Page 7 of An Interrupted Proposal (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

The child looked at Darcy over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “Does our Lizzy want to walk with you?”

Darcy started. That was the question, was it not? “I have walked with Miss Elizabeth many times during her visit to Kent.”

“Our Lizzy loves to walk. If she agrees to walk with you, I will ride with Mr. Bingley.”

“Thank you.” Darcy pinched his lips together in an attempt to suppress his grin.

“Janie!” Master Gardiner called as they approached the others. “Did you see me?”

Miss Bennet met Darcy’s gaze before she smiled at the lad. “I did. You and Mr. Darcy were riding quite fast.”

Darcy dismounted and lifted the lad down as well.

“Mr. Darcy said he will return when our Lizzy comes, and I can ride with Mr. Bingley while he walks with her.”

Warmth covered Darcy’s countenance as Bingley and Miss Bennet looked at him with varying degrees of surprise suffusing their features. “Should she wish to do so,” he added.

Bingley’s smile grew as he began to nod. “Is it time to return to the Gardiners’ residence? I believe Darcy has some letters he is required to deliver.”

“From our Lizzy?” Master Gardiner asked. “Did she say anything about me?”

“I am simply the messenger, sir,” Darcy said with a bow. “I know not what Miss Elizabeth has written.”

“Well, then we should return home and find out.” The lad started to run but stopped when Miss Bennet called his name. “Sorry, Janie,” he said when they reached his side. With his head hung low, he murmured, “I promised not to run away, but I forgot.”

“True,” Miss Bennet replied as she placed a finger under his chin to lift his countenance, “but you remembered when I called you, which was very good.”

Darcy held out his hand, and the boy took it with a ready smile. “Shall we lead the way?”

“On the horse?” Thomas asked excitedly.

“Would you not rather walk?” Miss Bennet asked.

“There is much you cannot see from so high a height, such as those flowers,” she pointed to a few spring flowers growing low to the ground, “or the squirrels which run from the horses.” This time she indicated a creature peeking out from behind a tree.

The boy’s eyes grew large, and he spent the short walk to Gracechurch Street pointing out everything he saw to Darcy.

Upon entering the Gardiners’ home, Miss Bennet instructed the children to tell their mother they had visitors. Once they were away, she turned a warm smile upon Darcy. “Thank you, sir, for your attention to my cousin. He can be high-spirited at times but seems to be quite taken with you.”

“Master Gardiner is an engaging child. I look forward to meeting with him in the future.”

When the threesome entered the parlour, Mrs. Gardiner was standing with a child on either side of her.

“See, Mamma,” Thomas cried. “This is Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.” He leaned closer and whispered as only a child can, “He won’t make our Janie cry again. Mr. Darcy said so.”

“Gentlemen,” Miss Bennet quickly stated, “my aunt, Mrs. Margaret Gardiner.”

Bingley and Darcy bowed and greeted the lady who curtseyed and responded in kind then sent the children off to their studies. Before scurrying from the room, the lad stopped at Darcy’s side and looked up with hopeful eyes.

“You’ll return when our Lizzy comes?”

“I shall. A gentleman always keeps his promise, Master Gardiner.”

With a giggle, the boy raced after his sister.

Darcy watched him go with a smile, turning back to find the others watching him. “You have a delightful son, Mrs. Gardiner.”

“Thank you, sir. Will you have a seat? My son says you have something for me.”

Darcy took the chair nearest their hostess; Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet having settled on a sofa, were already deep in conversation.

“I had the pleasure of seeing Miss Elizabeth during my time in Kent, and she asked me to deliver these letters for her.” He withdrew the missives from his pocket, removed the one addressed to Mr. Gardiner, and presented the others to her.

“She also hoped I could meet your husband in order to enlist his assistance in a personal matter.”

Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes widened. “My husband has already left for his warehouses, but if it is an urgent matter, I am certain he would see you there.”

“Your niece would like the matter seen to as soon as possible.”

She glanced at the couple who had forgotten their presence before meeting his gaze. “I shall order refreshments and summon a footman to escort you to my husband.”

Darcy nodded and looked about the room while waiting for her return. It was fashionably decorated with handsome, comfortable, well-made furniture. Everything held an appearance of understated wealth. The Gardiners were not what Darcy had expected.

“Mr. Darcy.”

He lifted his eyes to find his hostess had returned with a young man.

“Henrich will escort you to Mr. Gardiner’s office. I would offer you refreshments, but I am certain he will do the same, and you said it was of some urgency.”

After bowing to her and thanking her for her assistance, he followed the footman from the room, anxious to speak with Elizabeth’s uncle.