Chapter 5 #3
“Miss Darcy, I am sorry we had to refuse your kind offer,” Mrs Gardiner interjected. “Please believe me, it would be a great honour, but circumstances do not allow us to reside at Pemberley and also spend time with my relatives and friends as I would wish.”
“Oh, Mrs Gardiner, I beg you do not presume that I was questioning your decision. I was only…Oh, please forgive me.” The young girl became pale and could not speak any further.
“Georgiana, please do not distress yourself; in truth, it is we who are delighted and truly honoured by your attentions and your invitation,” said Elizabeth with warmth and affection.
“Mrs Gardiner, Mr Gardiner, Miss Bennet, may I speak openly?” asked Mr Darcy unexpectedly, his voice somewhat agitated.
He allowed his eyes to rest upon Elizabeth before speaking further.
“Both my sister and I are very pleased to see you again, and I have to confess we would have been delighted to have you stay at Pemberley while you remain in Derbyshire. However, I do understand your reason for not accepting, and if in your place, I would make the same decision.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mrs Gardiner smiled comfortingly.
“Even more,” the gentleman continued, “I am sure you must be anxious to meet your family and old friends and spend as much time as possible with them; that is why I want to extend a permanent and informal invitation to you. Whenever you do not have any other fixed engagements, we would be delighted to have you at Pemberley.”
“Thank you, Mr Darcy,” answered Mr Gardiner. “We are not only honoured but deeply touched by your kindness, sir. Of course, we gratefully accept.”
“Besides,” said Mrs Gardiner, “I am sure Mr Gardiner will infinitely prefer fishing early in the morning to anything else. As for Elizabeth, as she is not acquainted with any of my friends, surely she will not spend as much time in their company as I will.”
“So you see, you will have to take care of me and entertain me,” said Elizabeth in a low voice to Miss Darcy, who finally forced a smile.
“Speaking of entertaining,” continued Mrs Gardiner, “How are your other guests at Pemberley? Is Lady Cassandra in attendance?”
The question, skilfully addressed to both Mr and Miss Darcy, turned them more voluble.
After the assurance that everybody in the party was in perfect health, Miss Darcy hurried to inform the ladies that Lady Cassandra was desirous to meet them again, while Mr Darcy told Elizabeth that Mr Bingley was also happy to be renewing their acquaintance.
“Thank you, sir, I am also anxious to meet Lady Cassandra and Mr Bingley again…oh, and of course Miss Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst,” answered Elizabeth.
He smiled, and she returned it. In truth, she was not that anxious to meet Mr Bingley’s sisters again, but apparently that was the price she had to pay to enjoy her time in Derbyshire.
“Do you have any plans for dinner today?” inquired Mr Darcy.
“We have hardly had time to make any plans as we have just arrived,” Mrs Gardiner spoke cheerily.
“Of course…” The gentleman looked embarrassed by his own question, and Elizabeth smiled.
“Then, if you are not too tired after your journey, may we have the pleasure of your company later for dinner?”
“We would be delighted, sir,” answered Mr Gardiner with no hesitation, making Elizabeth’s heart race wildly. She was not comfortable—that was impossible—but she was flattered, pleased, and hopeful from all the attention, which, she finally dared to admit, was directed mostly at her.
Their guests only remained a brief time, and the moment they took their leave, Elizabeth began preparing to dress for dinner with an eagerness that made her aunt tease her mercilessly.
∞∞∞
As the carriage ambled along, Mr and Mrs Gardiner talked animatedly about the beauty of the grounds, but Elizabeth bore every moment that brought her closer to Pemberley with great perturbation.
She saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view; but her spirits were in a high flutter, and she found her hands trembling slightly in her lap.
The carriage entered the large park and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent.
They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley.
It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground and backed by a ridge of high, woody hills.
Elizabeth forgot to breathe, and her heart nearly stopped, as she could not take her eyes from the sight before her.
She had never seen a place for which nature had done more or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.
Pemberley looked strong, handsome, and impressive in its natural grandeur.
Much the same as its master, she thought.
