The Pemberley Chronicles (34 page)

Alerted by Mr Bartholomew, Mr Gardiner had initially gone to London to make enquiries, and so the entire matter had been exposed. "But what is to happen to Robert, now?" asked his mother, unable to hold back her tears. Mr Gardiner proceeded to explain that the debt had been cleared and the depredations of the Viscount and his tribe left in the hands of lawyers. "As for Robert, he is heartily sorry for the trouble he has caused. He was too ashamed to return home with us; he will stay in town, with Fitzwilliam, until all the arrangements are made for his departure for Ceylon."
"Ceylon!" this was too much of a shock for Mrs Gardiner, and even Elizabeth rose to remonstrate that surely this was an extreme step.
Her aunt looked as if she would faint, but Darcy intervened to explain gently and carefully, "Indeed, Mrs Gardiner, it is an excellent opportunity for Robert. You are aware, I am sure, that Fitzwilliam acquired property in Ceylon, when he was out there some ten years ago. I believe he has some Coffee and Cocoa plantations and spice gardens, as well as shares in a gem mine. These enterprises are managed by an excellent trading house, a British firm with very good credentials. An opportunity exists in this same firm for a young man to go out to Ceylon and be trained in the management of such enterprises."
Mrs Gardiner, despite her complete faith in Darcy's judgement, could not cope with the suddenness of the decision and the immense distance between England and this tiny island in the Indian Ocean to which, she felt, her son was being banished. Understanding her anxiety, Darcy explained further, "Fitzwilliam has never regretted going out there and the colony is more peaceful and far further advanced today. It will soon be an important British naval base and a vital trading centre for us in the East." Mr Gardiner intervened to say how important it was for Robert to get away from London and the circle of dissolute and irresponsible young men and women he had fallen in with.
"A few years away, working for a living with some industrious young men would surely bring out the best in him," he said, "I know he has both goodness and talent, which he has had no opportunity to develop. London today provides little incentive for a young man like Robert--it's run by the toffs and their ilk."
Despite the logic and plain good sense of their arguments, Mrs Gardiner remained inconsolable at the prospect of her youngest child's being sent many thousands of miles across the seas, to a life among strangers. Later, on his return, Fitzwilliam himself would spend time with his mother-in-law trying with examples of his own experience to calm her fears. For now, it was heartwrenching to see the pain she suffered.
That night, after the Gardiners had left and Darcy, tired out himself, had retired to bed, Elizabeth wrote to Jane, detailing the events of the past week:

When you have read this, dearest Jane, you will understand the shock and sorrow we have all felt at this most unhappy turn of events. Our dear aunt is quite distraught, and it is only the intervention of Darcy and Fitzwilliam that has allowed for some solution to be found to the problem of Robert's future. Fitzwilliam's contacts with one of the largest trading houses in the East have afforded Robert an opportunity for a new career. I can understand how wretched our dear aunt must feel, she still regards Robert as her "little boy," but Uncle Gardiner is convinced that it is the right course and will benefit Robert. Darcy is also certain that no good can come of Robert's continued stay in London, where he may well fall into the clutches of his "friends" again . . .

Since he appears to have no taste for public life and has little to show for his legal studies, there are few alternatives open to him. We can only hope that for his sake and that of our dear Uncle and Aunt, it will all come right in the end.

Jane's answer came sooner than expected. She wrote:

Dearest Lizzie,
This is but a short scrap of a note, but it comes with good news that I am sure will cheer you all. On receiving your letter about poor Robert, I read it out immediately to Bingley. Lizzie, would you believe that Mr Bingley's cousin, Frank, is himself employed with the same trading firm to which Robert is now engaged? He has been out in Ceylon these last twelve months and is expected home on holiday next Christmas, when he expects to marry Miss Evelyn Forster, to whom he has been engaged, since before he went to the colonies.

Bingley is writing to him directly to advise of Robert's planned arrival, and he has informed our Aunt and Uncle of this most fortunate circumstance. Robert will be assured of support and friendship, and I am sure this will go a long way to set our poor aunt's heart at rest. I am, as you are, saddened by what has occurred, especially because of the consequences it has had for Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. It is difficult to think of young Robert's causing so much heartache; he was such a shy little boy. Dearest Lizzie, do you not pray that our boys will be spared such misfortunes as they grow up? I do, each night and day, whenever I see Jonathan and William, for I cannot think how I would bear it, should such a thing befall one of them. But I must not run on so, or you will be angry with me. Dear Lizzie, it is only because I love them so, and I am sometimes afraid to be as happy as we are. I feel undeserving, and when such dreadful things happen as have befallen Robert, I fear that it may be my turn next, for why should I be spared? Forgive me, Lizzie, I know it is foolish, and you will surely scold me in your next letter. I am sure that I deserve it, too.

Your loving sister,
Jane.

Elizabeth shook her head and mused as she put away her letter. "Oh Jane, how little you know your own goodness, to think yourself undeserving of happiness. There is surely no one in the world I know, who deserves happiness more than you do, and I thank God that you are so richly blessed." Elizabeth went upstairs promising herself that when next she saw her sister, she would spend some time convincing her that her joy was not undeserved. Jane above all others deserved every blessing. When Darcy found her in their bedroom, she showed him Jane's letter and had the satisfaction of seeing a smile light up his face. Clearly, they were both agreed that it brought good news. Darcy was delighted with Jane's news about Bingley's Cousin Frank. "This will make it much easier for Mrs Gardiner to accept Robert's departure for Ceylon. Your uncle intends to take the family to London to spend a few days with Robert, before he sails. Fitzwilliam and Caroline will be there for the Parliamentary sittings, so there should be quite a reunion. I've invited them to use the house at Portman Square."

