Chapter 11 A Most Memorable Party #3
Cassie related that, ever since he made the acquaintance of Miss Rowe, the niece and guest of Mr. Rowe, Noah had found an excuse to call upon the Rowe residence each day. To my knowledge, he had never been so charmed by a lady before. Might we have another wedding to attend soon?
Fitzwilliam and I had married in the beautiful sanctuary at St. James’s Church and spent our wedding night at Darcy House.
My aunt Gardiner had counselled me on what to expect in the marital bed and answered my questions with unflinching frankness.
Still, that first night had proved to be a bit awkward, with Fitzwilliam wary of causing me pain and my apprehension of disappointing him rendering me hesitant and shy.
But after a few days and several candid conversations, we dispensed with such trifling concerns.
Now, we spent our intimate moments generating a wondrous degree of mutual pleasure.
As for Pemberley, I could not be more delighted with my new home and the many entrancing aspects of nature around us, including the green rolling hills, River Derwent, moors, sandstone formations, and the limestone plateau.
My husband had never caused me to doubt his profound affection for me.
I could almost compare his love to a living entity—one that fortified and shielded me like an impenetrable suit of armour from all who would attack me.
And I had been subjected to no more than two or three hostile encounters.
The vigour of his aunt Lady Catherine’s animosity, though, gave me pause.
A week before our wedding, she had appeared at my uncle Gardiner’s house and made a deplorable attempt to persuade me to jilt Fitzwilliam. Needless to say, she left dissatisfied.
Fitzwilliam had apologised on her behalf and informed Lady Catherine that she would not be welcome at either of our homes until she had repented to my satisfaction; yet no attempt at her atonement had been forthcoming, and Fitzwilliam disclosed he found the estrangement from her to be closer to a blessing than a punishment.
Thus, I had no room for complaints. Despite my nervousness at meeting my husband’s uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Matlock, they treated me with perfect civility, if not cordiality. As for the other Fitzwilliams, Lord and Lady Berkeley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, I found them to be charming.
Dearest Georgiana had become a true sister to me.
She had confided her disinclination to make her debut, although it would not occur until two years hence.
Like her brother, she disliked having public attention upon her.
Before her eighteenth birthday, I should make every effort to allay her fears and increase her self-confidence.
A familiar set of footfalls disrupted my rumination, and my husband appeared in the doorway. “Elizabeth, is this an agreeable time to talk?”
“Indeed, it is.” He appeared sedate, but not dour, so I maintained a sanguine air as we took seats upon the sofa.
He threaded his fingers through mine and rested our entwined hands upon his thigh. “Bingley has written to me with unfortunate tidings. Your cousin Mr. Collins has expired from a severe illness. He had obtained a minor laceration on his wrist that developed a lethal infection.”
For a moment, I weighed the appropriate amount of bleakness for a distant relation not of my acquaintance. “Oh, that is sad news.”
“My friend has renewed his invitation for us to stay at Netherfield Park.”
“Are you of a mind to accept?” During our sojourn in town, I had made the acquaintance of the amiable Mr. Bingley, his two arrogant sisters, and his rather boorish brother-in-law.
At our wedding feast, Mr. Bingley had asked whether we might spend a few weeks at his leased estate before we travelled north.
He had not quite concealed his disappointment when Fitzwilliam recounted our plan to go directly to Pemberley.
“If you agreed, I thought we might leave for Hertfordshire tomorrow and stay at Netherfield for a time. We could take the opportunity to pay our respects to Mrs. Collins.”
The lady’s mother-in-law had died from apoplexy this past January.
My cousin and his wife had not been blessed with children, so Mrs. Collins had been left alone in the house.
“Yes, we ought to go. I should be glad to see Longbourn. Besides, Mr. Bingley is eager to have us as his guests, and for his sake, we can tolerate his sisters.”
A smile lightened his aspect. “I agree. And we need only sustain Miss Bingley, for Mr. and Mrs. Hurst are staying with a friend in Norwich.”
“Ah, that does sound better. Shall we take Lily and Regal?”
“No, it is a long distance for a relatively short stay. Lily will be content with Robert giving her daily attention.”
“Yes, I dare say you are correct.” I bit my lower lip.
During our first week at the estate, Lily had formed an attachment to her new groom, Robert.
I could almost be jealous of their bond.
Of course, thanks to him, I could leave Lily at home without concern for her wellbeing. “Will Georgiana come with us?”
“I shall ask her, but I believe she will prefer to remain here. She is almost as uneasy in Miss Bingley’s company as she is with Lady Catherine. She cannot abide the lady’s insincerity and peculiar attention.”
My eyebrow inched upwards. “Whereas you are inured to such adulation.” I had witnessed that treatment of him, and myself by association, by people of all classes on enough occasions in town.
He wrinkled his nose. “Yes, I suppose that is true.”