An Unexpected Legacy Read online

  Tuesday dawned bright and sunny and Elizabeth, after breakfast, took great care in preparing herself to meet Lady Monttard. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she went to the front room and sat on the shelf of the bay window in the sitting room watching for the Dumont carriage to arrive. When she saw it, she informed her Aunt Gardiner, and started to put on her coat and gloves, expecting the footman to knock on the door and escort her to the carriage. When the expected knock came, it was not the footman, but Lady Monttard.

  “Lady Monttard,” exclaimed Mrs. Gardiner, “how good to see you. I hope you have decided to accept my invitation to tea before you take our niece away.”

  “I would love to, but if you and Miss Elizabeth approve of the plans I have made, I do not think we have the time. I know I had said I would pick her up at 10 o’clock and have her back by 5 o’clock. However, I would like to request a change in plans. The Earl and Countess of Denby, who are good friends of ours, invited us to dinner this evening at their home. There will only be a few good friends at the dinner, and the earl’s granddaughter, who is about Elizabeth’s age, will be the only young woman at the dinner. When I mentioned I was spending the day with Miss Elizabeth, Lady Denby suggested that we bring her to dinner with us. Even when we mentioned that Miss Elizabeth was not of the first circle, she told us that if she was such that I found her to be a worthy companion, then she would welcome her at the party. Anticipating that Elizabeth might be worried that she did not have a gown appropriate for a dinner at the home of an Earl, I have arranged with Madame Tellier to meet with her this morning, and she has assured me she has some gowns which will be perfectly acceptable for the dinner and which she can have ready by the end of the afternoon. And you need not worry about the cost, because we are absurdly wealthy, and I love to spend our money. Oh yes, and we would ask that Miss Elizabeth stay overnight with us, since we do not know when the evening will end. ”

  Elizabeth was astonished. She had had the feeling this would be a momentous day, but she certainly had not expected this. She was a little perturbed that Lady Monttard would assume she did not have a gown suitable for the dinner. She had been to the shop of Madame Tellier in the past and had one or two lovely gowns she thought would do well. On the other hand, looking at it from Lady Monttard’s perspective, she could understand that Lady Monttard would believe it is best to be prepared, just in case. However, before saying anything about the dress, she first looked at her aunt and said, “Aunt Madeleine, as you can guess, I would love to do it if you would allow me.”

  “Of course, you can go, Lizzie. I am sure Mr. Gardiner would not object. But, my Lady, Lizzie already has a gown from Madame Tellier which I am sure would be acceptable. Is that not so, Lizzie?”

  “Yes, I do. Although I am always up for shopping at Madame Tellier’s, you really need not go to the expense, my Lady. I can bring the gown with me and change at your townhouse.”

  Lady Monttard looked disappointed, and finally said, “I am sure that the gown you have would do wonderfully. However, I have truly looked forward to going to Madame Tellier’s and looking through her gowns and selecting one for you, Miss Elizabeth. Buying a gown for a beautiful young woman, particularly one who looks so like my daughter, is a pleasure I have not had in almost twenty years. Would you do me the favor of letting me buy you a gown? I assure you, if we find nothing really like, we will return here and pick up the gown that you already have. But I know a young woman such as yourself can always use a new gown, and the pleasure it would give me to take you shopping and buy one would far surpass its cost.”

  Elizabeth was touched. She could tell from the disappointment in Lady Monttard’s voice that it was, indeed, not that she thought Elizabeth’s or her aunt’s tastes might not be adequate for the company, but it was just that she really wanted to shop for a gown with Elizabeth. Therefore Elizabeth said, “My Lady, I must admit I protested because I thought it only correct I should protest, thinking it might somehow reflect, not on me, but on my aunt and uncle. But your sincere request is one that I cannot deny, and, I must admit, do not truly want to deny. I can, indeed, always use another gown. So let us go to Madame Tellier and see what we can find.”

