“Not at all. You may not remember me, as you were away at school, but I visited Pemberley several times. Your mother, Lady Anne, was always a gracious hostess. Though it’s been many years, please accept my condolences on her and your father’s passing.”
Darcy was taken aback. Mrs. Gardiner had visited Pemberley as a guest, and here he’d assumed any condescension would be on his side. Just then, Mr. Gardiner entered, and the tea was served.
Once the maid had left, Darcy, with some hesitation, broached the subject of his visit. “Forgive my directness, but I was sent here by my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I believe you know his mother, Lady Matlock.”
“Indeed, we share a common interest in several charities here in the City,” Mrs. Gardiner replied. “But how is it that the Colonel spoke of me?”
“It is a sensitive matter. But both the Colonel and I have a recent acquaintance with your niece, Miss Elizabeth. She spoke to him of your knowing ladies who may be suitable as a companion for my sister of fifteen years.”
The Gardiners were surprised—Mr. Darcy, seeking their advice on a companion for his sister? Certainly, they knew of his acquaintance with Elizabeth in Meryton, for she had written of his being an unpleasant sort of person prone to disdaining people of lower rank—yet, here he was, in Gracechurch Street, asking for their help.
Mrs. Gardiner, with all the composure of a well-bred lady, began a gentle interrogation as to the sort of person that Mr. Darcy felt would be suitable for his sister, whether she was long out of school, and the character of her previous companion or governess. She was discreet, avoiding those topics which clearly discomforted Mr. Darcy, but with her easy manner, hesoon found that he had told her everything—of Mrs. Younge’s duplicity, Wickham’s manipulation of Georgiana, her fortune, and narrow escape.
“Oh, Elizabeth found her; I should have known. ’Tis so fortunate that you danced with her at the assembly—she often declines, for she has little wish to involve herself in other people’s affairs.”
Darcy agreed, though he suspected that the Gardiners recognised his hesitation. As their conversation drew to a close, Darcy realised how little he truly knew his sister. She played the piano-forte and spoke several languages, but what were her favourite books? Did she prefer Shakespeare’s histories or comedies? What was her favourite food? Did she prefer Clementi to Mozart or Beethoven?
He had overstayed, and, noticing the time on the mantel clock, rose to leave. Mrs. Gardiner suggested that he visit again, perhaps on the Tuesday of the following week, when she would have a list of possible candidates and could discuss their merits with him. For the first time since returning to London, Darcy felt a sense of relief. The despair left by Georgiana’s near ruin was finally beginning to wane.
* * *
Chapter 7
London
The events of the Netherfield ball quickly faded into the collective memory of Meryton. It had been a welcome diversion from the monotony of country life, but soon went unremarked upon—especially once it became clear that Mr. Bingley would not be returning. In fact, his absence, and that of his entire party, was seen as exceedingly discourteous: none had bothered to bid farewell to anyone in the neighbourhood. This incivility stood in sharp contrast to Colonel Fitzwilliam, who took up residence at the manor house for three weeks after the ball. Though not as handsome as Mr. Bingley, the Colonel’s manners and presence were altogether those of a true gentleman. He quickly became a sought-after guest at dinners and soirées, and his stories of service in the Peninsula so inspired the local young men that, much to their mothers’ dismay, many began to consider a military career in earnest. Indeed, Will Goulding, armed with a letter of recommendation from the Colonel, had already set off for the Kent coast, where he joined the Rifle Corps as a lieutenant, training at the army camp in Shorncliffe.
Elizabeth, for her part, could not help but worry that Mr. Bingley might never return, despite having assured Jane that he surely would. As the weeks wore on, it became increasingly apparent that his sisters had prevailed; the amusements of London and their influence had proved stronger than his attachment to Miss Bennet.
“Have you heard any news of Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth asked Colonel Fitzwilliam one evening at the Lucases’. She and the Colonel had developed an easy rapport after their journey down the Great North Road, and she felt it within the bounds of propriety to discuss Bingley, though he was, strictly speaking, the friend of the Colonel’s cousin, Mr. Darcy.
“I am aware of Bingley’s conduct while he was here,” the Colonel replied. “Though we are not close, I know him through Darcy. That he should show such marked attention to your sister, Miss Bennet, and then leave without so much as a farewell is quite unpardonable.”
“Miss Bingley hinted, in a note to Jane, that Mr. Bingley was courting your ward, Miss Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “It pained me that I could not tell my sister just how false that claim was. All I could do was reassure her that Miss Bingley was being dishonest.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s expression darkened. “What is this? So Georgiana, having already endured the shame of a thwarted elopement, is now to be painted as a flirt or a jilt, should such a rumour circulate in society? Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I shall inform Darcy at once—any contact with the Bingleys, and Bingley’s visits to Darcy House, must cease immediately. Even if Bingley himself is innocent of his sister’s scheming, it does not matter; Georgiana’s reputation is at stake.”
* * *
“Darcy, is that Georgiana on the piano-forte? The tune seems bright enough—I had thought she would be playing something melancholy.” Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the study at Darcy House in London and threw himself onto a chair by the fire.
“She is much improved in spirit,” said Darcy, laying aside a letter from his land agent in Pemberley. “Her companion, Mrs. Annesley, is a marvel.”
“I trust this time, she was properly vetted?”
“Of course. I did not advertise, but sought the advice of Mrs. Gardiner, whose direction you had forwarded to me. With the utmost discretion, the lady approached several agencies and produced a shortlist of three candidates. I had the pleasure of her company during the interviews. There was little to choose between the ladies, but Mrs. Annesley is the widow of a former judge-advocate from Upper Canada. Though she has a pension, she prefers, as she put it, to be useful.”
“To confess the truth, Darcy, I scarcely anticipated you would act upon the introduction. The address, after all, was Gracechurch Street, near Cheapside.” The Colonel gave a light laugh. “I hardly imagined I should find you in such a neighbourhood.”
“So, Colonel Fitzwilliam is now above the Lord Mayor of London,” rejoined Darcy. “The Gardiners live in an elegant town house, in a secluded court near to Lombard Street, not so far from the Mansion House. Indeed, they are very fashionable people—I would invite them to my table. Yes! Now that you are returned to Town, I might just do that. You would enjoy Mr. Gardiner’s company, for he does much trade with Portugal.”
“I shall look forward to it. But now, I wish to see Georgiana. When last in her company, at Baldock, her eyes were rimmed red and she could not stop trembling.”
“Let her play a little while longer without us disturbing her,” said Darcy. “Then we shall take nuncheon with her and Mrs. Annesley, a most genteel and agreeable woman.”
Darcy hesitated. “I must thank you for alerting me to Miss Bingley’s hints of an attachment between Bingley andGeorgiana. My comprehension of women’s subtleties is sorely lacking, for I had not observed the attentions Miss Bingley bestowed on my sister. Their visits were frequent; I had imagined his sisters had come out of true fondness for Georgiana. But she is so young—and after suffering the humiliation of Wickham’s false professions, she may be all the more vulnerable to kindness and flattery.”
“On reflection, if you were to cut off the acquaintance, it might draw more notice and only distress Georgiana further. I would suggest removing her from London for a time. Pemberley? though exile to the country might feel like punishment, depriving her of all society.”
