Chapter 1

Two months before the ball at Netherfield Park in Meryton, Hertfordshire

An abridged version of the conversation at office of BG Emporium near Gracechurch Street, London

“I see we’re alone this morning, Mr. Gardiner,” Lady Matlock said as she swept into the warehouse office.

“You have impeccable timing, Your Ladyship. I’ve just ordered coffee.”

“That delicious brew from the West Indies, pray?”

“The very one.”

“Excellent. Young Bingley and my nephew?”

“Preparing for a journey to Hertfordshire, I’d imagine,” Gardiner said merrily as he looked up from what he was writing.

“The impetus?”

“Young Bingley declared it impossible to find an eligible lady who is both pleasant to look at and has enough sense not to agree the sky is green just because he suggested it,” Gardiner said as he folded his hands together on his desk.

The partnership, established between Gardiner and Charles Bingley’s now-deceased father, was longstanding. Fitzwilliam Darcy had become a silent partner some years previous. More recently, additional investors included Darcy’s aunt and sister.

“And what does their ‘Aunt Madeline’ think of this? I cannot think your wife has no opinion on the matter.”

“She’s heard them complain that the debutantes this Season will be equally insipid to those they rejected last Season. Same as the one before that and the Season before that.”

“I’m beginning to despair.” Her Ladyship took a seat as she began to remove her gloves. “The gossip rags occasionally mention my nephew’s lack of attention to those most eligible on the marriage mart. Even young Bingley’s lack of interest in ladies fresh from the nursery.”

“Yes, they’ve quite given up, or so they said.”

“Darcy, bless him, refuses to dishonor the memory of his parents by marrying a woman he cannot greatly esteem.”

“Young Bingley harbors a bitter taste after Miss Hammond’s attempted seduction at her father’s demand.” Gardiner sat behind his desk, clasping his hands together on his paunch. “To avoid this Season, he mentioned the need to look into becoming a landowner in consideration of his own father’s dying wish. Darcy suggested a lease.”

“And you just happened to know of a place they could lease in Hertfordshire?”

“Not per se, Your Ladyship. I own an estate there. I offered Bingley Netherfield Park to learn estate management. Darcy quickly offered his assistance.”

“Of course my nephew offered, hoping to avoid the Season without young Bingley to help the conversation along. But that doesn’t mean they’ll notice your nieces.”

“Did I say anything of my nieces?”

“Aren’t you concerned that young Bingley’s manners may mark him capricious and my nephew reticent in so small a society?” Lady Matlock tutted.

“Your nephew is reticent? Quite escaped my notice.” Gardiner snuffled.

“No doubt Darcy thought one grasping Miss Bingley was easier to avoid than two matchmaking aunts. Your wife and I are equally determined to see them married.”

“Not to mention the desire to avoid hearing of the betting book at White’s on who will be compromised first, Bingley or himself,” Gardiner said with irony.

“How many nieces do you have?”

“Five.”

“Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are both lovely.” Lady Matlock flipped a page in the stack of papers. “The last time they were in London, they joined Madeline and me when we took pies and other viands to the orphanage.”

“Three of my nieces are of a marriageable age.”

“When you spoke of your nieces, no doubt my nephew asked why they were not previously introduced?”

“Indeed. As he studied his signet ring with affected ennui.”

“I daresay, your nieces are quite safe from the most eligible bachelors in all of England,” Lady Matlock declared with wry wit. “I’ve tried every possible means to encourage my nephew to take a bride.”

“Not every possible means, Your Ladyship.”

“Mark my words. Supercilious Darcy will arrive and offend everyone with his stoic silence. Affable Bingley will surely make friends, but can he stick to a decision if it is not in business? They will find your nieces amiable, intelligent, and even an attractive prospect. But will your nieces find them worthy of their attention?”

“I’m certain Bingley could follow his heart to happiness.”

“Do tell how you overcame the infamous skepticism of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mr. Gardiner?”

“After first expressing doubt of any woman’s ability to meet his lofty expectations? I mentioned that while my nieces would be exceedingly pleasant company during their stay in Hertfordshire, the girls wouldn’t turn their heads toward matrimony. That they would only marry for love. That he would be unmolested.”

“In essence, you dared Darcy and Bingley not to fall in love with your nieces? Oh, that is delicious. Why did I not think of that?”

“Then, I listed all that disqualified my nieces as suitable marriage prospects for him. This way, neither would be shocked, especially Darcy, and are instead prepared to overlook their shortfalls.”

“Better and better.”

Gardiner waited as a servant delivered the coffee, then poured a cup for Her Ladyship. “I also explained how my nieces join Madeline and me when we travel because I never intended to put the girls in their path, unwilling for them to think I wanted special consideration on their behalf. They need no such intervention, of course.”

“The proverbial hidden treasures. No man can resist a hidden treasure,” Lady Matlock said, her eyes gleaming with pleasure.

Her Ladyship lifted the cup to her lips, breathing in the rich, aromatic blend.

