Vol 1, Chapter 3 #3
“Ah, the delectable Miss Jane Bennet. I will meet her again, mother. Before you say it, as far as I know her family has no great wealth or connections, but I have more than enough of both. She was delightful, not only in her outward appearance, but she seemed to be a genuinely good person, none of the fawning, primping, and preening that we see among the Ton,” Andrew informed his parents.
“As long as she is at least a gentleman’s daughter, son, we would support you if you were able to find her and convince her to give you a chance,” the Earl chuckled.
“If all else fails, after Twelfth Night I will ask Mr. Gardiner where she lives and seek her out.” Andrew, Lord Hilldale, was resolved to see if he would be able to win the heart of the only lady who had ever captured his interest. “What about William and Gigi?”
“William is staying in Hertfordshire and will collect Gigi by the end of the month for a quiet Christmas at Pemberley. He needs to build his strength to face the dragon in her lair at Easter,” the Countess said laughingly.
No one realised that Miss Georgiana Darcy had been about to enter the drawing room when she heard part of the conversation and decided to redirect herself to the music room rather than disturb those within.
“It is pleasing that my sister stays in her fiefdom of Rosings and does not sally forth to command the rest of us to bend to her will,” the Earl stated irreverently.
His sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was somewhat of a joke to the rest of the family.
Unfortunately for his nephew, William had committed to take on his later father’s duty and keep an eye on Rosings Park.
That meant that he had the misfortune of spending Easter with her and her sickly daughter, Anne.
His sister was still pushing the myth of a cradle betrothal, trying to guilt William into marrying Anne de Bourgh.
William knew from his father’s own mouth that no agreement had ever been forged, so he ignored his officious aunt as much as he was able.
The Earl watched the situation from afar but would only step in if his intervention was needed.
It was also common knowledge among the family that what was driving Lady Catherine’s insistence that William marry Anne was her belief that with Anne ensconced at Pemberley, she would be left alone to run Rosings, which in a few months would become Anne’s on her five and twentieth birthday in May.
“As William and Gigi have plans to go to Pemberley, I will respond to Sarah in the affirmative. Now, if my sons would settle down and give me some grandchildren, I would be set for life.” The Countess looked at her older son.
He was only eight and twenty, not that old for a man still to be in the unmarried state, but that did not stop his mother from dreaming of the future for both of her sons.
The Earl and Countess were working on a plan for their second son, Richard.
At six and twenty, he was one of the youngest colonels in the Royal Dragoons.
When Richard was shipped to the peninsula, he was a full Lieutenant.
He had distinguished himself greatly, first at Rolica in August of 1808, where he had saved a general’s life and was promoted to Captain.
Richard next saw action in December of the same year at Sahagún, where he led his men in a key victory that impressed General Wellesley, who gave him a field promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel, skipping over the rank of Major.
His last battle, before returning home with a serious shoulder injury, was in January 1809, the Battle of Corunna in Spain, commonly known as the Battle of Elvina.
Once again, Richard Fitzwilliam had distinguished himself with both bravery and tactical ability that led to him being promoted to full colonel.
He was currently on assignment training new Dragoon officers and men, so he was safe—for now.
His parents, however, were fully aware that when he was medically cleared, he would return to the Continent.
Hence the impetus to find an option that would give their son an occupation that did not involve placing his life in danger.
To that end, the Earl was negotiating to purchase the estate of Brookfield in Nottinghamshire.
The final living member of the Brookfield family was extremely ill, and the heir had his own large estate in Devon.
Not wanting to be like a vulture waiting to pick the meat of a carcass, the Earl had sent word to the heir that when he inherited, if he was interested in selling, he might consider contacting Lord Matlock.
The heir had responded, affirmatively, saying that at the appropriate time he would give Lord Matlock the right of first refusal.
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Bingley was infatuated with the blond angel he had danced with at the assembly.
She fit all of his criteria for beauty, so he was ready to fall in love with her.
He put out of his mind that she was the fifth in a long line of angels he had fallen in love with, certain that this was the only one who had ever truly mattered.
“Darcy, I am to ride to Longbourn to pay a visit on the Bennet family; will you not accompany me?” Bingley asked.
Darcy hesitated. He did want to see the beauty from the assembly that he had insulted with an untrue statement, but knowing how far below him the family was, he did not want to raise any expectations by calling on them.
“Sorry, my friend, but I have matters of business to which I must attend. Are you sure it is wise to call on them so soon?” Darcy asked, trying to steer his younger friend in a direction of his choosing as he normally did.
“Yes, Charles, why would you call on those country mushrooms who insulted me so infamously?” Miss Bingley asked, agreeing with Darcy as always. He could say that the sky was green, and she would agree.
“She is the most beautiful angel I have ever beheld and, as her father called on me, it is entirely prudent that I return the call.” Bingley sprang out of his chair and called for his horse.
Darcy, not wanting to be trapped in a drawing room with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, followed Bingley out and locked himself in his friend’s study.