Page 24 of Miss Gardiner
Madeline watched Elizabeth closely and asked, “May I ask who you imagined dancing with?”
“Why Mr Darcy, of course,” Uncle Edward declared before Elizabeth could speak. “There is no other man at this magical ball worthy of dancing with my niece. I understand from the last time I spoke to my sister that Hertfordshire lacks handsome young men.”
But Elizabeth remained silent, and Madeline understood her husband’s jest seemed to have come close to the truth; she would discourage Elizabeth from returning to Mayfair. Edward also took note of his niece’s wistful expression.
“Lizzy, after many weeks in Mayfair, what do you think of the lives of the people who live there?” asked Uncle Gardiner. “As you have been told, the inventory you created is excellent and the sale of Mr Darcy’s treasures for good prices will provide the funds he needs to meet the Christmas deadline.”
“Yes, he will have the money he needs,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Tell me, what do you truly think of Mr Darcy, his friends and his family?”
“I am not certain how to answer,” Elizabeth admitted. “They have their fine clothes, carriages, and grand houses, but they are just like everyone else…some are stupid, and some are intelligent, they are jealous of others and what other people have.”
“Would you want to be with them more?”
Elizabeth looked startled by her uncle’s question for a moment and considered the pleasant scene she imagined dancing with Mr Darcy. He was powerful and intelligent, but he gave great importance to appearances and wealth.
“There have been many things I see in that great house that make me question the felicity of women in the first circles. Mr Darcy’s mother–Lady Anne–seemed to spend the years of her married life shopping and filling the ballroom of their London home with crates and barrels that were never opened.”
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It was two days before another letter arrived from Jane. She wrote of events at the ball, dancing with Mr Bingley, and her anticipation of Mr Bingley’s appearance at Longbourn that same day or the next morning. Jane closed the letter by writing that she loved Mr Bingley with her whole heart and knew they would be happy together.
The smile on Elizabeth’s face perplexed Mr and Mrs Gardiner until she shared the letter with them. She replied to the letter asking for news of Mr Bingley’s visit buta reply from Jane did not appear in the mail.
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Chapter 7.Mr Bingley’s Betrayal
Among the letters that arrived at Gracechurch Street the next day, was one with an unexpected request; Mr Darcy was in residence at his Mayfair house again and requested Mr Gardiner to call that afternoon to discuss another business opportunity.
“When did Mr Darcy return to London?” Elizabeth asked after her uncle shared the letter with her. “Georgiana wrote that her brother was to remain in Hertfordshire until after the new year. In Jane’s letter she wrote the morning after the ball, she named Mr Darcy as a guest in attendance.”
“Perhaps he will explain his miraculous appearance this afternoon,” teased Uncle Edward. He glanced at the letter again and added, “There is no prohibition against ‘Miss Gardiner’ joining me at the meeting. Do you care to venture into Mayfair with me?”
“Thank you, but no,” Elizabeth replied though she was tempted to visit just to spend time with Mr Darcy. “Miss Darcy is gone to Matlock in the north for Christmas with her noble relatives and I would not have any part of the conversation.”
Edward Gardiner laughed aloud to hear his niece say such. While her uncle was absent from the house, Elizabeth spent the afternoon with Aunt Madeline and her children, playing tunes on the pianoforte and teaching her young cousins to sing simple songs.
Upon his return, Mr Gardiner was quiet and waited until after the children were fed and put to bed before he sought out his wife and niece in the parlour at the front of the house.
“My dears, I brought a mystery home from Mayfair to share this evening.”
Setting aside her book, Lizzy gave Uncle Edward her undivided attention while Aunt Madeline continuing mending her son’s pants; the boy managed to split a seam every other day.
“Mr Darcy wanted to meet with me to discuss a similar sale of goods and furniture from his estate in Derbyshire. His mother filled several rooms in their great house with chests of treasures… and he believes there are many excellent crates of wine in the cellar that can be sold at great profit.”
“Does Mr Darcy need to find more money?” asked Aunt Madeline.
Elizabeth’s eyes flashed with momentary interest in the challenge and the chance to spend more time with Mr Darcy, but then sheremembered the length of time since she had seen Jane. Derbyshire was a great distance in the north, and she dreaded being that distance from Hertfordshire. This summer and fall, the ‘adventure’ in Mayfair had challenged her, but now she would choose differently.
“I spoke at length with Mr Darcy, but we had not completed any plans when we were interrupted. His friend, Mr Bingley, appeared at his door and invited himself into Darcy’s office.”
After Edward said these words, Madelyn sat aside her mending and turned her full attention to her husband while Elizabeth’s face displayed confusion.
“My surprizes continued when Mr Bingley asked if Mr Darcy’s theatre box was available on Saturday night.”
Elizabeth’s thoughts were confused, ‘Mr Bingley? Jane’s Mr Bingley is in London? And he plans to remain through Sunday? Today was Wednesday…’
