Chapter 16 #2
“You are with me, and we are walking the grounds of Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire. I will not judge you if you talk to me in anger, sadness, or joy.”
“Already you prove my friend. While my cousin kept the marriage contract, I have a copy of the annulment papers our uncle also prepared. I always knew there would come a day when they were needed. I will not ask him to keep to our ruse now that Darcy is betrothed.”
“I understand your logic, but do you not think this best discussed with your husband?”
“I love Richard as much as I am capable of loving anyone, though I cannot claim to know more than three people well enough to like or dislike them. I will not, rather cannot, stand in the way of his happiness. If ever he falls in love, I will have those annulment papers signed and filed. Uncle Saul will marry him to the wife he deserves in the same expedient manner he did us, I am certain.”
“I believe you have quite mapped out our lives. He is to have a new wife, and I am to live as an independent spinster,” Charlotte said, taking no pains to mask her pedantic tone.
Anne laughed softly, for Charlotte’s succinct summary had merit.
“Do say you will agree to come to Rosings Park with me. Help me keep my mother from giving dangerous advice. She would have continued to confine me if not for Richard’s interference.
I fear a tenant might follow her direction against the threat of being thrown off the estate.
Yes, the charges are great. Darcy never counters her and ignores my concerns in favor of not causing a scene. Nothing is worse to him than a scene.”
“If I choose to stay with you at Rosings Park, it will be with the expectation of spending many years with my friend Anne de Bourgh. If I agree, it will be because her well-being matters to me. And only then, if your husband, cousin, and friend, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, also agrees. Know I wish you a happy marriage these many years to come.”
Inexplicably, to Anne at least, those very words caused a fissure in Anne’s chest. A moment later, she was sobbing in Charlotte’s arms. Anne found the greatest comfort when Charlotte whispered soothing words.
They were startled when Richard’s strong arms wrapped around them both, enveloping them in his subtle cinnamon and clove scent. Anne appreciated that he held them until her tears stopped flowing down her cheeks.
“I love you, Anne.” Fitzwilliam kissed the top of Anne’s head.
“I know. I have always known,” Anne said, pulling back, but holding their arms so they were forced to stay connected.
“Anne, please,” Charlotte whispered.
“I apologize, Miss Lucas,” Fitzwilliam said, stepping to Anne’s side.
“There is no need, sir. You are caring for Miss de Bourgh…Mrs. Fitzwilliam…Anne.”
Anne tucked into Richard’s chest, giggling, because Charlotte gave up trying to decide what to call her, settling on Anne, as she had suggested at the outset of their walk.
“Anne,” the colonel’s voice changed to his gentlest of tones.
He looked down at her with a careful smile.
“My parents, Ana, and I followed your good example in partaking of an early afternoon walk in the gardens soon after you requested your friend join you. They overheard your conversation with Miss Lucas.”
“Do not ask me to thank them for their abandonments or lie by saying no harm came of it, Richard.”
“I would never do you such disservice. But Ana always wished to spend more time with you.”
“I have not for a day thought otherwise.”
Anne held her hand out to Georgiana, who burst into tears. Georgiana flew into her arms. Fitzwilliam then handed each a handkerchief to dry their tears.
“Thank you,” Georgiana sniffled. “I knew equal loneliness. Had you explained, even some of this, I would not have spent these last years believing you wanted nothing to do with me. Forgive me. I was so much younger and foolish.”
When Charlotte gently rubbed Georgiana’s back, Anne understood why the Miss Bennets loved the lady dearly.
“Oh, what a muddle we make of our lives without being open with those we love,” Anne said, wiping her tears, then Georgiana’s.
“I would never let my mother interfere with your life, my darling. You are so much more accomplished at sixteen than I was ever allowed to become. You have had masters and your studies. I was a trophy in my mother’s drawing room, an accomplishment she had worked hard to achieve.
That was all she saw me as, allowing me none of my interests.
You, too, would have been stifled at Rosings.
