Page 8 of To Win Her Affections

“I have,” agreed Elizabeth. “Your aunt is a singular sort of woman, Miss Darcy. Why, she owns to it herself!”

“That is Lady Catherine to be certain,” agreed Miss Darcy.

Elizabeth suspected this shy creature found Lady Catherine difficult to withstand, and she could not blame her. Elizabeth could sympathize, for her own feelings toward the irascible woman were much the same. Elizabeth possessed greater natural poise and several additional years of experience, and she was not a relation, whereas Miss Darcy must endure Lady Catherine as a member of her family.

“Shall we not sit together for a time?” asked Elizabeth. “If you wish, I shall order some tea.”

“I have no need for tea at present,” said Miss Darcy shyly. “But I should like to come to know you better.”

They did just that, Elizabeth turning her full attention to the two Darcys, but more particularly the young girl. What she found did not displease her. As Mr. Darcy had asserted, Miss Darcy was shy and retiring, but as her confidence grew, her conversation became increasingly easy. For a time, she looked for any sign of that pride with which Mr. Wickham had charged her, but Elizabeth saw nothing of it.

Thus was the last of Mr. Wickham’s tales of the Darcys revealed to be false. For anyone, least of all a man raised at Pemberley, to charge her with pride and caprice showed either a shocking lack of discernment or a malevolent intention to deceive. Elizabeth could well imagine a trusting girl such as this believing Mr. Wickham’s lies enough to fancy herself in love. Georgiana had gained maturity, understanding, and even a measure of confidence from that encounter, though they had been dearly bought.

Before perhaps fifteen minutes had passed, the Gardiners returned, and Elizabeth saw further evidence of Miss Darcy’s shyness when her aunt and uncle entered. The Gardiners, however, were kind and attentive, and Mrs. Gardiner’s tales of her girlhood years in Lambton drew the girl from her shell.

“You met my mother?” asked she, wide-eyed at the mention of the mother she had never known.

“That is perhaps a little beyond the mark,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “I saw your mother a few times in Lambton, as Lady Anne often came to the town. But I was only a girl myself.”

“What sort of person was my mother?” blurted Miss Darcy. Then she colored and peeked at her brother. “I have heard my family speak of her, but I am curious to hear the perspective of one who is unrelated to her.”

“I am curious about that myself,” replied Mr. Darcy, giving her an encouraging smile.

“Lady Anne was well regarded in Lambton.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled as memories washed over her. “She was kind and considerate to all, spoke softly, but carried herself with a quiet dignity that even a girl could recognize.”

Mrs. Gardiner reached forward and patted Georgiana’s hand. “I believe you were very much wanted, Miss Darcy. It was common knowledge in the neighborhood that your mother experienced difficulty carrying children.”

“That is true,” said Mr. Darcy, his customary impassive mask absent in favor of controlled emotion. “My mother had several miscarriages between my birth and yours. For the short time she was with us after your birth, she quite doted on you.”

“I wish I might have known her,” said Miss Darcy quietly.

“My mother also died when I was young,” said Mr. Gardiner. “Though I have a few memories of her, they are indistinct, as if they belonged to someone else. The pain of not knowing a parent is not one that ever leaves us, I think.”

“No more than the pain of losing beloved parents before their time,” murmured Mr. Darcy.

It was, Elizabeth reflected, something on which she had thought but little. Elizabeth had an excellent relationship with her father, but her mother often exasperated her. Yet, hearing the understated grief of those who had lost beloved family members or never known them brought everything into perspective. Mrs. Bennet had her faults, as did they all, but Elizabeth appreciated her mother’s presence in her life.

For some time after, they continued to speak, though the subjects grew less fraught with emotion. In time, Miss Darcy asked if she might call Elizabeth by her Christian name and offered her own in exchange. When the Darcys rose to leave, the foundations of a friendship had already been laid.

“If I might,” said Georgiana as they were preparing to leave, “my brother and I should like to welcome you to Pemberley during your stay.”

“Should you enjoy fishing,” said Mr. Darcy to Mr. Gardiner, “there are some excellent locations on my property. If you are amenable, I should be happy to have you join me, and my friends would join us without hesitation.”

“I do enjoy fishing, though I seldom have the opportunity to indulge in it,” said Mr. Gardiner.

“While the gentlemen are fishing,” said Georgiana, “we can come to know each other better.”

Elizabeth considered who else was staying at Pemberley, but she elected to say nothing about Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley.

“And shall you not remain for dinner tomorrow?” asked Mr. Darcy.

The Gardiners shared a look. “We have an engagement tomorrow evening, Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “though we accept the afternoon invitation with gratitude. What of the following evening?”

“That is agreeable to me,” said Mr. Darcy, his sister nodding beside him.

They set the time for their visit to Pemberley, and the Darcys excused themselves amid professions of anticipation for the following day. When they were gone, Mr. Gardiner excused himself to speak to the innkeeper about dinner, though Elizabeth did not mistake the significant look that passed between her uncle and his wife. The moment he was gone, Mrs. Gardiner turned to her, the light of mischief in her eyes.

“This is most curious, Lizzy.”