Chapter 24
The season was coming to an end and soon Elizabeth would have to return home.
Jane and Bingley’s spring wedding had been planned for the beginning of April and the Darcys as guests of honour had decided to go directly to Pemberley from Hertfordshire.
Tragically Mrs Bennet had written to Elizabeth informing her that the whole family would be following the Militia, which would be relocating to Brighton for the summer. Elizabeth was expected to join them.
Her countenance fell when she read the letter and Lady Anne noticed it.
“Is anything wrong Elizabeth? You seem upset.”
“My family has decided to follow the Militia to Brighton for the summer.”
“Brighton? Why?” The lady said confused.
“My mother must have become obsessed with the idea and my father, to stop the racket, must have agreed to go, simply to have peace again.”
“My dear, it seems you do not wish to join them in the gaiety provided by a camp full of soldiers.”
Elizabeth shivered with the idea, “I most certainly do not.” She considered her options then continued, “I will ask Jane if she wants a companion hanging around her neck on her wedding tour… other than Mr Bingley of course.”
They both laughed, then she continued more soberly, “that might be entertaining for me, but not for the young couple, of course. In reality the only other option I have of escaping my mother’s schemes is to ask my uncle and aunt to allow me to join them for their tour of the Lake District that they have planned for June. ”
Lady Anne moved from her chair to join Elizabeth on the settee.
“It is not your only option, my dear.” She patted her hand affectionately.
“Maybe not but it is the best I have. I can always ask Charlotte to invite me to Lucas lodge for the summer. Although their house is not the most specious and they have a large family already.” Elizabeth mused, “Aunt Phillips may be another option.” She winced.
“I remember Miss Lucas. She is a genteel, softly spoken lady and if memory serves me, she is also very affectionate towards you, is she not?”
“Yes, she is my best friend other than Jane. We have been close since I was very young. Charlotte at first simply humoured me but now she is as important to me as my own sisters are.”
“Hummm...” Lady Anne thoughtfully looked through the window, “Well, I have an idea and I really hope you approve of it.”
“Yes, my lady, I am ready to hear any suggestions you might have.”
“I suggest we all go together to Meryton for Jane and Mr Bingley’s wedding and from there, you and Miss Lucas join us to spend summer at Pemberley.”
Elizabeth gasped, “My lady, surely...” she shook her head, “that is very generous of you; in fact it is too generous, especially because you have already housed, dressed and fed me for the entire London season.”
Lady Anne shook her head, “I am actually being very selfish, Elizabeth. Pemberley is very large and it is the most beautiful house in the Kingdom, if I say so myself. However, I assure you; sometimes Georgiana and I feel very lonely in that immense house. Therefore I would love to have more company. That beautiful house must be enjoyed by more people than just our small family.”
“But surely you must have more exalted friends…”
“I do not care for exalted friends.”
“Would not Mr Darcy have friends that he might prefer to invite to his house instead of us, penniless ladies from Hertfordshire?”
Lady Anne shivered, “We have had the Bingleys a few times for the summer. If you think Miss Bingley was difficult in Hertfordshire imagine what she was like at Pemberley, behaving as if she had been selected as the next mistress already.” Lady Anne looked annoyed and amused at the same time, “She once mentioned that the colours of the main drawing room were all wrong and would I not prefer if the room was modernised in a more Italian style instead?” She shivered again and Elizabeth laughed.
“Nevertheless my lady, I am not certain if Mr Darcy would approve of your plan.”
Lady Anne put her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder and interrupted her, “As I have mentioned before... many times already, we do not require William’s approval, but in this case, Mr and Mrs Bennet’s.
” She looked at Elizabeth impatiently, “I do not know if Mr Bennet will allow it, but I am willing to risk it, if you agree to let me try.”
Elizabeth nodded knowing it was fruitless to oppose the lady once she had made her mind up, “Well, I see you are determined,” She smiled lovingly at her friend and supporter, “So, if you are certain that... no member of your family would oppose your plan, I can guarantee my mother will not deny your request; in fact she will be overjoyed by it. But my father may be more difficult to convince since I seem to be his favourite, and of course, he is already losing Jane.”
“If I explain to him that not only you do not wish to go to Brighton but also I need your companionship for my own happiness, he might be amenable to the idea.”
“Maybe,” Elizabeth bit her lower lip considering it.
