Vol 1, Chapter 16
“Your Jane looks very happy with her suitor,” Lady Sarah said as she sat with Marie, Isabelle and her youngest, Priscilla, in her sitting room one morning a few days later.
“She is, Mama, and it was like my meeting Thomas, happenstance. Our carriage was disabled in just the right place, and I found the love of my life; Jane happened to be at the Gardiners one day when Andrew called. As far as I know, neither has declared love for the other, but I do not believe it will be too much longer. If things happen as Thomas and I believe they will, they will have a very felicitous marriage,” Priscilla opined.
“Cilla, is Charlotte Lucas not betrothed to that halfwit you described—the parson at Hunsford?” Lady Marie asked.
“She is, Marie, why do you ask?” Priscilla enquired.
“Because, sister dearest, have you not noted how much time Richard spends talking to her? Where you find one, you more than likely will find the other,” Lady Marie smiled widely.
“Neither Richard nor Charlotte would ever breach propriety!” Priscilla stated vehemently.
“I am not saying they have or will, merely that they seem to enjoy one another’s company. If Charlotte’s husband-to-be is half as bad as you and Thomas have described him, she will be in want of some sensible conversation,” Lady Marie clarified.
“Do not forget,” Lady Sarah reminded, “she will be subjected to Lady Catherine’s infinite wisdom. I hope for her sake she will be able to tolerate the attempted officious interference from the self-proclaimed great lady.”
“Did I hear Jane say that young man, Darcy, has finally apologised for slighting our Lizzy?” Lady Isabelle asked.
“Yes, Issy, that too is true.” Priscilla turned to her mother. “Has Lord Matlock told Papa of his taking his nephew to task, Mama?”
“Not yet, no, but I am sure I will hear all about it when we retire tonight as the older men are all spending the day in the library together. It must be nice to be young. I understand Charlotte and my grandchildren are on a ride with the Fitzwilliam brothers. It is too cold for my liking,” Lady Sarah admitted.
“Our husbands are with Papa and his group in the library,” Lady Marie shared. “A ride in this weather was not attractive to them either. Something about wisdom increasing as bones age.”
“The riders will not go too far or fast as Lilly and Eddy Gardiner are with them and they have not graduated from ponies yet. Everyone needs to be back at the house early so they will have time to prepare for Christmas Eve dinner. I understand from Maddie that her two eldest children will join us for the midnight service to welcome Christmas in the chapel tonight,” Priscilla stated.
“Come, daughters; let us go join the other ladies in the drawing room.” Lady Sarah rose and led her daughters out of her sitting room.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Just when there was nothing to be done about it, Charlotte Lucas finally found herself attracted to a man.
While she would not do anything to act on her preference.
She had no idea if the Colonel, Richard, had any tender feelings for her, but she was at last feeling what it was like to fall headlong into love.
She permitted herself this one chance she would have to experience love, albeit unrequited.
He was funny, highly intelligent, and well built.
In other words, everything that her soon-to-be husband was not.
Even if he harboured feelings for her, there was naught she could or would do about it.
Mayhap Elizabeth had been right; she had been too hasty to secure a husband when she had essentially proposed to Mr. Collins.
Charlotte would no sooner bring the shame of a broken betrothal on her parents, brothers, and sister than she would stop breathing.
For his part, Richard was conflicted. Everyone was aware that he enjoyed harmless flirting and that he was never serious about looking for a wife.
The possibility of being sent off to war had been all too real.
Thanks to the disclosure on the way to Broadhurst, he would soon be leaving the army.
Not only that, but he would have the six thousand clear per annum that Brookfield profited.
He had gone from poor second son to a highly eligible bachelor.
Like Andrew, Richard would never be able to feign interest in some society bride who cared more about seeing and being seen than the important things in life.
Just his luck to start losing his heart to a lady who was no longer available.
Worse, next time he saw her she would be Mrs. Collins, married to that buffoon to whom his aunt had awarded the Hunsford living.
“Have you noticed how compatible Richard and Charlotte are?” Jane asked as she rode alongside her suitor.
“It is new for me to see Richard being serious around a woman and not his usual playful and harmlessly flirting self. It is a pity the lady is already spoken for,” Andrew replied.
