27. Chapter 27 #2
Darcy held his hand out to Elizabeth, who took it and stood.
“I see you are fond of children,” he said as they walked over to the window. “At least you seem to be fond of your aunt and uncle’s children as well as Miss Margaret.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, I do like children. What about you?”
“I do as well. I would consider it a blessing to have several of my own,” Darcy said with a sly smile.
“Several, you say?” she asked in surprise.
“Well, you know, at least three or four.”
“You are quite ambitious!”
Darcy chuckled. “Truthfully, even just one would be a blessing.”
She smirked and nodded in response.
He laughed again, noting the look she was giving him. Darcy decided to leave well enough alone and broached a different topic.
“While we were guests at Longbourn, I was impressed with your dedication to the estate and your care of the people. How involved would you wish to be as mistress of an estate? Of course, I would not want you to feel overwhelmed or compelled to take on more than you would like.”
He could see that he had surprised her with his question, but she seemed pleased by his asking it.
“Thank you for the compliment,” she said.
“I know most gentlemen do not prefer their wives to be involved in estate management, so to answer your question, I suppose I would wish to be as involved as you are comfortable with. Of course, I realize there would be many duties that would fall solely to the mistress. I would need to prioritize those as well, but I would be happy to assist you in any way I can.”
Darcy’s smile grew wider as she stood there watching him and looking so beautiful doing it.
“Well, the last time you mentioned how most gentlemen run their estates, I believe I made it clear I am not like most gentlemen, did I not?”
Elizabeth chuckled. “Yes, I believe you did.”
He looked deeply into her eyes. “I think you and I would work well together, especially if the short time we did so at Longbourn is any indication.”
Holding his gaze with her own, she said, “I agree. I think it was a good indicator.”
Darcy knew it was. He was utterly convinced that Elizabeth was made for him. How had he been so fortunate to find her? When had she become so essential to him? He loved her! Darcy knew he could not do without her, not now. She was everything to him.
Later that evening, Elizabeth and her sisters were sitting in the drawing room with Aunt Madeleine. It was another half hour until dinner, and they expected Uncle Edward would join them at any minute. However, when the door opened, it was not her uncle who walked in.
Elizabeth gasped in surprise. “Papa!”
Aunt Madeleine looked up from her needlework and exclaimed, “Thomas! I did not know you were coming. Is Edward expecting you?”
Aunt Madeleine began to rise, but Papa asked her to keep her seat. He said the same to Elizabeth and her sisters. As Elizabeth looked at her father, she could tell something was not right. What was he even doing here?
“Is everyone well?" Jane asked. "Are you well, Papa?”
“Yes, everyone is in health, but there have been . . . some troubling circumstances of late.”
At that moment, Uncle Edward entered the room and noticed his brother-in-law.
“Bennet! This is a surprise. I hope all is well at Longbourn.”
“There have been some developments and actions taken that I need to make you all aware of,” Papa said.
“So, we do not need the privacy of my study?” Uncle Edward asked to clarify.
“No, the girls need to know all the details. The whole sorry business does concern them after all.”
“It is Lydia! I know it!” Elizabeth blurted out. “What has she done?”
“Yes, Lizzy, I am afraid you are correct,” Papa said tiredly.
“No,” Mary whispered, a look of trepidation on her face.
Jane simply closed her eyes.
“Wait, girls, just a minute. I have rung the bell for Fletcher,” Aunt Madeleine said.
A moment later, Fletcher entered the room.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Fletcher, please let Cook know we will have one more for dinner, and ask her to hold dinner for the moment. I shall let you know when we are ready to dine.”
“Very well, ma’am.”
Fletcher closed the door behind him.
Uncle Edward pierced Papa with a look of disapproval. “What happened, Bennet?”
Papa sighed. “The day after I received your letter informing me of Lizzy’s courtship with Mr. Darcy, I noticed Kitty and Lydia preparing to walk out.
Up until then, I had been considering the schools you recommended, Gardiner, but I had not yet curbed their freedoms. Nor was I keeping a closer eye on their doings.
I determined that, going forward, they would not leave the house unless in the company of their mother or me.
But for that moment, I wanted to see if there was anything afoot that I should know.
