by Zoë Burton
~~~***~~~
When the clock chimed eight the following Wednesday, Darcy escorted his guests, his sister, and her companion into the dining room of his townhouse. Mrs. Gardiner and her nieces congratulated the Darcys on their good taste in decorating, which Darcy was forced to defer as his mother had done the house twenty years prior. Seating the ladies first, the gentlemen made themselves comfortable just as the servants began to serve the first course. Conversation flowed smoothly, with everyone adding to it.
Darcy tended to remain quiet as he observed his guests. He had been struck by the family when he met them. His time at tea with them had distracted him from getting to know any beyond Mrs. Gardiner. Now, however, he had time to observe each one individually.
Mr. Gardiner he already knew he liked. The night’s discussion revealed that they were of similar minds about several things, including everything related to the outdoors. This, added to the knowledge he had clandestinely obtained through the investigator, assured Darcy that this was an acquaintance worth maintaining.
Mrs. Gardiner he also enjoyed. Her familiarity with the area around his estate, and with his mother, guaranteed they would always have something about which to speak when they met.
Darcy turned his attention to the nieces, Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. Both were very pretty. Miss Bennet, as he had noted before, would fit in very well in the circles in which Darcy socialized. She was very serene, but he thought she might smile too much. Her conversation was limited, though she was lively enough.
Miss Elizabeth, while not in possession of the same classic beauty of her sister, was still a very attractive young lady. Where her sister was quiet and demure, Miss Elizabeth was sparkling and vivacious. Darcy was drawn to her.
Looking to his own sister, who sat at the other end of the table, her companion, Mrs. Annesley, at her left, Darcy was pleased. The Misses Bennet had drawn Georgiana out in a way no one else of his acquaintance had, especially not since her near-elopement. Darcy had despaired of ever seeing her smile again, yet here she was, not a half hour into a new acquaintance, and already relaxed. The Bennet ladies would forever have his gratitude.
After the meal, the gentlemen declared no greater desire than to remain with the ladies; therefore, the entire party retired together to the drawing-room. Darcy used this time to inquire into the circumstances of the Bennets, though he did so through subtle, circuitous questioning rather than boldly and impertinently demanding the information.
Darcy was pleased to have confirmed that the girls were the daughters of a gentleman. He had already known their connections were excellent, but it was always good to know that one’s friends were of good breeding. He was equally pleased with their accomplishments. Though Miss Bennet claimed no talent for anything beyond basic sewing skills, he knew she had a pleasing voice, for she and her sister had played for the company before their meal. Miss Elizabeth’s accomplishments, while not strictly fashionable, were more in number. She was widely read, having knowledge of some tomes he had not thought young ladies were often allowed to read. She proclaimed herself to be a great walker, and fond of long rambles through the countryside. Here Darcy commiserated with her; London was no place for unfettered enjoyment of the outdoors. The city was too busy and too dirty, not to mention too dangerous, even for gentlemen. While he was not a walker, Darcy did love long rides at a gallop, and that was simply not possible in town. Miss Elizabeth’s final accomplishment, one that she disparaged but was, he came to discover, enchanting, was her skill on the pianoforte. The Bennets played a duet, with the elder lending her voice to the song and the younger both playing and singing. While Elizabeth did not play the piece perfectly, she did so with feeling. Combined with her voice, she drew a web around Darcy that he found quite comforting. He had never heard a sound that enthralled him more.
At the end of the evening, having enjoyed himself far more than was his wont, Darcy was loathe for it to end. As a way of assuring himself of more pleasure, he proposed a trip for the Gardiners and the Bennet ladies to the museum, a suggestion that was enthusiastically embraced by his guests. A date was set for one week hence, and the Gardiner party departed Darcy House with happy anticipation for their next encounter.
~~~***~~~
Over the course of the next six weeks, Darcy and the Gardiners met frequently. One evening, they attended the theater together, in Darcy’s box because it was better positioned than Gardiner’s.
