Chapter 15

Within several hours of arriving in London Jane and both grooms were on their way to Cheapside. Mr Darcy had sent notice to Mr and Mrs Gardiner prior to leaving Hertfordshire of a need for a meeting with them to discuss several matters involving their nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

For the first time Fitzwilliam and Richard met Mr Gardiner. Elizabeth's intended was unsure exactly how he felt about the man who had consciously played such a decisive role in the attempted forced marriage of her to Wickham. The man was more gentlemanly in appearance than he had expected. Unlike his sister, Mrs Bennet, Darcy was soon struck by his intelligence, his taste and his good manners.

The reason for their visit was soon explained. First by Jane and Richard, and then Mr Darcy disclosed his agreement with their other niece. Neither Mrs Gardiner nor Mr Gardiner seemed surprised. He assumed she had told her husband of their previous visits. The couple seemed pleased with the arrangements.

Mr Darcy asked Mr Gardiner for the private conference he needed. Elizabeth's uncle readily agreed and took him to his study.

"I have been in correspondence with Mr Goodwin. I received an express from him this morning to apply to you. It is my intention to buy the Lambton bookshop, if you will agree to sell."

"We have barely begun the legal transference of his businesses to me. However, he has let me know he wanted the bookshop to be given to Elizabeth."

Darcy laughed. "And I wanted to buy it for her as a wedding present. Mr Goodwin and I know your niece much better than her parents do."

Mr Gardiner blushed but did not falter as he spoke. "I will make changing title to the property my main objective. It will be ready for you to present to her on your wedding day. You could pay me a reasonable sum and the gift could be from both of you, or you could allow it to be only from Mr Goodwin."

"I must think on that. I wanted to make right a wrong with the gift."

"Perhaps you could give her books to add to the stock at the shop."

"What a wonderful idea. I am certain she would appreciate some books in Italian to sell. She has become very interested in Italy because of her friends Miss Golden and Mr Swift."

"Yes, Mr Swift is my wife's cousin. He has enjoyed teaching her about the Renaissance. He is to marry Miss Golden, who lived in Florence for many years, Tuesday next. Elizabeth introduced them."

"The more I think on the bookshop, I believe it best for her to realize it was her competency that caused Mr Goodwin to give her title and not a marriage settlement. Is there a way to ensure she will have the right of ownership outside our marriage?"

"Certainly. I will communicate with Mr Phillips and your solicitor. Everything will be as needed before you travel to Derbyshire."

With their business concluded, they returned to Mrs Gardiner, and the betrothed couple.

Their conversation ranged from the best warehouses to visit for purchasing their nieces' trousseau, the preparations for Mrs Gardiner's cousin's wedding, and whether they would have time to see the latest production at the Lyceum before leaving town. Mr Gardiner seemed quite knowledgeable about London's cultural season. He even knew the approximate date when the Theatre Royal would reopen.

"It should be October. I have heard Hamlet will be the premiere performance. Elizabeth would love to see it. Please consider bringing her for a visit."

The mention of Shakespeare's drama of a young man's quest for revenge, brought to mind her reference to 'slings and arrows' in her letter. The day had given him hope she might be prepared to forgive her uncle for his part in her 'outrageous fortune.' Mrs Gardiner spoke of their plans to visit Lambton with their children in the summer. It was made plain they would want to visit their nieces while in Derbyshire, as well as bring Mr Goodwin back to London to live with them.

News of their trip, prompted Darcy to ask Mr Gardiner if he enjoyed fishing.

Upon hearing his enthusiastic response, he extended an invitation to him, Mr Goodwin, and young George to spend a day with him angling in his well-stocked lake.

When it was time for them to depart, Jane decided to stay a few days with her aunt and uncle. She wrote a note for Georgiana arranging to meet her the following day at Darcy House to begin their clothes shopping.

Darcy was pleased he would be able to tell Elizabeth how cordial her uncle had been. He wondered whether she would want a similar rapprochement with her parents.

Esther and Elizabeth spent the night before her wedding in the room they shared at Mrs Thatcher's school. She had been given the task by Mrs Swift of helping her friend with her dress and hair the following morning. Neither felt much like sleeping and instead talked most of the night about their futures.

"Remember when we first met how neither of us thought we would ever marry?"

"Yes, I believed it impossible to find a man who would want to marry a Jewess."

"Why did you believe so strongly it would never happen?"

"Believe me, Jamie is a rare gentleman… I knew from experience no one would want me as a wife because of my religion. After my father died, I considered denying being Jewish. My grandfather had done so after my grandmother died giving birth to my Papa. He wanted his son to be able to attend Oxford. Still, I just could not do so… it seemed so reprehensible and wrong… especially to my mother's memory. You see her family was a prominent part of the Jewish community in Florence going all the way back to the Renaissance."

