“There is a wheelwright in Hatfield, however, we will need to send to Hertford for a man who will be able to fabricate a new axle for you,” Bennet informed his guest. “I will dispatch a groom to both men’s businesses on the morrow.”
As soon as Mr. Jones permitted it, the two men were carried to and placed in the bed of the cart.
Bennet stood close to Mr. de Bourgh and extended his hand. “Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, the estate past the fence line. You already met Lizzy, the second of five daughters.”
“Sir Lewis de Bourgh of Rosings Park and Oak Hollow, and you met my dear daughter, Anne,” Sir Lewis responded.
“So not Mr. de Bourgh. A knight or baronet?” Bennet asked.
“The latter,” Sir Lewis averred. “As I will be your guest, Mr. Bennet, please address me as de Bourgh.”
“As long as I am Bennet to you,” Bennet agreed. “I will inform our daughters.”
“Anne you will meet my Mama and sisters,” Elizabeth enthused after Papa told her and Anne the news.
“How many sisters…do you have?” Anne had to take some deep breaths given her diminished lung capacity.
“Are you well, Anne?” Elizabeth enquired concernedly.
“Almost four years past, I…was afflicted with a very bad…case of scarlet fever…” Anne explained her illness to Elizabeth and the fact she had a weakened heart and lungs. “I am reconciled to…the fact I will not live a long…life, but as long as…I am with Papa, it…will be a good life.”
“You have not mentioned your mother,” Elizabeth noted. “I have the best Mama.”
“My mother is different…” Anne gave Elizabeth a brief summary of her mother and the lack of motherly warmth Anne felt from her. “At least I have…Mrs. Jenkinson.”
“Mrs. Jenkinson?” Elizabeth looked around and saw no one else.
“She is my governess. She…was visiting a friend so she…will meet us at Oak Hollow.” Suddenly, Anne remembered it would be some days before they arrived at the estate in Bedfordshire. “I need to remind Papa…to send a note to the estate…so my governess will join…us at your estate and…not sit at Oak…Hollow without knowing…where we are.”
“I am sure she will enjoy meeting our governess, Mrs. Annesley. Her husband used to be an officer who was lost in India. She is ever so nice. Do you play any instruments?”
Before Anne could answer, Bennet approached the two young girls. They were about to retrieve the broken body of the coachman and neither he nor de Bourgh wanted their daughters to see it.
“Lizzy dear, it is time to ride Hector home. I am sure your mother and sisters would like to know you are well,” Bennet stated. “If Anne agrees, she can ride in your cart back to Longbourn.”
“Anne, would you like to ride with me? I will be careful and go slowly, I promise,” Elizabeth enthused.
“Did my Papa give…his permission, Mr. Bennet?” Anne verified.
“He did,” Bennet averred.
“In that case, yes…please I would like…to go with Lizzy,” Anne smiled.
Bennet first hitched Hector and then helped Anne into the cart, which had plenty of room as the rope was no longer in it. Next, he lifted Lizzy onto her saddle. With one of theLongbourn grooms as escort, Elizabeth turned Hector towards her house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Seeing Elizabeth arrive on Hector in front of the house and her not having gone to the stables as she normally would, Fanny led Jane and Mary outside to meet Lizzy in the circular drive.
“Lizzy, you came home with a girl?” Fanny queried.
“She saved my…Papa’s and my life,” Anne blurted out before shyness overtook her, and she dropped her eyes to the bed of the small cart.
Fanny held up her hand to stem the questions about to flow from her eldest and middle daughters. There was much she wanted to know, but not while the shy girl was sitting in the cart.
“Come my dear, surely you would be more comfortable in the house and not sitting in Lizzy’s cart,” Fanny stated gently as she extended her hand for the slight girl to take.
Anne took the hand warmly offered to her and climbed down with Lizzy’s mother’s steadying assistance. Elizabeth came to stand next to her.
