Chapter 56 Summer
“Mistress, a letter for you.” Walters held out a silver tray bearing a single letter. Elizabeth recognized Mr. Darcy's hand at once. She took it.
“Thank you, Walters.”
Breaking the seal, she unfolded the letter and began to read.
Elizabeth, dearest,
We arrived at Longbourn while it was still dark, and Mr. Collins was laid to rest in the family plot by ten o'clock that same morning. Your family and neighbors are much shocked, though they consider it a great mercy that Mr. Collins left two sons as his legacy.
Your Uncle Phillips says that Mr. Collins had five thousand pounds set by. Under the terms of his will, it all passes to your sister.
Should your sister wish it, I shall instruct my solicitor to invest it. It may serve as a portion for the younger son. By the time he reaches one and twenty, the sum will have increased considerably.
Send a letter conveying her wishes by the hand of one of my footmen to Grosvenor Square, and I shall make all the necessary arrangements before returning home.
I intend to spend two days here at Longbourn to rest the horses, after which we shall travel to London.
I must ensure that everything stands in readiness for Wickham's transportation to Australia later this month. I have other business to attend to as well, but I expect to return to you no later than the twenty-sixth of June. Have Walters send an express to London should you have need of me. Inform Georgiana that I am to interview an applicant for the position of her companion. The woman’s name is Mrs. Annesley, and if she is qualified, she shall return with me.
Your loving husband,
Fitzwilliam
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana.
“Fitzwilliam is to interview an applicant for the position of companion. He hopes to return on the twenty-sixth.”
She held the letter out to her sister-in-law, who accepted it eagerly. She and Kitty bent over the letter and read it in silence.
Walters entered the room once again. “Mr. Selkirk, mistress.”
The three women rose and curtsied.
“Mrs. Darcy, Miss Bennet, Miss Darcy.” He bowed graciously to each woman.
“Mr. Selkirk. Please have a seat. May I offer you tea?”
“Yes, thank you. I have been to Bakewell and came straight here.”
His brows had drawn together.
“Sir, is anything amiss?”
“No, ma’am. I apologize if I have alarmed you. I merely wished to inform your husband that Mr. Baker put down a rabid fox two days ago. The tenants said the animal ran openly in daylight. The man shot it when it charged both him and his horse.”
“Sir, did it bite anyone?”
“No, ma’am. No one was injured. They intend to set traps should any other wildlife exhibit signs of the madness.”
Kitty sat rigid. Her face had gone pale, and she had taken hold of Georgiana’s hand.
Selkirk hastened to apologize.
“Miss Bennet, I beg your pardon. I did not intend to frighten you.”
She inclined her head. “It is of no consequence, sir. I am certain we are all grateful for the information. We shall exercise greater caution when we go out to walk.”
“I am glad to hear that you are taking every precaution.” Addressing Elizabeth, he said, “Mrs. Darcy, you ought to have your gamekeeper survey the estate each day to ensure there are no other diseased animals. I am doing the same on my estate, and the other landowners with whom I spoke this morning intend to do likewise. We must eradicate this scourge as quickly as possible.”
The tea tray arrived, and Elizabeth poured.
“Mr. Selkirk, our gamekeeper, has been checking the traps, though he has not provided me with any reports. Mr. Darcy does not wish me to worry while he is away, but perhaps you might speak with him. Would you tell him what you learned and also inquire whether any other animals afflicted with the madness have been found on Pemberley land?”
“Of course, ma’am. I shall speak with him before I depart.”
“Kitty, will you ring the bell and ask Walters to send for the gamekeeper?” Then addressing Mr. Selkirk, she said, “Sir, you may meet with him in my husband's study.”
Kitty rose to do as she was asked, and Elizabeth noticed Mr. Selkirk's gaze follow her to the door. Did the gentleman find Kitty worthy of his notice?
And then, with an eye toward matchmaking, she said, “Sir, if you have no other plans this evening, would you join us for dinner? We have been very much alone without Mr. Darcy.”
His eyes brightened, and his smile held genuine pleasure.
“I should like that very much, ma’am. I am free this evening.”
“Thank you, sir. We sit down to dinner at seven. Is that convenient?”
“Yes, ma’am. I shall be here.”
“How does your bereaved sister fare, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Mary is well, sir. They had not yet been married a year, and much of that time was spent here with me, as she required additional care. She is more shocked than grieved at present. The loss still seems unreal to her, but caring for her twin boys has brought her comfort.”
His gaze shifted to Kitty.
“And how do you and Miss Kitty fare, ma’am?”
“Sir, he was not a near relation. Indeed, Kitty had never met him before he came to us here. She has not been greatly affected, and I knew him little better. Still, we remember him as our brother, though our acquaintance with him was brief.”
Walters entered the drawing room.
“Mrs. Darcy, I have shown Evans to the study as you instructed.”
Selkirk rose. “I will meet with him now. Mrs. Darcy, I will see myself out once I have finished speaking with the gamekeeper.”
“Thank you, sir. We shall look forward to your company at dinner.”
That night, as the three women climbed the stairs to their bedchambers, Kitty said, “Lizzy, I believe Mr. Selkirk spent a great deal of time looking at me.”
Elizabeth laughed. “He did, Kitty. I believe that gentleman may wish to become better acquainted with you.”
Georgiana took Kitty's hand, and both girls giggled.
“Lizzy, thank you for inviting him to dine with us. He is the handsomest man I have ever met, and if he truly has his eye upon me, I shall be forever grateful.”
Over the summer months, Mr. Selkirk spent a great deal of time at Pemberley for one reason or another.
At first, he worked with Mr. Darcy and several neighboring landowners to devise a plan for eradicating the rabies outbreak.
Three additional infected wild animals had been dispatched on nearby estates.
Once rabies no longer posed a threat, the gentleman came to discuss drainage concerns affecting the adjoining properties.
Then Mr. Darcy, seeing how matters stood, invited him to dine with the family twice each week.
The summer passed peacefully for the family.
One evening in mid-August, Elizabeth said, “Fitzwilliam, it appears to me that Mr. Selkirk has fallen in love with Kitty, but he has not offered for her.”
Darcy drew Elizabeth close, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“He has spoken to me, Elizabeth. He wishes to marry her, but because she is only seventeen, he has agreed to proceed slowly. He will continue his attentions in this informal manner for the next six months, and when she turns eighteen, he will be free to make her an offer of marriage. Does she not strike you as a trifle immature, dearest?”
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side and considered his words.
“What you say is true, but the death of our sister and then Mr. Collins awakened her to the sorrows and uncertainties of life. The care she has devoted to the twins has also helped her mature. Sir, I shall begin working with her starting tomorrow. We can begin with the household ledgers, and she may assist in planning the menus.”
She raised her face and kissed him.
“Fitzwilliam, Darling, you have a tempting mouth, especially that lower lip of yours.”
His low laugh rumbled in his chest. He kissed her more thoroughly, and when he drew back, she said, “Thank you for thinking of my sister, sir. I shall work with her so that, when he offers for her, she will make him a good wife and capably manage his household.”