Elizabeth, her sisters, and any others who had not met Tommy, had the pleasure over Christmastide 1809. That year it was held at Longbourn, with Netherfield Park being utilised for those who would not have chambers at the Bennets’ primary estate. The Fitzwilliam grandparents had missed the celebration thanks to Uncle Reggie having suffered a bad case of influenza. Aunt Elaine, Giana, and her brother, who Elizabeth had not met yet thanks to her not making her visits to London or Hilldale, had been together for the festive season.
Richard had not missed the opportunity to be in Mary’s company, as he had not since she had first come out locally in August 1808, then in Town the following August. He had claimed he did not want to miss spending time with his nephew, of whom he was one of the godfathers, but everyone knew his true motivation.
Elizabeth was fully aware Papa had asked Richard to wait until Mary was at least nineteen, as she would be soon, before he declare himself. Richard was secure in Mary’s regard for him, as she was in his. Hence he had not put up more than a token objection when he had been informed he would have to wait another year before a courtship—which seemed superfluous for them—or an engagement was permitted.
Elizabeth was not in any way envious her older sister and next younger sister had found the other half of their hearts. She knew when it was her time, she would meet the man who would be her perfect match.
Thinking about matches led her thoughts to her friend, the former Charlotte Lucas, now Mrs. Smythe.
She had met the Honourable Ernest Smythe, the younger brother of the Earl of Granville, Lord Harry Smythe, during the first little season Charlotte had attended. He had not officially called on her during that first foray into London’s society, but he had asked for a courtship on her return to Town just after Twelfth Night 1809. A month later they were engaged.
The two had married from St. Alfred’s in Meryton at the end of March of the same year. Thanks to Mr. Smythe owning his own estate in Lincolnshire, a little north of the meeting point of the borders of that county, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, Charlotte’s husband had not needed to shift for himself and choose a profession. She was less than seven hours away from Jane’s and Andrew’s estate by carriage. Elizabeth knew her friend was very happy, but to date she had received no news of Charlotte being with child. To go visit Charlotte at her husband’s estate was another invitation she had felt she needed to refuse in order to remain near Anne.
Now she was at Longbourn, Uncle Lewis and Anne were present. Elizabeth knew she should have been thinking of Mary’s approaching birthday and the proposal from Richardshe was sure would be forthcoming, but she was as concerned for Anne as she ever was.
In January of the current year Anne had turned twenty, Elizabeth had joined her, reaching the same age in March.
She had heard Uncle Lewis confide in Mama and Papa that he had not expected Anne to reach that milestone given the deterioration in her health. As much as she wanted to believe it was otherwise, Elizabeth was not so myopic as to ignore the facts she could see before her eyes.
Anne was beginning to fight for every breath and her pallor had taken on an off-white, almost grey tinge.
Elizabeth banished the mounting maudlin thoughts regarding Anne’s health, or lack thereof—at least for a short while. She needed to be with Anne who would be able to detect her mood and that would do her friend no good.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even though the break in his leg had been in the thinnest of the bones, it had taken more than four months before Darcy felt he was back at full strength.
Since then, he had spent time at Richard’s estate a few times and Richard had visited Pemberley in return. When Richard visited in July 1808, Darcy had recently begun to use his crutches to be independently mobile. His cousin had requested that he be allowed to bring Bingley, and only Bingley, with him.
Without Miss Bingley as part of the party, William had agreed without reservation. During the three weeks Richard and Bingley had been at Pemberley, the bonds of friendship had been furthered between Darcy and Bingley.
The latter had told of the tantrum his younger sister had unleashed when rather than joining him at Cloverdell and then possibly at Darcy’s estate, she was sent to visit their aunt in Scarborough for the summer. According to her, the master of Pemberley would be greatly angered by her absence. Evenwhen she had been informed—in no uncertain terms—the exact opposite was true, she had insisted she had the right of it.