  When they arrived at Mme. Tellier’s, they were quickly escorted into a private sitting room and Mme. Tellier herself brought out several exquisite gowns. Lady Monttard and Elizabeth settled on a beautiful yellow silk gown which would not require much tailoring to fit Elizabeth, and left the shop, assuring Madame Tellier they would return at 5 o’clock. Elizabeth was ecstatic. She had thought the gown she already owned might have been adequate, but it was not nearly as fine as the one she and Lady Monttard had chosen. She had never owned a gown that was half so fine, and she could not imagine what the cost was. When she asked Lady Monttard, once again Lady Monttard told her that it did not make any difference; it was a pittance to her and her husband, and again she emphasized that it gave her great pleasure to be able to shop with Elizabeth and buy her something so nice.

  When they had finished at the modiste, it was past noon, so Lady Monttard took Elizabeth to a very elegant dining room in the Savoy Hotel, and they had a commensurately elegant lunch. After lunch, they returned to Dumont House and took a stroll in Hyde Park. The flowers were in full bloom and gorgeous and the swans and ducks on the pond were a joy to sit and watch. This was definitely a fairytale day for Elizabeth.

  Promptly at 5 o’clock, they arrived at Mme. Tellier’s establishment, and were shown into the fitting room. Mme. Tellier brought out the gown, and with only a few minor adjustments, it fit Elizabeth to perfection. They then returned to Dumont House, where they found that Lord Monttard had arrived home and was extremely pleased to learn that Elizabeth was to attend the dinner with them. In the next hour Lady Monttard’s hairstylist worked on Elizabeth’s hair, and then, just before they were to leave, Lady Monttard brought out her next big surprise. She gave Elizabeth matching ear rings, bracelet and necklace that had emeralds and topazes set in gold.

  “I want you to wear these, Elizabeth. They have been sitting in my jewel vault far too long without being worn, and I think they will be a perfect complement to your gown.” When Lady Monttard put the necklace around her neck, and Elizabeth looked at herself in the mirror, she could hardly recognize herself. She wondered if she would ever look so fine again.

  They arrived at Denby House shortly after 7:30 PM. As they were ushered into the foyer, they were greeted by the Earl and Countess, and their granddaughter, Margaret Farnsworth. Introductions were made and Margaret immediately grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and led her into the salon. Lord and Lady Monttard were acquainted with everybody who was in the salon, so the only introduction needing to be made was that of Elizabeth. The party consisted of eight elderly couples, most of them of the peerage, as well as the very elderly aunt of the Countess, and Elizabeth and Margaret, and once they were told that Elizabeth was a special friend of Lady Monttard, little was asked her, and she and Margaret were free to go off by themselves and talk.

  Elizabeth found that Margaret was two years older than her, the daughter of the Earl’s only daughter, and a very opinionated young lady. She disliked the social interactions of the ton and was almost obsessed with being an accomplished musician and a horsewoman. She played both the piano and the harp, and liked to sing, but admitted she was not a very good singer. She was, she said, somewhat of a disappointment to her mother because she had very little interest in socializing and was far more interested in music and horses than looking for husband.

  Margaret did not look down on Elizabeth at all because of her status in life and was extremely interested in what it was like to live with four sisters. She expressed amazement at Elizabeth’s knowledge of books, and accounting, and her ability with languages. As for herself, she had two brothers and a sister, and she had very little in common with them, so she almost felt out of place in her family. She admitted she felt much closer to her grandmother than she did to her mother, and so she spent as much time with Lad
y Denby as possible.

  At the dinner table, as expected, Elizabeth and Margaret sat together, and they sat across from Lord and Lady Monttard. Lord and Lady Monttard drew her into their conversations about politics, the war with France, and the theater. Those around Elizabeth, including Margaret, were amazed at her knowledge and understanding of these topics. She had to explain to them about her relationship with her father, who treated her as the son he never had, and encouraged her to study and learn all she could. Lady Drummond, who was sitting next to Lord Monttard, commented that it must be very hard for her to find suitable suitors. She agreed it was and expressed the opinion it would be very difficult for her to find a man who lived up to her standards and who could put up with her, a remark which greatly amused Lady Drummond and her husband.

