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Another longer pause.

“Mr. Gardiner was not down at the docks very often, he has a man who inspects all the cargo as it comes off the ship. But he was in the warehouse all the time. He would look at the inventory, constantly thinking about the price, getting it sold, ‘moving it through’ he calls it. But as I sit here and think about it, a large part was just his presence, he was involved in every aspect of his business, nobody could get one over on him. With him being hospital- or house-bound then others will take advantage of his absence.”

“You say ‘will take advantage’, not ‘try to take advantage’?”

“I see your point. Perhaps a better way to say it is that everyone is always trying to advantage of others, it is the nature of trade, and that without Mr. Gardiner there it will be easier.”

Elizabeth thought back to the time at the office, reviewing contracts and manifests with her uncle. She nodded, understanding the point Mr. Smith was making.

“I am going to the hospital tomorrow and I will raise this with Mr. Gardiner.”

Smith rose to leave.

“Thank you for coming so promptly Mr. Smith.”

When Elizabeth accompanied her aunt and uncle to Guy’s Hospital the next day she was nervous about what she would find, and how she would act. She desperately hoped that she would not stare at the stumps of his legs. Her worries were unnecessary as her uncle was not lucid and his legs were covered with a frame to keep the blanket off the healing stumps. He was being dosed heavily with laudanum for the pain and she was unable to ask him anything about the business.

The fourth day after the accident it was just Elizabeth and Mr. Philips at breakfast, as it was still early.

“How long will you be able to stay here in London before you have to return to Meryton?”

Her uncle sighed.

“Three more days I think, but I made no plans with my clients and I will need to return after an absence of a week.”

“Is Aunt Philips going to stay here or return with you?”

“Gardiner is barely conscious and is likely to remain in that condition for another week. Can you cope here on your own with the children?”

Elizabeth knew her aunt was well-meaning but she was not great with the children, never having had any of her own. She was an aunt not a mother.

“With the housekeeper, cook and the children’s nurse I am confident I will manage. If it is too much for me then I will send word.”

So it was agreed. One week after the accident Mr. and Mrs. Philips returned to Meryton in the Gardiner coach. It returned the following day with several letters for Elizabeth, the longest from her mother. When Elizabeth visited the hospital the next morning Mr. Gardiner was finally awake and able to hold a coherent conversation.

“Lizzie! You are here.”

She leaned forward and kissed her uncle’s forehead, delighted that he seemed so normal, from the waist up at least.

“I am Uncle Edward. I have moved to Gracechurch Street to help with the children. All of them will be overjoyed to know that you are awake and able to pass on messages. With your permission I will bring Edward with me tomorrow morning.”

“Edward?”

Elizabeth pursed her lips.

“He is the child who fully understands what has happened. The others are still too young, especially Michael. The accident was the end of his childhood, and so it seemed appropriate that he stopped being Eddie and is now Master Edward Gardiner. We have avoided the sobriquet of ‘the Younger’ as it may encourage him to venture into politics.”

Despite the serious topic they both smiled. Mr. Gardiner reached out and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.

“I understand, and approve. Tell me all that has happened in the last ten days.”

Elizabeth spoke for half an hour, including the pauses where they both dealt with tears. She outlined the timeline for her uncle, from receiving the news at Longbourn up until that morning.

“May I recap to ensure that I understand?”

“Of course Uncle.”

“Bennet accompanied you and the Philips and the four of you plus young Edward were present at the service for Madeline. All the staff who knew Madeline, plus our neighbours were at the service and then you and Martha acted as hostesses after the burial.”