Mrs Gardiner greeted the cobbler, who said, “Good day, Miss Johnson.” He shot a glance at her husband and said, “My apologies, ma’am, I meant Mrs….” He floundered, apparently not remembering her married surname.
“Gardiner,” Mr Gardiner said. He held out the half boot and asked how long it would take to repair.
“One hour, sir. ‘Twill only require stitching, no gluing, and I have kid leather here. Naturally, I will do the work ahead of all the others since you are friends of Mr Darcy, and it bein’ an emergency and all.” The cobbler did not glance down towards Mrs Gardiner’s feet, but he had certainly seen her come in supported on either side by the men.
Darcy said, “Mr Wilkerson, would it be acceptable to you if we sat here in the front and ate our treats while the half boot is repaired?”
The cobbler bowed even more deeply and said that he would be honoured. Darcy tried to consider what his face might be doing—was he, perhaps, looking haughty? He thought to himself,From what I know of him, Mr Wilkerson is more respectable than most of the idle young lords who have too much money and too few responsibilities. With that thought held firmly in mind, he hoped his face was exhibiting respect, and he made certain to smile, as well, as he murmured his thanks.
Mrs Gardiner was already seated, but Mr Wilkerson pulled up other chairs to make a congenial grouping, and he said, “I will ask me wife to make some tea to go with yer treats, sir.”
Darcy’s smile grew as he said, “And of course I will be happy to share some of these Bath buns with you and your wife.”
Mrs Gardiner said, “Bath buns? Did you get me one, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth laughed and passed her bags over to her aunt. She looked inside them both and smiled at her niece; then she turned her full-powered May Queen smile on Darcy and said, “It looks to me like Lizzy had a local expert guiding her order.”
Everyone laughed, and before long a bustling Mrs Wilkerson arrived from upstairs, along with a burly servant who carried a tea tray. Mrs Wilkerson seemed proud to offer Bohea tea in beautiful Coalport teacups. Darcy was struck by the fact that, although he knew his tenants and the Lambton shop owners by name, he had not bothered to ascertain much knowledge about these worthy people.
He intended to do better in all ways, so he took careful note of the particular china pattern Mrs Wilkerson so happily passed out. He offered a Bath bun to Mrs Wilkerson and took one himself, and everyone ate and drank while they chatted.
While Mr and Mrs Gardiner were speaking to Mrs Wilkerson about the changes in the town, Elizabeth leant towards Darcy and said in a very low voice, “I am impressed, sir, by your generosity and affability. The fact that you are treating my relations in trade so cordially, the fact that you know the names of shop keepers…. I am pleasantly surprised.”
He closed his eyes briefly, feeling again the shame of his former behaviour, which allowed her to now be surprised by mere civility. He opened his eyes again to stare into hers as he said, “I listened carefully to your words, madam, and I not only apologise for my earlier behaviour, I am attempting to respond to each and every one of your charges.”
She paled, looked down, and then returned her gaze to his and said, “Sir, it is I who should apologise. And I believe that I have shown myself to be most disagreeably proud in that youhave now apologised twice before I even thought to apologise once.”
“Nay—” Darcy began to protest, but he stilled when she held her hand up.
“Almost the moment I first read your letter, sir, I realised how very wrong I had been in my assessment of your character, and of Mr Wickham’s.”
Darcy’s heart swelled with her words. He was happy that she had even read his letter, and he was even happier as her words “first read” indicated that she had read it more than once. He was ecstatic that she recognised the truthfulness in his report about his nemesis. Truly, it was all more than he had expected; certainly more than he deserved.
She rushed on, saying, “My subsequent thoughts and additional re-readings of your letter proved to me that even my assumptions about your behaviour towards my sister and Mr Bingley were unkind. I feel so dreadful for the accusations I flung at you.”
Elizabeth was either done or had paused long enough for Darcy to finally object: “Madam, although you believed the lies of a very bad man, your error in doing so is understandable. Wickham is as smooth-talking a fraudster and seducer who has ever lived, I imagine, and he did not convince only you of his worthiness; he fooled all of Meryton, and before that many other intelligent people, including my own father.
“But your words about me, although I believed them at first to be unfair and harsh, were essential for me to hear. I cannot tell you how painful it has been for me, in the days since your refusal, to observe my own behaviour as if I were outside of myself, looking at myself as another person might see me. I have been disgusted by what I have seen.”
He checked to ensure that he continued to speak softly enough not to be overheard, “I was taught good principles, butwas allowed to follow them in pride and conceit. I am truly attempting to redeem my character and reform my life.”
Elizabeth looked shaken.
Darcy noticed that there had been a lull in the conversation between Elizabeth’s relations and Mrs Wilkerson, and he said, “Mr and Mrs Gardiner, I know not your travel plans, but I would very much like to extend an invitation to you to come to Pemberley for as many nights as you wish to carve out from your itinerary. We have some lovely grounds to explore, some wonderful fishing, both stream and lake, and I should dearly love to introduce my sister to all of you.” He looked again to Elizabeth and said, “She has had a difficult year, and I believe that she would especially enjoy meeting you, Miss Elizabeth. I could not think of anyone more likely to help her recover her spirits.”
There was a silence that seemed, to Darcy, not just the suspension of speech, but of breath. He did not dare to look away from Elizabeth, but he attempted to check that his face showed respect and friendliness. Her eyes were locked onto his, and he thoughtPlease, please come to Pemberley. Please come meet Georgiana.
“Aunt, Uncle, we can spare some time, can we not?” she asked. Her gaze did not move from his. He felt so grateful that she was willing to at least give him a chance.
“That would be quite wonderful, Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner said.
Darcy looked at him, smiled, and nodded. “When will you come? Now?” He made himself stop his overeager words, and he said, “Excuse me, I should not press, and perhaps you need privacy to consult one another and your schedule. Allow me to confer with my driver; I will be back in a few minutes.”
He put two more Bath buns onto the unused plates still on the tea tray, and he bowed one more time to the shocked-looking group as he carried the well-depleted box out of the shop.
“Roberts,” he addressed one of his footmen. “Please go to the bakery and order another dozen Bath buns, plus whichever roll you wish to eat. We will pick up you and the additional order as we return to Pemberley.” Darcy remembered to smile at him.
Looking pleased and surprised—again, Darcy chided himself for his former unsmiling behaviour—Roberts returned the smile and said, “Yes, sir.” He turned towards the bakery and strode away on his errand.
