Chapter 27
The days passed pleasantly in Derbyshire. Morning horse rides, walks in the afternoon, and visits to Lambton to patronise the local shops filled the hours.
About five days in with this routine fully in place, the four ladies entered the haberdashery and started milling around for new ribbons and decorative buttons, when three other ladies entered the shop.
“Lady Anne,” the oldest of the three addressed the Darcy matriarch, “we did not know you had already returned from town. What a pleasure to see you again.”
“Mrs Buchanan, a pleasure to see you too, Madam.” Lady Anne said tersely, she seemed anything but pleased.
The two young ladies accompanying Mrs Buchanan immediately dropped to an elegant curtsy, “Lady Anne, Miss Darcy,” the two said in unison.
The young ladies were both beautiful and seemed as elegant as the Darcy ladies, but Elizabeth also noticed that the youngest one seemed to smile more freely while the older of the two turned crimson and looked down to her feet and refused to meet Lady’s Anne eyes.
Lady Anne turned to her guests and said, “Elizabeth, Charlotte, these are Mrs Buchanan and her daughters, Miss Julia and Miss Emma of White Oaks.”
Lady Anne’s voice seemed slightly strained, as if it required an extra effort to address and recognise her neighbours.
She then continued focusing her eyes on Elizabeth and Charlotte most decidedly, “and these are our very good friends from Hertfordshire, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn and Miss Charlotte Lucas of Lucas Lodge.”
“It is our pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas,” Mrs Buchanan said, “maybe Georgiana can bring the young ladies to White Oaks for an afternoon of tea and frivolities one of these days.”
“Yes, well…” Lady Anne stumbled, “William and Georgiana have them both busy. Miss Bennet is learning to ride and William is dedicating a lot of his time to show her the estate. I… ah… I do not believe a visit to White Oaks will be possible… at this time.”
Miss Julia’s head snapped up and she looked at Elizabeth with a new interest and a rather unpleasant expression.
However, the youngest Buchanan looped her arm with Georgiana and took her to the back of the shop, almost dragging her as Georgiana looked back at her mother, alarmed.
Lady Anne frowned, “well, we must get going, Georgiana come along.” She did not wait and her three companions had to scramble out of the shop to keep up with her.
Elizabeth and Charlotte dropped to a hurried curtsy and ran after their hostess who seemed most displeased with something.
They caught up with her as the footman was assisting her into the carriage.
They returned to Pemberley silently without having purchased a single ribbon.
***
Lady Anne retired to her room for most of the afternoon citing a sudden headache, while Georgiana, Elizabeth and Charlotte rang for tea in the drawing room.
Darcy joined them when the tea arrived; “Your shopping expedition did not last long,” Darcy said smiling, “are you disappointed with our meek offerings?”
Elizabeth and Charlotte looked at each other uncomfortably, “no, not at all, Mr Darcy.” Charlotte answered. “I believe your mother developed a headache and asked for us to return early. We will try another day.”
“Mother?” Darcy looked worried, “she never has headaches.” He rubbed his chin, “did something happen?”
“Well, yes and no.” Georgiana said reluctantly.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we were at the haberdashery when the Buchanan ladies arrived and approached us.”
Darcy paled, “all of the Buchanan ladies?”
“Yes,” said Georgiana carefully.
“What did they say to mother?”
“Nothing, mama simply introduced our friends and Mrs Buchanan suggested I bring Elizabeth and Miss Lucas to visit with them.”
Darcy looked furious, “the nerve,” he said under his breath.
He stood up and excused himself, “I beg your pardon, ladies, I must check on my mother.” He bowed and left the room immediately.
It was obvious that there was a secret and that involved the Buchanan ladies, or at least one of them and Elizabeth was prepared to wager that it involved Miss Julia, especially after the nasty glare she sent in Elizabeth’s direction.
“Mother,” Darcy entered his mother’s chambers. “Georgiana tells me the Buchanans accosted you at the shops in Lambton.”
“They did not accost us but they certainly made the most of a chance meeting. Mrs Buchanan greeted me loudly and invited Georgiana to spend an afternoon at their estate while Emma took her hand as if we are very intimate friends. All this, they made sure was witnessed by all the people who were present in the shop.”
“Did Miss Julia say anything?”
“No, but when I mentioned that you were busy showing the estate to Elizabeth, she turned a venomous look on her.”
“Do you think I should warn Miss Bennet? There might be more chance encounters and some that may not be by chance at all.”
“I do not think there is cause for that. But I almost wish that she would approach Elizabeth for I would like to see that snake being put down by a better lady.”