Your letters sharing your studies were food for my very soul. ”
“It explains the exceedingly polite replies since we brought you to London. I regret not battling Catherine more for you to have all the same benefits of other young ladies your age, Anne,” Lady Matlock said, then walked closer, also crying.
She saw in the way Anne flinched from her touch that she had failed her niece in a way she had not considered nor intended.
What no one expected was Georgiana’s reaction.
“For years, you have promised all was well with Anne. I now learn that neither of you knows that her favorite cake is lemon, and that she prefers her tea unsweetened because of the generous amounts of honey used to mask the taste of unnecessary medicines. My brother explained to you the lengths Lady Catherine goes to so Anne cannot claim her inheritance. You never took the trouble to check my aunt, so that Anne could know me at all. How dare you not intervene when you knew she was hurting Anne?”
“Richard protected me, dearest,” Anne said, lifting Georgiana’s face and turning it so her young cousin focused on her and their cousin.
“Do you really believe I would allow Anne to suffer without intervention?” Fitzwilliam scowled deeply, causing Georgiana’s countenance to brighten.
“Yes, you are the greatest of men and a hero every lady dreams of,” Anne said, looking at him appreciatively, though she teased him for their young cousin’s enjoyment.
“I will send our uncle the paperwork for the annulment today. I prefer it never becomes known to avoid causing you any shame or disgrace to the family.”
“No, Anne. Without reference to anyone else, I ask that you wait until there is cause, need, or reason,” Fitzwilliam said between them.
“Give it some time, think about what it is you need. Then, we will discuss what we both wish when I next visit Rosings. Having finally returned, I am happy to stand with you against your mother in whatever capacity you require.”
“You are beholden to none. You are quite rich,” Anne said in her exasperation.
“Let us go inside. I believe it will soon rain,” Fitzwilliam said, glancing up at the darkening skies.
Anne saw Charlotte had adeptly sidestepped when Fitzwilliam offered his arms out to her and Georgiana. She saw Charlotte’s surprise when Lord Matlock offered his arm to her, though he had so far been cordial, even affable, in his conversations with her.
“You show yourself to be an excellent friend to those I love. I thank you, Miss Lucas,” Lady Matlock said, dabbing her eyes.
The earl added, “We will find a way to make amends, my dear. I will ask Richard how we might begin.”
Lady Matlock said, “I am heartily ashamed of myself, husband. Let me feel the weight of my actions or, in this case, inaction. Perhaps they will allow us back into their lives, should we demonstrate unreserved support of whatever they decide.”
“Anne so hated the idea of being forced to marry Darcy that she gave our son everything for some form of protection,” the earl said.
“Because he was the one person who took her part after her father died. How are we to make up for our neglect?”
Anne heard the regret in her aunt’s voice, but it did not mean she was willing, at this time, to forgive either, so that they could know relief from their guilt. Looking up at her husband, she could see he hoped she would. And she might—one day.
“We will ask Anne and Richard what they might hope from us, Rebecca. Keep a courier who is always ready to ride to Town at Rosings in case Anne requires aid,” Lord Matlock said loud enough that Anne heard him.
“If Anne wishes, you will help them move your sister to the dower house, will you not?”
“If it is what Anne wishes, of course. And I think Miss Lucas will not quiver in the face of Catherine’s ire during the occasional visit to see her.”
“I know it seemed as if I had great courage yesterday, but ‘twas fear that guided me, my lord,” said Charlotte.
“Richard would say the same. The other magistrate is like to finish his inquiry with the runner today. Once you are in Kent, I am certain you can manage the dragon who is my sister with the same fortitude you do villains. Though I admit, at times, Catherine’s bite is more frightening than her bark.
Perhaps, now that she has had time to come to terms with Darcy’s letter, she will be more accepting of Anne’s wishes. ”
In the end, it was determined that the earl and the countess would escort Anne and her friend Charlotte to Rosings Park.
Lord Matlock would install a courier at Rosings to make certain any missives from Anne or Charlotte would not be waylaid or tampered with.
