A month after Richard’s speech, Miss Bingley had accepted an offer from Harold Hurst, ignoring her younger sister’s lamentation that Hurst was only a member of the lower second circles, if that, and could not raise the Bingley family to the heights of society, as she required.
Over the youngest sister’s vociferous objections, the eldest Bingley had married Hurst in early February 1806. Richard had attended the wedding. His friendship with Bingley had won over his personal preference not to be anywhere near the sisters.
The Hurst-Bingley wedding had occurred at the same time Miss Jane Bennet had been brought out by his mother. Over the years both Richard and his older brother had become close to the Bennet sisters. They were all beauties, the eldest was of the exact look Bingley would fall in love with as soon as he saw her—blonde, blue eyes, and willowy.
Richard had no tender feelings for any of the Bennet sisters—none he would admit to until the one who had truly caught his eye came out that is. He enjoyed being in their company and was sorry to miss the ball his mother had hosted at Matlock House for Miss Bennet. William had not even been invited as he was still in deep mourning at that stage.
With his thoughts returning to the subject of his slightly younger cousin, Richard grinned as he thought about his cousin’s reaction when he had forewarned him about Miss Caroline Bingley’s fortune hunting and social climbing ambitions. He had also informed his cousin of her pretentions and she would more than likely set her cap for him as soon as she met him.
If Caroline Bingley’s cloying attention became too much for William, Richard intended to speak to Bingley to have himwarn her off. If that did not work, he would suggest Charles allow his cousin to speak plainly to the youngest Bingley.
Richard was willing to take the situation into his own hands if things became too much for William and his fastidious nature would not allow him to tell Miss Bingley the truth of his feelings for her. His cousin had just begun to venture away from Pemberley, and he would not stand for any harpy driving him back into the solitude in which he had been living. Seeing William willing to be away from Pemberley was too valuable to allow anything—or anyone—to make him return to his hermitage, even his friendship with Bingley.
The Bingleys and Hursts would arrive at Cloverdell in two days, on the second Wednesday of November, and William was to arrive two days later, on Friday.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As he often did when he sat in his study with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand, Darcy spoke to his parents the morning he was preparing to begin the two day coach journey to Richard’s estate.
“Well Father, I am honouring your wishes. I pray it pleases both you and Mother. I will no longer lock myself away at Pemberley. As I am sure you and Mother noted, I mourned you no more than the one year as you instructed.” Darcy had his eyes lifted to the heavens as he spoke. “My first step is a small one. I will be spending time at Cloverdell with Richard and I will finally meet his friend by the name of Bingley. I know neither of you would have been proud of me when I used the fact his friend’s father was a tradesman as a reason not to meet him before.
“I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child, you and mother taught me what was right, and how to correct my temper. You gave me good principles, but at times I have followed them in pride and conceit, only looking inward. Unfortunately as an onlyson and until Giana was born, an only child, in some ways I was spoilt by you. I know that is not what you intended, you who were goodness personified. You were both all that was benevolent and amiable, and you never allowed, encouraged, nor taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. That was all my own sense of superiority. I know it is not a value either of you ever shared. Such I was, from eight to one and twenty; and such I might still have been but for Richard’s admonition followed by your letter, Father.
“I will try not to be aloof and arrogant with Richard’s friend. You know it takes me a while to become comfortable with those I am unfamiliar with. I cannot make the same promise with his younger sister. I read you the description Richard wrote in the letter a fortnight ago so I do not have to tell you what she is like again. I will try to be polite.
“However, if she or any other lady—once I begin to make forays into London society—tries to entrap me I will not allow anyone to force me into marriage. I will follow your directions regarding the person I should marry.
“Yes, I have seen the wisdom of your advice regarding marrying one I love and who loves me for myself and not my connections and possessions. I was going to do exactly what you suspected, use your pain after Mother passed away as an excuse never to marry for love. I have come to realise had I done that, I would have been miserable for all of my days.
“You know Mother, when Father first named Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie as Giana’s guardians, I was very resentful. It did not take me long to see the wisdom in Father’s choice. My sister flourishes with them. It has been some years now since she has exhibited any shyness, and Mother, I am sure I do not have to tell you that at eleven she is more proficient on the pianoforte than young ladies fourand five years her senior. This coming Christmastide will be at Snowhaven, and I will be there every single day and I will spend as much time with my sister as she will allow.
“I love you both and miss you all the time, but I will not allow that to stop me from living. I must away now. Carstens is waiting for me in the coach. I love you both.”
Darcy drained his cooling coffee, stood, and lifted his eyes to the heavens for some moments. Thereafter, he made his way to the interior courtyard to say his goodbyes to the Reynolds and Wickham.
A few minutes later, the Darcy coach was on its way south.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even though her mother had done nothing overt to rouse suspicion, Sir Lewis would not leave Anne in Lady Catherine’s care. When he had to travel, Anne would be at either Longbourn or Matlock House. Sir Lewis and Anne still spent time at Oak Hollow. To date, Lady Catherine had not been included on a visit to that estate. He had decided he would never sully their retreat with her presence.
After her first season in London, Jane had returned for part of the little season. Uncle Lewis was away on business, and she was missing her sisters and Anne. Anne was at Longbourn, so Jane chose to return home in the middle of November rather than mid-December.
One man had caught Jane’s attention, but as yet, other than dance with her, one set only, at the balls they had attended in common, he had not requested to call on her. Given he was from a family who were friends of the Bennets, she did see him more often than just at the occasional ball.
As her family members had not been able to accompany Jane to London, and Aunt Elaine had not been available as much as needed, Mrs. Annesley had been with Jane as her companion.
When Jane came out, it was decided she needed a companion. Given Mrs. Annesley’s familiarity with London society and its mores, she was offered the position. The former governess was keen to take the new position, especially with the increased wages. The only issue was finding a new governess for the two youngest Bennets. Elizabeth, who turned sixteen in March, and Mary, fifteen in August, no longer needed a governess and only studied with masters or their father.
Kitty and Lydia, thirteen and ten respectively, still needed the services of a governess. The problem had been solved by employing Miss Anita Jones, sister to Meryton’s apothecary and doctor in one person.
Jane enjoyed having Mrs. Annesley as her companion. The lady was ever watchful, but knew when to remain in the background and allow Jane to speak to those she desired to. It was not just the two of them in London, Uncle Lewis had, after conferring with Bennet, sent Brian Johns to watch over the two ladies when they were out in public.
When Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, and Giana were not at Matlock House, Jane, her companion, and her temporary personal guard would be hosted by the Gardiners at their house on Gracechurch Street.
That morning Jane and Mrs. Annesley were riding in the old Bennet carriage with Johns seated on the box next to the coachman. Bennet had purchased a larger coach and two matched pairs of greys in January of the current year, a month before Jane came out. When his neighbours enquired how he could afford such a conveyance, he told them he had one very good year which gave him some additional funds. It was true—he just did not reveal all the years had been like that.
A little more than four hours passed since departing Town before the coachman guided the team through the gateposts which marked the entrance of Longbourn.
