Chapter 26
Darcy was seated in his study on Saturday afternoon when Killion handed him a letter delivered by the courier who had returned from Lambton.
After dismissing his butler, Darcy was in anticipation of seeing what his friend and spiritual advisor had to say.
He set his business to the side and broke the seal, unfolded the pages and began to read.
North Star House
Lambton
Darcy:
I hope you understand when I tell you that I have long prayed to receive such a letter from you.
One of the central tenets of our Christian faith is that no one is beyond redemption, as long as they are willing to admit to their sins and truly repent.
The Holy Trinity knows when confessions are made without the person being sincere.
That my friend, does not apply to you. Even did I not know you, I would be able to tell from your words, and how hard you have been on yourself, that you have genuinely seen the error of your ways and are ready to make amends and make changes.
As I am sure you are aware, the path you are to follow will not be an easy one, but then again nothing worthwhile is.
Yes, you are a sinner, like each and every one of us who inhabit God’s creation is.
Specifically, your improper pride was a sin, one which made you forget that all of us are equal in His eyes.
Yes, both Fitzwilliam and I, and possibly others, pointed out your improper pride to you, but the best thing happened.
You saw it for yourself and are becoming a much more humble man.
I will not tell you how at this point, but I am familiar with the lady you insulted, and her sisters, well 4 of the 5 of them. I think that your estimation that she did not enjoy your company is accurate.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet and you are actually rather similar in some ways. Before you scoff, think on this: you are both stubborn, proud, opinionated, and think your judgements are sound and above question.
Never did I say that your similarities are positives.
Without breaking a confidence, I have a feeling that Miss Elizabeth is reviewing many of her former opinions like you have recently done.
There are things you have in common which are positive, like intelligence, books, debating, care for others, honour, and goodness.
If you have the opportunity to see her again, seek to find common ground with her.
If she will ever come to see you as anything more than a common and indifferent acquaintance, I cannot tell you.
If you in fact are in her company again, she will hear your apology. Like yours, her faith is strong so she will do nothing else. If you are sincere, I am sure she will grant you a pardon but know this. She is a very intelligent lady who will detect anything feigned.
It is not for me to placate you for not hobbling Wicky long ago.
That is something you need to reconcile with your conscience.
Yes, I agree, it was not for you to keep Wicky’s presence in Meryton and membership in the Derbyshire Militia a secret from Fitzwilliam.
He is a grown man; he does not need you to decide what he may or may not know.
It is good you have come to the realisations you have about Bingley and his sisters. I will not attempt to tell you what to do there, but suffice it to say, it is time for you to evaluate the worth of his friendship. You know, I am sure, I mean not financial value.
That being said, I wish you well as you amend your character. If you need any advice, or more from me, all you need to do is ask.
Regards,
Lambert
He was well pleased by his friend’s letter, but Darcy could not fathom how Lambert knew the Bennets.
He supposed it would remain a mystery for now.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth was very happy to see her young cousins, and they were even happier to see her.
The four Gardiner children loved all four of their older Bennet cousins, however, Lizzy was a favourite because of her story telling abilities.
Lydia had never come to London and when the children were at Longbourn she never spent time with them, so they did not know her and hence had no feelings about her one way or the other.
Whether they were hearing an existing tale or one Lizzy made up, the Gardiner children would listen with rapt attention, even Peter who was going to be four in January.
The reason was simple, Cousin Lizzy did not simply read a story, she acted it out for them and each character had a voice which fit her or him.
While Lizzy was entertaining the children, allowing Mrs Mulberry and Nurse to relax, Gardiner dispatched a note to Darcy.
Before Lizzy had completed her intricate tale, a reply was received in return, with an affirmative answer. The Gardiner parents smiled at the way he phrased the question about the third person, trying to understand who it was without asking an obtrusive question.
In his note, Gardiner had asked to have Darcy come meet him at his home because he wanted him to meet his wife and see another who he was acquainted with.
Mr Darcy would arrive at eleven in the morning on the morrow.
