Vol 2, Chapter 12
“This is your new home?” Maria almost squeaked. “It looks like a palace! How am I ever to find my way around this gigantic mansion?” Not only had Maria Lucas never seen a house the size of the one they were approaching, but she had never before imagined one close to this size.
“When we were first here, it took us a few days to find our way around Maria,” Elizabeth laughed.
She was in one of the coaches with Charlotte, Esther, Maria, and Georgiana.
Much to her delight, William had accepted an invitation to join the Bennets on this second trip to their new home.
He was riding in the front coach with her parents, Lady Rose, and her brothers.
“But it is only a house, Maria. A large one to be sure, but a house nonetheless.”
“I thought I would get lost when we were here for the late Duke’s funeral,” Georgiana shared, “but there are footmen on duty in each hall, and the maids are often about so at worst is you would have to ask one of them for direction.”
“Besides, you are sharing a suite with me,” Esther informed her friend.
“I am used to sharing a chamber with Charlotte before she married, so it will not be a hardship,” Maria misunderstood.
“Maria, Esther said a suite not a bedchamber,” Charlotte explained. “If it is anything like Rosings Park, then there are two bedchambers with a shared sitting room.”
“Charlotte is correct,” Elizabeth confirmed. “My suitemate will be Gigi, and Charlotte will have a single suite across the hall from us.”
These explanations did little to quell Maria’s feeling of awe as the coaches came to a halt under the massive portico.
She believed it enough when there was a cadre of outriders with them, but as soon as the carriage came to a stop, a swarm of footmen all wearing the same green and gold livery seemed to materialise from nowhere.
“It is a little larger than Longbourn,” Charlotte noted quietly to Elizabeth.
“The ballroom has more space than Longbourn,” Elizabeth whispered back, enjoying that her friend’s mouth fell open from the shock. “I, all of us, were as much in awe the first time we arrived here so you are not alone in your feelings, Charlotte.”
Mrs. Sherman and Mr. Beckman had the servants lined up neatly when the Duke and Duchess led the way into the entrance hall.
After a brief word of thanks from the mistress, the servants were dismissed to return to their duties.
The Bennets led their guests up to the family floor where all would find their chambers as well as warm water in order to wash the dust of the road off and change.
Elizabeth indicated a door opposite her suite. “That is your suite, Charlotte.” She smiled at her friend, knowing she would love it.
Charlotte entered and was struck dumb. The sitting room was two to three times what her bedchamber had been in Hunsford!
She walked through a door that led to the bedchamber to discover a bathing room to one side.
Additionally, there was a dressing room and a walk-in closet that was about the size of her and Maria’s shared bedchamber at Lucas Lodge.
Her suite was as large as all of the combined bedchambers at Lucas Lodge alone.
She fully understood why the Bennets had been awed the first time they visited their new estate.
Until the moment she saw the manor house at the Bennets’ new estate, and now her suite, she thought she understood how much wealth her friends had. What Charlotte had seen convinced her that her estimate was but a drop in the ocean.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After the midday meal, the younger residents chose to take a walk in the expansive rose garden. Mark, to his chagrin, was sent to the school room. The walking party consisted of five ladies plus Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Ponsonby trailing behind.
The security was somewhat relaxed at Longfield Meadows, at least from the residents’ standpoint.
Mr. Burnett had met with the two former lieutenants, Biggs and Johns, to set up a schedule of patrols.
The latter two were in charge of the Bennet children’s personal security, so they had the latitude to decide how many men would accompany them when they walked or rode.
On this occasion, Biggs followed behind the companion with two other footmen-guards, one either side of the group of walkers.
Charlotte had been walking next to Elizabeth while the three younger girls walked ahead of them. When she saw Mr. Darcy approach, Charlotte winked at Elizabeth then sped up to join the group of girls. “I did not mean to disturb your friend,” Darcy started to apologise.
“You did nothing, William. Charlotte chose to join the others on her own volition,” Elizabeth absolved him. “Believe me when I tell you my friend is not one to be cowed into doing anything she does not desire.”
“It pleases me to know that.” Darcy responded. “When we were at Pemberley, I told you about the place I go to for deep contemplation.”
