Page 2 of Blessed Interference (Pride and Prejudice Variations #1)
Kitchen
Gardiner House
Cheapside
Early the Next Morning
Lucy Wilson sighed in relief as she climbed the two steps to the back door of the Gardiner’s house in Cheapside.
She did not regret her actions at Hurst House the previous evening, and was not even surprised at having lost her position as soon as Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Miss Darcy departed the house.
It had been a surprise, however, when Mrs. Hurst had ordered her to leave the house in the middle of the night!
It was hardly safe for a young woman to be alone in London in the dark, especially since, as far as Mrs. Hurst knew, Lucy did not have any relatives in Town.
Fortunately, Mrs. Brindle, the housekeeper of Hurst House, had assured her employer that Lucy would be thrown out immediately, but instead escorted her into the cellar, arranged for a pallet and pillow and a meal, and provided sufficient funds that Lucy was able to hire a hack when the eastern sky turned gray.
She knocked on the door, and within seconds, a male servant opened it.
“Yes?”
“My name is Lucy Wilson, and Beatrice is my cousin. May I come in?”
The manservant opened the door further and gestured for her to enter.
***
Kitchen
“I am so sorry, Lucy!” Beatrice said apologetically as she briskly kneaded dough. “I should not have asked you to intercede for Miss Bennet.”
Lucy Wilson tossed her head and said stoutly, “I do not regret it in the least, Bea, I promise you. I could not bear to listen to her lie to Mr. Bingley’s face in such a way. Losing my position was a small thing, and I would not change what I did if I could.”
“What is this?” a new voice inquired, and the cousins turned startled and dismayed looks on Mrs. Gardiner, who was standing at the kitchen door with a concerned look on her face.
“Oh, Mrs. Gardiner,” Beatrice said apologetically, “this is my cousin, Lucy Wilson. She was working at Netherfield Park, and then Hurst House, and she, erm…”
“I lost my position last night,” Lucy said, her eyes downcast.
“I am certain we can find something for you to do here, for now at least,” Mrs. Gardiner said kindly, “but please, tell me the whole story.”
The cousins exchanged glances, and Beatrice said, “As you know, I escorted Miss Bennet to the Hursts’ home yesterday and spent a few minutes with my cousin Lucy while Miss Bennet was visiting Miss Bingley.”
“I told Bea that Miss Bingley was going to end her friendship with Miss Bennet because she does not wish for her brother to marry Miss Bennet,” Lucy continued.
“Then I suggested that Lucy take a spare pair of Miss Bennet’s gloves, which I had on me, and mention in Mr. Bingley’s hearing that Miss Bennet had called at Hurst House,” Beatrice continued, her expression now defiant.
“I have never met Mr. Bingley, but I understand he is a fine gentleman, and I did not like that his sisters were deceiving him about Miss Bennet. They told him that Miss Bennet did not care for him, and he is too kind to force himself on a lady who does not love him. But I know Miss Bennet does love Mr. Bingley!”
Lucy nodded and said, “He was terribly angry when Miss Bingley lied about Miss Bennet’s visit, and then of course both Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were furious that I told him, and I lost my place.”
“We will take care of you, Lucy,” Mrs. Gardiner promised.
***
Gardiners’ House
Drawing Room
Two Hours Later
It was rather astonishing, in a way, how very often the girls managed to rip their frocks, despite the sturdiness of the cotton and wool which made up the garments.
This tear was nearly mended, however, and Mrs. Gardiner held up her work and turned it into the light to better inspect her seam.
Her children were active, boisterous little creatures, and she did not truly grudge them a rip here and there.
Finding her repair proceeding to her satisfaction, she lowered the dress back into her lap and lifted her needle once more before glancing around the room.
Mr. Gardiner had recently hired a man to convert several of the house’s hearths to Rumford fireplaces, and this was one of the rooms that had been so converted.
They were using less coal for the same amount of heat, and the room felt more comfortable no matter where one sat.
Mrs. Gardiner was quite close to the fire herself, for the light.
Her niece Jane sat near at her hand, a large Bible open upon her blue muslin-covered knees.
Mrs. Gardiner looked back to her sewing, taking silent, even breaths.
There was sorrow across Jane’s face, hovering beneath her studious concentration as she read, and a sadness in her eyes that those who loved her hoped would not linger.
Mrs. Gardiner made an effort to be a bulwark of serenity to her nieces, especially when they were embattled or desolate, but it was taking all of her self-control this morning to stay calm and appear, outwardly, unaffected, giving no sign of the question consuming her thoughts.
Given the events of the previous night, would Charles Bingley visit?
He had been the architect of her niece’s pain, but according to Lucy Wilson, he had wounded Jane unwittingly as he had been convinced by his sisters that Jane did not love him.
He had been furious when his sisters’ scheming and deception had been revealed, but would his fury be enough to overcome his shame or his pride and bring him humbly to visit Jane?
Jane turned a page in her Bible and kept reading, unaware of the turmoil in her aunt’s breast. Mrs. Gardiner had said nothing to her niece of what she had learned as it would be cold comfort to Jane to know that Mr. Bingley was enraged at his sisters’ conspiracy if he did not come to see her after discovering their duplicity.
No, it was better to wait and see what would come of it all.
Mrs. Gardiner thought with approval of Lucy Wilson.
The girl was stout-hearted and loyal, willing to speak up in defense of Miss Bennet even though it had caused her to lose her employment, to mention a positive reference from Mrs. Hurst. It had taken courage to do that, as well as intense loyalty and affection for the Bennet family, and such virtues ought to be protected and encouraged.
