Chapter Nineteen #2
They spent some more time talking about the machine, the Frenchmen, theories about where they might be hiding, and a variety of other related matters.
Darcy endeavoured to learn what he could about the people from whom Lord Stanton received his information, but the baron was as careful with his information as Darcy was about his own, and eventually the subject drifted to matters less dire.
A plan was made to attend an exhibit the following day, and Darcy was invited as a special guest to a lecture that Stanton was to present, under his given name of Raymond Orville Fynch, on the migratory habits of the Congo grey parrot at the Royal Society.
When, at last and very long after midnight, Darcy departed from Stanton’s house and walked the remaining few hundred yards to his own, it was with the memory of an evening very well spent.
He slept late the following morning and arose to a salver of letters set out by his place in the dining room, beside his coffee cup and the day’s edition of The Times.
There were the usual invitations to this ball or that party, letters from his steward and solicitor, the expected weekly note from Mrs. Annesley, and a single calling card that read Mr. Edward Gardiner, Twenty-Seven Gracechurch Street.
He took the meaning immediately: Elizabeth was safely in London and wished to renew the acquaintance.
It would involve a trip to the City, in a far less elegant part of Town, some three miles distant on busy streets, but not an inch of him rebelled at the thought.
He checked his fob watch for the time. He could take a quick breakfast and dress for an outing and be at the Gardiners’ door within respectable visiting hours.
Discarding the remaining letters for the time being, he finished his morning meal and called for his valet and for the carriage and began his preparations.
What he had expected of Gracechurch Street he knew not, but it was not this neat and prosperous row of newly built and rather grand houses.
Neither did expect the welcome he received, as a smart young maid took his card and curtseyed as he would expect in any home of the bon ton and requested him to kindly wait as she informed the family as to his presence.
He scarcely had time to admire the clean and elegant lines of the entry hall when that same maid bade him follow her and led him to a sitting room.
Two ladies were seated therein. One was a handsome woman with the cap of a married lady and the poise of the mistress of the house.
This must be Mrs. Gardiner. She seemed only a few years above his own age of seven and twenty, which surprised him for he had expected a rather older woman to be Mrs. Bennet’s sister by marriage.
The other was Elizabeth, who seemed to shine with the beauty of a thousand stars.
He bowed and strove to keep his eyes off the younger lady so as better to greet his hostess.
Both women rose and Elizabeth made the introductions.
“Forgive me, Mrs. Gardiner, for interrupting your morning; I had hoped to return Mr. Gardiner’s call.”
“My husband is at his place of business this morning,” that lady replied in tones so proper and with such grace of manners that had Darcy not known her as the wife of a merchant, he would have taken her to be a lady of society.
She presented him with a genuine smile and added, “I know he is most desirous to make your acquaintance; if you will honour us with your company over tea, I shall send a boy over to the warehouse to request his return. It should not take more than a few minutes.”
He could not refuse so gracious a request, neither could he deny Elizabeth’s bright eyes that spoke more welcome than had her careful words. “Madam, I thank you. The honour is mine.”
Mrs. Gardiner called for tea and invited her guest to be seated and then drew him into a comfortable discussion which made him feel very much at home.
To his further surprise, she had spent some time in her youth in Lambton, a village only five miles from his own estate, and they had much to discuss of shared interests in the area and common acquaintances.
Darcy was almost disappointed when a gentleman strode into the room, so much was he enjoying the lady’s conversation.
Mr. Gardiner, much like his wife, was everything Darcy had not expected, yet everything he admired.
In clothing, manners, education and address, he was very much a gentleman.
He greeted Darcy with a warm welcome and an apology for not being at home to receive him, and within a short time Darcy felt as if he had been a friend to this man for years rather than minutes.
Were these the relatives with whom he had disparaged a connexion?
Had he abused these charming people to Elizabeth’s ears as he had attempted so poorly to propose to her?
No wonder she had turned on him in anger, for he would not find better people in the highest ranks of society.
As Mr. Gardiner spoke, Darcy turned to regard the young woman whose presence had brought him here.
She had spoken hardly at all, and her eyes landed upon him and then darted away whenever he sought to return her gaze.
Had she given thought to his offer during the time they had been apart?
Was her shyness due to affection, or was she hoping to discourage him?
He listened with half an ear to Mr. Gardiner’s questions and answered with only as much of his mind as could be spared from his contemplation of Elizabeth.
She was so close to him, only feet away, and yet, until he dared offer for her once more and until he was accepted, so very far.
“...stay for dinner?”
He blinked and scoured his brain for the missing words. Ah, yes. Mrs. Gardiner had invited him to dine.
“I thank you kindly, Madam, but I have matters that need attending at my own home this evening.” He stressed lightly the last two words and his hopes were answered.
“But may we still hope for your presence tomorrow, as Lizzy has hinted to us? We have some remarkable guests joining us on the morrow, whom my niece tells me you would be most interested to meet. Mr. Mendel is a brilliant clockmaker, and his toys and automata are the talk of all London, and his wife is a charming woman and most accomplished at the pianoforte. We would be delighted to have you join us.”
The excuse had been real, for he did have an engagement with Lord Stanton to see the exhibit that very evening and had been ready to accept any other invitation that might be issued.
That Mr. and Mrs. Mendel were to be present solidified his decision, and he accepted with the greatest of pleasure.
He allowed his eyes to drift towards Elizabeth, and he was most relieved to find her smiling with what seemed to be delight and not disgust.
He had, by now, long overstayed his fifteen minutes and rose to take his leave.
“Thank you for calling,” Mr. Gardiner shook his hand.
“I very much look forward to continuing our conversation tomorrow. If you arrive early, I would be happy to show you a bottle of some excellent sherry that has recently come through my warehouse.”
Mrs. Gardiner expressed equally warm sentiments and hoped to see him in excellent health the following evening.
Just as he was about to take his final leave, she turned to her niece and exclaimed, “Oh, Lizzy! I had quite forgotten that I had asked you to return this book to Mrs. Huff across the park. The weather is fine at present, but I fear it will rain later. Would you mind taking the book now? Perhaps, since it is only a short distance, Mr. Darcy would offer to accompany you on the way.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed red, which colour Darcy thought suited her very well. “I would be most pleased to of service,” he offered his elbow.
She cast a desperate and exasperated look at her aunt and then turned a smile towards him. “Thank you, sir. That pleases me.”
No sooner were they out of the house when she began to apologise most vociferously.
“I cannot account for her, Mr. Darcy! I had no notion of her making such a request of you, nor even of her having Mrs. Huff’s book!
In fact, I dare believe that should I look inside the cover, I should find a plate saying, ‘Property of Madeline Gardiner’ therein. ”
His chuckle was low and it shone through his eyes. “I would be pleased to return a library’s worth of books to Mrs. Huff if it means a few moments conversation with you. Your aunt sees clearly. Does my acceptance for tomorrow’s dinner displease you? I do not wish to cause you any discomfort...”
Her hand squeezed lightly where it fell upon his forearm. “No, I am not displeased. Not at all. I am... that is, I had hoped to have some time to talk with you, to apologise...”
“Hush,” he murmured. “There is no need. Here we are at the house your aunt indicated. Shall I wait for you?”
She bobbed her head. “That will not be necessary. Mrs. Huff does like to talk, and I cannot say how long I shall be at my task, especially when she discovers that she had not lent my aunt a book in the first place.”
“Then until tomorrow evening.” He took her hand from where it rested on his arm and raised it to his lips. “My lady.” And with a bow, he disappeared back across the park to his waiting carriage.