“I am grateful for my aunt and uncle,” Elizabeth began softly, “but I have often felt like an orphan, a burden rather than a true part of their family. It has been difficult, being cast aside by my own parents as I was, and I have not wanted to trouble others with my concerns.” Once again, she found herself confiding in Darcy with an ease that surprised her.
A silence settled between them, filled with the weight of shared vulnerabilities. As they reached the study, Darcy gave her hand a final reassuring squeeze before releasing it. The elder Darcy and Mr. Gardiner had already taken their seats, awaiting the pair.
“Miss Gardiner,” Mr. Darcy began with a gentle but firm tone, “our purpose here is to ensure justice is served and your honour is preserved. Your uncle and my son have spoken to me about what happened with my godson yesterday, and I agree it is wiseto speak to the magistrate on your behalf. The magistrate may want to speak to you, but your uncle will be there with you when he does so. Your uncle will also move your family to Pemberley, so we might offer our protection until Wickham is caught.”
Elizabeth could not hide her gasp at that statement. “Am I in danger?”
“It is merely a precaution, Miss Gardiner. We can better protect you and your family here at Pemberley, should Wickham attempt to get his revenge once he learns my father will no longer support him,” Darcy spoke before his father could.
Elizabeth nodded, her expression resolute yet vulnerable. She looked first at the younger gentleman beside her as though for reassurance, before nodding and turning to speak to the father. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I appreciate your kindness and assistance in this matter.”
Mr. Gardiner leaned forward, his face etched with concern. “Elizabeth, you must know that none of this is your fault. We will handle this with the utmost discretion to preserve your reputation. We are far from London, and it seems that people in Lambton and the surrounding areas are well aware of Wickham’s behaviour.
Elizabeth’s eyes flickered with gratitude. “Thank you, Uncle. Your support means more to me than I can express.”
Darcy’s father nodded. “You are under the protection of my family now, Miss Gardiner. We will see this through together.”
As the conversation turned to practical matters of dealing with Wickham, the young Darcy watched Elizabeth closely. Despite the gravity of the situation, he felt a glimmer of hope that he had not felt since his mother died. When he looked into her eyes,he silently vowed to stand by her, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
After luncheon, the magistrate arrived as invited and he spoke first to the elder Mr. Darcy and Mr. Gardiner, before inviting the younger Darcy and Elizabeth to join them. The two young people shared their versions of what happened the previous day while the magistrate took notes.
“Fortunately, George Wickham is well known in this area and has few friends,” he said, casting a wary glance at the Master of Pemberley. “Once it becomes known that Mr. Darcy is withdrawing his support, there will be several others who will be interested in helping ensure he is caught quickly and punished,” the magistrate said once Elizabeth finished telling her story. “It is possible that what he did to you will not even need to be mentioned in light of these other claims.”
Darcy noticed his father’s face at these words and wondered if he was feeling shame or some other strong emotion. He wondered how the conversation between his father and the magistrate had gone earlier and felt grateful that he had not been a party to it. Knowing his father prided himself on being a good landlord and diligent landowner, it must be difficult for him to hear that the people in town had known of Wickham’s misdeeds but feared saying anything to him about them because of the perception that he would protect his godson over them. Darcy was unsure if he could broach this topic with his father later, but hoped his father would bring it up so he would not have to.
Soon, the magistrate departed, and Mr. Gardiner returned to the inn to arrange payment and for their belongings to be packed and brought to Pemberley. His wife accompanied him, but Miss Gardiner and Georgiana made plans to walk around the gardens. The younger Mr. Darcy joined the girls, both toprovide protection, but also because he enjoyed their company. The three walked around the gardens of Pemberley for an hour, speaking of the flowers they saw, the history of the estate and gardens, and anything else of interest to the trio.
They returned indoors when they saw the carriage with the Gardiners and their luggage arriving. A servant showed Elizabeth to her room, where she dressed for dinner, and then she joined the family again for dinner. Dinner was lively and interesting, as the two families became better acquainted.
After the meal, they gathered in the library since it had been mentioned at dinner how much Elizabeth enjoyed reading. She and the Gardiners were astounded by the collection of books in that room.
“You may have to drag me from this room when it is time to leave,” Elizabeth said with a smile at her host. “I have never seen such a grand space, filled with so many books. I cannot decide whether I prefer it to Hatchards, but at least here I might be able to look at any book I like!”
The elder Darcy grinned. “You are welcome to read any book you wish, and even take them to your chambers to read them there instead of being confined to this room. We have a similar library in our house in town, although perhaps not quite as large, and when we are in town, you should visit us. Fitzwilliam will be at Cambridge for a time, so we will travel to London in the autumn. Georgiana and I will stay for a month or two before returning to Pemberley for the holidays, and we will all be in London again for the spring. We will invite your family for a visit when you are in town, and we would be delighted to have you all come again next summer. Perhaps then you will bring your other children, Gardiner.”
Darcy was surprised by this invitation but did his best to mask it. When Mr. Gardiner nodded, he stood and made his way toward Elizabeth.
“I do hope you will visit us in London,” he said. “The library there is not as large as this one, but still, it is enjoyable. Might I make a recommendation for something to read?”
He suppressed a smile when Elizabeth smiled up at him in reply, and he led her to a shelf containing several novels he had read to Georgiana. “I know that you mentioned enjoying reading novels. Have you readRobinson Crusoe?” he asked.
“I started it once, but I was not able to finish it,” she said, her voice saddened, causing Darcy to look at her carefully. Right as I had started it, I was forced to leave Longbourn. I had not picked it back up since my uncle did not own it, but perhaps now would be a good time to start it again.”
“Georgiana and I read it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a favourite of my father’s as well, so it would be enjoyable if we read it aloud in the evenings. Of course, you are welcome to read it on your own, if you prefer.”
Her smile warmed him. “I would be delighted to hear it read aloud. You and your father have similar voices, and I think they could be rather soporific when reading a novel.”
He laughed lightly. “I am uncertain I have ever been told I am boring quite so charmingly,” he teased.
Elizabeth brought her hand up to cover her mouth as she giggled. “That is not at all what I meant, sir.”
“Come, Miss Gardiner, I will make the suggestion to my father and see what he says. If our elders agree, then we might read for an hour or so before we all retire.”
Chapter Six
The Gardiners extended their visit to Pemberley for a full fortnight, during which the relationship between the Darcys and the Gardiners deepened. Several business discussions also took place among the gentlemen. Before the visit concluded, Mr. Gardiner shared that the elder Mr. Darcy had signed a contract promising a significant investment in his business. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were involved in these conversations since Elizabeth occasionally assisted her uncle with his bookkeeping.
Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth found a sense of home at Pemberley she had never quite felt in London. She missed her childhood home of Longbourn, or at least she missed the freedom she once had to wander through the fields and forests. Together with Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy, she felt some of that freedom again as the siblings showed Elizabeth around the estate. The three were often together, and despite the disparity in their ages, they found much in common. Elizabeth was in between the two in age, helping to bridge any gap between them, and they each helped her as she learned to ride. Though not fashionable or strictly proper, Georgiana’s brother had taught her to ride astride, so Elizabeth was taught the same. She attempted riding side-saddle but found it less comfortable and less steady, so she grew to prefer riding astride, though her uncle informed her it would not be permitted in town.
