Vol 2, Chapter 3 #3
Knowing that, Charlotte made a decision.
She had approached a man once, and although he was not a bad man, they had been as incompatible as two people could ever be.
This time she knew that she loved the man and was as sure as she could be, without any verbal declaration, that her love was returned.
She would not engineer a proposal like she had with her late husband.
However, before she and Richard went their separate ways, she would make sure he knew how she felt. After that, it would be up to him.
Charlotte thought it was providence that the two traits she found most distasteful in her husband—his sycophantic veneration of Lady Catherine and his eating habits—in the end were the keys to her freedom.
She had thought she would have a lifetime to regret her hasty decision to marry Mr. Collins, but she had been rewarded with clemency as she had had just two months to regret.
“Do we need to dye any of your dresses black, Charlotte?” Elizabeth asked as the two friends walked toward the manor house arm-in-arm. Elizabeth hugged Charlotte’s arm tighter as she and Jane knew the truth.
“I suppose I should, although I will only be in deep mourning for a month,” Charlotte replied thoughtfully.
“Was it so very bad, being married to him?” Elizabeth asked.
“He was never vicious, but it was almost as if I was a parent directing a child rather than a wife to a husband. We had nothing in common, but I did learn one valuable lesson from my short marriage to him,” Charlotte informed her friend.
Elizabeth stopped walking, causing Charlotte to do the same. “What did you learn?” she wanted to know.
“You remember how I always vociferously argued against your and Jane’s notions of matrimony and how to select a partner for life?
” Charlotte asked as Elizabeth nodded. “You heard my opinions on the subject more times than you cared to, but I now realise you and Jane had the right of it. I was the one who was wrong!” She owned.
“What a hard way to learn the lesson, Charlotte. However, if I am not mistaken, the love you and Richard share will be an even greater treasure for you both.” Elizabeth smiled.
The two recommenced their walk toward the house with Charlotte blushing. “Yes Eliza, I am still in love with Richard.” Charlotte revelled in the verbal confirmation from her friend that Richard loved her.
“What will you do about it? He returns your feelings, but he will not allow himself to approach you yet,” Elizabeth said.
Charlotte told her friend of her intentions, which Elizabeth felt was a solid plan of action. They both blushed in pleasure when they found Darcy and Richard waiting for them under the portico to make sure that they arrived safely. “Has everything you wanted to keep been packed?” Richard asked.
“Yes, thank you,” Elizabeth responded for both of them.
“I noticed the cart arrive some minutes ago,” Darcy informed them.
“Before I forget, and I was remiss not to tell you this when I made my apology to you in person Elizabeth, when I have the chance, I will ride to Meryton and make my apologies to all in the neighbourhood to whom I was rude and dismissive, starting with your father, Mrs. Collins.”
“Please do not address me with that name Mr. Darcy. Please address me as Charlotte, as I have no desire to be reminded of the folly that was my marriage,” Charlotte requested, all the while looking at Richard as she spoke.
“In that case, Charlotte, please call me William,” Darcy gave her a half bow.
“My father and our neighbours will appreciate your willingness to show true contrition to those you were reputed to consider so far below your station, William,” Charlotte opined.
“I cannot but agree with Charlotte’s opinion,” Elizabeth added. “It is noble of you to do so, William.”
“It is gratifying that you approve, Elizabeth. Your approval is not easy to win, so the winning of it means much to me,” Darcy smiled, revealing his dimples to Elizabeth and the rest of the party.
Although he schooled his features, Richard felt extremely relieved, a feeling of pleasure coursing through his body.
Seeing her initial reaction to the buffoon’s death, he had momentarily worried that Charlotte felt more than she evidently did.
He had gained some measure of hope when she asked about mourning periods, but that had been nothing to what he felt now.
She had looked directly at him as she spoke, delivering an unambiguous message.
He would give her the two months, then he would present himself and press his suit.
“Are you four ever going to enter the house?” Anne called out playfully from the door, both she and Georgiana smiling at their conversation.
“I have placed you two next to Gigi’s suite and those two reprobates,” Anne playfully indicated her mock affronted cousins, “are being moved to a guest floor.”
“You never allow us to have fun!” Darcy teased her as he used to before her mother tried to force them into marrying, where there were no more than cousinly affections.
“How is your mother, Anne?” Elizabeth asked as they all walked into the house.
“Unnaturally quiet,” Anne reported. “Something changed last night, though I am not sure what, or if it is a permanent change. For that, we will have to wait and see. All I know is she has not tried to issue one order since the drawing room.”
“Will you finally pension poor Mortimer?” Richard asked, referring to the septuagenarian butler.
“Yes, I am meeting with him today. The poor thing. Mother refused to pay him a pension, forcing him to work years beyond what he desired. He and his wife will receive a spacious cottage, and I will give them fifty pounds a month for the rest of their lives,” Anne related.
“That is most fair, Anne. After all of his years of service to the de Bourghs, it is nothing less than he deserves,” Darcy agreed. “Do you have a replacement in mind, Anne? And what about the fact that your mother did not pay fair wages?”
“I do have a replacement. The underbutler will do a creditable job of it, and he is more than thirty years poor Mortimer’s junior,” Anne replied. “And yes, I am aware of my mother’s habits. All will be put to rights.”
Elizabeth was impressed; it seemed what she had heard about William and the way he treated servants had been true.
The more that she was near this William Darcy, the more she became drawn to him.
She was starting to feel as if they could, in fact, become good friends.
For now, Elizabeth was not quite ready to think of anything beyond that.
“Have you heard back from our relatives, Anne?” Charlotte asked.
“The courier returned in the early hours of the morning; my maid handed me the response from my Uncle who will arrive later today. Here is one for you Charlotte and for you Lizzy,” Anne handed each their missive as they sat in the drawing room.
Elizabeth opened hers and read out loud:
21 March 1811
Lizzy, your mother, Jane (yes, Andrew too), Esther, Mark and I will arrive on Friday, the day after I dated this missive.
I must be there at the burial as the only known relative of the unfortunate man.
Uncle Edward will accompany me in case he can be of assistance.
We will be travelling with Andrew and his parents.
We have much to discuss.
Your loving father.
“I wonder what my father means by we have much to discuss?” Elizabeth wondered aloud.
“You will know in a few short hours, my impatient friend,” Charlotte quipped. “My father tells me that yours provided one of the Bennet travelling coaches and they will arrive this afternoon.”
“In that case, we need to prepare for an invasion of Fitzwilliams, Bennets, and Lucases,” Anne teased.
Anne summoned the housekeeper to have chambers prepared, and then found her mother and informed her they were about to receive many guests. Lady Catherine just nodded her understanding, still deep in thought since her epiphany the night before.