The day he invited them, he had visited in the afternoon to take tea with the family. Elizabeth and Darcy had enjoyed a lively discussion about philosophy, and when the time allotted for the call ended, both were surprised and disappointed.
“I have very much enjoyed our chat today, Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy turned to the mistress of the house; his pleasure was clear. “Mrs. Gardiner, I should like to make an additional request, if I may. I have a box at the Theater Royal on Drury Lane, and I should like to invite the four of you to attend with me on Friday evening. There is a new production of The Taming of the Shrew that I have not yet seen, and I would greatly enjoy having the pleasure of your company.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I will check with my husband to be certain he has not made plans for us; I will be able to give you an answer tomorrow when you call.”
“Perfect! Until tomorrow, then.”
“Until tomorrow, sir. Lizzy, why do you not see our guest out?”
“I would be happy to.” Elizabeth smiled to see the delight on Darcy’s face when she acquiesced. She laid her hand on the arm that he extended and escorted him to the door, where a maid handed him his hat, gloves, and walking stick. “Thank you for your kind invitation. I have wanted to see that play, but it was never convenient for my uncle to take me. Either it was playing and he was on a trip, or he was free but the play was not being produced.”
“I am delighted to be able to grant you this wish.” Darcy bowed over her hand, smiled at her, and then stepped out the door.
The following morning, as soon as it was acceptable, Mrs. Gardiner sent a note to Darcy House. Her husband had no previous engagements planned, and they and their nieces would be happy to accept Darcy’s invitation to the theater.
Chapter 3
The evening of their outing, the Gardiners and Bennets met Darcy outside the theater building. After proceeding inside together, the group removed their coats and handed them to the footman who was collecting outerwear. Darcy was awestruck by the vision that was Miss Elizabeth. She wore a blue gown whose coloring complemented her own and whose cut and fit accentuated her figure. He wasted no time in sharing his observation with her.
“You look exceptionally well this evening, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth blushed at the praise. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. You look very fine yourself.”
“May I have the honor of escorting you to my box?”
“You may.” Elizabeth smiled at him as she hooked her hand over his arm.
Darcy smiled back at her before beginning the walk up the stairs to the boxes. They didn’t get far before they were stopped by one of Darcy’s friends.
“Good to see you, man! How have you been?” The tall, blonde-haired gentleman bowed to the ladies before vigorously shaking Darcy’s hand.
“I am well, Bingley. How are you?” Darcy’s slight smile was a good indication of his happiness in seeing the gentleman after his stoic demeanor amongst the crowd in the lobby.
“Never better!” Bingley replied with enthusiasm. “Will you introduce me to your friends?”
“Certainly,” Darcy began, stepping to the side to make room for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Jane. “Charles Bingley, this is Mr. Edward Gardiner of Gardiner Firearms, and his wife. With him is his niece, Miss Jane Bennet, and on my arm is Miss Bennet’s sister, Miss Elizabeth.”
Bingley bowed to each member of the party as he was introduced, but his eyes travelled frequently back to Jane. “I am so pleased to meet you all.”
“We are pleased to make your acquaintance, as well.”
Gardiner was always happy to meet new people; some of his best customers were gentlemen he had met while out for the evening.
Darcy turned back to his friend. “Are you here alone? Would you like to join us in my box?”
“As it happens, I am alone. I left my sisters and brother in Yorkshire; the Hursts will be travelling to his parents’ estate in Sussex in a day or two.”
Darcy nodded. “And Miss Bingley?”
“Ah, Caroline. Well, she will remain with our aunt for the foreseeable future.”
Darcy’s brows rose. “Really?”
“Yes; she has a gentleman caller. After the fiasco over you this past Spring, she was told to set her sights lower. She ignored me, Louisa, and Hurst when we said it, but when her friends here in town told her the same thing, she listened. She says she is humiliated.”
