Thank you again for your kind words and reviews over the past week. I will reply to them all in the next few days, but please, keep 'em coming. I have a general plan for the rest of this, but not everything is concrete. Have a good week, and please let me know what you think of this chapter.
Chapter 3 Summary: Elizabeth and the Gardiners go to Pemberley. Everyone tries to figure out what they think of the current state of things.
Chapter 4
The gentlemen retreated to a shady grove next to a stream to fish for a few hours. Nearly at the end of their venture, Charles was obligingly distracting his brother-in-law, the inimitable Mr. Henry Hurst, leaving Mr. Darcy free to talk with Mr. Gardiner. It had taken Darcy quite a while to garner his courage before approaching Charles with his idea that morning. Bingley understandably nursed a sore annoyance with him, and while wanting to leave the younger man his space, Darcy couldn't let matters with Elizabeth go poorly. He banked on Charles' easygoing spirit and typical inability to stew or hold a grudge, and hoped that he would quickly forgive him after his apology two days previous. Darcy also knew, and relied on the fact, Charles would be more than willing to help his dear Jane's dearest sister even if he could currently only be angry with Darcy. And so with that thought in his mind, Mr. Darcy had found Charles soon after he broke his fast to talk to him of his plan. Charles grumbled for a few minutes, but in the end, he agreed he would keep Hurst's attention for a few minutes.
Fitzwilliam Darcy loved Elizabeth Bennet and he would love her until the end of time. He couldn't function, wasn't whole anymore, without her. If he could do something to bring Elizabeth to Pemberley as his wife, then he would make it happen. The last few days, he had been thrilled to realize his dreams of her being in their dining room, music room and parlor. She had fit there, talking and giggling with Georgie and smiling and blushing at himself; she was a missing piece of the Pemberley puzzle, the piece that was supposed to be right next to his. He did not want her presence there to become only a hollow memory, her joyous laughter echoing off of the walls and haunting him forever.
He easily saw that she did not hold such an abject hatred for him as she had done previously and while that gave him hope, he knew that it was not a sure sign of great affection. He understood her trip to Derbyshire must soon come to a close; Mr. Gardiner did not have the luxury of putting off his business in Town forever. Mr. Darcy feared if Elizabeth left and they had not come to some sort of understanding, he would have a very hard time of meeting with her in any degree of privacy again. He could ask the Gardiners to prolong their trip for a few more days, even going so far as to offer them rooms at Pemberley, if indeed the Inn had been rebooked already. A small part of his mind said he could book the rooms himself to ensure their acceptance of his offer, but as disguise of any sort was his abhorrence he rejected the idea.
Much thought over the past days had led him to the conclusion that while being engaged to Elizabeth would have been the best circumstance, her leaving Derbyshire in agreement to court him would suffice for the time being. If they were courting, it would not be inappropriate for them to write to each other or for him to call on her at Longbourn or in Town if she were staying with the Gardiners again. Indeed, if they were courting, she would be his, if only informally, but she could feel assured that she could end their courtship if their relationship became displeasing to her. He sincerely disliked that idea, but could live with it if it meant Elizabeth's happiness in the situation. If she should truly wish to leave him, he would let her, but his chest ached at such a thought.
Likewise, such exposure to each other's characters would allow them to get to know one another in ways that their formal acquaintance had so far lacked. They knew, or had thought that they knew, the broader strokes of each other's dispositions, but the fine detail still wanted to complete their respective portraits. This Mr. Darcy had to acknowledge was a distinct advantage after hosting Elizabeth at Pemberley. His compassionate housekeeper had asked him about the lady's favorite dish or dessert, but his heart sank as he realized he had no idea what she actually liked (roast chicken with rosemary and lemon cake). He didn't even know her middle name (Frances), what her favorite color was (it had been grass green, though the soft blue color of his eyes was quite growing on her), or whether she preferred the front or back facing seats in a carriage (it didn't matter in the least). He knew she liked to walk, to tease and to read and that she dearly loved to laugh. From his understanding of her, entering into a marriage with someone she also knew so little of (lamb with peas and potatoes, pears, George Richard, hazel brown and the back facing seat, by the by) would probably be inexcusable to her. He knew letters were a poor substitute for speaking, but a part of him also looked forward to their correspondence to experience the sharing of wit and humor that only a written word could provide.
Since it could be considered inappropriate for him to first ask the lady, he wished to speak to Mr. Gardiner, whom he knew was responsible for Elizabeth's current care. This was where he had undertaken a small amount of careful planning, which had so far gone accordingly well. Now it was his turn, and as small talk did not suit such a topic and small talk rarely suited him, after he double-checked that Bingley and Hurst were out of earshot he dove directly into the conversation. "Mr. Gardiner, I believe you are Miss Elizabeth's guardian while she is away from Longbourn?"
