Page 10 of A Sisterly Bond

Mr Darcy’s amazement seemed to increase with every word, and his eyes turned to Elizabeth again.

“Mrs Gardiner is my aunt, Mr Darcy,” she finally said. “Mr Gardiner is my mother’s brother. They live in Gracechurch Street.”

His surprise remained, while Elizabeth scrutinised his face. What could be in his mind at that very moment? He did not look happy at all, but he bowed to Mrs Gardiner properly and said in a fairly amiable tone, “Mrs Gardiner, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“I am truly honoured, Mr Darcy. As I just told Miss Darcy, being invited to your house for tea and meeting you both it is a wonderful privilege I have never imagined.”

“So, you were having a tea party? I am sorry I interrupted it,” Mr Darcy said. “I just returned home, but I shall leave again in two days.”

“Please stay with us for a little while, Brother,” Miss Darcy insisted. “Let me tell you how I met the Miss Bennets and Mrs Gardiner. You will not believe such a coincidence!”

The girl’s voice was so joyful that everybody in the room smiled. She began to recount their fortuitous encounter in Hyde Park, while Mr Darcy cast repeated glances at Elizabeth. Under his curious looks, she became more and more unsettled, and when his little smile that had made her uncomfortable so many times in Hertfordshire returned to his lips, she felt her cheeks burning.

“Quite a coincidence, indeed,” he admitted. “I remember Miss Elizabeth enjoys taking long walks.”

“It was the first time I had fallen in a long time, and of course, it had to happen in Hyde Park, of all places,” Elizabeth said to conceal her nervousness. “I was fortunate with Miss Darcy’s timely assistance.”

Mr Darcy smiled again, with a loving glance at his sister.

“So, Mrs Gardiner, my sister mentioned you grew up in Lambton?”

“Yes, sir. My father, Thomas Barnes, owned a shop until we moved to London, almost twenty years ago.”

“I confess I do not remember Mr Barnes, but it is a lovely coincidence, truly.”

“Oh, wait, Brother, there are more coincidences,” Miss Darcy continued. “Miss Elizabeth is only staying in London for a few days. She is on her way to visit — well, you should guess, but I am sure you never would! Lady Catherine, at Rosings Park!”

At this, Mr Darcy’s eyes widened again, and a frown of surprise returned to his face. He gazed at Elizabeth intently, enquiringly, somehow doubtfully.

“You are visiting Lady Catherine de Bourgh?” he asked in disbelief.

Elizabeth gulped some tea before answering.

“Not her ladyship directly. My cousin Mr Collins — I am not sure you remember him — married my friend Charlotte Lucas a few months ago. He is a clergyman at Hunsford parish, and they live close to Rosings Park. Charlotte invited me to visit her, together with her father, Sir William, and her sister, Maria.”

As she spoke, Elizabeth found her own explanation clumsy and hesitant; Mr Darcy remained incredulous and frowning.

“Sir William and Maria caught a bad cold, and they are recovering in my aunt’s house. We had to delay our departure for a few days, but I hope we shall be able to continue our journey soon.”

“I see…” Mr Darcy repeated. “Well, this has been a real succession of coincidences, as my sister proclaimed.”

Before she knew what she was saying, Elizabeth continued, with a boldness she knew to be improper but could not repress. “My sister Jane, however, will remain in London. She has been here for two months now and will stay until I return from Kent.”

“I see,” Mr Darcy repeated, with a glance at a very flushed Jane.

“Brother, do you happen to have news about Mr Bingley? Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth asked me about him, but I had little to say since I have not seen him in a while.”

This time, Elizabeth easily recognised Mr Darcy’s discomfort, as his face paled, then coloured.

“No…I have not seen him in a few weeks either.”

“His sisters told my aunt and my sister that Mr Bingley was busy with you and with Miss Darcy, which seems to be far from accurate,” Elizabeth said with audacity. She noticed Mrs Gardiner’s harsh glares of reproach but chose to disregard them.

“I am not sure why they would say so,” Mr Darcy replied.

“Since I did not know you would return today, I took the liberty of writing Miss Bingley a note and asking about her brother,” Miss Darcy declared. “I hope he is in good health.”

Miss Darcy’s complacency was not mirrored in either Jane or Mr Darcy; both of them looked deeply distracted, but the girl did not seem to notice and continued chatting.