Chapter 19. Mrs Gardiner’s Arrangements #2
Elizabeth turned toward the door to find her perplexed father standing in the hallway, but Mr Gardiner smiled and led Darcy over.
“Gardiner, I did not know we were to have company this afternoon,” Mr Bennet said.
“Brother, I would like to introduce you to one of the brightest young men in the kingdom, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire,” said Mr Gardiner before he turned to Darcy and continued. “Mr Darcy, may I introduce you to my brother, Thomas Bennet, master of Longbourn.”
“I have many connections to Mr Darcy with my business and Elizabeth has formed a great friendship with his sister, Miss Darcy. And as he and his sister were headed north to Derbyshire today, Mrs Gardiner and I invited them to stop on their journey and refresh themselves with tea and conversation.”
Extending his hand, the young man shook hands with Mr Bennet as Mrs Hill brought in tea and Mrs Gardiner took command, directing her nieces and guests to chairs, placing Mr Darcy between Elizabeth and her father, with Mr Gardiner on the other side of Mr Bennet and Georgiana on the other side of Elizabeth.
Mary and Jane served the tea, tarts and biscuits as the assembled family and friends began an animated discussion on the war with the French and the resulting impact on trade, the roads north of Hertfordshire, and the length of the coming winter.
~~}{~~
Darcy had been nervous during the trip from London though Georgiana had laughed and chattered most of the distance, pleased to be on the way to see her friend and excited to be in league with her brother as well as Mr and Mrs Gardiner in planning to surprise Elizabeth.
“Do you think she will be at home? She may be walking, and we shall miss her completely.”
Georgiana thought for a moment and then answered her own question, “No, Mrs Gardiner is a sensible woman, and she will have found a way to keep Elizabeth at home.”
“What do you think her sisters are like?” she asked without waiting for her brother to answer. “Shall I play on the pianoforte if they ask?”
Suddenly Darcy chuckled and then laughed aloud, smiling at the perplexed look on his sister’s face. He hugged her close for a moment and said, “Miss Bennet has certainly helped you find your voice.”
“Elizabeth is a very accomplished woman, brother. I hope to be just like her someday,” Georgiana said most seriously. “And please remember you must smile and talk with everyone. It is important her parents like us so that she can visit me at Pemberley next summer.”
“Pemberley?” Darcy asked. “Would you like Miss Bennet to visit with us next summer?”
Smiling slyly, Georgiana said, “Yes, next summer for certain. And one more thing William; today you must call the young lady ‘Miss Elizabeth’. At home her older sister Jane is ‘Miss Bennet’ and so today, even a gentleman may call her by her given name.”
Darcy blushed under his young sister’s smiling gaze but rather than tease, she merely leaned in and returned his hug as they passed through Meryton.
~~}{~~
“And when you read the classics, had you mastered Latin?” Mr Bennet asked his young visitor.
“Indeed sir. My professor Daniel Carson demanded we read in Latin and translate into English line by line.”
“Bah, the line translations ruin the work,” Mr Bennet said to dismiss the notion of reading a work of literature one line at a time. “I knew Carson in school, and he never appreciated any book as a whole. He dissected Shakespeare to the point the letters fell off the page.”
Darcy laughed and asked Mr Bennet for his impressions of Mr Johnson’s writings while Elizabeth and Georgiana began a discussion of Macbeth that soon pulled in Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy.”
“Macbeth is a political play,” Mr Darcy said as Mr Bennet nodded in agreement.
Elizabeth argued, “I cannot believe that the play was written to curry favour with King James.”
“It was a very different time then,” Darcy responded. “The king’s power was almost unfettered, and men could be imprisoned for their writings or religious beliefs.”
“It took civil war and revolution to begin the ascension of Parliament over the crown,” Mr Bennet added. “My direct ancestor, Captain Malcolm Bennet received this estate from the hand of Charles II for services during the restoration.”
He glanced at Darcy and asked, “You say your estate is named Pemberley. How long has your family held the land?”
“The d’Arcy family came over with the Conqueror, served in the crusades and held different estates. We received the lands around Pemberley from the hand of Henry VII in 1497. It was my grandfather who built the current house sixty years ago.”
“And what are your ambitions, sir?” Mr Bennet asked, noticing Elizabeth’s face when he asked his question. “Do you intend to live on your lands?”
Darcy considered his answer carefully. “I want to help build Great Britain. Once the French are settled with, I must do my best to leave the kingdom stronger for my children and grandchildren.”