Charlotte, too, agreed to help Anne learn how to manage her estate.
Fitzwilliam spoke of his intention to take a position that would keep him on English shores. He looked at Anne when he said he had no wish to be far from Rosings Park or Georgiana.
During this discussion, Darcy and Bingley returned. They learnt of the morning’s revelations and of Anne’s marriage to Richard. Anne learned that Richard had told Darcy of their marriage over whiskey in the study shortly after Sir William had departed.
Darcy was distressed by his sister’s resentment on this day when he was the happiest he had ever known. Fitzwilliam’s explanation of the neglect and worry Anne had suffered set Darcy on his heels.
Fitzwilliam reminded all that it was the earl’s duty, as head of the family, to check on his relations and make certain all were well.
The earl’s oft-heard certainty of his sister managing things as expected had become tiresome.
The few times he had visited Anne were to placate his sister and avoid a scene.
Darcy’s request that Lady Matlock take the soon-to-be Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Bingley to London was a favorable turn of conversation. The countess said it would be her every pleasure to be joined by all of the ladies of Lucas Lodge and Longbourn for this shopping adventure.
Lady Matlock applauded the plan of the men to bestow on their betrothed the same allowance they would receive once married.
However, Lord Matlock demanded that all bills be directed to him.
Anne had to admire her aunt’s avoidance of a kerfuffle by saying she would have all the bills forwarded to her so they could be sorted.
She did not doubt but that Lord Matlock would have a very large stack of bills to pay.
“Charlotte, I suggest we both purchase new wardrobes. I will no longer live as a recluse in Kent. We will have masters, and we will remain as occupied as we like every day,” Anne said.
“Might I come and stay with you and Miss Lucas, Anne?” asked Georgiana.
“Once my mother accepts her place in the dower house, you will find me not wishing you ever to leave. Allow us some time to make certain she is settled. No one should suffer her vitriol.”
“When we ladies return to Meryton, perhaps our host will allow me to throw a ball the likes of which Hertfordshire has never seen,” Lady Matlock said in a voice all of the men in the room knew meant she was not to be denied.
“As you like, Your Ladyship,” said Bingley.
“If I might make another suggestion?” asked Charlotte.
“Anne, Aunt Rebecca? Take note of this expression. It is a sure sign Miss Lucas is scheming, and you do not want to be left out,” Georgiana said, laughing at her wit.
“It so happens we know two ladies who would be enthusiastic in aiding the planning of a ball. Three, actually. My mother and Mrs. Bennet will be disheartened not to be included in the London excursion but will be in ecstasy if tasked to help with the ball. And there is Mrs. Bennet’s sister to consider.
The three of them will keep the men occupied with endless demands and requests for opinions and preferences. ”
“I shall escort the ladies Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Bennet, and Lucas to and from Town since I am required to visit the war offices. You gentlemen enjoy planning the ball,” Fitzwilliam said, quite satisfied with being the first to espouse a viable reason to miss said planning.
“I am certain this will please, Jane. She feared hurting her mother’s feelings but preferred the aid of her aunt in choosing her trousseau.
If it pleases Jane so that she might make her own selections and choices, I am happy to be at Mrs. Bennet’s disposal whilst you are gone,” Bingley said, toasting Charlotte with his tea.
“And now I will be the black sheep of the family if I do not do the same, though we have not yet married any of Mrs. Bennet’s daughters. I must say, you already prove to be an annoying brother-in-law,” Darcy said, scowling at Bingley.
“There, that is all decided,” Lady Matlock said, sitting back with her tea.
She felt content with how things seemed to be coming about.
“I shall send a letter requesting the Bennet and Lucas families join us here tomorrow night to dine so that we might discuss with them these intentions. Those of us going to Town will start the following morning.”
“Today, Ana, we will speak to the cook about beginning the white soup,” Charlotte said, gesturing to Georgiana.
For her part, Anne was happy to sit between Richard and Georgiana, listening to others’ discussions. It was ever so different than her mother’s constant opinions, demands, and expectations.