ONE

"I am glad you insisted on me joining you, Aunt," Jane said as the three walked together through Hyde Park.

"And I am glad I succeeded, my darling," Mrs Gardiner answered. "It gives me great joy to spend a little time with the two of you. I pray that my daughters will grow up to be just like you."

"You have always been so kind to us, Aunt," Elizabeth replied. "Not to mention that you spoil us with all sorts of gifts, just as you did today."

"I celebrate my husband's success by indulging myself occasionally in purchasing from the most fashionable shops in London," Mrs Gardiner jested. "And I enjoy spoiling you since you never ask for anything. And you know how much your uncle loves you too."

"We know. For that, we are forever grateful to you both. And I am particularly grateful for this walk," Elizabeth joked. "Although I am very rarely in town, I have always had a partiality for Hyde Park. It is ridiculous, I know. But I have always felt drawn to it."

"It is not ridiculous, Lizzy. Hyde Park is the perfect place for a passionate walker like you. I personally prefer a ride in the carriage, but today I wanted to indulge you. However, I cannot walk very far."

"I thank you for taking my preference into consideration," Elizabeth said with laughter.

"I wonder whether Grosvenor Street is far from here," Jane interjected shyly.

"It is not. Are you looking for a certain number?"

"Twelve, I believe. But I do not wish to enter — only to see where it is," Jane answered.

Elizabeth's heart ached for her sister's distress; Jane was still deeply hurt but obviously could not expunge Mr Bingley from her mind.

"We may take a stroll along Grosvenor Street if you wish," Mrs Gardiner said. "It is a lovely street, with many handsome houses."

"If you and Lizzy do not mind…" Jane whispered.

"I would like to see it too," Elizabeth said energetically to support her sister. She had no interest in the street or handsome houses, and she cared little about Mr Bingley since he chose to leave Jane and never return. He was not enough of a man, and his affection must have been shallow. But such words would have only pained Jane more, so they would never be said.

They walked on at a slow pace, watching riders and carriages passing by; in the depths of winter, even though the weather was mild, there were very few other walkers.

"It is getting colder, and there are a few clouds accumulating," Mrs Gardiner said as they made their way towards the gate. "May I suggest taking the carriage and driving along Grosvenor Street? We might not have time to stroll the full length of it."

"As you wish, Aunt," Jane replied with an apparent effort to conceal her disappointment.

They were crossing Park Lane when, out of nowhere, a carriage appeared, its horses moving at speed. Mrs Gardiner was still in the road, and Elizabeth — who had reached the other side — ran back to pull her aunt to safety. The coachman pulled the reins, and the horses rose up onto their hind legs, neighing.

"Oh dear, are you all well? Is anyone hurt?" A lady's voice came from inside the carriage, and Elizabeth turned away from her shaking aunt to look at it. It was a large, elegant coach, and the lady inside, although only her head was visible, had an air about her that revealed she was of the highest echelons of society.

"We are not hurt," Elizabeth answered, while Mrs Gardiner and Jane brushed off their gowns and caught their breath.

She expected the carriage to move away, so Elizabeth was surprised when the lady opened the door and even stepped down. Her elegance was now visible in all its splendour, yet the woman's countenance seemed unexpectedly amiable. Through the window, the face of a young lady appeared, also looking worried.

"I apologise. I do not know what came over our horseman to ride at such a speed. We are in a hurry, but that is no excuse for endangering people around us," she said in a sharp voice addressed to the servant. "Are you sure all is well?" she then insisted, this time looking at Mrs Gardiner.

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Matlock, but it is truly not needed. We are perfectly well."

"Oh! Are we acquainted? I apologise…I cannot recollect…"

"Not exactly," Mrs Gardiner answered. "I had the pleasure of first seeing your ladyship many years ago, in Derbyshire, when you visited Mr and Mrs Darcy." The lady's surprised glance matched Elizabeth's astonishment and curiosity. She tried to remember whether she had ever heard the name Matlock, but ‘Darcy' was too well known to her.

"Then were you acquainted with the Darcy family? I still cannot remember you in any way."

