Page 133 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“We are here with you,” Lady Kendal answered.

“It is fortunate that you have so many trusted people to help you and Elizabeth in the future. If they were dishonest, they could have easily misled you,” Mr Gardiner said. “I have seen many unfortunate situations where people have been deceived by those taking care of their business and have lost everything. But here this is surely not the case.”

“Dear uncle, really? This is what you say to encourage me?” Elizabeth laughed loudly to conceal her nervousness.

“Oh, forgive me, my dear. I surely did not mean to imply that would be the case.”

They returned to their food and drinks and the conversation changed. “Might Mr Gardiner review the ledgers and confirm what our solicitors and stewards assert? I know this is laborious work, but it will of course be properly remunerated,” Lord Alveston enquired sometime later, clearly preoccupied with the matter.

“Me? Of course! I am honoured by your trust! I will gladly be of assistance. But as I said, some things will be outside my circle of knowledge and experience.” Mr Gardiner looked overwhelmed and even troubled by the responsibilities they expected of him.

“We understand. But still, it would be of great help. Philip’s suggestion is excellent,” Lady Kendal declared.

“I could start tomorrow?” Mr Gardiner offered.

“I shall ask my solicitors to put all the books in order. I shall also request the books from the estates to be immediately delivered to me. I shall inform you as soon as we have everything in order,” Lady Kendal said, and Mr Gardiner agreed.

The discussion then moved onto their journey to Brighton and their plans for the summer.

After dinner, the tables were set for chess and cards. Lady Kendal declined any activity; she was content to watch her grandson and Elizabeth. She had not seen her grandson nearly so happy since before the illness attacked him.

Bingley approached her hesitantly, standing near her, waiting.

“Do sit down, you are too tall to look up at you,” she teased him.

Gulping his wine he sat, seemingly reluctant to speak his mind.

“What is it?” her ladyship asked in earnest.

He finally spoke with much reticence.

“Lady Kendal, I was wondering… What if I ask Darcy? We may ask him to look over your holdings and give us his opinion. I trust his knowledge, and I know he will be completely honest. And discreet.”

She looked at him in utter surprise. “Mr Darcy? Why would you assume he would be willing to make such an effort for us?”

“Oh, of that I have no doubt. He is a good and generous friend. He would not refuse anything I asked of him. Besides, I know he would not hesitate to help Elizabeth.”

“But you said they had never been good friends. That their opinion of each other was quite poor.”

“True. That happened long ago, and their acquaintance has improved over the intervening months. Even Elizabeth has admitted that. Besides, she is my sister, and she is a good friend of Georgiana and Anne.”

Lady Kendal’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. “This is a delicate matter, and the effort is substantial. I hesitate to involve a stranger.”

“Darcy is not a stranger. And you must know that, even when he and Elizabeth were not on the best of terms, he would still not have hesitated to help her. He is that sort of man. Not the most jovial but of excellent character…despite refusing to dance with her and calling her tolerable.”

“Hmph! Mr Darcy sounds like a peculiar kind of gentleman,” Lady Kendal said. “So he called Elizabeth tolerable? And he refused to dance with her? I have never heard anything so rude!”

“Indeed. It is quite a story!”

“Well, do tell me.”

Bingley amused Lady Kendal with his narration for a while. She asked more questions, requested more details, and laughed openly at times, drawing the others’ attention.

Half an hour later, she returned to their initial topic.

“You might be correct. Mr Darcy could be of great use to us if he accepts. Here is what I propose. Let us not tell anyone yet. If he refuses, I should not like Elizabeth to feel offended. I do not want more pressure on her shoulders. Tell Mr Darcy I would like a private meeting with him. Elizabeth will return to the Gardiners’ tomorrow so you, Mr Darcy and I could meet here the day after tomorrow. In the morning. Would that be acceptable?”

“It sounds like an excellent plan,” Bingley said enthusiastically.