Author's Note: Thank you all for continued attention to this story and patience with my ability to update. The next chapter will hopefully be up either tonight or tomorrow morning, after which it may take me some time to update again. Again, thank you for your readership, and I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 42
As a man of both business and gentle society, Mr. Gardiner dealt with many different personages in his daily interactions. Living as he did in the middle of such a great city, he was rarely surprised by anything. It was therefore a very singular circumstance that occurred when he met not only his nieces and clerk for luncheon, but a very fashionable man of property: he was struck dumb from the moment of their introductions till they had taken their seats in the gentleman's specific room.
He soon overcame his shock, though, and set to repeating thanks to the man for his kindnesses in an elegant manner that quite soothed Elizabeth's tangled nerves. At least they had met with a relative she could delight in Mr. Darcy's making the acquaintance of, and she saw with sincere appreciation the two men interact in a manner, if not of easy familiarity, at least of polite discourse.
"Yes, sir, I am familiar with the area." Mr. Gardiner remarked as their guest explained his circumstances. "The town of Lambton, I believe, is but a short distance from your estate, and it is at such a place that my wife passed her girlhood. She has often spoken of the place with such fondness, that we had nearly planned to visit there recently."
"Indeed, it is visited frequently, as it is a pleasant countryside no matter the season."
"I am sure, from my wife's account, this must be so."
"It is regrettable that you were delayed in your journey."
Elizabeth coloured at this reference, something Mr. Gardiner noted with sympathy, and so agreed with Mr. Darcy in a similar but brief sentiment. That topic of conversation now quite exhausted, the meal threatened to devolve into silence. Mr. Darcy sat in his habitual reserve as Mr. Gardiner struggled for a subject that might satisfy the occasion without offending any of the party, and Mr. Thompson and Mary each considered and dismissed asides that were either too common or gross for their audience.
Feeling the requirements of their acquaintance, Elizabeth endeavoured to check her unease by offering Mr. Darcy some comfortable topic of discussion. "I hope, Mr. Darcy, that we are not keeping you from your family. Do you have the pleasure of their company at this time?"
His looks became decidedly more open as he quickly answered that he was not delayed at all by this engagement. "I am not expected to meet with my sister until later this evening."
"How fortunate," Mr. Gardiner took up the thread. "Else we should have quite missed this opportunity of meeting. Pray, Mr. Darcy, what amusements does your sister follow? As a man suddenly overwhelmed by five young ladies, I am in a sorry state to recommend the city to them properly."
This subject proved sufficient for all concerned, and as Elizabeth listened to the conversation, occasionally contributing herself, she felt a great joy to have afforded Darcy a comfortable means of engaging the others. Watching his animation in describing his sister and her delights, she decided that his hauteur before others must be a front to his true self. Here, as she had briefly seen at Kent, was a far different man than the one she had first perceived. His manners, perhaps, still wanted some degree of humility, but their warmth could not be questioned, and she found that in tactfully helping his addresses, she felt a real sense of accomplishment at the ease with which the gentleman and her uncle conversed.
"Oh, do you mean a true concert, sir?" Mary entered the conversation hesitantly at the mention of an entertainment Miss Darcy meant to attend soon. "Who will be the soloist?" The answer caused a flush of excitement in the female listeners. "Oh, Lizzy, will Mama consent that we go?" Mary asked eagerly, nearly forgetting the other persons beside them.
The outburst was at least one of good spirits and not insensibility, and so Elizabeth only smiled in shared joy. "If allowance were all that stood in the way, I believe our joy were certain. But such an occasion must be difficult to obtain entrance to."
"Perhaps," Mr. Gardiner admitted, "but not so very difficult as to be impossible. If Mr. Darcy would be good enough to direct me to the correct authority, I am sure something might be arranged."
"Certainly."
The information was passed on, and the conversation continued in high humour until it was time for Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Thompson to return to their duties. As they prepared to go, Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy speak quietly with her uncle for a short space of time, after which her uncle approached her with a look of suppressed curiosity. "Mr. Darcy has asked that he speak with you a few moments privately, Lizzy, and if it is your desire, I am sure we can quite spare it. Shall we wait for you at the door?"
Curious herself, she nodded, and was soon left alone with the gentleman. Refusing to feel anxious in the situation, she smiled and cried, "Well, Mr. Darcy, I am not sure what recompense you are to ask now, that you must do so alone, but I will be quite disappointed if it is not terrible."
He smiled broadly, asking, "And do you then cast yourself as needing rescuing?"
