“Harrumph.”
“Well, Cousin, if you do not mind, I should like to go back inside and catch up with one or two fashionable ladies before we are called to dine. Mother mentioned the lovely Mrs. Walden would be here this evening, and I do not wish to miss out on her company while commiserating with you. Are you coming?”
“You go ahead; I shall be in directly.”
Not long after, dinner was announced by Lady Gwendolyn, who invited all of her guests to join her in the dining room. Her party consisted of about sixty or seventy attendees strategically placed at various tables so that lively conversation might ensue. William’s place card indicated that he was to be seated next to Miss Elizabeth and across from the Gardiners.
Determined to downplay his blunder and to be civil, William could not help but notice how very pretty Elizabeth Bennet was as he assisted her with her chair. Since he no longer thought of her as Eliza Deming, he began to see the woman for her own merits. For one, her hair was a rich dark brown with wisps of auburn, and her lovely eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she thanked him and looked up through her thick lashes. It was as though she knew a great secret and was challenging him to guess what she was about. While she probably did not realise it, he thought her smile inviting, and there was something endearing about the way she carried herself. The young lady was confident, yet she was not overly proud. Her figure was light and pleasing and she was gracious to whomever she interacted with. Moreover, the woman smelled of jasmine and a hint of lavender, a rather alluring combination.
William had hoped to be seated across from Elizabeth so that he might gauge her reactions as they conversed, but he now realised that sitting next to her was perfect. He could easily observe her through his peripheral vision without being too obvious. As the evening progressed, he hoped to discover why Lady Gwendolyn thought the two of them might suit.
While the first course was being served, Mr. Gardiner remarked, “Mr. Darcy, ‘twas quite a lively discussion several of the gentlemen were having earlier.” He chuckled to himself. “I rather enjoyed it.”
“‘Tis a pity my uncle, the Earl of Matlock, was not here to give his opinion with regard to the East India Trading Company, forlet me assure you, he has many. As of late he has been frustrated by various corporate policies and has debated whether or not to retain his shares.”
“I take it then, you are not an investor?”
“No, I never was, nor was my father. Even though there is a branch office in London, we chose to diversify our investments with businesses primarily operating in the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland.”
“I see. We should have more like you, Mr. Darcy. Ventures directly benefitting the people and not created to merely line the pockets of the very wealthy are what is needed in this day and age.”
“On that we can agree. I try to do my best by Pemberley, but since taking over the estate, I have seen the difficulty many of my neighbours have had in keeping their tenants. All over England, workers have left the estates to make their way in the city, not knowing that the opportunities they seek may not be as profitable or abundant as they might wish.”
“So true.”
Changing the subject, William turned to Mrs. Gardiner, saying, “Mrs. Gardiner, I am aware of the many charities supported by my aunt and Lady Gwendolyn. If you do not mind me asking, I would like to know what concerns you and your niece have championed in that regard.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled, acknowledging Elizabeth before answering. “Thank you for asking, Mr. Darcy. Although I am closely involved with the Foundling Hospital, while she is in Town, Elizabeth has chosen to dedicate her efforts to raising money for free schools such as those sponsored by Miss Hannah Moore and Mr. Thomas Cranfield.”
“Ah, two worthy causes. Miss Elizabeth, my mother was an advocate for educating the children of our tenants when she was alive, although the efforts of the estate would beconsidered minuscule when compared to what Miss Moore and Mr. Cranfield are endeavouring to accomplish throughout the region. I must say the education of the poor in urban areas is a noble undertaking, and one which I heartily respect.”
“I am glad to hear it, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth responded with enthusiasm. “And as you say, the undertaking is far greater than one might expect. The schools Miss Moore and Mr. Cranfield sponsor are much needed, for they not only teach the students to read, but they also distribute food, clothing and shoes to those who are enrolled. Furthermore, in addition to raising monies, it is difficult to find competent people who are willing to work for minimal pay or who even feel comfortable donating their time working as volunteers in the less desirable areas of Town.”
“So I understand, having spoken with Miss Moore on occasion.”
“Tell me, Mr. Darcy, you mentioned schooling for the children of your tenants. I wonder: have you sponsored something similar for the poor in your community? My aunt is from Derbyshire−Lambton, to be more precise. She was not aware of any such offering when she was growing up in the village.”
“You are quite right, Miss Elizabeth. There is no school for the poor in the county that I know of, although I must say it is something I have often thought to pursue with our local clergy.
“Mrs. Gardiner, I was unaware you were from Lambton. If you do not mind me asking, what was your maiden name?”
“Williams. My father was Mr. Fredrick Williams and ran the village apothecary shop in his day.”
“Ah, yes. I remember. It was a great loss to our community when he died several years back. You have my condolences, Mrs. Gardiner.”
“Thank you. As I recall, your mother often came into our shop when she visited the village. Lady Anne was always very gracious and beloved by all.”
“Thank you for saying so. I remember accompanying her on occasion. I wonder if we ever met.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled kindly. “Yes, there were several times when you came with her into our shop as a small boy. I remember one time in particular when she allowed you to join me in the back room to play with the kittens while she consulted with my father about various concerns in the village. You could not have been more than five or six at the time.”
He momentarily furrowed his brow. “What a pity I do not remember.”
“As I recall, there was another boy present. He, too, was waiting for his mother. The boy was quite poor and did not have shoes, which seemed to disturb you. The boy’s father had been injured in an accident at the mill. I believe you must have told Lady Anne, for later that week we learned the boy’s family had been provided with much-needed essentials by the Pemberley estate through the help of the local vicar. It was a lovely gesture, and one which was spoken of for weeks throughout the village.”
“I did not know,” William modestly answered. “Thank you for telling me.
“Miss Elizabeth, since you enquired of the Lambton area, I wonder if your father has similar practices put in place for the children of his tenants or for the poor in your community.”
