Page 16 of Saving Jane
“Did I uncle?” Elizabeth asked without feigning surprise.
He smiled. “You were in a determined frame of mind yesterday my dear.”
Turning back to Mr Darcy, Elizabeth continued, “I came upon your sister sitting on a bench and crying. I gave her my handkerchief to dry her eyes, and we talked as I offered comfort. She was quite distressed but calmed after I talked with her. Once I determined that she was not injured but needed to return home, I brought her to my uncle.”
Mr Gardiner took over the story at that point. “Our home was only a short distance from the park, so my wife and children returned with our footman, while my niece and I escorted your sister to your home in a hired cab. I would have used my own carriage, but we had walked tothe park, and I knew it would take a considerable while to summon my carriage.”
“Miss Darcy said that her companion deserted her in the park and left with a young man,” Elizabeth said.
Darcy shook his head. “Mrs Young came to us with good references, but I fear they were forgeries–a young woman came to the kitchens this morning asking the housekeeper for Mrs Young’s belongings. I understand the maids packed her clothing and found several household items that she had secreted in her room. I can only suppose she meant to remove them from the household gradually and sell them. I do not know of a gentleman she was in company with at any time.”
“Miss Darcy told my niece that the young man was known to her. She named him as George Wickham,” Mrs Gardiner explained.
“Are you associated with George Wickham?” asked Mr Gardiner. “Is this man known to you?”
Mr Darcy was pale but managed to continue the conversation. “I am ashamed to say that he is known to me, but Georgiana did not mention his name to me yesterday or this morning.”
“My wife has a serious charge against this man.”
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, wondering if it were appropriate to discuss Wickham with the young woman in the room. But she merely arched an eyebrow and pressed her lips together, sparks flying in her eyes.
“I am young sir, but my aunt’s distress has made me resolute to hear your story.”
“Very well,” Mr Darcy replied. “George Wickham is the son of the man who for many years was steward of my family estate in Derbyshire. My father was fond of George, paid for him to have an excellent education but the son is dissolute and wasted the education. After my father’s death, George and I have not kept company. Until this minute, I have not thought of him in more than three years.”
“It is disconcerting that he should reappear to say the least, and in connection with my sister’s companion disturbs me greatly,” Darcy confessed. He turned to Mrs Gardiner and asked, “What is your connection to Mr Wickham?”
“I have no connection, only pain and hurt from this man.” Mrs Gardiner explained, “I was born and grew up in Lambton and ten years past, just after I was married, Wickham courted my sister and promised her marriage but then vanished. When she found she was increasing, our father went to your father for help,but Mr Darcy refused to believe that Mr Wickham would do such a thing. As a result, my father banished my sister from his house, and she vanished.”
“Who is your father, Mrs Gardiner?”
“He was Martin Fieldstone,” Aunt Gardiner replied. “He died that next winter, shortly after my mother.”
Darcy nodded his head, “Your father was an excellent milliner. The whole of Lambton grieved the loss of your family. I was involved with management of Pemberley even at that time and the housekeeper at Pemberley brought your sister’s plight to my attention. My father never believed any ill of George Wickham, but I knew of his dissolute ways. I quietly arranged for a farmer from a Darcy estate in Derby to take your sister as his wife. I gave the farmer fifty pounds as her dowry–it was all that I had at the time. But on my last visit to Derby, I saw her; she is well married and has three children.”
Overcome with emotion, Mrs Gardiner excused herself and Elizabeth helped her aunt to leave the room while Mr Gardiner spoke to Mr Darcy.
After helping her aunt to lie down for a time, Elizabeth came back below stairs and approached Mr Darcy at the door where her uncle was seeing him out.
“Mr Darcy, excuse me sir,” she said.
“Yes, Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you for sharing your story with my aunt. Would it be possible for us to have her direction–her husband’s direction? My aunt would be able to correspond with her sister if you would be so kind as to provide us with that information.”
Staring at the young woman for a moment, the blue eyes soften just a bit when he replied, “I shall be glad to give that information to your aunt tomorrow when I bring my sister for tea to thank you and your aunt and uncle.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth said as she curtseyed. The gentleman bowed and took his leave from the house and the uncle and niece watched him climb into his fine carriage and leave Grace Church Street.
“I shall speak with your aunt before returning to my office,” Uncle Gardiner said.
“I shall watch the children this afternoon and allow her to rest,” Elizabeth assured her uncle.
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The next afternoon, Mrs Gardiner’s cook prepared an excellent tea and when Mr Darcy and Miss Darcy arrived at Grace Church Street,they met all the family for a few minutes before Nanny took the three children above stairs for their tea.
“Our eldest Edward asked about the young lady Elizabeth rescued in the park,” Mrs Gardiner explained. “He has been most attentive to his lessons, so his reward is to meet you again Miss Darcy.”