Darcy sighed.
“Do not wish it, Mother, Julia has proven that she has no morals and I fear for Miss Bennet’s safety.”
“Do not worry, William, Elizabeth will be safe, after all she never goes out alone.”
“Yes, you are right, Mother.” Darcy relaxed a little, “How is your headache?”
“I will be well, I was just surprised. It has been many years since I saw them last and the shock knocked me over.”
“Rest then, we will see you at dinner.” Darcy kissed her on the forehead and turned to leave the room.
“I thank you, son. And William?”
“Yes?” He said turning back.
“I love you.”
He smiled, “I know,” he kissed her cheek, “I know.”
A couple of days later, Lady Anne received her wish; unfortunately she was not able to witness it.
Georgiana and Elizabeth had ridden alone that morning, because Darcy had been occupied with his steward. They rode south to the border of their lands with the Buchanan’s. They rode slowly admiring the view, when another rider approached them, Miss Julia Buchanan!
“Georgiana, how nice to see you this morning,” She said insincerely, ignoring Elizabeth.
“Miss Buchanan.” Georgiana’s tone was exactly the same as her brother’s when he wanted to offend: cold.
Julia then turned to Elizabeth, “how do you like my horse, Miss Bennet?”
“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth frowned.
“Aurora was bought for me; therefore you are riding my horse.”
Elizabeth smiled, “ah, in that case I should ask, how do you feel seeing me riding your horse, Miss Buchanan?”
Julia glared.
“Please call her name,” said Elizabeth, “I would very much like to see if she will recognise your voice and accept this ownership you claim.”
Julia huffed, “I have not been allowed to build a relationship with her.”
“And why is that, Miss Buchanan?”
“You are not good enough for him.” Julia spat angrily.
“Him?” Elizabeth smirked.
Georgiana moved Lady Willow between them and spoke firmly at her neighbour, “please go away, you are in our lands, therefore you are trespassing.”
“Georgiana, I…”
“Please go away,” Georgiana repeated, “we are not friends Julia, not anymore.”
Julia nodded, “of course.” She turned her horse and departed slowly.
Elizabeth could not help but feel a bit sorry for the woman, who seemed defeated.
On the way home Elizabeth gathered her courage and asked Georgiana what the story was with the Buchanans. Georgiana simply shook her head sadly,
“I do not exactly know; all I know is that they were our best friends. Father attended Cambridge with Mr Buchanan while they were still young and unmarried. We have always been neighbours. But a few years back, something happened, I do not know what. And after that all connection with them seemed dissolved.”
“Tell me about them. What are they like, what are the young ladies’ prospects? How large is their estate and how nobly connected are they?”
“They do not have noble connections; in fact they are very much like your own family: a middle sized estate which was entailed away from the female line until Mrs Buchanan gave birth to a son only a few years ago. Like you, I do not believe that Julia and Emma have very large dowries.”
Elizabeth nodded, “they have been blessed with a son which is more than my parents were, so they are in a much better situation than we are.”
“Yes, I suppose.” Georgiana said distractedly.
“How old is the son?”
“About four or five years old, I think.”
Elizabeth frowned, “Four?”
“Yes or thereabouts.” Georgiana replied indifferently.
“Was he born here, in Derbyshire?”
“No, he was born in Scotland. Apparently they have a small satellite estate there.” Georgiana looked into the distance to the faraway peaks and said innocently, “in fact, he was born around the time that the friendship was severed.”
Elizabeth nodded but looked confounded at this story that raised so many questions; she hardly knew what to make of it.
“You mentioned when you were in Hertfordshire that your brother not only taught you and your cousins how to ride, but the two Miss Buchanans as well.”
“Yes, he did. As I said, we were inseparable. I think at one point everybody believed that my brother would marry Julia.”
“I wonder why he did not.” Elizabeth thought out loud.
Georgiana shook her head, “I do not know. After the summer when they returned from Scotland all changed between us. But mama asked me not to mention the Buchanans anymore and they never visited again. Last week was the first time we have even exchanged greetings.” Georgiana looked sad, “they were our best friends and I have no idea what could have happened to break up our friendship. I used to love Julia and Emma like sisters.”
“I am so sorry, Georgiana. All I can say is that whatever happened, your mother and brother must have been right in severing the friendship, for I have come to perceive them as very fair. They would not act in this way out of malice; they must have had a good reason.”
“Yes, I agree, but it does not make it any less sad.”
They returned to Pemberley slowly and their conversation continued about other neighbours from the area. Elizabeth asked no more questions about a certain beautiful young lady who looked at her with profound resentment.