“Yes. She left your uncle, the son of a hat trader, for a future duke. One can understand aspiring to a better life, but you—”
“I want a peaceful life.”
“There is no such thing. Marriage is difficult even when you love your husband.”
“I want to be the mistress of my own life. At last, I can do that without other considerations. Ultimately, that is my uncle’s gift, and that is what I am trying to do.”
“Mr Gardiner once told me that money can change a person. During the last few years, with your uncle’s increasing prosperity, we have tried very hard not to change. We have redecorated our house, and our children may attend better schools, but your uncle and I hope that we remain the same people.
“You, my dear, have changed as well, though in a different way. Most newly wealthy people wish to display their fortune. You seem determined to hide yours in a simple life, in a little town, with an unremarkable husband.”
“No, it is not like that,” said Elizabeth.
“Then explain how it is.”
But she could not.
∞∞∞
Overcoming her hesitation, Mrs Gardiner approached Thomas Bennet as soon as the gentlemen returned. They stood together in silence, watching Elizabeth converse with the duchess.
“I am afraid,” said Mrs Gardiner unexpectedly.
Thomas immediately understood her concern. “Please do not be, Mrs Gardiner. The troublesome party arrived afew minutes too early today,” he replied with a smile. “I am convinced that another ten minutes in the garden would have left us celebrating an engagement. Nothing has been lost, merely postponed.”
“Elizabeth rarely had doubts before, and never whims—”
“Then let us allow her the right to be like any other young lady of her age. This is simply her way of adapting to a new situation. Is it unusual? Certainly. Then again, Elizabeth is an unusual young lady.”
“Mr Kendall is not for her, if you will excuse me for saying so—”
“Of course not. And you may be quite certain that she will choose the right man.”
Chapter 25
The dinner at the Darcys became the most important event since their arrival in London. Mr Bennet, brought almost by force from Netherfield by the Bingleys, arrived the evening before, causing a great and pleasant surprise to everyone.
The newcomers were greeted with embraces and exclamations of delight, whilst the duchess almost forgot to breathe when she set eyes upon the younger version of her secret husband.
“This is how you looked at forty,” she murmured, her eyes full of tears. There were so many years of the man she loved that she had never seen.
“You should have stayed another week on your honeymoon,” exclaimed Mrs Bennet, addressing Mrs Jane Bingley. She sounded almost annoyed, though it was plain that she was delighted to have her family reunited.
“Yes, but it was far more interesting to be here with you,” Jane replied, looking towards the duchess. She was curious to meet the lady who, in one way or another, had become the cause of everything that had happened.
The duchess finally turned her attention from Mr Bennet to the newly married lady who seemed to shine. Her happiness was visible in every glance and smile. Such was how a bride ought to look.
Only three weeks earlier, Henrietta herself had been as happy as this young woman. Since then, her happiness had continued to grow with each passing day beside the dear man she had once believed lost forever. Life had punished her severely, yet in the end, it had granted her more than she had ever hoped to receive. Looking forward to the moment when they would finally be alone, she was happy for Thomas as well. He had found his family at last and had willingly remained amongst them, helping them understand their altered circumstances.
The duchess suspected that Mrs Bennet would have liked to govern the house herself, but that could never happen. Mrs Bennet had Netherfield and her husband. The London house required a young mistress. If Thomas's hopes were fulfilled and Elizabeth married Mr Darcy, she would leave for Pemberley and become mistress of his estates. Lydia and Catherine, whatever advantages the future might bring them, were unsuited to managing the households of dukes and duchesses. Mary, meanwhile, possessed no interest in such responsibilities.
The future of the house had concerned the duchess a little, yet the moment Jane entered the parlour, the matter was settled in her mind.
That young woman was precisely what she needed.
Behind the soft expression and gentle eyes stood a true lady, and the duchess recognised in her exactly the spirit she sought. Her plans extended even further. She intended to use all her influence to obtain a title for the couple. The future Lord and Lady Bingley seemed perfectly suited to transform that melancholy house into a place governed by love and beauty.
With Thomas at her side, the future appeared clear, and nearly every difficulty had been resolved. Nearly every difficulty.
