AN: Since I made a boo-boo with the other Murder in London upload, I will load the next several chapters since it's already been read. ;-)
Chapter 2
"Darcy," Richard began as he paced in front of the fireplace at Darcy House a week later, "I believe I found you a companion for Georgiana but... I must warn you... the lady... she..."
"Spit it out, Richard." Darcy chuckled, "You sound as if you are afraid of her. What is the matter with her?"
Richard cheerfully smiled, "She is young. I met this young lady three times now and I think you will be pleased with her, Darce, but I am afraid that you might be... too pleased with her. She is intelligent and pretty and has manners that even Mama was impressed with, but she has a hint of mischief in her eyes and I find her very attractive." He laughed as his cousin rolled his eyes. "She is not like the usual females of town and looks nothing like the type of woman you would be interested in, but I found her enchanting and I wonder if she would be a good choice to place under your roof."
Darcy huffed, "You think me so weak that a pretty, young woman would tempt me to forget myself? I would never injure an employee and Mrs. Younge was only three and twenty. Unless she is as beautiful as Juliette was, I doubt I would fall for this woman's allurements."
"She is the opposite of Juliette," Richard laughed, "with dark hair and shorter stature. She is a petite little thing but has womanly curves where it counts." He coughed in embarrassment. "A gentleman is not supposed to notice these things but I am still a man and my eyes tend to drift down if there is something I like in the front."
Darcy laughed loudly, "Mine, too, Richard, but I will not fall for her charms and once I meet the woman, I will discern for myself if she is appropriate for my sister. Will she come to Darcy House?"
Richard explained, "I can give you her uncle's address so you can write to him. Mr. Gardiner is a merchant and is leasing a large warehouse on Gracechurch Street and lives only a few blocks west of his business. He is a very honest man and of course with my being a colonel and all, he was quite forthcoming with Miss Bennet's situation. Elizabeth Bennet is the name and she turned twenty last April but behaves very maturely. She is seeking a position because her father became ill after finding out that his steward had been robbing him blind for the past five years. He is an impoverished landowner in Hertfordshire with five daughters and the estate will need to be sold off because the one and only male heir died in a carriage accident last year and Mr. Bennet cannot afford to maintain the estate. Longbourn apparently brought in £2,000 a year at one time but his coffers are dry with the theft and lost many of the tenants because of his former steward. It brings less than £1,000 per annum now and he will be fortunate if one of his daughters can marry a gentleman. Unlikely, though, since the daughters have only £1,000 dowries each and even that is at the death of their mother. The eldest daughter is supposed to be a reputed beauty but from what I could tell of Miss Elizabeth's dress, they do not have much and will be left destitute if Mr. Bennet cannot sell the estate for a good price."
"Hertfordshire..." Darcy contemplated in thought, "I think that is where Charles Bingley is going to be leasing an estate. He wrote to me to join him after Michaelmas so I could help him understand how to run the land but with Georgiana's situation, I have no desire to leave her alone. Perhaps after her new companion settles in, I might take the trip to meet this Mr. Bennet in person and learn more about Hertfordshire." He chuckled, "I dread being under the same roof as Caroline Bingley, though. She is pretty enough but her mouth... I cannot bear to listen to her for more than five minutes. She believes herself to be so witty but she is heartless and mercenary. Even with her £20,000, I would not touch her."
"I am very curious to see your reaction when you meet Miss Bennet, Darce." Richard winked. "Let me know when you make the arrangements and I will try to be here."
Darcy rolled his eyes again, "I will let you know, Richard. I do not understand what you find so fascinating about this woman but I will certainly be on guard."
Richard nodded and left to return to his duties with the army. He smiled broadly, wondering if there was a way for Elizabeth Bennet to become daughter to an earl. He liked the lady but also knew he could not pursue her due to her lack of fortune.
"Mr. Gardiner," Darcy shook the gentleman's hand, "thank you for allowing me to call on you. I had considered inviting you to my home today but I know you are busy and I was curious about your warehouse and wished to see your place of business myself."
Mr. Gardiner smiled, "It is no problem at all, sir! I am very pleased to have you here. I know many gentlemen are hesitant to visit Cheapside other than to look for the finest fabrics for their wives, but this is where the best of the transactions occur that takes the beautiful bolts of fabric to Bond Street modistes and everything comes through here." He stood and walked with the tall gentleman around the warehouse. "I operate the import business and the top-quality luxury fabrics from India and the continent arrive here to be distributed to businesses all over London. I am only a tradesman but have been very successful and have built up a good fortune. My only headache has been that the owner of the warehouse has been raising the rent and has threatened my place here. I would hate to move, since I have been here for over ten years, but he has increased the lease four times in two years and he is bleeding me dry." He sighed, "But he is the owner and can do as he wishes and I might need to move to another location, and that will be very costly."
"May I ask the name of the owner, Mr. Gardiner?" Darcy asked cautiously. "It is not good business practice to keep the tenants unhappy and I wonder of his motives."
"Rumour is that he has gambling debts," Mr. Gardiner commented. "De Bourgh is the name. Lawrence de Bourgh. Do you know him?" He asked, after seeing Darcy's brows rise.
