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On the journey back to Netherfield Park, Darcy had much over which to cogitate. He rode alone as his cousin was in the Bennet carriage with his fiancée and her companion on the way back to Longbourn.
There was no doubt Anne was not long for this world. She seemed to make the best of her remaining time. He was shocked at his first view of Anne when he and Richardfollowed Uncle Lewis into her sitting room. She was gaunt, her skin was pallid, and her breathing was laboured. At least when he had seen Anne at Pemberley, even though he had spent no time with her, Darcy had heard her speak. Now, other than a single word here or there, she did not talk at all. Instead, if and when Anne needed to communicate, she would write a note to make herself understood. Uncle Lewis did not look well at all either and there was no mistaking the accuracy of Richard’s assessment, that their uncle would not long survive his daughter, was accurate. There was a great sadness in his uncle’s eyes.
As soon as he had seen Mary Bennet he had known who she was before the introduction was effected by Richard. She looked like a younger version of Jane. Speaking to her briefly he could easily discern her intelligence and dry wit. If Miss Bennet was the most intelligent of the five sisters then he could only imagine the level of her intellect. Miss Mary, or as he now called her, Cousin Mary, had informed Darcy her older sister was another bibliophile in their family.
When she had mentioned that, a memory had stirred in Darcy’s consciousness. He remembered his father mentioning that fact on his return from Hertfordshire ten years past. He also recalled how impressed his father had been with the little heroine.
As much as he wanted Anne to live for many years, he knew it would not be. He only hoped her suffering—no matter the brave face she showed—would not be of long duration.
His thoughts returned to Richard’s fiancée. There was no mistaking the genuine love and affection shared by the engaged couple. Thinking of his father’s final missive, Darcy hoped he too would find the same thing.
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All of her efforts to garner an invitation to her brother’s leased estate in the backwater had been rebuffed so CarolineBingley had no choice.
She rented a carriage and planned to depart early (for her it was early) on Friday morning. Miss Bingley was sure her brother would not turn her away once she arrived. To that end, she planned to have the conveyance return to London as soon as she alighted and her trunks were off-loaded.
Charles would make her mistress as Aunt Hildebrand knew nothing of the ways of society.
That same night she planned to compromise Mr. Darcy. She had waited long enough. If that failed, her second option was Mr. Fitzwilliam. The slight inconvenience of his engagement would not get in her way, she would do what was required to achieve her aims.
Chapter 24
Penny galloped across the fields with gay abandon on Friday morning. A groom and footman were doing their best, while rapidly falling behind, to keep up with Miss Lizzy as she allowed her mare to run. As was her wont early in the morning on her father’s land, Elizabeth was riding astride wearing one of her special split skirt habits. She eschewed the hat which went with the outfit knowing—from experience—it would not remain on her head once she allowed Penny her head.
Elizabeth was unaware she was being observed as Penny’s hooves thundered across the field kicking up clumps of dirt and grass behind her.
Looking at the horse—he had a very good eye regarding horseflesh—Darcy could tell it was a thoroughbred. That puzzled him exceedingly. Had he not heard the family’s income was barely two thousand per annum and the daughters had no fortune to speak of? It was a quandary for another day.
Darcy recognised the horse as the one he had briefly seen pass his coach the day he and Richard had called on Uncle Lewis and Anne. That meant the lady riding in a most unladylike fashion was none other than the elusive Miss Bennet he had yet to meet. Pushing aside his disdain for her flouting society’s conventions as she was, from what he could see of her figure from behind, she was a rather comely woman. As her head was uncovered, he could see her hair was raven-coloured, not blonde like her other two sisters he had met. Also, he could tell she was more petite than Jane and Cousin Mary. She was headed away from him so he could not see herface. It also accounted for the fact he had not been noticed. At least she was not so improper as to roam about without escorts.
He had to admit to himself he was the one who was intruding on her father’s land. It was not like she was riding in that fashion in a public place. He remembered too when he had seen her and the giant men escorting her, she had been on a side-saddle like any proper lady. If he had not jumped the fence marking the border between the two estates, then he would not have been in a position to observe her. As he was the trespasser, Darcy felt shame for his former opinions.
He wheeled Zeus and pointed him back towards Netherfield Park, jumping the fence into one of Bingley’s fields.
As he rode, he wondered if she would be at the assembly Bingley had committed him to attend. Thinking of the dance upcoming brought up his anger at his host for volunteering him to attend without first asking him.
Not long after he and Zeus were back on Netherfield Park’s land, Darcy heard the conversation he had with Richard playing in his head. It had been right after Bingley had informed them of the assembly on their return from Oak Hollow.
Richard had cocked his head indicating Darcy should follow him out of the study before he was able to tell Bingley he refused to attend.
They had walked into the library and Richard had pushed the door closed.
“My following you into this room has only delayed the inevitable refusal I intend to deliver to Bingley. How could he obligate me to attend a dance without my permission?” Darcy had barked.
“William, calm yourself. Bingley did nothing malicious!” Richard had responded evenly. “You are no longer a pup wet behind the ears who needs to hide himself from those he does not yet know.Would you truly refuse to be introduced to my future parents-in-law?”
“You know I would not refuse the introduction. That does not mitigate the fact Bingley accepted in all of our names when he should have spoken to us first.”
“What is done is done. If you refuse now after he has accepted on your behalf you will cause him embarrassment in the eyes of his new neighbours and you will be seen as a misanthrope.” Richard had paused and grinned. “Besides you will get to meet Lizzy…Miss Bennet, and Kitty…Miss Catherine, who is recently out locally.”
With no good cheer, Darcy agreed he would attend and the two had returned to join Bingley in the study.
Having seen Miss Bennet tearing across the fields, riding with no fear, Darcy admitted to himself that being introduced to her would not be a bad thing.
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