Chapter 3
“Well, my dear, apparently it was not Lady Cassandra whom we met last night,” said Mr Gardiner good-humouredly after entering the salon to greet his wife and niece.
Mr Gardiner had spent the morning settling business and then visiting his club. He had agreed to be home sometime after noon, prior to the time Mr and Miss Darcy were to call. Eager to share his news and latest source of amusement with the ladies, he arrived well before he was due.
“What do you mean, husband? Not Lady Cassandra? Then who was she?”
“Well, apparently a kinder, friendlier copy of her.” He sat upon his favourite chair after he poured himself a glass of his best brandy, carefully watching the effect his words had upon both ladies.
Elizabeth scrutinised her uncle closely while Mrs Gardiner’s eyes narrowed. “Mr Gardiner, are you trying to vex us with your secretive attitude? It is far too early for games of this kind.”
“Well, Mrs Gardiner, I suggest you use a more persuasive tone, or I shall not reveal what I discovered this very morning, both at my office and the club. On second thought, perhaps it would be better to keep it secret; I am ashamed to admit how much gossip has reached my ears in such a short time. Most of it came from a group of the most honourable gentlemen in Town. In fact, I almost felt as if I had been listening to Mrs Long.” He hid a satisfied smile behind his glass while his wife sighed in exasperation.
He was in high spirits, induced largely because the business that had kept him in Town seemed to be coming to a favourable conclusion.
There was other news to be shared with his impatient companions, and he enjoyed himself, toying with their curiosity a bit longer.
“Uncle, do not try our patience too long! That is cruel, you know.”
Elizabeth had rested very little the previous night.
She awoke in the morning with her eyes red and slightly swollen, and she had spent the next hours preparing both her appearance and her composure for the Darcys’ call.
She found herself walking by the window and casting stolen glances outside.
When a carriage stopped in front of the house and she heard the main door opening, she instantly rose from her seat, putting her needlework aside.
Yet, her anxiety was hardly gratified when she discovered that it was only her uncle arriving.
Then he seemed determined to test her patience and curiosity with a series of strange statements.
“Very well, ladies! You need not be so harsh with me. It seems that the honour of spending the evening in Mr Darcy’s box did not go unnoticed.
At least five persons—either clients or partners—mentioned it to me and asked me about it.
Mr Thornewill, a client of ten years, visited me today accompanied by his wife!
That has never happened before, and I was quite shocked.
Yet, I soon discovered that the reason for this astonishing visit was their curiosity for more details about our night at the theatre and our illustrious company. ”
“Indeed? How strange…I realise the Darcys are well known in Town, but I never thought they could provoke such interest. They are not royalty, after all.” Mrs Gardiner could not hide her displeasure at the idea of gossips having their way with the son and daughter of Lady Anne Darcy.
“No, they are not royalty. It may interest you to know it was not the Darcys who were the centre of everyone’s interest, but Lady Cassandra.
It appears that Mrs Thornewill’s brother, Lord Gordon, is the closest relative of Lady Cassandra.
Better said, his wife is a cousin of Lady Cassandra’s late mother.
Mrs Thornewill did not waste any time relating to me that Lady Cassandra completely disobeyed Lord Gordon’s advice and left England four years ago precisely because of an enormous scandal relating to him.
According to Mrs Thornewill, Lady Cassandra’s behaviour kept London society entertained for many seasons as she publicly refused to accept the hand of the most eligible bachelor of the season. ”
“Oh, come now, Mr Gardiner! I have been married to you for thirteen years and have never known you to be such a gossip.” Mrs Gardiner shook her head in displeasure and cast an exasperated glance at Elizabeth. However, Elizabeth’s curiosity defeated her propriety and common sense.
“I am not a gossip, my dear. Well…yes I am, but only with you. I scarcely spoke more than a word to Mrs Thornewill. I only tried to disagree when she harshly criticised Lady Cassandra’s manners and character, but I had not the slightest chance to finish even a sentence.
When I finally managed to say how delighted we had been with her ladyship’s kind politeness, she told me I had most likely not met the real Lady Cassandra who was presumably the worst type of shrew.
“Oh please…This is entirely unacceptable! No matter how many earls Mrs Thornewill might have as brothers, she has no right to talk in that fashion to you, a complete stranger. I hope there is nothing more you want to tell us about the subject.”
“Well, actually there is—as I received the whole of Lady Cassandra’s biography in less than ten minutes. But I do not want to upset you, my dear, so I shall stop here.”
“Oh please, Uncle, do not stop!” Elizabeth’s voice sounded pleading and oddly serious in a conversation that should have been interpreted as humorous.
Mr Gardiner decided to indulge her inquiry but not before some gentle teasing about her newly discovered tendency to gossip.
He even went so far as to remark upon her resemblance to Mrs Bennet and Mrs Long.
“Very well then, let me tell you what I have found out. Both of Lady Cassandra’s parents belonged to well-known, titled families.
Her mother, Lady Lavinia Russell, passed away ten years ago and her father, Lord George John Russell, three years later.
She was left with a splendid inheritance, including a large estate in the North which, Mrs Thornewill assured me, had been terribly neglected.
” At this, Mr Gardiner smiled ironically, and his wife only rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.
“She has no other close relatives except those of Lord Gordon’s wife with whom she was not on friendly terms,” continued Mr Gardiner.
“Apparently, Lady Cassandra’s parents had been old and very close friends with Lady Anne and the late Mr Darcy; after her father’s death, she spent much of her time at Pemberley rather than relying upon the protection of her own relatives.
Mrs Thornewill seemed quite put out by this situation, which she believes was highly improper. ”
“So, is there more? You have told me enough to fill an entire novel already. I imagine Mrs Thornewill spent all her morning in your company.”
“Yes, there is more! And you will be surprised to find that Mrs Thornewill told me the entire story in less than an hour.”
“Please continue, Uncle, if there is more for us to hear.”
“Well, it was precisely after the late Mr Darcy’s death that Lord Gordon decided it was time for the family to intervene—on Lady Cassandra’s behalf, of course—and to convince her to settle down and have her own family.
According to Mrs Thornewill, she was already in great danger of remaining a spinster as she was already two and twenty. ”
Both Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner gasped at that statement, much to Mr Gardiner’s amusement. He continued, pleased to see how intrigued his wife and niece were; at least all that wasted time—as Mrs Thornewill toyed with his nerves and patience for an hour—ultimately had been worthwhile.
“However, Lady Cassandra would have none of their interference. She had refused the most advantageous marriage arrangement, and she refused it publicly at a ball after having a very noticeable fight with Lord Gordon. Everyone in Town was appalled by her outrageous behaviour; Mrs Thornewill was certain of that. A couple of days later, she left Town and then the country without a word to anyone. It appears that her return now is as much a shock as was her leaving four years ago. Again, she informed no one of her plans, nor did she meet with her relatives though they learned she has been in Town for nearly a month.”
“I am sure she informed Mr and Miss Darcy of her plans to return,” said Elizabeth, trying to understand what she had been told.
Mrs Gardiner attempted to deflect the topic of conversation. “Yes, she most surely did. As for Mrs Thornewill and Lord Gordon, I think I have heard enough about them. Would you not agree?”
“Did she tell you the identity of the most eligible gentleman?”
“No she did not, Lizzy, and I surely did not consider asking. I was afraid she would not end her story before noon, so I did everything I could not to engage her further. However, if you are still curious, I believe I can arrange a private meeting for you with the lady.”