FIVE
Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley calling in Gracechurch Street was an event hard to believe even for Mr Gardiner, who was a pragmatic man and not easily impressed.
“My dear Jane, I am so glad to see you happy,” Mrs Gardiner said. “What a joy it has been to have Mr Bingley here. He seemed to be everything we expected, and his admiration for you cannot be denied!”
“Oh…I am not sure about that, Aunt. But I was happy to see him. At least I know he was not aware of my being in London and was not avoiding me on purpose.”
“I never trusted Miss Bingley’s words, and her claim about Mr Bingley being busy with Miss Darcy is as evil as it is ridiculous! Mr Darcy seemed quite angry when I mentioned it.”
“It is no wonder. Miss Darcy is still very young and certainly not in search of a suitor,” Mrs Gardiner added. “And Mr Bingley’s interest seems to lie in one direction only!”
Jane blushed, smiled, and said nothing else.
“I hope Mr Bingley will confront his sisters and rebuke them as they deserve. Which makes me admit that I was pleasantly surprised by Mr Darcy’s willingness to reveal the truth to his friend.”
“Mr Darcy has always been a loyal friend. Mr Bingley has said that often,” Jane whispered.
“Speaking of that, I am still bewildered. To take tea with Lady Matlock and have Mr Darcy calling at my house all in one week is something I would have never imagined,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“I cannot even argue with you, my dear,” Mr Gardiner said. “Even if Mr Bingley informed you he would call, I did not expect Mr Darcy.”
“Neither did I, my dear. What surprised me even more is that, while we all expected Mr Bingley to be amiable, Mr Darcy was the same, although Lizzy made us believe the opposite.”
“There is something distant and perhaps haughty in Mr Darcy, especially compared to Mr Bingley,” Mr Gardiner added. “However, I agree that his behaviour was beyond reproach, even though he had no reason to be friendly with us.”
“Lizzy dear, I cannot imagine why Mr Darcy made such a poor impression on you. Except that he refused to dance with you and that he disadvantaged your favourite, Mr Wickham.”
Mrs Gardiner’s irony touched Elizabeth, especially since she was equally puzzled by Mr Darcy’s improved manners. His behaviour was indeed beyond reproach; furthermore, he had apparently informed Mr Bingley about Jane’s presence in town and had come to support him on his call, which could have only one purpose: a reconnection with Jane.
“I am as surprised as you, Aunt. I have never seen Mr Darcy act as friendly as he did today.”
“You told Lady Matlock yesterday that you were more enemies than friends, Lizzy. And today, Mr Darcy repeated your words — with apparent displeasure.”
“I said nothing but the truth, based on what I saw every time I was in Mr Darcy’s company. He always looked at me to find fault. It made me most uncomfortable.”
“Well, something changed his mind.”
“Possibly, Aunt. However, as much as I appreciate his friendliness, it does not compensate for the cruelty he showed to his childhood friend Mr Wickham, and it certainly does not justify his disregard of his father’s dying wish.”
“And may I ask how you know all this, Lizzy?” Mr Gardiner enquired.
“Mr Wickham related it to me. I told my aunt the entire story.”
“Do you have any other details, besides Mr Wickham’s narration?”
“I do not, but it is enough for me. Mr Darcy may defend himself if he wishes to!”
“Have you asked Mr Darcy?” Mr Gardiner continued, puzzling Elizabeth.
“Asked him? How could I do that? Mr Darcy hardly spoke to me at all in Hertfordshire. There was no opportunity for me to discuss something so delicate with him.”
“How interesting. Then how did it happen that Mr Wickham found the opportunity to reveal something so delicate and so personal to a stranger he had only just met? He knew nothing about your true character. Why would he confide such an intimate matter to you? Both I and your father find this story highly unlikely.”
Mr Gardiner’s voice was light and his countenance relaxed, but his enquiries vexed Elizabeth. She had never taken the trouble to ask herself such questions, and being forced to answer them now made her feel uncomfortable.
“To me, the only important thing is Mr Darcy’s behaviour towards me and my family,” Mrs Gardiner said. “The Darcys are among the most illustrious families in Derbyshire, and I have never heard anything to question their honour.”
“And yet, Mr Darcy left Mr Wickham a living, which his son refused to give.”
