Chapter Ten - Visiting Gardiner House

AN: If you read the previous chapter as soon as it was posted, then you probably missed the change I made within twenty minutes: Lady Gardiner delivered a little baby girl. This took place about a week before the event at the bookseller. I may need to revise more so that it is clear that they shopped for more than one day. Anyway, since Madeleine plays an important role in the next few chapters, I needed her on-deck.

Darcy spoke to his business secretary that same afternoon to see what the man knew about the family. "Sir Edward Gardiner was invested as a baronet two years ago due to his overwhelming logistical support of the war effort. There were also several incidents in which Gardiner ships played a hand in delivering supplies to beleaguered troops. And there was even one incident in particular where a Gardiner ship went into harms way to support a British sloop of war which was pinned against the coast. It seems that Gardiner arms his merchant ships and hires fighting sailors who have been put to shore.

"In matters of trade Sir Edward is known as a shrewd but very honest businessman who always pays his bills on time and who has the Midas touch when it comes to new ventures. His reputation is such that quite a few of the money-wise in the Ton are among his investors."

"Interesting. Why am I not invested with him, Elton?"

"I presented you with his portfolio last year, Mr. Darcy, but that was at the same time that the Taylor estate came available."

Darcy nodded in understanding but resolved to look further into the matter. The Darcy's were as wealthy as they were because each generation diversified their investments in addition to working their lands. When crop yield were low, oftentimes it was the outside investments which kept their estate in the black.

He learned more about Sir Edward from an unexpected source when Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, his cousin and the second son of the Earl of Matlock, invited himself to dinner. In a casual mention of his plans for the following day, Darcy spoke of paying a call to Gardiner House. Richard smiled widely and stated, "I heard that Edward was made a baronet! Good for him! If it hadn't been for his ship, I and my troops would now be resting in a French prison." Georgiana, Darcy's fifteen year old sister was there, so he did not add "or dead."

"Shouldn't they have knighted the ships captain for that?" Darcy asked casually.

"I think they did, but it was Edward Gardiner, who was riding aboard as the ship's owner and supernumerary, who ordered the Madeline to sail into the cove. I had a small cadre of well-trained troops aboard to... investigate matters in France."

"He was on the ship? I thought he just oversaw his business here in London?"

"I think that he usually does, but his little fleet was commissioned to provide food, powder, and shot for our in-shore fleet. Not a problem when you have a dock to tie to and unload, but a real problem when all you have are rocky coasts and occasional beaches. I guess that he's somewhat of a genius for solving problems.

"Last year we lost track of our men on the ground. I was sent with my team in a sloop to gather intelligence, but we were cut off in an inlet by two French brigantines. Here we were with nothing but rocks and shoals on one side and French ships bearing down on us from the other. The Madeline sailed in, pretty as you please, and fired shots right down the lengths of both ships. The hotheads pursued the merchie out into open water and right into the arms of the waiting inshore squadron.

"I wanted to continue the mission, but we saw French cavalry on the cliffs and abandoned the mission as a loss. At the time we did not even know who helped us. It was only later that the Commodore of the squadron filled me in."

"It seems that Mr. Gardiner... I should say 'Sir Edward' now, saw our plight and just calmly ordered his captain to sail his merchant ship into the inlet to challenge the brigantines. His sailors, many of them former Royal Navy, went right along without protest. Good men all, Captain and crew, but Edward Gardiner was the best of all. Never saw a battle before but did not even flinch when the time came. I went to meet him at his warehouses six months later, both to thank him and because I wanted to know the man. He is worthy of his elevation."

"I agree. I will be paying a call at ten. Would you like to come along?"

Richard frowned, "Sadly I have business with my general until mid-afternoon. Say, I hear that he has a niece who somehow owns a part of his business or something. Supposed to be quite fetching?"

Georgiana, ever attentive, sat straighter and looked at her brother. She had not thought anything about her brother's intended call until that moment. Now she grinned and waited. Darcy felt a slight blush at being caught out, "Yes, there is a young niece, quite a fearsome creature in fact." Darcy then told of what took place at Paulsen's. When he got to the part about Miss Bennet's biggest concern, Richard roared in laughter. Even Georgiana seemed more amused than bewildered.

"Ho! That sounds like the apple does not fall far from the tree! I would like to meet this warrior!"

Darcy did not look enthusiastic about his cousin's declaration.

"Is Miss Bennet handsome as well, Brother?" Georgiana asked enthusiastically.

For a moment the memory of those fine, flashing eyes held his thoughts. By the time he recalled himself to the present, Georgiana was grinning and Richard was smirking, "I guess that he answered your question, Georgie. Maybe I need to pay my own call as soon as may be."

