Chapter 21
As strange as it was that they were guests in their own home, the adult Hursts never showed any hints that they were the owners of Netherfield Park.
There was no surprise that the staff and servants were known to them because it was well known they had leased the estate after Arthur was born five years past. With Lady Matlock acting as the mistress, the housekeeper, who knew the Hursts owned the estate, did not come to them for answers.
It was also no surprise that Hilldale spent his days in Jane’s company, Fitzwilliam called on Lucas Lodge almost daily, and Ashby did no more than sleep in the dower house at Netherfield Park.
Although the denizens of the area had never associated with any titled persons other than Sir William and Lady Lucas, after an initial nervousness, when they saw for themselves that the Fitzwilliams did not hold themselves above those in the neighbourhood, everyone began to relax when they were in the company of the earl, the countess, or the viscount.
Notwithstanding some mothers wishing it was one of their daughters engaged to Lord Hilldale, no one begrudged Jane Bennet the good fortune of being the one he had chosen.
There was at first some excitement among the mothers and eligible daughters when they learned that Mr Ashby, who owned his own estate in Surrey, and Mr Fitzwilliam, Lord Matlock’s second son, were both single.
It soon became very evident that although unmarried, neither man was unattached.
These facts were confirmed when, by mid-July, Mr Ashby was engaged to Miss de Bourgh, and Mr Fitzwilliam was in an official courtship with their own Charlotte Lucas.
The latter couple made Eliza even more loved by Sir William and Lady Lucas.
If it had not been for her insistence that Charlotte join her in London to be presented, she would not have met the man who was now courting her.
As their daughter was five and twenty, they had thought her on the shelf, but thanks to Eliza’s intervention, she was on her way to being married.
The day Mr Fitzwilliam had come to obtain Sir William’s blessing for the courtship; the latter had bestowed it before the former had finished his request.
When Ashby approached Lord Matlock to ask for Anne’s hand in marriage, even though at four and twenty Anne did not need permission, Ashby was concerned the Earl would think he was more interested in Anne’s property and fortune than her person.
He had been worried for no reason. Matlock was not blind and knew a couple in love when he saw one.
It was easy for him to see as his marriage was a love match In addition, he was a very good friend of Ashby’s father.
As such, he knew the character of the man asking for Anne’s hand and that his estate earned more than seven thousand pounds per annum.
Hence, young Ashby was not in need of Anne’s wealth; he had more than enough of his own.
Add to that, Ashby had asked for Matlock’s permission and blessing even though Anne was of age. It had been easy to bestow both.
Anne and Ashby had not wanted to have their wedding detract from Jane and Hilldale’s wedding festivities, but they also did not want to wait until after October.
After consultation with the other couple, Anne’s wedding was set for the final Saturday in August. They decided on a small family affair at Rosings Park.
While Ashby wrote to his parents and his rector so the banns could be called in his home parish, Anne wrote to the parson serving Hunsford to do the same.
Old Mr Martin had informed Anne that he intended to retire after Easter 1810.
She was very pleased that Mr Martin would be the one to conduct her marriage ceremony—he had been the one to oversee her christening—but when it came time to seek a replacement for the living in her estate’s gift, she would have Ian at her side to assist her to chuse the right man.
It pleased Anne very much that the Bennets and Hursts would come to Rosings park a few days before the wedding to attend it. The only ones who would not be in attendance were William and Gigi, but Anne would see them at the wedding in October.
The date of Anne’s wedding was ideal because, on the Monday following the ceremony, Lord Matlock, Hilldale, and Hurst all planned to make their way north to be at their respective estates for the harvest. They, along with the two Darcys, would arrive in Hertfordshire by early October, long before the wedding and the pre-wedding ball Lady Matlock had decided she would plan.
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Elizabeth looked up as Mr Hill approached her with the salver in hand.
He bowed and proffered it to her. There was a missive on it and Elizabeth immediately recognised Gigi’s hand and the Darcy seal.
It had been almost a fortnight since she had written to her younger friend so she was hungry for news.