“I had nothing to do with that.” Darcy’s discomfort with the topic was clear.
“No, I know you did not. Caroline got into that dust up all on her own. She knows better than to display her temper in such a way, and to do it with a Viscount’s daughter was even worse. She fears she will be given the cut direct by everyone in town, and so has refused to return. She says she does not want to marry Mr. Fisher, her suitor, but she really has no choice unless she wishes to return here. She won’t do that, though; and, she finally believes me when I tell her that you were not interested in marrying her.”
“I wish her all the best; just because I do not want to marry her does not mean no one else will. Tell me about this suitor.”
“He owns a large estate a half day's ride away from my aunt’s home. Rumor has it that the place brings in a clear eight thousand a year, which is no small sum. It would place her above me, even if I marry an heiress.”
The gong sounded, indicating the beginning of the first act. Darcy once again urged Bingley to join his party. His friend agreed, and soon the group was settled in Darcy’s box and watching the performance. Darcy split his attention between Miss Elizabeth, who, he was glad to see, was greatly enjoying the play, and Bingley, who was more interested in conversing with Miss Bennet than in watching the action on the stage. Since it appeared that the lady was not averse to missing the performance, Darcy remained quiet and let his friend chat.
At the intermission, Darcy was able to observe Miss Elizabeth as she interacted with his social peers. He was impressed once again with her manners.
As usual between acts of a play, the attendees wandered around, using the retiring rooms or retrieving cups of punch, and always chatting. Darcy and Bingley had just stood to go to the refreshment table themselves when there was a knock on the door to the box. On the other side, seeking entrance, was another friend, a classmate of both Darcy and Bingley at Cambridge. Accompanying him was his sister, a young lady who had set her cap at Darcy. She had seen the beautiful women in the box with her prey and insisted her brother escort her around to see him…and them.
“Weston,” Darcy greeted, bowing. “Miss Weston.”
“Darcy, good to see you! How are you?”
“I am well, thank you. And, you?”
“In fine fettle, are we not, Sister?” Weston turned back to Darcy before continuing. “Iris got a bee in her bonnet, and we just had to come up here and greet you.” Noticing Bingley standing next to Jane, Weston hailed him, as well.
“Hello, my friend. It is good to see you.” Bingley was a gregarious fellow, and enjoyed being surrounded by friends. His greeting, therefore, was a hearty one.
“I say, Darcy, you have some fine looking ladies in here tonight. Would you care to introduce me?”
Darcy was not really sure he so much wanted to introduce his new friends to his old one, but he performed the introductions anyway. “Mr. Harry Weston, Miss Iris Weston, this is Mr. Edward Gardiner and his wife. Beside Bingley is the Gardiners’ eldest niece, Miss Jane Bennet, and this,” he gestured to where Elizabeth stood, “is their younger niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Curtseys and bows were completed, and then conversation began. Miss Weston, seeing that it was Elizabeth who had garnered Darcy’s attention and Jane who had Bingley’s, ignored the elder girl and approached Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth, tell me about yourself. I confess I have never heard of the name Bennet before. Where do you live?”
“Our father’s estate is called Longbourn. It is in Hertfordshire, near the town of Meryton. We are in London to spend a few weeks with our aunt and uncle.”
“Hertfordshire? That is a rather out of the way county, is it not?”
Taken aback at the lady’s rudeness, Elizabeth nevertheless replied politely. “Well, yes, I suppose it is. It is near the London road but not close enough to host a stop.”
Miss Weston went on as though her new acquaintance had not spoken. “Where did you go to school? What are your connections? I cannot imagine how a gentleman as well-bred as Mr. Darcy would come to know a lady from such a small, out of the way, place. Where did you meet?”
Elizabeth did not like the tone of voice Miss Weston used. It was one almost of possession, and Elizabeth was certain the questions were meant to disparage. “We met in Hyde Park, Miss Weston. My little cousin lost control of his toy, and it landed at Mr. Darcy’s feet. I went with him to retrieve it, and Mr. Darcy introduced himself.”