-ooOOoo-

Fitzwilliam Darcy wasted no time presenting himself at Gardiner House as soon as visiting hours commenced the following morning. He had considered bringing Georgiana with him, but she was not yet out and he wished to get his own feel for the home and its residents. Besides, he wanted to get to know Miss Gardiner better without his family watching over him.

The Gardiner's home was a fine house, though not as ostentatious as Matlock House nor as fine and large as Darcy House. Darcy concluded that Sir Edward must be doing quite well indeed to afford the place. The livery of the butler who answered the door and the footman who passed by was simple and clean, without the ridiculous additions that some of the new rich chose to make their poor servants wear.

Darcy was led to a large sitting room where only Miss Bennet and a stylish and still pretty woman in her thirties, Lady Madeline Gardiner, waited. It was still early for her to be leaving her rooms, but after hearing the tale of her niece's mistake and Mr. Darcy's intervention, she felt the need to be on-hand. It had been a week and she felt quite well regardless.

As soon as Darcy had taken a seat, a maid appeared with tea. Darcy watched as Miss Elizabeth Bennet served. He found nothing wanting in the way it was done. The same scene might have played out in the exact same way in the sitting room of his great-uncle the duke. He found himself relaxing more and more as the visit progressed.

Lady Gardiner took the lead as she gave their guest a genuine smile, "We welcome you, Mr. Darcy. I apologize that John Lucas and my other nieces are not available for this visit. He had already committed them all to visit the home of another school friend, though he hopes to visit with you again before the holidays end... And wish to thank you for the part you played in sending Lord Malford on his way." The aunt turned to her niece, "My niece knows better than to place herself in such a situation. I believe that she has learned that lesson well. It would not have been pleasant if she had been required to harm the peer."

Again Darcy was shocked at the confidence both ladies seemed to have at the potential outcome of a violent confrontation. "I must admit that I am somewhat surprised at your aplomb on this matter..."

Elizabeth laughed into her hand, then furnished, "Mr. Darcy, ever since I made my bow two and one-half years ago, I have been made aware of the vulnerabilities of women in the world of men. Due to that, I have been training daily in self-defense. My trainers are two very large and experienced former Army men and one much more dangerous and formidable woman. I will not elucidate on her background, but suffice it to say that she is a master in her craft and an able instructor."

Darcy bowed from his seat, "Then I shall bow to your superior understanding on the matter. I wished to relate two matters to you. The first is that Mr. Paulsen woke two hours ago and the good doctor believes that he will recover completely."

"Oh excellent!" Elizabeth replied with real feeling. Darcy was pleased that this lady should be so concerned for the elderly shopkeeper. "Our last report was from early this morning and nothing had changed at that point. I despise that my own foolish carelessness brought harm to the dear old man. My grandmother took me to his shop for the first time when I was eight and it has been a magical place to me ever since."

Darcy, enchanted, answered, "It was much the same with me, though I cannot remember exactly when my father first took me there. Over the years Mr. Paulsen has added many volumes to my library... he may very well cost me more than my horses when you do the accounting."

The two ladies laughed, then Darcy addressed the second matter, "I have sent two notes, one to the Earl of _, and one to the Duke of _ concerning their young relative's misconduct. I have since learned that the Earl is still at his estate in the south, but the Duke is here. He has asked if he might meet with Sir Edward, you My Lady, and Miss Bennet? He is a very good man who will resolve this matter regardless, yet he asked me to act as his ambassador in this?"

Elizabeth looked to her aunt, who nodded, "I will have to speak with my husband, of course, but I am certain that he would be willing." It was highly unlikely that anyone short of a Royal would decline, yet the manner in which this was presented preserved the Gardiner's dignity.

As they moved on to more mundane matters, Lady Gardiner revealed her connections to Lambton, which led to a good discussion, with Elizabeth contributing much to the conversation. Darcy was very pleased to hear that Lady Gardiner knew his mother and had worked with her on several local charities. When Darcy had stayed for as long as propriety allowed, Madeline looked at Elizabeth, who gave the smallest of nods. "Mr. Darcy, we would be pleased to invite you and your sister to dinner tomorrow, if you are available? Mr. Lucas and the other Bennet ladies will be here as well."

Darcy had caught the interplay and could now feel Miss Bennet's eyes watching him carefully, so he knew that this was a test. Would he be willing to bring his younger sister into the home of a tradesman, albeit a new baronet? He decided that Georgiana would benefit a great deal from knowing these ladies, but upped his hand by saying, "I would be pleased to accept for both me and my sister... only... my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam is home on a short leave and is known to your husband. Would it be too much to ask to include him in your invitation?"

Lady Gardiner was more than happy to include his cousin. When Darcy looked at Miss Bennet's sparkling eyes, he knew that he had passed her test as well.

-ooOOoo-

Being only five houses away, Darcy, Richard, and Georgiana opted to enjoy the warm evening and walk to Gardiner House.

