Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only Luve
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.
My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
Robert Burns ~ 1794
CHAPTER THREE
WE MEET AGAIN
The Darcy Carriage
Monday, The Following Week
It had been a long morning, since William was up well before dawn in order to leave Kent at first light. Thankfully, the two days he stayed at Rosings Park were productive. Not only did he spend time with Anna, but he assisted Lady Catherine with several estate matters which needed his attention. While he had discussed his concerns about Mrs. Younge with his aunt, he was still somewhat uneasy with keeping her on.
“Nephew, I assure you Mrs. Younge’s references are solid. Why, the woman comes highly recommended by one of my closest friends. I am sure it is only a matter of insisting that Georgiana be better supervised throughout the day.”
“I hope you are correct.”
“Trust me, I am.”
Even though Georgiana had been attending school during much of the past year, she would not be sixteen until the middle of August, and in William’s mind she was yet very young. Heunderstood the need for a little independence, yet it was difficult for him not to worry. After all, worry was what he did best. That had been his life ever since his mother died twelve years ago and even more so since inheriting and marrying Anne de Bourgh shortly thereafter.
For the most part, William’s daily routine had become rather oppressive. With all of the responsibilities he had taken on, at times his worries made him feel like an old man. In truth, if it were not for Anna and Georgiana, he would have had very little to look forward to.
Because his marriage had not been a happy one, William longed to share his life with a woman he could love in the truest sense of the word. With such a woman he might feel revitalised and embrace new purpose. He would be twenty-eight in September, and even though he was seeking a marriage of convenience, he prayed in earnest that his next marriage would not disappoint. Elizabeth Bennet intrigued him, and he hoped seeing her this afternoon would provide him with yet another chance to properly assess her suitability.
Cheapside
Cheapside was known for its commerce and this district of the community was teaming with activity. Consequently, the well-travelled streets were congested, overflowing with patrons and vendors. Pulling off of the busy avenue and onto Gracechurch Street, William was relieved to see a more residential area emerge. The homes were kept better than he anticipated, and thankfully the noise level and quality of air was significantly better being away from the main road.
As his driver pulled up in front of number six, William was surprised to see the lot was larger than most and that the housewas rather impressive. Gardiner mentioned that he chose this residence in order to be close to his warehouses along the docks. William could see a small park at the end of the block which he imagined would provide some entertainment for the Gardiner children. In his estimation, it was never easy for children to live in the city, and he was grateful that he and his sister had been raised in the country. Needless to say, he wanted the same for his daughter and looked forward to the day when his family would be back in residence at Pemberley.
The Gardiners’ Residence
Having surprised her with his conversation during dinner, Elizabeth was looking forward to seeing William again. While he had made a point of coming to her and complimenting her singing, they did not have another opportunity to continue on in conversation as the evening progressed. To her amusement, however, on occasion she often caught him looking at her even though he was supposedly interacting with other guests.
For the past two days Elizabeth had tried to puzzle out William’s character. Though she had much yet to discover, they did have one thing in common, and that was their love of literature. His offer to take her and her aunt to Ballards was perfect, and while she would be looking at books, she would do her best to take his measure. After all, other than her father, it was a rare man who understood her passion for books.
Elizabeth had been watching for William’s carriage from the parlour window, and when she saw it come to a halt, she happily rushed through the front door and out onto the portico to greet him. “Mr. Darcy.” She waved as the footman let down the steps and opened the door.
“Miss Elizabeth, ‘tis a pleasant afternoon,” he said, noting how pretty she looked in her yellow dress as he strode up the walkway and joined her at the top of the stairs.
“Yes, it is. If you please, would you mind joining me in the parlour for a bit? My aunt has been detained. One of our maids cut her finger and it required stitches. She will not be long. Moreover, it will give me the opportunity to introduce you to my young cousins while we wait.”
