“Unfortunately, no. I was somewhat preoccupied,” Anne responded.
“Of course you were,” Tiffany told her older cousin and took one of her hands in her own.
“Based on his diagnosis, he explained what he called an aneurysmis the weakening of a blood vessel. The fault can break at any given time,” Richard recalled. “In your mother’s case, it could have easily occurred with her sitting on herthronein the drawing room or sleeping. In fact, at any time with or without strain and stress.”
“The explanation is much appreciated, Richard. It will allow me to release this guilt which has been building inside of me,” Anne sighed with relief.
“I will miss the Bennet sisters,” Giana stated.
“As will I,” Tiffany agreed.
‘You have no idea how much I will miss one Bennet sister,’ Darcy thought. ‘I will pray the time apart will fly. I hope Elizabeth is ready to hear my proposals when I see her again.’
Not long after, they arrived at Bromley and there waiting for them was a Matlock coach. During the break to rest the Darcy team, Lord Matlock told his son and nephew to join him in his conveyance when they departed.
“Now tell me what you did not put into your express,” Lord Matlock demanded when they were on their way once again.
The cousins explained all, including what Bennet had reported to have transpired before they arrived, which they told the Earl was corroborated by Anne who heard everything which had been said, even though she waited in the barouche.
Lord Matlock shook his head at his late sister’s abject stupidity. “So that tired old lie of hers contributed to her demise in the end,” he mused.
Richard repeated what he had told Anne regarding what was suspected of felling Lady Catherine and how it could have occurred any time and any place.
“William, have you made progress in your quest to capture Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s heart?” Lord Matlock enquired when the subject of his sister’s passing had been exhausted.
“I am in a courtship with Elizabeth,” Darcy stated and got a faraway look as his hand went to the fob watch which contained his precious token. With his uncle and cousin looking at him quizzically, Darcy shook his musings of his beloved from the forefront of his mind for the moment. “We did not mention it earlier, but the next youngest Bennet sister married the rector of Hunsford. His quite innocent mention of the courtship is what caused your sister to leave her fiefdom.”
“Is he the usual kind of sycophant Catherine preferred?” Lord Matlock wondered.
“He was,” Richard related with a grin. Seeing the enquiring look from his father he elucidated.
“It seems Miss Elizabeth is not the only intelligent Bennet sister,” Lord Matlock opined. “It is just as well Catherine is no longer with us. Losing her power over one of her lackeys would have caused her an apoplexy if this aneurysm had not taken her.”
“Uncle Reggie, would you object if Giana and I mourn for six weeks complete?” Darcy questioned.
“I have no objection, however, have you canvased Anne’s opinion on this subject?” was the Earl’s reply.
“We did Father, and Anne has no objections. She will observe six months of mourning as far as society is concerned,” Richard averred.
“In that case, it will be six weeks total for the nieces and nephews. As we are visible in society, your mother and I will observe three months complete,” Lord Matlock stated. “Who is to help Anne with the running of the estate?”
“I will remain as long as she needs me, and I do not think it would hurt if Richard resigns his commission and comes to learn how to run the estate. Anne shared he is her heir if she dies without issue and as she will never marry…” Darcy revealed.
“You know your mother and I would be overjoyed if you resigned, Son,” Lord Matlock agreed. “I know you have a fair amount saved thanks to the shrewd investments Gardiner has made on your behalf.”
“I suppose it is time. When we reach the estate, I will write to General Atherton and announce my resignation,” Richard decided.
For the additional hour until they reached the palings of Rosings Park just before the turn into the drive, the men spoke of the war and other current events.
Chapter 35
Darcy was still helping Anne adjust to the management of Rosings Park when Mary and William Bennet arrived back at Hunsford to take up residence at the parsonage. From the mess the late Lady Catherine had left behind, it would take quite a while to unravel it all.
Contrary to his late aunt’s assertions she was the best of estate managers; she had been anything but. Darcy could not imagine a more inept person to run an estate than she had been. There were months’ worth of work to begin to set everything to rights. Almost half of the tenant farms were vacant as families who had farmed the estate’s land for generations had moved to seek other situations rather than suffer under the late woman’s raising of their rent practically every quarter combined with her dictatorial and interfering ways.
There was only one positive to come out of his aunt’s removal from her fiefdom: Richard was no longer in the army. Much to his parents’ and all members of the family’s delight he was a gentleman farmer now having agreed to remain at Rosings Park and learn all he could from his younger cousin.
The Earl departed the day after his late sister’s interment as word arrived announcing the birth of Paul Reginald Fitzwilliam—named for his two grandfathers—causing Lord Matlock to depart for Staffordshire with all speed to see his son’s heir.
