Chapter 26
Charlotte arrived at Rosings Park’s stables at the time she had agreed to meet Mr Fitzwilliam on Monday morning.
As she did not own a riding habit of her own, Anne had lent her one which used to belong to Mrs Jenkinson, who was of a similar size as Charlotte.
It was a light green colour, which Anne opined suited Charlotte’s complexion very well.
Jenki had not ridden a horse in many years, ever since it became clear Anne did not have the strength for the sport. She had gone to see her sister, which it now seemed was to become permanent, as the former companion was needed to look after her nieces and nephews.
In consultation with Richard, Anne had decided to give Jenki half of her dowry in the way of a pension.
As her dowry was forty thousand pounds, Mrs Jenkinson would be set for life with an income of eight hundred pounds per annum if she left the money in the four per cents.
Charlotte was not aware yet, but the other half of Anne’s dowry would be hers.
Anne was seated on a chair in the shade next to the paddock so she could watch Richard administer Charlotte’s lesson. Brian Johns was standing close by in case she needed anything. John Biggs was with the men keeping Lady Catherine from escaping the dower house.
The letter from Jenki had arrived on Saturday, and now that Richard had agreed to what she wanted to do with her dowry, Anne would speak to Charlotte about both things later in the day.
Richard had argued that Charlotte would not need the additional funds, if as he hoped, she was to become the mistress of Rosings Park.
In that case, he intended to share anything which was his, and he wanted his cousin to enjoy the remaining half of her dowry.
Anne had disagreed and won the day when she asked him why he was arguing with her at the end of her life.
She smiled to herself when she imagined her mother’s reaction when she discovered that the new mistress of the estate was none other than the lady she had failed to evict from the parsonage.
She watched as Richard introduced Charlotte to the mare she would be riding.
“This is Grace, and she does live up to her name,” Fitzwilliam explained.
“She is five years old and is just over fourteen hands high. As you can see she is a grey, and if you like one another, she will be yours for as long as you are at Rosings Park. Extend your hand like this.” Fitzwilliam took her left arm, had her open her hand palm up, and he gently guided her hand towards the mare.
As would be expected Grace sniffed Mrs Charlotte’s hand, and she must have liked what she smelt because she bent her head and rubbed her nose against the hand.
Next, Fitzwilliam placed a carrot in Mrs Charlotte’s hand.
She extended it on her own, and this time the horse sniffed her offering; the animal flapped open her lips, took the carrot without harming the hand holding it, and happily munched it. The lady had made a friend for life.
Even though he hated side-saddles for ladies, Fitzwilliam taught Mrs Charlotte how to mount that abomination of a saddle from the mounting block.
Once she was secure and her feet placed correctly, he led the horse around the paddock twice before allowing Mrs Charlotte to have the mare trot slowly on her own.
It seemed that the lady was a natural. She had a very good seat and only had to be shown things once.
When Fitzwilliam noticed that Anne was napping in the shade, he closed the distance between himself and the other horse and rider. He caught Grace’s bridle and halted her. “Mrs Charlotte, this may be too soon, but I was wondering if you could see a future with me,” Fitzwilliam enquired.
Charlotte almost lost her seat, so shocked was she. “Why me, a plain widow, when as the master of Rosings Park, you could have your pick of pretty ladies in London?” It killed her to ask that, but after her first mistake, she had to be sure.
“Never call yourself plain! To me, you are a very handsome woman,” Fitzwilliam asserted.
“If I cared nothing for compatibility and affection, I may have looked in London, but a vapid, unintelligent woman who is only pretty on the outside is neither what I desire nor need. That is most certainly not what I want in the partner of my future life. Do you know that I felt attracted to you when you were married to the buffoon who never appreciated what he had? I, of course, did my best that no one would see my preference, as you were a married woman.”
“You too?” Charlotte asked before she could stop herself.
“Are you telling me you felt drawn to me like I was to you?” Fitzwilliam enquired.
He saw a shy nod from the woman on the horse.
“May I assist you down so we may speak while we are both standing on the ground?” There was another shy nod.
Fitzwilliam placed his hands on the sides of her slender waist and lifted Mrs Charlotte down as if she weighed nothing.
