Georgiana said, “That is how we spend our evenings. Last week, Fitzwilliam finished readingThe Children of the Abbeyto us. He and Elizabeth take turns reading aloud, but he mostly does the reading because Elizabeth and I are knitting mittens and caps for the tenant children for their Christmas boxes.”
Elizabeth probed. “Is there a particular gentleman farmer you have in mind?”
Anise flushed. “You remember Mr. Fairfax, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth grinned. “I do. Tall, fair, and exceedingly handsome. You cannot mean he has finally set his eye on you?”
The young woman sighed. “No. He is my age, four and twenty, and has no interest in being leg-shackled, as he called marriage when I asked him about it.”
Georgiana looked intrigued. “You asked your beau if he was interested in marriage?”
Anise shook her head. “Not exactly. I mentioned that our friend was courting a young heiress, and Mr. Fairfax looked disgusted and said, ‘Why would Lucas do a silly thing like leg-shackling himself at two and twenty? He should wait until he is at least eight and twenty.’”
Anise looked sadly at her friend. “So you see, Lizzy. It matters not whether I have any particular young man in mind, if he does not have me in his mind as well.”
The following day, Elizabeth and her guests drove to Kimpton to the haberdashery. Georgiana had praised the shop as the best one in the area, superior even to the two shops in Bakewell. Abby and Lady Helen stood before the bolts of silk, marveling at their quality. Anise held a length of lace in her hand. Elizabeth and Georgiana walked up and examined the lace with her.
“It is very fine, and the price is very reasonable,” Elizabeth said. She looked around and then whispered, “I pray this is not smuggled goods. The quality and the price seem to suggest it may be.”
Anise looked at her friend and whispered, “Smuggled? What can you possibly know about smuggling, Lizzy? Are there smugglers in England?”
Elizabeth pulled a face. “Never mind, my dear. You know I sometimes speak before I think.” She glanced about again to ensure the shopkeeper had not heard her. Could smuggled goods have found their way this far inland? She would ask Fitzwilliam.
Anise looked baffled, then turned back to the lace. “I will make a new fichu with this. I have never seen such beautiful lace. I will cut it tonight and then sew it in the carriage as we travel to Windermere.”
That evening in the drawing room, Lady Helen seated herself beside Elizabeth and bent close.
“Abby shines brighter with every passing day,” she whispered.
Elizabeth giggled. “Aunt Helen, you are gushing.”
Lady Helen smirked. “I cannot help myself, Elizabeth. I have met my future daughter-in-law, and she is everything I had hoped for in a wife for Phillip.”
Elizabeth regarded her aunt with sudden seriousness. “I hope Phillip is of the same opinion and does not prefer Anise. I spoke with her today, and her heart is entangled with a squire whose land borders her brother’s. He is very young, only four and twenty, and does not yet recognize a gem when she throws herself at his feet.”
Elizabeth’s eyes dimmed. Lady Helen lifted a questioning brow, and Elizabeth went on.
“It was the same with Fitzwilliam. All that he put me through before he chose me.” She bent her head over her knitting, striving to compose herself.
Lady Helen reached out and pressed her hand. “Let the past be forgotten, Elizabeth. All came right for you and my nephew. I am sorry Fitzwilliam was so difficult. He is a complicated man, but you managed him very well, and all turned out as it should. But as for my son, it remains to be seen. If he can be as happily settled as my nephew is with you, I shall be at peace.”
Elizabeth’s quiet laugh caused the elder lady to look at her niece.
“I know, my dear, you will caution me to contain my eagerness until Phillip himself comes to Pemberley and makes his choice. However, you must agree that Abby is a suitable match. A perfect match.”
“Yes, Aunt, she is. I agree with you. I will begin to recite my catechism on behalf of Phillip’s matrimonial happiness tonight.” She smiled at the older woman and then, in an uncommondisplay of tenderness, kissed her cheek. Lady Helen’s smile softened, then she drew her in for a brief, affectionate embrace.
The next morning brought an unexpected visitor to Pemberley. Lady Helen was sitting down to breakfast when Georgiana came running into the parlor.
“Aunt Helen, a Matlock carriage is coming down the drive.”
Lady Helen and Elizabeth followed Georgiana to the front entrance, where the doors stood open. They watched as Phillip, tall and fair, stepped down.
“Son!” Lady Helen rushed down the stairs with her arms outstretched.
“Mother.” His embrace was affectionate, and he kissed her hair.
She wiped a tear. “What a surprise, what a very happy surprise.”