"Indeed not sir, unless you mean to play the dragon. But as I am so well acquainted with you now, I confess your teeth will not frighten me. They are far too familiar."
"I can not imagine a situation that should ever overcome your courage," he replied, to which she was saved having to answer as he continued. "I only ask a small kindness, that I might have the pleasure of introducing my sister to you."
"Of course, sir, it would be my privilege to comply. Should we be so fortunate as to attend this concert, I would be most happy to meet Miss Darcy."
Here some measure of Darcy's good will left him, and Elizabeth wondered what she might have said to cause offence. "My sister," he began, "is of a shy disposition, and not well suited to meeting with many—people, in such a setting." His hesitation struck her forcibly, stealing some of her ease as well, as she could readily comprehend that while her companionship was desired, her family's was not.
She paused, considering, and finally said, "I am sure, if Miss Darcy will be so good as to offer an invitation, I would be quite able to attend her, provided my sister Jane or aunt Gardiner may accompany me." They, of all her possible attendants, were the least likely to give offence, and she waited in some degree of suspense as to what his answer would be.
"Of course," he nodded, all civility again. "You may expect an invitation upon the morrow, or the next at the latest."
Elizabeth's feelings were quite confused now, as she could not easily allow for the slight being practised on her family, nor the high-handed way in which she had been made accomplice. Her gratitude and better feelings toward the gentleman encouraged her to say more, but she now wondered what that should be. She at last decided on brevity and closure. "I must now return with my uncle, sir, and shall look to Miss Darcy's communication."
"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. May I escort you down?"
She answered in the affirmative, and they soon rejoined her relations, who managed to contain their questions until after Mr. Darcy had departed. Their journey back was not so subdued, though it was nothing in comparison to the reaction of Mrs. Bennet that evening. Elizabeth responded to her speculations with slight smiles and quiet demurs.
"Jane, you must lend Lizzy your better bonnet," their mother cried, for the first time placing her second eldest higher in her attention than her other daughters.
"Of course, mama."
Elizabeth was caught by the pensiveness of her sister's tone, and brought to pains by a sudden thought of her sister's condition. In her earlier challenge to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth had forgotten the nature of Miss Bingley's last tidings in regards to her hopes for her brother and the young mistress of Pemberley. One look at Jane's downcast eyes during the evening's talk at an unguarded moment showed her remembrance, though, and caused Elizabeth to repent ever offering her sister's name.
Jane's attempt at visiting the Bingleys had been thwarted by the family's absence from their house, apparently on a long visit to northern relatives. The event had provoked their mother into an ill humour, which only recovered at the unlooked-for attentions to another of her daughters. Jane's own humour, though still pleasant, had not seen so complete a recovery, and Elizabeth now fervently hoped the invitation would be nameless, or at least that Mr. Darcy's sense of decorum and propriety would require the elder lady be named.
Mrs. Gardiner herself remained very quiet on the subject, and only addressed her niece discretely before they retired. "Elizabeth, I will not attempt to tell you your own mind, as you are quiet sensible and know yourself well. Only do not ever fear to seek council or assistance from your uncle or myself if you wish it."
"Oh, my dear aunt Gardiner, what should we do without you?" Elizabeth cried, laughing. "I thank you, but am quite too tired to consider the subject further."
Despite her words, that night Elizabeth lay awake long after her sisters, endeavouring to make out what she felt toward the gentleman of Derbyshire. She certainly did not hate him, which had vanished nearly as long as dislike. Respect of his valuable qualities and gratitude for his attention were certainly part of her association with him now, and she had almost persuaded herself that there existed an even friendlier sense of understanding while his disposition appeared in so amiable a light as at luncheon. Where their two selves only were concerned, though, she had again borne the brunt of his disapprobation and pride toward those he seemed to consider beneath his notice. His dismissal of Mr. Collins had only been impolite, but his attitude towards her closer relations was another matter, especially as his own strict views on the subject seemed ill-satisfied by his conduct toward them.
Could she continue an acquaintance, however cordial toward herself, that must mean the scorn of her own family, now even dearer with the loss of her father? And would her father have approved such attentions?
These doubts continued to disturb her rest for some time into the night, but she found no answers on rising the next morning, save that the duly promised invitation arrived quite on time, addressed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner, asking for their kindness to attend Miss Darcy at tea the following day. An affirmative reply was sent posthaste, and accordingly, the following day saw the two ladies approach the Darcy townhouse in mixed states of nervousness and expectation.