Vol 1, Chapter 6 #3
“I am. It will be on Friday, the three and twentieth day of this month. Just think, Caroline, you will be able to display all of your formidable hosting skills.” Bingley knew he was implying that his sister could impress his friend, but what was the harm if it spurred her to action.
“You know what, Charles; you have a good point. Yes, it will be a good thing to highlight my skills as a hostess. It will be a true ball, one worthy of the Ton!” Miss Bingley left with a spring in her step.
She, who was expert at manipulating her brother, was unaware that he was manipulating her.
It was not long before Miss Bingley was ensconced with her sister planning an extravaganza, and truly pleased as her brother had given her carte blanche and a large budget.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam jumped at the chance when his father asked him to convey some documents to Mr. Edward Gardiner at the Gardiners’ townhouse.
The Viscount was shown into the study where Mr. Gardiner was examining a ledger.
“Welcome, Lord Hilldale, though I admit I was expecting the Earl.” Gardiner indicated a chair for his guest.
“My father asked me to bring these to you,” the Viscount said as he handed the papers to Mr. Gardiner.
“You need not have bothered, my Lord, a messenger would have been able to bring these to me,” Gardiner stated.
“I must admit that I have an ulterior motive, Mr. Gardiner.” The Viscount chuckled at his thin excuse being called out, for Gardiner was a businessman of rare acumen.
“Does it have anything to do with a certain niece of mine?” Gardiner asked bluntly.
“It does, sir. My cousin Darcy is visiting his friend who is leasing an estate—Netherfield Park—in Hertfordshire.” Hilldale nodded once at Gardiner’s obvious familiarity with the name.
“I know it as my family grew up in the area,” Gardiner answered evenly.
“He has written to his sister of a Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I was wondering if she is your niece as well, and perhaps sister to the Miss Bennet I have met on occasion at your house,” the Viscount asked hopefully.
“Yes, that is indeed correct. May I ask you a direct question, my Lord?” Gardiner probed, and the younger man nodded. “What are your intentions towards my niece?”
“They are completely honourable! I am intrigued by her. Yes, she is beautiful on the outside, but she had an inner beauty and strength of character that shines through. And I know that she is very charitable with all the hours she gives to my mother’s committee at Haven House when she is in Town.
My aim is hopefully to get to know her and see if we have something to build on, if there could possibly be mutual affection.
” Andrew would not normally have been so open with a man who was not more than a business associate, but he felt he had to be as there was no mistaking the true familial ties and affections.
It was almost as if he was being interviewed by the father of the young lady.
“I can tell you that her dowry is reported to be a mere two thousand five hundred pounds and she is reported to have no notable connections, besides me, for her other uncle on her mother’s side is the local solicitor in Meryton, the town near the estate.
The estate is entailed and said to bring in around two thousand a year.
” Gardiner watched carefully as he laid out as many negatives as he could, impressed when the Viscount never flinched or showed any distaste regarding said information.
“She is a gentleman’s daughter, is she not?
” Hilldale asked and Gardiner allowed that it was so.
“I have no need for a large dowry; I have more money than I know what to do with and that is not taking into consideration that one day, far in the future I hope, I will be the next Earl of Matlock. As to connections, I have more than enough. None of that is truly important, for the mutual connection between a husband and wife is a gift too few recognise. Unlike the women here in Town, she has never fawned over me or treated me like a god among men. She was not intimidated by me when we met; in fact, she challenged my point of view and we had more than one discussion which proved she was my equal or better, all of which were characteristics that attracted me to her.” Gardiner had no doubt that in his recounting of Jane’s attributes the Viscount was completely sincere.
“In that case, Lord Hilldale, my niece Jane will be arriving here in late November or early December and will be staying with us until we all go visit family for Christmas,” Gardiner revealed.
“That means that I will have some weeks before we are to Essex for Christmastide,” the Viscount replied, wondering how soon he could be in her company.
“Essex?” Gardiner questioned. He knew that the Fitzwilliams normally spent that time of the year at the primary Matlock estate, Snowhaven, in Derbyshire.
“Yes, my mother accepted an invitation to Broadhurst, the De Melville’s estate.” Mr. Gardiner had a look like he was about to break out in laughter, but he schooled his features.
“Yes, my Lord, I know of Broadhurst in Essex,” Gardiner responded, amazed at the coincidence. It seemed the Viscount would be spending more than just a few weeks with his niece but was not aware of the fact—yet.