“Friends?” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow.
“At this point, yes that is all,” Mary averred.
“For now, is right,” Jane teased.
Mary blushed but said nothing to refute Jane’s assertion. She had not shared with anyone that Andrew had wanted to request a formal courtship, but together they had decided to remain with an informal one and only involve her father whenit came time to move to an engagement. She was already in love with him, he was her ideal man, and it had nothing to do with his rank or wealth.
Madeline waited until the younger ladies had completed their discussion before she entered the room. “As we only have two guest chambers, Jane you will share with Lizzy, and that leaves Charlotte and Mary to share the other.”
There were no objections. Elizabeth accompanied her sisters and Charlotte upstairs to greet their cousins and then to change, also she desired to speak to Jane.
Chapter 30
Jane had hoped Lizzy would begin to see some of the things she herself had noted with regards to their parents, but after her younger sister spoke candidly to herself, Charlotte, and Mary, she had been amazed at how Lizzy had discovered far more than Jane had expected. Lizzy had not wanted to wait until after they returned from Darcy House, she needed to speak or she would burst with anticipation. With all the changes Lizzy was making, and would continue to make, in essentials she was the same impatient Lizzy she had always been.
“I need to apologise to all three of you for all of the times my hubris would not permit me to see the truth when I was wrong and you were right,” Elizabeth said contritely. “Even though that trait was imbued by my father, I should have been able to see I was wrong as much as I was right, long before overhearing that convict and his protégé speak.”
“Lizzy, you know as well as anyone would haves, should haves, and could haves will not change what was,” Mary stated kindly. “You have taken in the lessons you needed to learn and are determined not to repeat your past behaviours, and that is all that counts. Of course I forgive you with all of my heart.”
“Even though you are rather headstrong,” Charlotte teased, “I could not but accept your amends.”
“Our younger sister is wise beyond her years, and like Lotte here, I pardon you without reservation as well,” Jane added and then paused. “Lizzy, are you sure you are ready to see Papa again?”
“Yes, Janey I am. I cannot be selfish any longer, my place is to be with you and support you in any way you need me,” Elizabeth insisted. “I will only confront my father with everything I now see, once you have left on your wedding trip. Nothing will mar your time before and the day of your wedding.” Elizabeth smiled as she thought of something. “If my father is so outraged by what I need to say to him, he may banish me from Longbourn. It is good my older sister will be the mistress of Netherfield Park by then, in case I find myself without a home.”
“As much as I expect Papa will not do that, if he does, you know you will always have a home with Charles and me, do you not?” Jane insisted.
“And if Andrew and I marry one day, then you will have another,” Mary stated with conviction.
“And I can speak for Richard when I tell you there will always be a chamber for you at Lancaster Hill, if you need it,” Charlotte insisted.
The offers from her sisters and Charlotte were humbling. No matter how bad her behaviour had been in the past, they still loved her. “As you know you will never be without a home, you can rest assured Lizzy. Given that Papa planned to make sure you never married, you must let him know you are aware of the truth,” Jane declared. “Now Lotte and sisters, we need to wash and change in order to prepare for dinner at the Darcys’ house.” Jane looked and smiled at Mary and Charlotte. “You two are to meet some rather important people so you must look your best.”
“Janey, before we do that, and so I do not forget, Aunt and Uncle asked if we would all like to go see a new production ofThe Tempestat the Drury Lane,” Elizabeth remembered. “I was not ready to see it until I had done that which was necessary, and also, knowing you would be here, and it being a favourite of yours, I could not go without you.”
“You know I love that play! There is no question of my desire to see it, but we need to be sure it will not interfere with what I came to London to do,” Jane averred.
“I was riding in the Darcy coach with Andrew, Mr Darcy, Becca, and Gigi on the way from Longbourn,” Mary detailed, “Gigi mentioned Mr Darcy has a large box at the theatre on Drury Lane, and then Becca said her parents did as well, right next to Mr Darcy’s. If everyone wants to go, we will at least have good seats.”
Charlotte and Mary returned to their shared bedchamber to change and make ready to depart.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy was pleasantly surprised that what he had hoped had actually occurred. No note had arrived with the Gardiner’s refusal or Miss Elizabeth crying off attending the dinner at his home. It was gratifying she had not changed her resolution they should begin anew, and move forward as friends.
Earlier that afternoon he had made the walk across the green to call at Matlock House. He felt since his aunt and uncle had been made aware of his ungentlemanlike behaviour in Hertfordshire, and had issued a well-deserved setdown of himself, he needed to tell them he had finally apologised and would answer any questions they had about Wickham being brought to heel.
Although the Earl and Countess had heard much about the apprehension of the miscreant from their sons, they appreciated Darcy adding his voice and responding to any questions they had. Then they asked him about the ladies in whom their sons were interested. Darcy had simply told them he knew of no ill regarding either lady, and he was perhaps not one able to judge other’s relationships.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
That evening, Killion showed the four Fitzwilliams, who had arrived from Matlock House, into the drawing room. Beccasquealed to see her parents again and threw herself into her father’s warm, waiting arms.
“I have missed you too, my little imp,” Lord Matlock told his daughter as he kissed the sandy-blonde hair on the crown of her head.
Next, Rebecca was in her mother’s arms. “We have missed you Becca dear, but we will not insist you come home earlier than we planned.” Lady Matlock looked to where her niece was standing and waiting to greet her. “You look like the Gigi I knew before that dastard manipulated you.”
“Thank you, Aunt Elaine,” Georgiana replied. “It did not hurt when Lizzy made sure he was locked up in the town’s gaol.”