So, I sent Matthew out to follow them. It was not long before he returned, hauling Kitty and Lydia with him.
He had caught Lydia and a young man behind a tree. Kitty was acting as lookout.”
Aunt Madeleine sighed. “Of course she was.”
“I scolded her. I scolded Kitty. I told them they would no longer be allowed out of the house unless accompanied by an adult. Apparently, though, none of this mattered a fig to Lydia, because a mere two nights later, after everyone had gone to bed, she was caught leaving Longbourn with the same young man. Again, it was Matthew who spotted them.”
“Goodness!” Aunt Madeleine exclaimed.
“Who is this young man?” Jane asked.
“It appears he is the same one Lizzy caught her behaving inappropriately with at the assembly. He is the butcher’s nephew.”
“There is no telling how long they have been sneaking off together at night!” Elizabeth said, her voice pitched high in frustration.
“Kitty says she knows of at least one other time, but you are right, Lizzy, there is no telling what the truth is,” Papa said.
“And there is no point in trying to get it out of Lydia,” Elizabeth added hotly.
“Indeed,” Papa said. “A fact which made it difficult to ascertain what intimacies had taken place. Kitty said she knew Lydia had allowed him some liberties, but she did not know to what extent. Fortunately, Lydia’s courses came several days later.
Mrs. Hill confirmed it. So, while her virtue is in question, at least pregnancy is not. ”
“So, is the situation contained? Will you be able to keep it quiet?” Uncle Edward asked.
“I believe so. I spoke with the young man. I think Matthew also threatened him.”
“Who is keeping an eye on the girls while you are here, Thomas?” Aunt Madeleine asked worriedly.
“They are both in school now. As soon as Lydia’s courses appeared, I made plans to take the girls from Longbourn to enroll them in school.
I told them they were not to speak of what happened to anyone, including their mother.
Only Mrs. Hill was allowed to attend them since I did not trust them around the other maids.
I told Fanny she had twenty-four hours to spend with the girls before they would leave for school.
She did not like the idea of the girls going to school, but I told her it was not up for discussion.
For Lydia, I decided on the school in Kent for difficult girls.
For Kitty, I went with a finishing school here in London.
Kitty and Lydia were packed up, and we left Longbourn on Thursday for Kent.
I had arranged accommodations at an inn near the school.
I took Kitty and Lydia to the local modiste there in Kent so they could both be fitted and order their school clothes.
It took a few days, but when the orders were ready, I took Lydia to the school, enrolled her, and we said goodbye.
Afterwards, Kitty and I traveled back to London and checked into an inn for the night.
Around mid-morning today, I enrolled her at the finishing school.
I have told Kitty, Lydia, and Fanny that any letters they wish to write to one another or anyone else for that matter must first go through me.
The schools know this. Mrs. Hill knows this.
I am sorry, girls, for not doing more to protect you.
I hope these measures will help contain the situation and protect your prospects. ”
“I hope so, too, Bennet, because all three of your eldest daughters are being courted,” Uncle Edward said without preamble.
“My . . . are they indeed?”
“Yes, they are. You probably missed my letter since you left early on Thursday morning. I had written to tell you that Jane had entered a courtship with Mr. Darcy’s cousin.
He is Richard Fitzwilliam, formerly a colonel in His Majesty’s Army.
He is also the second son of the Earl of Matlock.
And, as of last night, Mary is also being courted.
His name is Mr. Whitney Hadley. He is the master of a very prosperous estate.
I know him very well, and he is an excellent young man. ”
Papa was obviously surprised by this news. His face also seemed to hold more worry after hearing it. Elizabeth was glad to see he was taking the matter seriously. He ought to be worried! She certainly was.
The next morning, they saw their father off after breakfast. He said he would notify them right away if there was any talk whatsoever.
After he left, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary expressed their relief that at least now Lydia and Kitty were safely away at school and unable to cause further harm.
Of course, they would still need to tell their respective gentlemen what had occurred with their youngest sister.
Elizabeth would have liked to get the dreaded conversation about Lydia's conduct over with, but it was not to be.
Fitzwilliam had business occupying his time today, and Elizabeth would attend a dinner party that evening.
The discussion would have to wait for another day.