Even though it was windy and chilly, the Bennet parents and four younger sisters were waiting for Jane in the drive by the time the carriage door had been opened. As soon as she was hugged and kissed by her parents, Jane was surrounded by four excited sisters.
There was no need to ask about Anne. Cold days were not good for her, even more so when it was windy as well.
Given the falling temperatures, with Mrs. Annesley—who also had been welcomed warmly—trailing, the Bennets entered the warm house. “Anne?” Jane enquired while she was divesting herself of her outerwear.
“In the drawing room,” Elizabeth cocked her head to the closed door, “with Jenki.”
Each year that passed Anne became more and more sensitive to the elements, especially the cold. Once the days became too cold, as much as Anne loved to drive one of her phaetons, she no longer did so. Jane entered the room where Anne was.
“Jane, it is good…to see you,” Anne managed before she began to cough.
Mrs. Jenkinson administered a spoonful of tonic Mr. Jones had provided which seemed to diminish Anne’s coughing fits.
“As it is to see you,” Jane responded. Not wanting Anne to talk too much after her coughing, Jane looked to Mrs. Jenkinson. “Jenki, how long will Anne be with us?”
“Until the first week in December, Miss Bennet,” Mrs. Jenkinson stated. “Miss Anne and Sir Lewis will be at Rosings Park for the season.”
What went unsaid was they would also be with Lady Catherine.
She had never said anything outright to tell the Bennets they were unwelcome the times they had visited since herreturn to Rosings Park, but it was not hard to read in the surreptitious looks she shot at them as well as her body language when she thought no one was observing her.
Knowing Anne was building a relationship with her mother, no matter how strained it was, none of the Bennets said a word to Sir Lewis, and especially not to Anne. The past Easter had been the first year the Bennets had made the excuse they were to be with the Gardiners and Philipses for the holiday. There was no doubt Sir Lewis knew the reason for the change in plans, but he too did not want Anne to suffer for her mother’s actions.
“Janey you should see how much Anne has improved at playing chess,” Elizabeth said to distract any maudlin thoughts about them not spending Christmastide with Anne. “She played me to a draw last time we played; she, in fact, almost beat me.”
“Uncle Thomas has…been teaching me…some of his strategies,” Anne managed.
“Ones he has not taught his own daughter yet,” Elizabeth gave her father a mock glare.
The truth was Elizabeth had begun to win against her father occasionally. He had not told her yet, but he believed she would ultimately be even better at the game than he was. It had been almost a year since Matlock or his sons had been able to best Lizzy at the game.
Not long before dinner, Fanny knocked on her husband’s study door and entered when he called out. “Thomas, are we doing the right thing not telling Lewis how his wife makes sure we know she does not welcome us at Rosings Park?”
“The woman has no power. Do not forget she is not even the mistress there,” Bennet replied. “If she did anything overt, I would speak to de Bourgh, but I will not do anything to upset Anne unless there is no choice.”
A tear slid down Fanny’s cheek. “How I wish it was nota certainty that Anne’s life will be cut short.” Fanny wiped the tear and others that had followed it with her husband’s proffered handkerchief. “I love her as well as any of our daughters.”
“It is how we all feel. Remember we have promised de Bourgh we will never make Anne feel like all she has to do is to prepare to pass away. He wants her to live as full a life as possible until the time comes.”
Fanny straightened her spine as she heard Hill announcing dinner. “Then that is exactly what we will continue to do!”
After sharing a warm hug and a rather languid kiss, Fanny and Bennet left the study heading for the dining parlour.
Chapter 14
Darcy arrived at his cousin’s estate as planned; he was met in the drive by Richard.
“William! Welcome back to Cloverdell. Do not make it obvious you are looking, but I am sure you can see the redheaded lady staring at you from the window of the drawing room,” Richard said in greeting as he barely inclined his head towards the window behind him.
There was no missing the shock of red hair in the direction Richard indicated. “That colour is hard to miss. Miss Bingley, I assume?” Darcy responded.
“One and the same. Bingley and I have each warned her off, but we doubt that will sink into her consciousness,” Richard explained. “She has heard the rumours of ten thousand per annum. Even though it is far below reality, being an inveterate fortune hunter and social climber combined, all she sees is wealth and you being her entrée to theTonafter I became unattainable to her.”
“What do you advise?” Darcy enquired.
“Be blunt when it gets too much for you. I spoke to Bingley when we saw nothing we said was dimming his sister’s desire to make you her husband. He agrees. If she is as relentless as I know she can be, then you must be as direct as you need to be.” Richard held up his hand to forestall William’s protest. “As the honourable gentleman you are, I know it would irk you to be anything less than polite. However, sometimes, with someone like Miss Bingley, allowing her delusions of a future with you to grow is much crueller thanwhat you would consider rude by shattering her illusions now.”
“I will think on your advice and act accordingly if I see it is needed. You told me your friend is an affable fellow. What of his older sister and brother-in-law?”
