Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (17 page)

“Oh I would like that; however my uncle will be claiming me soon for the next set.  Perhaps we could just talk until it begins?”

“Of course!”  He said with bright eyes.  “What shall we discuss?  What brings you to town?”

“How do you know that I am visiting?”  She asked curiously.

“Ah, a guess, but you were looking about the room with wonder.  I could only suppose that this was new to you.”  She blushed and he grinned.  “Do not worry; it is new to me as well.  I recognized myself in your eyes.”

Elizabeth laughed.  “So you are not a Londoner?”

“No, well, yes.  I am staying in my brother’s townhouse, but I suppose that technically I am . . . well, newly a resident.  You see I have only just graduated from Cambridge so everything is in a bit of a muddle for me now.”

“Oh, and what are your plans?  Will you take a tour of the continent?”

“My advisor has recommended waiting for the hostilities to settle down.”

Elizabeth laughed.  “Your advisor, that sounds quite serious. Is he a wizened old man?” 

Bingley laughed at the thought.  “No, no, he is quite young.  He is, I believe, four and twenty.  He will be sponsoring me at court in a week.  I am very grateful for his kindness.  I am still somewhat surprised that such an important man would welcome someone of my background as a friend.”

“He must be very good.  He is taking you under his wing, I gather.” 

“Indeed, showing me the ropes.”  He added with in a whisper, “I am new to this gentleman business.” 

“I will not tell.”  She whispered back.

“Everyone already knows, I am afraid.”  He laughed.  “And you?”

“I am not a gentleman.”

“Miss Bennet!”  He smiled.  “That is not what I asked.”

“I know, sir, but you made it too easy.”  Elizabeth smiled at his warm eyes.  “I am a gentleman’s daughter, from Hertfordshire.”

“Aha!  I was correct.  You are new to town.  Well then I am pleased with myself for puzzling it out.”  She tilted her head and studied him.  He was sweet and kind, obviously not a scholar, and she liked him. 

“Lizzy, I have come to claim my dance, but perhaps you would prefer to continue with your companion?”  Mr. Gardiner said with a smile.

“Oh, Uncle, this is Mr. Bingley of, lately of London.”  She smiled as he chuckled.  “Mr. Bingley, this is my uncle, Mr. Edward Gardiner and his wife.” 

“Sir, it has been a pleasure to speak with your niece.  I am sorry but I seem to have lost my sisters or else I would introduce . . . oh wait there they are.  Caroline!”  He called. 

A tall thin woman with sharp eyes and superior air approached.  “Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, may I present my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley, and my other sister Louisa Hurst and her husband.” 

“It is a pleasure Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst.”  Mr. Gardiner said affably as they nodded.  “I hope that you are enjoying yourselves this evening.”

Caroline sighed and looked around.  “It is tolerable, I suppose.” 

Elizabeth’s brow shot up, and she turned back to her far more amiable brother.  “I am sorry that I cannot introduce you to my elder sister tonight, Mr. Bingley, but perhaps we will meet again some other time.”

“She remains at home at your estate?”  Instantly Caroline and Louisa turned to regard Elizabeth closely.

“No, she is in town, but was unable to attend tonight.”  She smiled.  “But we will be here for the Season.”

“You have an estate?”  Caroline smiled.  “May I ask where?”

“In Hertfordshire, near the village of Meryton.  Do you know the area?”

“No, I am afraid not.”  She looked Elizabeth over carefully, judging her clothes and her lack of jewellery.  “A small estate?”

“I suppose it is how you look at it.”  Elizabeth picked up on her immediately, and saw that in this Bingley’s eyes, she was unsuitable for her brother.  Although she already instinctively knew that Mr. Bingley was not the one, the familiar feelings of unworthiness stole over her. 

Charles noticed that Elizabeth’s smile had disappeared and looked at his sister then to Mrs. Gardiner, who was watching the sisters closely.  He had no idea what had happened.  Mrs. Gardiner did, however, and smiled.  “And what trade does your family practice?” 

Caroline flushed and looked at Louisa.  “Our father manufactured cloth from cotton, however he has passed and my brother is hoping to purchase an estate.”

“Hoping to?  Well, I hope that you are successful, sir.  Someday your descendents will be able to state as our Lizzy does today that her family has owned its estate for well over one hundred years.”  She turned and took Elizabeth’s hand and gave it a squeeze.  “We are very proud to be relatives of hers.”

