Chapter 20
“Follow me, Jane!” Miss Elizabeth shouted from atop a fence rail. She was brave for a ten-year-old. Too brave. Miss Bennet, who Bill by now always thought of as ‘the duchess’ shook her head.
Mr Legget leant against a tree, playing with a knife. He spun it around his hand, in and out, over and over, like a ball on a string. His skill impressed Bill.
“Come down, Lizzy! It is not proper to climb in a dress, or even to climb at all! Heaven forbid you should fall and hurt yourself.” Her pleas were ignored by Miss Elizabeth, who instead jumped up and clapped her feet together, then expertly regained her footing. The duchess covered her mouth, her gasp escaping regardless.
Bill stepped out from behind the tree he had been standing behind. “Are you well?” Mr Legget grinned as he approached.
“Yes, Bill, just trying to manage my wayward sister.” The duchess turned to the girl up on the fence rail. “Lizzy?”
“I will come down only if you join me!”
She shook her head. “You promised me you would not do this again. A lady keeps her word.”
A rider called out. Mr Legget straightened. “That would be Master John,” said Bill.
Master John dismounted, handing Bill the reins. “Again, Miss Elizabeth?” He looked at the duchess and smiled. She laughed.
“Help me down again, Master John.”
“Shall I, Miss Bennet?” he asked.
“It would be a kindness.” She looked away.
Why did her face turn pink?Bill stepped forward; Mr Legget gripped his arm. “All is well, Bill,” he said.
Her smile was bright; Master John’s was as wide. Are they fond of each other?
Bennet,
First and foremost, accept glad tidings from me, my countess, and our children.
My stable master has informed me of his desire to attend to his daughter’s first confinement. I customarily make arrangements to fill the shortfall, but to my surprise, the man and his family shall travel to the Yorkshire Dales. The distance, the time of year, and the uncertainty of duration compel me to ask for your assistance.
You have lauded your ward’s skills in your stable. I want him to come to town and work our mews for the Season. I assure you a friendly welcome.
Should you agree, do not send him via the mail coach. Leverage your old bones into your carriage, accompanied by your ward, and spend a se’nnight at Matlock House. I shall entice you as none has before.
Angelo’s is holding an open tournament, and I have booked a private dressing room! I shall see whether Darcy is available; you may enquire about your Netherfield Park neighbour.
Clarke will inform me of your reply.
Prêt, my friend.
Matlock
The next day, Mrs Bennet went to the stable with a treat.
“Bill, come have some cake,” she called. After all that had been said and done, she found herself fond of their ward. She took an involuntary step back when a scarred mountain emerged from the shadows of the farm horse’s stall.
“Oh my, you startled me.”
“Pardon, mistress.”
“I came to thank you for watching over Jane. You have done well.”
“I owe her my life,” Bill rasped.
Mrs Bennet did not disagree. “Mr Bennet has a connexion in town that would benefit from your skill with the horses, I understand.”
“The master said Mr Legget shall watch over the Miss Bennets.”
“Yes, he will.” Mrs Bennet measured him with her eyes—boots to head and back down. She shook her head in disbelief. “Bill, let us measure you. You have grown immensely these past years.”
Bill stood a ladder up and holding it in place with one hand, placed his back against the gate frame. Mrs Bennet took three upward steps and marked the gate frame with chalk.
“There now. We shall have Mr Bennet determine what we have accomplished. Enjoy your cake.”
Walking away from the stable, Mrs Bennet mused over the change in the boy who had come to them. Why, he has become the largest man I have ever seen!
The Bennet carriage stopped at the rear of the grandest home in Mayfair. Bennet marked his page and closed his book; he had selfishly spent the past hours catching up on his reading as Bill was the perfect travelling companion—silent and compliant. He felt guilty, noting that his ward had failed to find a truly comfortable position throughout the five-hour journey—his long legs simply could not contort to the carriage dimensions. He had thought his wife had played a prank when she showed him the chalk mark on the stable doorframe. She had not.
Bennet exited the carriage and walked to the opposite side to see the under-butler, who greeted and informed him Lord and Lady Matlock awaited him in the small parlour.
“Thank you. I have brought your new master of the mews.”
“Excellent, sir. His lordship will be pleased.”
Footmen and stable hands crowded about him while they waited for their new colleague to exit the carriage. Bennet knew Bill had placed one boot on the ground because the carriage lifted several inches on one side.
“Hey, now!” shouted a nearby coachman.
The carriage then righted several inches higher; two large boots were visible through the drop stairs. As Bill moved cautiously around the back of the carriage, Bennet heard amazed utterances about the boy’s size.
The under-butler surprised Bennet. He walked up to Bill and welcomed him. “Horsley, fetch his things and set them in the...?” He looked to Bennet.
“Mews. Bill is most comfortable amongst the horses.”
“Excellent, sir.” He looked at the befuddled gathering. “Step to it, lads. Matlock hands do not dally, do they?”
“No, sir,” chorused the gathering cheerfully and got about their business. Bennet nodded at Bill, who smiled shyly, before he followed the Matlock House butler to his rooms.