Don't forget the newspapers of the day. There might have been some contribution from them. The London sheets would eventually make their way out to the nooks and crannies of the nation, and people read the gossip about the rich, the high and the mighty. Note how avidly Mrs. Bennet looked to the London paper for the announcement of her daughter's marriage. People like Darcy and the Fitzwilliam family popped up in columns from time to time, and although the Bennets seemed unaware of Darcy, their neighbors may have read about him--a general awareness of the name.
Mrs. Gardiner knew about the Darcy family because she was from Lambton but perhaps there were a couple of people in Meryton who could also call upon similar connections. When he came to town, more specific inquiries were made -- the local solicitor and servants could provide fresh, hot details about a known name from an old family and his friend.
Mrs. Gardiner knew about the Darcy family because she was from Lambton but perhaps there were a couple of people in Meryton who could also call upon similar connections. When he came to town, more specific inquiries were made -- the local solicitor and servants could provide fresh, hot details about a known name from an old family and his friend.