Chapter 13 The Nephews
Darcy sat in the family drawing room of the Fitzwilliam townhouse, reading his most recent letter from Lady Catherine.
He made a low sound of displeasure. Richard raised his head and set aside his newspaper. “What is it, Darcy? Why do you growl?”
“Lady Catherine has postponed our visit until October first and insists I escort Anne to a Harvest Home dance, to be held in a barn.”
“Well, what of it? What is there in that to provoke complaint?”
“How is one expected to dress for a dance held in a barn, Richard?”
Georgiana’s eyes brightened with interest. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I have never attended a Harvest Home festival.”
Richard interjected. “That is because your brother has never hosted a Harvest Home festival at Pemberley, as any respectable estate owner would do.”
Georgiana appeared puzzled and asked, “Is this something you ought to host every year, brother?”
Darcy held out the letter to his sister. “Here, Georgie, you may read all about the plans our aunt has in mind.” He cast a dark glance at his cousin. “How politic of you not to mention the Matlock estate, which does not host one either, Richard.”
The military man grinned. “I wished to provoke you, Darcy. This letter from our aunt has put you out of sorts, and I thought to improve your temper.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “You are included in Lady Catherine’s stratagems as well, Sweetling.”
Georgiana took the letter.
“I am certain she expects me to offer for our cousin this year, Richard, but I shall not. I told my aunt last year, in no uncertain terms, I had no intention of proposing to my cousin, and here are the beginnings of another of her designs.”
They heard Georgiana exclaim, “Oh no, not Mrs. Jenkinson.”
Richard said, “Read it aloud, my dear. I cannot read your brother’s mind, and he will speak of nothing but his intended betrothal to Anne.”
Georgiana read from the portion that had most engaged her attention.
Excerpt of Lady Catherine’s Letter
“Fitzwilliam, plan to arrive by October first, for I expect you to escort Anne to the Harvest Home festival. She is much affected by the loss of Mrs. Jenkinson, and I believe a short outing of this nature, in the company of her three cousins, must be just the thing. And since you will have Little Georgiana with you during this visit, I feel certain my niece will enjoy a dance in Lord Barlow’s barn.
Lady Grace has informed me Lord Barlow is to host a large Harvest Home festival upon his estate on the ninth of October, and all his tenants have decorated a Harvest Maiden especially for the occasion.
I believe my little niece will be delighted to see the procession from the fields and then observe each sheaf displayed in the barn, where the dance is to be held.
Lady Grace assures me there will be roast pig and roast beef in abundance, as well as ale, cider, bread, cheese, and the like.
I can send Anne with pies as our contribution to the table.
Pray do not fail me, for I have never seen Anne so downcast, and if it were not for her companion’s constant attention to her, I fear Anne would sink into a deep decline, and you know, Fitzwilliam, she is so frail it would not require much to carry her off.”
Georgiana raised her eyes when Richard burst into laughter.
“Little Georgiana, is it? When did our aunt last see you, my girl?”
Darcy replied, “When she was five. Her manner and her voice frightened Georgie, and my father declared he would not subject her to such distress again.”
Richard chuckled. “What our aunt will say when she beholds a grown woman, with fair hair and standing near five feet seven in her stockinged feet.”
Georgiana giggled, then grew serious. “Is she much inclined to raise her voice and scold, brother?”
Darcy considered her question. “She is, my girl, though not from anger. Our aunt is very passionate and intense in her manner of speaking, particularly when she is interested in the subject under discussion.”
“Your brother, my dear, is often the object of her strongest reproofs, for she insists he must marry our cousin Anne, and he refuses to comply like the pig-headed creature he is.”
This observation sent Richard into a loud guffaw, but Georgiana’s eyes widened with concern.
“Do not heed your cousin, my dear. He teases me and forgets himself. Richard, I must remind you we are in mixed company, and one among us is both young and impressionable.”
Richard smiled at Georgiana. “Not so impressionable, Darcy. She possesses a keen mind and a ready wit. Did she not contrive to save herself from that scoundrel?”
Darcy studied his sister, hoping Richard’s remark did not distress her, but she returned her cousin’s look with an impish grin.
“Did you hear that, brother? Richard says I am clever and quick-witted, and I must be so, for I contrived to save myself.”
She appeared gratified by his notice of her courage, then said, “But oh, Fitzwilliam, how I longed for you, and I was grateful you came to me so quickly.”