Richard had extolled the virtues of his new sisters. So far Darcy had met only one of the fabled Bennet sisters, his new cousin, Lady Hilldale, Jane Fitzwilliam. In May 1809, a little more than two months before Andrew’s son was born, Darcy had accepted an invitation to Hilldale. Any of his former uncharitable thoughts, which he had briefly had when he had read Aunt Elaine’s letter, were banished.
Lady Hilldale—Jane, as he had been invited to address her, and she addressed him as William—was everything that was proper and good. If he were blind he still would have been able to see the love which flowed between the two. Andrew was beyond besotted with his wife and she with him.
It had been a disappointment he would not meet any of the younger Bennet sisters, and specifically not Anne’s best friend, Miss Bennet, who had shown such bravery those years ago when she had saved the lives of his uncle and cousin. All Jane and Andrew had related was their sister had a prior invitation she had to honour.
From Hilldale, Darcy had journeyed to Cloverdell and spent more time with Richard. He was greatly impressed at the improvements he saw each time he visited Richard’s estate. Word of the quality of the Cloverdell horses was well known in the country. That led to a long waiting list for Richard’s horses. The steward, Mercer, had been given charge of the stables and the breeding programme, so another steward had been employed for the remainder of the estate.
There were four trainers, any one of which Darcy would have tried to entice away to come work at Pemberley had Richard not been his relation. In addition to the trainers, there were a large number of grooms and stable hands.
On this visit to the estate, Richard revealed plans to double the size of the stables. The owner of the neighbouringestate had passed away some six months previously. His heir was not interested in an estate in Northamptonshire, so with some help from his father and Andrew, Richard had purchased the estate which had many acres of prime pasture land. The acquisition had led to him being able to begin to expand the operation according to his plans.
Once all the additions were complete and with the additional income generated from the new breeding stock and stallions, Richard’s income would be close to Pemberley’s.
It was on that visit Darcy had noticed the faraway look Richard got whenever he discussed a certain Bennet sister, Miss Mary, and how he was looking forward to dancing at her coming out ball in October of that year. The ball had been deferred to allow the heat of summer to give way to the cooler autumn. Not only did Darcy learn Richard’s heart was lost, but he discovered his aunt sponsored each Bennet sister who had so far come out, and he had missed two balls in their honours at Matlock House. When he listened carefully to Richard talk about the family, he had a feeling they did what he did. He surmised that they disguised the true extent of their wealth. He hoped he would meet them one day and be able to challenge both the famous Thomas Bennet, and from what his uncle and cousins had related, his second daughter, to a chess match.
The next visit Richard made to Pemberley was around Easter, 1810, and with him came Bingley. This time, much to Darcy’s chagrin, he had reluctantly agreed to Miss Bingley being with her brother. Evidently no one in her family wanted her as a guest, not her aunt in Scarborough nor the Hursts. Bingley had written to request permission for her to accompany him, due to him not having managed to set up her own establishment yet. It was something he told Darcy he was determined to do as soon as they returned to London.
More than once while the shrew was in residence, did Darcy hear someone trying to open the doors leading to the master’s suite, in an attempt to enter his chambers at night.Even though he would never give in to a compromise, he kept all doors leading into his chambers locked whether he was away or present in his suite. Ever since the first occurrence, Darcy had Carstens sleep on a pallet near the main door in his bedchamber.
When Bingley confronted her, she had vehemently denied she was the guilty party. From that point on, two large footmen were posted in the hallway outside the master suite. They reported not two nights later, Miss Bingley, dressed in a rather inappropriate outfit, had approached the door.
As soon as she saw them she had attempted to dissemble about having begun to sleep walk and then she had become lost upon ‘waking.’ Much to her dismay, and ignored vitriolic complaints, she was moved to the Rose and Crown Inn the very next day.
Before he departed with Richard, and after profuse apologies for his sister’s unconscionable behaviour, Bingley had shared he intended to lease an estate near London. Richard suggested one only twenty miles from Town, called Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire. Both Richard and Darcy agreed to assist Bingley in his first foray into the world of landed gentry.