“Perhaps if we write to Miss Lucas and she accepts our invitation, your father will be less circumspect about allowing you to go.”
Elizabeth smirked, “Lady Anne, allow me to say that if England hired you as a strategist in the army, Napoleon would be defeated within days.”
The lady laughed out loud, “Miss Elizabeth your faith in my abilities is heartening.”
The letters were duly sent and soon both replies arrived, they were both positive.
Charlotte was stunned and excited to be asked to join such lofty family on their summer estate.
Soon, plans got underway to relocate to Pemberley.
Darcy was stupefied that his mother, again, did not consult him about their intended visitors for the summer at Pemberley,
“Mother, I am amazed that you have done it again. This time it is Pemberley... for the summer.”
She seemed surprised, “Of what do you speak, William?”
He huffed, “You know very well what I am referring to. You again made plans about who to invite to our house without consulting me.”
She raised her eyebrows in challenge, “I remember you invited the Bingleys and the Hursts to Pemberley two summers in a row without consulting me.”
“I am the master of Pemberley, am I not?”
“And what am I, William?”
He flattened his lips and refused to answer.
“If you have something against Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas coming to Pemberley with us, pray say it now or leave me be to choose the kind of friends I wish to spend summer with.”
“You never said anything against the Bingleys back then.”
“I never said anything against Mr Bingley.” She retorted.
“I could not very well ask my friend to my house and demand he leave his own sisters behind; could I?”
“Yet they were less than ideal. Miss Bingley would have compromised you in a heartbeat, even under your own roof. Mrs Hurst never had an original thought in her head and would have most certainly followed her sister to your bedchamber to be the witness, if the opportunity had ever presented itself. And as for Mr Hurst, if he did not manage to empty your supply of French brandy, it was simply because of divine intervention.”
Darcy sighed; he could not refute what was the simple and unadulterated truth.
“Very well, Mother. I can see you have made up your mind. I will let you carry on as you have planned.”
“You will let me carry on?” She laughed a mirthless laugh, “Do not flatter yourself, William. I am still the mistress of Pemberley and if you want to change that, get married and banish me to the dower house.”
Darcy gasped, “Mother, I would never…”
“Yes, you would, especially if you marry one of the many spoiled and selfish women we meet every day in the London drawing rooms, the type that you seem to believe is the kind of a wife a man like you requires.”
“Mother, I am stunned at your words. What kind of woman would you have me choose as a wife?”
“I would have you choose,” Lady Anne said without the smallest hesitation, “a genteel woman who is intelligent, witty, and kind, without the slightest consideration of her wealth and connections.”
Darcy stared at his mother but was unable to find a retort.
“I would have you choose,” Lady Anne continued unabashed, “a woman who loves you rather than your money and position in society.” She glared at him, “and finally, I would have you choose a woman whom you love in return and can respect for her character, not for the fortune or titles she can bring to the marriage.”
“You would?” Darcy finally managed to ask bewildered.
“If you ever meet such a woman, William, I suggest you do not linger considering her many deficiencies, because she will be snatched up from under your very nose by the first wise man who sees her worth rather than her flaws.”
Lady Anne then left the study and Darcy was alone, dumbfounded!
***
Lord Holton and Richard had been invited to dine at Darcy House that night since the other Matlocks already had a previous engagement at Moncrieff House. The dinner was a relaxed affair;
“So,” Holton said at one point, “you will be relocating to Pemberley already, even though the season is not yet over?”
“Yes,” Darcy said, “we have had enough and I have been absent from Pemberley too long. Mother and I have household and estate business to attend to.”
Holton looked longingly at Elizabeth, “and I hear you will be going with my relatives to Pemberley too, Miss Bennet?”
“Yes, my lord, Lady Anne has been very kind and she has invited me as well as another friend from Hertfordshire to join the family for the summer.”
“Will not your family protest such a long absence from you?”
“They are going to Brighton for the summer, so, no, I am sure they will not even remember me with all the merriment of the seaside to entertain them.”
“I see.” He looked crestfallen.
“When do you plan to return to Scotland, Duncan?” Lady Anne asked.
“Well,” he looked at Elizabeth again, “I do not have a set plan yet Aunt, but I think Darcy is right; Holtonmere must be missing me, for I have been absent for much longer than I had first expected.”