Chapter 26
In London, Richard and Mary, accompanied by Lady Matlock and Charlotte, made the manager at Chippendale’s extremely pleased as the massive order to fabricate furniture in order to refurnish Rosing Park’s manor house was placed.
When the manager understood there would soon be another large order placed for Fitzwilliam House, he was doubly pleased.
As predicted, Mr. O’Rourke had expressed his interest in the position at Fitzwilliam House to be close to his wife and had been interviewed by Richard and Andrew.
Like his wife, he was more than qualified and was available to start immediately, as his former employer had dismissed him without a character when he had been honest in telling him he planned to interview for a different position to be closer to his wife.
The gentleman’s snit benefited Richard, who gained a butler without the need to wait for him to join his staff.
The day before the planned return to Longbourn and Netherfield, Charlotte accompanied Mary and Richard to Fitzwilliam House.
They were relieved to find it an empty shell.
As the house was considerably smaller than the one at Rosings Park, it did not take many hours to note what furniture would be needed for each room.
After making their lists, Richard and the two Bennet ladies sat with the O’Rourkes.
The housekeeper was effusive in her thanks for her husband’s employment.
After the recitation of the house’s needs, Mary and Richard gave the two senior staff their instructions for redecorating the whole house.
All of the dark wood panelling that made the house appear dreary and gloomy regardless of the time of day was to be replaced with light-coloured paper.
After they canvassed the redecorating, they moved on to staffing. Mary and Richard agreed to the numbers the housekeeper and butler proposed for their needs, adding a few additional maids and footmen to make sure there would be more than enough without overworking any servants.
The final subject they covered during this initial meeting was the servants’ accommodation.
As was expected, no refurbishment or repairs to the servants’ quarters had been undertaken in many years.
The couple authorised all needed work without delay.
Until it was complete, the O’Rourkes suggested that they only hire four maids and the same number of footmen, and they would fill out the numbers previously decided on once the work was finished.
“You have an extremely loyal couple in the O’Rourkes,” Charlotte opined on the carriage ride back to Darcy House after dropping the order for furniture at Chippendale’s.
“Promoting Mrs. O’Rourke to housekeeper ensured her loyalty; however, bringing her husband on as butler has them both determined to never disappoint and protect you at all costs. ”
“I would hate to be parted from Richard without true cause, and while I understand their circumstances, I was glad we could allow them this chance.” Mary smiled at Charlotte when Richard literally sat up taller, her explanation proving again she loved him without even having to say the words.
The next morning, the carriages departed for Hertfordshire.
The returning party were three less than when they came to Town because Lydia returned to school and the Earl and Countess remained in London.
One letter had been received from Lydia, and in it she expressed her enthusiastic approval of the school, and most especially of her new friend who shared a bed chamber with her, Miss Helen Jacobson of Surrey.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Towards the end of January, Elizabeth and Darcy departed from Seaview Cottage after three bliss filled weeks.
As the two sat on the forward-facing bench, comfortable in one another’s arms, Darcy fell asleep within minutes of their departure.
Elizabeth smiled, for she knew she would soon follow her husband’s example as it had been well past midnight before they found asleep most nights, regardless of how early they had retired for the night.
As she rested in the safety found only in the cocoon of his arms, she thought about how she had loved her stay in the area.
Her last thought before sleep claimed her was of the private beach and all they might share when the weather turned warmer and should nothing delay their return the coming June.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charlotte was fairly certain she was with child.
In the last few days she had started feeling tired in the middle of the day, where before she had never needed to rest. Wanting to be sure, she had not said anything to her Thomas.
If and when she missed her third set of courses, which were due in the next few days, she would let him know her suspicion, relieved there had been no sickness in the morning as of yet.
For his part, having seen his late wife with child five times, Bennet was well aware his wife was most probably in that state, but decided she would say something when she was ready, so he did not verbalise his thoughts.
Bennet’s thoughts drifted back to the previous night when they had finally admitted the truth of their feelings one for the other.
Bennet and Charlotte had finally climbed into bed close to eleven.
When they were lying in one another’s arms before succumbing to sleep, Charlotte had turned to look directly at him.
“Thomas, I have known something for some time now, something I never expected, but it has happened, nevertheless. I find I have fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with you,” Charlotte revealed.
“Hearing you say that makes me immeasurably happy, Charlotte. I too fell in love with you; and though it was wholly unanticipated, it is most welcome. I love you with all of my heart,” Bennet had informed his wife, who beamed with pleasure at his matching disclosure.
“I have been sure for over a month, but as I am known as being decidedly ‘non-romantic’, I was not sure how my disclosure would be received. Ours was a marriage formed from need, but it has become so much more,” Charlotte opined.
“It has been over a month for me as well. When I understood what a gem of the first order I had gained in marriage, how could I not fall in love with you?” Bennet asked rhetorically. “You joined my family and took charge of a number of situations, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.”
“It is the happiest I can recall being, Thomas. As much as you say I helped you, being a member of this family has given me purpose that was missing from my life.” Charlotte had averred.
“Let us not argue as to who has benefited the most and just accept the fact we love one another,” Bennet had proposed.
“You will receive no arguments from me husband; now love me please,” Charlotte had requested in a sultry voice.
Bennet felt a sense of pleasure as he remembered complying with his wife’s wishes more than once that night.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After breaking their journey for a few days at Darcy House, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy approached Netherfield Park the Monday before the double wedding. The Darcy coach was followed closely by the Matlock conveyance.
“What will you about the lease goes once its term is complete?” Elizabeth asked her husband.
“It is fortuitous you ask that very question Elizabeth,” Darcy replied as he hugged his wife close to his side.
“I received notice from our Uncle Phillips that the owner would like to sell the estate. What say you we acquire it? It is close to London and would mean there would always be place for us and our extended family when we visit Hertfordshire.”
“That is an excellent idea, William. I think it would be perfect. We would be able to stop here to and from Town each time we travel,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Then it shall be done, my love. I will contact Phillips to start the process,” Darcy told his beaming wife, capturing her lips before she could make further comment.
It was unsurprising to find neither Andrew nor Richard at Netherfield; Nichols informed the arriving family that the two were at Longbourn. The Darcys and the Matlocks agreed they would hie to Longbourn after washing and changing.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“William! Lizzy!” Georgiana squealed in her excitement when she spied her brother and new sister. Both smiled at her outburst as they were just as pleased to see her as she them. “Tell us all about your wedding trip,” she insisted innocently.
“Gigi, Lizzy and William have just arrived. What say you we give them some time before we demand to know how their honeymoon was,” Charlotte redirected the younger girl.
She nodded, seeing the thankful look Eliza sent her way.
“I am sure they will be happy to tell you about it when they have had a chance to relax.”
“William, I hope you do not object, but there will be a pre-wedding ball on Wednesday,” Richard informed his cousin.
“Of course we do not object,” Elizabeth responded before her husband could. “Is that not so, William?” Elizabeth arched her eyebrow at her husband.
“We could not be happier,” Darcy averred. The look on his face gave lie to his words. With Elizabeth’s help, he was far more sociable than he had been in the past, but he still did not love large crowds of unknown people.
After Charlotte served tea and refreshments, Elizabeth was inundated with questions about Seaview Cottage and her impressions of the sea.
Elizabeth told her sisters about the two times she and William had visited Brighton, and her impressions of the Regent’s pavilion.
The lack of a standard flying had indicated that his Highness was not in residence, but Elizabeth confessed what she could see from outside looked overly ostentatious and gaudy.
Gigi was satisfied to have her desire for information sated.