When Gardiner returned from work, he asked to see his nieces before dinner. “I will miss the next week at work as I will accompany you two on the journey to Lambert Hills,” he told his nieces.
“But Uncle Edward, how can you take time away from your business? We do not want to cause you to suffer financially because of us,” Elizabeth insisted.
“As to how, it is one of the advantages of owning the business and not having to answer to anyone but myself…and your aunt,” Gardiner quipped. “If there was any imperative reason I could not be away, I would not leave now. Besides, you are under my protection and even though there will be a maid, two footmen, and the coachman with you, if I am able, which I am, to escort you myself, it will be done. Your aunt will remain at home with the children.”
Accepting it was futile to dissuade her uncle from his path, Elizabeth did not attempt to do so any further .
The four Gardiner children were not well pleased that their cousins would be leaving them so soon, but at least they knew they would be with them for three to four months in the summer.
Before they knew it, the weekend had passed, their trunks were packed, and all the shopping completed. At first light on Monday morning, Gardiner, Elizabeth, and Mary, along with a maid were in the larger of the two Gardiner conveyances as it departed the house. It soon made its way out of Town towards the Great North Road.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When he returned to London from Netherfield Park, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had made directly for Matlock House where he had told his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and ward the sad story of what had led to Miss Bingley being ejected from her brother’s house, and being put in the path of one George Wickham. Giana had looked rather distressed at the mention of his name, but as the story had unfolded, her features had been schooled. She had expressed no discomfort that the man who almost ruined her life had finally received his comeuppance.
The family was very interested to hear about the young lady who had captured William’s interest, especially when it was shared she was a niece to Edward Gardiner with whom the Earl, Viscount, and Colonel all invested. Giana had told them how she expected this based on her brother’s letters. The Colonel reminded his ward that Miss Bennet was to mourn her closest sister for a year, so, if there ever were to be an understanding, it would be after that time had passed. He told Giana to watch for a letter from her brother which would explain everything to her. It pleased her that William was willing to take her into his confidence.
The Earl and Countess both insisted if their nephew and the lady came to an understanding, after meeting her of course, they would support the match. The former spoke of how he would control his sister, Lady Catherine, if she attempted to speak of the imaginary engagement between William and her sickly daughter, Anne de Bourgh.
The men all decided they would call on Gardiner before William arrived in London on the chance they would be introduced to Miss Bennet and her sister who were with the Gardiners.
The next morning, on his arrival at the Royal Dragoons’ barracks, the Colonel was informed his first day off was to be Wednesday. He sent a note to his father to inform him. The return missive informed the Colonel that the three Fitzwilliam men would call on the Gardiners that day.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Wednesday morning, Lord Matlock sent one of his footmen to Gardiner’s offices located in his warehouse to tell the man he and his sons desired to meet with him. It was done because as long as he knew ahead of time, Gardiner would meet his clients who were of theTonat his office in his home. Matlock was not one who would refuse to meet at the warehouse, but not all nobles were as liberal as he.
As soon as Richard was ready, the three Fitzwilliam men mounted the earl’s town coach and made for Gracechurch Street. They missed the footman returning from Gardiner’s warehouse by less than five minutes.
The earl knocked on the door and when the butler answered, he handed his card to the man. Giving them proper deference, the butler showed the Fitzwilliams into the entrance hall and requested they wait. Not many minutes after, he returned and asked them to follow him.
Lord Matlock wondered why they were being shown to the drawing room, and not the office. The three men sawMrs Gardiner waiting for them, but no Gardiner and no other ladies.
“Have we come at a bad time?” Lord Matlock enquired.
“Did you send a note to the office in the warehouse, my Lord?” Madeline asked in return.
“I did,” Matlock confirmed.
“Then I assume you missed your messenger’s return from the warehouse, who would have delivered a message telling you my husband is away for the whole of this week. He is travelling to Derbyshire to see my brother and sister-in-law. I expect him home by Monday coming, at the latest,” Madeline reported. She did not mention Lizzy and Mary as she did not think it was relevant information.
“If you will, please have your husband notify me when he is available again,” Lord Matlock requested. “This was my error in assuming your husband was present and not waiting to see if there was a reply to my note.”
“Would you like some tea, my Lords, and Colonel Fitzwilliam?” Madeline offered.
“Thank you, but no, Mrs Gardiner. We will not take up more of your time.” The Earl gave an incline of his head, as did his sons, and then the three men exited the drawing room and were soon in the coach on the way back to Grosvenor Square.
“You did not ask about the nieces, Father?” Lord Hilldale queried.
“It would not have been polite. If Richard had met them in Hertfordshire, or if William was with us, it would have been acceptable to ask after them,” Lord Matlock responded.
“I will write to William and inform him as he planned to see Gardiner on Friday,” the Colonel decided.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Gardiner coach arrived at Lambert Hills a little before four o’clock the afternoon of the third day of travel.Once they had left the Great North Road not too many miles after entering Derbyshire, Elizabeth had expressed her disappointment she could not see the peaks. Also, the land she had seen was not as wild as she had thought Derbyshire to be.
Gardiner had explained that as Lambert Hills was in the south eastern part of the county the peaks could only be seen in the distance when conditions were perfect, and where they were was much flatter than much of the rest of the shire. He had pointed out to them how much colder it had become as they moved further and further to the north.