~~}{~~
Just as the tea was finished, Georgiana sat up and said, “Forgive me, Mr Bennet, Mrs Gardiner but I must speak with my brother.”
Pulling Mr Darcy to the door, Georgiana whispered into his ear, and he nodded before stepping into the hall.
“Where has Mr Darcy gone in such a hurry?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Georgiana smiled, “I had forgotten that we brought gifts.”
“Oh Miss Darcy, that is not necessary,” Mrs Gardiner replied but she joined in the delight when Mr Darcy and his footman carried in a large box that held sacks of candies, oranges and a few wrapped gifts.
“Where are your children?” Mr Darcy asked Mrs Gardiner. “My sister picked out gifts for your daughter and babe, while I selected a book of folk tales for young Edward.”
Georgiana had sheet music for Mary, a pretty box for Jane to use for jewellery, and a similar gift for the missing sister. For Elizabeth, Georgiana had a pair of books with the plays of William Shakespeare and a new novel by an author her brother allowed her to read.
“Oh Georgiana, thank you,” Elizabeth replied. “But I have nothing for you today. I sent my gift in the post the other day.”
“Your company today is the best Christmas gift I could receive,” Georgiana replied. “And I was happy to conspire with my brother to arrange this visit.”
“Your brother?”
Nodding her head, Georgiana whispered, “He spoke to your uncle claiming that he worried that my spirits would need to be lifted, and this surprise would please both me and you. But I believe he wanted to see you as much as I did.”
Elizabeth caught Mr Darcy’s eyes just as Georgiana confessed her brother’s role and her smile triggered his own with a wink that left her blushing once again.
Mr Bennet caught the eyes of his brother and sister at different points during the visit but they both smiled serenely and confidently in return at each of his glances, so he sighed and played the role of host and father.
Young Edward and Emily were summoned to receive candies and oranges, as well as the book for Edward and dolls for Emily and the baby. Georgiana was pleased by the gratitude of the children to be remembered.
When time for the tea to end came about, and the guests were bundled up to return to their carriage, Mrs Hill provided heated bricks for the well of the carriage and a basket with biscuits and tarts to last them until supper at an inn hours later along their road.
“We shall write this winter,” Mary assured Georgiana. “Elizabeth and I shall master these new pieces before spring and when next we meet; we shall have that concert you mentioned.”
“Miss Darcy, will you allow me to escort you to your coach?” asked Mr Bennet in his most charming manner. Smiling with delight to be noticed by her friend’s father, Georgiana replied and took Mr Bennet’s arm.
“Lizzy, will you walk out to the carriage with Mr Darcy, so his arm is not bare this afternoon?” her father asked again.
Glancing only at Mr Darcy who smiled and offered his arm, Elizabeth took it and followed her father and Georgiana out into the cold.
“Your family has been most welcoming this afternoon, Miss Elizabeth. I believe I can enjoy the rest of Christmas just remembering today.”
“Your visit is a Christmas gift I shall cherish, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth replied.
After handing Georgiana into the carriage, Mr Bennet turned to Mr Darcy and said, “You have very good horse’s sir. I believe you can make Shrewsbury Inn in Buckinghamshire before dark with that team. Our weather has been dry, and the roads hereabout are passable for this time of year.”
“Thank you, Mr Bennet,” Darcy replied before he turned to Elizabeth and took her hand.
Glancing once at Mr Bennet who smiled and nodded with permission, Mr Darcy brought Elizabeth’s hand to his lips for a moment.
“I hope to see you in town in the spring, Miss Elizabeth. Please write to my sister as often as you wish.”
Mr Bennet took his daughter’s hand and placed it on his arm as they stood and watched the gentleman climb into the carriage. Then the coachman set the horses in motion and when the coach reached the road to turn north, Mr Bennet turned his daughter around and led her back into the house.
“Well Lizzy, shall I place your hand on his arm in a more permanent fashion next year?” Mr Bennet whispered to his daughter who smiled but did not speak. “Nonetheless, let us not tell your mother too much. She would bankrupt Longbourn with lace and material for a thousand gowns.”
“Yes, Papa,” Elizabeth agreed though her eyes were still seeing Mr Darcy’s face.
~~}{~~
In the carriage, Georgiana snuggled close to her brother for warmth.
“Thank you, William.”
“For what are you thanking me, my dear?”
“For allowing me to wish Happy Christmas to my friend.”
“It was no great effort,” he replied, a smile on his face. “And I was glad to wish the Gardiners Happy Christmas and to meet Miss Elizabeth’s father and sisters.”