Such Peculiar Providence
Page 6
This morsel was dangled before them as if a choice treat before a cat, and whilst inwardly Darcy’s curiosity was piqued, he made no show of interest. Charles was not so stoic and took up the thread almost immediately.
“Who did you see, Caroline? I can tell you dearly wish to tell us, and so, sister dear, do not keep us in suspense.”
“Well, Mr and Mrs Littlejohn, to begin with, and a whole party of ladies...” Caroline rattled off such names as meant little to Charles and still less to Darcy before one in particular prompted both men into a reaction. “Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Miss Bennet’s sister?” Charles straightened. “She was not alone, surely?”
Darcy thought back to the solitary figure he had seen in St James’ Park and waited for the inevitable scorn in Caroline’s voice.
“Yes, indeed, she was alone! And so severe! Why, she barely paused to greet us as we passed and did not even react when I wished her a good day.” She glanced at Charles and some unspoken communication occurred between brother and sister that Darcy barely had time to decipher.
“Perhaps she did not hear you, Caro,” Charles offered.
“She did seem a little distracted -” Darcy trailed off, realising too late that he had spoken his thoughts aloud and thus garnered the interest of both of his friends. “That is, we passed one another in St James’ Park and I wager she had a great deal on her mind.”
Caroline’s eyebrows lifted, but before she could quiz him further, Charles spoke again.
“Their poor family.” He shook his head. “Do you know, they lost their father quite suddenly, and were forced to leave their home, as it was entailed?” He shook his head. “They have landed on the kindness of their family, but I dare say they are still utterly at odds.” His usually jolly countenance descended into a frown and Darcy knew he was recalling his own feelings of loss when the elder Mr Bingley passed, leaving his son the head of his household all at once, and the young Charles was poorly equipped to deal with it. It had been an experience that bound the two gentlemen together, for Darcy had endured similar losses and felt it his duty to help his friend through. How different it might have been for Charles’ sister, or for Darcy’s own, had they lacked brothers to care for them?
“Well,” Caroline said, pettishly. “I still do not see that as an excuse to ignore those few acquaintances one has.” She lifted her chin imperiously. “She quite snubbed me, Charles -”
“No doubt she did not observe you,” Charles repeated, a little more forcefully this time. “But if you are upset by her treatment of you then, by all means, let us raise it when we call.” He glanced at the clock. “We might go today, if you wish it, while the injury is still fresh in your mind.”
This surprised Darcy, and he enquired of his friend.
“You intend to call...?”
“On Gracechurch Street.” Charles nodded. “That is where their aunt and uncle reside, and we sent a card this very morning indicating our wish to call. We had a reply by return indicating we would be welcome.”
Darcy glanced at Caroline, not at all surprised by his friend’s enthusiasm but more than a little shocked that his friend’s sister seemed content to call on a family who resided in Cheapside! Indeed, under his scrutiny, Caroline’s pink cheeks darkened, and she fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat.
“I only said we might call, Charles. I do not see that that means we must go immediately. In any case, we have company. You can hardly turf poor Mr Darcy out into the street in order to go traipsing halfway across London and call on people we barely know.” She laughed, humourlessly.
“I do not see how we can be expected to know them without calling,” Charles countered. “And in any case, Darcy is hardly without friend or occupation of his own in London. Indeed, you are more than welcome to come with us, old chap. Perhaps Miss Elizabeth will be glad of your company, if what you say is true and she was a little upset this morning. No doubt you will wish to ensure for yourself that she rallies?”
Darcy was surprised to find that his friend had, quite accurately, pinpointed his own wishes in the simple, guileless way he had of being around all people, and which Darcy most envied him. He could never have gone alone to call at Gracechurch Street, on the Bennets or any other family, but if Charles Bingley was already determined to go, well, what harm could there be in accompanying him?
“I think it a very kind idea, Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley.” He turned encouragingly towards Caroline and was resigned to the way her enthusiasm for the visit blossomed under his veiled praise. Immediately she stood and summoned a servant to fetch her pelisse once more, for she and her brother intended to go out again.
