Chapter 4 #2
“She came purely by accident, as Mrs Gardiner already explained. And Miss Bennet insisted that she only agreed with her aunt’s suggestion to visit Pemberley because she was specifically given assurance that we were not at home.”
“Miss Bingley said that Miss Bennet came on purpose…”
Darcy rolled his eyes, annoyed.
“Caroline Bingley speaks so much nonsense that one cannot address it all. But I have no right to criticise her, as for a while I shared the same disapproval of the Bennet family. I even supported Miss Bingley’s attempt to separate Bingley from Miss Jane Bennet.”
“Dear brother, I am all astonishment! Now I start to wonder that you and Miss Bennet are so friendly to each other.”
“Yes, I wonder too…” Darcy muttered mostly to himself.
“Now if your good opinion of your older brother is not lost forever,” he said with more enthusiasm than he felt, but managed to make Georgiana smile, “allow me to escort you — breakfast has surely been long ready. And I insist you promise me you will rest before dinner.”
“I promise.”
∞∞∞
The Bingleys and the Hursts were already gathered together, and based on their plates, had already started breakfast. They seemed to be in the middle of an animated conversation which ceased for a moment when Darcy entered.
“We were talking about fishing,” Bingley said, after a moment. “Do you think Mr Gardiner will join us again today? He is such a genial fellow, entertaining company, and quite proficient on any subject of conversation, from politics to sport and gossip.”
“Awfully lucky at catching fish too,” Mr Hurst added.
“For my part, I hoped we would have a peaceful and pleasant day among family, since tonight our party will widen anyway,” Miss Bingley said.
“Yes, I too miss previous years when it was only us at Pemberley for the summer,” Mrs Hurst added, as always in support of her sister.
“I confess I have found this year more animated and diverting. Do not mind me for saying so, as I mean no offence, Darcy, Miss Darcy, but as beautiful as Pemberley is, it has been a little too sedate and silent in the past,” Bingley said.
“I do not mind, Bingley. In fact, I tend to agree with you. But Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, I trust your rooms are comfortable and pleasant and private enough to provide you with all the peace you might desire. I know I can count on Mrs Reynolds for that. Please do not feel obliged to join the rest of the party for any activity that you do not enjoy. You may also ask for your meals to be delivered to your rooms.”
Darcy’s reply was perfectly polite and showed the proper hospitality a host owed to his guests. Under his solicitous words however, his disguised rebuff was not lost on the Bingley sisters.
“My thoughts exactly,” Bingley added. “You may do whatever you please, and so shall we! Besides, the Gardiners and Miss Bennet will leave soon. Until then, I intend to enjoy their company as much as I can.”
“I did not mean that I wished to isolate myself in my room,” Miss Bingley answered angrily.
“But I cannot easily adjust to the notion of treating like family people that we all disapproved of until recently. But I am only a guest, so I have not much say in this. If I were to choose, I would rather listen to dear Miss Darcy playing the pianoforte the entire morning.”
“How very kind of you to say so, Miss Bingley!” Georgiana interjected.
“I thank you for the compliment, however, as much as I would like that, it will not be possible, as I need to visit some of our tenants. There has been an illness in the family, and they need supplies and possibly help. My brother even said we might bring the children to Pemberley until their parents are completely recovered.”
Mrs Hurst almost choked and exchanged a quick look with her sister.
“My dear, your kindness is admirable, but is it safe? Maybe because you are still so young, you are enthusiastic, but is it not too much to visit the tenants so often, especially if they are ill and feverish? And bring the children here? Tenants’ children at the house?
What if they were to spread the disease? ”
“I must support my sister,” Miss Bingley uttered. “Would it not be enough to send some servants with the supplies? I never heard of an estate where both the master and his sister visited ill tenants every day. It does sound like an unnecessary endeavour.”
“You may not have heard of it, but in truth, this is how the mistress of an estate should act,” Darcy finally intervened in the exchange.
“Or at the very least, the mistress of this estate. My mother behaved in the same manner, and I am very proud that my young sister is following in her footsteps.”
Miss Bingley turned white, then red, blinked and swallowed. “Yes, well…err…indeed, but what I mean—”
“Now, let us finish breakfast,” Darcy interrupted. “I must go to Lambton. I trust you all will do what provides you comfort and entertainment while I am gone.”
∞∞∞
When the maid announced Mr Darcy, the Gardiners and Elizabeth glanced at each other in wonder.
They were invited to dinner that evening, which was already causing Elizabeth enough trepidation and restlessness to almost equal her uncle and aunt’s pleasure and satisfaction.