  As Elizabeth and Lord and Lady Monttard returned to Dumont House, Elizabeth commented that it had been one of the most enjoyable evenings she had had in some time. She had to admit that she did not have a very good opinion of the ton, but she was certainly impressed with Lord and Lady Denby and their friends and Margaret. Lord and Lady Monttard, in return, admitted their group of friends was indeed unusual, and they were grateful to have found such a good circle of friends having the same values as they have.

  It was after 1 o’clock when Elizabeth finally crawled into bed, and yet she could not go to sleep for some time, reliving the evening she had had and remembering the people she had met. And then she thought about Darcy. She thought he probably would have fit into this company quite well. And so she went to sleep, wondering what it would have been like had she accepted Darcy’s proposal.

  Chapter 5: A Visit to the Gardiners

  Darcy heard his butler James go to the front door, open it and speak to whoever had knocked. Shortly thereafter James knocked on the library door, opened it, and said, “Mr. Bingley to see you, sir.”

  Bingley entered the library, and said, “I found your note when I returned to town that you wanted to see me as soon as I arrived. So here I am. What is the big news?”

  Darcy hesitated a moment, and then said, “Bingley, I have brought you here to admit an error I made and to seek your forgiveness.”

  Bingley, looking somewhat shocked, asked, “You have done something to me for which you need my forgiveness? I am certainly not aware of anything you have done that requires forgiveness, so please enlighten me.”

  “Are you aware Miss Jane Bennet has been in town since shortly after Christmas, and that she visited your sisters and a few weeks later they returned her visit?”

  Bingley looked distressed. “You are telling me that Miss Bennet is in town, that my sisters knew it, and that they did not tell me.”

  “That is correct. And this is where my error came in. I was just pulling up to your townhouse when she was leaving after her visit in January. I had come to see you, but I was told you had gone to the club. In any case, I did see Miss Bennet as she left, so I knew she was in town, and I chose not to tell you. I chose to believe that her ambitious mother had sent her to town to see you, and because you had not indicated to me that you were particularly upset about leaving Netherfield Park, I decided I would leave it to your sisters to tell you about her visit. The few times I have seen you since then, no mention was made of Miss Bennet, so I chose to assume you had been told of her visit and had no interest in seeing her. I realize this may have been an error on my part, and if so, I apologize.”

  For the first time in his acquaintance with Bingley, Darcy could see that Bingley was both distressed and very upset. Bingley paced back and forth a few minutes and then leaned over the desk. “Would you like to know that I have been going through hell ever since I left Netherfield Park? Miss Bennet was different than my other loves. I really looked forward to a future with her, and somehow I let my sisters and you convince me she had no affection for me. But if she was in town, I do not think she would have come just at the direction of her mother.” He grabbed his head. “God, I have been such a fool! Why did I not do what I knew was right and formally court her? And how can I forgive my sisters and you for not letting me know that I still had a chance?”

  “Bingley, I think I can understand what you are going through, and I really am sorry for my part in it. I think you should know that I am having a similar problem, and it is driving me crazy. Despite all my objections to her status and her family, I could not get Elizabeth Bennet out of my mind after we left Netherfield Park, and when I saw her again when I was visiting my aunt in Kent, I made her an offer of marriage. And that is where I received my just rewards. She refused me in no uncertain terms, and I am devastated, because I have come to believe that my life will not be complete without her.”

  Bingley was rendered speechless. He stared at Darcy for a while as if he could not believe him. “You offered her marriage and she refused? But I did not think you even particularly liked her. And you certainly made it clear that you did not approve of her family. I guess I should have listened to Miss Bennet. She told me that she thought you liked her sister, and I thought she was wrong.”

  “By the time we left I was in love with her, but I was convinced she and her family were unsuitable and too far below me for me to consider her as a wife, and I determined I was going to go to London and forget her. But I had no more success in forgetting her than you apparently had in forgetting Miss Bennet. So here we are, two supposedly very eligible bachelors, and neither has been able to win the woman of his dreams. Although I must admit, in your case, had you not left Netherfield Park, Miss Bennet would probably be your wife by now. That all being said, what are we going to do about it?”

