Mr. Darcy's Daughter

by Rebecca Ann Collins

  Cassy was surprised.

  When they met again at Pemberley for dinner, Mr Bingley and Jane were there, too. Inevitably, the conversation revolved around Mr Gardiner's decision to place Caroline in charge of the business.

  "Do you suppose, Papa, that Mr Gardiner thought Caroline was better able to manage the business than Robert?" Cassy asked, quietly.

  Mr Darcy answered her gently but firmly, leaving no one in any doubt of his opinion on the matter.

  "I am quite sure he did, my dear, and with good reason. Robert has for some years worked at his duties but, despite his best efforts, it was clear to his father that his heart was not in it. Robert, sadly, has neither the natural ability for commerce that his father had, nor did he attempt to acquire the skills that are necessary to manage such an enterprise in the modern commercial world."

  "Oh come, sir, is that not being unfair to Robert?" asked Richard.

  But Mr Darcy was unrepentant.

  "Is it really, Richard? I know you do not wish to criticise your brother, and it is generous of you to defend him, but I think we would all agree that neither you nor I nor Bingley here, would feel able to step into your father's shoes, would we not?"

  Richard nodded, and so did Bingley; there was general agreement on that score.

  "Well then, how do you suppose Robert, who has less experience than either Bingley or myself, who, since his marriage, has spent more time in London and Paris than in Manchester or Derbyshire, and never once attempted to improve his qualifications for the position, how do you suppose he would cope with the situation?"

  Cassy understood her father's argument, but wished to ask another question."And what do you believe convinced Mr Gardiner that Caroline could do better?" she asked, and her father smiled and relaxed, as he explained,"Now there, I can give you a precise answer, because she had already proved it."

  And as those around the table looked puzzled, he continued.

  "Not many people are aware of this; I was, but my lips were sealed. Now it can be told, if only to assure you that no injustice has been done. Some time ago, Mr Gardiner was advised by his doctors and, I think, by you, Richard, to reduce his hours of work and the amount of travelling he did. Consequently, he had Caroline over to Oakleigh regularly to help him with his correspondence and check his books. Occasionally, he sent her to Manchester with Colonel Fitzwilliam, on his behalf. She apparently showed a remarkable aptitude for the work and was eager to learn.

  "A year or so ago, she uncovered some discrepancies in the statements of accounts from the Manchester office and brought them to Mr Gardiner's attention. Although Robert was advised of this by his father, he claimed to have found nothing wrong with the books kept by Mr Stokes.

  "Meanwhile, a similar problem was discovered in the accounts from London and Mr Gardiner despatched Caroline, together with myself and Robert, to London. There, we contacted the lawyers and the accountants and, after a proper investigation, the clerk in charge of the books was prosecuted and some of the monies recovered, entirely due to Caroline's patient and meticulous work. Robert had had no idea what was going on.

  "Mr Gardiner was most impressed with Caroline's work as he was disappointed in Robert's lack of application, and I am prepared to believe that he made up his mind on the matter of his will soon afterwards."

  "Did he not ask Robert how he had missed the errors and give him the chance to explain?" asked Elizabeth.

  "No, my dear," Mr Darcy replied."I believe he did not wish to humiliate his son; besides, by the time the courts had dealt with the case, Robert and Rose had already left for Paris. It was at the time of the great art exhibition at the Louvre."

  Mr Darcy smiled and went on."Mr Gardiner was not only a good businessman; he was also a kind father. But, while he wished to spare his son's feelings, he was not prepared to risk the entire business by leaving it in indifferent hands."

  Clearly, Mr Darcy had been consulted by Mr Gardiner, and it was apparent to all present that he had approved of the decision as a sensible and prudent one.

  Shortly afterwards, the ladies rose and left the room and, by the time the gentlemen rejoined them, the subjects of their conversations had changed. The ladies were engaged in discussing Anne-Marie's wedding and speculating about everything from the bridal clothes to the refurbishment of Longbourn. Elizabeth had heard of it in a letter from Charlotte Collins and indeed had invited her to spend some time at Pemberley while the work was in progress,"if the workmen made too much noise."

