“When did you decide to use familiar names?” the Colonel enquired.
“While you were keeping Miss Mary’s company to yourself,” Georgiana declared. “And thanks to Wills here, there was not time to converse with Miss Bennet past the greetings and farewells.”
“She has you two there,” Lord Hilldale stated as he clapped the man either side of him on his back. The three were seated on the rear facing bench.
“I have only just met Miss Mary,” the Colonel deflected. “I will, however, admit she is an intriguing woman with intelligence and a sharp, but dry wit. I enjoyed speaking to herbecause she is unlike the simpering debutantes one finds in London.”
Lord and Lady Hilldale gave one another knowing glances. Their brother had not said much, but it was volumes more than he had ever spoken about any other lady. They both suspected Richard would find much time to be in Miss Mary’s company for the two days the party from Lambert Hills would be at Pemberley. It was far quieter in the coach on the return journey. Thanks to expending so much energy with his new friend, Joshua was asleep on the bench with his head being cradled in his mother’s lap.
The Colonel was not the only one looking forward to the two days there would be guests at Pemberley. Darcy was hoping the weather would cooperate so he could take Miss Bennet on one of the rides he had been speaking of earlier. If there was enough snow on the ground, the sleighs would be utilised.
From the minute Miss Bennet had entered the drawing room at Pemberley on Giana’s arm, Darcy had not stopped thinking of how well she fit at his estate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once they had changed into their night attire that evening, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Mary met in the sitting room between their bedchambers. “I always suspected Mr Darcy was interested in Eliza, but it seems our Mary has an admirer as well. Did I not tell you Mr Darcy was not looking at you to find fault, my friend?”
“You did, as did Janey,” Elizabeth agreed. “I had accepted that fact in Hertfordshire, but with everything that subsequently happened, it was not something on which I could spend time cogitating.”
“And now?” Charlotte probed.
Mary was pleased the conversation had moved back to Lizzy and Mr Darcy and not her and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Hewas an interesting man, but it was far too soon to know anything beyond that. She did admit, however, if only to herself, that she enjoyed spending time in his company.
“I informed him of my decision to mourn for six months and not a year complete,” Elizabeth responded. “In doing so I am fulfilling one of Janey’s last charges to me.”
“Even with how close you two were, a year seemed long to me,” Charlotte revealed. “However, three months also seemed not enough, so I believe you have made a wise decision.” Charlotte looked at Eliza whose cheeks had pinked. “Do you think he will ask to court you after your mourning period is completed? More importantly, would you accept him?”
“As it is all speculation at this point, there is nothing for me to say on the subject.” The blush gave lie to Elizabeth’s words. “By the by, Charlotte, speaking ofpossiblesuitors, what of Mr Parker?”
“What of him? We did nothing but speak a little at Pemberley,” Charlotte obfuscated.
“Time will tell.” Elizabeth turned back to Mary who was doing her best to blend in to the settee. “You do not think we have forgotten about you and the Colonel, do you?”
“Just like Charlotte articulated, there is nothing to tell. All we have done is spent time talking. I hardly know the man and besides, he is almost thirty,” Mary averred as her cheeks turned a shade of scarlet. It seemed she would not escape some interrogation after all. She felt the heat in her cheeks and hoped she was not blushing too badly.
“That is ten or eleven years between you. In our society that is more than an acceptable difference in age,” Charlotte pointed out.
“We will not tease you anymore,” Elizabeth promised. She decided to change the subject to one which would not be embarrassing to her younger sister. “What of your mourning,Mary? You had said you would mourn a full year as I had originally intended.”
“I will still mourn the same time as you,” Mary decided. “I was not as close to Janey as you were, but I still feel her absence keenly.”
“Please forgive me for not including you before Janey’s death,” Elizabeth stated contritely. “Both Jane and I always loved you, but we thought you preferred to be left alone with your practicing on the pianoforte, the sermons, and the Bible. As your older sisters, we should have seen you were lonely.”
“It is not your fault. I rebuffed attempts to get close to me which might have been wrong of me. However, it made me feel righteous to be an island on my own,” Mary admitted. “Looking back though, that was really not a very righteous attitude.”
“Much has changed since Janey was called home to God,” Elizabeth stated stoically.
The Bennet sisters wished Charlotte a good night and then made for the bedchamber they were sharing. Mary climbed into bed first, after reciting her nighttime prayers. After her own prayers, Elizabeth followed her into the large, soft, and warmed bed. She blew out the final candle, leaving only the glow of the fire in the grate.
As she lay there waiting for Morpheus to claim her, a realisation hit Elizabeth. She had not spoken to Janey since spending the day at Pemberley! Just like Charlotte and Mr Darcy had told her, it seemed the hole in her heart left by her sister’s death was slowly but surely getting smaller. Elizabeth still missed Janey when she was alone, but now when she was with others, especially in a certain gentleman’s company, Janey was not constantly in her thoughts. Had she not understood this was a natural part of the grieving and healing process she would have felt much guilt.
That night before she fell asleep, Elizabeth told Jane allabout the occurrences since the last time she spoke to her. She admitted to Jane that she thought she may be beginning to fall in love with Mr Darcy, and how she hoped he would request a courtship once her mourning period was complete. She promised Jane that she had not adjusted her time of mourning because of Mr Darcy, but because her heart had begun to mend faster than she had ever believed possible.
Because Mary was in the bed beside her, even though her younger sister was a very deep sleeper, Elizabeth spoke to Jane with her thoughts and not aloud. When sleep did claim her, she had a smile on her face.
Chapter 28
By the time those resident at Lambert Hills departed the aforementioned estate, a steady snowfall had begun and lasted for the two hours it took to reach Pemberley. The white blanket over everything only made the welcoming vista appear that much better to Elizabeth as she looked out of the window on her side of the coach.
