Thank you for all of the Story Alerts and charming reviews. I am looking forward to the theater as well, forgive me for drawing it out.

Chapter 11

London

The day after Bingley's visit to the Gardiner House, the establishment was graced by the presence of another member of the ton. Mrs. Gardiner's invitation the theater included Miss Darcy, and as it would be very awkward for a perfect stranger to impose herself on the hospitality of others, Mr. Darcy felt it incumbent upon him to introduce his sister to Mrs. Gardiner and her niece.

Georgiana had read and reread her brother's letters from Hertfordshire. She was sure that he had feelings for Miss Elizabeth, for he had never mentioned any young lady of his acquaintance in one of his letters without contempt. He had also informed her of the unfortunate status of the family's place in society and the unfortunate behavior of the other family members.

When Georgiana alighted from the carriage, she was struck by the handsomeness of the home. It was nothing like she had pictured it; it was clearly kept by an affluent family with an abundance of good taste. The inside of the home only confirmed her earlier assessment-Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were people with impeccable taste. The rich draperies, marble floors and beautiful mahogany wood work were quite like the ones found at Darcy Place. She glanced quizzically at her brother, for this is not at all the picture of the relations he had painted in his letter from Hertfordshire.

A footman ushered the Darcy siblings into the front sitting room.

"Mr. Darcy" addressed Mrs. Gardiner after the initial bows had been taken "what a pleasure to see you!"

"Mrs. Gardiner, please allow me to introduce to you my sister Georgiana. Georgie, this is Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Mrs. Gardiner was a very astute woman, and from the moment she set eyes upon Georgiana she knew her to be a shy girl. She used everything in her power to put the poor girl at ease.

"Miss Darcy, what a pleasure! Do join us for tea!" Georgiana took a chair next to Elizabeth, and Darcy sat on the other side of Georgiana.

"You are from Derbyshire, are you not Miss Darcy?"

"Yes I am, our estate is very close to Lambton."

"I know those parts very well! I was raised in Lambton" Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed with great warmth. "Tell me, is dear Mrs. Smith still running the book store in town? It has been so long since I have last been there!"

The book store caught Darcy's attention. "Mrs. Gardiner, she runs the book store to this day. It is a particular favorite of mine, I often went there with my father in my early years."

"What a delightful place it is. I am so pleased to hear that she is able to continue to run the place, she must be getting quite elderly."

"I am afraid she is, she might not be able to keep the place open for much longer. Perhaps a year or two, then one of her children will surely take over."

Elizabeth too recognized Georgiana's discomfort and decided to try her hand at drawing the young girl into conversation.

"Miss Darcy, your brother tells me that you are quite diligent at your music studies. Have you been studying with a teacher here in London?"

With a glance of encouragement from her brother, Georgiana smiled and replied "my brother does spoil me, Miss Bennet, with a wonderful teacher. We have found that it is not so much the talent of the individual, but the quality of teacher that creates a successful music student."

"I believe that to be very wise, Miss Darcy. Have you been with your teacher for very long?"

"The past two years, Miss Bennet. Master Capelliano moved to London from Rome three years ago, and Fitzwilliam happened to take me to one of his very first concerts in London. We were so impressed with his playing, that my brother asked him to give me a lesson. Our temperaments matched so well that I have studied with him ever since."

"That name sounds very familiar. Does he travel very much for his performing?"

"Why yes, he left for Hertfordshire not two days before Fitzwilliam did."

"Then I do believe that my sister Mary attended his concert with my father. Mary has a very admirable dedication to the piano, but I am afraid that in our country village there is not much choice in instruction."

"Then she must come to London and have a lesson with Master Capelliano! I would be happy to arrange it!"

"That is very kind of you Miss Darcy, I am sure Mary would be most indebted to you if she ever came to visit."

Darcy blinked several times to make sure he had heard his sister correctly. Did she just offer the sister of someone she had never met a lesson with her most beloved teacher? She must be feeling particularly comfortable with Elizabeth to ever think of such a thing.

After staying for tea and a while more, the Darcy siblings made their leave with no doubt of a firm friendship developing between the Gardiner and Darcy households. Georgiana had even invited Elizabeth to call on her the next day for a walk.

After entering into their carriage, Georgiana decided to get her opinions out before her brother had a chance to change his earlier statements.

"Brother, I do not understand. From your letters I had anticipated a social climbing, silly traders wife in an average cheapside house with no decent conversation. But I find myself very pleasantly wrong, for I find Mrs. Gardiner to be a dear woman with impeccable taste and a very good standing in society. And her Miss Elizabeth was wonderful. I do hope you will allow me to come back to visit them!"

"Of course my dear. I was rather surprised myself at Mrs. Gardiner's manner, for her Elizabeth's mother is nothing like Elizabeth's aunt. And it would greatly please me if you felt comfortable calling again on Miss Bennet. She is a very intelligent young lady with whom you would do very well to befriend."

"I cannot wait for the play on Monday Fitz!"

"Neither can I Georgie, neither can I."