“Ah, will you excuse me for a moment, Lizzy? There is someone I should say hello to,” Mr Gardiner said when they had nearly finished their tea and pastries.
“Of course,” Elizabeth said readily. As her uncle hurried away to greet his acquaintance, she turned her thoughts inward. While he remained at the table, Mr Gardiner had tried to distract her from work, but in his absence, she would think of the many tasks she had before her. At this early stage of writing, she had only been jotting down ideas and making notes in her journal. But over the next week, she would need to have a working outline ready to show Mr Tilney and her editor. And then the real work of writing would need to begin as soon as next week, if it were possible. Elizabeth began going through the list of characters in her mind, as well as how she might weave the mystery and intrigue that her readers loved so well into the plot.
Elizabeth was drawn out of her anxious reveries when a young lady shyly approached her table, looking up with a start as the stranger stopped directly in front of her. She curtsied and smiled shyly. “I beg your pardon, Miss, but I wonder if I might intrude upon you for just a moment?”
Elizabeth turned to the girl, who could not have been much older than Lydia. The fabric of her gown was veryfine, making it clear that it was of the finest quality, and yet entirely free of excessive frills and unnecessary ornamentation. In addition to wealth, the young woman must have either a good eye or a guardian with good taste.
But of course, all that was irrelevant to her request. “Yes, of course. How may I be of service?” Elizabeth asked, hoping she did not sound rudely abstracted. Her mind was still swirling from all the many things that had weighed upon her mind.
“I know this is highly irregular, as we have not been properly introduced —” she hesitated, seeming to lose her courage. Before she could find it again, Mr Gardiner returned to the table. Being too polite to sit when the young ladies had risen, he remained standing, giving a curious glance at the girl before looking to Elizabeth for an explanation.
“Not to worry,” Elizabeth reassured her warmly, “that can soon be rectified. I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and this is my uncle, Mr Gardiner.” Mr Gardiner bowed solemnly. “And your name, Miss?”
“Miss Georgiana Darcy,” she said in a voice little above a whisper.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said, giving her an encouraging smile. Privately, Elizabeth could only laugh at the situation. It was highly irregular, but she was enjoying this spur-of-the-moment introduction. It was obvious the young lady was well-mannered and rather shy, and she found herself rather curious about what could have driven her to overcome both in speaking to a stranger.
“Indeed, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Mr Gardiner echoes her. Judging by his kind smile, he too had recognised the young woman’s shyness. “From where do you hail, Miss Darcy?”
“My home is Pemberley, in Derbyshire,” the young woman said quietly.
“Ah, the Peak District? My wife hails from that county,” Mr Gardiner said cheerfully. He offered a seat to Miss Darcy. When she had settled herself at the table, she glanced over her shoulder at a table by the window a few paces away.
“My brother is with me,” Miss Darcy said shyly. “He said that I might speak to you for a moment, but I promised I would not unduly irritate you.”
“Oh, I am far from irritated, Miss Darcy. Please, go on,” Elizabeth said, charmed by the girl.
Miss Darcy looked at the three novels stacked beside Elizabeth. “I am very much distressed, Miss Bennet. My brother and I have been scouring the city all morning for a copy of Mrs Laurence’s newest novel. Finally, when we had no choice but to accept that we had come up empty-handed, we came here for a rest before we go out again and try again. I wonder if you could tell me where you purchased your copies? And if the shop might have any more available?” Miss Darcy asked eagerly.
Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat. She was neatly caught, and would have to answer with care, or risk revealing her true identity. “Oh, dear. I am afraid I cannot be of much help. You see, the publisher is an acquaintance of mine, and he was able to set aside these three for me. I am very sorry to hear you have had such trouble finding a copy, but unfortunately, I cannot suggest a likely bookshop.”
Though Elizabeth felt guilty for the small lie, there was nothing else to be done. She could not very well reveal that these were her personal author copies, straight from the printing press.
Miss Darcy was obviously dejected, her shoulders visibly slumping as she leaned away from the tabletop. “Ah, I see. Forgive me, Miss Bennet, for bothering you. Good afternoon.”
Elizabeth and Mr Gardiner exchanged a glance as the young woman stood and gave them a polite bow. The poor girl looked nearly desolate, with all her earlier vigour gone from her face. Elizabeth raked her teeth over her lower lip, then called to the girl. “Wait, Miss Darcy!”
Miss Darcy turned abruptly, looking rather surprised. “Yes, Miss Bennet?”
“I have three copies here. This one was meant to go to a friend of mine. But I suppose I might delay sending it to her, as she cannot be as enthusiastic as you are to have the book. Would you like to borrow it?”
Miss Darcy came back to the table, hope filling her eyes. She sat down again, clasping her gloved hands at her breast. “Oh, I would like it above anything! And I should be very glad to pay you for the loan of the book, Miss Bennet. That is, my brother would be happy to pay —”
“No, there is no need for payment. I will lend you the book on the condition that I receive it back in a reasonable amount of time.” Elizabeth took the top book off the stack and handed it to her. Miss Darcy took the book gingerly and cradled it close to her heart, as if it were as fragile as an infant.
“I will take good care of it, I promise you, Miss Bennet.”
“I have not a doubt of it,” Elizabeth told her bracingly. The girl was very sweet, and it had likely taken a great deal of courage to come and bother a stranger for the information she sought. It was just as her publisher had said. The books were selling out at record speed, it would seem.
“Here is my card, if you would like to call and return it whenever you are finished,” Elizabeth said, pulling out a calling card from her reticule. “I live with my aunt and uncle. You have already met Mr Gardiner.”
To her amusement, Miss Darcy gave him another bow, as though they were being introduced again. As she was still seated, the effect was rather comical. Careful to spare her feelings, Mr Gardiner returned the curious gesture with a perfectly straight face.
“Indeed, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Gardiner,” Miss Darcy said earnestly. She looked down at the card and then back up at Elizabeth. “Gracechurch Street, is it?” Miss Darcy asked.
“Yes, that is correct,” Elizabeth replied. At that moment, the gentleman from the table Miss Darcy had indicated approached them. After all, their conversation had been rather protracted. No doubt Mr Darcy, having allowed his younger sister the independence to approach a young lady on her own, felt that brotherly guidance was required for a more protracted conversation, and one which included Mr Gardiner as well.
Mr Darcy was a rather serious-looking gentleman, but by no means unpleasant. Indeed, his handsome features and tall stature had attracted a number of admiring glances as he crossed the tea shop to join them. He bowed, and Miss Darcy introduced him.
