She laughed. “He actually permitted you to take one of his precious volumes out of the house? He does like you!”
Mr Gardiner also chuckled. She performed the necessary introductions, and they sat. Darcy was immediately pleased with the gentleman, who did not look like his conception of a tradesman. Rather, he was fashionably attired and had an air of intelligence about him that was pleasing. There was something about his eyes—the shape, perhaps—that reminded him of Elizabeth’s, though he would not call Mr Gardiner’s lovely.
“I believe Bennet knew me above a year before he allowed me to touch one of his books. Next to his children, they are his most cherished possessions,” Mr Gardiner said.
“I expect he would rate them somewhat ahead of at least several of us!” She again laughed, the sound musical and so joyful, it made Darcy’s heart ache with longing.
Mr Gardiner’s countenance transformed into one suggesting mock-agreement.
“If I recollect, Uncle, you were only thirteen or fourteen when you met Papa.”
“Far too young to be trusted, eh? You are not wrong, dear girl, but I was fascinated by his library and eager to learn everything he would teach me.” To Darcy, Mr Gardiner explained, “My father was an attorney, as you may be aware. My brother Philips took over his practice at his death. As much as I longed for it, my father thought a gentleman’s education would be wasted on me.” He shrugged and smiled, giving no indication it distressed him. His lack of time at university had certainly not hindered his success; that much was evident in the quality of his clothing.
They spoke about the volume Darcy had borrowed from Mr Bennet. It was a recent book about the travels of the Persian prince through Asia, Africa, and Europe. Miss Elizabeth ordered refreshments, and when the tea and cake arrived, Darcy introduced a new subject.
“Do you remain long in Hertfordshire, Mr Gardiner? I did not realise you were visiting.”
“I only recently decided to come, and I am here for just a day or two. Bennet and I have business to discuss, about a venture we embarked on which, I am pleased to say, will be more successful than we had hoped.” To his niece, he added, “It is a shame Collins is not here to talk it over with us. You will have to tell him about it once he returns. I do not entirely trust your father to remember the details.”
She said she would. If Darcy did not mistake her tone, she was unenthusiastic about the task. Darcy wondered exactly when this cousin—whom he had heard mentioned often yet knew so little of—would be at Longbourn again. If he did not consider it impolite, he would have asked; the question seemed to burn the tip of his tongue.
“Am I correct that your wife did not accompany you?” Darcy asked Mr Gardiner.
“The trip will be of too short a duration to make all the fuss worth the while. We have four young children, the eldest is just nine, and they take both travelling and having their mother and me absent at the same time equally hard.”
“Miss Elizabeth told me your wife once lived near my estate in Derbyshire. I am always glad to speak to a fellow resident, even a former one, about the county. I am sorry not to have the opportunity.”
Mr Gardiner grinned, which increased the resemblance between him and his niece. “That is kind, sir. Had Mrs Gardiner known you were here, she would have pushed me aside in her haste to get into the carriage. I suspect once I mention meeting you, her dreams of visiting her old home will be revived.”
“Has it been many years since she has been?”
“About a dozen, but I cannot be more exact. We plan to take a trip next summer. I had thought the Lakes a promising destination, but I foresee us taking a different route now.”
“As long as you find a likely stream or lake in which to fish, you will not mind, will you?” Miss Elizabeth gave Mr Gardiner such a look of fondness that Darcy was briefly struck by jealousy.
“You know me well!”
She spent a moment teasing her uncle about his love for fishing. He took it with good humour and asked Darcy what sports were his favourites.
“As long as it is in the open air, I am agreeable,” Darcy said.
Mr Gardiner turned to Miss Elizabeth. “That sounds like a responseyouwould give.”
“ExceptIwould never claim to enjoy fishing or shooting!”
“Neverclaimto?” Mr Gardiner repeated. “That is not the same as disliking the pastimes. I recall a little girl who was content to keep her dear old uncle company as he waited for the fish to accept his bait.”
“Perhaps I was more interested in being with you than I was in your lessons on how to catch fish.”
Mr Gardiner patted her hand. “How can I possibly respond to such a pretty speech?”
Miss Elizabeth kissed her uncle’s cheek. He then addressed Darcy.
“You must have travelled a fair bit, sir, despite that pesky Frenchman making it difficult of late.”
“I have.” Darcy mentioned going to the continent with his parents during the brief peace after the Treaty of Amiens.
They spoke of travel until Darcy felt he ought to leave, having stayed considerably beyond the usual length of a call. He kept his horse at a slow walk for the return to Netherfield. Darcy did not wish to overstay his welcome with the Bingleys, which meant he should plan to depart within the next fortnight. He took an odd comfort in knowing the Gardiners might be close to Pemberley in the summer. Being a rational being, he could not absolutely decide in favour of marrying Miss Elizabeth so soon after they met. It was possible he would decide against doing so, but that seemed increasingly unlikely. Thus, he needed to determine how to continue pursuing her, given how far apart they lived. Darcy began to dream of remaining in Derbyshire all summer, of enquiring at the inns in Lambton about guests named Gardiner, of Miss Elizabeth accompanying them, and being able to show her Pemberley, the place he loved and would give to her as his wife, of proposing to her…
