Chapter 21 #2
“He just spent six weeks in his wife’s exclusive company, and the man is so besotted that he pines for her when she sits across the room,” Richard ribbed.
“Just you wait, Richard,” Andrew stated. “Do you think any of us have not noticed how you look at Cassie? You have been courting her since just after his wedding,” Andrew indicated William with his thumb, “so why have you not made your proposal yet?”
“Not that it is any of your concern,” Richard returned, “but I intend to ask her on the morrow. I received your father’s blessing today for a private interview,” Richard said, looking at Jamey.
“I suppose I will have to suffer two Fitzwilliams as brothers. Well, you are my brother already, Richard,” Jamey said with mock exasperation. “Just look after her!”
“I intend to. Before acquiring Brookfield, I never could look for a wife seriously, even with the legacy Uncle Robert left me. Cassie is perfect for me; she will never allow me to step out of line; she will be my commanding general!” Richard stated.
“You could have brought me a stallion from Glenbeg William; you know how much I admire the horseflesh there.” Richard was only half joking.
“If my sister-in-law is short-sighted enough to accept you, Richard, you may select a stallion for yourself and a horse for Cassie as a wedding present. You will only need to pay for shipping them home,” William allowed.
An hour or so later, people started to drift off to bed and, as was expected, the host and hostess were the final two to retire. They finally found sleep almost two hours later, after testing the strength of the bed frame in the master’s bedchamber.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the riding party returned from their morning ride, they spied two of the de Bourgh carriages pulling into the courtyard.
Karen Wickham told her hostess they had broken the previous night less than three hours south, as they had made sure the legs of the journey were short enough so Anne de Bourgh would have ample rest between the times she was required to spend in the coach.
Anne was looking better than any of her family could remember.
Only her tiring quickly reminded everyone that her time was limited.
Her body was weak, but she was at peace.
She was surrounded by people who loved her, and Rosings Park was once again a pleasurable place to live, something it had not been since her father’s murder.
After Wickham had washed and changed and while his wife remained with Anne, he met with some of the men in William’s study. “How are you getting on at Rosings Park, George?” William asked his friend.
“It is a process, but I am learning. It does not hurt that the steward is both competent and a good teacher. You know you are all invited for Easter? Anne would like to revive the tradition abandoned because no one desired to suffer her late mother’s machinations,” Wickham said.
“I am sure the invitation is buried in this mountain of correspondence,” William pointed to the prodigious pile of post, “I suppose I need to hire a new personal secretary.” He looked at Hurst with a grin, “My old one had the temerity to fall in love with my wife’s sister and become my brother!”
“Then allow me to assist by sorting through the candidates for the position, Your Gra…William. Sorry, old habits die hard.” Hurst looked a little chagrined as he had been reminded, more than once, that, as part of the family, he was to use their familiar names.
“That is a most welcome offer, Harold; I shall take you up on it,” William happily accepted. Then he turned to his childhood friend. “I am sure there will be no impediment to us joining you.” He turned to Holder. “Did you and Tommy select a steward?”
“We did. Tommy decided the under-steward from Holder Heights was the best fit. There was nothing wanting in the two from Pemberley; they too were strong candidates,” Holder informed William.
“Before I left Netherfield, the steward there mentioned he wishes to retire by the end of this year. I will speak to both and choose one for Netherfield. That will allow the new man several months with his predecessor before he retires,” William told the group.
That evening at dinner, toasts were drunk to Cassie and Richard who had become officially betrothed on receiving her father’s consent and blessing. Richard’s brothers-in-law made sure they pointed out his longing looks at his betrothed when she was not by his side.
The family enjoyed their time together, as would be expected in such a close-knit group. After a sennight, departures to their own homes began, the final group to depart being the Wickhams and Anne de Bourgh.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Less than a month later, the family reunited in Hertfordshire for the wedding of Charlotte Lucas to Charles Bingley. Between Longbourn, Netherfield, and Hurst Haven, there was more than enough room to accommodate all the guests.
Charlotte Lucas may not have been the comeliest of women, but on the day of her wedding, she was radiant.
There was no denying that Charlotte and her groom were deeply in love, for their union obviously had no financial motive.
She brought only five hundred pounds with her, and he was building up his funds once again; he saved and invested with Gardiner and Associates, rather than gambling.
Once Edward Gardiner had seen the genuine change his late friend’s son made to his life, he had no reservation about accepting him as an investor.
Bingley had struck up a friendship with George Wickham, which boded well for the time when Wickham would become Bingley’s patron. The proximity of the parsonage at Hunsford to Rosings Park was a plus for both women, given that Charlotte and Karen were already friends.
Unfortunately, Anne’s disease had progressed to the point where she no longer travelled; her family hoped she would still be at Rosings Park when they all came to visit for Easter.
The wedding went off smoothly, and, after a well-executed wedding breakfast at Lucas Lodge, the newlyweds departed for Hunsford.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After the wedding, Jane, Elizabeth, and Tommy were sitting in what was now Tommy’s study. “Are you looking forward to starting at Cambridge, Tommy?” Elizabeth asked.
“I am. It is time, and I will be following in father’s footsteps,” Tommy stated.
“As both you and Phillip will be at school, who will keep Parrot?” Jane enquired.
“Allie and Gigi have volunteered. He will live at Holder Heights, but before you take offense Lizzy, he did enjoy living in the conservatory at Pemberley,” Tommy replied.
“This is where I would sit to feel Papa’s presence when I was not reading Utopia,” Elizabeth patted her pocket.
Even as a duchess, she still made sure the copy her father gave her was on her person each day when she was dressed.
“I am happy that the new steward is confident in his ability to increase the estate’s yield, I only maintained it when I managed the estate,” Elizabeth stated in a subdued fashion.
“What twaddle, Lizzy!” Tommy insisted. “Without you, there would be nothing for me to inherit. You know full well the reason the yields are increasing is we have added land, thanks to your husband, and I will continue to purchase any that become available. Do you know the Gouldings are quitting Haye Park? They inherited a much larger estate in Surrey. Uncle James offered to purchase the estate, and they accepted his offer. The house will remain as a dower house, and the land will be annexed to Longbourn as soon as the sale is final, which is in a matter of days.”
“I too feel Papa here,” Jane shared, “but Mama too. You remember how much time they spent in this study together, do you not, Lizzy? You were too young to remember, Tommy.”
“You have the right of it, Jane, I forgot that. It is no wonder you can feel the strength of their love in here,” Elizabeth stated, as she looked around the room where she had spent so much time with her father, and countless more hours after his accident.
“That is why those two were never able to break you, Lizzy. Their hatred was not close to equalling the love we were brought up with, and which still resides in this house. They never had a chance!” Jane stated with exuberance.
“No matter what they called you, Lizzy, they are no longer here!” Tommy added. “We live, and always will, in a family surrounded by love.”
“Talking about love,” William stuck his head around the door, “are you ready to return to Netherfield, Elizabeth?” Elizabeth nodded.
The three siblings hugged in the love-filled study and then Elizabeth took her husband’s hand and walked with him towards the carriage. “Take me home to Netherfield and love me, William!” She instructed.
Her husband happily complied.