That evening Maddie informed Lizzy who their guest would be. She and Edward had decided it was better than allowing Mr Darcy’s presence be a surprise for Lizzy.
For her part, Elizabeth lay awake longer than was her wont as she tried to formulate the words she would need to say to proffer an adequate apology to Mr Darcy in the morning.
Eventually, after midnight, Morpheus claimed her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy had never been to Gardiner’s house before. From what he could see from the outside, it was far larger than most on Gracechurch Street. It was only two stories in height, but it was quite a bit broader than his own house in London.
The butler took his coat and led him to where the master and mistress of the house awaited him.
As he walked he saw that this house was decorated with understated elegance, a style he preferred in his houses.
There was none of the gaudy and gauche décor of the nouveau riche like he had seen on display in the Hursts’ house on Curzon Street.
He smiled at that thought. His Aunt Catherine was certainly not part of the nouveau riche, but one would not know that from the horrendous way she decorated the mansion at Rosings Park.
He followed the butler into a well-appointed drawing room and froze as soon as he saw her.
There stood Miss Elizabeth Bennet. How was this possible?
Lambert’s words about knowing the Bennets swam before his eyes, then he looked at the older lady who he assumed was Mrs Gardiner.
He saw similarities to Lambert. Was Mrs Gardiner Lambert’s sister?
“Welcome, Darcy,” Gardiner bowed. “You know my niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, do you not?”
All Darcy could do was nod.
“And after missing the introduction for many years, I present to you, Mrs Madeline Gardiner, née Lambert. Yes, she is your friend Lambert’s sister, and Lizzy here is our niece. I am brother to Fanny Bennet,” Gardiner stated.
The ladies curtsied and Darcy bowed.
He had insulted Gardiner’s niece. Was the reason he had been invited to the house to tell him that he would no longer be accepted as an investor?
If that was the case, Darcy knew that he was the only one to blame.
He wanted to apologise to Miss Bennet, but he did not want it to seem like he was doing it to appease Gardiner.
“Relax Darcy, I am not about to reject you as an investor,” Gardiner assured the tall man.
Darcy released a breath he had not been aware he was holding. That meant he would be able to make his amends to this intriguing woman, and it would not be seen as a way to curry favour with Gardiner.
“Mr Darcy, I cannot go on without begging your pardon for my behaviour in Meryton,” Elizabeth blurted out.
“Y-you w-want to apologise to me?” Darcy stammered in shock.
“Indeed. I spread what you had said about me at the assembly to many with the express purpose of making your stay with us uncomfortable,” Elizabeth began.
“At the time I had no awareness of the good reason for your pique, but I now know. And because I wanted to learn anything negative about you, I believed the man who was the principal cause of your mood. While we were at Netherfield Park during my sister’s convalescence, I did whatever I was able so we would argue, even while I could see it made Mr Bingley uncomfortable.
I revelled in making you feel discombobulated.
Not only that, but I was very rude at the ball and did what I could to provoke you. I beg your pardon for all of it.”
As Darcy processed what Miss Elizabeth said, something stood out to him, and it alarmed him greatly. “Firstly, of course, you are forgiven. Did you say you know what Wickham did and to whom?” Darcy demanded.
“Mr Darcy, do you remember that shortly after you and Miss Darcy returned to Pemberley from Ramsgate, you spoke to Adam and authorised him to tell me and my husband what had occurred,” Maddie pointed out.
“Jane and Lizzy will never repeat what they were told, and they were the only ones we mentioned that occurrence to, ever. Did you know that when he was seventeen and she fourteen, the same man seduced my late cousin, Veronica Bellamy? She died in childbirth and within a year her parents had joined her from broken hearts.”
“That is why you and Gardiner purchased the debt markers that I held of Wicky’s.
I trust he will never see the light of freedom again.
” Darcy paused. “I am only sorry my father created that monster which allowed him to harm your cousin, my sister, and others with impunity. It would not have been in time to help your cousin, but I should have moved against him long ago.”