“Yes my darling boy, this is Aunt Lizzy, Aunt Mary, Aunt Kitty, and Aunt Lydia,” Jane reminded her son who had not seen his Bennet aunts since the last time he had been at Longbourn before he was walking and talking.
“No teaching him to climb trees yet, Lizzy,” Andrew stated playfully.
“I will make no such promise,” Elizabeth teased earning herself a playful slap on her arm from Jane.
“Did Elaine, Reggie, and Giana head directly for Netherfield Park?” Fanny enquired as she ruffled Tommy’s golden blond hair. She led everyone into the house past Mr. and Mrs. Hill who were standing near the door to see Miss Jane’s son.
“Yes, Mother Fanny. My parents and Giana decided they wanted to wash and change before we all meet at Oak Hollow,” Andrew reported. His face lost much of the joviality it had displayed on arriving. “Is it truly so close to the end?”
“It seems so. I would have been with Anne had she not commanded in writing I be here to greet you three,” Elizabeth averred. “It is a miracle Annie has lived this long. Both she and Uncle Lewis asked you do not leave Tommy in the nursery when we make for Oak Hollow later. They would like to see him.”
“It will be so.” Jane turned to her mother and the nursemaid who had followed them into the house. “Mama, do you want to keep Tommy with you or would you prefer Leticia amuse him until we depart?”
“What a question Jane, allow him to remain with us. He has to become familiar with his aunts after all,” Fanny insisted. “Leticia will be on hand if he needs anything we are unable to provide.”
Jane and Andrew proceeded up to their chambers to wash and change. Tommy was so engrossed with his grandparents and aunts he did not notice their absence.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Every breath Anne was drawing had become a fight. She was aware Lizzy and her family would arrive at the estate very soon. She hated having to leave all of them, but especially Lizzy. She had meant what she said in her letter to Lizzy. If her best friend took her death as a reason to withdraw from living a full life, then Anne would haunt her until Lizzy did as she had promised to do.
William had come to visit the previous day and Anne had exacted a promise he would look out for Lizzy for her. He had shared it was an easy promise to make as he aimed, after mourning periods were over, to request permission to call on Lizzy. For Anne, it was one of the final things she needed to hear to be completely at peace with her fast approaching departure from the mortal world.
Yester-evening her papa had come to sit with her. He had dismissed Jenki. She could hear his words as if he had just spoken them to her as they had banished her very last worry.
“Annie my darling daughter, even though we have had far too few years together in the mortal world, I know we will be together for all of eternity.” Anne had shaken her head trying to deny she would not be the only one to pass away soon. “You are too vigilant not to know it is true Annie. I have known for more than two years that my heart is ailing. And I do not mean just because of my feeling of your impending loss.
“Like you fought to remain alive for as long as possible to be with Lizzy, me, and the rest of our friends and family, I have fought tooth and nail not to be called home before you.
“We have both reached the end of our fight my Annie. Iknow how hard it is for you to breathe while feeling almost like you are underwater.” Anne had reached for her paper, although even that was becoming much more difficult now. Sir Lewis placed one of his hands on her arm to stay her. “Do not be angry with Jenki for telling me. She has always shared any information she thought was pertinent with me. You know she sees you much more as a daughter than someone she serves.”
Anne nodded. She was not angry with Jenki, she just had not wanted to worry Papa when he was fighting his own illness.
“As much as I disliked being married to your mother, even before she tried to have us murdered, at least I gained you from the union. That is something I thank God for each and every day, and I have done so since you were born.
“I know you are worried Lizzy will be in danger from her for the crime of saving us, and others, but do not.” Anne had looked at her father quizzically. “Your mother thinks on our deaths she will be free…” Papa had explained the steps in place to make sure she would not be a danger to anyone. “As an additional layer of security, Biggs, Johns, and their men will become Lizzy’s personal guards as soon as they are no longer yours.”
All Papa had told her assisted Anne in relaxing and lifting that particular weight from her shoulders.
Once she realised her mother had never changed, but had only been acting a part, Anne knew it was she who tried to murder her and Papa. It was not an opinion, but a certainty. The knowledge of what plans were in place and that Lizzy would have John and Brian to look after her was a great relief.
“Knowing everything you do now, if you choose to cease fighting, know that you will go with my blessing, and Annie, we will be together soon. In His kingdom you will have no physical restrictions, you will be as you were before scarlet fever took hold of you.”
Papa had kissed her on both cheeks and her forehead. He stood slowly and made his way, as best as he could, out of herchambers.
Soon the people she was waiting to see would be with her. Once she was able to say her goodbyes, Anne would stop fighting.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Bennet, Fitzwilliam, and Darcy coaches came to a halt in the drive outside of Oak Hollow’s manor house. Those residing at Longbourn had stopped at Netherfield Park first. There they had all spread out between three carriages, rather than four. Andrew’s conveyance remained at that estate.
Other than Tommy, who was in his grandmother Elaine’s arms, everyone else was sombre.
Those who had arrived that day had been fully apprised of the health situation of both de Bourghs at Oak Hollow. That way there would be no surprises when they saw Lewis and Anne.
The five men made for the study while the ladies, save Lizzy who would go see Anne last and on her own, were on their way to Anne’s chambers. For those who had not seen her for some time, seeing Anne was rather shocking.
Her face had lost all of its colour, was beyond pallid, and her breathing, such as it was, almost sounded like bubbles escaping from below water.
