Luckily, Cousin William was happy to walk in companionable silence until they reached the southern end ofthe groves. Many leaves were already on the ground, but the trees still held a magnificent display of brown, red, orange, and golden leaves waiting their turn to fall to the earth. Interspersed were a few pine trees proudly displaying their green needles among the sea of autumn colours.
“I understand from Andrew and Richard on previous visits you brought that speed demon of a mare of yours with you to Kent,” Darcy stated as he looked down on the petite woman he was now sure he loved.
“Yes, I loved riding her through the groves. She has taken me to the glade a few times,” Elizabeth responded. “We depart in but two days on Wednesday so I will see my Penny soon enough.”
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to return to Hertfordshire, I must to away to supervise the preparations needed to make Pemberley ready for the winter, which as I am sure you know is far more severe in the north,” Darcy related.
He so much did not want to be apart from her, but he would not eschew his duty. There was the added advantage that he would be away from her during their mourning periods and when he returned, if he saw she was at all receptive, he fully intended to declare himself for Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
While they walked along the widest path in the groves, the one if they continued northward would bring them to the Hunsford parsonage, there were little periods of inconsequential conversation, but for the most part they were both happy with a companionable silence. After about twenty minutes of walking, the path to the glade was reached. They turned onto it and made for the clearing in the middle where the pond and benches were located.
Biggs and Johns waited at a point just before the access path reached the clearing. Elizabeth and Darcy took a seat on one of the three benches their late uncle had had placed aroundthe pond.
“Did Anne ever tell you about the time, about six months before she became ill, Richard, Anne, and I came here?” Darcy asked. Elizabeth shook her head. “Mayhap she was still embarrassed. We were playing here when sheaccidentlybumped into me which sent me into the pond, much to the chagrin of the frogs and toads who were residents. I was wet head to toe!”
For the first time since Anne’s passing Elizabeth laughed. She had no idea how much the man sitting next to her on the bench was thrilled at hearing the sound he loved. The image of a wet William soaked from head to toe and an impish Anne before she was taken ill was too much for her not to laugh.
“You can laugh if you want,” Darcy stated with mock severity, “but to this day I am convinced Richard put her up to it. When we were younger, we loved to prank one another.”
“Having witnessed Richard’s humorous side, I am surprised those pranks are a thing of the past.” Elizabeth cogitated for a moment. “Surely you did not let the prank go without response?”
“Most certainly not!” Darcy returned with put on arrogance. “I made sure a few of the residents of the pond in the glade found their way into Richard’s bed that night. No, I did not do the same to Anne, no matter how tempted I was. Even then I was a gentleman of sorts.”
“Was any punishment meted out?” Elizabeth enquired laughingly.
“Both of us boys were punished but Anne was spared.” Darcy had not thought of those carefree days for many a year.
Until recently, it had been the last time he had been at Rosings Park. He did not want to spoil the mood by telling Elizabeth how the then Lady Catherine had demanded an engagement claiming somehow by three young cousinsplaying together he had compromised Anne. From that day on, any contact between the families had been away from Rosings Park and its single-minded mistress.
Not long after, they left the glade and walked to the end of the grove near the parsonage. From there, they cut across the park for the less than half mile walk back to the manor house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On their return to Longbourn, Bennet made for his study to see what correspondence was awaiting him after being away for about a sennight.
There were letters from the steward at Oak Hollow. Even though he had known what de Bourgh intended to do since he had been made an executor of his will, it was still strange for Bennet to think of Oak Hollow as his own.
The letter with the most potential for amusement, he left for last. Before he broke the seal on that letter, Bennet rang for Hill and instructed him to request the mistress join him in the study.
“Thomas?” Fanny stated questioningly when she entered the study.
“My cousin has replied to my letter,” Bennet related as he held up the still sealed missive.
“How do you think he reacted to your explaining now was not a good time to visit, and that in future we would extend an invitation, if and when, we desire to meet him?” Fanny asked with a smile. “I am sure he loved being told we would not accept him as a son-in-law.”
“Rather than speculate, let us sit on the settee and I will open it,” Bennet suggested. Fanny nodded her agreement.
As soon as they were comfortably seated next to one another, and with more than ample light entering via the windows behind them, Bennet broke the seal and opened the letter holding it so they could both read it.
11 October 1810
Thornburg’s Theological Seminary, Wiltshire
Mr. Bennet:
“No more ‘Dear Sir’ I see,” Fanny noted amusedly. After a little laugh they both turned their attention back to the letter.
How dare you throw my offer to heal the breach between our families back in my face in such a manner? I can only thank the good Lord above I did not dishonour my father by bestowing my olive branch on one with whom he was correct to be at variance!