"Your ladyship is too kind to show such interest, but there is truly nothing to remember," Mrs Gardiner said with a polite smile. "I grew up in Lambton. My father owned a shop there. We moved away more than twelve years ago, but I admired your ladyship from afar as a girl."

"Oh, I see. But this is quite astonishing. To know that — of all the people in London — I almost hurt a lovely woman who grew up in Lambton! What a coincidence!"

"Well, of all the people in London, there are very few who walk in Hyde Park on a winter's day," Mrs Gardiner answered, and the lady laughed.

"True! Are you all on foot? May we take you somewhere? It is the least I can do."

"Your ladyship is exceedingly kind and generous, we thank you. Our carriage is waiting close by. We have been strolling in the park because my niece here is very fond of walking. I and my other niece do not enjoy it so much, so we were hurrying to our carriage and missed seeing yours, which almost caused an accident."

"Ah, I see. A young woman fond of walking. That is refreshing, indeed. I shall not detain you any longer. You must be tired after the exercise. May I have your name, if you do not mind?"

"Of course. I am Mrs Madeleine Gardiner. My father's name was Mr Gilford Martin."

All three bowed to the lady when a small voice sounded from inside the carriage.

"I know a Mr Peter Martin, who owns the inn in Lambton."

"Peter Martin is my cousin," Mrs Gardiner replied.

"I know Peter Martin too, quite well. This is another lovely coincidence," Lady Matlock said. "Oh, this is my niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy."

The young woman nodded her head in a silent greeting from the carriage, and Elizabeth felt Jane grasp her arm in a gesture of obvious distress.

"It is a true delight to make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy. Please allow me to tell you how much I admired your parents — along with everyone else in Lambton."

"Thank you," the girl replied in the same small voice.

"And these," Mrs Gardiner continued, "are my nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. Their father owns an estate in Hertfordshire, and they are visiting us in London at present."

Lady Matlock nodded with a friendly expression. Elizabeth curtseyed, watching Miss Darcy with the deepest interest. Also, out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Jane, who looked extremely pale and disturbed.

"Forgive me, did you say Hertfordshire?" Miss Darcy enquired. "Miss Bennet? Are you by any chance acquainted with a place called Netherfield…or Longbourn?"

Lady Matlock seemed puzzled, so the girl added, "I apologise for my boldness. My brother and his friend Mr Bingley returned from Hertfordshire recently, and I heard them mention the name Bennet."

"Longbourn is our home," Elizabeth answered. For some reason, she felt a strange and immediate friendliness towards the lady and the young woman. "If your brother is Mr Darcy and his friend is Mr Bingley, I am quite certain we are the Bennets they spoke of. Mr Bingley rented an estate three miles from ours."

Lady Matlock's eyes and lips opened in apparent bewilderment. She looked at Elizabeth in disbelief, then voiced her astonishment.

"Surely this cannot be? Truly? Not one but more coincidences! So you grew up in Lambton, and your nieces are acquainted with my nephew Darcy? And I almost hit you with my carriage! Several occurrences in a row, wholly unconnected. This could be a play or a novel, really!"

"Indeed, it is exceedingly strange. Almost a little bit frightening," Elizabeth responded, keeping her smile.

"I agree! Well, well, wait until I tell my husband and my nephew. So young Bingley rented an estate, finally! I remember Darcy mentioned something, but I pay little attention to such dull men's affairs."

"It was an honour to meet you both and speak to you, Lady Matlock, Miss Darcy," Mrs Gardiner said. "But I am afraid we must leave now. My children are at home with their governess, and they are waiting for me."

"Of course, of course," Lady Matlock said. "Mrs Gardiner, I live on Park Street, at number thirteen. If you happen to be in the neighbourhood and are in no hurry, come and have a cup of tea with me. And bring your lovely nieces, of course."

The invitation left Mrs Gardiner stunned and speechless, and she needed to breathe deeply and compose herself before replying.

"Lady Matlock, I am truly honoured by your invitation. I confess I am not sure whether I would ever dare to take advantage of it, but I thank you nevertheless."

"Nonsense. If I invited you, it is not a matter of daring or not, merely of having time for tea. And may I ask where you live, if you do not mind? I am just curious in case I should ever be in that part of town."