“Really? That is very unlike him; he is a paragon of propriety. He would never seek an acquaintance without a proper introduction through someone he knows.” Miss Weston’s voice dripped with scorn.
“Believe what you will, madam, it is the truth. You can ask him yourself; he is standing right there.”
“Ask me what?” Darcy had caught some of the conversation between Miss Elizabeth and Weston’s sister, and had seen Miss Elizabeth’s countenance change from open and pleasant to guarded and irritated.
Before Elizabeth could speak a word, Miss Weston did. “This girl says that you introduced yourself to her in Hyde Park! I told her it cannot be true. You are too much a gentleman to do that.”
“Oh, but it is true. I was struck by the happiness and honesty of both Miss Elizabeth and her little cousin when they approached me to retrieve his hoop; I made it my business to find out who they were.”
“No! I do not believe it of you!”
“Indeed, it is so. Really, Miss Weston, there are times when propriety is not served by being too stringent about it. Miss Elizabeth was accompanied not only by her cousin, but by her aunt and uncle, and her sister. It was not as though she and the boy were out there alone. The only way I was going to know who any of them were was to introduce myself, so I did.”
“Well, I never! I am shocked, Mr. Darcy, shocked, that you would even desire to make the acquaintance of someone not of our sphere. I do not know what you were thinking. You are far too liberal, sir.”
“I rejoice in it, Miss Weston. I would rather be the most liberal gentleman in all of England than to be restricted to a ridiculous degree by a society that cares nothing for the feelings of others.” Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, there is still time to get some punch, if you would like to accompany me?” Tucking the hand she offered under his arm, he turned and walked away from the gaping sister of his friend.
Miss Weston, not caring to speak to anyone else in the room, pulled her brother away, and soon they were back in their own box. Harry had missed the entire exchange, and she did not care to tell him about it. It was humiliating to be cut by the gentleman you intended to marry, and as long as she told no one, maybe nobody would ever find out. She would set her mind to her task; one day she, and she alone, would be Mrs. Darcy. No insignificant country chit was going to steal him away.
At the end of the night, after Darcy returned home and settled in his bed, he mentally reviewed that incident and one or two others. He was impressed with Miss Elizabeth’s poise in the face of rudeness. She remained serene, no matter the provocation. More than that, she usually had a witty rejoinder that either redirected the person’s attention or subtly put them in their
place. Really, she was magnificent. He did not know of any other woman who would have dealt with the things she had with such grace.
His thoughts turned back to Miss Iris Weston. I must speak to her brother, for I fear she thinks herself a candidate for the position of Mistress of Pemberley. She is not, and never has been. Darcy could not conceive of why she would think such a thing in the first place. He had never so much as sat beside her at supper, much less danced with her. She paled beside Miss Elizabeth Bennet, in any case. His final thoughts as he drifted off to sleep were of the beautiful Miss Elizabeth in her blue gown.
~~~***~~~
The following week, Darcy and the Gardiners and Bennets attended another dinner, this one at the home of a mutual acquaintance, who regularly invited people to his home to read and discuss literature. They also attended a ball, hosted by one of Darcy’s aunt’s friends, who happened to belong to the same charitable organization that Mrs. Gardiner did. It was at this ball that Darcy decided he wished to formally court the Gardiners’ younger niece.
Darcy was captivated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet, even more so now that he had spent time with her, learned more about her, and seen her in his home and among his peers. He had searched the ton for a woman who delighted him in this manner, but had come up empty-handed. Miss Elizabeth had all the manners of a gentlewoman of his circles, but with an added sparkle that was hers alone.
Before the evening was over, Darcy was so intrigued by the youngest Bennet sister that he asked to call on her at her uncle’s home, a request that was quickly granted by Elizabeth and approved by Mr. Gardiner.
On the way back to Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth endured a long round of teasing from her sister.