Chapter 30 #2
As he and Andrew were each engaged to his respective Bennet sister, Darcy had written to Mrs Reynolds with instructions to place himself and his cousin in a guest suite in the southeast corner of the fourth floor, while the sisters and the Gardiners would be on the family floor.
It was the first floor, and, they would be on the northwest side of the house in suites with the best views over the lake.
The suite the Bennet sisters were assigned was next to Gigi’s.
After washing and changing, Darcy personally led a tour of the library for those who had not seen it.
He waited for those who had yet to see its wonders at the double doors across the landing from the grand staircase on the first floor.
Once everyone was ready, Darcy nodded to two footmen who threw the doors open.
The first thing which assailed Elizabeth’s senses was the smell of leather, paper, and ink.
She drank it in, a smell she always detected in her father’s study.
With one hand resting on William’s forearm, Elizabeth entered the library.
Like she had when she first saw Pemberley, she gasped.
William had not exaggerated, nor, in this case only, had the banished Miss Bingley.
Yes, it was not the Bodleian, but then no other library was, but it was magnificent.
As she twirled around, she noticed that it went up two levels.
There were spiral staircases in each corner to reach the upper level.
Outside of the library at Oxford, she had never seen so many books.
If she read for every minute of every day, Elizabeth imagined she would need at least three lifetimes to come close to reading most of the books in this room.
“William! It is everything I imagined and so much more,” Elizabeth enthused.
“Then, you approve of the library and Pemberley? I know it is not the Bodleian, but I think it will do for us and our children.” He waggled his eyebrows when he said the last.
Elizabeth blushed furiously. “Yes, William, this is more than adequate.” As she spoke, she was not looking at the library.
It was Darcy’s turn for the tips of his ears to burn red.
That evening, a sumptuous dinner was enjoyed, and plans were made for a tour of some of the principal rooms in the morning, to be led by the housekeeper. Thereafter, riding lessons would commence.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As the days went by, Mrs Reynolds discovered what a gem Master William had found in Miss Elizabeth.
The only changes she asked for were in the mistress’s suite.
Lady Anne’s pink and peach floral paper did not suit her, and Miss Elizabeth preferred simpler but more comfortable furniture.
No changes were made just because she could.
She demonstrated her thoughtfulness by offering anything she was changing to Miss Gigi, if she wanted it.
As the servants came to know their future mistress, the mood in the house lightened considerably when the housekeeper’s words about the type of woman the master would bring home as his wife had been prophetic.
During the tour, Miss Elizabeth had asked to see the kitchens and meet all of the servants who worked there, not only Cook. It soon became apparent that once one of them had been introduced to the lady, she remembered their name after being told it once.
While Gardiner and Matlock fished, Maddie visited friends in Lambton.
At those times, Elizabeth was undergoing riding lessons, and like most things she set her mind to, she was a quick study.
When Gigi was not studying with Mrs Annesley, she was with Lizzy and William, especially when they began to ride over the estate.
Elizabeth was very happy with the mare William had selected for her.
She was a docile horse and had quickly bonded with Elizabeth. Her name was Aphrodite.
Jane and Andrew, with a groom and footman as escorts, would often ride—Jane had always been the horsewoman in the Bennet family—when they were not conferring with Lady Matlock about possible wedding plans.
The sennight at Pemberley passed as time was wont to do, and before they knew it, it was the final Monday in July, and the convoy of coaches was on its way to Meadowbrook in Berkshire to collect two Bennet sisters and four Gardiner offspring.
As was their wont, Matlock, Hilldale, and Darcy had made sure they had adequate reservations for all in the party at preferred inns for the two nights they would be on the road.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“What is it, Richard?” Charlotte asked. The engaged couple had been sitting with Anne in one of the newly refurbished drawing rooms at Rosings Park.
“Good news and a summons,” Fitzwilliam replied. I will read the letter.
25 July 1812
Pemberley
Richard, my dear son,
From Snowhaven, we made for Hilldale so Jane could see her future home. As you can guess from my direction, we are at William’s estate, as he wanted Lizzy to see it.
If I did not mention this in a previous letter, Lizzy accepted William this time. Evidently, this proposal was not laced with insults! They are as well suited as your brother and Jane are. You will finally have William as a brother, which will make your Charlotte sister to Jane and Lizzy.
“If I were cruel, I would inform Mother of who William’s affianced is. I worry too much that she would give herself an apoplexy,” Anne stated with a smile.
“When will we see Jane and Eliza?” Charlotte asked.
“Mother has the right of it; I will enjoy having William as a brother. As to your question, I was getting to that. Allow me to read on,” Fitzwilliam suggested.
We depart here on Monday the 27th of this month. We need to collect the Gardiner children and the next two younger Bennet sisters at an estate in Berkshire on our way to Hertfordshire. We should be there by the final day of this month.
Father and I ask that you join us at Netherfield Park (Mr Bingley, William’s friend, has put his leased estate at our disposal) on the 31st of July.
You, Andrew, and William will sleep there, and the three affianced ladies will sleep at their respective family estates.
Further, if she is physically able, we ask that Anne accompany you.
Please tell Charlotte that Mother and Father are looking very much forward to seeing her again, especially after Jane and Lizzy have vouched as to what a wonderful, compassionate, excellent, upstanding, and intelligent woman you are to marry.
This will allow us to see Sir William and Lady Lucas again, and meet Charlotte’s siblings as well.
With much love,
Mother
“Anne, are you feeling well enough to travel? We will go as slowly as you need,” Fitzwilliam queried.
“Yes, I am. I would like to see Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie, as well as Andy, of course. More than that, I am in great anticipation of meeting the lady who tempted Andy to offer for her. I will enjoy being able to come to know Miss Elizabeth without being under Mother’s scrutiny.
While her gimlet eye was turned on me, I had to act the invalid.
I always thought I would want to know her if my mother was not there. Now we will be cousins,” Anne replied.
“Then we will depart early on the final day of the month and travel as slowly as you need,” Fitzwilliam stated.
Neither lady disagreed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Fanny, I have a letter from Lizzy and Jane. They and the Gardiners will collect our daughters and the Gardiner children in Berkshire. They will arrive here on the final day of July, and will not be alone,” Bennet reported after reading the epistle.
“I know they will not be alone; the Gardiners will be with them,” Fanny replied.
“No, Fanny, I mean aside from our family. Mr Darcy and his sister, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, and Lord Hilldale will all be with them.”
“But Thomas, we do not have the chambers to accommodate all of them, and how can the men reside in the same house as their betrotheds? It will cause a scandal.” Fanny wrung her hands as she felt her nerves creeping up on her.
Bennet took her hands and made sure she was looking at him.
“Fanny, do not let that concern you. The Fitzwilliams and Darcys will be residing at Netherfield Park. Did you forget that Mr Bingley has the lease for a year? He has permitted his friend and family members to use the estate. You remember that the former Miss Lucas is marrying Lord Hilldale’s younger brother, the former colonel? ”
“Yes, I was very happy for Charlotte. After being married to that odious man, she deserves happiness,” Fanny agreed.
“They, and hopefully Miss Anne de Bourgh, will be present as well. Charlotte will reside at Lucas Lodge. At last, we will have four of our daughters home.” Bennet paused. “We will have to entertain our new family.”
“Of course, we will.”
“Fanny, Jane and Lizzy went to St Mary’s to see Lydia. It is not far from the estate where they were being hosted. The report about our youngest is very favourable.”
“That is the best news. Thank you, Thomas.”
Bennet crossed to where his wife stood and kissed her. While Fanny blushed, he made his way to his study.