The day after that fateful meeting Mr. Gardiner fished at Pemberley. Mr. Darcy was unable to join him first thing in the morning, the press of estate business, don't you know, but join him he did about the hour of ten in the forenoon. As is traditional, and expected, amongst fishermen, they did not speak as they fished. But at noon two footmen brought out a pail of ale and a basket containing sandwiches of thick cut ham and cheese, a pot of mustard, and one of pickled onions, for the fishermen's nuncheon. Blankets were laid out in the shade of an oak tree for them; the fishermen sat down to eat, and talk. They spoke, of course, of fishing – it had been tolerable in the morning, but with the heat of the day coming on, it would likely be poor in the afternoon. They spoke of trade – Mr. Gardiner described his business importing silks and spices from the Ottomans, India, China, and Naples (here he winked and Mr. Darcy understood that to mean that more than a bit of Neapolitan silk was French in origin). They spoke of the lot of the lower classes and the price of bread – here they agreed to disagree regarding the repeal of the Corn Laws. They spoke of wars – plural, now that the Americans had invaded Upper Canada. Thankfully, Britannia ruled the waves. They drank to that. And finally, they spoke of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Mr. Gardiner felt he had established a good enough rapport with Mr. Darcy that he could dare to beard the lion in his den. He started by relating the history between his niece and Mr. Darcy, as he understood it: "You have been in company with my niece, Elizabeth, three times …" He saw Mr. Darcy open his mouth and so he held up his hand "Let me finish and then you can correct any mistakes I've made."
Upon Mr. Darcy nodding his agreement, Mr. Gardiner began "The first time was in Hertfordshire and by the time you and your friends snuck away to London, you left Elizabeth with a very low opinion of you given your open and expressed contempt of her person, her prospects, her family, and her connections; her knowledge, such as it was then, of how you ruined the life of her then favourite, Mr. Wickham; and your suspected role in breaking the heart of my niece, Jane. You are lucky that Elizabeth's refusal of the proposal she received from her cousin, Collins, proved such a distraction that her anger at you did not fester into hatred."
Mr. Gardiner could see that Mr. Darcy was fit to burst so he held up his forefinger to remind that gentleman of his agreement to remain silent and he continued "The second time was in Kent. The Elizabeth that returned from there was not the same as the one that had gone. Something of moment happened to her there. Something that caused Wickham to lose her favour. Something that further confused the situation between Jane and her Mr. Bingley, which had already been complicated by Jane sending that gentleman away before Elizabeth got back. Whether the something that happened involved you I don't know - Elizabeth hasn't confided in me or her aunt. All I know was that Elizabeth returned from Kent very much subdued."
Mr. Gardiner could see Mr. Darcy release his breath, breath he had been holding while he listened to Mr. Gardiner speak of Kent. Mr. Gardiner made note of that and concluded "The third time is here and now in Derbyshire. Elizabeth did not want to tour Pemberley but my wife talked her into coming. And I must say, something of moment has happened to her here as well. Last night, as we enjoyed our lemonade on the terrace I got the distinct impression, and my wife later confirmed to me, that she had the same impression, that the way you and Elizabeth acted towards each other, and the way you together acted towards us, was if you were a married couple, a long and happily married couple. We would like to know why that is. It's now your turn to speak and I hope you will enlighten us. And Mr. Darcy, please be explicit as to what your intentions are towards my niece."
Having said his piece Mr. Gardiner waited for Mr. Darcy to say his. The wait seemed to stretch on for longer than Mr. Gardiner thought it would given Mr. Darcy's eagerness to interrupt when he was speaking. It seemed that the gentleman was gathering his thoughts. As he waited Mr. Gardiner watched a grey heron which was working the cattails at the end of the lake opposite them. The bird peered into the water, froze, and then shot its beak down. It came up with a small fish. It then noticed him staring at it. Mr. Gardiner nodded at it, one fisherman congratulating another on his luck. Mr. Gardiner was not able to see if the heron ate the fish or flew away with it to feed his family as Mr. Darcy started to speak drawing Mr. Gardiner's attention.
"In Hertfordshire I was guilty of almost every offence your niece laid at my feet. The one exception concerns Mr. Wickham – he ruined his own life. When we go back to the house, I can show you some documentation that goes a long way to proving that." Upon Mr. Gardiner nodding his agreement Mr. Darcy continued "Notwithstanding my head's distain for her, my heart's admiration for Miss Elizabeth grew and grew to the point where my head talked me into fleeing Hertfordshire lest I declare for her. She being so far below me. I thought that if I never saw her again, I would be free of her." Mr. Darcy sighed and whispered, more to himself than his listener, "Then I went to Kent."
Mr. Darcy took a long drink of ale and then repeated, louder this time: "Then I went to Kent. And there she was, in all her splendour. I was oft in company with her and eventually my heart prevailed over my head." Mr. Darcy, who had been looking over the lake as he spoke, turned, and stared at Mr. Gardiner. "You asked, sir, as to what my intentions are towards your niece. They are and were honourable - in Kent I proposed marriage to her." Mr. Darcy could sense that now it was Mr. Gardiner who wanted to interrupt and so it was his turn to hold up his finger to forestall him. Mr. Darcy turned back to his viewing of the lake and continued, "But… But I did it in less than a gentlemanlike manner; much less - I was prideful, presumptuous, arrogant - the list of my faults goes on and on. If someone proposed to my sister in such a way, I would call him out. Miss Elizabeth refused me and, if words have sharp edges, you could say a violent melee ensued. I left her presence well bloodied. The next day I fled Kent. I thought that if I never saw her again, I would be free of her."
Mr. Darcy threw up his hands. "And now, she has come to Pemberley. And my heart is still in thrall to her. What am I to do?"
Mr. Gardiner, recognizing a rhetorical question when he heard one, said nothing and eventually Mr. Darcy went on.
"I have regulated my behaviour. I am trying to act, best as I can, in a more gentlemanlike manner." He looked to Mr. Gardiner, who, having seen no hint of haughtiness in Mr. Darcy's manner towards him, nodded his affirmation. "But is it enough? I still wish to take her for a wife. I need her. Pemberley needs her." He pointed at Mr. Gardiner. "You and your wife sensed it, I sense it…" Mr. Darcy waved his right hand about, encompassing the entire estate "… Pemberley senses it. Elizabeth is the true mistress of Pemberley. But will she accept it? Will she accept me?" Mr. Darcy held his head in his hands.
Mr. Gardiner, ignoring that the questions were rhetorical, said "What man knows what really lurks in in the mind of a woman? But Mr. Darcy, I will say this - judging by yesterday, Elizabeth's attitude towards you has softened considerably and if you pursue her as you would a skittish horse – if you don't spook her – you have a reasonable chance of getting your wish. I wish you luck, I think the two of you will make a fine couple." Thinking he had said enough, perhaps too much, Mr. Gardiner concluded "Now, if you will excuse me, I feel in need of a nap." With that, Mr. Gardiner laid back and tipped his hat over his face.
Mr. Darcy looked at his companion, smiled and shook his head. He got up on his feet and started walking towards the house. As his cousin, Richard, would say, he had a campaign to plan.
