Elizabeth retrieved the small chest from the low table and joining Anna on the bed placed it between them. “My Papa gave me this little chest when I was your age. Do you see my initials? EB stands for Elizabeth Bennet. My Papa is now your Grandpapa Bennet, and I cannot wait for you to meet him. I have four sisters and all of them are eager to be called Aunt. You shallmeet my sisters as well as your new grandparents when we visit my family on our way to Pemberley.”
“Papa told me about the sisters in our story. He said you were the second daughter.”
“Yes. My older sister is Jane, and then following me there is Mary, Kitty and Lydia.” She opened the lid to the chest. “And this is Janie!”
“Mama, she is beautiful!” Anna exclaimed picking up the doll and hugging her to her chest. “And her dress has pink ribbons and flowers! Mama, look! She has pink slippers and a pink parasol! Pink is my favourite colour.”
“Yes, I know. Papa told me. I wore your special ribbon in my hair for our wedding. It is over there on the vanity with my brushes and combs.”
Anna hugged her. “Papa said your second name was Rose, so I knew you would like it.”
“I was named Elizabeth Rose after my Grandmamma Bennet. Here, let me show you all of Janie’s clothes. My sisters made the dress she is wearing, and added pretty trims to her other dresses to make them look new. Your Aunt Lydia, who loves to decorate hats, made this sweet little bonnet. I think Janie is happy to have so many pretty clothes. Perhaps she can share with Dolly.”
“Dolly would like that. She and Janie will be sisters, just like you and your sisters.”
“Yes, they will,” Elizabeth chuckled. “Come, let us take our girls into the sitting room and they can wait there while you change your clothes. We shall have a lovely morning together, and later this afternoon I thought we might take a walk or perhaps enjoy a picnic by the pond. Would you like that?”
“I would, Mama.” Still holding the two dolls, Anna reached up and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek. “I am so glad Papabrought you to me.” Slipping into Elizabeth’s welcoming embrace, she murmured, “I love you, Mama.”
“I love you, too, my precious girl, so very much.”
It was quite a full morning for both Anna and Elizabeth. Aside from their breakfast tea party and a multitude of questions about her new aunties and grandparents, there were stories to read, songs to be sung, and Anna insisted on showing Elizabeth the importance of everything she treasured in her bed chamber, as well as in the nursery. By the time it was eleven o’clock, little Miss Darcy grew tired and fell soundly asleep in her mama’s arms while being cuddled in the rocking chair. Anna had asked Elizabeth to sing her favourite song but could not keep her eyes open past the first verse. Leaving her daughter to the watchful care of Mrs. Potter, Elizabeth went back to her own room for a little respite and to prepare for her meeting with Lady Catherine.
Her Ladyship’s note was anything but cordial, and she suspected they would not have an easy time of it, considering the woman outright refused to acknowledge her new status as Mrs. Darcy.
Miss Bennet,
I shall expect you in my study promptly at 1 o’clock. Darcy’s note was hardly one that would suffice, and I would like to understand what nonsense is taking place with my niece and George Wickham. There must be some mistake, as Mrs. Younge would never have allowed such misconduct under her watch.
Lady Catherine
Lady Catherine’s Study
“Miss Bennet, be seated.”
“Thank you, Your Ladyship, although I would prefer it if you called me Mrs. Darcy or Elizabeth.”
“Hrumph! My nephew may have married you, but you will never take the place of my daughter.”
“Nor would I presume to.”
“And as for my granddaughter, you will never be her mother.”
“With that I beg to differ. While I would not ever diminish the place your daughter holds as your granddaughter’s birth mother, with my marriage to Mr. Darcy, Anna IS my daughter and I shall treat her as such.”
Lady Catherine pounded her fist on the desk as she began to rise in indignation. “That child has been spoiled by Darcy, and I cannot see you doing any better. What do you know of child rearing? You with your hoydenish ways and country upbringing? NOTHING!”
Elizabeth stared at the grand lady several seconds while attempting to subdue her irritation. “Lady Catherine, you know very little of me or my ways, and for the present I shall ignore your insults, as we have something more pressing to discuss. I do not know what detailed information my husband left in his note, but here is the letter which he received from Georgiana yesterday morning. He left for Ramsgate with Colonel Fitzwilliam and several other men shortly after we arrived here last night. Let us hope nothing untoward has happened to Miss Darcy and that she may be recovered as soon as may be.”
Snatching the letter from Elizabeth’s hand, Lady Catherine sat down again and began reading. “This is ridiculous. George Wickham may have been the son of a steward, but he was the godson of my brother James Darcy and was raised as one of his own. He would never bring harm to our family. Why, according to my daughter, he was most kind and befriended her while that fool Darcy spent all of his time at Pemberley. As for Mrs.Younge, I interviewed her myself, and she came with the best of references.”
“That may be, but from what Miss Darcy says in her letter, it appears you have been deceived.”
Lady Catherine’s brows narrowed in disgust. “Deceived?! Indeed! It appears my granddaughter is not the only one spoiled by Darcy since my daughter’s death, and it is obvious to me that Georgiana has invented this tale for her own benefit.” She rang the bell for a footman to attend. “I raised Anne with a firm hand, for which she was grateful, and I have attempted to do the same with my niece and granddaughter but have been hindered by the intervention of Darcy. I know what I am speaking of in this matter and will not be gainsaid. All of my life I have been celebrated for my astuteness and judgement of character, and I thoroughly intend to get to the bottom of this falsehood.”
Lady Catherine pulled out a sheet a paper from her desk and quickly penned a missive. “Jenkins,” she said to the servant as soon as she was finished and had placed the seal on the envelope. “See that this letter is taken by express to the de Bourgh summer cottage in Ramsgate and given to Mrs. Younge. Tell the rider I shall expect a reply today.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
