Happy Sunday, dear readers! Thank you all so very much for the kind words and encouragement, as always. And thank you especially to the guest commentor who said Elizabeth should be made to miss Darcy a little - it really made me think about the direction I was going as we creep closer to the end of this story, so I consulted a few of my fellow JAFF authors and they unanimously agreed with you! So some judicious editing of this chapter had to be done before I could post it.
But hey, this is what, three or four chapters in one week? How happy are we with my Muse for finally being cooperative?! lol
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Wednesday, 3 April 1822
-...-
"Are you ready, my dear?" Mrs. Gardiner asked her daughter as the driver slowed the horses.
Anne drew a breath. "As I shall ever be, Mamma," said she. "I only wish Papa could have joined us."
"I should have liked him to be here as well, dearest, and so would he—but you know he is rather busy with our steward preparing Netherfield for the planting season," Mrs. Gardiner replied.
"I am reminded, Aunt Gardiner," spoke up Elizabeth, "that I received a letter from my own stewards at the castle about our planting this morning. It is a relief that the rains in Berkshire have not made things as difficult as they've done in years past."
"Indeed, Lizzy," said Mary. "Robert wrote to me as well and said he was very pleased that the rains have not been too heavy thus far."
When it was at last their turn to disembark, they followed the custom of high society and alighted in order of rank, with Elizabeth stepping out first, then Mary, followed by Mrs. Gardiner and Anne. They then walked together into the Almack's building with quick steps, wishing to get out of the cold as soon as possible, for though it was now April, London was still experiencing winter temperatures.
After stepping into the anteroom where they handed their cloaks off to waiting maids and put on their dancing shoes, Elizabeth led the way to the ballroom. She gave their names to the caller and drew a breath as he cried out for all the room to hear,
"The Marchioness of Stashwick, Lady Winstead, Mrs. Edward Gardiner, and Miss Anne Gardiner."
Nearly every pair of eyes in the room turned to take them in. Elizabeth lifted her chin a little, plastered on a smile, and marched forward. Within a minute they were met by Lord and Lady Scarborough.
"Adelaide, Thomas, what a pleasure it is to see you!" said Elizabeth before embracing her stepdaughter, then placing a light kiss to her husband's cheek.
"And what a pleasant surprise it is to see you, Elizabeth!" replied Adelaide.
"I second that notion, Lady Stashwick," added Scarborough with a smile.
"We are come to begin introducing my dear cousin Anne to society," said Elizabeth with a smile at her cousin. "Is she not a lovely creature?"
Adelaide and Thomas both praised Anne's beauty and wished her luck in meeting many fine young men throughout her Season. Elizabeth then leaned closer to the couple and asked in a low voice, "Addy, are you certain you should be here, in your delicate condition?"
Adelaide grinned. "My dear Lizzy—of course, I am sure! I am in excellent health, you can hardly notice my increasing figure, and I have promised Tom I will not dance but twice this evening."
"The slower dances," said Scarborough, "and I am to have the supper set."
"You always take her supper set, my lord," said Elizabeth with a smile, before reacquainting the pair with her sister and aunt and properly introducing her cousin to them.
"Your cousin Lady Stashwick could not have chosen a better time to introduce you to society, Miss Gardiner. May I be so bold as to request the honour of the first two dances?" said the young marquess.
Anne blushed vividly and stuttered a reply before handing her dance card to him. He smiled at her as he returned it, then turned his attention to Elizabeth.
"I must request you save me a dance as well, my lady—family or no, you've not been out in society in over a year, and we must reacquaint all and sundry with what a fine dancer you are."
Elizabeth laughed. "My dear Thomas, you are a flatterer! I thank you for your kindness and would be happy to dance with you."
"Then it's settled! Now, Lady Winstead, have you come prepared to dance?" said Scarborough next.
Mary smiled genially. "I know not many here, but I believe my sister intends to introduce me to as many gentleman as our cousin, or near so," she said. "Therefore, I believe I shall dance at least part of the evening."
"Then let me stake my claim now—your kindness in doing me the honour will mean three of the first six sets of my evening are filled."
With a nod, Mary replied, "I am obliged to you for the kindness, my lord. Thank you."
When Lord Scarborough had applied his name to Elizabeth's and Mary's card, he enquired of Mrs. Gardiner as well; she laughed and thanked him for the flattery before saying that she was of an age where she could get away with dancing only with her husband, and "…as he is not here, I shall be content to watch everyone else, especially my daughter."
Scarborough laughed and bowed, then Elizabeth reminded her relations that she had many more introductions to make before the dancing began so that Anne's first dance card could be filled.
"After all, we are here for her, not ourselves!" she said, leading both the Scarboroughs to laugh.
