The two youngest Bennet sisters and Giana said their final goodbyes first, and then departed the room in tears
Mary replaced her sisters. “How I would have enjoyed having you attend my wedding like you were at Janey’s,” Mary told Anne as she fought a losing battle with her tears. “I love you, Anne.” Mary took one of Anne’s hands and gave it a squeeze. There was no missing how cold her hand was regardless of the fire which made the chamber rather hot.
“We could not deny you when your request for us to bring Tommy was conveyed to us. We are so pleased he is tomeet his wonderful Cousin Anne,” Jane stated with a smile. Anne nodded.
Jane took Mary’s place with Tommy in her arms. As if he understood the gravity of the situation, Tommy was much more subdued than was his wont. Anne gave a wan smile when she saw the toddler. With a nod from Anne, Jane placed Tommy on the bed and he lay down next to her. Seeing a tear slide down Anne’s cheek, Jane picked up her unnaturally quiet son and after saying goodbye to Anne, she left the chamber.
No sooner had Jane left than the five men entered Anne’s chamber to join the two matrons.
Fanny and Bennet said their final goodbyes first, Fanny speaking for them both. Fanny sat close to Anne. “We will miss you every day Annie. You have been like another daughter to us. As sorry as we will be not to see you, we know you will no longer be suffering.” Fanny leaned forward and kissed both of Anne’s cold cheeks. After she did, Bennet leaned down and kissed Anne’s forehead.
It was the three cousins next. After Andrew and Richard stood aside, Darcy took the seat next to Anne’s bed. He took one of her small hands in his large one and rubbed it to try to warm it. He leaned close to Anne’s ear so only she would be able to hear him.
“You have my word of honour that I will do everything in my power to make Miss Bennet…Elizabeth happy. When you see my father, please tell him I took all of his words to heart. Be at peace, Annie.” Darcy kissed her hand and then gently put it back at her side.
The three cousins departed the room leaving Anne’s aunt and uncle alone with her. “Annie, you will be missed our dear niece,” Lady Elaine spoke for her husband and herself.
As strong a man as he was, Lord Matlock was too overcome with emotion to speak. He had just said his farewells to his only remaining brother and now it was time to dothe same again with his niece. As he had for many years, he felt powerless to stop what was happening, and for a man of supposed power, it was not a feeling he enjoyed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the men had come from the study, they had told Elizabeth that her presence was requested by Uncle Lewis.
She entered rather gingerly steeling herself for how Uncle Lewis would look. The previous time she had visited he had not looked at all healthy. It had been quite some time since he had looked so.
“Lizzy,” Sir Lewis croaked on seeing her.
“I am here Uncle Lewis.” She hoped he did not want to talk about his will or what would be after as he had the previous time she had been in the study.
“Just want to…thank you…for the extra ten years…your bravery gave us,” Sir Lewis managed. Then he pointed to a letter on his desk. “Read this...we are gone.”
Elizabeth held up her hand. “Have it delivered to my Papa. I am not ready to take it from you yet. I gained as much from our friendship as Annie did,” she asserted.
Sir Lewis smiled. He was used to Lizzy downplaying her role in their lives from the time she rescued them onward. He beckoned her to him and took each of her hands in his own cold ones. “Thank you…Lizzy.” He waved her away as he took some wheezing breaths.
From the study, Elizabeth walked up the stairs on her way to Anne’s chambers. She arrived in time to see Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie exit. Both had tears in their eyes.
Elizabeth entered the room and sat next to Anne, taking the hand nearest to her in one of her own. She was used to Anne’s hands not being warm, but this was far colder than she had experienced before.
Anne smiled at Elizabeth and then forced two wordsfrom her throat. “Thank…you.” Just the two words led to a round of coughing and fighting for breath.
“I have as much to thank you for as you do me,” Elizabeth claimed. “I cannot be selfish any longer. You have suffered enough and as much as I will miss you, it is time for your anguish to end. It is obvious we will lose both you and Uncle Lewis and that is a tragedy. In a way, it is as it should be. Your father has lived for you and now you will soon be together forever.” By now tears were streaming down Elizabeth’s cheeks as she said her goodbyes.
It broke Mrs. Jenkinson’s heart to hear the misery in Miss Lizzy’s voice as she said goodbye to Miss Anne. She was sitting in a darkened corner of the bedchamber to be of use as needed.
“Annie, I will sit with you until you are sleeping,” Elizabeth sobbed.
She was somewhat hurt when she saw Anne shake her head slightly. “Miss Lizzy,” Elizabeth had not seen Jenki sitting unobtrusively in the corner. “Miss Anne does not want you to watch her pass from this world into the next. She wants your last memory of her to be of her living, as she will always be alive in your heart.”
As Elizabeth tried to stand her legs almost gave way but Mrs. Jenkinson was there to support her.
“Goodbye Annie. I love you as much as I love any of my other sisters.” With that, Elizabeth kissed her best friend on her forehead and then ran out of the chamber.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
According to Sir Lewis and Anne’s wishes, the family did not sit and wait for them to be called home. Within minutes of their departure, Sir Lewis was assisted to his daughter’s bedchamber by Biggs and Johns. He lay down on the bed next to his daughter, taking one of her hands in one of his own.
Mrs. Jenkinson and the two guards withdrew from the room and quietly pulled the door closed behind them. Biggs supported the sobbing Mrs. Jenkinson until she reached her bedchamber. Once she was inside, the two men took up station in the hall.
