Darcys' Rented House
Ramsgate
Five O'Clock
"I am most thankful for the new music you purchased for me yesterday, Brother. I am eager to start practicing it."
Darcy smiled at his sister, even as he blinked back tears for the tenth time in the last day. To have his sister with him, safe and secure and more than that, cheerful enough to discuss music, was a gift beyond any price. When he contrasted what could have happened if Wickham and Mrs. Younge had successfully carried out their foul scheme – but no, he would not think of that.
"The harp is quite good and…," Georgiana began and then fell silent at the sound of voices from the corridor outside the door, and she and Darcy both watched as it opened.
A footman stepped inside to announce, "Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet."
Georgiana leapt to her feet, eager and a trifle quicker than her brother, who stood with more dignity to execute a graceful bow to their visitors. Georgiana hurried forward on light swift steps to extend her hands to the two women with delighted greetings.
Darcy took a moment to examine Mrs. Gardiner and her niece. He had not done so the previous day, entirely too concerned with his sister's immediate safety and well-being to pay much heed to her hostesses. Now he observed them both, quickly and carefully.
Mrs. Gardiner was a handsome woman, perhaps five and thirty at a guess, with kind eyes and a motherly sort of manner. Her hair was tucked up under a simple straw hat, adorned with only a single sage-green ribbon made of the same stuff as her equally simple muslin dress.
It was her niece, beside her, who drew his eye. The young lady was remarkably beautiful, if not in the common way. Her eyes were dark and her hair brown and her lips slightly too thin, but hints of amber and auburn adorned her hair, her finely-shaped eyes sparkled with life, and that thin mouth turned up into a lovely smile. At the moment, her entire expression showed unadulterated delight at the sight of his sister.
Darcy's worries were not assuaged. These women had done the Darcys a staggeringly large favor and doubtless would expect an equally handsome return for their service. He wondered grimly how much he would have to pay them and how quickly he could get the sum together. In truth, money was not the most serious of demands; if Mrs. Gardiner or Miss Bennet requested that the Darcys introduce the Bennet daughters to members of the high society or something of the sort, he was not certain he could honorably say no.
"Do sit down, both of you, as dinner is not quite ready," Georgiana said eagerly, gesturing toward the couch across from her. "Please, how are your children, Mrs. Gardiner?"
The ladies obediently took their seats, and Mrs. Gardiner said, "They are very well, thank you, Miss Darcy. There is no doubt that the sea air agrees with them, as they are noticeably more energetic, along with being hungry more or less all the time."
"Have your children been ill, Mrs. Gardiner?" Darcy asked.
Mrs. Gardiner glanced at Georgiana, who said, "Oh, I did not tell you about that? Yes, Brother…"
She trailed off and looked with uncertainty at Mrs. Gardiner, who smoothly continued, "Influenza struck our household in Cheapside, Mr. Darcy, and three of the children and I succumbed to it, with my own health being the worst of all. We are entirely free of the illness, but given that the London air is not salubrious and we are all worn down by the disease, my husband arranged for us to travel to Ramsgate to further recover our strength."
"I am very glad to hear that you are feeling better, Madame. Miss Bennet, were you also taken ill?"
"No, thankfully. I was visiting my aunt and uncle at the time and had the privilege of helping nurse them through the worst of it, while avoiding it myself. I am most grateful, as I despise being ill."
"My dear niece is a very active person," Mrs. Gardiner remarked with a fond smile. "She does not like to lie around in bed!"
Miss Bennet chuckled and said, "Yes, when I fell ill as a child, I would always try to escape my nurses and run around the house, vaguely certain that the solution to my sickness was to pretend that I was not, in fact, sick. It did not work, of course."
"It sounds as if you were truly a lively child," Darcy observed.
"I was, sir, I was! As Miss Darcy perhaps told you, I am the second of five sisters, and my mother found me the most exasperating of her daughters. I have always enjoyed brisk walks, and when I was a child, I even climbed trees!"
Georgiana looked startled at this admission and said, "Oh my, Elizabeth! Were you not afraid that you would fall?"
"I did fall once or twice but never came to any real harm, as I did not fall far. I know what you are thinking, and you are correct; it was not very ladylike, but I assure you that I no longer climb trees, though I still take long walks on my father's land nearly every pleasant day."
