Chapter 8
They were greeted pleasantly by the Gardiners when they arrived a little before noon. Knowing his niece was expected, Mr Gardiner had returned home early for his afternoon meal and was waiting when the carriage arrived. All three were escorted into the house, and refreshments were ordered. Mrs Nicholls was uncomfortable with the idea of joining the family and was introduced to the Gardiners' housekeeper instead.
In the Gardiners' parlour, Elizabeth introduced her aunt and uncle to the gentleman. They all were seated, and Elizabeth spoke.
"I met Mr Darcy at an assembly just after Michaelmas nearly three weeks ago. Mr Darcy received a letter a few days ago that seemed to concern me, and we wondered what you might know of it," she began. Mr Darcy picked up the story then and began to tell about the estate and investments he maintained as the inheritance for a friend of his father's and the letter he received that led to their belief that Elizabeth was not who she thought she was and their subsequent realisations.
"Miss Elizabeth, I did not say anything in the carriage, but I received a letter from Mr Elliot, the other trustee, yesterday afternoon. He confirmed that you are, in fact, Miss Tomlinson, which we suspected. He will be in town early next week and asked to meet with both of us as soon as can be arranged," Darcy told them. "Mr Gardiner, I would like to request your presence as well, as Miss Tomlinson is not yet of age, and Mr Bennet is not here to serve as guardian."
"He only confirmed that I was the girl in question, nothing else?" Elizabeth inquired, furrowing her brow as she looked at him.
"No, there was more, but, Miss Elizabeth, I prefer to speak of it privately to your uncle first," Darcy admitted, wincing slightly. "It is not that I do not think you capable of it, but that it is delicate, and I prefer to speak it over with Mr Gardiner first, if you do not mind."
Elizabeth was unsure whether to be annoyed or worried as this was the first time he had been reluctant to speak to her about anything concerning herself. She reluctantly agreed. "I insist you two get it over with quickly then because if it concerns me, I would like to hear it as soon as the two of you can sort out the best way to do so."
Darcy hid a grin at her impatient tone but requested to speak to Mr Gardiner privately. That gentleman agreed, and the two removed to Mr Gardiner's study.
As soon as the gentlemen left, Mrs Gardiner moved closer to Elizabeth. "Lizzy, this is much to take in. How are you doing with it all?"
Elizabeth breathed deeply to compose herself. "It has been difficult, Aunt, to realise that everything I believed was true is not. In fact, calling you Aunt is not even correct, as we are not related whatsoever, but I feel more comfortable calling you that than I do when referring to Mr and Mrs Bennet as Mama and Papa." Again, she sighed deeply. "I feel betrayed by them, and the more I have discussed things with Mr Darcy, the greater the betrayal seems. I am an heiress, Aunt; on my next birthday, I will come into a significant fortune and will own my own estate. I will answer to no one, and I will never have to marry if I do not choose to do so. I have a freedom I never knew, but my entire life has been built upon a lie."
She covered her face with her hands for a moment to think. "I think the most shocking realisation is that I am an orphan. Since I began coming to visit, we spoke about how Mrs Bennet treated me differently from her daughters, although I never knew until this last week why that was. Now, it seems so obvious and answers so many questions I have always wondered about. Mr Darcy suggested that Mrs Bennet treated me this way out of envy, which, I admit, would never have occurred to me but does make sense. I have the security she craves because my grandparents saw fit to leave my inheritance directly to me. I will never worry about where or how I will live. However, had she befriended me, she could have relied on my assistance. At the moment, I cannot fathom having anything to do with them once I inherit."
"Lizzy, I apologise for changing the topic, but tell me of Mr Darcy," Mrs Gardiner asked softly.
Elizabeth blushed, her smile radiant. "He wishes to court me. He was inclined to do so even before he became aware of my true background, though he expressed uncertainty about navigating the complexities of my family situation. He sensed something was amiss but could not pinpoint it and thought it prudent to wait until he had more information. Then, he received the letter from Mr Elliot, and the pieces began to fall into place. However, he has not yet broached the subject with Mr. Bennet—he wanted to seek Mr. Elliot's counsel before proceeding. I suspect that even if we decide to marry, it may not be possible before I come of age. I am unsure he would be willing to endure such a wait."
"Lizzy, I have little doubt he has already begun to consider all of these things if he has asked you for a courtship. He is seeking advice on approaching your father, and it seems he has taken good care of you. Even if you do have to wait the better part of a year to wed, I doubt he would have even considered it if he were unwilling to wait," Mrs Gardiner soothed. "You pay too much attention to what my sister says and do not realise your own value."