As they moved about the perimeter of the ballroom, the four ladies met with several of Elizabeth's acquaintances among the nobility and gentry, many of whom remarked on their pleasure at seeing her again as well as the fine looks of the whole party. Lady Jersey was the first to note that Anne's gown was the same one Elizabeth had worn for her debut, to which Mrs. Gardiner smoothly replied that as it had brought her niece so much good fortune they were certain of Anne being just as blessed. The countess was, as so rarely happened, left speechless by the smart riposte
They were just being approached by young Mr. and Mrs. Hiddleston, who were accompanied by another young man Elizabeth surmised to be the gentleman's relation, when behind them they heard the caller announce the arrival of Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth drew a breath as anxiety coursed through her. Would he join their party—would he even speak to her? She and Darcy had not parted well on Monday.
"My dear Lady Stashwick, how do you do?" Mr. Hiddleston greeted her warmly. "And you, Lady Winstead?"
Elizabeth glanced at Mary, then back again. "We are very well, Mr. Hiddleston, thank you. And yourself, sir?"
"Very well indeed, madam, I thank you. As is my dear lady," said Hiddleston with a smile at his bride. He then cast a glance at the other young man and added, "Might I have the honour of introducing my brother to you, Your Ladyship?"
"I should be delighted to meet him," Elizabeth replied.
"Then allow me to present my youngest sibling, Mr. Andrew Hiddleston. Andy, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to the Marchioness of Stashwick and her sister Lady Winstead."
Elizabeth smiled as Mr. Andrew bowed respectfully. She then introduced the Hiddlestons and her aunt and cousin to each other.
"I am especially glad to meet you, Your Ladyship," said Hiddleston, "for I mean to tell everyone about Andy's good fortune."
"Edmund, please," said Andrew, an embarrassed flush coloring his cheeks.
"Pray, what is this good fortune?" Elizabeth asked.
The elder brother looked at the younger with a wide grin. "Andy here has just graduated Cambridge and was all set to go into the law, when we received word just today that a great uncle of ours that Mother barely remembers meeting once—and we have never met—has passed away and left my little brother his estate. He won't have to take up a profession after all, if he does not wish to!"
"I am sorry for your loss, Mr. Hiddleston, but at the same time pleased for you, Mr. Andrew," said Elizabeth. "I presume the estate has a good income?"
Andrew cleared his throat. "At least three thousand a year, according to the attorney," said he. "Possibly more, as there is land surrounding the park and farms which is available for purchase."
"Three thousand per annum is a very respectable income, Mr. Andrew," offered Mrs. Gardiner. "Will you still practice law now that you may take on the title of landed gentleman?"
"I-I do not know, as yet, madam," Andrew replied. "I mean to go into Hertfordshire to see the place first and determine if it needs any renovation, and having been reared at Brooksbank, I've at least some idea of how to run an estate. I may attempt to do both for a time, to see if I can manage it, as I was fully prepared to wile away my days drawing up wills and marriage articles and property titles."
"There would be no shame, sir," began Anne timidly, "if you should hire a steward to manage your new estate while you practiced law. My good father was in trade for many years before he retired to our estate, and he still holds a large interest in his business, does he not, Mother?"
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. "He does, Anne—I believe his interest in Gardiner's Custom Carriages is fifty-percent ownership."
Mr. and Mrs. Hiddleston's expressions showed their surprise. "Your husband is the Gardiner of Gardiner's Custom Carriages?" asked the gentleman.
"He is indeed," said Mrs. Gardiner with a smile.
"Oh, Edmund, is this not such a strange coincidence?" said Mrs. Hiddleston. "Did not you order our new carriage from there?"
"I did, yes. Splendid equipage! Most comfortable carriage I have ever ridden in, and no mistake, madam," said her husband.
"I am delighted you think so, sir, and shall be more than happy to pass on your compliments to my husband, who will no doubt share them with his business partner," Mrs. Gardiner told him. "And Mr. Andrew, might we know where in Hertfordshire your estate is located? My family lives just outside of Meryton; our estate is called Netherfield."
Andrew Hiddleston, who had—if Elizabeth's eyes did not deceive—been looking at Anne with some admiration, blinked rapidly as though he had missed the question entirely. His brother noticed as well and chuckled and replied to Mrs. Gardiner's query by saying that Hiddley Park was just outside of Hatfield.
Mrs. Gardiner's eyes lit up at this. "It would not happen to be a Palladian structure of light-colored stone to the north, would it? With a perfectly trimmed box hedge and gate and a great expanse of lawn to the front?"
"That is indeed how it was described by our uncle's attorney, Mrs. Gardiner—have you seen the place?" asked Mr. Hiddleston.
"Indeed, I have!" said Mrs. Gardiner.
"My sister and I have also seen it, at least from a distance, sir," offered Elizabeth. "One cannot miss it on a clear day, for the road north from London that leads through Meryton passes right by it."
"Well, there you have it, Andy!" said Hiddleston. "Already you know that you've a handsome estate to inspect, and some kind neighbors to the north of you."