“Shall we walk?” He offered her his arm.
Charlotte took the proffered arm, still not allowing herself to believe that Mr Fitzwilliam desired her.
Anne, who had been feigning sleep, had to fight to contain her glee that the two people she liked most in the world were on the cusp of an understanding. She kept her one eye cracked and listened to the whisper of the breeze and the birdsong which serenaded her friends.
“Charlotte, may I call you by your name?”
“Yes, you may. How should I address you? Richard, like I have heard Mr Darcy and Anne call you?”
“Indeed, yes, that is my name and I would be delighted to hear you use it.” Fitzwilliam paused briefly while he ordered his thoughts.
“Charlotte, after years in the army and being in bloody battles, I know how short and tenuous life can be. As such, I abhor wasting time on society’s dances.
I know that you are the woman I want as my wife. Would you accept me as your husband?”
“In the spirit of brevity, yes, Richard, I would be more than pleased to have you as my husband,” Charlotte responded as she beamed from ear to ear.
After looking around to make sure no one was observing them, Fitzwilliam leant forward and lightly brushed his betrothed’s lips.
“I knew how it would be!” Anne exclaimed as she clapped her hands in glee.
You two could not be so perfect for one another for no reason.
Do not look at me so! I awoke when Richard began to speak to you, Charlotte, and I did not want to do anything to disturb you two.
You plain, Charlotte? Not at all. If that is what you think, then I question your sense of sight. ”
“Is there anyone to whom I need to speak?” Fitzwilliam queried.
“No, there is not. Not only am I a widow, but I have been of age for a few years now. However, I am certain my father would enjoy you requesting his blessing,” Charlotte opined.
“Then, it will be so. Anne, are you well enough for a journey of fifty miles over good roads?” Fitzwilliam questioned.
“I am not, but the new rector’s wife is willing to assist me, and I have a house full of very loyal staff and servants. I want you two to go; I would be upset if you did not on my account. A maid will travel with you, of course,” Anne asserted.
“I must write to Mother and Father,” Fitzwilliam stated. “They are as keen for me to find a wife as they were for Andrew to do the same.”
The newly engaged couple decided to depart on the morrow at first light.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
While everyone else in the coach was calm, Elizabeth could hardly sit still as the conveyance approached the front of Snowhaven.
She did not know if she would see William—Mr Darcy—today, or would it be another day?
Should she have told him they would be at Snowhaven rather than cryptically speaking of being in the area?
Once the remains of the castle and the structure added to it which formed the manor house came into view, the Gardiners and Jane and Elizabeth who had never seen the house before, were awed into silence.
The additional newer buildings were seamlessly married with what remained of the castle, which Andrew informed them was the great hall and one tower.
Aside from Blenheim Castle, it was by far the largest mansion any of them had ever seen.
As the equipage was drawn to a halt, Elizabeth, sitting on the side closest to the house, could see an older, very noble, and elegant-looking couple standing on the steps which led down from the double front doors to the drive.
“My parents,” Hilldale pointed out.
As an earl and countess, normal protocol was to wait in the drawing room and have the guests brought to them to be received there.
On this day, they cared nothing for protocol.
Andrew had found the woman he wanted to marry, and she loved him in return.
It seemed that the woman who William loved was also present, and Andrew had indicated his suspicion that she had tender feelings for William.
Hence, wild horses would not have kept them from meeting the coach.
They both smiled when Andrew followed Gardiner out of the conveyance.
They had suspected he would be riding with the Gardiners and their nieces.
They watched Gardiner assist Mrs Gardiner out before he handed a petite younger woman out.
She had dark, wavy raven tresses and fascinating emerald-green eyes.
As it had not been Andrew who did the honour, Lord and Lady Matlock correctly assumed she was the Miss Bennet that William loved.
She was not classically beautiful, but she was no less of a beauty.
Their nephew must have been temporarily blind when he had insulted her looks.
Andrew then leaned into the cabin of the carriage and handed out a stunningly beautiful blonde woman. She had deep cerulean eyes and was willowy. Also, she was taller than her sister. This was the woman they had been waiting years to meet.