"Did Mrs Thatcher care about you being Jewish?"

"Yes and no. She wanted to engage me as a teacher because of how accomplished I was thanks to my father's diligence, but she asked me not to make my religion known to the young ladies if possible."

"How did you and your father worship after you came to England?"

"It was difficult. My mother's family was very involved in their synagogue in Florence. I attended regularly as a child. Our Cena di Shabbat was with my mother's family every Friday at sundown. Once in Oxford, my father and I were quite clandestine about being Jewish. We continued to have Sabbath dinners, but all alone in our lodgings. He always said it would be best for me to go back to Florence after he died, but I did not have the money. I was saving for doing so, and I would have if you had not introduced me to Jamie."

"What are you going to do once you are wed? Will you stop worshipping?"

"No, that was part of our decision to marry and move to Ireland. There is a synagogue in Dublin. Jamie wants to attend with me to learn more about Judaism. He is already studying Hebrew."

"How wonderful, Esther. Your love for each other gives me hope."

"What do you mean, Lizzy?"

"For as long as I can remember, I saw nothing appealing about marriage. My parents exhibited no love, nor even affection, for each other. Other couples in our neighbourhood seemed equally as trapped. My mother thought about nothing but marrying her daughters off… so we too would be miserable, I assumed. I wanted something more."

"But why do I give you hope?"

"Because I believe you to have found love and a true partnership. It seems my sister has as well. I have agreed to be married in a fortnight."

"To whom, Lizzy?"

She put her finger up to her lips indicating the need for silence. "No one knows, but you. Possibly Mr Goodwin was told by Mr Darcy, He received an express from Kent the same day I did. But I am not ready for our wedding to be general knowledge."

"Are you saying you are to marry Mr Darcy?"

"Yes. My sister and I will be wed together to Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy."

"Does he love you?"

"Colonel Fitzwilliam definitely loves my sister, but I am uncertain about Mr Darcy's feelings toward me. I do not believe he wants to murder me, but beyond that I am uncertain."

"You are being nonsensical, Lizzy. Why would he propose if he wanted to kill you?"

"I agree. That notion is leftover from my childhood and reading Perrault's fairytales. Barbe Bleue and my parent's constant bickering persuaded me it was the logical outcome of marriage. However, Mr Darcy proposed because he felt I had been treated outrageously by those same warring parents. He wanted to restore me to my proper place in society."

"That at least is evidence of his kindness."

"I agree that is why I wrote him a letter saying I was rescinding my refusal."

"You refused him?"

"Yes. He proposed and I said no in December when he took me to Tomkin's Peak."

"Yes. I remember you seemed filled with melancholia after that. I assumed it might have been the opposite. You expected him to propose and he did not."

"He confuses me."

"How does he do that?"

"He said all the wrong things when he proposed, and I assumed he asked me out of duty, so I refused. But he also seemed to know me better than even my sister Jane. His choice of book was Marco Polo in Italian. He took me to Tomkin's Peak so I could see the countryside below from a high vantage point."

"That sounds as though he is someone who pays attention to what you say. So few men do. They much prefer to explain their way of thinking about things."

"But I never told him those things about me. I only told them to one person ever… and it was not him. I remember every conversation I have ever had with Mr Darcy."

"Lizzy you are concentrating too much on his motives."

"Yes. I need to stop worrying and instead think about all the advantages I will have as his wife. Have I told you about his library?"

"No but once you see it you must immediately write and tell me all about it."

Lizzy laughed at the thought. "I will." She quickly grew contemplative again. "And then there is the guilt he seems to feel about what happened to me. When we were caught alone in the Netherfield library, I was already disowned and about to be banished. No one paid any notice to our indiscretion…. " Lizzy laughed while uttering her next words. "Except Mr and Miss Bingley. I saved Mr Darcy from a true disaster of a marriage."

""So perhaps the guilt you think you perceive is actually gratitude."

"Both are possible. I might never know for certain what he is about until he kisses me."

Now both laughed at her predicament. She changed the subject and said, "tomorrow is your day, and I want no more talk of my marriage. How do you want me to do your hair?"

The day for Esther and Jamie's wedding dawned with Lizzy wondering if she would have such a glorious day. The morning sun beckoned her to get out of bed and begin the task of making her friend look beautiful for her groom. A groom whose love for his wife-to-be shone in his eyes with every glance in her direction he took.

Just when they were completing their first wedding day assignment, a very fine carriage drove up to the school. She was certain it was the same one Mr Wright had sent her home in the other day. Was Mr Darcy returned to Derbyshire? They hurried downstairs to determine why one of Pemberley's conveyances was here.

Mr Wright stepped out of the carriage. "Mrs Swift sent me to fetch you two and bring you to the church. Mr Darcy sent me early this morning to Mr Goodwin's house with things for the wedding breakfast. He wished he could have been here to celebrate with the bride and groom, but he is still completing important business in London."