"Of course I do not mind. Your interest flatters me. But we live quite far from here — in Gracechurch Street. Number twenty-two. My husband is a lawyer, and he has other business interests."

"How lovely. Well then, we must leave too. I hope to meet you again, either by coincidence or by design," Lady Matlock concluded before she returned to her carriage.

While the lady and Miss Darcy departed, the other three remained still, gazing after the carriage in silence.

"Well girls, that was certainly the biggest surprise I remember having in my life."

"Quite shocking," Elizabeth admitted. "Mr Darcy's aunt and sister happening upon us in the street. I would never have imagined it, and certainly nobody would believe such a coincidence."

"Let us hurry. We are already very late," Mrs Gardiner said. As they walked the remaining distance to the Gardiners' carriage, all three ladies were thoughtful and barely spoke at all. When they finally reached the conveyance, Mrs Gardiner was exhausted. She asked the coachman to drive along Grosvenor Street, as planned, and only then did the conversation resume.

"Lady Matlock is quite an elegant lady," Mrs Gardiner said. "I have seen her a few times in town before, at the opera or theatre, but I never spoke to her before today. I did not remember her being so amiable."

"It was kind of her to be so worried about hurting some strangers who were in the middle of the road," Elizabeth said. "But she must have been surprised by your mentioning the Darcys and Lambton, and her curiosity induced her friendly manners."

"Probably. But I am still puzzled. And Miss Darcy — it was the first time I ever saw her. She looks very much like her mother."

"Miss Darcy was very beautiful," Jane whispered. "And she seemed amiable too, which is unusual for someone so rich and so accomplished. Miss Bingley spoke often of her many talents."

Elizabeth felt the pain in her sister's voice and understood the meaning behind her words. Jane had just met her supposed rival, and she felt immediately defeated. Mrs Gardiner, however, continued, blissfully unaware of her niece's turmoil.

"Lady Anne Darcy was just like that. Very pretty, gentle, kind, and talented. She painted and played the pianoforte beautifully. Of course, I never saw or heard any of that for myself, only reports. Does Mr Darcy resemble his sister?"

"Dear Lord, no! One could hardly meet two more different people. From appearance to voice and manners, they are utterly the opposite! I wonder whether they are truly brother and sister. Mr Darcy is as proud, arrogant, and careless about the feelings of others as one can be. He would certainly not stop his carriage to see whom he had hurt."

"You are too severe on him, dear Lizzy," Jane interjected. "Mr Bingley always spoke highly of Mr Darcy and praised his generosity, kindness, and sense of honour."

"I am sure Mr Darcy can be all that, if and when he chooses to be. Probably with his family and close friends. The rest of the world, however, and especially those who have lost his friendship, are not given the chance to witness those qualities."

"You are indeed very severe on him, Lizzy. What puzzles me is that Miss Darcy said she heard him and Mr Bingley mention your name. I wonder under what circumstances. It must be something good — that is what her tone indicated."

"Of Mr Bingley, I expect to say something nice about our family. But Mr Darcy was always my severest critic," Elizabeth concluded.

"I do not know what to do about Lady Matlock's invitation. Should I take it in earnest and just knock on her door next time we are in the neighbourhood?"

"I was under the impression she expected that and insisted upon it," Elizabeth responded. "Why would she do that if not in goodwill?"

"That is Mr Bingley's house," Jane suddenly interjected, gazing out of the window with curiosity and the same disturbed countenance.

"Since his sister wrote to you to visit her, we may come one day, Jane. We may take that opportunity to greet Lady Matlock briefly. What do you think? Would you like that?"

"I would like that very much, Aunt. Would you, Lizzy?" Jane answered.

"I would rather walk around Hyde Park while you visit Miss Bingley and only join you to call on Lady Matlock," Elizabeth said in all honesty. "Mr Bingley certainly took all the common sense and decency and left nothing for his sisters."

"I would very much like to meet Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley," Mrs Gardiner said. "I am curious about both of them."

"Well, we can always hope for another accident!" Elizabeth laughed.