Chapter 15 #2
“The letter I posted to you three days ago had some distressing news about your nephew, Miss de Bourgh’s betrothed. I wanted to ask if you had any concerns I might be able to assist with in this matter, your Ladyship,” Collins offered; certain she would be gratified at his solicitousness.
“What of my nephew Darcy? Why did you not mention this before your inane nonsense?” Lady Catherine barked.
“B-but y-your L-Ladyship, I told all in my letter.” Collins was fearful, for his venerated patroness was obviously angry and upset.
“I received no letter from you that mentioned my nephew! Now out with it man!” the great lady demanded. Her patience wearing thin with him this day.
“My wanton cousin has been distracting your future son-in-law with her arts and allurements, distracting him from your daughter, the very rose of Kent…” Collins was cut off by a blow from his patroness’ cane.
“WHAT IS THIS? You fool! And you are only telling me about this now? You are coming with me! We leave for Hertfordshire within the hour! Mrs. Jenkinson,” Lady Catherine called.
After a few minutes, Miss de Bourgh’s companion curtsied before her mistress.
“Have my daughter ready to travel. We are going to Hertfordshire to order my nephew to do his duty to me!”
As Mr. Collins scurried off to the parsonage to prepare, he realised he had just caused the opposite of what he wanted. His patroness was to travel to Longbourn, and there was naught he could do to stop it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet sent a note to ask Charlotte to join them at Longbourn as soon as it was convenient for her that morning. When Charlotte arrived, she saw all five Bennet sisters present, in addition to Gigi and Mariah.
“Charlotte, did you give our guest, Georgiana, some advice before we departed for the ball last night?” Bennet asked with a straight face.
“I did? To what does your question tend?” Charlotte asked, somewhat confused.
“It seems Georgiana followed your advice, and the Lydia who you see before you no longer need be locked in the nursery,” Bennet shared, while his four older daughters looked at the youngest Bennet with pride.
“Charlotte, it seems I need to welcome you to the family,” Lydia spoke in a calm, regulated manner, for perhaps the first time in years.
“Thank you, Lydia, I welcome your good wishes. Do you want to share what the epiphany was you had which caused us to gain the company of a ladylike young girl today?” Charlotte asked.
“Gigi and Kitty came to visit me in the nursery last night. As you know, no matter what any of you told me, I did not believe it to be the truth. I now know it was the truth you spoke about that seducer and thief with whom I thought myself in love, and I apologise for not listening as I should have.” Lydia had the decency to look embarrassed as she disclosed the next.
“I am aware now had I gifted that man my virtue as I had intended, he would have deserted me as soon as he received what he wanted. He has done thusly to many before me.” Lydia hung her head.
“We all err, Lydia. We should acknowledge our errors and not blame others for our choices. How we learn from our mistakes and even from those others commit is that which will define us as people,” Charlotte encouraged the youngest Bennet.
“Once Gigi told me about Ramsgate and the self-same words he used on her in an attempt to manipulate me, my eyes began to open. A little after Gigi’s revelation, Mariah joined us.
We made our bed on the floor for the four of us and talked until we fell asleep.
I realise Mama loved us, but she spoilt me, and as she never corrected or educated me, I learnt the wrong ways to behave around men.
It will take me time to learn, and I have told Papa I feel I need to go to school as I have a lot to catch up on to be the type of young lady I need to be.
The change may be slow and painful, and I may relapse into my former behaviour, but I desire to be better.
It is quite clear to me I need to be in school, as maturation is needed before I can be out,” Lydia stated with purpose.
“I could not be prouder of you were you my own daughter,” Charlotte praised as she enfolded Lydia in a hug.
With Bennet’s permission, Kitty, Georgiana, and Lydia would walk Mariah back to Lucas Lodge and then return, so long as they were accompanied by a footman and a maid.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The transfer of the lease to Mr. Darcy was the work of half an hour and the three men arrived at Longbourn before the Earl and Countess arrived.
They were shown into the drawing room where, for the first time, the Fitzwilliam brothers met the youngest Bennet.
On hearing Richard was a colonel, everyone else waited for her to start fawning over him, but Lydia surprised them all by merely asking about his regiment and where they had travelled.
Gigi was well pleased to see her brother and cousins.
She hugged all three then returned to her friends, sitting between Kitty and Lydia on a sofa and talking with them about their interests.
The three men looked at each other and then back at Gigi, struck with wonder as the girl they saw before them was the version before Ramsgate, mayhap even less shy than she had been then.
The Fitzwilliam parents arrived, and there was another round of welcomes.
It did not take long for Bennet and Lord Matlock, who had told Bennet to call him Matlock, to excuse themselves to play chess.
Lady Matlock, who asked to be called Lady Elaine, joined Charlotte to chat, and the three older Bennet sisters suggested a walk.
Darcy and his two cousins agreed a walk would be welcome, while the three younger girls demurred so they could stay and talk inside or pursue their hobbies.
As there were three couples, it was decided no additional chaperone was needed. “Should we walk to Oakham Mount? It is a warm day for November.” Elizabeth suggested.
“Out of the five of us, you Lizzy, are the only great walker. Could we not take turns around the park?” Jane proposed an alternative, which was accepted by all. They could walk separately in the park while still being visible to one another at all times.
Richard and Mary ended up sitting on the bench under the big willow where a swing was suspended from a branch. Jane and Andrew sat on the bench under a stand of poplars, while Elizabeth and Darcy walked circuits in the park.
“It must be something in the air at Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth.” Elizabeth looked at her walking partner with a question in her eyes. “Gigi is back to, if not beyond, where she was before—well you know before what. I am tired of mentioning the libertine’s name,” Darcy clarified.
“It seems her helping Lydia was cathartic for your sister. She is such a sweet girl,” Elizabeth stated.
“I find I must agree with you, but then I am biased as Gigi is my sister,” Darcy gave Elizabeth his first dimple-revealing smile, and the recipient of the smile had never seen him look so handsome.
Her heartbeat sped up significantly and caused her knees to weaken, so it was fortuitous that he offered her his arm.
“I see a massive coach coming down the drive,” Elizabeth pointed.
“There is need to apologise in advance, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy let out a groan. “You are about to meet the badly-behaved member of my family, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” Darcy winced.
The other two couples having noted the carriage as well, they all headed back towards the house, to the inevitable looming confrontation.