The door opened at this juncture, and a maid entered to announce dinner. Darcy stood and offered his arm to Mrs. Gardiner, who took it with a light grip, and Miss Bennet and Georgiana followed in their wake.
/
Darcy had always found the common Society habit of arranging even informal, small dinner parties at the large table in the dining room more than a trifle absurd. Thus he had ordered the servants to set the places and the food in the breakfast parlor, where the table was of a much more reasonable size for only four diners.
He had not ordered an extravagant meal. A simple beef roast sat between peas, potatoes, soup, a bowl of mixed fruit fresh from the locale, and a savory bread pudding. One of the two maids serving them stepped forward with the wine decanter, and he indicated for her to serve Mrs. Gardiner, seated to his right, first, then his sister, seated across from him, Miss Bennet, and himself last.
Conversation was light while the two young women quietly performed their duties. Miss Bennet spoke of her morning walk on the beach, Georgiana of her new music, and together they spoke of a very young lady named Phoebe beginning a new sampler.
The maids quietly bowed themselves out. Darcy took a sip of his wine, observing his sister and Miss Bennet – cheerfully absorbed in discussing Phoebe and her sewing – over the top of his glass. He set it carefully down, adjusted the edge of his plate, and turned towards the matron seated at his right.
"Mrs. Gardiner," Darcy said softly, "I cannot tell you how very grateful I am for your care for my sister these last days. I owe you a great debt."
Mrs. Gardiner finished chewing her bite of peas, swallowed, took a sip of wine and turned to face him. "Mr. Darcy, I know that it is the way of the haut ton to speak in veiled terms, but I am, as you well know, a member of the merchant class, and thus I intend to be blunt."
"As you wish," Darcy replied, his heart speeding up.
"Elizabeth and I are honored to have assisted Miss Darcy in her troubles, and you owe us nothing in return. Did your sister tell you that I spent many of my early years in Lambton?"
"She did mention that, yes."
"My father was a solicitor in Lambton and knew many people in the area, including a few members of the gentry. Mr. George and Lady Anne Darcy were well regarded for their honesty, their kindness, and their generosity. I would not dream of demanding anything for doing what any honorable woman should have done in my place. Moreover, I am mother to two daughters, and if any of my girls were in trouble, I pray that someone would be available to assist them. Now, I know that I am being very direct, and perhaps I am assuming something that you were not even…"
"No, you were not," Darcy interrupted and felt his chest ease. "I am most grateful for your openness. I … you are correct, that I was worried…"
He trailed off, and she smiled at him and said, "I do not pretend to understand your world, but I imagine that those members of the gentry with excellent connections and great wealth are at times the target of jealousy and envy and schemes."
Darcy's eyes drifted to his sister, and he nodded quietly. "Schemes, yes."
Mrs. Gardiner's gaze had followed his, and she said, "There is a passage in Scripture, 'But who shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.' I daresay the verse refers to younger children than Miss Darcy, but she is, from my perspective, still little more than a child. Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Younge have much to answer for before Almighty God."
Darcy frowned and said, "I fear that given that my sister's reputation could be damaged if word escaped about the planned elopement, I cannot do much to bring justice here on earth, so I will need to leave it in the hands of the Lord."
"Oh, I would love to see that!" Georgiana exclaimed, sufficiently loudly that both Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner turned to look at the younger members of the party. "I am certain little Benjamin will have a wonderful time"
Elizabeth laughed and said, "I can only hope that he will not stuff sand into his mouth!"
Mrs. Gardiner chuckled and turned to Darcy. "They are speaking of my youngest son, Benjamin, who is not yet two years of age. He wishes to visit the beach, and while I am not yet strong enough to climb Jacob's Ladder, we intend, if the weather is good, to walk to the beach tomorrow morning, and Elizabeth and our maids will help Benji up and down the stairs."
Darcy was suddenly reminded of a trip to the Lakes when he was fifteen years old and Georgiana was but three, and Lady Anne was still alive. There had been a trip on a boat, and little Georgiana had been ecstatic at the chilled waters and the low mountains surrounding them. Children were so simple and pure in their enthusiasms.
"I am certain he will have a fine time," Darcy said with a genuine grin. "Now, I hope you do not mind if we do not separate after dinner since I have no wish to drink my port in regal solitude."
"We do not mind at all," Georgiana said, her eyes shining.