“She would not be required to do any such thing,” Mr Gardiner interrupted. “According to the paperwork, all the arrangements are made.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth asked, not insensible to the way her father would not meet her eye all of a sudden.
Her uncle sent a quick, displeased glance at her father before confirming, “Yes, your aunt Bennet lacked only for more time on her mortal coil to see to them. Everyone has been promised the work and given their assurances in turn; it will simply be a matter of ensuring that it all happens.”
“Is the place even habitable? Where would she live? Who would live with her?” Mr Bennet protested. “I surely cannot send her off on her own.”
“I may know of just the person to chaperon her,” said Mrs Gardiner.
The sense of things spinning out of her controlbeset Elizabeth. She had been persuaded, by her father, that to restore the house was an impossible task, yet her aunt and uncle seemed to think it not only possible but ideal. In the face of their more informed arguments, her father’s position sounded less persuasive by the moment. It seemed increasingly that her suspicions had been correct: her father considered the project too burdensome and had given partial advice as a consequence. But if the house had as much potential as her uncle claimed, the gains would be considerable, and if she kept it once the work was done, her mother would never need fear the hedgerows again.
Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she asked, “Who, Aunt?”
“You will remember that your uncle and I wished to go to the Lake District this summer? As it turns out, I am far less eager to go than I once was,” said Mrs Gardiner.
“Mrs Millhouse, whom your aunt has longed to see for many years now, will not be at home in the Lakes this summer. In fact, she is gone to Brighton…is likely there even now,” Mr Gardiner informed them. “Is notthata piece of good fortune!”
“She is in her husband’s establishment there—quite a large house from what I understand, and only the two of them and their young daughter Delphine to rattle about within. She assures me there is ample room for us…and I daresay a niece might be squeezed in among us.”
“It seems almost fated, the manner in which everything has transpired,” Mr Gardiner said. “But Lizzy, what do you think? The decision must be yours.”
Everyone quieted, their eyes fixed upon Elizabeth as she pondered the alteration in plans. While herfather had needed to persuade her to give up the house, she found that keeping it felt right. A house by the sea.Herhouse by the sea. She smiled. “On balance, I…I thank you for your counsel, Papa, but I believe I should like to keep the house.”
Amid happy exclamations and congratulations from Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mr Bennet said, somewhat resignedly, “Do not worry about offending me, Lizzy. I daresay these plans suit me well, for Lydia has been invited to go with the Forsters to Brighton. I shall never hear the end of it if I do not agree to her going, but I should be a good deal happier knowing that she will have more of her family nearby to protect her. Surely, with you there, Gardiner, no one would dare take advantage of either of my girls.”
Elizabeth was rather ashamed of her father’s readiness to hand responsibility fortwoof his daughters to his brother-in-law, and could only be grateful that her uncle did not appear to mind.
He extended his hand, and the two men shook. “You have my word, Bennet.” Indicating both Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner with a glance, he added, “We shallallkeep an eye on Lydia, and by summer’s end, Lizzy, her property, and her youngest sister will be not only unharmed but vastly improved.”
3
Fitzwilliam Darcy was seated in his drawing room, staring absently out of the window while his cousin regaled him and his young sister with the tales of scandal and success from the prior evening at Almack’s. Georgiana listened raptly, asking a prodigious number of questions, but Darcy listened with only half an ear. The truth was that Colonel Fitzwilliam’son ditfilled him with ennui. None of it mattered to him, not with Elizabeth Bennet’s brutal rejection of his offer of marriage still ringing in his ears.Over a month now, he mused.Will the pain of it never lessen?
He saw now that it was all his fault—that his behaviour the previous autumn had been abhorrently proud and haughty, and that his interference in the romance between Bingley and Elizabeth’s eldest sister was officious. Alas, that understanding did him no good; he had no real expectation of ever seeing her again, and if he did? Likely she would run from him screaming before he uttered a syllable.
At least in the matter of Bingley, I may rest easily.He hadgone to his friend to explain his mistake. Bingley had been rightfully angry for nearly a quarter of an hour before his generous nature afforded Darcy forgiveness he felt unworthy to receive.
“Darcy, I do not think you have heard a word I have said since I arrived,” Fitzwilliam accused.
Darcy started, pulling himself to attention. “Of course. Lady Susan Stanhope, getting married. No? Divorced? Arrested?”
Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes and exchanged a look with Georgiana, who smiled but appeared concerned. She leant forwards. “Brother, I have wondered…”
“What, Sweetling?”
“Whether all is well? That is, you seem awfully preoccupied of late.” An anxious tone had crept into her voice.
“Everything is perfectly well,” he assured her, shifting his position a little to evade Fitzwilliam’s sharp gaze upon him. “Wonderful, in fact.”
“Is it?” his cousin enquired mildly. “I wonder, then, that you have been refusing so many invitations. I should not think the lure of your drawing room so irresistible.”
“You accuse me of refusing invitations; have you considered, perhaps, that no one is inviting me anywhere?” Darcy replied with studied lightness.
Fitzwilliam and Georgiana both scoffed at that, even though Georgiana still managed to seem concerned.
“We all know that wherever a bachelor lives and breathes, the party forms around him,” said Fitzwilliam with a laugh. “But you have not been seen anywhere for nearly a month complete! Since returning from Rosings. Keep this up and everyone will think you arespending your time in preparation for your wedding to Anne.”
“Good lord!” Darcy exclaimed. “If that be the case, I will surely accept each and every invitation issued to me for at least a fortnight, just to be safe!” He was relieved to see Georgiana laugh at this, hopeful that it would persuade her against asking any more questions as to his state of mind.
