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Seemingly reassured by his sister’s response, Mr. Darcy turned to Mr. Bennet. “Thank you, sir. We would be delighted to dine with you if our host does not already have plans for us. I shall ask Mr. Bingley as soon as we arrive at Netherfield and send a note.”

Thomas nodded agreeably and then began herding his small flock indoors, leaving Mr. Darcy to help his sister back into their carriage.

The dust from their wheels was still hanging in the air as Bennets and Gardiners flooded into Longbourn.

Its master paused a moment in the foyer and for once found enjoyment in the sounds of his house filled with a happy, bustling family.

Some time later, Mr. Gardiner found his brother-in-law contentedly reading in his book room.

After the two exchanged greetings again and spoke for some minutes about everyday subjects—conditions on the London road, the state of Mrs. Gardiner’s health, Mr. Gardiner’s procurement of a volume containing some of Voltaire’s more polemic essays—Elizabeth’s uncle brought the conversation around to the topic he most particularly wished to discuss.

“As you know, we had to alter our travel plans somewhat. Madeleine’s illness forced us to delay our departure and I must still return to London by the end of July; we have a shipment coming in from the Orient and I must be there to check it over before it goes out to the warehouse,” Mr. Gardiner began.

Bennet merely nodded, most of his attention still on his new book. “Yes, yes. You are for the Lake District, correct?”

Edward smirked; some things never changed. His old friend was never so distracted as when he had a new book in his hands.

“Actually, we changed our itinerary somewhat. Did Maddy’s letter not reach you?”

Thomas looked up distractedly. “Fanny may have spoken of it. Something about taking the children on a pilgrimage to her childhood home, was it not?”

“Lambton,” Mr. Gardiner agreed, his eyes twinkling in amusement— clearly Elizabeth’s father had not yet made the connection. “In northern Derbyshire.”

Mr. Bennet squinted at the other man, wondering why that should mean anything to him. “Yes?”

Edward suppressed the desire to laugh out loud. “When we met Mr. Darcy and his sister in London, we discovered that we had a most surprising connection.” He paused, letting his explanation draw out.

In a flash, Thomas made the link between the Darcys and Derbyshire… and his favorite daughter… who was accompanying the Gardiners on their trip. He grunted in irritation. “Speak plainly, Gardiner. What connection?”

This time, the other man allowed himself to chuckle out loud. “Oh, ‘tis quite astonishing, really. You know that Madeleine’s father cut ties with his family before he died? She was living with her mother’s brother when we met.”

“Yes, yes— the Churchills. Your letters were full of them for months; I am not likely to forget the name.” Mr. Bennet was feeling decidedly tetchy.

Gardiner smiled. “Well then, you may also remember that when Maddy was still a lass, her father resigned his parish in London to move the family to the country… to Derbyshire, in fact. They were tempted north by the offer of a living in a small market town called Lambton. The offer was made by Mr. George Darcy, our acquaintance’s late father; Lambton is but five miles from Pemberley, the Darcy family’s estate. ”

Bennet was beginning to suspect what was coming. “How… co incidental. And did young Master Darcy condescend to acknowledge her?”

Elizabeth’s uncle knit his brows at the sarcastic tone. “Indeed, there was no condescension involved; he greeted her as an old family friend. He has fond memories of her parents; they died in the same epidemic as his own mother when Mr. Darcy was ten and Madeleine was eighteen.”

Mr. Bennet did nothing but grunt.

Edward decided to stop stringing his friend along. “In short, when Mr. Darcy heard that we were planning to travel to the north but would not have time to tour the Lakes as we’d hoped, he invited us to stay at Pemberley.”

Mr. Bennet’s mouth opened and shut several times before he was able to frame any words. “Are you telling me that my Lizzy shall be staying in that man’s house? For how long—a week? A fortnight?”

“Actually, we are planning on a month entire.”

“A month!” Mr. Bennet burst up from his chair and began pacing his study while Mr. Gardiner sat watching him.

“Thomas, she shall be chaperoned by myself and Madeleine, not to mention our four children who will, no doubt, trail at her heals even should they wish to be alone.”

Bennet returned to his seat and collapsed into it with a huff. “Mr. Darcy has expressed an… interest… in my Lizzy.”

Edward thought it safe to smile. He had two daughters himself and was not looking forward to the years ahead when men came calling.