“Still, the dour expression Darcy affects when in the company of strangers will quite offend your sisters and their neighbors.”

“I gave him forewarning. None in Meryton are of the first circles, not even the third, but they’re a welcoming, if meddlesome, people. I warned them they were to regard those of the area with forbearance. I also explained that my nieces have no dowries,” Gardiner said as he looked into his cup, swirling his coffee.

“A dowry is an advantage, but you know it is not required. What of the younger girls?”

“The middle niece, Mary, is plain, bookish, and pompous. Their two youngest sisters are flighty and immature. But all are good-hearted girls. Still, Darcy would not have countenanced the acquaintance without warning. I also disclosed that my sister is loud and often boorish. The estate is entailed away from the female line. Fanny birthed five daughters in her quest to have one son. She’s convinced herself that she and her unmarried daughters would be thrown out to live in the hedgerows when Bennet leaves this earth.”

“That’s every woman’s fear,” Lady Matlock interpolated. “Would your sister attempt a compromise?”

“Darcy asked the same question. Not only can I assure you she would not, but her daughters, certainly the older three, would thwart any schemes. Jane and Elizabeth determined long ago that they would marry only for love. I suspect either would consider marriage if a deep and abiding affection existed—with mutual respect.”

“Given their situation, that is an extraordinary hope,” Lady Matlock said skeptically.

“I also warned the young men of my brother Bennet’s penchant to expose his sardonic wit. I’ve pondered whether I should include him in my scheme, for he would think it a great diversion.”

“Would he?”

“To be sure.”

“Tell me how you described the two eldest?”

“That Jane chooses to see the best in everyone in every encounter and situation. If confronted by highwaymen, she’d assume he resorted to such measures to care for his family. I abhor how my sister pushes our sweet Jane toward every gentleman in Meryton or anyone visiting the neighborhood. Still, were Jane unimpressed, you wouldn’t readily know it through her countenance. I told them that Jane, like Darcy, affects a mask. She’ll appear pleasant, but, like Darcy, the truth is in her eyes.”

“Oh, this is delectable.” Lady Matlock sipped her coffee. “The coffee, too. And of Miss Elizabeth?”

“She can be found in her father’s study reading or helping him manage the estate. I told them that Lizzy is a staunch defender of her family despite our faults.”

“Darcy would think that an ideal trait for a sister of Georgiana’s.”

“They all are ideal sisters in their own way. While Jane might smooth over a remark made thoughtlessly, Lizzy steps in to minimize the embarrassment her family may bring upon themselves, even as she attempts to correct her younger sisters. Lizzy has told my wife she believes her advice is often ignored. Maddie assures me it is not. But Lizzy makes few allowances unless there are good intentions, even if a situation might go awry.”

“As gentlewomen, your nieces would elevate young Bingley more in society. And I know them to be capable. A society so full of eligible young ladies and so lacking in gentlemen would be a dull existence. I suspect these two men, in particular, will be quite cossetted.”

“To occupy themselves, the girls read intrigues and seek the same in their everyday lives. They set wrongs to rights, actual or perceived. The young ladies of Meryton are quite capable, intelligent, and whimsical by turns. Your reticent nephew will have an interesting time of it.”

“Darcy is not so much an ogre that he doesn’t know how to converse with a lady.”

“He’ll have the chance to prove it. Bingley decided to throw a ball,” Gardiner said. “When they return to Town in eight weeks, I’d be astonished if neither has fallen in love with my nieces.”

“And me not at all.” Lady Matlock set her cup on the desk. “As I said, I’ve tried everything, nearly everything. I confess I find your approach amusing, but I hold no hope.”

“And I hope they’re not so foolish as to overlook two ladies so formed for them,” said Gardiner.

“Please tell me you didn’t use those same words my sister Catherine proclaims when she declares my nephew must marry her daughter.”

“I wouldn’t be so foolish.”

“A wager then?” Lady Matlock challenged, clasping her hands together gleefully.

“A wager with our regular terms, or do you prefer to set others, Lady Matlock?”

“I think the usual quite satisfactory.”

As in previous friendly wagers, Lady Matlock and Mr. Gardiner stood to shake hands, officially sealing the bet.

“Knowing Bingley, I suspect you have him lost to the idea of your niece Jane already. Given your satisfaction, I presume that’s just as you intended. And though better than any scheme of my own, I still do not see Darcy falling for Miss Elizabeth, though she’s a lovely young woman.”

“Yet, I shall hope. No man, particularly those of his standing, appreciates being told what he must or must not do. And a hidden treasure is always the most valuable, for he must work to claim it.”

“True,” Lady Matlock said as she gathered together the contracts. “I’ll coordinate with Madeline about new gowns for all your nieces and even the Miss Lucases. The girls have been generous in their sewing for the orphanage. We have, these ten years, benefited from their handiwork. I think they more than deserve a small gift in return.”

“To the winner goeth the spoils,” Gardiner said as he lifted his coffee cup to her before she exited the office.