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Chapter 15
“Edward,” Aunt Gardiner said numbly. “Eddie will be the heir one day.”
Uncle Gardiner was no less stupefied than his wife. “The man barely knew me, Thomas. I was still at school when you married my sister.”
“Yet you were already winning prizes in mathematics. Oh, my father likely thought it would never come to pass,” Papa said, appearing quite pleased with the surprise he had sprung on them all. “After all, when the will was written, I was only thirty and about to wed. We all assumed there would be an heir. If not, Mr. Collins the elder was in excellent health—and his son was a young boy and seemed stout enough. It was entirely unexpected that the estate should fall to the remainder man. Still, I believe he made a wise choice. I even told him so at the time.”
“You knew?” Uncle Gardiner asked. “You knew all along?”
Papa shrugged. “There was no need to mention it until we were certain that no long-lost Bennet relations would appear to take your place. It would have been cruel to raise your hopes in such a way.”
Elizabeth was vastly pleased with this turn of events. Longbourn would stay in the family, even if it was not the Bennet family. Uncle Gardiner would be a much better financial caretaker than her father. He did not know very much about running an estate, however.
“Edward,” Papa said, his thoughts clearly mirroring hers, “now you really must make time to visit.”
“You are all welcome to Pemberley as well, including the children. We are engaged in a variety of new techniques . . .” Before he had completed the sentence, William stopped speaking. He straightened in his chair, his cheeks flushing red. “Of course, I shall leave it to my wife to offer the invitation.”
Elizabeth squelched her laughter. “You usurp my duties already, Mr. Darcy?”
To her great delight, he offered her a sheepish little grin. “I have been on my own a long time, Elizabeth. Occasionally, you may be required to remind me.”
“Well,” Elizabeth addressed the room, “I think it a fine idea.” She gazed lovingly at her husband. She did laugh a little then. “So fine an idea that I invited my aunt and uncle when we were here last.”
Her husband shook his head self-consciously. “That is a great relief,” he replied, and accepted the good-natured teasing of the others in the room.
Where had all his formality gone? Elizabeth knew then that he trusted the people in this room. She loved them, therefore he had decided to love them, too. It would be more difficult for him to offer the same to the rest of her family, but she suddenly had no doubt that he would be a gentleman for them as well. She smiled brightly at him.
He placed his hand over hers, much as he had when they entered the house.
“We would be pleased to have you stay for dinner,” Aunt Gardiner was saying. Elizabeth hoped no one else had noted her distraction.
“I thank you, Aunt,” she said. “However, cook will be upset with me were we to dine out tonight. She has already begun her preparations. Later in the week, perhaps?”
She was not watching her husband’s face, but Aunt Gardiner’s kindly visage shone with approbation. “That would be lovely, dear. Shall we say Thursday evening?”
Elizabeth glanced up at William. He was gazing down at her with a look she recalled from their chambers. It was time to make their farewells.
“Until Thursday, then,” she said.
“Perhaps you might arrive early on Thursday, Lizzy, so we can have a proper visit,” Jane said.
Elizabeth gasped happily. “Jane, will you remain in town?”
“Oh,” her sister replied, a little red staining her cheeks. “I have quite forgotten to say. Aunt has asked that I remain through the festive season, as Uncle Gardiner will not be able to leave his business this year.”
“It is time for him to hire a manager,” Aunt Gardiner said firmly. “Particularly in the face of Thomas’s news. Is not that right, Mr. Gardiner?”
Uncle Gardiner shook his head and looked sheepish. “Yes, my dear. I believe you are correct. In fact . . . ” He tipped his head towards the door. “I really should get back.”
Aunt Gardiner stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy,” she said sweetly, “we look forward to seeing you next week. Mr. Gardiner, may I speak with you, please?”
Mr. Gardiner made his farewells and held out his arm for his wife.
Papa came over to kiss Elizabeth on the forehead as the Gardiners exited. “I believe Edward will be hiring a manager within the week.”
Jane and Elizabeth laughed.
“I am very proud of you, daughter,” Papa said, taking Elizabeth’s hands. “I am for Longbourn tomorrow as planned. Will we see you there before you depart for Pemberley?”