“Thank you, Hill,” Elizabeth sang as she removed the epistle. She broke the seal, opened the paper, and began to read.
7 August 1809
Pemberley
Lizzy,
I apologise that I did not respond to your letter sooner. I meant to but I have been accompanying Mrs Reynolds (our housekeeper) on tenant visits, and it tired me out quite a lot, but I enjoyed them.
William had the right of it when he told me that I would learn much from the visits and find them very fulfilling.
He is such a good brother. But it is not only that; if you ever come visit me here (I pray you will), you will see that, with very good reason, the servants and tenants all call him the best master and landlord.
While I am on the subject of William, he asked me to send his regards to all of our future cousins. He swears that he will best you in chess one day.
Elizabeth could not but smile. It seemed that she was not the only one thinking about the other, as she was in Mr Darcy’s thoughts as well. She found she liked that, but as she was only eighteen, she was not yet ready to discover what that meant. Her eyes went back to the letter.
Your stories about how your brother and Arthur Hurst play together were most amusing.
I can very easily see you joining in their games as the fearsome pirate queen.
It is very kind of your youngest sisters to spend time with little Tisha Hurst. Did you not tell me how your cousin May Gardiner and Tisha became playmates in London?
I am sure Miss Hurst will be very pleased when your Gardiner cousins arrive for the wedding.
I suppose the boys will be just as happy seeing that your cousin, Eddy, will be there to lead the younger boys in games.
I am sorry we will not be able to come to Anne’s wedding. However, with the amount of work William has set for himself and the upcoming harvest, it is understandable.
At least I will see you in early October. As you are aware, it is usually very difficult for me to meet new people, but I find I am in anticipation of meeting your 3 younger sisters. Thanks to my love of the pianoforte, I know if she will have me as one, I will want to be friends with Miss Mary.
Due to their closeness in age to me, I am sure that Misses Catherine and Lydia (especially the latter, who is but 3 months younger than me) and I will be the best of friends.
William mentioned that Richard is planning to propose to Miss Lucas before the ball.
(I know at 13 I am too young to attend, even just until supper.) Did you not mention she has a sister who is 14?
As we will all soon be cousins, I hope I meet her too.
Perhaps I should not have repeated that, about the proposal, that is.
Please do not mention it to anyone. If it is a surprise for Miss Lucas, I would hate to spoil it.
My French and Italian are improving apace. My French is so much better that I am able to read and translate French texts without too much trouble. Both my governess and William are pleased with my progress.
A sennight past we were at Snowhaven to visit our Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie. Brother insisted we should call on Aunt Catherine at the dower house. I used to be afraid to be in her company, but she is so different now, almost like a shell of her former self.
She no longer expresses opinions on every subject, does not make pronouncements, or attempts to direct anyone else’s life.
When William told her that Anne was to marry, Lady Catherine said she had a letter from her daughter and only wished her everything of the best for the future.
Not one word of her former insistence that Anne and William marry was mentioned.
It is almost like she received a great shock which changed her forever.
William told me that from what he can recall, Aunt Catherine’s change began after she came to Pemberley subsequent to our father being called home to God.
That is all the news I have for now. I am counting the days until we come to Hertfordshire prior to Andrew’s and your sister’s wedding.
Until I see you then, your friend,
Georgiana (Gigi) Darcy
Elizabeth also looked forward to when the Darcys would arrive. As much as she wanted to see Gigi and introduce her friend to her younger sisters, if she were honest with herself, she would own that she was even more keen to see Mr Darcy again.
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On the final day of August 1809, Mr Hector Martin, the same clergyman who had seen Anne de Bourgh grow from a babe into the lady she was this day, conducted her wedding ceremony at St Cuthbert’s church in Hunsford, where he had served as the rector for over forty years.
Now that he had seen his late patron’s daughter wed, he knew that his decision to retire after the upcoming Easter was the right one.
To see the woman the girl had become, glowing with both health and love, was a balm to the old clergyman’s soul.