Page 40 of Saving Jane
“Callers? Who would call this afternoon? Mamma has gone to visit Aunt Phillips.” Elizabeth looked astonished at her sister’s request.
“Now Lizzy, I think Jane’s idea is excellent. Go put on that lovely yellow gown that your uncle and I gave you for Christmas.”
“But I hoped to save it for Christmas Day,” Elizabeth argued.
“Please Lizzy,” Jane asked. “And I will come fix your hair.”
“Oh, very well,” Elizabeth agreed as Jane lead her above stairs to change as Mr Gardiner stepped to the parlour door.
“Well, my dear? Is all in readiness?”
Mrs Gardiner leaned in to kiss her husband underneath the sprig of mistletoe hung over the door. “My most excellent husband removed the greatest impediment to my surprise by convincing Mr Collins to return to Hunsford early.”
“My dear, what did I tell the man but the truth? It is much harder to travel across London at Christmas. I merely pointed out that it was imperative that he be in Hunsford for his first Christmas with his new congregation.”
Glancing toward the library where Mr Bennet had retreated after breaking his fast earlier that morning, she asked, “Have you discussed some investments with Thomas for the futures of his other daughters?”
“No, my dear,” Mr Gardiner said. “With Jane’s engagement, he sees the entire matter as settled and gives no more thought to their futures.”
Rather than finding despair in his wife’s lovely brown eyes, Mr Gardiner recognized the flint of determination.
“Then I shall make every effort to find good husbands for my nieces.”
Turning at the sound of footsteps on the stairs, Mr and Mrs Gardiner watched Jane come down the staircase with a satisfied smile on her face as Elizabeth walked down, lovely in the fresh, yellow gown with her hair up and a few, narrow, yellow ribbons woven into the braids.
“You are lovely Lizzy!” Mrs Gardiner told her niece just as Mr Gardiner turned toward the window, hearing horses and a carriage in the drive.
“Mrs Gardiner, Ibelieve our guests have arrived for tea.”
“Guests? Who have you invited for tea, Uncle?” Elizabeth asked. “I doubt we have new tea leaves for the afternoon and nothing more than biscuits to serve.”
“Come and wait with me,” Jane said leading her sister into the parlour where Mary prepared to play the pianoforte at her aunt’s request. There were voices in the hallway, ones that Elizabeth knew she should recognize but they were muted behind the walls and doors of Longbourn.
“Come this way and meet my nieces,” Mr Gardiner said opening the door and leading his guests into the parlour.
“Mr Darcy! Georgiana! How did you come to be in Meryton?” Elizabeth exclaimed as she hurried across the room where she hugged Georgiana and almost reached for Mr Darcy before remembering herself and dropping in a curtsey with a bright smile on her face that was reflected by surprise and pleasure in the gentleman’s face.
“I am certain you remember my niece, Elizabeth, Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner said with a touch of false gravity that did not match the twinkle in his eye.
Leaving Mr Darcy with her aunt and uncle for a moment, Elizabeth took Georgiana to meet Jane and Mary and left her there to talk of music while she stepped to the hall to find Mrs Hill and request tea.
“Oh miss, your Aunt Gardiner already ordered the tea. We have her gift of fresh tea leaves, and cook’s hot apple tarts and fresh biscuits for the guests.”
“Thank you, Hill,” Elizabeth said before she returned to the parlour. When she stepped through the door, Mr Darcy stepped away from her uncle and aunt to address Elizabeth directly.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am pleased that as the second daughter, I must not call you ‘Miss Bennet’ during our visit. I have been jealous of my sister being able to call you ‘Elizabeth’ so freely in London.”
Blushing furiously, Elizabeth dipped her head and asked, “May I introduce my sisters, Mr Darcy?”
“I would be most pleased, Miss Elizabeth.”
Leading the way to the pianoforte where Georgiana and Mary were sorting through the sheets of music, Elizabeth turned to Jane first.
“Mr Darcy, may I present my eldest sister, Jane Bennet.”
“Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure to meet you. Miss Elizabeth has spoken of you with great affection several times.”
“It is an honour to meet you Mr Darcy. Elizabeth has spoken of your sister...” Jane paused glancing significantly at Elizabeth, “...and of yourself with great admiration since her return from town.”