“I think so too.” Charles beamed. “For it is no pleasant thing to feel oneself friendless after a tragedy, and in such a bustling metropolis as this. Come, Darcy, drink up, and we may be on our way!”
“LIZZY?”
Jane entered without knocking, so quickly that Elizabeth scarcely had time to hide her scrap of paper. Even if she had, her features would have betrayed her, but Jane flew to her side at once, concern etched on her face.
“What is the matter? What do you have here?”
“It is nothing,” Lizzy began, before surrendering her hold on the scrap, and allowing Jane to see it. Her sister’s eyes traced columns of figures, listed in Lizzy’s neat hand, and frowned.
“I thought Uncle Gardiner said not to worry anymore over finances,” Jane said, her comments almost a reproach. “You know they will never see us homeless!”
Elizabeth pushed her seat back from the table she had been using, and stood, agitation forcing her into activity.
“Does it not trouble you, Jane, to rely so heavily on the kindness of strangers?”
“They are hardly strangers!” Jane scoffed. “They are our family!”
“They have their own family to consider.” Lizzy frowned. She could not believe that her sisters were not as concerned about their plight she was. She had promised Lydia they would stay together, but no matter how she looked at it, she could not see a solution that would enable her to keep her word.
“Well, we need not stay in London!” Jane said, although her voice was tinged with reluctance. “We might find somewhere less expensive. Bath, perhaps. Or take a little house on the coast. Would that not be fine?”
Lizzy said nothing. She had already asked her uncle to make enquiries but he was slow in coming back to her with options. She did not doubt his attention to her request, rather, she feared that his lack of response meant he had been unsuccessful in finding anything that would suit, and he had not the heart to tell her.
“Lizzy! Jane!” Mrs Bennet’s voice reached their ears, in advance of her footsteps, and Elizabeth shook her head, ever so slightly, to indicate to her sister that they must not breathe a word of their concern to their mother. Elizabeth would happily take her sisters into her confidence, but she would not dream of burdening Mrs Bennet with worry, not when their mother seemed to be beginning to rally.
There was a knock at the door, which flew open to admit Mrs Bennet, staring expectantly at her daughters.
“Why are you hiding up here? Did you not hear me call? Mr Bingley and Miss Bingley are here, and they have brought a friend with them. Mr Darcy! Come, come! You must come and join us at once.”
Before either Elizabeth or Jane could remark on the surprisingly prompt arrival of Mr and Miss Bingley, and the second surprise that they did not come alone, Mrs Bennet had taken each by the hand and pulled them into the corridor.
The Gardiners’ parlour was not a large room and verged on capacity when populated by those people who lived at Gracechurch Street, and those who were staying there. With the addition of a further two gentleman and lady, the room was almost comically full. As such, when the three ladies entered, both gentlemen leapt to their feet, eager to greet the ladies and to chivalrously surrender their seats.
“Good afternoon, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Bingley said, with warm smiles at both sisters.
“Good afternoon.” Mr Darcy’s gruff greeting paled in comparison to his friend’s enthusiastic one. It prompted Elizabeth to return it, which she did, with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. She had the strange sensation that Mr Darcy recognised this, and hastened to put a little distance between them, recalling their last, accidental meeting, in the park, and feeling a little ashamed at having been seen so out of sorts.
“I suppose I must introduce myself?” Miss Bingley said, shooting an arch look at her brother. “We met at the assembly, Miss Bennet, Miss Eliza, although I am aware we were not afforded a great deal of opportunity to talk.”
“I find it often rather difficult to speak freely at such an event,” Mary said, speaking into the silence in a way that both surprised and pleased Elizabeth. Somehow, her middle sister, who had always seemed awkward and difficult to manage in Hertfordshire was proving herself more and more capable with their family’s strained situation. She shot her sister a grateful look and turned to her aunt.
“Shall I fetch some tea things, Auntie?” she offered, eager to be put to use, and feeling that if she had some task to set her hand to, it would allow her mind to rest.
“I have sent for some,” Mrs Gardiner said, patting Lizzy’s arm, and shifting over slightly in the seat she occupied, in order to create some space for her niece to sit next to her.
