“He will be a fortunate man then, if his taste is so exquisite,” soothed Elizabeth. “Jane would be valued and admired by any sensible gentleman, no matter where he lived.”
“And so shall you, Lizzy,” her aunt interjected. “Do not allow your mother, or your mosthelpfulsister here, lead you to believe otherwise. You are a perfectly lovely young lady, and even that sorry business with Lydia and Mary may be overlooked by the right sort of gentleman. Any man to catch your eye should call himself blessed.”
“It is not the gentleman who must catch the lady’s eye, but the reverse,” chuckled Elizabeth. “I know very well into what straits my sisters and I have fallen, though you are kind enough to spare me the full measure of the world’s disdain, Aunt. I have no desire to remain a spinster as Mama has accused, but I find it highly unlikely that I could go home next week an engaged woman. I mean simply to enjoy my visit.”
“Then indeed, enjoy it we shall. What else did you wish to do while you are staying with us?”
“Perhaps Kitty had other notions, but I have always wished to see one of London’s pleasure gardens. Do you think Uncle would object?”
“Oh! I have not been since before Maddy was born, Lizzy, but that sounds delightful. Perhaps we will speak to your uncle and see if he will take us tomorrow.”
Elizabeth was smiling her delight at her aunt’s easy agreement and gazing out the window of the carriage when a figure in apparent distress caught her eye. She saw only a hunched-over flash of dark clothing; then he disappeared. An instant later, the carriage lurched as the driver pulled up the horses in alarm.
Mrs Gardiner caught at the hand loop, then put her head near the window to listen as the driver addressed someone outside. “Clear off, my good man,” he was ordering. “You have upset the ladies!”
They heard a slurred apology, and Elizabeth, who sat on the proper side to see, gestured to her aunt as the figure came back into view. “Aunt, look. That man there, do you see him? He looks as though he has been injured. See how he holds his head? Perhaps he needs help.”
Mrs Gardiner did look, and to her dismay saw a tallish fellow, dressed respectably as an employee of a good household, staggering to the curb. “More than likely he is intoxicated. Look away, Elizabeth. Do not let him see you.”
“He does not have the appearance of a drunkard or a criminal, Aunt. Is that not livery he is wearing? Surely no master would countenance such behaviour, and particularly not in public.”
Mrs Gardiner reluctantly turned her eyes back to the man on the walk. He was clinging lethargically to a street lantern, his face pressed against the cool metal of the post. What they could see of his expression revealed that he was nearly asleep where he stood and only wanted a horizontal posture to make it a reality. His clothing bespoke some connection to gentility, as Elizabeth had asserted, else she would not have dared give a stranger on a dark street a second glance.
“Lizzy, this is not Meryton,” Mrs Gardiner decided. “You cannot believe appearances. I have heard of ladies’ carriages being set upon by ruffians after they have stopped to help someone who appeared to be hurt. I am very sorry for the poor fellow, if indeed he is in distress, but it is not our place to look to him.”
“Aye, I’ve heard the same thing, Lizzy,” seconded Kitty. “Remember that story Lydia told us?”
“That was on a deserted road near a seaport. We are still in Mayfair. You cannot believe that criminals could set up such a ruse in this neighbourhood, do you? There are too many about, and the houses nearby too well secured for such activity to succeed. Can you not at least ask the driver to see to him?”
Mrs Gardiner’s brow puckered in concern, but she obliged her niece. “Jones, please step down and see if the man is injured.”
The carriage rocked as the driver obeyed, and the ladies watched him approach the man on the walk. “My good man, are you well?” they heard Jones enquire.
There was a moan, and some muttered reference to a cousin, then the man’s head drooped against the post. Jones leaned close, and the ladies could see their driver sniffing the other man’s person. He returned directly.
“I do not think he is intoxicated, ma’am, but neither does he appear to have any sort of head injury. I can think of no reasonable explanation for his condition.”
“We cannot leave him here on the street,” Elizabeth insisted. “He truly will become a victim of some crime if we do. Look at him, his knees are buckling.”
“Perhaps he works in the nearest house,” Jones suggested. “Do you wish me to ask?”
“Please do,” Mrs Gardiner agreed. “We shall be safe enough in the carriage for a moment.” She glanced at her niece, a nervous hope written across her features.
There was only one large house on this corner, and there was no knocker on the door, so Jones apparently decided to try the one across the street. The man had, after all, been crossing when they had nearly run him down. The ladies waited in silence for his return, watching all the while as the man on the walk began to sag lower and lower to the ground. Finally, just before Jones’ return, he crumpled, and his head struck the pavement. Elizabeth cried out in dismay, and it was only her aunt’s staying hand which kept her in the carriage.
“They claim that none of their footmen could have made such a spectacle,” Jones reported. “I doubt they would acknowledge him, even if he did belong to that house, for it would be too much of an embarrassment.”
“You said he does not appear to be intoxicated?” Mrs Gardiner glanced back at the man.
“There is no odour of drink, ma’am, but I cannot be certain.”
“Aunt, is it not our duty to look to those in distress?” Elizabeth reminded her.
“I do not consider that a mandate when the man is a rather tall stranger and we number but three ladies.”
“And one driver!” Kitty helpfully pointed out. “It would not be so very hard to have Mr Jones set him on the box. He could stay below stairs this evening and go on his way on the morrow. I cansee Lizzy has got this in her head, Aunt, and we shall have no peace until she sees that ridiculous fellow safely put up for the night.”
Mrs Gardiner sighed and frowned at her nieces. Elizabeth was watching her intently, with a small quirk of her brow. As her younger sister had surmised, she had indeed taken the man’s welfare to heart, but she was not petulant. Instead, she employed a measure of playfulness to achieve her ends.