"He did not ask for a courtship until after he told me of the letter from Mr Elliot. He has assured me he wanted to request a courtship even before then, and I do not want to doubt him, but it is difficult for me," Elizabeth confessed, her eyes on her tightly held hands in her lap.
Mrs Gardiner patted Elizabeth's arm and tugged her chin up so she was looking directly at her. "He said the terms of the will stipulate that you retain control of your entire inheritance, even after you marry. He has already been managing it for several years and has his own substantial estate. Mr Darcy is extraordinarily wealthy and does not need your wealth, my dear," she told her. "He is the furthest thing from a fortune hunter."
Elizabeth laughed. "I never envisioned Mr Darcy as such," she replied. "No, I was more worried that my inheritance was all a man like that might be interested in. How could anyone love someone like me?" she cried.
Mrs Gardiner wrapped her arms around her niece. "Hush, child," she whispered into her hair. "You are well-loved by many, and any man, particularly one like Mr Darcy, would be inordinately lucky to have you as a wife." The two remained that way for several minutes until Elizabeth seemed to calm again. "Tell me, Lizzy, you said he asked for a courtship, but has he said more?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Not explicitly, but he addresses me as 'dearest' and has made other remarks that suggest deeper feelings. He… he did kiss me yesterday after our conversation at Oakham Mount when we were discussing our plans for travelling to London today. It was a brief kiss, our lips scarcely touching, but, oh, Aunt." Elizabeth paused momentarily, her hands covering her face as she blushed. "It was absolutely wonderful."
"Do you love him?" she asked.
She dropped her hands and looked at her aunt. "I do not know. I think I might, but how do I know? We have not even known each other a month. I confess, we have met nearly every morning since the Meryton Assembly at the top of Oakham Mount. We have always maintained a distance from each other, but we have spoken of so many things during this time. At first, it was an accident, but then I think it was on purpose. Of course, I nearly always walked that way even before he came, though I think he sought me out after the first few meetings." Glancing at the concern on her aunt's face, she quickly tried to reassure her. "No one saw us, and, as I said, we never stood close to each other, although, the day he received the letter, we did speak much longer than usual."
"Calm yourself, Elizabeth," Mrs Gardiner said, again taking her niece's arm to calm her. "I do not doubt you and am hardly worried about gossip in Meryton. The tenants of Longbourn and Netherfield think too well of you to spread scurrilous tales about you, even if someone had seen something, and Mrs Hill and Mrs Nicholls would never allow servants to gossip about you in particular."
"Thank you, Aunt," Elizabeth said but then gasped. "Oh, you do not mind if I continue to call you my aunt, do you?"
"Of course not, dear," she replied, patting her hand. "No matter what happens, you are my niece. "Nothing will change that."
In the study, the conversation between the two men took a markedly different tone. "Mr Bennet wrote to Mr Elliot, seeking his approval for a marriage contract between Elizabeth and Mr Bennet's heir, a man by the name of Mr Collins. He happens to be my aunt's clergyman, and based on that alone, I can confidently assure you that he is not a suitable match for Miss Elizabeth. Even if she were Mr Bennet's legitimate daughter, the match would be ill-fitting for someone of her calibre. My aunt seems to have a penchant for hiring the most unsuitable sycophants; her previous rector was a servile imbecile. Mr. Bennet is intent on orchestrating this match, disregarding the fact that Miss Elizabeth's consent is essential, along with that of the trustees. It appears he has also conveniently overlooked the fact that the estate directly passes to Elizabeth. He suggests that Mr Collins is willing to renounce the entail, as he will inherit Briarwood in its stead." Darcy's tone carried a hint of frustration.
"Mr Darcy, is there anything else you want to speak with me about? You seem far more involved in this situation than just as a trustee, and I still am unclear how Lizzy ended up coming to town in your company," Gardiner asked.
"I asked Miss Elizabeth for a courtship several days ago, but we were uncertain how to address this with Mr Bennet once I heard from Mr Elliot. I was unsure before the letter, but more so when I learned more about the secrets they were keeping from her about her future. I …. I care about her very much, sir, and if I believed she was ready, I would ask her to be my wife. I have said as much to her but have been unwilling to press too much, given what she is having to endure at the moment," Darcy confessed. "I intended to ask you and Mr Elliott for advice on how to proceed, but I know Mr Bennet must agree as well."
