Page 36 of Saving Jane
“Good morning, Darcy,” Mr Gardiner greeted his business partner and now friend.
“Gardiner, good morning,” the tall, quiet man replied as he bowed. “I thought we should discuss our plans for the factory in Derby. My sister and I travel north in a few days, and I do not plan to return to London until spring. I can meet with my stewards and secretaries in the north this winter to move our plans forward.”
“Excellent! We shall want to build beside the river to use the water to...”
The two men discussed plans almost an hour and Mr Darcy made an extensive list of questions to ask his steward in Derby. As they completed their plans, Mr Gardiner asked, “Would you care to come to supper this evening? I am certain my niece would be pleased to see you.”
“Thank you but I must decline,” Mr Darcy replied. “I have a family obligation tonight. My sister and I attend my uncle and aunt for supper with my cousin before he receives his deployment orders.”
Mr Gardiner nodded. “We leave for Hertfordshire tomorrow–Tuesday–to spend Christmas with my brother Bennet and his family.”
“Hertfordshire is only three hours from London with a good horse,” Mr Darcy observed.
“Indeed,” Mr Gardiner replied. “When do you travel north for Christmas?”
“My sister and I shall travel north Friday week, once I complete the last of my business in town. We must be home for Christmas and the New Year; my uncle, the Earl of Matlock, likes to grandly summon all his kith and kin to his estate for Twelfth Night.”
“I am certain Elizabeth will miss her friends from Darcy House.”
Mr Darcy smiled and nodded his head, “I heard my sister and Miss Bennet express such sentiments at the close of their visit.”
Mr Gardiner smirked and watched the younger man blush but then Mr Darcy continued, “Sir, I wonder if we might impose on your brother and stop for tea on our way north on Friday next?” The young man continued in a nervous manner, “I know it is unusual to request an invitation to tea but...but I believe my sister’s spirits will be lifted if she could surprise Miss Bennet and visit one last time before Christmas.”
Mr Gardiner smiled broadly. “A visit to Longbourn will be most welcome I am certain. My sister provides an excellent tea. Shall we say noon on Friday next?”
“Noon will be excellent. We shall visit for a time and then travel on to Buckinghamshire before night.”
“Very well, I am certain that my niece will be pleased to introduceyou and your sister to her family.”
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Chapter 18.Elizabeth’s Meets Mr Collins
The Gardiner coach was packed with children, nanny and trunks when it left Gracechurch Street on Monday morning. The weather was cold and the sky cloudy but cheery conversation in the carriage made the time pass quickly. Mr Gardiner and Elizabeth took turns reading from a book of children’s adventures and rhymes while Mrs Gardiner and Nanny took turns holding Henry who fussed a bit.
When the carriage reached Meryton, Elizabeth lay the book aside and pointed out the different buildings to Edward and Emily.
“We have only one livery in Meryton,” she told them. “Everyone must bring their horses here to be shoed. And there are only two shops with lace and cloth, one butcher and only one bookseller.”
“Lizzy, how did you manage?” asked young Edward in a teasing tone. “Only one bookseller?”
“I have only bought two books the entirety of my stay in London!” Elizabeth argued.
“But you read every book in the house!” the boy replied.
The carriage arrived at Longbourn just before noon and the inhabitants of the house poured out with wraps and bonnets to greet the arrival of the Gardiners and Elizabeth.
“Oh Lizzy, I missed you!” Jane said as she embraced her sister while Mr Bennet greeted Mr Gardiner, Mrs Bennet fussed over how much Emily had grown, and Mary and Kitty greeted Edward. The servants handled the trunks and packages, the coachman drove the carriage around the house to the stables and everyone returned to the warmth of the parlour.
Mrs Hill brought a refreshing tea, and the ladies were soon alone as the gentlemen departed for the study to enjoy a small thimble of port.
Elizabeth waited until her mother was involved in a discussion with Mrs Gardiner regarding the latest fashions from London before she turned to Jane and asked, “Where is Mr Collins? I thought from your last letters that he had returned to Longbourn for second visit.”
“Indeed, Mr Collins is a guest in the house, but he felt it important to call on Mr Blackstone to discuss his last sermon. My father has resisted inviting Mr Blackstone to Longbourn for dinner of late as his sermons have begun to wear on everyone’s nerves–indeed Mary argued with Mr Blackstone on the virtue of mercy and forgiveness that he seems to have forgotten.”
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At supper that evening, Mr Collins was eloquent in his speeches concerning the repast, the beauty of his fiancée, the pleasantness of the dining table, and the solemnity of the day spent in reflection of the previous Sunday’s sermon. Elizabeth watched her father’s reactions to Mr Collins and the growing alarm on the faces of her uncle and aunt.