“Bennet, the gentleman is completely besotted with your daughter; observe him at dinner if you do not believe me. And Elizabeth has begun to realize that he is just the sort of man who could compliment her in temperament and understanding.”

Thomas sighed and rearranged himself in his chair though it did nothing to relieve his discomfort. “She did not think very much of him during the winter,” he grumbled, still feeling peevish.

“I understand that there were some misunderstandings.”

When his brother-in-law only grunted, Mr. Gardiner continued, “Really, Thomas! I had understood from Elizabeth that she spoke to you about her association with Darcy even before she came to us in London— she said you yourself encouraged her to revise her opinion of the gentleman!”

The two men were silent for some minutes until Gardiner’s confusion was lifted by a spark of intuition. “Ah… You did not expect her to see him again.”

Mr. Bennet shrugged and settled further into his chair with a petulant look on his face.

Edward chuckled. “Oh, Thomas. If I didn’t dread my own daughters coming out, I would find you quite amusing.

Do you know of any specific flaws in Mr. Darcy’s character?

Not his personality, mind you; he is a quiet man and has developed a rather forbidding mask to protect himself from unwanted attention.

Having seen the ton’s attention to him in person, I cannot say that I blame him. ”

Thomas was forced to shake his head. When it was clear that he was not going to speak, Mr. Gardiner continued, “Well, I have seen a good deal of the young man over the last fortnight. Mr. Darcy is clever, well-educated, and cares deeply for his responsibilities. Really, Thomas, I should think that you would find a great deal to like in him! Just show him your library and the two of you shall be lost from the rest of us for the remainder of the day!”

Elizabeth’s father shrugged.

“Oh, come now, Bennet. Have you even had a conversation with him? He is very uncomfortable in large groups, especially when he is the center of attention (which he often is, being a single gentleman in possession of a large fortune). Really, I would think that you should have a great deal of empathy for the young man; losing his mother at a young age and then his father when he was barely of age. He has not had it easy, for all his wealth and connections, and he is not the sort to rattle around like some I could name.”

Finally Elizabeth’s father was prompted to speak. “Yes, yes. I have heard all the praise; Mr. Darcy is an intelligent, honorable gentleman, a sterling character, highly regarded by peer and servant alike. But she is my daughter and I am not ready to give her up.”

“Bennet…”

Thomas gestured at a letter sitting at the corner of his desk. “When Lizzy wrote to me of meeting him again, I made some inquiries.”

Gardiner’s eyebrows rose.

Thomas chuckled sardonically. “Nothing terribly strenuous, I assure you. I merely asked Mrs. Hill to find out what the Netherfield servants had to say of their former guest…” He looked slightly embarrassed. “And I wrote to Tristan Beverley— he’s teaching at Cambridge now, you remember?”

Edward nodded and encouraged his friend to continue.

“You will be happy to know that he had nothing but praise. Young Master Darcy was clever and diligent in his studies, not even a hint of any disciplinary problems He was even in the chess club— Beverley actually encouraged me to challenge the lad to a match.”

When Bennet looked up, he found his old friend considering him thoughtfully. He shrugged. “I have had my eyes opened to the perils that threaten my daughters at this age… I am attempting to become a more attentive parent.”

Mr. Gardiner’s expression had become entirely serious. “I must say that I am happy to hear you say that, Thomas. I admit that Madeleine and I were worried when we left after Christmas. We both love Fanny, but her enthusiasm for marrying off our nieces seemed to have reached a fever pitch.”

Thomas grimaced. “It is my own fault. I should have set aside a monthly sum to provide for her and the girls after my death, but, well… you know the story. We expected to have a son who would inherit Longbourn and support his mother and sisters as necessary. By the time it became clear that he was not going to appear, it seemed too late to begin making economies.” He sighed.

“I cannot tell you how much I despise the idea of Wilberforce Collins’ son inheriting Longbourn. ”

Mr. Gardiner’s face matched his brother-in-law’s. “I have not met the young man but I will admit that Lizzy’s description was not encouraging.”

The two men sat silently for some minutes, both remembering the elder Mr. Collins with distaste.

Finally Edward blew out his breath. “Well, let us remember that this William Collins is the son of your dear sister, as well.” He forced a grin.

“And we may still hope that perhaps you shall outlive him !”

Bennet smiled bleakly. “Yes, and even if he does manage produce a son, I cannot imagine any child with Charlotte Lucas as a mother would not have at least a smidgen of sense.”