  The gentlemen had somewhat graver matters to speak of. Richard reported that Mr Carr had made mention of two men who had accosted him at the inn one evening and offered to buy the Rushmore stud.

  "They had claimed to represent an interested party from London, to whom money was no object; he could name his price. When he turned them down, indicating that he had no intention of selling, they left, but he had the distinct impression they were unlikely to take no for an answer," said Richard, and Mr Darcy looked very concerned indeed.

  It was agreed that Mr Carr should be advised to steer clear of them.

  Darcy recalled a very nasty experience he'd had several years ago with a similar group of land speculators from London.

  "They're a bad lot. I would warn Carr to be very watchful, especially as he lives alone up at the farm. He should be vigilant. These men cannot be trusted," he warned. Richard agreed to convey his advice to Mr Carr, who was expected to return from Derby on the morrow.

  "He has a very good man in Jack Boyden," he said, and Mr Darcy agreed.

  "Indeed he has. I believe Mr Grantham recommended him to Carr; he was apprenticed at Pemberley for several years before leaving to work in Derby. If Carr needed a sound man to manage the stud, he has certainly found one. However, it is essential that Carr keeps his hand in and does not behave like an absentee landlord. I have found that when the landowner lives on his property and takes an interest in the running of it, his stewards and managers do likewise."

  At this, Mr Bingley spoke up to support Darcy.

  "You are absolutely right, Darcy. Why, only last year, a property at Ashbourne came on the market after the owner was declared bankrupt, having spent his time in London, knowing nothing of the fraudulent practices of his agent. He had been ruined."

  Pondering this salutary lesson, they repaired to the drawing room, where coffee was served and Mr Bingley begged for some music.

  Cassandra was willing to oblige and the rest of the evening passed lightly by. There was no further discussion of Mr Gardiner's will; the prospect of Anne-Marie's wedding seemed a more attractive topic, one on which there was unanimous agreement.

  Cassandra's account of her father's opinions on the subject of Mr Gardiner's will reached Jonathan and Anna Bingley at Netherfield Park by a circuitous path, through a letter from Jonathan's sister Emma Wilson. So astonished had Emma been at the revelations in a letter she had received from Cassy that she had enclosed it within her own and despatched it to her brother forthwith.

  In the accompanying note Emma wrote:

  If Mr Darcy and Mr Gardiner are right, as Cassy reports, then Caroline Fitzwilliam will be one of the most remarkable women I know. There are not many women who control a successful trading company. With her charm and good looks and her husband's political influence, Caroline will be very powerful indeed, Mr Wilson believes. I enclose Cassy's letter for your perusal…

  Reading Cassandra's letter to his sister, Jonathan could only agree.

  Passing it to his wife, he said, with the certainty of one who does not expect to be contradicted,"And I have no doubt at all that she will be exceedingly successful, too."

  Having read both letters, Anna had to concur with her husband. Everything she knew about Caroline Fitzwilliam confirmed his belief that Mr Gardiner had made a prudent, if unusual decision.

  Anne-Marie's wedding day drew near and the families from Derbyshire, Leicester, and Kent prepared for their journeys to Netherfield. Despite the recent death of Mr Gardiner, several
of them travelled to Hertfordshire for the occasion. Mrs Gardiner, naturally, did not join them, while her son Robert and his wife Rose had already left to spend the Winter in Europe with friends.

  The rest of the family were looking forward to seeing Jonathan Bingley's eldest daughter happily wed at last. They were all aware, though some did not know the detail of the circumstances, that her first marriage to the Reverend Bradshaw had been far from happy and that she had suffered without complaint until his sudden death some two years ago. They wanted to wish her and Mr Elliott happiness and good fortune.

  Mr and Mrs Darcy had another reason for anticipating the occasion with some pleasure. They expected to see their son Julian and his wife at the wedding. Reports had reached them that Josie was much recovered from her earlier illness and had given them hope that they would see the two of them together for the first time in many months.