Mrs. Younge, Georgiana's companion, scolded her charge quietly, causing Darcy to look at his sister. Seeing her worrying her gloves, Darcy gently took one of her hands and said, "You have nothing to fear from the ladies of Gardiner House, Georgie. They are kindness personified."

"But what if they don't like me?"

He laughed softly, "I cannot imagine that happening. Lady Gardiner knew our mother and had nothing but praise for her. She and Miss Elizabeth Bennet are open and friendly. There are two young cousins with them as well from the country, and I suspect that they are a little overwhelmed by London and in need of a friend.

Richard, listening to the pair, nodded to Darcy over his young cousin's head. By reversing the situation so that Georgiana was extending friendship instead of asking for it, her brother had given her a purpose. As expected, she stopped worrying and finished the short walk thinking about how she could help the young woman feel welcome.

Mrs. Younge remained silent on the matter. She had only very recently been hired and was still finding her footing with the timid girl.

-ooOOoo-

Elizabeth had tried to act nonchalant since Mr. Darcy's morning visit, but the man made her feel the most confusing and frustrating feelings. Unable to settle, she had gone to the large library to find a book to read, but found herself pacing the room instead. In her discombobulated state she had not been aware of the other occupant of the room, Brigitta. Like her cousin, the second-eldest Gardiner child had a great love of reading and could often be found in the library.

Even Brigitta, at the age of eight, could tell that something was different about her cousin. The lovely girl, who had her mother's brunette hair and hazel eyes, adored the cousin who had lived with them for as long as she could remember. Even though Lizzy still addressed Brigitta's parents as "Uncle" and "Aunt", Brigitta and the other Gardiner children thought of the young lady as their big sister. Now the girl arrested her Lizzie's pacing by taking her hand. "What is the matter, Lizzie? Did something bad happen?"

Startled out of her swirling thoughts, Elizabeth looked down into her adorable cousin's big hazel eyes, "No, Brigitta, there is nothing wrong. I was just thinking."

"But you only walk in circles when you're angry or worried," the darling girl declared, unrelenting.

Elizabeth sighed and led her little cousin to her favorite reading couch and sat them both down, "Sometimes, Brigitta, when my thoughts are all confused, I like to pace until I can make sense of what is on my mind."

"Are you thinking about Mr. Darcy?" Brigitta asked innocently.

Elizabeth was startled. She colored slightly as she asked, "How do you know about Mr. Darcy?"

"I heard Mama telling Angelina that a Mr. Darcy was coming to dinner and that she was not to tease you while he was here. She said 'sorting ones feelings about a man is difficult enough without cousins making it harder.' What does sorting ones feelings mean?"

Oddly enough, the innocently delivered question calmed Elizabeth instead of adding to her embarrassment. Her grandmother and her aunt and uncle had always spoken with her as if she was an intelligent person who could handle complex ideas with a little help. She returned that favor to her cousin now, "Sorting feelings means that you have to take a look at all of the different feelings you are having to determine which ones are real, which ones are worth having, and which ones are unworthy and therefore should be discarded. Do you remember how you felt when your Papa told you that we would be moving to this house?"

Brigitta was pensive for a minute as she remembered. Then she replied, "I was angry, and frightened, and exited, and worried."

"Exactly. Your thoughts were all jumbled. You grew up in the house on Gracechurch Street. It was the only house you knew. And your dearest friend lived right next door."

"I was scared that Paulina wouldn't want to be my friend any more. And I liked this big, pretty house, but I was afraid to get lost with so many rooms and hallways and stairs. And I didn't know anyone here."

"You see. Your thoughts were all jumbled and confused, so you needed time to sort them out. Nothing changed about the house or us moving, but you needed to organize all of your feelings. That is what I am doing now."

"Are you going to marry Mr. Darcy? Angelina peaked today and said he was the most handsome man she ever saw and he must think that you're pretty too 'cause he never stopped looking at you."

Elizabeth's blush returned with a vengeance, but she tried to answer anyway, "I do not know what Mr. Darcy thinks about me. He is very handsome, Brigitta, but I do not know him well enough to even know if we will be friends yet. I will get married some day, but I promised myself to only marry a man who I love. For now I will find out if Mr. Darcy is a man I can like."

Brigitta was satisfied with this answer, so she gave her Lizzie a hug and returned to her favorite reading corner.

Elizabeth, in answering Brigitta's concerns, had done much to alleviate her own. I will meet Mr. Darcy tonight as an indifferent acquaintance. Most assuredly, he is a handsome man. But he is also very wealthy and well-connected. He may very quickly determine that I am not of a high-enough strata or pretty enough to suit his needs. If so, then I will cheerfully wave him down the road... that thought caused an unwelcome ache in Elizabeth's chest. And there is still the mystery of why Grandmother had a locket with his image in it...

Elizabeth began pacing again. This time Brigitta looked up, shook her head, and returned to her book.