"I do know him," Darcy replied, "He is the younger brother of my aunt's late husband, and he is a resentful man. He lost the estate to his elder brother and because there was no entail, Rosings Park, which brings in £6,000 per annum, went to Sir Lewis' daughter, who is my cousin. Although Miss de Bourgh is sickly, she is an intelligent young woman and has willed her estate to me, and Mr. de Bourgh and I have been bitter rivals during the past few years. I have heard he lost £10,000 in a single card game and am no longer surprised that he is increasing your rent. He is not a good man."
"Well," Mr. Gardiner huffed, "perhaps I will begin to look for a new warehouse sooner than later. From what you have shared, Mr. Darcy, his behaviour is likely to get worse if his gambling losses continue."
They continued the tour and Darcy asked several questions about the area, and how the ships brought in the merchandise and how the bolts were distributed throughout town. He was very impressed with Mr. Gardiner's knowledge of the trade and how efficiently his business was handled.
"Your niece, Mr. Gardiner," Darcy began to ask as they sat in the office to take some refreshments, "my cousin has given me a good report and I am interested in meeting her to see if she is a good candidate for my sister. My sister... she experienced a big disappointment early summer and has not yet recovered and lthough Miss Bennet has not been employed as a companion before, she comes with glowing recommendations from Lady Matlock and my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Knowing that she is a gentleman's daughter, I am assured that Miss Bennet will be able to guide my sister in social functions and I promise you that if selected, she will be given a fair allowance and will be respected like a member of my family."
"Thank you for your reassurances, Mr. Darcy. I know you are known to be a very respectable gentleman and I am glad she will find a good position if all goes well." Mr. Gardiner smiled. "Lizzy is with my wife and Lady Matlock at a charity drive today but she and Mrs. Gardiner will call on you tomorrow and if you approve, your sister can meet my niece as well. You will find her a sensible young lady and will bring a smile to your sister, I am sure."
Darcy stood and shook the man's hand. "Thank you, Mr. Gardiner, for your time today. I am very impressed with your warehouse and am very glad to have made your acquaintance. We will see each other again soon."
Darcy looked at the warehouse once more before boarding his carriage and made the decision to visit his solicitor today. He knew a shrewd businessman when he saw one and Mr. Gardiner's success could readily be assessed, and he wanted to hear the report he had requested about Mr. Gardiner and of Longbourn before making his final decision to hire an unknown woman for his dearest sister.
"Stop your pacing, Richard!" Darcy commanded. "Are you so eager to see my future employee that you cannot sit for more than a few minutes at a time? Perhaps I will need to keep you away from Miss Bennet so you do not behave like a rake!" He laughed to see his cousin's face pale. "Good thing she is poor and is from an inconsequential family with a tradesman uncle. Your parents will not accept her as a daughter and you will not be tempted further."
"I know, I know," Richard replied as he plopped down onto a chair. "Father will likely never approve of her and mother might not mind but without a large dowry, I am doomed to marry an insipid creature who will cause me to cry in misery and I will become a miserable bastard who will drink too much and rely on my mistress to find some enjoyment in life. Perhaps in five to ten years, Miss Bennet might agree to become my mistress." He winked in amusement. "If I marry a wealthy heiress, I might have funds enough to pay for my women."
Darcy chuckled, "Shut up, Richard. You cannot afford a mistress now and I have a feeling Miss Bennet cannot be persuaded to do anything she does not wish to do. I do not know if it is a good idea to hire an impertinent woman for my sister but she needs some liveliness around her and I am willing to take a risk as soon as I meet her for confirmation." There was a knock on the door. "Enter." Darcy turned to his cousin, "Behave, Colonel, or I will have you tossed out on your arse!"
The gentlemen stood to await the ladies who were being announced by the butler. "Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet, sir." The butler promptly departed after closing the door.
"Please have a seat," Darcy began. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gardiner. I have heard much about you from your husband yesterday. And of you as well, Miss Bennet. Welcome to Darcy House."
They took their seats and Richard spoke jovially with both ladies, having made their acquaintance already. Darcy watched Miss Bennet carefully and saw that her manners were proper and she spoke very genteel. Although not immediately noticeable, she looked pretty enough in her own way and could see that Richard was positively smitten with the young woman. He shook his head, not comprehending how Richard could contemplate such a woman as a wife or a mistress before returning his attention to the conversation.
"How is your father faring, Miss Bennet?" Darcy asked. "I heard he had a heart ailment after a strenuous situation at home."
Elizabeth looked at the young man and softly smiled, "He is doing very well, sir. Thank you for asking. He has been able to get out of his rooms and although he has only walked as far to his study, he is deliriously happy that he can read his books again and has some entertainment now. My sister, my younger sister Mary, has been reading to him but he quickly tired of the Sermons for Young Women and had not been pleased with her skills in reading Shakespeare. I do miss him, as it had been my duty to read him all the Shakespeare he wished before, but I am secretly glad that he misses me. Absence does make the heart grow fonder, I believe." Her eyes sparkled with her tease.
Darcy smiled, "I do believe it does. I am glad to hear of his recovery, Miss Bennet. I have spoken with your uncle about your position here and if you are in agreement, I should like to call for my sister. Is that agreeable to you?"
"I shall be very glad to meet her, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth replied, "After I meet your sister, I will make my decision and will give you an answer. If you will allow, may I see her in her sitting room upstairs? I would like to be introduced to her in private."
Darcy was surprised at the request but agreed and called for the housekeeper to take Miss Bennet to Georgiana's rooms after she was made aware of the visitor.