  Imagine their disappointment then, when on the evening before the wedding, while the families were taking tea in the parlour, a hired vehicle drew up at the entrance to Netherfield House and Julian Darcy alighted alone. He had travelled post from Cambridge.

  Josie, he explained apologetically, was as yet not well enough to travel the distance from Cambridge to Hertfordshire in Winter. No amount of questioning could elicit from him any further information about her health or situation.

  Elizabeth was tearful when she told her sister Jane the unhappy news.

  "It seems such a long time since we saw her, Jane. I am beginning to wonder whether there is something more to this reluctance on her part to meet with us. Is it possible that we, or even I, may have offended her, albeit unwittingly, so she will not meet with me?"

  Jane could not imagine how such a thing may have occurred. While she was aware that Josie Tate was not her sister's first choice as a bride for her son (she had openly admitted to a preference for Amy Fitzwilliam), Jane knew that once Julian's wishes were known to them, both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy had welcomed Josie to Pemberley.

  "Lizzie, that is nonsense and you know it," she said."Nothing that you or Mr Darcy have done could have caused such offence. If it had, however unwittingly, we would have heard of it, one way or another. Either Rebecca or Mr Tate would surely have given us some indication. I cannot believe it, Lizzie. There has to be another reason." Jane was quite adamant that her sister was not to blame. After a few moments' silence, she asked,"Do you think, Lizzie, that there could be some trouble between them? Julian and Josie, I mean? I remember well that when Jonathan was having problems with Amelia-Jane, she would not accept any of my invitations to Ashford Park. Could it be that Julian and Josie are experiencing similar difficulties?"

  "I cannot think why," said her sister."Amelia-Jane was an immature young girl, with little to recommend her save her looks, while Josie is an intelligent and accomplished young woman. She and Julian share so many interests, I cannot believe there could be similar problems between them."

  Jane tried again."Perhaps if you were to ask Cassy if young Lizzie noticed anything untoward, when she was staying with them," she suggested, and Elizabeth agreed that was a good idea.

  "I shall try to get her alone after the wedding and ask her myself," she said with determination, hoping that young Lizzie Gardiner might throw some light on what was fast becoming a vexing mystery.

  * * *

  The wedding was exactly as the bride and groom had wished it to be: a quiet, happy celebration for their families. There were tears and smiles, music, dancing, plenty of food and wine, and Lizzie Gardiner was so busy enjoying herself that Elizabeth found no opportunity to get her popular granddaughter alone.

  She did, however, succeed in questioning Cassandra, who had expressed her own disappointment to her mother at the non-arrival of her sister-in-law, thus giving her an ideal opening.

  But before Elizabeth could ask the question, Cassy mentioned that Julian had asked her, during the wedding breakfast, if Lizzie may be permitted to return with him to Cambridge.

  "He thinks she is very good for Josie, being young and cheerful, and would like her to spend the time until Christmas with them."

  "And have you agreed?" asked her mother.

  Cassy shook her head.

  "I cannot, because Lizzie is committed to help Emily with the parish Nativity play on Christmas Eve. She will not let her down; they have been working on it for weeks. I have told Julian I will consider sending her to them in the New Year," she replied and then suddenly asked,"Mama, do you really think all is well between them? I am very afraid. I sense my brother is not happy, yet he will say nothing. It is not just that Josie is unwell; he seems unduly anxious and uncertain, I cannot believe it is simply a matter of her health."

  Elizabeth saw her opportunity and took it."Did Lizzie not notice anything unusual when she stayed with them?" she asked.

  Cassy shrugged her shoulders."Not unless you consider Julian being closeted in his study for hours on end, while she reads poetry with her friends unusual."

  Elizabeth frowned."Who are these friends?"

  "Not anyone we know, although I have met a Mr Barrett, who is in the book trade. There are two young women, Misses Wallace-something-or-other, not very intelligent by Lizzie's measure, and Mr Barrett's friend, a publisher named Andrew Jones," said Cassy.

