Three figures emerged from their hired carriage. As one, they craned their necks to gaze up at the handsome stone manor before them.
Elizabeth Bennet’s heart was thrumming as fast as a hawk-moth’s wings. “It is not possible,” she breathed. “This must be an error.”
Even her mother was silent beside her, and thatneverhappened.
Her father recovered first. “From what we were told, I anticipated a pleasant but modest house on a bit of land somewhere near town.” He removed a letter from his jacket and unfolded it. “When we entered the park and did not see the house immediately, I began to question what we would find. But I never expectedthis.”
Thiswas Hollydale, an estate half again as large as Longbourn, the family seat in Hertfordshire where they lived with her four other sisters.
A pleasant, modest house would have been easier.
“This is the place,” her father confirmed, returning the letter to his pocket. He placed a hand on her arm. “Do not fear, Lizzy. There must be a steward with whom we can speak. Mr. Ellis was quite elderly at the end. He would not have run the place without assistance.”
“I am not afraid,” Elizabeth replied, when her astonishment subsided. “I am shocked. He never spoke of his home, and we always met in town when I visited with Uncle and Aunt Gardiner.” She turned to her father. “It is the sort of jokeyouwould devise if you could.”
All her father could say was, “You may be right.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath. “But yes, there must be a steward. You have already taught me much about Longbourn, and I shall simply have to learn about Hollydale House.”
Her father smiled at her, the colour returning to his cheeks. “Well done, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth smiled back. Her heart was slowing to its normal rhythm, but now her mind was racing.
Why would Mr. Ellis leave his home to her? She barely knew him! They had met when she was six and attending her Uncle Gardiner’s marriage to her aunt. He had been standing in the churchyard amid the gravestones appearing lost, and as the rest of her family was gathered around the bride and groom, she had approached to speak with him. He was kind and funny and gruff, and she had liked him instantly.
Oh, she had been fond of all his stories, and knew he had no family left. He had been old even when she met him, and she had done what she could to help him over the years on her several subsequent trips to Lambton with the Gardiners.She had engaged him in childish conversation, helped him carry his parcels, and written out his lists. But he must have hadsomeonecloser to him than a girl who had visited the area only infrequently and had last seen him several years ago.
“Well,” Papa said, “shall we go inside?”
Mamma nodded, but still did not speak.
The butler, a man about Papa’s age, answered the door and welcomed them in. “I am Mr. Riggs,” he told them solemnly. “Mr. Ellis told me to expect you, and we have your rooms ready.”
“Thank you, Mr. Riggs,” Papa said.
The butler then called a few maids forward. “We do not have enough help for a family, Mr. Bennet, as Mr. Ellis did not require much. If you are to open the house, you will want to see to hiring a few footmen and maids, including for the ladies. Mrs. Riggs can assist with that when you are ready.”
“Papa,” Elizabeth whispered when the butler was busy with the maids, “do you think they know that I have inherited?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Riggs must, but they likely will not mention it unless we do,” Papa whispered back. “I think we should keep it quiet for now. No need to attract any unwanted attention.”
Elizabeth considered that for a moment. “Are we opening the house?”
He shook his head. “I do not know yet.”
Still nothing from Mamma. Elizabeth was beginning to worry.
“Would you prefer tea before or after you have had a chance to view your chambers?” Mr. Riggs asked as he returned.
Her father began to say that they would go upstairs, but Elizabeth placed a hand on his arm. “Mamma may require a restorative.”
“Oh dear,” Papa said good-naturedly. “Would you like some tea, Fanny?”
Mamma took a deep breath, and Elizabeth thought she would say something at last. But again, she only nodded.
“Tea it is, Mr. Riggs,” Elizabeth said.
The butler bowed and turned to give orders to a maid before leading them into a drawing room that might once have been pretty but was now old-fashioned and faded. The wallpaper was peeling at the corners and the curtains were blocking a good deal of light.
