her dislike him instantly. They seemed to have been talking about some lady, whom Mr Darcy had called tolerable and unable to tempt him… Such vanity and superciliousness!
Mr Gardiner entered the room, and the children hurried to embrace him.
“My dear, did I hear Mr Darcy visited you?” Mrs Gardiner enquired.
“He did.”
“With good news, I hope? I am sorry he left before I could greet him.”
“You may have the opportunity tomorrow when he returns. No good news, unfortunately, but he asked me to convey his regards to you.”
“Mr Darcy was here? How come we did not see him? He is my favourite man in the world — except for Papa, of course!” David cried.
“Mine too!” Thomas added. “Last summer, when we visited Pemberley, he taught me to ride a pony, and he said he would keep it for me until next time.”
“He said this year I might ride a real horse!” David continued enthusiastically. “Last year, we only stayed for three days, and it was not enough time, but I cannot wait to go back. Shall we, Papa? Soon?”
“Let us try not to talk all at the same time,” Mr Gardiner interjected. “We might go if Mr Darcy invites us. His duties might not allow for that, though, so do not make plans just yet.”
“I shall ask Mr Darcy tomorrow,” Thomas mumbled.
“I kindly ask you not to do that, young man,” Mrs Gardiner replied. “The only one who may discuss such matters with Mr Darcy is your father.”
The boy lowered his head and nodded in agreement; he was rewarded by his mother with a tender kiss in his hair.
“There is something I would like to discuss with Lizzy, whenever she is willing,” Mr Gardiner said, and Elizabeth glanced at him in surprise.
“I am always willing to speak to you, Uncle, even at this very moment. Is there something wrong?”
“No, not wrong,” he answered, casting a brief look at his wife. “We should go to the library. Your aunt may join us if she wishes.”
Unlike Elizabeth, Mrs Gardiner did not seem surprised by the request, and she replied, “I shall leave the children with their nurse and join you shortly.”
Elizabeth did not miss the formality in her uncle’s tone. Something important must have occurred since it required a special meeting, and she assumed it was related to Longbourn. What else could it be?
Once in the library, waiting for her aunt, Mr Gardiner asked her to sit.
He looked agitated, poured himself some brandy, and asked her whether she wished for tea or something else.
Elizabeth gazed at him, growing more concerned.
Finally, Mrs Gardiner joined them, and she sat beside Elizabeth, exchanging a glance with her husband.
“I was at first curious about this matter you wish to discuss, Uncle, but now I am concerned,” Elizabeth said. “I can sense something is wrong — please tell me directly.”
“Nothing is wrong, my dear,” Mr Gardiner answered, then paused and cleared his throat. “Lizzy, you know how fond your aunt and I are of you and how important your happiness is to us.”
“Of course, Uncle. And I hope you know the feeling is mutual.”
“I do. Bearing this in mind, I take the liberty of addressing you on a matter of the greatest significance involving your future.”
“My future? Do you need me to find another place to live?”
“What? No, of course not. We would be happy to have you here for as long as you wish. It is just that…you are a beautiful, accomplished young woman, with a good fortune, and you are at an age when you should give proper consideration to marriage.”
He looked distressed, the subject obviously unpleasant for him, and Elizabeth quickly guessed the reason.
“Dear uncle, I shall stop you this moment. I do not wish to sound disrespectful, but I shall not discuss the matter which induced me to leave Longbourn in the first place. I assume Mrs Bennet wrote to you in regard to Mr Collins’s failed proposal and engaged you to try to persuade me.”
“I would never try to persuade you to agree to a union with that ridiculous clergyman. And it pains me that you presume I would do anything Mrs Bennet requests. She has not written to me. Had she done so, I would not have wasted my time and yours with it.”
“Oh… I am sorry, Uncle. I apologise for presuming, then. I am glad to be wrong. But why are we talking about marriage if that was not what prompted the discussion? It is not something I am considering for the time being.”
“I know you are not considering it yet. But I wonder whether you would be willing to do so if you could find a respectable young man, from an honourable family, educated and clever, with an excellent character, good fortune, and remarkable connections. And handsome, which every young man ought to be if he can.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I would certainly consider it if one day I was to meet such a perfect man and he showed any interest in me. I wonder if this paragon actually exists.”
“I am quite confident such a man exists. You just met him — Mr Darcy. He is an excellent man, from one of the oldest families in England, and the master of Pemberley — one of the largest and most beautiful estates in the entire country. In fact, I dare say Pemberley can be compared with any estate in any country. You know your aunt grew up in a small town only five miles away.”
“It seems he is a fortunate man. What does this have to do with me?”
“Mr Darcy is searching for a wife. A respectable young woman with certain traits of character to recommend her as the future Mrs Darcy.”
“I wish him success in his quest. A stranger’s marriage plans certainly have nothing to do with me.”
“In fact, they might have,” Mr Gardiner insisted, puzzling Elizabeth. “Although you are indeed strangers to each other, I know both of you very well. And I am confident that you are everything Mr Darcy desires in a wife.”
Elizabeth laughed again, incredulous at her uncle’s insistence on the subject.
“Even if this is true — though I doubt it — I have no inclination to fulfil Mr Darcy’s desires.”
“I can well believe that. But knowing him as well as I do, I dare say he might fulfil your expectations too. I cannot think of a better man, and I trust that, as soon as you come to better know each other, you will see that as well.”
“That is quite a statement, Uncle. I would be truly amused if I did not know you were speaking in earnest.”
“I am utterly serious and fully aware of my responsibility. I opened this conversation based on my admiration for and friendship with Mr Darcy and my affection for you. And yes, I am convinced that you two might be a good match once you get to know each other.”
“As tempted as I am to contradict you, I shall wait until Mr Darcy and I are better acquainted before I form an opinion. Nevertheless, I am at a loss to understand why you mentioned marriage when we have barely been introduced. You cannot be serious about it.”
“Lizzy dear, I am serious. In fact, this might be the most serious conversation we ever have.”