  "And are they all Julian's friends, too?" Elizabeth enquired.

  "I do not think so," Cassy replied."Lizzie gave me the impression that Julian was usually at his laboratory when they arrived to read poetry and take coffee, while she was often sent away to play with Anthony."

  Elizabeth looked surprised and was about to ask another question, but they were interrupted by some applause for the bride and groom, who had been persuaded to join in the dancing. As other guests joined them, they could no longer continue their conversation. Cassy was claimed by her husband, who wanted to dance, and went away leaving her mother seriously concerned. Her conversation with Cassy had served only to increase her apprehensions, which now bordered upon alarm.

  That night, as they retired to their room, Elizabeth was eager to tell her husband what she had learned from their daughter. When Jane had hinted that marital troubles may lie at the heart of Julian and Josie's problems, Elizabeth had been unwilling to credit it. She had felt she knew them well enough to set aside such concerns.

  Her son was a serious and honest young man and Josie had given every indication of being the kind of intelligent young woman who would suit him well. That they had loved each other, she had never doubted.

  Yet now, since Cassy had told her of the groups of friends who frequented the house, men and women who were not also friends of Julian, attending poetry readings and taking tea and coffee while Julian was away at work, Elizabeth had begun to have niggling doubts in her mind. While she was reluctant to encumber her husband with what might turn out to be a false alarm, nevertheless, she felt the need to confide in him as she had always done, if only to have him laugh at her fears and dismiss them out of hand.

  Mr Darcy had hidden his disappointment at Josie's absence well. During the wedding party he had pleased his hosts with his good humour and a brief speech complimenting the happy pair, which was exceedingly well received. Indeed, as they retired upstairs, he was feeling reasonably content, if a little weary, after a long day. Elizabeth was loathe to spoil the moment, yet as she told him what she had heard, she knew he was not going to dismiss it as far-fetched and silly, as she had hoped he would.

  He remained grave and silent as she spoke, and when she asked,"Darcy, is there nothing we can do to help them?" he seemed to her, for the first time in their life together, uncertain of how to answer.

  When he did speak, he was very solemn."Lizzie, my dear, if this is true, I am deeply concerned, for it does seem as though Julian has a graver problem on his hands than any of us imagined. A young woman of Josie's character and intelligence will not indulge in this type of behaviour, unless there is something seriously wrong with her marriage."

  Elizabeth was astounded."Are y
ou suggesting that Julian is to blame? Do you not see that it is Josie who is making a fool of him, and of herself, by entertaining these gentlemen, if that is who they are, in her home, when her husband is at work?"

  Darcy took her hands in his."Hush, my dear, I am not suggesting that anyone is to blame. I am only pointing out the fact that an amiable and intelligent woman would not, if she is happy and content, feel the need to do as you have described. Now, there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation. Perhaps, little Lizzie does not know it, but Julian may have been quite happy for these poetry readings to be conducted in his absence. No one has suggested otherwise, certainly not Julian. Yet, I must admit, he does not seem as cheerful as a man who has been invited to address a convocation of scientists in Paris is entitled to be."

  "Address a convocation in Paris? When?" Elizabeth asked excitedly.

  "In the Spring, I believe. He told me of it and asked if we would have Anthony and Josie over to stay at Pemberley while he went away. I said, of course we would, with pleasure. But I did not know then what you have told me."

  Darcy sounded depressed, but his wife was more cheerful now. What her husband had just revealed had put quite a different complexion upon her view of the situation.

  "Well then, it cannot be so bad after all; perhaps we are reading too much into these meetings. They may well be harmless and genuine poetry readings. If Josie is planning to come to us in Spring, it must mean they are quite happy together. Do you not think so?" she asked, longing to be told her fears were groundless.

  Her husband would have liked to oblige, but her earlier words had sown a seed of doubt in his own mind. While he was unwilling to believe that Josie was deceiving her husband or indulging in some clandestine liaison, he did feel the need to make some enquiries, to ascertain if matters were as they should be, for there was no doubt in Mr Darcy's mind that something was amiss.