Chapter Two #3
Elizabeth stared at them, her mind whirling to put the pieces together. “And your ailing aunt – you hope to… wait the situation out?”
“To put it delicately, yes. I love my aunt and bear her every proper respect and gratitude, but I understand her health will not long necessitate our secrecy.”
“I should wait forever,” Jane said sweetly, gazing at her lover with a degree of affection that Elizabeth had never before beheld in a husband or wife of her acquaintance. She was madly in love with him!
“And if your aunt miraculously recovers?”
“It is hardly likely, but in such an event I should pray that her joy at the extension of her life might lend her a newfound sense of romance, or at least mercy,” Mr. Churchill said, resting a hand on his heart as his other hand clasped Elizabeth’s. “I beg you would be a true friend to us.”
“Please, Lizzy,” Jane whispered, her look beseeching Elizabeth to agree.
Elizabeth could hardly refuse the woman who shared her every feature and would be twenty-one on the very same day as herself. “Of course, you may be assured of my discretion. I hope one day I shall be so lucky, and marry for love.”
Mr. Churchill laughed. “You have twenty thousand pounds and an estate in Hertfordshire, Miss Bennet; it will be no great endeavor for you to do as you please. When Jane and I are wed, I shall oblige you with an annual parade of handsome bachelors.”
Elizabeth sputtered with laughter and shook her head at him. “I hardly think all that is necessary; only one good man will do and I should prefer to stumble upon him myself.”
Jane chortled. “While walking in the rain, in need of a daring and romantic rescue?”
Mr. Churchill kissed Elizabeth’s hand and then pressed his lips to Jane’s forehead, caressing her cheek with heartwarming affection. “I should think myself the happiest, luckiest man in the world, were my aunt not expected imminently. But you are safe, and so is our secret; that is enough.”
The barouche came to a stop in the central courtyard of the manor, and Mr. Gresham came running toward them as Mr. Churchill opened the carriage door and began to help Jane alight.
Mr. Gresham helped Elizabeth, and when his friend swept Jane again into his arms, Mr. Gresham did likewise with Elizabeth.
She might have protested, but her legs still ached worse than any pain she had ever experienced.
The two gentlemen bore the ladies into the foyer, where half the house party had assembled to fuss and fret over them.
Lady Gresham called for hot baths to be made up in their bedrooms, and Miss Campbell loudly shouted her relief before swooning into Mr. Dixon’s arms. Chaos prevailed amongst the other guests, and then a sudden silence filled the foyer as a very severe looking old woman stalked into it.
Her waking stick clinking against the floor was the only sound until she spoke to Mr. Churchill.
“My nephew, what is the meaning of this?”
Mr. Churchill deposited Jane on her feet and bowed to his aunt, his expression sheepish but his posture proud and straight.
“Aunt Augusta! Welcome to Weymouth; I hope you are well. You have arrived at a moment of great upheaval, for two young ladies of our party went walking this morning, and were caught in a sudden squall. We formed a search party to recover them, and by the grace of God, they are safely returned.”
Mrs. Churchill fixed a steely gaze on Elizabeth, who was still in Mr. Gresham’s arms, and then she turned that imposing stare on Jane, who trembled – ostensibly from the chill of her wet clothing.
Jane made a queer face, and then sneezed.
Mrs. Churchill took a step back, looking as though Jane had just besmirched her honor.
“What a very foolish business! Lady Gresham, these foolish sisters are sure to take ill, and it is not to be borne! My constitution cannot abide any contagion; indeed, it places every guest in your home at peril! I trust you will take steps to rectify the problem in all haste.”
“I cannot send them away,” Lady Gresham said firmly. “Sir Duncan would consider it very ill-bred, and rightly so.” She glanced over at her husband with a look of retribution for his defense of the Campbells.
“Perhaps they may be sent to the dower house,” Sir Duncan said, waving his hand dismissively before taking up a newspaper from a side table and strolling out of the room.
“Excellent,” Lady Gresham agreed. “It may be a little dusty, for my late mother-in-law obliged me by departing this world shortly after my marriage. I shall have it cleaned while Miss Bennet and Miss Fairfax are given hot baths, and then they shall remove to the dower house with a small retinue of servants. Jerome, would you kindly send word for the physician to attend them there?”
“That would be most prudent,” Mrs. Churchill huffed.
“Young people never think of their health, until it is too late! But now I should like to return to my tea. Frank, you will accompany me; the viscount and his sister have been such delightful company while I awaited your appearance, and I am sure you shall agree that the honorable Miss Montrose is exceptionally lovely.”
Mr. Churchill agreed and followed the formidable harridan from the foyer, leaving Jane and Elizabeth to share a look of commiseration before they were sent to prepare for their banishment.