Chapter 16 #2
Thanks to that, by the time they reached the capital, they had a fair amount of blunt.
They discovered a rather rundown boarding house for sale in the Spitalfields area of London.
It was at 100 Edward Street, which, given the state it was in and the owner’s desire to be rid of it as speedily as possible, only cost them half of their ill-gotten gains.
They used some of the remaining funds to make repairs to their house.
They knew they needed to be patient while establishing themselves in London. One day, they would repay those responsible for their mother’s death.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The three Fitzwilliam and two Darcy offspring had ridden out just before sunrise.
The Bennets’ stables had more than enough quality mounts for all of them.
While their brothers raced one another across a field, Anne and Giana rode at a more sedate pace.
A Longbourn groom and a Darcy footman, Thompson, were riding a few lengths behind the female cousins.
After Fitzwilliam, looking very smug for himself, was first to arrive at the gate marking the end of the field they had raced over, Hilldale and Conyers joined him as they waited for their sisters to reach them. The latter had some time to think.
The more Conyers saw of Longbourn, the more impressed he was.
The stables were on par with those at Pemberley.
All of his assumptions about the Bennets had been wrong, and most ridiculous of all had been his wrongheaded assertion about them deserving punishment for not doing more to discover Cousin Bethany’s true family.
The Bennets had become the only family she knew before they had arrived at the behest of Mr Collins. It seemed that Andrew and Richard had the right of it when they told him he was far too judgemental, especially before he was in possession of all of the facts.
The field they had raced across was close to the wooded area near the base of the hill the locals called Oakham Mount.
At the same time that the three cousins waited for their sisters to reach them, they noticed two ladies, escorted by one of the enormous Bennet guards, emerge from the treeline.
It was readily apparent that it was Mrs Bennet and Lizzy, or Bethie, depending on one’s point of view.
“Bethie!” Lady Georgiana called out as soon as she arrived alongside her brother. “You and Aunt Fanny must have walked out even earlier than we rode.”
“Indeed, we did,” Elizabeth responded. “Mamma and I generally leave at dawn, so we are able to watch the sunrise from Oakham Mount. This morning, we departed the house at first light.”
“I assume all of you will return in time to break your fasts,” Fanny verified.
“Most certainly,” Hilldale confirmed. “Richard here,” he cocked his head to his younger brother, “would faint dead away without sustenance in the morning, or at any of the other numerous meals he enjoys throughout the day.
“What do you expect of me? I am, after all, a growing boy,” Fitzwilliam returned good-naturedly.
“The only thing which will grow will be your belly, Brother,” Anne Fitzwilliam teased. “I could only imagine how you would have starved away had you gone into the army and been fighting on the Peninsula like you planned to do before Rosings Park became yours.”
Fanny and Elizabeth arched questioning eyebrows.
Fitzwilliam confessed the ambition he had once cherished in his youth, before the dastardly actions of Mr. and Mrs. de Bourgh altered the course of more lives than his own.
“We will leave you and walk on towards the house,” Elizabeth said cheerily.
With the two ladies and their escort continuing on towards the mansion, the groom opened the gate, and the riding party rode towards the hill from where the others had just walked.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Just as Amelia glided down the stairs, she saw Fanny and Bethie entering the house after their walk.
For an instant, her heart clenched when she saw how much they looked like mother and daughter, as well as how easy they were one with the other.
It was not because they looked alike, like she and Bethie did; it was that intangible bond that one would see between a good parent and their child who esteemed them.
She reminded herself that it had been less than a full day since she essentially met her daughter for the first time. Rome was not built in a day, meaning Amelia needed to be prepared to be patient as she came to know her daughter.
“Good morning, Fanny and Bethie. How was your walk?” Amelia enquired.
“As wonderful as always, thank you, Amelia,” Fanny responded. “May I ask if you slept well and feel recovered from travelling?”
“Very well, thank you, Fanny. No one could find fault with the comfort of the bed in the bedchamber. I slept for many hours; it was just what I needed to regain my strength after so many days of travel,” Lady Amelia replied.
“I assume that you two need to change, so I will see you in the dining parlour.”
While Fanny began climbing the stairs to the family floor where the chamber she shared with Thomas was located, she noted that Lizzy remained where she was.
“Mother, on the morrow, Mamma has meetings with Mrs Hill and Cook. Would you like to walk or ride?” Elizabeth asked. “Before you reply, when I ride on Longbourn’s land exclusively, I ride astride. I hope that does not shock your sensibilities.”
“I would like a good ride. I do not object to you riding astride. It is much safer. In my opinion, the side-saddle was invented by a misogynist. If I had a split-skirt riding habit here, I would join you in riding the same way,” Lady Amelia responded.
“I have more than enough outfits for riding to be able to lend you one,” Elizabeth enthused.
“We are the same height, and from what I can see, my clothes will fit you. At worst, you would need to have your maid make some minor adjustments. That will be perfect; I will be able to introduce you to Jupiter.”
“That is very kind of you, Bethie; I believe that will work very well. Have your maid bring a habit to my chamber where my lady’s maid, Jenny, will receive it. Any colour you wear will be good for me,” Lady Amelia said, smiling widely.
Bethie made her way upstairs to change, and Amelia headed for the drawing room. She found the Fitzwilliam, Darcy, and Gardiner parents within, as well as the three Collinses. “Good morning, everyone,” she greeted. “I see I slept late today. It is just as well; I was fatigued from the travelling.”
“Those of us who know you are aware that you rise with the light, except after a lengthy journey,” Lady Anne stated. “Hence, this was expected.
Looking around, Amelia saw none of the Fitzwilliam or Darcy offspring.
Lady Elaine noticed how Amelia was looking about. “Our children,” she indicated Anne as well, “are taking a pre-meal ride. I expect them to return shortly.”
“It is fortunate that Bennet keeps well-stocked stables, seeing that we left Seaview House in such a rush,” Holderness stated.
“We knew not where we would be hosted nor how long we would be here, so the horses were ridden to London. I suppose Matlock and I could have them brought here, if they were needed.”
“You are welcome to keep riding Longbourn’s horses,” Bennet stated as he entered the room.
He had been working in his study, knowing that after the meal, the conversations with Amelia would last for some hours, and the chances of getting any work done would be very small.
“Unless, of course, you consider my horseflesh inferior,” he jested.
“You know very well we have all been impressed with your mounts,” Matlock returned with a grin. “For Andrew, Richard, and William not to want their horses delivered and to be happy with what you have is a great compliment.”
Bennet inclined his head, acknowledging Matlock’s words. He turned to his cousin’s son. “William, you impressed Mr Pierce. He has recommended you as his replacement.”
“Thank you, Bennet. Caroline approves as she quite likes the neighbourhood and our neighbours,” William Collins responded.
“We had a tour of the parsonage, and we both agree it will be more than enough for us. In fact, I believe the house here is a little larger than the one in Hunsford. That is only important insofar as there will be room when, if, He blesses us with children.”
“In that case, the living is yours.” Bennet granted. “You will work with Pierce to learn what you must and agree on a date he will depart, will you not?”
“Thank you, Bennet, I will not let you or the parishioners down,” William Collins accepted gratefully. “Yes, I will coordinate with Mr Pierce.”
Even though the open windows in the room were facing the one side of the park, those within heard the sounds of multiple riders arriving at the stables and the voices to accompany them.
While the five who had returned from their ride went to wash and change, the two walkers entered the drawing room within moments of each other.
It was not long before those who had gone riding were changed and had joined those in the drawing room. Fitzwilliam was not the only hungry one.