“I hope you will pardon my directness,” she began, her voice soft yet unyielding, “but I must enquire as to your intentions regarding my sister. Whilst I appreciate you warning me about Mr. Bingley, your own behaviour during your stay in Hertfordshire left little doubt that you found both our community and family wanting, specifically Lizzy who, by your initial estimation, was barely tolerable.”
His composure faltered beneath her unexpected challenge. This was not the perpetually smiling, placid Jane Bennet he hadobserved from afar, but rather a formidable guardian of her sister’s happiness.
“Your assessment is just,” he admitted. “My conduct was inexcusable. Mr. Hurst and I have since acknowledged our failings as gentlemen during our sojourn in Hertfordshire. In light of this epiphany, I wrote to your father, expressing my profound regret to both him and Lady Elizabeth. I must stress; this was prior to me learning of your father’s new rank. She and I have since conversed at length in Kent, reconciled our misunderstandings, and she has accepted my request to call on her when she returns to London.”
“She is amenable to you calling on her?”
“My letter of apology smoothed the edges of her anger, allowing for a most cordial reunion when I arrived at my aunt’s estate in Kent.”
“She has written of your daily walks and conversations. I had hoped the two of you would find a friendship; few gentlemen can keep up with her lively conversations.”
“I believe she calls our exchanges spirited disagreements, not conversations,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting. “She has a decided opinion on a vast array of topics.”
A melodious laugh escaped Lady Jane.
“The breadth of her reading astonishes me. I cannot fathom how she retains it all.”
“The mind is not unlike a muscle; it strengthens with use. As with any skill, diligence yields mastery.”
The butler entered the room and, leaning down, spoke quietly into Mrs. Gardiner’s ear. Her eyes lit up and she said, with a smile, “You may tell him that my niece and I are at home for his visit.”
Darcy immediately noticed the delicate flush that rose onLady Jane’s face, her eyes lowering and a small, tremulous smile tilted her lips in a pleasing manner. It seemed the lady favoured this unknown gentleman caller. His surprise was great when Joshua Morgan stepped into the room.
“Morgan!” Darcy declared, a large smile threatening to split his face in two. “I have not seen you since Cambridge.”
He stood and approached Morgan, hand outstretched.
“Darcy, you still look like a cantankerous old curmudgeon.” The men shook hands, then Darcy resumed his seat. After greeting both ladies with perfect politeness, Morgan sat down next to Lady Jane. “But you, my lady, look exceptionally well,” he said, then turned his attention to her aunt. “My sister Gabriella sends her regrets. She had a scheduled fitting with the dressmaker and dared not put it off. With the season in full swing, appointments are as rare as perfect rubies these days.”
“Indeed, they are. Thankfully, Madame Étienne was able to fill our orders before the mad rush.” Mrs. Gardiner turned her focus back to Darcy. “I gather, by your greeting, that you and Mr. Morgan have known each other for some time.”
“We, as in Hurst, Morgan, and I, attended Eton and Cambridge together.”
“You and Hurst were as thick as thieves,” Morgan said. “I was just a tag-along.”
“I beg to differ. You were a valued friend. It saddened me when all contact was lost when your father died.”
“That was a difficult year,” Morgan said, his expression showing that he still held sorrow over the event. “Mother was beside herself with grief. Losing both Father and Jacob nearly broke her spirit.”
“Yet, you still found time to write to me when my own good father died.”
“How could I not? You were facing a similar situation, having a younger sister to guide and care for, along with a substantial estate. You needed to know there was light at the end of your dark tunnel.”
“Your encouragement was appreciated, but… enough of this maudlin talk, the ladies have better things to do than listen to us reminisce about our ill spent youth.”
Morgan gave him a crooked smile, then turned to Lady Jane.
“I was unaware you kept such illustrious company. If I had known, I would have warned you off this taciturn gentleman. Hurst and I often wondered if he would ever make friends beyond his tight circle acquaintances.”
“I cannot speak to Mr. Darcy’s past, other than from this past October when our family made his first acquaintance,” Lady Jane said, giving Darcy a look that reminded him of Elizabeth. “At first, he was very unsociable, but over time, he has softened enough that I am told my sister now considers him a very close friend.”
“Indeed?” Morgan’s brows raised ever so fractionally.
“Yes, indeed,” Lady Jane said, hiding a smile behind her teacup before taking a small sip.
“Before you bring out the rack and begin your inquisition, I shall tell you that Lady Elizabeth has given me permission to call on her.”
A slow blink, followed by a wide smile was Morgan’s only response. He settled back into his chair and shook his head, chuckling softly.
