“I was, his heart had begun to weaken about two years past,” Mr. Harrison the older replied. “He ignored my counsel that you and your uncles be informed. It was your father’schoice not to do so. As much as I disagreed with his decision, it was not my place to gainsay him.”
“Can anything be done for him?” William questioned.
The younger doctor listened to Mr. Darcy’s breathing and took his pulse. “I believe there is fluid in the lungs and his heart is barely beating,” Mr. Harrison the younger announced.
“May I have some time with my father,” William requested as the tears began to prick his eyes.
“We will be right outside Master William,” the older man stated. He and his son exited the chamber pulling the door closed behind them.
“Father, you should have told me,” William lamented.
“Sorry…William. Not…repeat…my…mistakes. Love…you…and…Giana…” Nothing further was said.
William watched helplessly as his father’s eyes closed and the crackling sound of his breathing was heard no more. He allowed the emotional dam to burst as he lay across his father’s chest and wailed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As August was one of the warmest months of that year, in order to wait for his uncles, aunt, and cousins to arrive, his father’s body had to be kept in the icehouse.
In William’s opinion, it was an indignity, however, he knew he could not inter his father without his family in attendance. He was the new Mr. Darcy. Even though he had been effectively running everything for some years now, Father had been there when William had needed him.
Father was with Mother in heaven and Pemberley, and all of her dependants, was his responsibility.
Within three days of Robert Darcy’s passing, the family was assembled. The Fitzwilliams had been visiting Richard’s estate and the de Bourgh’s had been at Rosings Park with Giana and the Bennet sisters.
Sir Lewis had considered sparing Anne the long and gruelling coach ride by leaving her at Longbourn with her friends. Anne had refused saying she needed to be with Giana.
Richard had written to those who were to join him for the celebration, to let them know that in light of his uncle’s death, the upcoming harvest festival had been cancelled at Cloverdell.
While the men, which included many masters of the surrounding estates, the senior male staff, and male servants, watched the coffin of Robert Darcy placed into the family crypt alongside his beloved Anne, Lady Matlock was hosting the ladies of the area at the manor house in the largest drawing room.
Anne kept Giana company in the suite they shared. “I am sad Papa no longer lives, but I hardly knew him since Mama passed away. Am I a bad daughter that I am not sadder?” Georgiana, who had turned ten in March past, asked her older cousin.
“No, Giana, you are not…a bad anything,” Anne insisted as hard as she was able to without causing a coughing fit. “Each of us mourn…in his or her…own way.”
“Do you think I will be William’s ward?” Georgiana wondered. “Since he always remained here with Papa, I am not as close to him as I used to be. I still love my brother, but I hardly know him.”
“In a few days, your late…father’s will should…be read. Until then, we…will not know.” Anne smiled reassuringly at her cousin and friend.
“I wish Lizzy, and the rest of the Bennet sisters could have accompanied us,” Georgiana repined.
“Remember what Aunt Fanny…and Uncle Thomas…said? It is not a time…for them to visit,” Anne pointed out.
The truth was Anne would have loved to have Lizzy with them, but she understood why it could not be at this time.
Giana lay face down on her bed while Anne rubbed her cousin’s back soothingly.
Chapter 10
George Wickham was sure Mr. Darcy had left him something substantial in his will. He had chosen to ignore his father’s admonitions that there would be nothing for him.
Yes, the late master of Pemberley had caught him out in his scheme to discredit the prig. That, however, had not dimmed his hope the old man had remembered all the times George had entertained him and made him laugh, even though it had been some years since Mr. Darcy had seen him.
Thanks to the talk among the servants, namely the maid he had seduced, George knew the will was to be read two days after the interment. Rather than arrive at the manor that same day, George decided to wait one more day. He would go claim his due—he hoped it was one of the satellite estates—on the morrow.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. Rumpole, the same solicitor both Lord Matlock and Sir Lewis used for their legal work in London, arrived at Pemberley the day prior to the reading of the will. He requested the new Mr. Darcy meet with him in the study before the will was to be read.
