Chapter 18
Things progressed apace at Rosings Park.
The three cousins had a long and detailed interview with Mr. George Harrison, the steward.
It was clear to them he had never done anything dishonest intentionally, nor had he enriched himself while following Lady Catherine’s orders. Mr. Harrison was to keep his position.
Richard met with all his tenants who were overjoyed when the new master agreed to forgo two quarters’ rents to make up for unreasonably high rents the former mistress charged; thereafter, rents would be lowered by thirty percent.
When Richard authorised all needed repairs to his tenants’ dwellings, he earned their undying loyalty. Lady Catherine had always loathed spending money on such things.
Next, the three met with the parishioners of Hunsford to introduce the new master of Rosings Park and to inform them Mr. Collins would never again darken the door of the Hunsford Church.
The parishioners expressed their joy almost unanimously; not only had Collins been a bad pastor, but they also knew anything told to him in confidence was relayed to Lady Catherine.
When asked how well the curate was liked, a Mr. John Lennon, that response was uniform as well—he was loved and respected by the members of Hunsford Parish. When the three cousins talked to Mr. Lennon and discovered Collins only paid him but two pounds per month, they were disgusted anew.
As soon as Richard received word that Collins had been defrocked, he offered the living to Mr. Lennon, who accepted it gratefully.
The former curate was appreciative, as he was betrothed to a Miss Cynthia Powell from the village and had been unable to marry on the pittance he received from Mr. Collins.
The new parson achieving his heart’s desire caused Darcy to feel pangs and longings due being separated from Elizabeth.
He had never experienced such strong feelings in his life, but he was experiencing both while he assisted Richard.
After three weeks he and Andrew were feeling confident they would be able to depart for Hertfordshire within the next few days.
It was time to grab the bull by the horns.
Although he was not completely certain she had tender feelings for him, Darcy suspected Miss Elizabeth, Elizabeth, did have such feelings.
He hoped he was correct. She had been “Elizabeth” in his thoughts for some time now.
Rather than being timid, the time had come for him to declare himself.
He would offer her the option of a courtship or betrothal.
He prayed she would accept the latter, but even if it were the former, he would be overjoyed that she accepted either offer.
Andrew was no less keen to return to see his Bennet sister. He was developing tender feelings for Jane Bennet and hoped she thought of him favourably. He suspected she did, and when he and Darcy returned to the environs of Meryton, he intended to offer the lady a courtship, if she would accept it.
“Rich, do you see any reason why William and I cannot depart on the morrow?” Andrew asked after the three returned home from services at Hunsford.
There had been no open pews as there often were—many—when Mr. Collins held services, and some were obliged to stand in back.
Mr. Lennon was a dynamic speaker, and his singing voice was a pleasure to hear.
“I see no reason, and I plan to follow you two in a sennight or so. Lady Catherine has been quiet, and Anne is comfortable; I have a good idea what is going on around here. It will be good for me to be master on my own without you two to prop me up. I have learnt much from both of you and know you will return if I need you again,” Richard averred.
“Will Anne be well on her own here?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, the new doctor we hired, Mr. Richard Starkey, does not bleed her or ply her with the draughts the quack who used to attend her would. She will not be with us for as long as we would hope, but with Mr. Starkey’s care, I am confident it will be longer than it otherwise might have been.
Speaking of Mr. Starkey, did you know he, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Lennon were all born in the Liverpool area?
They never met before they came to Rosings Park, but it is a coincidence none the less.
Even stranger, Mr. Lennon tells me that Sir Paul McCartney, the Bishop of Kent, is from there as well.
” Richard paused and then quipped, “It is an infestation of Liverpudlians.”
The next Monday, the twenty-sixth of November, Andrew and Darcy farewelled Richard as they departed for London. They would overnight at Darcy House and depart for Netherfield Park at first light. Darcy planned to retrieve a ring from the safe in his study at Darcy House.
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“Aunt Elaine told me Andrew and my brother will be returning today,” Georgiana reported as she sat with Mrs. Bennet, the Bennet sisters, and their Aunt Mariah in Longbourn’s drawing room.
“What news is there of the Colonel, I mean Mr. Fitzwilliam,” Mary asked hopefully.