"N-Neighbors to whom I would be m-most happy to pay my respects, when I am in the neighborhood," Andrew stuttered, his cheeks coloring again as his attention was drawn from Anne.
Mrs. Gardiner glanced between the young man and her daughter and smiled. "See that you do, sir."
The Hiddlestons left them then to go and greet other acquaintances, and Elizabeth's party did the same. Mrs. Gardiner happened to meet the very business partner she had mentioned, Mr. Jonah Howard, a longtime manager of Mr. Gardiner's business to whom he had sold fifty percent of it when he decided to dedicate himself to being a landed gentleman full time. Mr. Howard was with his wife and two sons, both of whom were unmarried and were gently pressed by their mother to offer dances to Anne.
While her aunt and the Howards spoke, Elizabeth found herself looking about the room. She told herself she was not searching for Darcy, but that did not stop her from thinking she had found him multiple times only to feel disappointed when the man turned and proved himself to be someone else.
Am I truly disappointed? she asked herself. Did I not send him away in no uncertain terms two days ago?
The two days that had passed since she and Darcy last met had afforded her many opportunities to reflect on the meeting, and the more she reviewed the encounter, the more mortified she was.
How unkind she had been, and what a hypocrite! How could she have praised Darcy for being a changed man in earlier meetings just to turn about and use the past against him? Had he not already made amends to Jane and Bingley for his ill judgment and interference there? Had she not herself declared him a friend even before her marriage?
And then there was his confession of love—what on Earth was she to do about that?
"Lizzy."
Hearing her name snapped Elizabeth from her reverie. Turing to her sister, she looked to where Mary gestured: the Dornans were approaching.
Elizabeth drew a breath to prepare herself for forced civility. Caroline was wearing her regular saccharine smile as she and Sir Frederick stopped before them.
"Lady Stashwick, what a pleasure it is to see you here this evening," said the knight before he bowed from the waist.
"It is a pleasure to see you as well, Sir Frederick. Lady Dornan," Elizabeth said, making sure to acknowledge Caroline. "You both remember my sister, Lady Winstead. I present to you also our aunt, Mrs. Edward Gardiner, and her daughter Anne."
Caroline offered a nod to Mrs. Gardiner. "I believe we have met, madam," she said.
"We have," the matron replied. "At Jane's wedding to dear Charles, and on an occasion or two at Glenwood."
"My dear ladies," said Sir Frederick. "May I ask if you are all come to dance? I should be delighted to stand up with any one—or all—of you, for you are each of you a sight to behold."
"You are a flatterer, Sir Frederick," said Elizabeth with a smile. "My good aunt does not mean to dance this evening, and we are here primarily to introduce her daughter into society."
"But surely you do not mean to deprive this great company of a chance to watch you dancing, Lady Stashwick," simpered Caroline. "Do grant my husband the privilege, if you would be so kind—I assure you, he is an excellent dancer."
Elizabeth felt cornered, and she did not care for it—but she knew she had to accept, if she had any intention of honoring the other requests she had already accepted.
Plastering another false smile, she inclined her head. "Very well, you may add your name to my card," she said, handing it to him.
Sir Frederick signed his name to the card and smiled as he returned it, then begged Anne and Mary both for a place on theirs. "Thank you all for doing me such a great honor,' said he as he handed Mary's card back to her. "I shall certainly be envied by many other gentlemen here tonight."
"You shall certainly be envied by Mr. Darcy, my love," said Caroline smoothly. "I did not see his name on your card, my lady, but I know he is here. Surely you would save a dance for him?"
Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from answering the query with the scathing retort that came to mind. She was already anxious over her next meeting with Darcy—apologies had unfortunately never come easy to her—and no doubt Caroline suspected, due to their rumoured courtship, some rift between them as he had not made his way immediately to her.
"Mr. Darcy and I are friends, so I shall certainly dance with him if he should ask me," she managed at last. "Until our dance, Sir Frederick."
Thankfully, the knight took the hint; he bowed, leading Caroline to curtsey, then they moved off.
"There's one dance I am not looking forward to," Elizabeth murmured.
"Which set of yours did he claim, Lizzy?" Mary asked.
Lifting her dance card, Elizabeth stifled a groan as she glanced over it. Sir Frederick had claimed the supper set, which meant she was obliged to sit next to him throughout the meal.
"We shall dance and dine together, it seems," she replied.
"Perhaps it will not be so bad," Mary suggested. "I must admit, he seems much more agreeable than his wife has ever been."
"True enough," Elizabeth conceded. "Perhaps I will glean something from him which might lead to my giving Caroline notice after a decade."
A glance at the disbelieving expression of her sister made Elizabeth laugh, and they continued on with their circuit of the room and their mission to fill Anne's dance card. Though she tried hard not to dwell on it, Elizabeth could not help noticing that they did not once encounter Darcy, leading her to wonder if he was avoiding her.
It was a very unsettling feeling.