Mrs. Gardiner intended to see to it that the girl found a good position.
The door opened, and Beatrice entered in front of Charles Bingley, dressed neatly in a blue coat, his expression anxious.
“Mr. Bingley,” the maid said in a sedate tone, though her countenance was full of excitement.
Jane gasped in shock and rose to her feet along with Mrs. Gardiner, and Mr. Bingley said nervously, “Miss Bennet, good morning. Would you be so kind as to introduce me to your relation?”
A lifetime of experience helped Jane overcome her silence in favor of mechanical courtesy.
“Aunt Gardiner, Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley, my aunt, Mrs. Gardiner.”
Mr. Bingley bowed and Mrs. Gardiner curtsied, and the latter said, “Please, will you not sit down, Mr. Bingley?”
He shook his head with surprising fervor and said, “Before I do so, I must apologize to you, Miss Bennet. I discovered last night that you visited my sister Caroline yesterday and, well, the truth is that I left Netherfield without saying goodbye because I was convinced by my sisters that you did not truly care for me, and I did not wish for you to be forced into an unwanted marriage if I offered for you. I understand that my sisters were wrong, and I, well…”
He trailed off, looking pathetic, and Mrs. Gardiner turned to Jane and said, “My dear, it seems that there has been substantial miscommunication in this matter. Do you wish to speak privately to Mr. Bingley?”
Jane’s eyes were shiny with tears, and her skin paler than usual, and she whispered, “Yes, I would like that.”
“Then if you will allow me to give some advice, my dear niece, I urge you to speak very openly, far more so than is usual for you. You have always been a calm and serene lady, but Mr. Bingley needs clarity in this situation.”
Jane glanced at Bingley, then gulped. “Very well, Aunt. I will do so.”
***
Drawing Room
Gardiners’ House in Cheapside
Thirty Minutes Later
“I feel terrible for not returning to Netherfield when I said I would,” Bingley murmured from his position on the loveseat.
Jane, who was seated next to him, with her delicate hand in his larger one, said, “Please do not berate yourself. All is well now, and I appreciate that you left because you were afraid I would be forced into an unwanted marriage.” Bingley opened his mouth to apologize again and then closed it.
Enough was enough. Jane loved him, he loved her, and they were now engaged to be married.
“I will ride to Longbourn tomorrow to ask for your father’s permission,” he said instead, “and then, if you think it appropriate, I will have Netherfield opened up once more.”
Jane was silent for a moment and then shifted her body so that she could look into his face. “Will Miss Bingley and the Hursts join you at Netherfield?”
He was still angry at them – so very angry – but he forced himself to think before he said, “What do you wish?”
“I would far rather they stayed in London,” she promptly replied. “I gave them every benefit of the doubt and thought that your sisters were genuinely my friends, but in fact they were acting deceptively in order to tear us apart.”
Bingley frowned. “Was Caroline unkind to you yesterday?”
“No, though she was not warm either, but she did send me a letter the very day she and the others left Netherfield informing me that you and Miss Darcy were almost certainly going to marry.”
Bingley jerked upright, his eyes flaring wide. “What?”
Jane’s eyes filled with tears. “I … I thought that Caroline was warning me that you did not care for me at all, and Lizzy said that your sister was only trying to discourage me because we are neither rich nor well connected, and I argued that Caroline was genuinely my friend and would not deceive me! I was stupid about it.”
Bingley leaned over and planted a kiss on her lovely forehead.
“I fear we both have been stupid about my sisters’ intentions and actions, my dearest Jane.
I had no idea that they would plot in such a nefarious way, and I certainly have never contemplated marrying Miss Darcy, who is barely sixteen years of age.
But to return to the previous issue, I will not permit them to join me at Netherfield Hall. ”
Jane relaxed and smiled through wet eyes. “Thank you, Charles.”
The door opened wide at this juncture to reveal Mrs. Gardiner, and the young couple flushed pink and moved a little way apart.
“May I intrude?” the older lady asked with a wide smile.
“Of course,” Jane said, and beamed at her aunt. “Oh, Aunt, we are engaged to be married!”
“Congratulations to you both! Now, shall we enjoy tea and muffins in celebration?”
Bingley, who had been too nervous to break his fast earlier in the day, nodded with enthusiasm and was delighted when two neatly dressed maids entered the room five minutes later with refreshments.
Delight gave way to confusion, however, when his glance happened to skim past the taller of the maids.
“Erm,” he said with a frown.
“What is it, Charles?” Jane asked, following his gaze, and then she said, “Lucy! Whatever are you doing here? I thought you were working at Hurst House.”
“That is why I am so surprised,” Bingley said. “Were you not the maid who only last night told me of Miss Bennet’s visit to Hurst House?”
“Yes, sir,” Lucy said, lowering her tray onto a nearby table.
“Then how did you come to be here?” Bingley asked.
“Because Mrs. Hurst sacked me as soon as you left, sir, for telling the truth about Miss Bennet’s visit.”
Bingley’s joyful countenance gave way to fury. “What?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Gardiner continued, “and not only that, Mrs. Hurst threw Lucy out of the house at midnight, and she would have been wandering the streets in the dead of night save for the kindness of a fellow servant.”
Bingley shook his head in disbelief. “I had no idea, not in the least, that my sisters could be so cruel. I am very grateful to you, Lucy, for your willingness to speak the truth to me. I promise I will ensure you are cared for in the future.”
“Thank you, sir,” Lucy said gratefully.