Alas! Mr. Collins spoke with Lady Catherine about the possibility of my attending your wedding to Mr. Darcy (he speaks to her about everything, you know) and she flatly refused to consent. Indeed, she told him that if Ididattend, it would give her the greatest displeasure.
I wish I could say that she is not usually so unreasonable, but it has been impressed upon me it is unchristian to lie.
My mother has promised to write me with all the details of the wedding.
Sadly,
Charlotte
Chapter Sixty-Six
December 23rd, 1811
Longbourn
Brother!’ Mrs. Bennet threw herself into her brother’s arms.
Mr. Gardiner laughed aloud and kissed his sister’s hair. “It is good to see you, Fanny.”
Mrs. Bennet turned to find Mrs. Gardiner. “Madeleine! How was the journey!”
“With three little boys? Long and noisy!” Mrs. Gardiner replied. Her tone was cheerful, but it was clear that she was weary.
“Come inside, all of you.” Mrs. Bennet led the way.
The three little boys in question clung to their mother’s skirts, uncertain. They had come to Longbourn for Christmas every year, but their age precluded past memories, no matter how pleasant.
But when Mary whispered, “There are tarts in the nursery upstairs,” nothing else was required. Robert, Jonathan and Charlie raced up the staircase with Mary trailing behind.
Mrs. Gardiner sighed in relief. “I love them more than my life, but the noise three boys can make in a carriage beggars belief!”
Mrs. Bennet compressed her lips; she would have put up with a good deal of noise to have birthed even one boy, let alone three, but she said nothing.
Soon the Bennets and the Gardiners were comfortably seated in the parlour with teacups and plates of tiny sandwiches, though Kitty and Lydia had elected to go upstairs and enjoy their tea with their cousins.
Their uncle began with, “Jane, Lizzy, what is this rumour I heard about you two getting married in a few weeks?”
Jane blushed and looked down at the floor, but Elizabeth looked at her uncle with a smile. “It is true, Uncle, and well you know it.”
“I do not like the idea of you being taken so far away, Lizzy,” Mr. Gardiner said. “I must meet the young man who thinks to do so.”
“You shall, of course, Uncle. After the wedding, we are going to London first, and I believe the Bingleys intend to accompany us.”
“We will, yes,” Jane agreed, looking up with a shy smile.
Mrs. Gardiner leaned forward to look at Elizabeth. “And you are to marry Fitzwilliam Darcy! I can scarce believe it! It was always thought that he would marry quite high. Not that you are unworthy of such a man, of course, Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner added hastily.
“It is quite a strong inclination,” Mrs. Bennet said at once. “You have only to see them together to understand.”
“We expect the Bingleys, the Darcys, and the Hursts to visit very soon,” Jane said.
Her words were prophetic, for their Netherfield neighbours were announced that very moment. More chairs were brought in to the parlour, and introductions were performed.
Georgiana had entered the room with some trepidation, fearing that these newcomers from London might have heard of her disgrace, but if they had, there was no sign of it. And upon learning that Mrs. Gardiner had known her mother, Georgiana sat beside her and begged for any memories that might be shared. Mrs. Gardiner was happy to oblige, of course, leaving Mr. Gardiner to observe the young men who had come to ‘steal away his nieces,’ as he put it.
Mr. Gardiner had spent a good deal of time with his two eldest nieces, and knew their characters well. He immediately saw that Jane and Mr. Bingley would do well together. Neither of them had particularly complicated characters, and both were kind-hearted, warm and generous. He was satisfied with the match in just a few minutes.
This Mr. Darcy was a different matter altogether. In just a brief conversation, he understood this man to be a far more complex person than his friend; in addition, it was clear to Mr. Gardiner’s discerning eye that the man carried a burden of some sort. It must have to do with his young sister, as he continually glanced her way. As if she could get into some sort of trouble while speaking with Madeleine Gardiner!