“To speak of a topic much closer to my heart, remind me to thank your grandmother for inviting us here this year. Before you revealed your connections to me, I thought I would not see you for weeks, until we returned to London. I prefer not spending so long a time separated from you, Jane.”
“I feel the same way about you, Andrew. I have already thanked my grandmama for her wise choice of friends to invite this year,” Jane smiled ethereally.
“When Mr. Gardiner was enumerating all of the reasons I should rethink my request to call on you, until I understood his purpose, I was worried you were already taken,” Andrew admitted.
“And I thought you would never consider me with my reported lack of wealth and connections. It pleases me that we were both wrong,” Jane said.
“Are you reconciled that our courtship will be known to the Ton when we return to London? There will be no more peace and quiet when we attend events. I know how much your family values its privacy and being unknown to the Ton,” Andrew asked.
“Yes, I am. We knew there would come a day when it would be hard to continue hiding from society after we began to court. My father is becoming used to the idea that his life will not be as peaceful as it was before.” Jane had been worried about the scrutiny her courting would place on her family’s future, but both of her parents had assured her that her happiness was worth that and more, and they could see Andrew made Jane happy.
“It is time to return,” Tom informed the group of riders. “Grandmama will not be impressed if we are not ready in time for Christmas Eve dinner.”
At that pronouncement, the riders dutifully turned their mounts and commenced the less than one-hour ride back to the stables.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Douglas, Pemberley’s butler, entered the master’s study. “Mr. Darcy, there is a carriage approaching the house.”
“Who could it be?” Darcy wondered aloud, for he was not expecting anyone. The Fitzwilliams were in Essex, and Lady Catherine rarely left Rosings. Travel as far as Derbyshire was almost unheard of, and certainly not in winter. “I will accompany you to the courtyard, Douglas.”
Darcy was standing just inside the front door when he identified the conveyance as it turned into the courtyard.
“What in tarnation is Bingley doing here? And with his sisters!” Darcy was beyond furious that his weak-willed friend had taken such a step.
“Douglas, get our burliest footmen out there, now. Besides Mr. Bingley, no one is to exit that carriage!” Douglas gave a short nod and quick bow, calling out to the three nearest footmen with their instructions and told them to inform the four men on duty in the courtyard of the same.
“What did I tell you, Charles; Mr. Darcy is waiting for us,” Miss Bingley crowed.
When the conveyance came to a halt, it was then that things started to go other than she expected.
Bingley stepped out and was about to hand his sister out when a burly footman closed the door on her, and five others positioned themselves so that there was no way for the occupants of the carriage to alight.
“What is the meaning of this?” Miss Bingley screeched. Bingley felt a sinking feeling in his stomach and realized that he might have well and truly erred. That realization was reinforced when he saw the thunderous look of fury on Darcy’s mien.
“Follow me, Mr. Bingley,” Darcy barked out.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Caroline, what have we done? Not only will Mr. Darcy not allow us in his house, but he will not allow us to set foot outside of the carriage,” Mrs. Hurst worried.
“He will once he hears his future wife is ill,” Miss Bingley asserted.
“Are you really that delusional? Rather than going to Scarborough from here, Bingley needs to drive you directly to Bedlam!” Hurst shocked his wife and sister.
He had known this was a fool’s errand, but he was willing to allow his wife’s and sister-in-law’s lies to play out.
He had hoped Bingley had finally found the gumption to check Caroline, but as soon as his anger cooled it was more of the same.
“What do you know? You are but a waste of space!” Miss Bingley responded with vitriol.
“I am not the one that lied to my brother to follow a delusion. You were the only one who was not able to see the hints that Darcy gave you. He did not desire you for anything. Even after you were told in no uncertain terms that even had your compromise succeeded, he would not offer for you, you gave free rein to your delusion rather than moving on as you said that evening when you thought me asleep!” As Hurst turned to his wife, she cringed, for she could not mistake his expression as anything but anger.
“Louisa, I am finally asserting my authority as your husband. We will hire a carriage in Lambton and join my family at Winsdale. Alone!” Hurst raised his hand to stay any objection from either sister.
“You cannot…” Miss Bingley tried to say, ignoring his warning look and his warding off.