A Fair Prospect

by Cassandra Grafton

  Mrs Gardiner smiled. “Mr Bingley, it is a pleasure to see you again. But please, if it is no inconvenience, at least stay long enough to partake of some tea.”

  Elizabeth noted Bingley’s fleeting glance towards Jane before stepping forward to bow in her aunt’s direction. “I would be delighted, if you feel it is no intrusion.”

  “Not at all, Sir. You are most welcome. And you were not able to reacquaint yourself with my other niece this morning.”

  With a warm smile, Bingley stepped towards Elizabeth, sketching a small bow.

  “How delightful to see you again, Miss Elizabeth. Darcy informed me only yesterday that you were London-bound, and I am pleased to have been presented so precipitously with the opportunity to renew my association with yourself and, of course, Miss Bennet.”

  Surprised that her name had been mentioned by his friend, Elizabeth hastily dropped a curtsey as Bingley continued, “I trust your journey passed without mishap?”

  Elizabeth smiled at him. “I thank you, it did. And have you been in Town all this time, since we last saw you in Hertfordshire?”

  “Indeed, I have.” Bingley paused and glanced over towards Jane, who had joined her aunt in preparing some fresh tea. “Had I been able, I would have called upon Miss Bennet before today. Had I known she resided in Town these several weeks, the visit would have long been paid ten-fold, but it was only this morning that I learned of her place of residence.”

  Elizabeth could not help but smile at this blatant admission, and the colour flooded Bingley’s cheeks.

  “That is… I mean to say, that I would have wished to call upon any of the family – even your mother… no, that is not quite my meaning – I – er - had I known – that is, if I had been conscious…”

  “Mr Bingley,” Elizabeth interrupted him gently, “I assure you, your meaning is perfectly clear, and I thank you for the sentiment on behalf of all my family.”

  Bingley gave a self-conscious smile before excusing himself, and Elizabeth watched him as he made his way over to her aunt and Jane, accepting a cup of tea from the former before standing back to allow the latter to precede him over to a seat near the fireplace.

  Her aunt beckoned her over, and Elizabeth crossed the room, resting her hand briefly upon her uncle’s arm as she passed him, deep in conversation with Nicholas, and he threw her a quick smile as he patted her hand in response. Taking the proffered cup from her aunt, she then followed her over to a small couch opposite her sister and Mr Bingley. Seeing that the ladies were all settled, Mr Gardiner and Nicholas took the two remaining chairs before the former turned to his wife.

  “Young Mr Bingley here recalls this district well, my dear. His grandfather had premises in both Cornhill and Moorgate, and he can distinctly remember visits with his father.”

  “Indeed?” Mrs Gardiner smiled at Bingley, who, upon hearing his name spoken, turned his attention from the lady at his side to his hostess. “How do you find being master of your own manor, Sir?”

  Bingley looked a little sheepish for a moment.

  “I must own, Mrs Gardiner, that I have not proved myself yet. But Netherfield is a fine estate, and when I have… that is to say, if – if I am able to resolve some outstanding matters whilst I am in Town, then I can safely say that I shall soon be in residence again, and nothing will persuade me to give it up.”

  “I am very pleased to hear it,” replied Mrs Gardiner. “My Godson would do well to emulate you, would you not, Nicholas?”

  The note of mild admonishment in her voice did not go unnoticed by its intended recipient, and Nicholas laughed.

  “Come now, Aunt. We must not descend into yet another debate about my idle lifestyle in front of a guest.” Bingley looked confused, and Nicholas added, “Having not seen you for some time, you are probably not aware that I am now one of a rare and curious breed.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Indeed, Nicholas, most rare and curious!”

  “Lizzy!”

  “Dear Aunt, surely you will not censure me for agreeing with him? It would be more disrespectful to contradict him, I am certain.”

  “My wife’s Godson refers to his situation in life, Mr Bingley,” interjected Mr Gardiner. “He is in the fortunate position of being a second son without need of a profession.”

  “Ah, Uncle, but not so fortunate as my younger brother – for surely to be a third son without need of a profession is rarer yet!”