“Thank you, Aunt.”  Elizabeth smiled at her.

Mr. Gardiner nodded and met Bingley’s eye.  “Congratulations sir, I suppose all of us men of trade harbour the hope that our children will join the gentry.”

“Well, it was my father’s dream and I hope to fulfil it.”  He smiled at Elizabeth.  “With the help of my advisor, of course.”

Chapter 8

“W
ell?”  Jane asked when they returned from the dance.  “How was it?”

Elizabeth sat down on the bed while she took down her hair.  “It was very nice, but so different from the dances in Meryton, and so many more people to watch.  I am glad to have visited London before, for if I only had my country manners to rely upon, I am afraid that I may have felt even more nervous.”  

“I am sure that Aunt and Uncle would have made the experience easy no matter the situation, you had nothing to be nervous about.”  Jane tilted her head.  “Lizzy, you are smiling.”

“Is that so terrible?”  She laughed and stood up to remove her gown. 

“No, of course not, but truly it has been so long since I have noticed it being genuine.  What has changed?”

“Oh, I do not know precisely.  Escaping Mama has a lot to do with it, I am certain, and  . . .I met a young gentleman who was very kind to me.”  She laughed to see Jane throw off her covers and stand to hug her.  “No Jane, I am not in love!”

“Tell me about him!”  She pulled Elizabeth back down onto the bed.

“His name is Charles Bingley, and he is just graduated from Cambridge and is the first of his family to live as a gentleman.  His parents are passed and he is hoping to buy an estate.   It did not occur to me at the time, but Aunt said how surprising it was that he would reveal so much to a stranger, particularly when it was information that was not complimentary.  His ties to trade, I mean.”   She mused, “I suppose that if we had been in a different circle he would have moderated his confessions.”

“He must be very amiable to have inspired such a smile from you.  Is he handsome?”

Elizabeth returned from her thoughts and smiled again.  “Oh yes, very.  He is tall and lanky with straw blonde hair, and pretty green eyes.  And he laughs quite a lot at himself and, well everything to be honest.  I wonder at him having a serious bone in his body.  He made me feel very special, but I imagine that he does that with anyone he meets.”

“He sounds wonderful.”  Jane sighed.  “Did you dance?”

“Yes, one set; the first actually.”  Elizabeth blushed as Jane’s eyes widened.  “I honestly do not believe that he understood the implication of that, Jane.  On the way home Aunt Gardiner gave me a gentle chastisement for accepting him without first being introduced.  The rules for proper behaviour are more strictly observed here, but I think that he simply spotted me and saw someone just as unfamiliar with the atmosphere and approached.”

“Oh.” 

“He said that he has an advisor who was helping him to learn how to be a gentleman.  I have a feeling that this advisor will have his hands full.”  Elizabeth’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.  “His advisor sounds very intriguing.”

Jane laughed.  “Why is that?”

“I do not know, but from what I could glean, he is a young man, but seems to be very important and from the highest circles.  I can only imagine what an honour it is for Mr. Bingley to even be noticed by such a man, which tells me of his inherent goodness.”  She noticed Jane’s stare and squeezed her hand reassuringly.  “Oh Jane, you think that I am falling in love with a phantom!”

“I think that you should concentrate on Mr. Bingley.”  She said seriously.

“No, as amiable and sweet as he is, I could not marry him.  I am afraid that he is . . .too amiable.”

“That is ridiculous!”

“No, I know now that I want a husband whom I can respect and admire; someone to care for and hopefully hold with some affection, and I hope likes me for myself.  If I am destined not to find love and must marry for security, I at least will not give up those qualities.  Our parents’ and our aunt and uncle’s examples have determined what I want.  I understood Mr. Bingley’s character within minutes.  He would make a wonderful friend or brother, but not a husband, not for me.  I hereby give him to you.”  Elizabeth held out her hands.

Jane smiled at the gesture then bit her lip.  “Will he call, do you think?”

“I did not give him the address, but I hope that we will meet again sometime.  His sisters have higher aspirations for him than me, though.”  She shook her head.  “He is familiar.  I cannot quite put my finger on it, but I am certain that I have seen him before . . .”

Hours later, as dawn was breaking and the city was coming alive, Elizabeth sat bolt upright in her bed and her hands flew up to her face as she gasped, “Mr. Darcy!”

