Chapter 8 #3
“I could see myself climbing that tree and reading in it for hours,” Elizabeth stated as she changed the subject.
“Did we mention that our sister had a penchant to climb trees when she was younger?” Andrew informed the smiling group.
“Do not be disingenuous, Andrew,” Will called him out with a grin.
“I was not being so, Will,” was the response heavy with mock indignation.
“When she was younger? If my information is correct, our Lady Elizabeth,” he gave his blushing cousin a put-on bow, “still can be found up her favourite tree at Snowhaven occasionally.”
“Unlike you, Will, I was trying to be chivalrous and not cause my sister embarrassment!” Andrew returned.
“Are you trying to make up for Itch having to return to London by taking his place in teasing and embarrassing me, Will?” Elizabeth asked pertly, her blush rising as their banter continued, as her heart raced.
Will raised his hands in surrender, but the huge grin on his face showed that he was not contrite in the least.
‘How I would have loved to have grown up with such a sister!’ Jane told herself as the group mounted their horses to ride to the glade where breakfast would be waiting for them.
She was happy that Lizzy had been adopted by a family that clearly adored her, but she was sad for the relationship that she had not had over the years with her younger sister.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Come in, Franklin,” Charlotte welcomed her older brother to the parsonage to join them to break their fasts. “Mr Jones did a credible job in replacing some teeth for you, brother, although at the time you deserved worse than that!” Charlotte admonished him.
“I am well aware of how abhorrent my behaviour was, Charlotte. There is no rebuke that you can issue me that I have not already said to myself. I feel tremendous shame when I think on what I was planning to do,” Franklin said, his head bowed as they entered the small dining parlour where Mr Pierce awaited the siblings.
“Have you apologised, brother?” Pierce asked pointedly.
“Yes, to Mr Bennet and our parents,” he agreed.
“I know that, but have you made your sincere apology to Lady Elizabeth, as she was the real object of your dishonourable plans.” Pierce pressed his point.
“No, but I swore that I would not go near her, and her brother in the Royal Dragoons made it perfectly clear that if I approached her, or even looked at her, he would end me.”
“My suggestion is not that you approach her. Request an audience with the Earl and ask his permission to deliver your apologies to his sister. If he refuses, which he very well might as you deserve, make them to him to pass on to her,” Pierce suggested.
“I agree with Christopher,” Charlotte stated.
“If the Earl allows it, it will be cathartic for her to hear the words from your own mouth. I would suggest that you start with Mr Bennet and canvass his opinion on whether or not the Earl would be willing to receive you yet. If you go after our meal, you will not run into Lady Elizabeth or any of the younger family as they have taken a ride this morning and will not be back before eleven.”
And so that was decided. The rector led them in grace, and then the three enjoyed their meal. Franklin was feeling lighter than he had for days with the decision to try to make his apology to the very lady who he had never had cause to harm.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“It is so pretty here,” Elizabeth exclaimed as they arrived at the glade.
There was an open grassy area where the servants had two tables set with much food displayed.
There were chairs and blankets spread around.
To one side was a lazy stream that burbled and bubbled along its way, with tall reeds on the opposite bank, and the croaking of a loud toad.
“It is so nice here, Lizzy,” Georgiana enthused. “Should we sit on a blanket?”
“Yes, we shall, Gigi. We should leave the chairs for the much older members of our group,” Elizabeth stated impertinently with an arched eyebrow as she looked at the group that included her brother and his wife, Will, and Perry.
“You will pay for that impertinence later, Sprite!” Andrew warned playfully. “For now, I will take a moment to rest these old bones in a chair.” He teased her, gaining a laugh from many more than just their Lizzy and a smile from his wife that made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.
While the group was enjoying breaking their fast and communing with one another and nature, Franklin Lucas was being shown into a drawing room at Longbourn where the Bennet and Darcy parents were settled into conversation with Ladies Elaine and Rose.
Bennet arched his eyebrow in question when he saw who walked into the room, and when Lady Elaine saw the way Bennet did so, she could not help but smile.
‘So that is where my daughter inherited that arching of her eyebrow.’
“May I speak to you in your study, Mr Bennet?” Franklin requested quietly.
“There is nothing that you could have to say to me that you cannot say in front of everyone here,” Bennet returned sharply. He would forgive the Lucas heir openly, but he would not make things easy for him.
“I am seeking your advice on whether it is wise to approach the Earl to request that he allow me to offer my sincere apologies to Lady Elizabeth,” Franklin explained, his eyes downcast toward his feet.
“Elaine, you know your son much better than I,” Bennet deferred to Elizabeth’s mother.
“Andrew will hear you out, young man. Whether or not he will allow you to address his sister, I do not know. I can tell you that if he allows it, it will be before more than just he and her in the room. No matter how contrite you are, or seem to be, you will never be allowed alone with my daughter under any circumstances!” Elaine told Franklin acerbically.
“I deserve no less, your Ladyship,” Franklin said as he lifted his head so that the people sitting and watching him could see the sincerity in his eyes.
“My actions and what I planned were despicable, and I deserved much more than I received from your sons,” he looked from the Dowager Countess to the Darcys.
“All I can do is to apologise as much as I am allowed and try to live a good and honourable life, never repeating the mistakes of the past.”
“As Christians, we place a high value on repentance and forgiveness, as long as the repentance is genuine,” Tammy Bennet stated to ease the way for those who had taken the deepest of exception after Frank’s actions and there were some nods of agreement in the room, though she knew it would take Elaine and Thomas longer.
“My son will expect you this afternoon, and he will be able to tell if your contrition is genuine or not,” Elaine told the young man in dismissal.
Frank bowed to all and took his leave. At least he would be able to make his apology to the Earl, even if he were never personally allowed to deliver it to the lady in question.