The master of Pemberley was awaiting them in front of the main entrance, together with Mr Bingley. Darcy greeted them warmly and helped the ladies remove from the carriage. He offered Elizabeth his arm, even before Mr Bingley had time to bow to her with unconcealed joy.
Mr Darcy performed the introductions, and to the Gardiners, Mr Bingley was as amiable and friendly as Elizabeth expected. However, she had the impression, though she could not say exactly why, that Mr Bingley had changed since she met him last.
Mr and Mrs Gardiner had long wished to meet Mr Bingley, and the gentleman was exactly as they expected him to be.
Also, their suspicions of Mr Darcy and their niece were suspicions no longer; the gentleman was overflowing with admiration, and Elizabeth’s reaction in his company spoke clearly of her own feelings.
Only when she actually had to greet Lady Cassandra and Georgiana did Elizabeth notice she was still holding—quite tightly—onto Mr Darcy’s arm. She blushed with embarrassment and withdrew her hand as she answered her ladyship’s polite questions.
With the other guests, however, things went differently.
Mr Hurst barely acknowledged their presence with a slight nod of his head; Mrs Hurst managed to behave politely though her coldness could not go unnoticed.
Miss Bingley’s entire attitude—from her dry tone to her stiff countenance—left no doubt of her dislike toward the arrival of the newcomers, and her lack of civility, though not loudly expressed, was evident nonetheless.
A neutral conversation began about Pemberley, the neighbourhood, Lambton, Derbyshire in general, and the work of many generations who made Pemberley such a grand estate.
“Mrs Gardiner, as I understand it, you lived near here. Have you visited Pemberley previously?” asked Miss Bingley unexpectedly.
“No, Miss Bingley, I have not. I had the honour of meeting Lady Anne many years ago, but have seen Pemberley only from afar.”
“Yes, I imagined as much. From what I heard, Lady Anne was very selective in choosing her guests,” answered Miss Bingley triumphantly with a meaningful glance at her sister.
The offense in her voice was so obvious that Elizabeth felt her cheeks turning red with anger.
“Yes, you are correct, Miss Bingley,” Lady Cassandra interjected.
“Lady Anne had exquisite taste in selecting her guests; unfortunately, it seems that Darcy has not maintained the same habit. As for Mrs Gardiner, I am certain Lady Anne would have been quite delighted to see her today. Indeed, she is one of the most pleasant ladies I know, and her home is a pleasure to visit.”
“Thank you, Lady Cassandra. You are too kind,” answered Mrs Gardiner.
“Oh, but Miss Bingley has had the opportunity of forming an opinion of her own! I understand she visited my aunt several months ago. Am I mistaken?” Elizabeth knew she should not intensify the moment, but she could not help herself.
Miss Bingley blinked a few times and then looked with worry at her sister, apparently unable to formulate an immediate answer.
“Oh really? So would you not agree with me, Miss Bingley?” Lady Cassandra’s voice was all politeness.
“To be honest, that visit was quite short, and I paid little attention to my surroundings. I barely remember anything.” Miss Bingley seemed to have recovered, and her impertinence had not diminished in the slightest.
“Then perhaps a longer visit or a second one was required, Caroline,” said Mr Bingley with a sharp tone and an unflinching glare at his sister.
“Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet, would you like a short tour of the house until dinner is ready? I would be happy to accompany you.” Mr Darcy’s intervention was sudden but welcome.
Besides being genuinely interested in seeing as much of Pemberley as possible, Elizabeth was also anxious to take a short break from Miss Bingley’s company.
“Georgiana, you may go, too, if you like. I will remain here with Mr Bingley and his relatives.” Lady Cassandra settled things with a determination that admitted no opposition, and Elizabeth noticed that Mr Darcy thanked his friend with a small smile of gratitude.
Mr Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth, and she took it with confidence.
The tour was brief as they visited only the rooms opened for guests, but it gave them immense pleasure.
At one point, an enormous window displayed the beauty of the landscape around the house, and Elizabeth unconsciously released Mr Darcy’s arm and walked near the window to admire the prospect.
The hill, crowned with wood from which they had descended and receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object.
Every disposition of the ground was good, and she looked on the whole scene—the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley as far as she could trace it—with delight, a deep sigh of admiration escaping her lips.