“You did, and I enjoyed learning more about you,” Elizabeth stated shyly.
“May I ask you the same?” He asked expectantly and she nodded. “Do you have a special spot?”
“Oakham Mount,” Elizabeth related simply.
“I heard of it when in Hertfordshire the first time, when I…well yes, we have agreed to leave the past where it belongs. I never had the occasion to go to the summit of the hill, but I did see it on occasion when I was riding,” Darcy related.
“It was my place of solitude. I suppose it will be still when we are in residence at Longbourn, which will be far less now we have all this,” Elizabeth sighed as she made a wide sweep of her hand.
“You will miss Longbourn, I think,” Darcy empathised as he changed the subject slightly.
“I will. It was my home, a home I have loved, for over twenty years. It is a fundamental truth that a lady’s lot in life is to leave the home of her childhood and follow her husband to his home. I never expected to be leaving the old neighbourhood before that point,” Elizabeth shared wistfully.
The last thing Darcy wanted was to make Elizabeth sad. “Tell me what Oakham Mount was to you.” He deftly redirected her to the original question.
“It was the one place where I found true solitude. As you know, even before all of this, my father and mother would not allow us to venture out of the house unaccompanied.” Darcy nodded.
“Whoever my escort was when I walked to Oakham mount waited on a bench about halfway up, allowing me to gain the summit on my own. I had my father’s permission for that compromise,” Elizabeth remembered.
“Many a day in the warmer months, and sometimes even in the wintertime, I would watch the sun rise. When it peaks over the horizon, it reaffirms for me that, no matter how dark things may get, the sun will always rise in the east again.”
“It has been many a time that I ride up the bridle path to watch the sun rise over the hill behind the house and then the magnificence as the fingers of light hit the Peaks. On a clear day, there is nothing more beautiful—in nature,” Darcy clarified quietly, his gaze focused on her profile as he said the last, leaving her in no doubt of his meaning.
“Wait until you see the sun set over the Peaks, that is a sight to behold.”
“The sunrises and sunsets were beautiful, but it was also the place I found I could contemplate in peace and quiet aside from an occasional birds’ song, which never disturbed my reverie.
When I was younger, well, not so very much younger, I would climb the old oak on the summit and sit in its welcoming branches.
If I am not using the time to think, I have been known to read and rest in the welcoming branches on occasion. ”
“Does your mother approve of your penchant to climb trees?” he chuckled.
“She did when I was younger but assumes I grew out of the habit. I just never disabused her of the notion,” Elizabeth smiled slyly. “If she ever specifically asked, I would be forthcoming.”
Both revelled in the fact things had become so easy between themselves.
“Knowing your mother’s perspicacity, do you honestly believe she is not aware of her daughter’s penchants?” Darcy countered.
“I suppose you have the right of it; little gets by my mother’s notice!” Elizabeth owned.
“To me it seems like strong women are the rule rather than the exception in your family,” Darcy observed.
“That does not frighten you, William?” Elizabeth asked directly.
“Not at all. Like Andrew, I want a women who has her own opinions and is willing to defend them, regardless of my own. I am looking for a partner, not a wilting flower or a puppet with no mind of her own,” Darcy stated firmly.
“And if she happens to improve her mind by extensive reading, so much the better.”
Elizabeth laughed, in no doubt of who that comment was aimed at and appreciated the multiple insinuations during their walk.
Her conversation with Jane had caused her to do much soul searching.
The more she asked herself about the future and if she could see one without William in it, the more resounding the answer ‘no’ echoed in her heart.
Did this mean she was in love with William?
It was not a question she was quite willing to answer just yet.
All too soon, the walkers turned back toward the manor house, as for the last pair, they would have been happy if the walk had been hours longer.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Jane and Andrew were aboard The Rose, the personal vessel which had been inherited along with the Dennington Lines. She was as large as a frigate and sailed with two escort ships, both the equivalent of fully armed frigates.
They were sailing from London to Dublin, Ireland where they would stay for ten days before sailing to Liverpool.
Their next destination was the Lake District and Lake Vista House that belonged to the Fitzwilliams. After another ten days there, they would first visit Longfield Meadows and then Snowhaven on their way to Hilldale.