Vol 1, Chapter 15
“Charlotte, it is so good to see you again.” Elizabeth welcomed her friend once she had greeted her parents, Esther, and Mark after the Bennet travel coach arrived at Broadhurst.
“Eliza, I have missed you ever since you absconded to go gallivanting around Town. With both you and Jane gone, there were few friends to visit,” Charlotte teased her dearest friend.
“I do not gallivant,” Elizabeth returned with mock effrontery.
“Has your betrothed been writing to you, Charlotte?” Elizabeth asked with a smile.
“Yes, I have heard much about the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but little about himself and my future home,” Charlotte replied hollowly.
“Do not be mawkish. After all, he is soon to be your husband, then you will be able to start pointing him in a better direction!” Elizabeth smiled knowingly.
“Will you stand up with me, Eliza? It will be a small ceremony without a wedding breakfast. He wants us to return to Hunsford as soon as may be so we may pay our respects to Lady Catherine before all else,” Charlotte beseeched her friend.
“What about Maria? Will she not be put out that you have asked me?” Elizabeth worried.
“You know that with over ten years between us I am more like a second mother to her. Also, knowing how close we are, it was she who suggested you,” Charlotte assured her friend.
“If that be the case, then it would be an honour and a pleasure to stand up with you, my friend,” Elizabeth accepted.
“How proceeds your courtship, Jane?” Charlotte turned to her other favourite Bennet sister.
“Well, I think,” Jane’s cheeks grew pink with her blush.
“When do we get to meet Lord Hilldale?” Charlotte prodded.
“The Fitzwilliams arrive Thursday. Have you set a date for your wedding yet?” Jane asked to move the focus from her courtship—for now. She had no doubt that Charlotte would interrogate her fully later.
“Yes, we will marry on Friday, the eleventh day of January. That will give me some time to recover after the return trip from Essex. My mother will make sure all is organised while I am here.” Charlotte realised one who she expected to see was not present. “I see Tom, but where is Robert?”
“His father had an accident on the estate—a minor one, but it has incapacitated him for some days, so Robert returned to assist with running of the estate until his father recuperates. He was to leave in time to arrive at Ashford Dale before Christmas Eve, so he will not return to Broadhurst,” Jane related.
“Eliza, your attitude toward a certain gentleman from Derbyshire seems to have softened somewhat, or am I reading too much into your letters?” Charlotte asked before they entered the manor house.
“You are not wrong, Charlotte; I will tell you more later. After you greet grandmama and grandpapa, Jane and I will show you to your chambers. They happen to be right next to ours!” Elizabeth took her friend’s arm as they made their way to the drawing room where their grandparents were welcoming the other four arriving Bennets.
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“Have you heard back from Sir Randolph yet, my love?” Lady Rose asked.
“I have, Rose. A letter arrived this morning, and you saved me having to seek you out to inform you,” the Duke replied lovingly.
“Are you going to tell me what he said?” his wife teased with a glint in her eye and the playful look he still loved to see even after all these years.
“He will send a letter to Thomas Bennet in mid-February requesting he and his wife come to London on an urgent matter that will impact his and his family’s future.
As things stand now, I would like us to leave Longfield Meadows by Monday, the eighteenth day of February.
The meeting will be set for the following Monday, so we will not have to push too far each day.
I think rather than the normal three to four days, with longer and more frequent stops, a Saturday arrival in Town is likely,” the Duke explained his intentions.
“In addition, I requested that Sir Randolph’s investigators prepare a report on the heir and his family, so we have some knowledge of them before the meeting. ”
“That sounds like a sound plan, Sed,” the Duchess agreed. “Did you send a letter to our distant cousins to notify them that there is a legitimate heir?” Lady Rose enquired.
“Yes, love, I wrote to the Regent and his mother. I made a suggestion to him about the defunct earldom of Meryton as well. I am waiting for a response,” her husband replied.
“What is it that you suggested, Sed?” She asked, listening intently and truly pleased with what her husband had proposed.
“If I could beg your indulgence, allow me to address a serious subject, my love.” The Duke took his wife’s hands gently in his, pre-emptively soothing her by rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs.
