“It should be ready within a sennight,” Sir Lewisresponded. “I asked to speak to you two privately as I want to make some changes to my will.”
Both brothers listened intently as de Bourgh explained the changes he intended to make. When de Bourgh had completed his telling, there was silence for some minutes as his brothers absorbed the information.
“As long as this is what you truly want to do, we will support you completely,” Darcy stated and Matlock agreed as well.
“When will you two depart for the north?” Sir Lewis enquired.
“There is no point beginning the journey on the morrow as it is Saturday. If the Bennets are willing to host us, we will remain here for the sabbath and then depart at first light on Monday,” Matlock responded.
“That way you two can lose to Bennet at chess a few more times before your departure,” Sir Lewis ribbed.
“I expected to lose to him, not to his daughter of ten!” Darcy exclaimed. “Not only is she brave, but highly intelligent as well.”
“Darcy, would you and Anne allow Gigi to come keep Anne company at Oak Hollow?” Sir Lewis wondered. “As Anne was before she met Lizzy and her sisters, Gigi is shy. I am sure being in the Bennet sisters’ company will do wonders for her like it has for my Annie.” Sir Lewis got a sad, wistful look on his countenance. “If only her health could improve just like her shyness has.”
Neither brother added anything. They were well aware Anne de Bourgh’s life would be cut far too short thanks to her illness some years past. They worried about how their brother would continue if Anne passed away before him. She was the whole of his world.
Once Darcy saw the melancholy pass, he responded to de Bourgh’s question. “If Gigi would like to come, and my Annedoes not object, I will be happy to bring her,” Darcy stated.
The news caused Sir Lewis to smile, if only a little.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The welcome for the Earl and Darcy to remain at Longbourn was extended without delay. When she did so, Fanny also insisted the men, and any members of their families, were welcome to stop at Longbourn whenever the family was present.
Anne was informed there was a good chance her young cousin would be joining her for part of the summer. “Thank you, Uncle Robert and Papa, I…would love to see Gigi again,” Anne gushed before she needed to recover her breath. She turned to Elizabeth and Jane who were seated next to her on the settee. “You will love Gigi…and, I am sure, she will love all…of you. Mary,” Anne addressed the middle Bennet daughter sitting on a chair next to where she was after some deep breaths, “even though she has only…begun to learn to play the pianoforte, Gigi loves playing…it as much as you do.”
“If Miss Darcy comes to visit, it will be a pleasure to meet her,” Jane spoke for her sisters.
“I can help her learn to play the pianoforte,” Mary volunteered.
“She will enjoy that, I am sure,” Fanny said indulgently. Mary began her lessons two years ago and certainly had an aptitude for the instrument. She was on par with Lizzy who was almost two years older. Lizzy would have been far more advanced had she enjoyed the hours of practice it took.
Jane had chosen to learn the harp. At twelve her eldest was quite proficient on that instrument already. As they had done with the older three, Fanny and her husband would not push Kitty or Lydia towards a particular instrument. It would soon be Kitty’s turn to choose her instrument.
Fanny sat contentedly and watched the two groups in the drawing room. Her husband, Reggie, and Robert were in adeep discussion. The girls had their heads together, more than likely making plans regarding Georgiana Darcy’s possible visit.
Her reverie was disturbed when Hill announced dinner.
That evening after dinner, Bennet and Matlock were combatants across the chess board, while Darcy challenged Lizzy to a game as well. Soon the former two were watching the game thanks to Bennet making short work of Matlock. It was a long game, Elizabeth eventually surrendering when neither player had too many pieces left, but Darcy had managed to drive her king into a corner with no option to escape.
As planned, on Monday morning, with the breaking of dawn, the Matlock coach departed to convey Matlock and Darcy back to their families.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lady Catherine had spent a most unhappy few days in her new residence since her arrival Friday past. Rather than a house on the Royal Crescent, the house she was in was far from that most exclusive address in Bath.
Also, the structure was far smaller than she deserved. Lady Catherine conveniently forgot the alternative was a cottage on an Irish horse farm.
On top of her complaints about the house, the men her brothers had sent with her, would not follow her instructions. She had thought about writing a letter to Clay Younge to see if he was able to assist her, but thankfully her maid had mentioned how all incoming and outgoing post was to be inspected.
All she needed now was to arrive at another plan. Lady Catherine was determined this time it would be truly infallible. She would have to control everything herself; she could not allow some lowborn man like Younge to do things on his own out of her supervision.
The question was what to do, and how. An idea startedto form in her head. It would take much self-discipline, but that, she told herself was not something at which she would fail. It may take time, but in the end, she would be victorious!
Chapter 6
It was a little beyond the first stop when Matlock decided to broach a subject for which he was aware his brother had a significant blind spot. Why Darcy, who was normally very perceptive and logical refused to see the truth in this case, was beyond Matlock’s comprehension.