Elizabeth's smile declared her gratitude. The suffering of her dear aunt over the last week had seemed to age her. Mrs Gardiner was a loving and conscientious mother, and she could not believe that one of her children could have fallen into such an error. She blamed herself. Elizabeth had suffered with her.

Darcy, sensing her feelings tried to comfort her. "I know you feel badly for your aunt and uncle, my dearest, I appreciate how deeply they have been hurt, but they are not to blame in this unfortunate matter." Darcy's voice was serious as he explained, "Young Robert, unlike Richard and Caroline, seems less equipped to deal with the deceptions of the world in which we live. He has erred, not because he is innately bad, but because he has been too ready to believe well of his friends. It is they who are culpable. Robert's sins are errors of judgement. He is very young and will learn from this; I am sure of it." Elizabeth knew how well her husband loved the Gardiners and hoped with all her heart that he was right, for their sake.

As for Jane's comments regarding Jonathan and William, Darcy was much less serious as he dismissed her fears about them. "I know of no reason to doubt my belief in the good sense and integrity of Jonathan Bingley. His character is more formed than his father's was at the same age, and believe me, my love, the reports I have of him are uniformly excellent. He is only seventeen but has the maturity of one many years his senior. Jane has no cause for concern."

"And what of William? Have you a similar confidence in him?" Elizabeth asked, her voice betraying some anxiety about his response. She need not have been concerned. Darcy's response had all the warmth and sincerity she could have wished for.

"My dearest Elizabeth, William is our son. Why would I not have confidence in him? He is fifteen, still a child, a sensitive and intelligent boy with much talent yet to be developed. His tutor, Mr Clarke, is well pleased with his work and Georgiana speaks very highly of his progress in music. He does not have Cassandra's independence of mind yet; she is so like you, Lizzie; but I have no doubt he will learn from her example." He knew her love for William was the very centre of her life. Darcy drew her close as if to confirm his part in that relationship. Their love had grown, ever since they had learned to share it without false pride or reservation, and flowed through to their children. Cassandra found them thus, when she came in to ask permission to accept an invitation to join the Gardiners on their expedition to London to farewell Robert. Permission was granted without question, and as she hugged them both, Cassy added, with a little grimace, "William was invited, too, but he would not miss his music lesson."

"Well, at least your father and I will not lack company," said Elizabeth. She looked forward to a quiet week at Pemberley with only her husband and her son for company. It was a week she would recall many times over, during the following years.

Later, Robert Gardiner, having spent a delightful week with his family, sailed for Ceylon and a new life.
C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN

"As steady ships strongly part the waters . . ."

T

WO EVENTS BROUGHT THE
families together in the late autumn of 1833. The first occasioned much happiness, when they gathered for the christening at Ashford Park of Sophia Bingley. Not long afterwards, they were called together again on a more sombre occasion, when news came of the death, from severe pneumonia, of Mrs Bennet. Her daughters, Mrs Bingley, Mrs Darcy, and Mrs Jenkins, accompanied by their husbands, their elder children, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner, travelled to Longbourn, where the Bennets had lived with their only unmarried daughter, Mary, and a modest household staff. No sooner had they arrived and seen their father, whose sobriety of attire and countenance was more evidence of his respect for convention than an indication of his emotional state, than they became involved in arrangements for the funeral.

Their sister Mary was understandably less able to cope, having nursed their mother through a short but exceedingly trying illness. Mr and Mrs Gardiner, invaluable as ever, took upon themselves most of the formal responsibilities, leaving Jane and Elizabeth to attend to their father's needs, while Kitty assisted Mary. Later that day, arriving posthaste from Newcastle accompanied by her husband and all of her children was Mrs Wickham. On arrival, she appeared scarcely able to support herself and was far too distressed to be of any assistance to her sisters. Repairing immediately to her former bedroom, where she sent for Kitty to minister to her needs and those of her younger children, Lydia seemed to take it for granted that she could now take her mother's place in the household. Elizabeth and Jane found very little to sympathise with in their sister's excessive show of grief. Like their Aunt Gardiner, they had some reservations about her protestations of filial affection, and if their father's reaction was any indication of his feelings, he must surely have had his doubts, too. Thanks to the hospitality of Sir William Lucas, they were all comfortably lodged overnight and did not suffer the embarrassment of having to put up with either or both of the Wickhams at dinner.

The funeral at the village church was attended by a large number of people, testimony to the many friendships the family had made in the district over the years. Following the funeral, Jane and Bingley were anxious to return home to their family, but both Elizabeth and Kitty stayed on to support their father and Mary for a few days. To their surprise, they discovered that Lydia had made similar plans. Ensconced in her mother's boudoir, in deep mourning, Lydia made much of the extremely long and tiring journey she had made and a similar one that lay ahead. It was plain from her hints of how much it had all cost, that she hoped to be reimbursed by her father. "Surely, Lizzie, you realise what it has cost to come all this way and buy mourning clothes for all the children," she said pointedly. It would have been to no avail to argue that there had been no call to bring all the children, much less have them attired in formal mourning clothes. Elizabeth and Jane had decided that it was sufficient to have their eldest children pay their respects to their grandmother; yet Lydia's entire brood had trailed behind her and Wickham to the church, attired in formal black. It had been quite a theatrical performance. Lydia, now in her thirties, looked increasingly like her mother and had adopted a remarkably similar manner of self-dramatisation. Elizabeth was loathe to leave her father in such a situation and was extremely relieved when Kitty decided to extend her stay by a week and help Mary and her father get the household settled. It was very good of Kitty to volunteer her time and was an indication of how much she had changed from the rather feckless self-indulgence of her youth under Lydia's influence.