Mr. Darcy's Daughter by Rebecca Ann Collins

enlightened views and hardly any vision at all, voting only to
preserve their privileges." Jonathan Bingley was an ardent Reformist.
    Young
Darcy had been very impressed with his uncle's words and had promised to give
it serious thought. He was, however, at twenty-four, still unsettled about his
future ambitions; attracted to both business and politics, but too young to
have much experience of either, he appeared reluctant to commit himself to any
cause. The declaration at breakfast had been the first time his parents had
heard him speak so emphatically on the subject.
    Recently,
Darcy Gardiner had spent a good deal of time in the company of a gentleman
lately arrived from America. Of Irish descent, his parents had emigrated to the
United States at the time of the potato famine in the 1840s and made good
there. He had been sent to school in England, had spent some time travelling in
Europe, and had inherited a substantial fortune from an uncle who had moved to
Canada, where he had died without an heir.
    Mr.
Michael Carr had fascinated young Darcy with his width of experience, his wide
range of interests, and the two had become firm friends. He was, he had
revealed, looking to purchase a suitable property in England, preferably in the
Midlands. Darcy, who knew nothing of land values and real estate, had suggested
that he talk to his grandfather Mr. Gardiner, who, he had said, "was
prodigiously good at business and knows everything there is to know about
property in the district." He had added, however, that it was a pity his
grandfather was ill, else he was sure he would have assisted him in every way.
    Having
related all this to his parents at breakfast, Darcy announced casually that he
had invited Mr. Carr to stay. What was more, he would be arriving that
afternoon. This announcement caused some mild consternation, as his mother
suggested that she might have liked a little more notice; but in the end Cassy
was, as usual, prepared to welcome him. Any friend of her son's was sure to be
treated as one of the family and room would always be found to accommodate him.
    It
was no different with Mr. Carr, who was due to arrive on the coach from Derby
that afternoon. Darcy took the curricle to meet him, while the rest of the
household rushed to prepare a room for their guest, and Cook had to be advised
about an appropriate menu for dinner.
    "He
is American and may be fairly fastidious," said Cassy, but young Lizzie
reassured them. "Darcy says he's Irish first and will eat anything at
all," she said, which was well and good, except Cook thought it meant he
had a very good appetite, so she had better make double the quantity of
everything!
    The
coach from Derby was late, delayed by a sick passenger who had to be set down
at Ripley. When young Darcy and his friend reached the Gardiners'
    house,
it was after six o'clock and the ladies had already gone upstairs to rest
before dressing for dinner. Only Dr Gardiner was downstairs in his study,
having just returned from Lambton, where he had gone, as usual, to attend on
his father.
    When
Mr. Carr was introduced to him, Richard was immediately struck by his
resemblance to a portrait in the long gallery at Pemberley. However, not
wishing to embarrass their guest, he said nothing, greeting him cordially. As
they shook hands, Mr. Carr thanked him most sincerely for his generosity in
accommodating him at such short notice. "I'd have stayed at the local inn,
rather than inconvenience you, sir," he said apologetically, "but
Darcy insisted it was all right." Richard endorsed his son's words and
welcomed their visitor, reassuring him he had not inconvenienced anyone at all.
    "My
eldest son Edward is staying temporarily with my parents at Lambton, so we have
plenty of room," he said.
    Mr.
Carr immediately asked after Mr. Gardiner's health, saying Darcy had intimated
that his grandfather was gravely ill.
    "I
do hope his condition is not serious, sir," he said, to which Richard
replied that it was no