  Mr Gardiner smiled and inclined his head. “Indeed, indeed.”

  Nicholas turned a satisfied countenance towards Elizabeth, who rolled her eyes.

  “It is perhaps providential that you have no need of a profession.”

  Mrs Gardiner turned to look at her niece. “Hmm, and what wisdom would have you say that, Lizzy?”

  “Oh she means to be severe upon me, of that you can be sure!” Nicholas laughed, his expression challenging, but Elizabeth refused to be deflected.

  “Why, Aunt, that he is eminently unsuitable for the most common professions of second sons: the church, the law or the armed services.”

  “And pray, child, why is that?”

  Elizabeth tilted her head to one side and studied the subject of their conversation for a moment, who bore her scrutiny silently, though clearly suppressing amusement.

  “Nicholas could never be sufficiently serious to deliver a sermon, has not the patience to absorb a legal document, and he is neither tall nor fierce enough to fight his fellow man.”

  “Lizzy!” Jane’s voice was drowned out by Nicholas’s shout of laughter.

  “You know me all too well, dear girl.” Then, he turned towards their guest. “I blame my parents, Bingley, for making an idle man of me. They have deemed it unfair that my brother and I should have no right to a share in the family coffers, merely through the misfortune of being born after James. As such, instead of securing their entire estate solely upon the heir, both Patrick and I have been willed our own manor in neighbouring counties to Somerset, along with some independence of income. As such, I am presently much as yourself – learning to be master of my own estate by instructing my steward in things that he knows better than I, and to devote my time and attention to living the life of a gentleman.”

  “Then perhaps we could compare notes?”

  “I would be delighted. I have only recently taken up the mantle, and I am demonstrating all the reluctance to shoulder its burden that my aunt’s criticism implies, yet if I can persuade you, perhaps you would care to visit once I am fully in residence?”

  Bingley nodded. “Be assured that I would! In which county is your manor?”

  A fleeting and almost indiscernible shadow crossed Nicholas’s face, and Elizabeth frowned as he cast a quick glance in her direction. “Wiltshire. I chose Wiltshire.”

  “Chose?”

  Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, then his face broke into a smile once more. “My one advantage over my younger brother. As the elder of the two, I am permitted the choice of two smaller properties that have, through our maternal grandmother, passed into the possession of our family.”

  Mrs Gardiner interjected at this point. “With your love of the sea, I would have expected you to opt for Rowlands.” As she spoke these words, Nicholas pushed himself up from his seat to walk over to the side table to refill his cup, and his aunt turned to address their guest.

  “My Godson has always professed a desire to live near the coast, and the manor house at Rowlands is dramatically situated on the rugged cliff tops of north Devon. I must own, Nicholas, that I am curious to hear the reasoning behind your choice.” She turned to study her Godson’s back as he busied himself with the tea urn, but when no response came she prompted him.

  “Nicholas?”

  Dropping a spoon onto the marble-topped table with a clatter, Nicholas turned about. “Forgive me, Aunt. My concentration was all with the tea urn! It seems to be in need of replenishment.”

  Mrs Gardiner laughed. “Then let me make amends for it.” She got to her feet to ring the b
ell for more water, before making her way over to take the vacated chair next to her husband.

  “Sutton Coker is a beautiful estate,” Bingley said, as Nicholas crossed the room and seated himself in his aunt’s former place beside Elizabeth. “I had the good fortune to pass a summer there during my Cambridge years.”

  “It is indeed, Sir,” Mrs Gardiner smiled warmly at him. “My dear friend, Alicia has turned the house into a wonderful home.”

  “Hence our reluctance to leave it for pastures new, Aunt, albeit they are our very own!”

  Mrs Gardiner fixed her Godson with a serious eye.

  “Now, Nicholas. Tell me – why did you forsake Rowlands? Admittedly, Crossways Court has the finer park – indeed, one might say it is the finer property. But you have always had an affinity for the water, and have you not, since your earliest days, claimed a desire to open your windows to the sounds of the sea?”

  Detecting a restless movement from the man at her side, Elizabeth turned to look at him, but his attention was with his aunt.

