Page 40 of Miss Gardiner
The brother and sister remained silent and waited on the street as the four men unloaded a wooden coffin and entered the house. Glancing at Georgiana for a moment, Darcy hesitated to continue but after assurance from his sister that she was well, they approached the door.
Howard, the footman Darcy remembered, opened the door with Mr Gardiner standing behind him.
“Come in Miss Darcy, Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner said before he directed them into the parlour.
“Mr Gardiner, we…”
Gardiner’s sad face was forgotten as Elizabeth entered the room, tears streaming down her face.
“Uncle, they have come for Jane,” she stated with loss and pain in her voice.
Georgiana enveloped Elizabeth in her arms while Darcy stood to one side, his arms aching to hold the young woman who had lost someone dear to her. But then he lifted his head as he heard the cries of a babe. He found Mr Gardiner’s face guarded as the man said, “Late last night my niece, Jane Bennet, died. And my son was born this morning.”
Without hesitation, Darcy stepped forward and offered his hand, “My congratulations on the birth of your son, Mr Gardiner. May I inquire how Mrs Gardiner is doing?”
“Mrs Gardiner is well as can be expected this morning. We mourn the loss of our eldest niece and celebrate the birth of our child.”
“You have my condolences in the loss of your niece, Mr Gardiner. If there is anything my sister or I…”
Away from the two men, Georgiana asked, “Miss Bennet, what happened?”
“My sister Jane died of a broken heart last night. She has been here–in seclusion– since December,” Elizabeth replied.
The undertaker stepped through the open door and asked, “Mr Gardiner, we need you and one other witness to identify the deceased before we take the body away.”
Hearing those words, Elizabeth felt her legs trembling and Georgiana dropped with her onto the sofa just behind them.
Seeing the distress on Miss Elizabeth’s face, Darcy stepped forward and said, “Mr Gardiner, I knew Miss Bennet in Hertfordshire last fall. Allow me to aid you in this small matter.”
Darcy bowed to Elizabeth before he left the room, but she gave no indication that she heard or saw the man. In the hallway, Mr Darcy and Mr Gardiner climbed the stairs with the undertaker following behind them.
Alone in the parlour, Georgiana hugged Elizabeth again and asked, “And your aunt had her babe? I heard the cry.”
“Yes.”
“And is your aunt well?”
“Yes, she is well,” Elizabeth replied and added. “It…the babe is a boy and appears to be well.”
“I did not realize your sister was here.”
“It is difficult to explain…the circumstances are uncomfortable,” Elizabeth admitted reluctantly.
Deciding not to pry, Georgiana Darcy tightened her hug and whispered, “Tell me nothing. I am your friend and today, I am here simply to console you.”
Sitting back and taking Elizabeth’s hand, the younger woman said, “Now, tell me something wonderful about your sister.”
Without hesitation, Elizabeth declared, “Jane has the most beautiful face in the whole world and when she smiles, the world returns that smile. She loved everyone in her family and our friends. My sister Jane was a gracious young woman…”
“What a wonderful memory!”
In the hallway, Alice gently closed the door to give Miss Elizabeth privacy.
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Darcy followed Gardiner up the stairs and on the first floor, they heard the cries of the infant that were quickly muffled.
“The wet nurse is feeding my son,” Gardiner explained, motioning toward his bed chamber. “My wife will move our son into the nursery with the wet nurse tomorrow after our youngest two are moved into a bedroom with their older siblings.