“How did you enjoy the exhibition, Miss Elizabeth?”
It took Elizabeth a moment to realise that Caroline Bingley’s question had been addressed to her, but before she could respond, Mrs Bennet broke in.
“Exhibition? Why, whatever do you mean, Miss Bingley?”
“We saw one another at the museum,” Caroline said, with a reproachful glance at Elizabeth. “At least, I saw Eliza. I warrant you had too much on your mind to notice my attempt to engage you in conversation.”
Lizzy blushed and hurried out an apology. She had been too lost in her own thoughts to notice Caroline Bingley, although she was not disappointed that she had avoided being button-holed by her. They had shared but a few words at the assembly, but even in that short conversation Lizzy had deduced rather surprisingly that Caroline Bingley did not like her. She cared little enough to acknowledge that, for she herself judged Miss Bingley to be vacuous and insipid and cruel, all traits she did not seek out in a friend, but now, seeing Caroline sitting close beside the brother whose heart seemed already to be softening towards her sister, Lizzy recognised her folly. What benefit would it be to Jane to have Mr Bingley’s sister poised to dislike her on account of her family? Screwing up her courage, she hurried to make amends, not for her own sake, but for Jane’s.
“I am very sorry, Miss Bingley, I was so overwhelmed by the interesting artefacts on display! Tell me, which was your favourite?”
Chapter Eight
Darcy strove to keep his amusement at bay. Elizabeth Bennet had played a masterstroke in apologising so simply and attempting to engage Caroline almost immediately in a discussion of the display itself, she had deflected Caroline’s unspoken slight and dismissed any notion she might have held onto that there was some gossip to be had. He had to admit this particular Miss Bennet certainly seemed to have a skill for managing people that he could do nought but admire.
“Mr Darcy?”
Hearing his name on the lips of Mrs Gardiner, Darcy glanced up, surprised to find himself singled out by that particular lady.
“Are you the same Mr Darcy who owns the Pemberley estate in Derbyshire?”
“I am,” he said, surprised that she knew of it, and still more surprised to see the older lady’s features soften into a warm smile at his confirmation that he did, indeed, own it. “It has been my family home for many years.”
“I thought so!” She smiled. “I suspected as much last evening but now, seeing you here, why! It is as if your father had come back to us, God rest his soul.” She blinked and Darcy had the distinct impression that she was speaking from the heart.
“You knew my father?”
“Oh, only in passing. I grew up in Derbyshire, and my family occasionally had reason to associate with your family.” She paused. “There was a young daughter, too, I believe. Your sister?”
“Georgiana.”
“You have a sister, Mr Darcy?” this opened up a new line of enquiry, but when the subject was his absent younger sister, Darcy felt no qualms in being questioned by several members of the Bennet family at once. Upon hearing she was musical, one sister began to speak enthusiastically of her own love of music, until another elbowed her precipitously in the side, and took hold of the conversation herself.
“I do not imagine Mr Darcy cares to hear of your talents, Mary, although you surely love to speak of them to anybody silly enough to inquire. What is Pemberley like, Mr Darcy? How many rooms has it? Is it your only estate? Do you live there alone?”
“Forgive my youngest daughter, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Bennet said, with an uncomfortable laugh. “Her curiosity overrides her manners at times. But do, please, tell us a little about Pemberley. I am sure my dear sister-in-law would be eager to know how it compares with the estate she remembers.”
Darcy glanced at his companions, but seeing both Caroline and Charles engaged in conversation with the elder two Bennet daughters, he spoke, haltingly, of Pemberley, seeking throughout to find an alternative topic of conversation. He was only too aware of how he must appear, discussing the rooms left empty in his own home when this family had been turfed out of theirs.
“Well, Mr Darcy, if Pemberley is as beautiful as you claim I cannot imagine why you sought to leave it at all!”
This last was uttered by Elizabeth and it was not until she spoke that Darcy realised she had extracted herself from the conversational grip of Caroline Bingley and had been listening intently to his description. “Truly you are fortunate to possess houses to spare!”
