Page 49 of Conundrums & Coincidences

At least until I turn twenty-one. But, once she reached her majority in less than a month, she might be compelled to sow dissension with the one man she had loved with her whole heart for her entire life. Never had she even dared to rebel against her father’s authority. Estrangement had been unthinkable.

Until Mr Darcy.

On Friday, at first light, Mr Bennet had set off to fetch Lydia.

No doubt she will leave Brighton kicking and screaming. Elizabeth did not envy her father for having to listen to a querulous sixteen-year-old for endless hours on the road. But she, too, could be petulant. It will serve Papa right for being so hard-hearted where Mr Darcy is concerned.

That thought seemed to have summoned the gentleman, for at that very moment, at the stroke of eleven o’clock, Mr Darcy presented himself at the Gardiners’ front door, and Elizabeth was summoned. Fleeing to a mirror, she was relieved her eyes were neither red nor puffy, although there would have been nothing to be done about it had they shown evidence of her having cried herself to sleep the previous night.

He had come, he told Mrs Gardiner and her, in the hope they might join Georgiana and him for a ride round the park. “It is a fine day, and I have a barouche with its hood folded down.”

Mrs Gardiner’s eyes grew wide as she looked from Elizabeth to their caller. “We shall be delighted, sir.” She summoned her maid to fetch their bonnets, gloves, and reticules.

It was with astonishment that Elizabeth beheld a luxurious black barouche at the kerb. The carriage was drawn by two sleek black horses, driven by a liveried coachman, and it sported a noble crest upon its door. Pointing at it, she cast Mr Darcy a puzzled look. “Have you gained a title overnight, sir?”

He smiled and shook his head, then spoke to the young lady perched upon the rear-facing cream leather seat. “Georgiana, may I present to you Mrs Gardiner and her niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Ladies, I am pleased and proud to introduce my beloved sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. I fetched her this morning from her residence on North Audley Street. And, from our relations’ town house on Park Lane, I fetched this equipage”—he paused to catch Elizabeth’s eye—“which belongs to my uncle, the Earl of Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s father.”

As she and her aunt were being assisted into the carriage, Elizabeth remembered hearing from Mr Wickham that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud. She knew, however, from Mr Darcy’s letter and by the sweet girl’s shy demeanour that the lieutenant’s information had been false.

There was sense, good humour, and a becoming blush upon Miss Darcy’s face as Elizabeth smiled at her and began a conversation. “I have heard much good of you from the Bingleys, Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and, of course”—she glanced at Mr Darcy—“a proud brother who absolutely dotes on you.”

“You are too kind, Miss Bennet.” The young lady’s manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle, and she spoke softly and in monosyllables. She would do exceedingly well in the game of Short Answers.

Less than an hour later, in a nobleman’s fancy barouche, with Elizabeth and her aunt seated opposite Mr Darcy and his sister, the four of them smoothly glided round the gravelled carriageway known as ‘the Ring’. While the Darcys received many greetings and warm salutations, their two guests attracted unwanted attention—mostly consisting of jealous looks from the fine ladies of the ton, young and old alike. Elizabeth realised that being with her and Mrs Gardiner in Hyde Park demonstrated Mr Darcy was not ashamed to be seen with two females not of the beau monde.

At one point he said, “How fortunate I am this morning to be in the company of the three most handsome ladies in the entire park.”

It had been hyperbole as far as Elizabeth was concerned, but his outrageous comment had brought a bit of a smile to her face. I am the fortunate one. Mr Darcy is a much sought-after marriage prospect. Of course, he would be fortunate to gain me as his wife…should he ever propose again.

For several hours, she almost had been able to forget the troubling conundrum looming overhead. And, in Miss Georgiana Darcy, she had gained a new friend. And, I hope, a future fifth sister.

24

THE MULBERRY BUSH

Earlier that same morning, Darcy had urged his sister to join him in asking the Gardiners and their relations to dine at his town house before the three Bennets had to leave for Longbourn.

In the park, Georgiana had readily complied, although it was done with a diffidence that proved she was not at all in the habit of extending invitations. Mrs Gardiner had accepted with alacrity, but she looked to her niece for an indication of mutual agreement.

“I thank you, yes,” said Elizabeth. “However, I can speak for neither my father nor my sister. Which day did you have in mind?”

Darcy wondered at her perfunctory response. “The next two evenings, I fear, will be inconvenient. I imagine Mr Bennet and Miss Lydia would rather rest upon their return tomorrow. On Sundays my servants work reduced hours so they may rest. I assume you and your father will meet with Pemberton & Monroe at some point on Monday. Would that evening be favourable?”

“I regret we must decline, sir. Papa said we are to leave at midday.”

Elizabeth then spent the remainder of the drive mainly speaking to his sister about her cousins, the Gardiner children—two girls of six and eight years old and two younger boys. Darcy fretted over her otherwise languid indifference.

Upon their arrival at the house on Gracechurch Street, he approached Mrs Gardiner. “Would it be possible for Georgiana and me to be shown round the delightful garden I espied here earlier? Our se’nnight at Oakwood gave me a new appreciation for horticulture, and I caught but a mere glimpse of the profusion of beauty you have created out there.” He gave his sister a pointed look.

“Brother, as much as I should be pleased to join you, I had hoped to meet the four children Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet spoke so lovingly of during our jaunt round the park.”

Darcy wished his sister’s little speech had not sounded quite so rehearsed and that she had not looked so desperate when she appealed to the proud mother of said children, but he was pleased she had made the effort.

Then out to the garden, arm in arm, Darcy and Elizabeth went. When he had set out that morning, he had had every intention of asking for the young lady’s hand in marriage. But at that moment his priority was getting to the bottom of whatever was preying upon her mind, for something surely was. Had she learnt of his relinquishment of the tournament? Impossible. No one knew of it. Had it to do with the Fordham affair?

He longed to tell her he would, with his life and until the end of his days, safeguard her from all perils and unpleasantness. “I was wondering whether Mr Monroe apprised you of Mr and Mrs Fordham’s situation.”

When she indicated the attorney had not, Darcy said, “Until the next assize court, the accused—under Mr Sumner’s supervision—are to be held separately in the parish gaol. There, the Fordhams will be forced to perform useful manual labour and exist on fare far inferior to that which they had become accustomed at Miss Armstrong’s expense. I expect they eventually will be transported.”