  “Do you know if Miss Bennet is still in town?”

  “No, I do not. I know that if she is, she is staying at her aunt and uncle’s house on Gracechurch Street. However, I do not know where on Gracechurch Street they live, but I believe if we go down there in our carriage and ask someone, they will probably be able to direct us to the Gardiner’s house. Would you like to call on the Gardiners with me today to see if they are there?”

  Bingley looked at him with surprise on his face. “You mean that you, who are usually the soul of propriety, are willing to make an unscheduled call on someone in the warehouse area?”

  “Desperate times call for desperate measures. I have already broken the rules of propriety when I gave Miss Elizabeth, the morning after my proposal, a letter to read defending my character in some circumstances she knew about. She could very well have refused to take it, but she did not, and I hope she read it, and perhaps has a better opinion of me now. I need to know. And I am more confident that Miss Bennet will accept you with pleasure than that Elizabeth will accept me with pleasure.”

  “So when do you want to go?”

  “It is lunch time. I suggest that we eat lunch here, and then call on them about 2 o’clock.”

  And so it was that shortly after 2 o’clock the Darcy carriage pulled up in front of the Gardiner’s house and Bingley and Darcy exited, climbed the front steps, and knocked on the door. A young woman, clearly a servant, answered the door and asked if she could help them. They each gave her a card and asked her to ask the Gardiners if they could speak to them.

  Shortly thereafter an attractive, well-dressed woman who looked to be in her early 30s, approached them and said, “I am Mrs. Gardiner, and I assume you are the Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy whom my nieces have told me about. I am sure you did not come to see me, but I must inform you that neither of my nieces is here. However, since you have come such a long way, can I invite you in for some tea?

  Darcy and Bingley were impressed with Mrs. Gardiner and both agreed they would enjoy a cup of tea. Therefore Mrs. Gardiner led them into the parlor, and asked her maid to bring some tea. As soon as they had sat down, Mrs. Gardiner said, “I must admit, I am glad you stayed, because I have heard so much about you, and I was very interested in meeting you. But Mr. Bingley, I am somewhat surprised to see you, because you did not come to visit with your sisters, nor did you come after they had b
een here, so Jane and I assumed you did not want to continue your friendship with her. And Mr. Darcy, I was under the impression, or perhaps I should say my niece was under the impression, you did not care for her. So I am somewhat surprised to see you also.”

  “I can see that you are a very direct person, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Darcy.

  “Yes, we of the merchant class tend to be a little more direct than those in the circle in which you move. I make no pretense of wanting to be a member of the ton, and I like honest questions and honest answers. So let me be frank. Why are you here?”

  Before either Bingley or Darcy could answer, the maid entered with the tea and some scones and served the conversationalists. Wanting to lighten the mood a little bit before answering her question, Bingley said, “I am impressed with your house here, Mrs. Gardiner. As you may know, I come from the merchant class and am in the process of becoming, with Mr. Darcy’s help, a gentleman. My family’s fortune came from cotton and woolen mills. May I ask what Mr. Gardiner does?”

  “He has an import/export company called, appropriately, Gardiner Import/Export Company. He imports coffee, wine, tea, and certain dry goods. We also own two shops downtown on Grove Street, a wine and coffee shop, and just recently we purchased a bookstore.”

  “Of course,” exclaimed Darcy, “I did not make the connection. I have been in the Gardiner Wine and Coffee Shop many times. And you say a bookstore. Did you happen to buy old Mr. Cranston’s bookstore that is right next to your shop?”

  “Yes we did. When we opened our wine and coffee shop seven years ago, we offered to buy the bookstore then. He was not interested then, but last November Mr. Cranston had a stroke and is partially paralyzed on one side. Considering that he is in his 70s, he decided it was finally time to sell his book shop and retire, and so he took us up on our offer. If you have not been back to our shop lately, you will see that we knocked out part of the wall between the two shops, put in an entryway, and allow people to browse for books while they are enjoying their coffee or tea or wine. As a matter of fact, you were lucky to find me here today. I often go down on Tuesday to look over the books and check our inventory.”