  “What can I say? Such youthful fancies have left me – surely it is acceptable to mellow one’s concept of such things?”

  “It is indeed, my dear. I am merely curious given your earlier sentiments.”

  “I – well…” Nicholas hesitated, and sensing his reluctance to expand upon the matter, Elizabeth glanced quickly about the room.

  “But Wiltshire is such a beautiful county, is it not? I have not seen Crossways, but we have travelled that way before and the Downs are quite breath-taking.”

  Following her niece’s lead, Mrs Gardiner nodded.

  “I do not think Salisbury Plain can be rivalled for its undulating beauty.”

  “Good fishing territory too, Boy.” Mr Gardiner nodded his head.

  “Indeed, Uncle. There is a fair-sized lake near the main house, and I have no doubt that you will be able to indulge your passion whenever you make any stay with me.”

  “Well, Nicholas,” Mrs Gardiner smiled affectionately at him. “Though I am surprised by your choice, I am pleased with it, for you will not be so far away from us, and Crossways is more accessible for Bath and London, and you always did have a stronger inclination for Town than Patrick.”

  “And it is conveniently situated from Hertfordshire!” added Bingley.

  “Are they not renowned also – the Plains I mean – for walking?” Jane’s soft-voiced contribution was her first to the general conversation, and Elizabeth smiled at her sister.

  “They most certainly are. Something that I shall take keen advantage of, if Nicholas chooses to invite his Hertfordshire connections to visit!” She turned towards him now, yet when she faced him there was a strange consciousness about his expression as he caught her eye and held it. “It is commonly acknowledged that I love to walk – but I will own that, like most ladies, I prefer a gentle incline to a steep one any day!”

  “That is precisely what I thought!” exclaimed Nicholas eagerly. “I thought… I hoped –” he hesitated, and glanced quickly about the room, as though suddenly recalling the company. With a slight laugh, he shrugged his shoulders. “I had hoped it was the right decision, and I begin to feel it is.”

  Elizabeth returned his smile, confident that whatever his choice, Nicholas would be happy with it. It was not in his nature to be dissatisfied with whatever life might send his way, and he could be relied upon to see the positive in any given set of circumstances.

  “But Harington…” Bingley’s voice interrupted Elizabeth’s train of thought, and she looked over at him. “Excuse my curiosity, but if all your family lands are in the West Country, and the Bennets have long been in Hertfordshire, how is it that you spent so much of your youth in company with each other?”

  Mr Gardiner exchanged a smile with his wife before saying, “I believe you are familiar with my sister, Mr Bingley.”

  “Indeed. I had the pleasure of making Mrs Bennet’s acquaintance in Hertfordshire.”

  “No doubt, no doubt. Well then,” Mr Gardiner winked at Elizabeth across the room. “With five such lively young ladies all arriving into this world within a period of close to six years, you can perhaps imagine the strain upon my sister Bennet’s – disposition.”

  Ignoring the slight snort that emanated from the man at her side, Elizabeth threw another quick look towards Bingley, but his countenance merely expressed polite interest.

  “My wife and I,” Mr Gardiner reached over and took his wife’s hand, “were blessed with the care of the two eldest so that my sister could devote her attentions to the three youngest – and Jane and Elizabeth have been like our own children. For a large part of each year, they would both reside here in Gracechurch Street, and for much of the remainder, my wife would accompany them to Hertfordshire.”

  A look of comprehension filtered across Bingley’s face, and detecting Elizabeth’s eye upon him, he smiled at her. She knew exactly what passed through his mind, for it was not the first time such a realisation had occurred – there were many who failed to understand quite how the two eldest Miss Bennets came to be so different to their younger sisters. Once it was understood that their raising had largely been in the hands of their relations in London, the difference in their intellect, good sense and decorum became more comprehendible.

  “We could not, of course, keep them too long from home as they grew older. Lizzy has always been close to her father, and he played a large part in their education, and she has also long preferred the countryside to Town; as for Jane,” here Mr Gardiner threw his other niece a fond look, “She has a nurturing instinct that meant she longed for the opportunity to help care for her younger siblings.”

