Chapter Seventy-Four
Reginald had just arrived at Matlock Estate when a message came from Charlotte. Concerned, he put all else aside to read it.
Dearest Reggie,
I very much want my dear friend, Elizabeth Bennet, to stand up with me at our wedding, but she is not certain how to get here.
You may recall (or possibly not, as it was all very hectic and last minute!) that she went to Kent with her sister Mary, who is married to Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s rector.
It occurred to Elizabeth that if Lady Catherine was to come to see us married, then Elizabeth could accompany her ladyship in her carriage.
Was Lady Catherine to be invited? I rather assumed so.
In addition – and I apologise, as this is all very strange – it is a matter of some urgency that Mr. Bingley makes his proposal to Miss Jane Bennet as soon as may be. She is to depart for London quite soon, so he must do so at once!
I cannot, of course, write to Mr. Bingley myself, but doubtless you were planning to write him a note of thanks for his hospitality, and perhaps you could find some language with which to persuade him of this urgency?
I promise most solemnly to explain it all to you someday soon!
Counting the days until I see you again,
Your loving Charlotte
Reginald Fitzwilliam congratulated himself yet again on having managed to find the perfect bride. It would never have occurred to him to write a letter of thanks to Mr. Bingley, but it was clear now that he must do so.
As for Aunt Catherine, certainly his mother had invited her, had she not?
Having traveled for several days, he was really quite eager to have a bath and a good dinner, but he knew himself well enough to know that if he did not attend to these tasks at once, they would soon be overlooked in favour of his History of England.