Gardiner froze fixing his line and looked up through his eyebrows at Darcy, all of his former joviality extinguished at such a bated question. Edward Gardiner was not a tall man, but the stony gaze that he fixed Darcy with at that moment was intimidating to even the venerated Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. His tone was flat and his words slow as he replied, "I am indeed, sir. Why do you ask?"
Darcy was so taken aback at the tone of his words and the intensity written on Mr. Gardiner's face that he took an unconscious half step backwards. Though he had only known the man for about two days, this was a most unexpected change. In the few moments it took Darcy to continue, Gardiner had set down his line and rod on a nearby stump and was looking intently at Darcy, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Darcy tried to choose his words carefully; he had not prepared for Mr. Gardiner's reception of him to be such as it was. "I mean no offense against you or your niece, sir. M-My query is of no officious nature, Mr. Gardiner." Darcy had never felt so uncomfortable while on his own land.
The stout man's expression did not change as he stared at Mr. Darcy. After a pregnant pause, Darcy knew he was going to receive no further encouragement in either direction and decided it would be best to continue. His words came out quickly after a single very deep breath. "I merely wish to ask permission to court Miss Elizabeth. As you are her temporary guardian, I wished to ask you while I could speak face to face with you. I plan to write to Mr. Bennet and officially ask when I return to Hertfordshire." This was the first instance that he had spoken to any of Elizabeth's relations regarding any degree of his feelings for her. "So long of course as she agrees to it," he added hastily, not out of having forgotten about her consent, but because he felt so much as if Mr. Gardiner were treating him as if the Master of Pemberley was a young boy. Indeed, the glare he was receiving from Mr. Gardiner reminded him so very much of his excellent Father's stern look when the young Master Darcy had gotten into a scrape of his own doing. It had been a long time since he felt seconds away from confessing everything he had ever done to just make the look end.
After another long pause while Mr. Gardiner still only stared at Mr. Darcy, Mr. Gardiner shifted his weight and leaned towards the other man and spoke in the same flat tone as he had before. "She is my niece, Darcy. She is the child of my little sister, and is accordingly very dear to me." The message was clear that Mr. Gardiner was very serious when it came to his family and especially at this moment to Elizabeth. Though it was not a threat, Gardiner was warning Mr. Darcy to be cautious and not to harm his niece. Darcy would never intentionally do anything of the sort and opened his mouth to say as much, when he closed it again with a snap. Gardiner glowered at Mr. Darcy for a moment longer before slapping the taller man on the arm in a brotherly way, his expression changing back in an instant to its normal good-humored smile. He laughed, his hands on his stomach as he leaned backwards in mirth. "Of course I give you my permission to court my niece, Mr. Darcy. I don't think my brother nor I would say any differently after seeing you two around each other." Mr. Gardiner's two daughters were still young (four and six years) and yet he had already perfected the act of being the imposing and threatening father. To be totally frank, he was a little surprised Darcy only asked to court Elizabeth rather than propose to her, but he let that be.
Mr. Darcy was shocked at the man's countenance could change so drastically twice in as many minutes and it took him a moment to understand that Mr. Gardiner was laughing at him. He was still too confused in the matter to be annoyed. "Mr. Gardiner, I… I don't understand. I thought…."
"My wife and I supposed you would ask me something like that today, sir, and I prepared for it. I believe I played my part admirably in my brother Bennet's absence." Mr. Gardiner chuckled again. As much as he liked Mr. Darcy, he was somewhat proud to have so entirely astonished Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire with ten thousand a year and very likely more (his mind screeched this in his sister's voice). He knew he had carried his point, however. Taking pity on the younger, still visibly stunned man, he leaned in confidentially, "I'm sure you'll understand someday." Mr. Gardiner bent over and snatched up the snagged line and continued to work to fix it as if nothing happened. Very soon after, Charles and Mr. Hurst walked up to them, ready to go back to the house. Darcy took a moment longer to recover his full faculties, but not before Mr. Bingley saw his startled demeanor and raised his eyebrows in question. Mr. Darcy grinned at his friend, an expression that Mr. Bingley mirrored moments later. Throughout the whole, Mr. Hurst had remained utterly oblivious.
As the gentlemen started their trek back to find the ladies (or, for Mr. Hurst, to find food), Mr. Darcy thought about what had just occurred. Elizabeth's uncle had successfully made Mr. Darcy, one of the proudest, richest and most-respected men in England feel like a young boy with only a look and a few words and Mr. Darcy had felt himself pale under the man's intense scrutiny. He also saw how well Mr. Gardiner had executed that little ploy and how much he had laughed after; little wonder why Elizabeth liked the Gardiners so much! With a smirk, he thought that it was indeed a tactic he would use to suitors of his own daughters not nearly far enough in the future.