There was a sharp intake of breath from Jane, and all conversation ceased in an instant. Even Elizabeth appeared to acknowledge her error, because she stood, suddenly.
“Please excuse me.”
She hurried to the doorway, and nobody moved or even spoke for a moment. As if on cue, Jane stood to follow her, and Mrs Bennet laughed again, dismissing her daughter’s actions with a murmured “Girls!” and turning to enquire after Mr Bingley’s health and whether he would like another cup of tea.
“Well!” Caroline, seated to Darcy’s left, hissed, her voice just low enough for him to hear. She opened her mouth to say more, but fearing a tirade and feeling an inescapable flare of guilt, Darcy opened his own mouth first.
“I hope I did not speak out of turn,” he muttered, directing his question to Mr Gardiner, in hopes that the older gentleman might take pity on him.
“Not at all!” Mr Gardiner said, exchanging a glance with his wife. “Our nerves are all a little frazzled today, I suppose, after the excitements of the assembly. Tell me, Miss, ah, Bingley. Do you often attend such outings?”
Caroline needed no further encouragement to speak freely and in detail of her opinions of the assembly: that it had been too crowded, that there were not enough suitable partners for dancing (Darcy felt sure that this had been a dig at his own avoidance tactics) but that, overall, it made for an enjoyable evening. The younger Bennet sisters complimented Caroline on her attire, and this led the conversation off in a direction that Darcy could not hope to follow, nor did he have the slightest desire to. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the doorway, wishing he could somehow see through solid oak to where the two elder Bennet sisters had fled. He could not explain why it was he cared if Elizabeth Bennet had been upset by his words, but he did, and he felt certain he would not rest easily until she returned to the parlour.
“Do you intend to return to the north, Mr Darcy?”
It took Charles noisily clearing his throat to startle Darcy back to the present, and he glanced at
his friend, surprised to see not only Charles but Mrs Bennet too regarding him curiously.
“I was telling Mrs Bennet that we were not likely to keep you very much longer,” Charles said, nodding encouragingly at Darcy. “Just a flying visit, isn’t that so?”
“Yes.” Darcy swallowed. “No. That is, I had some business to attend to.”
“And were you successful?”
Darcy frowned, and Mrs Bennet repeated her question slowly and loudly, as if she were addressing a child or an imbecile.
“Yes. No. I was - I was not entirely successful.”
Darcy’s mind was far outstripping his speech. He stood, suddenly, garnering the attention of all present, and turned to Mr Gardiner. He would speak now, quickly, even as the plan still formed in his brain. He could not tell if it was kindness or a form of temporary insanity, yet he felt an urge to intervene nonetheless, and in so doing solve both his own problem and that of the family before him.
“Mr Gardiner. I wonder - I wonder if I might take a moment of your time to discuss a matter of business...”
“A MATTER OF BUSINESS?” Elizabeth spluttered.
“That is how he referred to it.” Mr Gardiner shrugged his shoulders. “I was as surprised as you are, my dear, and yet he seemed entirely genuine.”
“Mr Darcy wishes for us to go to Derbyshire?” Lizzy frowned. “But - why? He barely knows us!”
“I do not imagine he wishes you to stay as his guests,” Mr Gardiner said, gently. “Rather he has a property in need of some tenants, and you - well, my dear, you are tenants in need of a property!” He chuckled.
Elizabeth turned the matter over in her head. Her uncle could clearly see the wisdom in this plan, and she, too, could not dispute its peculiar providence. Mr Darcy’s motive puzzled her, but perhaps there, too, she worried too much. Could it be that it was simply a matter of coincidence? She thought back to their call the previous day and remembered how fondly Mrs Gardiner had recalled Pemberley, and how warmly she had spoken of Mr Darcy and his family in the intervening day. Perhaps that, too, had softened Darcy’s heart towards them. Regardless of his reasons, she could not dispute how great a gift this tenancy was to them. The chance for the family to remain together, and in the countryside! She had never been as far north as Derbyshire but had heard it to be quite beautiful.