Page 35 of Longbourn’s Son (Pride and Prejudice Variation #22)
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy!” Elizabeth cried out joyfully. “I saw you at church but had to leave directly after the ceremony to assist with the wedding breakfast. Thank you for coming! I hope you are both well?”
Darcy found himself short of breath as he gazed upon the woman he loved. Elizabeth was clad in a light green silk dress, and her hair was held high in a bun from which a few curls had been artfully arranged to frame her beautiful face.
“We are very well indeed,” Georgiana exclaimed, thankfully able to speak when her brother was not. “It was marvelous to be at the ceremony. Congratulations on your father’s marriage to the former Mrs. Hurst!”
Elizabeth cast a fond look at her father, who was seated beside his new bride. The new Mrs. Bennet’s son, Christopher, was obviously desirous of sharing his mother’s meal, and Mr. Bennet, with a chuckle, lifted the little one into his own lap so that the boy’s mother could eat.
“We are overjoyed,” Elizabeth said. “Louisa is a wonderful lady, and she and my father will be happy. But come, we have been bustling around for days to prepare a fine breakfast, and you must partake!”
Darcy opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. There were too many people for him to speak freely. Surely there would be another opportunity, and soon, to inform Miss Elizabeth of his interest in her.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, and guided his sister toward two sideboards which had been placed along the wall. There was indeed food aplenty, including oranges, which were a special treat and a favorite of his sister.
/
“Darcy, Georgiana, do join us,” Colonel Fitzwilliam instructed. He and Miss Bennet, whose handsome face was glowing with delight, were seated at a table set up in Longbourn’s east sitting room, along with an unknown couple dressed with understated elegance.
Darcy and Georgiana gladly joined their cousin, and after seating Georgiana, the colonel turned to the strangers.
“Darcy, Georgiana, may I please introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner? Mr. Gardiner is brother of the late Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Gardiner, Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy of Pemberley.”
The two men bowed to one another and then all sat down. Darcy, leaping at the chance to be agreeable with the relatives of his love, smiled and said, “I believe that you grew up in Lambton, Mrs. Gardiner?”
The lady’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “I did indeed, and had the honor of meeting your mother twice when she provided contributions to our parish funds after two bad harvests. My father was rector in Lambton, you see, before his death.”
“Was your father Mr. Wynn?” Darcy inquired, plucking the name out of the recesses of his mind with some difficulty.
“He was,” Mrs. Gardiner declared. “What a marvelous memory you have!”
Georgiana, whose native shyness had dissipated as soon as she crossed the threshold into Longbourn, said cheerfully, “Indeed, he does, Mrs. Gardiner! Have you been to Lambton recently?”
“I fear I have not, as my husband’s business keeps him in London. However, we hope one of these years to take a trip north, perhaps as far as the Lakes, and visit Lambton at the same time.”
A few minutes passed in pleasant conversation before Elizabeth entered the room with a plate of food in her hand, whereupon she sat down at the end of the table with Darcy on her left and Miss Bennet on her right.
Colonel Fitzwilliam waited until an appropriate lull in the conversation before saying, “I believe, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, that you will be traveling to London soon with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner?”
“That is correct,” Elizabeth agreed, smiling at a maid as the girl placed a cup of hot chocolate next to her plate. “We plan to leave tomorrow morning and will spend at least the next two months in London.”
The servant left and Georgiana, with a sympathetic glance at her lovelorn brother, successfully started another conversation with the Gardiners and Miss Bennet. Darcy, who had been feeling increasingly anxious, said softly, “Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
“My sister and I are also traveling to London tomorrow and intend to stay for several months. I was hoping ... may I call on you at your aunt and uncle’s house?”
Elizabeth turned in surprise and said hesitantly, “Of course, Jane and I would be delighted to see you and Miss Darcy.”
Darcy bit his lip and then continued carefully, “Naturally I am always pleased to see Miss Bennet, but I particularly wish to spend time with you. Is that ... is that acceptable?”
Elizabeth flushed in astonished delight as her eyes filled with tears. “I would be absolutely delighted to spend time with you, Mr. Darcy, yes.”
/
“I do believe Mr. Darcy is in love with you, Elizabeth,” Mrs. Gardiner said as their carriage rolled its way toward London.
Elizabeth, who had been gazing starry eyed out at the passing countryside, turned in her seat and arched a reproving eyebrow at her aunt. “Now, Aunt, let us not get ahead of ourselves. He has asked to call on me. That does not mean he is in love with me.”
“It does not mean he is not,” Jane said unexpectedly.
“As you know, I have been spending a good deal of time with Colonel Fitzwilliam. I understand that Mr. Darcy has always been very careful to not raise hopes in young ladies; he is, after all, both well connected and exceedingly wealthy. His request to call on you is a far more serious matter than if, say, Mr. Bingley did such a thing.”
Elizabeth blew out a slow breath and smiled tremulously. “I hope you are right, Jane. I like Mr. Darcy very much.”
“Well enough to marry him?” Mrs. Gardiner asked gently.
Elizabeth gulped and turned away to look through the window. “I ... I realize that I am ... well, I missed him this winter, very much, though I suppressed those feelings as I thought it likely I would never see him again. Yes, I am, at the least, very fond of Mr. Darcy, Aunt.”
“I am glad,” Mrs. Gardiner said simply. “He has a fine reputation as a good man and a most upstanding master of Pemberley.”
“I know,” Elizabeth said and then, eager to turn the conversation, said, “Jane, what of Colonel Fitzwilliam? He stared at you a good deal during the wedding breakfast, and it was a most admiring gaze. Do you believe he might make you an offer?”
Mr. Gardiner, hitherto silent, chuckled and said, “He had better.”
