As the carriage pulled to a halt, he adjusted his cuffs yet again before he stepped out of the conveyance.
He became impatient when after knocking on the door it took several minutes for a servant to come and open the door. ‘Can I help you, sir?’
‘I am here to see Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have a note from her father for her.’
‘I am sorry, sir, but the family is away.
‘How can that be? Mr Bennet informed me that his daughters are visiting with Mr Gardiner.’
‘I understand that the Misses Bennet are indeed visiting with the family, but they are not in this house.’
Darcy pulled Bennet’s letter from his pocket and checked the address. ‘This is the residence of Mr Edward Gardiner, is it not?’
‘Indeed, it is, sir.’
‘Very well. If they are not here, can you tell me where I can find them so that I can deliver this letter.’
‘I am not at liberty to say. But if you would care to leave the letter with me, I can see to it that it is forwarded to Mr Gardiner.’
Since it was obvious that he would not get anywhere with the servant, Darcy requested, ‘If I cannot see Mr Gardiner, I would like to add a note of my own.’
Relieved that the gentleman was being reasonable, the footman escorted Darcy to a desk in the front parlour and provided him with the necessary writing materials.
Darcy wrote the note to Gardiner and enclosed Mr Bennet’s letter in his own missive. He handed the sealed and addressed packet to the waiting footman, who assured him it would be delivered forthwith.
~T~
Despite his sister’s protests of, ‘Charles, you cannot be serious. How could you consider linking our name with such a lowborn family,’ Bingley made good his decision and went to Gracechurch Street
Although he did not know at which number the relatives of the Bennets lived, Bingley knew that Gracechurch Street was not very long, and his angel must have been noticed by the other residents who would surely be able to point out the house.
Bingley had his driver stop the carriage at the end of the street and stepped out. As he looked around, he could not believe his luck. Just a few houses up the street he spied the familiar carriage belonging to Darcy.
As Bingley strode up to the carriage, his friend exited the house. ‘Darcy,’ he called out and held out his hand.
After one startled look, Darcy grasped the proffered hand. ‘Bingley, it is good to see you. Have you come to call on Miss Bennet?’
‘I have indeed. How did you know?’
‘Yesterday I discovered that the Misses Bennet are staying in town with their uncle. I wanted to come and apologise to Miss Elizabeth for my abysmal insult at that assembly.’
‘I hope that the lady was suitably impressed that you came all the way to Cheapside to do so.’
‘She was not since the family is not here.’
‘Not here? What do you mean? Where are they?’
‘The footman would not tell me where they are. I just left a note to be forwarded to them. I am hoping that Mr Gardiner will get in touch with me.’
As Bingley was disappointed and confused, Darcy invited him to return to Darcy House in his carriage with Bingley’s carriage following.
~T~
‘While it is disappointing that the ladies are not here, your reaction to the situation is stronger than I would think warranted,’ Darcy probed.
‘I am wondering if there could be some truth to something which Caroline told me.’
‘What malicious gossip would your sister have which could have any bearing on Miss Bennet?’