They certainly did not expect him to call, and for a moment, Elizabeth feared he might have changed his mind and come to withdraw the invitation.
There was not much time for speculation before he entered, bowing amiably.
“Mr Darcy! How delightful to see you! We did not expect to have the pleasure of seeing you until later in the afternoon,” Mr Gardiner said.
“I had some business in Lambton and so took this opportunity to call on you. I hope I am not inconveniencing you.” He stole only a brief look at Elizabeth, as short as the blink of an eye.
“Indeed not, sir, it is a pleasure,” Mrs Gardiner declared. “We were just discussing our schedule. I promised to spend more time with my aunt and cousins since we shall soon have to return to London. I am trying to convince my husband to join me, but I am meeting with little success.”
“In my defence,” Mr Gardiner said, “as much as I respect your aunt and cousins, I have already exhausted all subjects of conversation in our previous visits. I believe my dull presence would mostly defeat the object of your meeting.”
“You have become very spoilt, sir. Were you able to choose, you would spend the remainder of our time in Derbyshire catching fish at Pemberley,” Mrs Gardiner scolded him playfully.
“I would not even attempt to deny it, my dear. It is an opportunity that came about in the most fortuitous way, and it might not occur again any time soon. So why not enjoy it to the fullest? Only my affection for you has restrained me from asking Mr Darcy’s permission to sleep next to the stream,” Mr Gardiner jested good-naturedly.
“If I may be allowed to interrupt,” Darcy interjected with visible reluctance to disturb their familiar banter.
“This is one of the reasons for my call this morning. I intended to invite you, if you do not have other previous engagements, to come to Pemberley earlier than planned and perhaps remain for the night to enable you to relax fully after dinner. I shall arrange for your trunks to be transported to Pemberley. And please do not mistake this as an arrogant boast, but I trust there are enough rooms at Pemberley so each of you can be provided with a most comfortable chamber. Mr Gardiner will not need to sleep next to the stream,” he attempted to quip, which went mostly unnoticed due to the general astonishment provoked by this extraordinary invitation.
“That is, if it is possible and agreeable to you, of course…I would not wish to ruin your other plans…” he trailed off, hesitant, clearly uneasy at being faced with the stunned silence after voicing his proposal.
He looked mostly at Mr Gardiner, but Elizabeth felt he truly addressed her.
She was as astonished as the Gardiners by the invitation; she reasoned it might be meant for her and was grateful for the compliment, but she dared not imagine more.
“Mr Darcy, your generosity is beyond any expectation,” Mr Gardiner said after a brief but meaningful glance at his wife.
“I do not even know what to say…I mean…yes, we gladly accept your invitation, but I can hardly believe it. I should wonder as to the reason for it, but I dare say I can imagine it myself.”
“This is a surprise, indeed,” Mrs Gardiner added, visibly emotional. “Spending the night at Pemberley? This is…I never imagined that I…” Regaining her composure, she graciously acquiesced, “Certainly, we accept, sir, it would be an honour for anyone!”
All three of them turned to Elizabeth, who was still silenced by surprise. She knew her answer did not matter much to her uncle — who had already made the decision for them all — but it was of great importance to Darcy.
“I should like that very much,” she whispered, and joy lit up Darcy’s face instantly.
“Excellent!” he said. “Please let me know how you would like to proceed, which way is best for you…”
Mr Gardiner looked at his wife enquiringly, and she smiled at him, understanding what a favour she was actually granting him.
“Very well, Mr Gardiner. You and Lizzy may go now, so you do not waste another day of fishing. I shall prepare my trunk now but shall come with our carriage later on, as soon as I have completed the visit with my aunt.”
If Mr Gardiner expressed his gladness openly, thanking his wife and kissing her hands, Darcy and Elizabeth were no less eager and happy but expressed their rapture more cautiously. However, they had the time to lock eyes and share smiles that conveyed more than words could at that moment.
Less than half an hour passed until two small trunks filled with more than enough garments and finery for two days were packed.
“Mrs Gardiner, would it be agreeable to you if I sent my carriage with a coachman and a maid to convey you to Pemberley? That way, your coachman may remain to rest at the inn,” Darcy offered further.
“That would be perfect, Mr Darcy,” the lady readily agreed.
Elizabeth could not but admire his care and attentiveness, as well as his consideration for all the details that might affect the people around him.
It was yet further proof of his remarkable character that she had so foolishly failed — or refused — to acknowledge for such a long time.
And yet, he was there, offering his arm, ready and eager to take her back to his home and maybe — dare she hope it? — further into his life.