Page 50 of Ashes and Understanding
Elizabeth’s lips twitched. She suspected Mrs. Hurst’s definition of “amusement” involved very little beyond card tables and idle gossip, but she refrained from commenting.
“I suppose you will travel to Pemberley this winter, Mr. Darcy?” Mr. Hurst asked lazily.
Darcy hesitated for a fraction of a second. “I have not yet decided.”
Elizabeth noted his reluctance with interest. Was he debating a return to London, despite its current dangers? Or was there something else keeping him here in Hertfordshire longer than he had originally intended?
The carriage soon pulled into the drive of Stoke Estate, the warm glow of candlelight spilling from the windows. As a footman opened the door, Elizabeth stepped down eagerly, glad to escape the close quarters.
The party quickly entered the house, eager to be out of the frigid November air. After greetings had been exchanged, Elizabeth found herself at a card table with Mrs. Gardiner, Kitty, and Darcy.This is certainly an interesting group, she thought with amusement.Poor Kitty looks absolutely terrified to be sitting down next to such a somber man!
Mrs. Gardiner shuffled the deck and smiled at Darcy as she dealt the cards. “I appreciate you joining us this evening, Mr. Darcy. It gives Elizabeth and opportunity to get out and socialize as opposed to staying at Jane’s side.”
“It is no trouble at all to tend to my sister,” Elizabeth protested.
“Miss Elizabeth has done an admirable job with her sister’s care,” Darcy said. “Miss Bennet is fortunate indeed to have such a caring sibling.”
Elizabeth blinked, startled. She glanced at him sharply, but his face was composed, his tone perfectly neutral—as if he had not just offered her the most sincere compliment she had ever received from him.
Mrs. Gardiner, clearly amused, gave her niece a sidelong smile as she passed out the final card. “You’ve not changed much, Lizzy. Always pretending to bristle at praise while secretly storing it away.”
Elizabeth gave a huff of laughter. “And you, Aunt, are far too knowing. Let us focus on the cards instead of sketching my character, shall we?”
As the game commenced, Mrs. Gardiner made a casual remark about her childhood, prompting Darcy to inquire further.
“My father owned an estate in Derbyshire,” she explained as she placed a card on the table. “It was not nearly so grand as Pemberley, but it was home. Unfortunately, he passed when I was twelve, and the estate was entailed away to my uncle—his much younger brother. You perhaps know him, Mr. Darcy—the master of Longbourn.”
Darcy looked up sharply. “You mean Mr. Baldwin? He is youruncle?”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “Indeed. He was quite newly married at the time, with no children. My mother and I were, of course, forced to leave. I was sent to a finishing school in London, and it was there that I met my husband.”
“I do know Baldwin, though not well,” Darcy admitted. “He has always kept much to himself.”
Mrs. Gardiner let out a soft, wry laugh. “Yes, that sounds like him. A reserved man, but not unkind. He simply had little interest in family matters that did not concern his direct household.”
Elizabeth, sensing Darcy was uncertain how to respond to such an open display of private information, was eager to changethe focus of conversation. “I believe, Aunt, that you mentioned knowing Mr. Darcy’s late mother?”
“Yes, I met her a few times.”
Darcy leaned forward eagerly as Mrs. Gardiner continued. “She was a lovely woman—so gracious and kind. A delicate lady, to be sure, but she cared deeply for those around her. She used what strength she had to see to the well-being of her tenants and the poor. I recall one winter when an entire family nearly perished from exposure—she personally ensured they were housed and cared for.”
Darcy, uncharacteristically quiet, merely nodded. Elizabeth watched him carefully. There was something in his expression—something softer, more vulnerable.
Before she could say anything more, a sudden commotion from the hallway disrupted the moment. The murmur of conversation stilled as a footman entered, his face pale. He moved swiftly to Mr. Gardiner’s side and whispered something in his ear.
Mr. Gardiner’s face paled instantly. Rising to his feet, he crossed quickly to his wife and murmured something too low for Elizabeth to hear.
Mrs. Gardiner gasped and immediately stood as well. “The nursery?”
Elizabeth’s heart leapt into her throat. “The children—what happened?”
Mr. Gardiner’s jaw tightened. “An intruder was caught trying to force his way into the nursery.”
Elizabeth was already halfway out of her seat before he finished. “I am coming.”
“And I,” said Darcy, rising as well.
They followed the Gardiners swiftly into the hall, where two burly footmen were holding a struggling man between them. Elizabeth recognized him at once.