Jane blushed rosily and nodded, “I believe he will offer for me, and soon, though I am concerned about money matters. He has an allowance of some five hundred pounds a year from his father, but that is not a great deal of money for the son of an earl. I would not wish him to be unhappy from lack of funds.”
“You will bring some money into marriage,” Mrs. Gardiner pointed out.
“Three thousand pounds is not very much,” Jane said rather disconsolately.
“If the colonel truly loves you enough to offer for you, he will accept that he will need to tighten the purse strings,” Mr. Gardiner said firmly.
“Do you think Mr. Bingley will marry Miss Lucas?” Mrs. Gardiner asked, mercifully shifting the discussion away from her nieces. “I saw them together at the wedding breakfast, and they seemed very comfortable with one another.”
Elizabeth nodded with satisfaction. “Yes, I am certain he will offer. He and Charlotte suit one another well, and he has been spending a great deal of time with her.”
“I wonder at his commitment given that he was pursuing you only a few months ago, Jane,” their aunt mused.
“He was infatuated with my beauty, not my character,” Jane said decidedly. “I agree with Elizabeth that he and Charlotte are well matched, and our friend will make him a marvelous wife.”
Elizabeth made a humming sound of agreement, and silence fell again save for the clopping of the horses’ feet and the rattle of the carriage.
Elizabeth did not mind the lack of conversation; she was still marveling that Mr. Darcy, master of a great estate, nephew to an earl, with an income of ten thousand pounds a year, was obviously interested in her as a woman, as a potential bride.
She had no false modesty; she liked herself and knew that she was both handsome and intelligent.
Nonetheless, the master of Pemberley could look very high in society for a wife.
She felt a thrill in her chest once again, one of pleasure and satisfaction, that she had won Darcy’s approval.
/
Darcy stepped forward as Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and their two eldest nieces walked into the large foyer of Darcy House.
It was three days since he had arrived in London and he had called at the Gardiner home twice, but today was the first time Miss Elizabeth would see his mansion.
He was aware of an absurd flutter of nerves in his chest; would she like his home?
“Welcome to Darcy House,” Darcy said, bowing to his guests and bestowing an ardent smile on Elizabeth. “Thank you for coming.”
“It is our honor and pleasure, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Gardiner said as the ladies curtseyed.
“Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are eager to see you again,” Darcy said, leading the way to the drawing room where his sister, the colonel, and Mrs. Annesley were waiting.
Georgiana, who had not seen Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth since the wedding breakfast at Longbourn, leaped to her feet and cried out, “Oh, how wonderful to see you all! I hope your journey to London was a pleasant one?”
“It was indeed,” Elizabeth said cheerfully. “I hope you are also well?”
“We are,” Georgiana declared. “Now do sit down near the fire, Elizabeth! I know the wind outside is quite chilly.”
Elizabeth took a few steps toward the couch near the fire, only to stop at the sight of a painting on the wall.
“Is that a Turner?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“It is,” Darcy said, stepping up next to her. For a brief moment, he was distracted by her nearness. She was lovely!
“Yes,” he continued, pulling himself together. “It is entitled Dutch Boats in a Gale . Do you like it?”
“I do, very much,” Elizabeth breathed. “I have never even seen the ocean, only pictures in books, and none have been as awe inspiring as this painting. The waves, the storm clouds in the distance – there is such power there! Joseph Turner is a very gifted artist.”
“He is,” Darcy agreed. “I have another of his paintings at Pemberley, that one of the great house of Wolverhampton in Staffordshire.”
“They are treasures. Do you have other great works of art?”
“We have many paintings at Pemberley, though not many of them can legitimately be described as great.”
“Many of them are portraits of our ancestors,” Georgiana explained. “An entire gallery of them. I prefer landscapes to pictures of people, though of course I relish the images of my parents.”
“We have two Vermeers at Pemberley,” Darcy said, “and they are truly remarkable. His ability to paint reflections of light defies my understanding.”
“They sound delightful,” Elizabeth said. “I would like to see them one day.”
Darcy stared down into her beautiful dark eyes and said, “I hope you will, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth blushed.
/
“Are you quite fixed in London for the present, Colonel Fitzwilliam?” Jane asked, her heart beating rapidly.
She had been disappointed the last two days when the colonel had not accompanied Mr. Darcy on his visits to the Gardiner’s home, though Mr. Darcy had been careful to explain that her suitor was busy with his military duties.
“I am,” Richard Fitzwilliam said, gazing tenderly at the lady seated beside him. “I had a task which I completed only this morning, and I should be quite at leisure for the next few days.”
“When do you think you will be journeying to Brighton?” Jane asked.
The colonel hesitated and then said, “If all works out as I hope, I intend to sell my commission and leave the army in the next few months.”
“Truly?” Jane demanded, her cerulean eyes suddenly alight with hope.
“Truly.”
/
“I was born and raised in Sussex, Mrs. Gardiner,” Mrs. Annesley said. “My husband passed on several years ago, and we were not blessed with children.”
“I am sorry,” Mrs. Gardiner said sympathetically, reaching out a hand to squeeze her husband’s in her own.
“It was certainly very difficult, but I am extremely thankful for my current position. Miss Darcy is a delightful young lady, and it is an honor to be her companion.”
There was a sudden stir outside the drawing room, and the sound of a raised, female voice caused Darcy to rise to his feet and turn in dismay.
A moment later the door swung open and Darcy’s butler rushed inside, looking slightly flustered, followed by a middle aged woman of medium height, glowering fiercely. Behind them both, a tall, stout man, dressed in the garb of a clergyman, scuttled nervously into the room.
“Mr. Darcy,” the butler announced. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins!”