"Bennet does not know of your interest?" Gardiner clarified.
"No, he has never been at any of the events where I have seen Miss Elizabeth, and she and I have encountered each other on our walks several mornings; well, she was walking, I was riding. We would speak for a few minutes but maintained a distance from each other in case we were seen. We only broke with propriety the morning I shared the letter with her, but that was because I knew it would be a long conversation. I have not acted inappropriately with her, sir," Darcy insisted.
"Thank you, Mr Darcy, for your reassurance, and I imagine Lizzy is telling my wife a similar story," Gardiner acknowledged. "Should I discover any inconsistencies in your accounts, I will be greatly displeased," he warned. "However, I am well-acquainted with the personalities of my brother and sister and find it difficult to believe that either of them would be amenable to your proposal, particularly if they are entertaining this plan. I wonder which one of them concocted this scheme." Mr. Gardiner leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment as he contemplated the situation. "What did your Mr Elliott say about this proposed marriage?"
"He is acquainted with my aunt and cannot fathom her employing a man any woman would desire to marry. Naturally, he will reject it based on the notion of Mr Collins inheriting the estate in place of Longbourn, and he will emphasise that no marriage contract will be sanctioned without the agreement of all three trustees and, of course, Miss Tomlinson's consent. She cannot be coerced into this marriage, as I would willingly propose to her regardless of potential threats. My concern now is that Mr Bennet agreed to this trip to London to remove her from Longbourn while the contracts were being negotiated, only to return her later, informing her that she had no choice in the matter. Miss Tomlinson has been kept in the dark about her true identity, and her 'parents' have treated her quite poorly. I am apprehensive about what might unfold should she return to Longbourn. If she does, I will need to lease a residence to closely monitor the situation," Darcy concluded.
"Mr Darcy, I must pose a question as the nearest male relative to my niece, well, regardless of any true connection by blood—she is and will always be my niece. Please do not take offence, and appreciate that I need to understand this. You have expressed your wish to marry my niece, yet you display a deeper attachment than what is customary for couples in the courting stage. Would you have pursued her with the same fervour had she been Elizabeth Bennet rather than Tomlinson?" Gardiner inquired his tone firm but still striving to maintain a conciliatory approach with the more influential gentleman.
Darcy's countenance briefly hardened before softening as he responded, "I agree; you are fully entitled to such an inquiry. I have the responsibility of caring for a much younger sister, and I would extend the same vigilance to anyone who sought a courtship with her. Yes, I was interested when I believed her to be Elizabeth Bennet. A certain restraint held me back, though, and it was not linked to her wealth or connections. I found myself troubled by the way her mother treated her in public, and as I delved deeper into her background, I encountered more questions that I needed answers to before I could proceed. An inner voice cautioned me that my suit might not find favour with Mr Bennet, prompting me to await further insights. When I disclosed the truth about her identity to Miss Elizabeth, I felt compelled to be forthright. I believed she should have at least a glimpse of my true feelings for her. I did not think she was quite ready for a marriage proposal, and thus, I settled for suggesting a courtship instead. She agreed although I know she is unsettled by all the changes in her life at the moment. I worry she has agreed because she sees me as a way out of this mess she is in."
"I do not think Lizzy would agree for that reason alone," Gardiner told the younger man. "It may be a part of it, but it is not the only reason. Lizzy has always said she would only marry for the deepest love, and she will want to be certain of that before she agrees to more."
"Thank you, sir," Darcy replied. "I will still wait before moving further unless you or Mr Elliott think it wise. I expect to have to wait to marry until after her birthday in August, no matter when she accepts me."
"I wonder, Mr Darcy," Gardiner said thoughtfully, then shook his head. "We need to discuss this further with Mr Elliot, but you do need to make Lizzy aware of this. It will be one more shock to her, but she is unlike many girls and will be able to handle it."
"I agree, sir, but I did want to discuss it with you before I said anything to her. I was … I was worried I could not restrain my anger at her father if she was the first one I discussed it with," Darcy confessed.
"Lizzy probably could have handled your anger, but, knowing her as I do, will likely desire to walk after she is told. It is better to do it here where she can escape to the garden or the to the park. I will even allow you to accompany her," Gardiner teased.
"I have noticed that trait in her," Darcy agreed. The two rose and returned to where the ladies waited.
A/N: This is not intended to be a cliffhanger, and I am hoping to finish chapter 9 tonight. If not, it'll be tomorrow.