“AN ANGEL.”  Darcy said dryly and sighed at the beaming smile on Bingley’s face. 

“You should have seen her, Darcy!  Raven black hair, dancing eyes, and a laugh that would lift the spirits of the most miserable man, even yours I would wager.”  He laughed to see Darcy’s grimace.  “Ah, Miss Bennet was a delight!”

“And where did you meet this Miss Bennet?”

“Oh, some family friends of ours held a dance and my sisters and brother attended.  With you gone I had to occupy my time somehow.”  He said defensively.

“These were tradesmen?”

“Yes . . .and I know that you do not wish me to associate with my old circle, but I cannot gain admittance to yours without your presence, and they did know my father . . .”

Darcy held up his hand.  “I understand, but you really should not allow it to happen again.  Your brother’s circle is acceptable, but tradesmen are not.  You aspire to be better than that.”

“But my income is still from trade, Darcy.  Until I have an estate, I must rely upon that and the interest from father’s savings.  Is it wrong to cut my ties completely?”  Bingley watched Darcy closely.

He rubbed his hand over his face, considering the notion.  “It does you no favour to be seen with them.  You may do business, but do not socialize.”  He saw Bingley’s disappointment.  “I am afraid that this eliminates your angel from your circle of acquaintances, as well.  No tradesmen’s daughters are acceptable.”

“Yes, my sisters have made that clear, and they said that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was not good enough for me.”  Darcy looked up at hearing the Christian name then fell into a thoughtful consideration of a raven-haired Elizabeth with a joyful laugh and beguiling smile, one he had tried and failed to forget. Bingley continued, “I thought that with her being a gentleman’s daughter they would like her, but I suppose her father’s small estate in Hertfordshire is not good enough for them.”  Bingley was staring at his hands and did not notice Darcy’s head jerk up or his stare.   “I do not think she was interested in more from me in any case.  She has a quick wit, and I am afraid that she discovered fairly quickly that I do not.”  He laughed, “But she did seem to be very interested in you.”

“In me?”  Darcy sat up and leaned towards him.  “Miss Bennet knew me?”

“Oh, I did not mention your name but I spoke of my advisor.  She seemed to admire how a man of your stature would be willing to aid me in society.”  Bingley suddenly noticed the intensity of his friend’s look.  “Darcy, I say, have I said something wrong?  Should I not speak of her?”

He waved impatiently, “No, no . . . She is a gentleman’s daughter?”

“Yes, my sister Caroline was drawn to that until she determined that the estate was small, then I gather that she said something disparaging to Miss Bennet,” Darcy’s eyes narrowed, “And then her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, spoke of Miss Bennet’s family owning the estate for one hundred years and how she hoped that someday my family could declare the same.”  Darcy’s eyes widened again in surprise, and Bingley laughed.  “I admit that I did not understand what the lady had said to my sister until much later.  Miss Bennet seemed to be very pleased with the exchange.  I had the impression that she was working very hard to rein in her response and was happy that her aunt took the shot.”

Darcy smiled; there was no doubt that this was indeed his Lizzy.  He remembered her flashing eyes at the Derby . . .
The Derby!
  “Bingley, did Miss Bennet seem to recognize you at all?”

“No.”  He wrinkled his brow.  “No, I cannot say, but then I suppose that my powers of observation are not that keen.”

“Did you promise to call on her?”

“Well, no, I did not, we danced the first set, and talked, but then my sisters encouraged me to visit the rest of the room.”

“The first set.” Darcy said softly.

Bingley looked at him worriedly.  “Was that an error?  I saw her and thought she was pretty and just walked up and introduced myself.”

“Just like that?  You just. . .”  Darcy closed his eyes, the behaviour was entirely wrong and he would have to correct Bingley, but he could not deny the fact that he should have done the same, so many times.  “Did she dance well?”  He asked, again very softly.

“Yes, she was very graceful.”  He smiled then puzzled over the wistful expression that appeared in his friend’s eyes.

“She lives in Gracechurch Street.”

“I . . . I do not know.”  Bingley stammered, “How do you know?”

 “Oh, I . . . I just surmised.  Her uncle is a tradesman and many live there.”  Darcy bit his lip and leaned forward.  “Bingley if you should happen to meet her again . . .” He faltered. 
What, do what exactly?
  He glanced up at his parent’s portraits and his shoulders fell along with his hopes.  Duty, honour . . .
Remember, you are a Darcy!