  Mrs Gardiner smiled. “But despite that, both Jane and Lizzy have continued to reside with us for long periods of time over the years, and with the close connection between myself and Alicia Harington, and Nicholas being my Godson, the young people were frequently in each other’s company – either here in Town or in Somerset – along with Serena, of course.”

  Just then, a maid entered with the hot water, and Mrs Gardiner got to her feet, holding out her hand to her husband for his cup. She turned to offer the same service to her guest but then registered the blank expression upon Bingley’s face.

  “Forgive me, Ma’am.” He handed her his empty cup. “Serena?”

  “Of course – you would not know. Serena is my half-sister.” She threw a general look about the room as she turned towards the table hosting the tea-making accoutrements. “We anticipate her arrival here next week.”

  Nicholas grunted. “Are you certain she will come? She may decide against it.”

  Mrs Gardiner, tea canister in hand, turned to frown at her Godson. “That is a rather singular comment. What would lead you to suppose such a thing?”

  He gave a dismissive shrug. “She can be a little changeable.”

  “Nicholas, that is ungenerous of you.” Mrs Gardiner shook her head at him.

  “Forgive me.” He smiled apologetically. “I meant no disrespect; I simply would not wish for you to be disappointed, should she decide not to make the journey. To be certain, it is a fair distance from Derbyshire to Town.”

  Mrs Gardiner picked up the now replenished cups of tea. “She will not disappoint me – and indeed, it is far less an expedition than Sutton Coker to Lambton, which she undertook only a matter of weeks back!” She walked over and handed Bingley his freshened cup. “I would be honoured if you would allow me to introduce her to your acquaintance.”

  “I would be delighted.” Bingley beamed about the room, his gaze finally coming to rest upon the lady at his side. “How singular that we have all been guests at Sutton Coker in the past, though our paths did not cross there, yet that very connection is what has reunited us in Town.”

  Chapter Thirty One

  Elizabeth observed her sister as she met Bingley’s eye, the colour rising once more in her cheeks, before Jane rose to her feet, excused herself with a small curtsey and moved to the side table to replenish her
own cup. As her uncle engaged their guest once more in conversation, Elizabeth’s gaze followed her sister anxiously. How did she feel to be in company with Mr Bingley for the second time that day? His attentions towards her seemed as marked as ever, but even Elizabeth herself could detect Jane’s reticence.

  Unbidden, Charlotte’s voice came to her: “a woman had better show more affection than she feels”.

  Deep in such uncomfortable thoughts, it was a moment before she recalled the man at her side; until, that is, he touched her arm to gain her attention and said in a low voice: “I cannot tell you how relieved I am that you are come, Lizzy.”

  Having turned her head at his touch, Elizabeth laughed. “Except that you previously have. Do you not recall saying as much to me as we went into dinner?”

  “The repetition must surely be proof of my sincerity!”

  “And why, pray, are you so pleased to see me? I am not used to such an effusive welcome.”

  Conscious that Nicholas had cast a quick glance over towards Mr and Mrs Gardiner, the latter of whom had now retaken her seat, Elizabeth followed his gaze, noting that they were engrossed in a discussion with Mr Bingley, and they both turned their eyes back to each other at the same moment.

  “I must own that there is something that I would ask… that I would speak to you about.”

  Elizabeth turned properly in her seat to face him, almost forgetful of where they were, her glance distracted for a moment by Nicholas raising his hand, as if involuntarily, towards his breast pocket before dropping it suddenly to his lap. Catching his eye, she was startled to see that his face had paled, but before she could respond they were interrupted.

  “Nicholas! Lizzy! What are you whispering about now?” Mrs Gardiner’s voice carried across the room from her place beside her husband. “Come now, I appreciate that you have not seen each other for some time, but you cannot continue as though we were all family here tonight.” She turned towards their guest, who had risen to his feet out of courtesy as Jane retook her seat at his side.

  “My apologies, Sir. The friendship between these young people extends to their earliest days. It is no excuse for such lapses, but I do beg your forgiveness that you are being accorded no more attention than if you were one of the family.”