“According to my last letter from William, Richard will be leaving his estate within a fortnight, and he shared good news. Anne’s new doctor has helped her a great deal, and William reports she looks far healthier than when we saw her here,” Georgiana shared.
“How is Anne’s new companion, Mrs. Katheryn-Elizabeth Hudson?” Elizabeth asked.
“From what Lady Elaine told me, Anne’s companion is responsive to her and caters to her needs, unlike her predecessor,” Charlotte responded.
The four younger girls excused themselves to walk in the park, accompanied by Mrs. Annesley who arrived a few days earlier, after her daughter had delivered and both mother and daughter were doing well.
“Eliza, I saw the way you lit up when Gigi mentioned her brother. If I did not know better, I would say you are looking forward to that gentleman’s return,” Charlotte opined.
“I will not deny that I have missed him,” Elizabeth owned.
“A lot,” Jane added.
“You are a good one to talk, Miss Jane Bennet! I did not miss your looks when Viscount Hilldale was mentioned. I can read you, Jane, but there are many of those we know who find you inscrutable; I would wager most of them do. My recommendation to you is if you feel any inclination towards the Viscount, then allow him to see it. If your heart is not touched that is one thing, but I think that is not the case.” Charlotte looked at Jane and waited for her to cogitate.
“He is everything a man should be,” Jane acknowledged. “Unlike Mr. Bingley, he sees all of me and not only my looks. You are correct, Charlotte; I am not indifferent to him.”
“Mama always knows best,” Charlotte repeated the quip she had previously used on Eliza. It had the desired effect, as all three sisters smiled widely. “And you, Miss Mary?”
“What of me?” If Mary had thought she might escape any discussion of her feelings toward a certain gentleman, it was not to be.
“Mary! You know Charlotte is referring to Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam,” Elizbeth prompted.
“I would be lying if I tried to claim I was not interested in him, but why would he be interested in the plainest Bennet daughter? He is a wealthy estate owner now; he can have his pick of ladies from the Ton.” Mary looked down and away from everyone else.
Mary could still hear the words of derision spoken by her dead mother echoing in her head.
“Mary Eloise Bennet! You detest lying, do you not?” Charlotte asked sternly.
“I do,” Mary confirmed.
“Then why did you lie just now? You are anything but plain. You choose to wear spectacles you do not need; your hair is always in the most severe style you can make it; your dresses are drab. I know what your late mother used to tell you.” Mary looked at her feet.
“Look at me Mary, and you know if either Jane or Eliza disagrees with me, they will say so, do you not?” Mary lifted her head and nodded, for she knew Jane and Lizzy were always honest, sometimes to a fault.
“Mary, please listen to Charlotte. We have tried to tell you the same; mayhap you will listen this time,” Jane implored her middle sister.
“Please take off the spectacles, Mary.” Charlotte reached her hand out and Mary tentatively deposited the eyewear in her opened hand. “Now, try and tell me you need these,” Charlotte challenged.
“I do not,” Mary admitted softly, barely audible to the other three in the drawing room.
“Next, you will allow Sarah to start styling your hair; this is to begin as soon as we have completed our conversation.” Mary had no doubt it was the first, but not the last, order her new stepmother would be issuing to her.
“Although you try to hide it, you have a figure similar to Jane’s and are only a bit shorter.
Jane will help you select one or two dresses to wear until we have some more made for you.
” Charlotte turned to Jane. “Given Mary’s hair is Eliza’s colour, some lighter dresses will work, do you not think? ”
“I do,” Jane responded excitedly. “Mary, you have no idea how long, I, we,” Jane indicated Elizabeth, “have wanted to help you do this. You will allow us to help, will you not?”
Mary realised the days of hiding behind the persona she created to defend herself against the unkind words her mother used to direct at her were over.
It was time for the real Mary to emerge, and she hoped the man she was falling in love with would like her as she was, not as she had pretended to be.
“Yes, I would be very happy to accept your help.”
The three older sisters left the drawing room as excited as little children unleased on a confectionary for the first time. Charlotte smiled. She had a feeling even Mary would not recognise herself once her sisters and Sarah were done with her.
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