The gathering of friends and family after the wedding was lovely. Mr Darcy had sent dozens of strawberry tarts, and those little cakes he had shared with Lizzy during their trip to the peak. He had also sent a fine ham and several types of flowers from his conservatory. The dining room where the festivities took place was redolent with the smell of roses and lilies.

The couple was to spend the next week in the Lake District. Esther assured Lizzy they should return by the time her wedding took place. "I want to formally meet your Mr Darcy, and get a chance to see whether his face reminds me of David. He is obviously a thoughtful man."

"Yes, Mr Wright told me he learned of your wedding when he visited my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. He especially wanted you to have flowers. The pastries and the ham were suggestions from his housekeeper. It seems they know something is afoot with their master."

Esther could tell by her friends face that she was slipping into melancholia at the thought of their departure. "Jamie and I will hurry back so we will be able to see what kind of special treats will be served at your wedding breakfast. I am expecting a gilded pheasant at least. I read about one at a banquet given by Cosimo de' Medici."

Lizzy paid no heed to her friend's attempt at humour to lighten her thoughts. "You will return, I will be married, and then you will almost immediately leave me to move to Dublin. Everything is changing once again. What will I do without you?"

"You will have your sister back. Change is inevitable, dearest Lizzy."

Darcy was in his study reading a letter sent express from Mr Wright about the wedding of Miss Esther Golden to Mr James Swift. He smiled as he noted the gifts given from Pemberley to Mr Goodwin and Mrs Swift to celebrate the wedding of her son. Darcy envied the additional favour his steward was able to do for the bridal party. The best Pemberley carriage had been used to transport the bride and Miss Elizabeth to the church.

Thoughts of what he dreamed was to come caused him to return to considering what he must complete so their party could be on the road to Derbyshire the day after tomorrow. He must not be late for the Ides of April. With that thought, he pulled the handkerchief he had used to remove the gold paint from his lips from his top drawer. It was almost three years ago that their kiss had ignited something in his soul.

He had been to Sir Arthur Dugdale's London lodgings twice trying to arrange a meeting with him about leasing Ashcroft Abbey. The first time he was there a manservant told him nothing more than his master was not at home. Two days later, he was able to learn from the same servant that Sir Arthur and a group of his friends had left for Derbyshire. He believed they were having a house party. His hope was he would be able to visit him at his ancestral home, before the party ended and he returned to London. He had no idea finding Sir Arthur would be as difficult as determining the best gambit to use to persuade him to allow him to lease his estate. In the meantime, Richard and Jane would just have to stay with him until he was able to find an appropriate estate to lease. Elizabeth would probably enjoy spending time with her sister.

Richard came into his study and flopped into the chair in front of his desk. "It is done, Darcy. I am no longer a member of the 1st Regiment of Foot."

"Good for you. I wish I had been as successful at leasing Ashcroft Abbey."

"i have confidence in you. You will make it happen. I see you were deriving inspiration from that handkerchief with the smear of gold face paint you keep in your drawer."

There was a knock on his study door. He said, "Enter."

Mr Grantham, the butler, spoke to his cousin. "Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lady Smallwood is here to see you and Mr Darcy."

Darcy spoke to him. "Show her in here and have a maid bring us tea." Richard had already moved another chair in front of Darcy's desk. They sat waiting to find out why Cassandra, of all people, was here.

Both cousins knew immediately upon seeing her face, something was dreadfully wrong.

"Bertie is missing. I have not seen him for a sennight."

Richard took his sister-in-law's hand. "Is that unusual, Cassie?"

"Yes, Richard, I too know he loves to gamble, but if he promises me something he usually keeps his word. I only became truly worried two nights ago. He was to escort me to Lord Knightsbridge's ball. "

"Why are you here? Where is my father?"

"He and Isabelle decided not to attend the Season this year. She is with child."

Richard became silent with that news and Darcy took over the questioning. "Cassandra, do you know where he went? Was it to a club, or perhaps a friend's home? If you tell me, Richard and I will go looking for him."

The tea arrived and Darcy had her Ladyship served first. He indicated for the maid to give her extra sugar. After taking a few sips, she finally spoke. "I believe he went to Sir Arthur Dugdale's."

Darcy spoke as calmly as he could to her. "Cassandra, I have been to Sir Arthur's home twice in the last sennight. One of his servants told me on Wednesday that a group of his friends had travelled to Derbyshire, I assumed he meant Ashcroft Manor, for a house party."

Her ladyship began to cry. "Something must be wrong. Bertie would not have left me here on my own. I know you think him undependable, Richard, but this is beyond anything he has done before. How will I return to Matlock to let your father know?"

"You are not alone, Cassandra. Darcy and I will see you home. We leave the day after tomorrow."