Chapter 26 #2
“I took the path between here and Pemberley,” he explained when Mary asked him if he had left before dawn.
There was a sudden stabbing sensation in Mary’s breast as she had the passing thought that he too, like all the gentlemen the day before, was here to press his suit with her sister. She was soon disabused of that notion when he requested a moment of privacy to speak with Mary herself.
Jane declared that she would fetch a tea tray and left the room, leaving the door wide open.
She settled her back against the wall outside the door and listened as he begged Mary’s pardon if he was pressuring her, but he could not allow her to disappear from Derbyshire without a farewell and leaving her in suspense.
It was too soon for a courtship, of course, but he asked to formally call upon her, once her mourning was finished, with an eye toward courtship.
As Mary gave him to understand her pleasure in accepting his companionship, Jane sighed heavily.
It was starkly different from her own relationship.
Bingley had never vocalized his intentions, merely chased her until her heart could not hold out against him, before disappearing for nearly eight months, leaving her to suffer the derision of her neighbors for her disappointed hopes.
When he reappeared, under the direction of his friend once again, she had immediately excused him and accepted his hand within the week.
He had never respected her feelings enough to publicly declare his intentions.
She wondered cynically if he would have even proposed if Darcy had not told him to.
When the maid approached with the tea tray, Jane shook off her melancholy, took it from her and entered the room, ready to congratulate the beaming couple. “I am so very pleased for you, my dear sister! Only a fortnight complete and you shall begin the path toward your bright future, at last.”
Mary blushed and beamed, her happiness highlighting her quiet beauty, while her beau watched her in wonder.
They enjoyed their tea, with some excellent strawberry tarts— the first of the summer berries, and Mr. Kirby bid them both farewell as they were joined by Lady Greenleigh, who greeted them with the usual questions of their health and such.
“You have made a conquest, Miss Bennet, I see,” her ladyship remarked, upon seeing Mary’s continued blushes. “I did not recognize the man, is he visiting nearby?”
Jane looked to Mary, but her sister was still too bashful of the whole encounter to reply, so she did so herself.
“Mr. Kirby holds the livings of Lambton and Kympton, near Pemberley in Derbyshire, your ladyship. We met him several weeks ago and he wished to declare his intentions to call, not wanting to keep dear Mary in suspense.”
“That is very good of him,” she replied, smiling at Mary before her good humor dropped from her face.
“Unfortunately, I have some news for you, Mrs. Bingley. I was just informed by express this morning that the Baron is bringing several of his cronies to rusticate and enjoy some fishing. Normally, this would have little to do with you, but the Redmonds, the previous owners, had allowed him access to the streams between our estates for years and I am certain that they shall wander over here eventually. They are not the sort of men to be trusted with ladies, or women of any sort… I just did not wish for any harm to come to you and yours.”
“I see,” Jane replied, sipping her tea to take time to think. “I assume that unless I wish to place guards along the boundary, there is little reason to create a scandal by trespassing them.”
“It would honestly make them more likely to misbehave,” the Baroness admitted with a wince, accepting a cup of her own from Mary.
“I do not worry for myself or my sister,” Jane replied. “We never go out without several footmen in attendance.”
“I have seen them,” Lady Greenleigh chuckled. “I would think a man would have to be mad to approach someone under their protection.”
“Indeed.” Jane smirked at John, who stood within her view, just outside the door, making the man grin.
“I do worry for my tenants, however. I shall accompany Mr. Yates on his visits this week and warn them. There are two new brides on that side of the estate. Do you think that the presence of their husbands would be enough deterrent or ought I have an extra man assigned to their farms for the nonce?”
“I would think that their husbands would be enough protection, so long as they were informed that the men had no support from you in their carousing.”
“Which they most certainly do not!” Jane growled. “I believe that I will inform Mr. Walters as well, that the men have been warned that any harm they cause will be met with force. None of my tenants will fear harm in their own homes.”
Lady Greenleigh looked away, a bit of shame coloring high on her cheeks. “I had best continue on with my visits. Do send word if you have any trouble. And thank you for doing what I cannot. At least they rarely stay longer than a sen’night.”
Jane reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze before bidding her farewell. She was so consumed with worry that she did not even bid Mary a good day before she nearly ran to the rear of the house.
“Mr. Yates!” she cried, bursting through the door to his office. “There is an emergency and we must make plans!”
Yates looked up from his desk, noting the worry in her eyes, and immediately went to her side to pull out a chair for her to sit. “What has distressed you so?”
Jane explained Lady Greenleigh’s warning, nearly wringing her hands in her distress. “I already failed my servants once by employing a blackguard, I will not have it happen again. I will not!” She cried and burst into tears.
Yates knelt beside her, offering his handkerchief and murmuring soothing words.
When she calmed, somewhat embarrassed by her outburst, he pulled the second chair close and sat beside her.
“Mrs. Bingley, your outrage does you credit, do not be ashamed of your tears. The thought of such men turns my stomach. I shall pay them a visit when they arrive and inform them that they must be on their best behavior when on your property. By rights, you could deny anyone you wish access to the estate, but I agree that it is likely to cause talk if you banned them preemptively. The question is, do you care?”
“It would be a shame to be shunned completely once more,” Jane sighed, picking at a loose thread on her skirts. “But not at the expense of my tenants’ safety.”
“I agree wholeheartedly. Now, we shall warn the tenants of the danger and assure them of our support should it be needed. Luckily the planting is done, so it is mostly farm chores which occupy the men and they will be close by their wives or working beside them.”
“There is something gravely wrong with a country which allows, because of birth or wealth, such actions against another,” Jane sniffled, her nose growing red.
“It has always been that way, and likely always will be,” Yates agreed with a growl. “Think of the kings of old. I swear to you, I will do what I can to protect Ivy Well and her people.”
“It is a shame we cannot just shoot them,” she exclaimed, making him laugh.
“This bloodthirstiness is a side of you I did not think existed. You have opened my eyes, madam.”
Jane blushed, rising to her feet. “I wish to accompany you, Mr. Yates.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “But do you think you might consider calling my Yates?”
Jane looked at him in surprise. “I— I could not… at least in public. But I should be pleased to do so when we are here.”
“Excellent,” he beamed.