Page 43 of Miss Gardiner
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Chapter 11.Mrs Collins’s Guest at Hunsford
Two days after the funeral for Jane Bennet, Georgiana Darcy wished to visit her friend. She waited until she was alone with her brother to make her request asking, “William, may we call at Gracechurch Street today?”
When she saw the instant hesitation in his eyes, she added, “Or tomorrow?”
Mr Darcy smiled sadly as he explained, “No, Georgie. The Gardiner household will be in mourning until after Christmas. Beginning in October we may make social calls, but the Gardiners will not go out to the theatre, invite guests for dinner, or attend dinner at the home of others until December.”
“Oh dear, your courtship of Miss Elizabeth will grow cold…” Georgiana pouted.
Not completely surprized to hear that his sister was aware of his growing feelings for Miss Bennet, Darcy pressed his lips together tightly, not willing to deny his sister’s statement or correct her speech–they were alone after all.
“Since I cannot call, do I have your permission to write to Miss Elizabeth?” she asked. “I can tell her about my studies and ask questions about sums and Shakespeare’s sonnets.”
“Yes, you may write to her,” Mr Darcy agreed, hopeful that he would hear of Elizabeth’s day through his sister’s correspondence.
“And may I tell her of your day when I write?” Georgiana asked. “I am certain she will include multiple hints asking for news of your moods and scowls in her replies if I do not include the details in my letters.”
Now William Darcy smiled broadly and said, “I believe that is a wonderful idea… And will you allow me to read her replies?”
“Oh course, I would never interfere in a true romance,” the young woman teased.
“Georgie!” he scolded without any heat in his voice.
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During the next weeks, Elizabeth attempted to lose her grief with tasks and caring for others; anything to not dwell on the loss of Jane. She joined her aunt holding Charlie for many hours every day, as well as playing with her cousins and reading to them.
Occasionally, she was able to help Uncle Edward with sums, but the man spent his days at his warehouse and with other tradesmen. The wet nurse had two small children with her at the house on Gracechurch Street. Elizabeth immediately noticed the poor quality of the clothes the children wore so she sewed new gowns for the woman and for her two daughters.
There were almost daily letters from Miss Darcy with news of her lessons and stories about her brother’s plans and meetings. Mr Darcy and his sister led quiet lives except for his forays into politics. According to the hand-written pages, Mr Darcy entertained three times during these quiet weeks; Miss Darcy wrote that the visitors were all gentlemen with whom ‘William’ had business dealings or common interests in matters before Parliament. The prime minister called on Mr Darcy in his Mayfair residence to discuss the war apparently but rather than discussing the matter or any bills before Parliament, Miss Darcy wrote about the colours of waist coats, cut of the pants, and styles of boots worn by each gentleman.
In the evenings, Elizabeth found comfort in reading the letters again. Each letter revealed much about the Darcy household and Mr Darcy’s discussions with his sister. Miss Darcy wrote about their own period of mourning for their father eight years earlier;‘I was but seven years and did not notice any changes in my life except I was not allowed to run about for the first month. When I asked how it affected his day-to-day life, William said he did not attend the theatre for six months and avoided dinner with predatory mommas for a full year.’
Elizabeth appreciated the respect for her need to grieve for Jane, but she missed Mr Darcy’s presence and the smiles she could bring to his face on occasion. The conflict in her emotions caused her to withdraw from conversations with her aunt and uncle, spending more time alone in her room. One evening while wrapping Miss Darcy’s letters in a bright ribbon to hold them, Elizabeth thought of the letters that Jane kept and read regularly.
‘The letters from Charles Bingley,’she remembered.‘Are they in Jane’s things?’
She scrambled up from her chair and found the trunk with Jane’s things, her hairbrush, nightgowns, stockings, and the bundle of letters. Elizabeth stared at the papers, so carefully folded and tied into a bundle by a ribbon.
‘They meant so much to Jane,’she mused and glanced back toward her own bundle of letters.‘She did love him…how could he walk away from such a woman?’
As July passed, Mrs Gardiner grew concerned with her niece’s demeanour and complexion.
“Lizzy, I believe you should walk out with Nanny and I when we take the children to the park.”
Looking up from her sewing, Elizabeth frowned, “I must finish this gown for Mrs Simple before I can walk about.”
“You provided Mrs Simple with two new gowns and a nightgown already. This is enough.”
Bowing her head, Elizabeth nodded while she thought of a new task,‘Perhaps Uncle Gardiner needs some sums?’
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Mr and Mrs Gardiner spoke at length about Elizabeth’s sadness. Mr Gardiner seemed lost in thought for a time before he said, “Perhaps a change in scenery would be best for Lizzy.”
“I do not think a visit to Hertfordshire would benefit Lizzy!” Mrs Gardiner instantly replied instantly. “There has been no response to your letter to Thomas…to Mr Bennet in these many weeks.”
