Clay Younge was standing in front of her, his cap in hand. “Me an’ me cusin did wat ya told us. We cut the axle part way. ‘E should have died as I be sure the carriage would ave turned over,” Younge insisted.
“If it turns out he is not deceased, then you will return my money!” Lady Catherine demanded.
Younge pulled himself to his full height and took a few threatening steps towards the lady who had employed him and his cousin, Jake.
“We did wat yer tol us ta do, nothin’ more, nothin’ less. If your ‘excellent’ plan did not work, then that be your problem not mine,” Younge growled menacingly. “Not one penny will yer get back!”
Her innate sense of superiority did not mean Lady Catherine did not believe in self-preservation. She was sure the man threatening her would have no compunction in slitting her throat and then cleaning the blade on her gown.
For once in her life, Catherine de Bourgh née Fitzwilliam knew when to retreat.
“You are correct Mr. Younge, as long as you did as I asked, I can have no complaint,” Lady Catherine soothed. “I will allow some more time to pass and then if I need your services again, I will contact you.”
The toff’s words placated Younge, causing him to relax.He stepped back to where he had been standing before intimidating the insane biddy. As long as she paid him, what cared he of her mental state.
“If that be all, Jake ‘n’ me will leave. ‘E‘s ‘olding me ‘orse wif ‘is in the drive.” With that Clay Younge replaced his cap, turned, and walked out of the drawing room and house before the lady from the quality could protest.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The afternoon, the day after the two de Bourghs took up residence at Longbourn, the girls—five Bennets, two Lucases, and one de Bourgh—were playing in the park, taking turns being pushed while seated on the swing suspended from the thick bough of an ancient oak tree. The older girls were taking their turn pushing the younger ones under the watchful eye of Mrs. Annesley, a nursemaid, and a footman.
“Jenki!” Anne exclaimed.
The woman who arrived in front of the house was Anne’s governess who was driving her pony-pulled phaeton from Oak Hollow. As much as she wanted to run to see her governess and pony, Anne knew her limitations and walked at a sedate pace while the three youngest girls scampered towards the low phaeton.
Charlotte, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary accompanied Anne with far more dignity than their younger sisters.
Once everyone was standing around the phaeton, Anne introduced her new friends to her governess and she to them, emphasising that Lizzy had saved her and Papa’s lives. Anne did not miss there was more than one trunk lashed to the phaeton.
“From the letters I received from you and Sir Lewis, I was not sure if your clothing had been recovered intact, and Miss Anne, your father requested I bring some for both of you, just in case,” Mrs. Jenkinson explained. “Until I saw you now and could tell you were unharmed for myself, I could not resteasy.” She turned to look at the second Miss Bennet. “I must thank you for your bravery Miss Elizabeth. I know not what I would have done had Miss Anne been hurt, or worse.”
Uncomfortable with all the praise she had been receiving, Elizabeth blushed and downplayed what she had done, pointing out that without Anne’s help, she would not have been able to do anything.
“Mrs. Jenkinson, this lady is our governess, Mrs. Annesley, and Sally is my younger sisters’ nursemaid.” Elizabeth made the introductions to divert the conversation from her actions. “Thankfully, Sir Lewis and Anne’s trunks were fastened well enough to the coach so they did not fall into the gully.”
“How is Peters, Miss Anne?” Mrs. Jenkinson enquired after the injured footman.
“Mr. Jones,” Anne saw the questioning look from Jenki, “the local doctor, says…his arm will heal fully.” Anne took a moment to regain her breath. “And thankfully Papa…is recovering as well.”
The footman began to remove the trunks from the phaeton as Mrs. Jenkinson was led into the house by the older girls to greet her master as well as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet governess and nursemaid followed the three youngest girls back towards the swing.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Darcys were visiting the Fitzwilliams at Snowhaven when the express rider arrived. He asked the butler for the quickest way to Pemberley and was pleased to learn Mr. Darcy of Pemberley was in residence at the castle which saved him an additional ten miles each way to ride.
When the butler entered the drawing room with letters on the silver salver, the two sets of Fitzwilliam and Darcy parents were the only ones present. The three boys were out riding and Gigi (as Georgiana was called by her family) wasresting in the nursery.
“Why have I received a missive here?” Darcy asked the butler. The man explained what had occurred. “Then it was provident he asked for the direction to my estate.”
The butler bowed and withdrew from the drawing room.
“This is from de Bourgh,” Lord Matlock announced.
“As is mine,” Darcy added.
Both men broke the seal they recognised as their brother-in-law’s and began to read. There were dual and almost simultaneous exclamations of “My goodness!”
“Robert and Reggie, what has Lewis written to cause you both to react thusly?” Lady Anne asked concernedly. Lady Matlock nodded her agreement as she too wanted to know.
