Mr. Gardiner said, “I am grateful for your intervention, Mr. Darcy. If only you had escaped the accident unscathed. This brings up a matter of concern. You were not expecting our arrival. At the same time, you are anticipating guests tomorrow. As I am aware, you have been friends with Mr. Bingley and his sisters for several years so the precedence should be theirs. Your offer of hospitality is gratefully accepted. But we do have comfortable rooms at the inn. Perhaps it would be easier on you if we returned.”
“I thank you for your consideration, but you are most welcome here.” Darcy wondered how to bring up an issue that concerned him. “I would ask about your eldest niece, Miss Jane Bennet. How is she?”
Mr. Gardiner nodded slowly. His wife’s eyes narrowed as her husband asked, “I find it interesting that you ask about our Jane after mention was made of Mr. Bingley. Would I be correct to assume that Lizzy informed you of her sister’s response to your friend’s abandoning Netherfield Park and Mr. Bingley’s sister’s cruel treatment of her?”
“Yes. I am aware.”
Mrs. Gardiner said, “Jane is unchanged, although she sheds fewer tears and has finally begun to smile again.”
“I see.” Darcy hesitated to explain himself. However, they had been speaking plainly since Elizabeth entered the drawing room. There was no sensible reason to discontinue the process since their conversation was the information they all seemed to need.
“While Miss Elizabeth and I waited for help to arrive, if my memory serves me well, we spoke about many subjects critical to the happiness of others. This included Charles Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet. Something you should know is that Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own. I misunderstood Miss Jane Bennet’smotives. Thus, I did not advise him properly. Until I went to Kent, I was unaware of how wrong I had been. Once I knew, I was not in the position of being able to have company. I was very ill. I am also a private man, so the only ones who knew of my difficulties were my family. Months passed when my only thought was how to handle my problems, my sorrows. By the time Richard brought me to London, Bingley had traveled with his family to Scarborough and then to Manchester to stay with relatives and oversee his business investments. I did not know how to contact him. I was informed a week ago of his plans to journey here. At the time, I thought to clear up the matter of my misdirection once he arrived.”
“Very good,” Mr. Gardiner said. “Now, tell me about you and Lizzy if you would. Or, we could wait until the ladies are no longer present if you prefer.”
Darcy glanced at the woman seated at his side. She was not the sort to appear missish. No, instead, she met his gaze with directness.
“Your niece captured and held my attention when she cared for Miss Bennet at Netherfield Park. Oh, do not get me wrong, at first, I was irritated once I realized that she, of all ladies, intrigued me. I was forced to reflect on my own prejudices when she fled the house in anger. You see, the conversation in the drawing room was unfavorable—no—it was blatantly unkind to the Bennet family. Instead of defending our neighbors, I remained silent, much to my shame.”
“Unkind, you say?” Mr. Gardiner sat forward in his chair. “Why would you treat our Lizzy poorly?”
“Your question is fair and not unexpected, Mr. Gardiner. I am in no doubt that my reply will not paint my character in good light, and I apologize in advance for it. You see, it was not until we talked privately at the lakeside that I began to understand her character truly. Until then, I allowed my first impressions of hermother and younger sisters to influence my opinion of the entire family. Now, I realize I am being blunt since this is your sister and nieces of whom I am speaking. However, their conduct in public was difficult to overcome. Of course, I now comprehend how poor my conduct was. By the time I was in Kent, I was finally able to see the sterling qualities of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s two eldest daughters. And I was able to see how horrible I acted in Hertfordshire.”
“Then I will ask you, what do you intend to do about it?”
Darcy liked Mr. Gardiner’s straightforward manner. He could now see where Elizabeth’s willingness to face issues directly came from, and it pleased him.
“I will lay my faults in front of Bingley soon after he arrives. Since it has been months since I have been in his company, I no longer am certain how he feels about Miss Bennet. At that point, I will do as I should have done at the beginning and step back, attempting not to influence him in any way.”
“That will be good for Jane, I hope. What about Lizzy?”
Darcy smiled, then turned to face her. Studying her face, inch by inch, his eyes kept being drawn back to hers. Without thought, his thumb brushed her brow and then touched the tips of her eyelashes. “They look so heavy. How are you able to hold them up?”
Her giggle lightened his heart. When she batted them like Caroline Bingley did, for the first time in months, Darcy laughed.
Sliding his hand over hers, he traced her thumbnail with his fingertips.
“Mr. Gardiner, my mission in life is to do everything in my power to become a man who knows how to please a woman worthy of being pleased. There is no one on earth who I want to please more than Elizabeth.”
“Very good, then.” Mr. Gardiner glanced at his wife before adding, “We are happy to accept your invitation to remain at Pemberley.”
Darcy was delighted.
10
Her uncle stood, holding his hand to his wife. “Come, Maddie. These young people have much to discuss that I have no desire to overhear. Still,” addressing Mr. Darcy, he said, “I fully expect the door to remain open while we are gone.”
“Agreed.”
Elizabeth’s heart pounded so loudly she feared the others could hear. Where she had been grateful for her uncle and aunt’s presence, she was even more pleased that they were gone. Yet, eager anticipation for what the gentleman next to her might say and how it would affect her future had her insides quivering.
“Mr. Darcy,” she began, only to have him interrupt her.
“Fitzwilliam, please. You have been Elizabeth in my mind since Hertfordshire. We have shared too much to continue being formal.” When she nodded, he said, “Pray, allow me to go first. You see, I have been waiting since the spring to see you again. Once it was determined that I would have difficulty walking, I pushed myself harder than the physician asked me to so that one day, I could stroll alongside you through a garden. I wouldhold onto you, and you would hold onto me so that neither of us would fall. I have dreamed of being at your side, Elizabeth.”
She did not know what to say.
“MyElizabeth.” His head turned away from her. “I am…I am not yet the man I used to be.”