His expression was earnest. “The moment I received your express, I ordered my horse and rode through the night to reach you. I have never endured a more wretched journey, fearing all the while Wickham might escape and carry you off.”
Richard reached for her hand. “And how do you fare now, my dear? Have the night terrors returned?”
“I did not think of it before, but I have not had any night terrors since I came to Matlock House. Perhaps it is because Wickham is afraid of you. He knows you would not hesitate to run him through.”
Richard raised his brows in amusement. “He does? How do you know this, my dear girl?”
“Fitzwilliam told me Wickham has always feared you, for you never permitted him any liberties when you were boys.”
Richard's grin was mocking. “Quite true, and now I am a seasoned soldier, he has even greater cause to fear me.”
Panting, Anne sank to the ground when she reached the far side of the track as Elizabeth passed her, calling back, “I shall run one more and then join you.”
Anne rummaged through the basket in search of something to eat. By the time Elizabeth returned, she had eaten three eggs.
“Lizzy, how far do you normally run? I cannot keep pace with you.”
“At home, I run along the rises that edge my father’s estate. I suppose it is near four miles, though here we keep to this hidden track and do not go so far.”
“Why do you run such a distance?”
“I enjoy the outdoors, Annie. Longbourn is a modest manor and much crowded with six women and the servants, so there is little opportunity for quiet reflection. I spend a few hours each day outside, so I may have a moment to think. Three of us are of a quieter disposition, but the two youngest take after our mother and fill the house with noise. It tries my father’s patience, and ours as well, though it is calmer now Lydia is away at school and Mary is settled at the parsonage. ”
“And now you are gone as well.”
“Yes, though I am expected home in late November, so my absence is only temporary.”
Anne’s expression dimmed. “How shall I manage without you, Lizzy? We run each morning, then eat outdoors. My gowns are tighter, especially at the bust, which is positively delightful. My figure is finally that of a woman. Mamma has sent for the modiste from Westerham to fit me for new gowns. I believe the fresh air and exercise must agree with me.”
“I believe your improved spirits have had a hand in it as well.”
“Yes, even Mamma has remarked upon it. She says my complexion is no longer sallow, and my eyes are brighter.”
Elizabeth laughed. “That is because we spend so much time in the sun. Your skin has taken on a little color.”
Anne raised her arm and regarded it. “It does appear so, rather than the sickly hue I once had. You know my mother would not permit me out, for she fears for my health. She is convinced I will take a chill, as Papa did.”
“Is that why you had me come up the servants’ stair on that first day?”
“Yes. I am accustomed to slipping out, though I can never remain long, for she would send for me. Now you are here, she imagines we walk in the rose garden or pass the hours reading in the beech grove.”
Elizabeth laughed. “We do those things.”
“We do, and what she does not know will not trouble her. Our morning run and our evening walk to view the constellations need not be mentioned, for she fears the night air, and the ghost.”
“A ghost? Does Rosings have one?”
“No, Lizzy, but it is a secret, and you must say nothing.” Miss de Bourgh raised her brows in askance.
“Very well, you have my promise of discretion,” Elizabeth said with a laugh.
“Kent is known for the free trade. Many of the tenants and shop clerks hire themselves out for a night run. The gentlemen look the other way, for fear the gangs will turn upon them. Mamma is unaware, but several of our tenants are involved. One in particular, my friend Benny, has trusted me with a secret. The revenue men ride the northern routes, so the smugglers have taken to the lanes that skirt the base of the bluffs that run along the borders of Rosings Park.”
Elizabeth’s interest stirred. “We have not seen the bluffs, and I have never known anything about smuggling. Are the bluffs far?”
“Not far.”
“Then we shall take a basket and walk there today, and you may tell me all about the free trade.”
“Today, Mamma visits Lady Grace. They are much occupied with the Harvest Home festival, so she will leave at nine and remain away for most of the day. If you were not here, Lizzy, she would insist I accompany her. I always plead illness rather than endure such visits. One might perish of ennui, seated in a corner with nothing to read and nothing to do but listen to two old women reminisce over former days.”
A pang struck Elizabeth for her friend.
“We must not speak of our walk, for if Mamma knew how far I can go, she would soon require my attendance at every tedious call she is bound to make.”
“Very well, Anne. I shall keep my counsel.”
It was late morning when the two young women reached a charming folly, overrun with a climbing rose.