Chapter 6
It was late evening on the second day of travel when Elizabeth finally reached Willowmere. She was received by the housekeeper and taken directly upstairs to her chambers. It was only after she had refreshed and had some dinner that she finally met her aunt.
“My dear Lizzy, I am so thankful to you for making the journey,” Mrs. Hardwicke welcomed her niece.
“Aunt Sarah, I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Hardwicke was a good man,” Elizabeth held her aunt’s hand.
“Life can be unpredictable, dearest, as I have experienced too many times. Frederick was a good husband and a doting father. He had never been a reckless person; the accident was unexpected.”
“Papa’s letter just mentioned an accident, but was otherwise vague about the details,” Elizabeth responded.
“Yes, he would have survived if not for the head injury he sustained during the fall. It still feels like a nightmare. I keep hoping to see him come in through the main door calling for Margaret,” Mrs. Hardwicke broke off with a quiet sob, then, gathering herself, continued, “Margaret is ten now and is very much aware of death and its implications, but it does not make it any easier. It was on her account that I could not be present to receive you. She has taken to hiding during mealtimes if I am not there with her.”
“My dear Aunt, I hope you will not distress yourself on my account. I am well able to manage some diversion for myself. Margaret is young and needs your care.”
“I appreciate that, Lizzy. When I heard about my brother’s inability to travel, I was quite alarmed. This whole situation with the entail makes me uneasy. You will, I am sure, relate, as Longbourn suffers the same fate.”
“I assure you, Aunt, that no matter the situation you and my cousin will have a place at Longbourn. Papa has asked me to reassure you on that account and to urge you to come to us even if the situation does not necessitate it.”
At the mention of Longbourn, Mrs. Hardwicke went completely still, then after a few moments, she got up and walked to the sideboard, pouring herself some water. She calmed herself and responded, “I hope it does not come to that. I would not wish to be a burden on Mrs. Bennet.”
Elizabeth could hear the steel in her aunt’s voice and knew that her father was not going to have to worry about housing his sister.
Mrs. Hardwicke would sooner go in service than reside in Mrs. Bennet’s household, not that Lizzy could blame her.
Her mother could be very hurtful with her words and would hardly extend kindness to someone she considered a burden.
“Has the heir not arrived yet?” Elizabeth asked, changing the subject.
“Oh yes, he is staying at the dower house. Mr. Davis, the solicitor, was here two days ago, asking if any of my relatives were expected to arrive. It would seem that he preferred to wait before discussing the will.”
“That does speak well of him, to be conscientious of your needs.”
“I do not know, Lizzy. I never met the man. I mean to send a note to Mr. Davis about your arrival tomorrow morning. Should I tell him that you wish to speak with him?”
“Yes, that would be for the best. I will visit Mr. Davis tomorrow afternoon and understand all the details.”
“Come now, dear, you should get some rest. You have had a tough two days of travel.”
Elizabeth smiled at her aunt’s solicitousness and bade her a good night as she went upstairs. The fatigue of the journey and the anxiety over the situation had exhausted her and she soon fell asleep.
Elizabeth tried to cover her eyes from the errant ray of sun that penetrated her room.
Then it was blessedly dark again, causing her to relax until the light fell on her face once more.
This hide-and-seek with the sunbeams finally awoke her and she squinted her eyes to look around when she realised that she was not alone in the room.
She got up with a start, pulling the covers with her as she sat up in the bed, finally getting a good look at the intruding moppet.
“I do not remember you,” the girl announced with a frown.
“Miss Partridge says that you are my cousin and that I am to be well-behaved. I think I am always well-behaved,” the girl continued to chatter as she walked closer to Elizabeth, then she peered at her face and declared, “I like your nose. It has character.”
“Thank you, I think,” Elizabeth responded, getting her bearings and realising that this must be her young cousin Margaret.
A maid entered the room with a breakfast tray and on seeing the girl gently chided her. “Miss Hardwicke, you should not be bothering Miss Bennet.”
“Oh. No, no, we are just getting acquainted,” Elizabeth said.
“Would you like to join me for breakfast, Miss Hardwicke?” Elizabeth asked the girl as the maid left them alone.
“You can call me Margaret. You seem pleasant, but I cannot eat with you, I have to eat with Mama. We are the only family now,” Margaret responded in a downcast tone.
“That is not true. While I appreciate that you want to keep your mother company, you must know that I am family too,” Elizabeth replied, earning a faint smile from the girl, who then waved at her and rushed off.
Elizabeth smiled as she busied herself with her breakfast. Once she had eaten, she rang for her maid to help her get dressed before she went downstairs to look for her aunt.
“There you are, Lizzy,” her aunt greeted her as she entered the parlour. “Mr. Davis is expecting you in another hour, my dear. I have informed the coachman to have the carriage ready.”
Elizabeth nodded towards her aunt before moving to pour herself some tea.
She was in the habit of getting up with the sun, but had slept for nearly half of the day, making her groggy and unfocused.
She thought about the interaction with her young cousin and decided to spend time with the girl after she was back from the solicitor’s office.
As she leafed through some of the fashion plates lying in the drawing room, a servant announced that the carriage was ready to depart.
A clerk was waiting for her as she arrived. “Miss Bennet, I understand?” he said, and at her nod continued, “Mr. Davis is waiting for you, Madam.” He gestured towards the office.
Elizabeth entered the office and her eyes immediately met a rather serious-looking man with a receding hairline sitting behind the table. Seeing Elizabeth, he got up from his chair and greeted her, “Miss Bennet, you are right on time. Let me introduce you to Mr. Darcy, the heir to Willowmere.”
Elizabeth was rooted to the spot, staring at the deep blue eyes of Mr. Darcy as he stared back with the same stunned expression.