“As much as I would like to return to Longfield Meadows, my Rose, I believe when I leave it will be the last time I will see our estate. No, my love,” he placed his finger on his wife’s lips to stop the violent objection she was about to make then retook the hand he had relinquished.
“You know in your heart it is naught but the truth. Do not let me see my wife make my death much harder on herself by denying reality.”
“My promise to you notwithstanding, your leaving me will leave a hole in my heart that will never be able to be filled.” The Duchess could no longer hold back the tears that had been threatening each time she contemplated her beloved husband’s death.
“Remember, Rose, I am not leaving you. My time in the mortal world is coming to end, and not by my design. Please never forget, I will always be with you right here.” Lord Sed reached out and gently placed his hand over his wife’s heart.
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After an enjoyable evening filled with the convivial company of family, Charlotte, Jane, and Elizabeth met in the latter two ladies’ sitting room.
“I hope you will first ease my curiosity for how your opinion of the proud and disagreeable man that we met in Meryton changed, Eliza,” Charlotte opened the conversation.
“There are a number of reasons I have changed my opinion and am determined to see him anew. It started with my mother…” Elizabeth related her conversations with her mother, and, to a lesser extent, her father.
She told Charlotte that she now knew although his behaviour was not acceptable, Mr. Darcy had a valid reason for his pique at the assembly.
Even if her promise prevented her from disclosing the reason, she wanted to assure her friend of its existence.
She also pointed out the man was being chased relentlessly by Miss Bingley and her indecorous behaviour, which alone would cause any man to snap at someone without cause.
Then, without referring to the details contained in Darcy’s letter, Elizabeth informed Charlotte that he had apologised in writing and intended to do so in person as soon as he was in company with the Bennets again.
As he knew nothing about their wealth and connections, such an apology meant he was sincere.
“What precipitated this change of heart in Mr. Darcy?” Charlotte asked in genuine surprise.
“His family,” Jane replied. “The Viscount called him a horse’s, um, posterior.” Jane rolled her eyes at their amusement of her checking herself, for it was just the three of them. “He tried to warn Andrew off, claiming that I was a fortune hunter. Andrew took exception.” Jane smiled sweetly.
“He did not!” Charlotte tutted and both Bennet sisters nodded emphatically. “He apologised for his attempted interference?”
“Indeed he did, most sincerely. His failed high-handed interference with our courtship led to his uncle, the Earl of Matlock, taking him to task about this and many other misconceptions under which Mr. Darcy was living,” Jane stated.
“Does this mean I will not see a Jane or Eliza set down delivered to the man?” Charlotte asked, only half teasing. While Elizabeth would administer a set down more often, still not many times and all had been well-deserved, if Jane were spurred into action, it was a wondrous thing to see.
“Unless he deserves one, no, I am afraid not,” Elizabeth smiled at her friend.
“Your suitor and his family arrive the day after the morrow, Jane. I am looking forward to meeting the prince among men who was finally able to excite the interest of Miss Jane Bennet,” Charlotte teased a blushing Jane.
“Unlike the puppy who was evicted from Netherfield, Andrew sees me, not only my face. He is decisive and does not need others to make his decisions for him. Where Mr. Bingley is a boy, Andrew is all man,” Jane stated succinctly, leaving no doubt in Charlotte’s mind that her friend’s heart was deeply engaged.
She envied the Bennets that they had the freedom to accept a man of their choice.
Not for the first time, Charlotte wondered if she had been too hasty in securing Mr. Collins.
She was as sure as she could be that he was not a vicious man, but as she read each letter from her betrothed, she began to see the task of turning him away from his reverence of his patroness would be much harder than she originally thought.
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The next day, the Phillips, Westmores, and Holders arrived.
Lady Alicia Carrington arrival was highly anticipated by Esther as they were the same age and the closest of cousins.
Wes and Isabelle’s son and two daughters were spending the holidays with their spouses’ families, as were the two Carrington sons.
Lord and Lady Jersey shared for those who were unaware that they were on the cusp of becoming great-grandparents as the older of their son’s daughters was with child.