She did not think herself so deficient of mind as to have misread all the signs which pointed to a deep attachment on his side. Regardless of her feelings, until he spoke it was all speculation.
Giana dropped the occasional hints about her brother’s admiration for Lizzy, although she never said anything explicit, which could have been construed as improper.
Elizabeth was snapped out of her reverie when her father entered the drawing room, a black edged letter in his hand. She immediately began to pray that none of their loved ones had been taken from them. Elizabeth was not at all confident that she could survive another shock of that magnitude, just over three months since Janey’s passing.
Bennet did not miss the look of terror on Lizzy’s face. “Rest easy, this is not to announce the death of anyone to whom we are close,” Bennet announced. He saw the expectant faces in the drawing room relax greatly. “It is in fact a man who none of us met in the whole of our lives. Mr William Collins, the former heir presumptive before the entail was ended, passed away.” He looked at his two eldest daughters. “The business at Rosings Park is completed, and after a stop in London, those who are resident at Netherfield Park will return.”
She of course did not wish anyone dead, but Elizabeth would have been dissembling had she said she was not relieved it was no one they knew.
“Wait, Papa, did you sayallthose who were residing at Netherfield Park are returning?” Mary clarified. “It was my understanding that due to his having to report to his regiment, Colonel Fitzwilliam would not come back with Mr Darcy.”
“That is what we were all told, but according to this,” Bennet held up the missive, “unless it is in error, the Colonel will accompany Mr Darcy.”
Mary schooled her features as much as she was able. Herfervent hope was that what was scribed in the letter was not a mistake. The more time she was in the Colonel’s company, the more her tender feelings for him developed, to the point she was on the cusp of falling in love with him. She did not know if he reciprocated her feelings. However, what other explanation was there for the fact he always sought her out whenever they were in company together?
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Although Major-General Atherton was not pleased to have one of his best officers resign, he did not begrudge Colonel Fitzwilliam his decision. As such he accepted the papers, albeit reluctantly, which had been filled out announcing the end of the Colonel’s career in the army. Atherton had known Fitzwilliam since the latter was a second lieutenant and the former a captain. He did not use the knowledge of a promotion—to Brigadier-General to have been awarded to the Colonel—to entice Fitzwilliam to change his mind.
No one could ever accuse the Colonel of using his father’s influence to gain promotions, or hide away in England and never risk his own life and limb. In his almost twelve years in the Dragoons, Fitzwilliam had seen more than enough combat, and for the most part, other than some minor wounds, had come through relatively intact.
With the signature of the commander of this particular regiment of the Royal Dragoons, it was done—he was a civilian once more. Selling his commission had been simple, as Major Hendricks had long since desired to become a colonel.
That evening Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam prepared a feast which featured every favourite of her younger son. She was so grateful he would never have to ride into battle again, and she could not but express her undying gratitude to Anne for succeeding where others in the family had failed.
The next morning, before they made their way back to Meryton, Fitzwilliam and Darcy called on Gardiner. “I needto get used to no longer seeing you in uniform Colon…Fitzwilliam,” Gardiner stated after showing the cousins into his office.
“That goes for me as well,” Fitzwilliam admitted. “If you want to address me by my former rank, it is acceptable because even when we retire, many use our former rank when speaking to one who used to be an officer.”
“How may I be of service to you gentleman?” Gardiner enquired.
Fitzwilliam explained what had occurred which had precipitated his resignation from the army, and his change of fortune.
“With all of what you have saved over the years you were already wealthy, but this is much more.” Gardiner cogitated for some moments. “If Miss de Bourgh was permitted to transfer the townhouse and fortune to you, why did her father’s will disallow her to do so with the estate?”
“I had the same question,” Fitzwilliam revealed. “It was the way Sir Lewis made sure Anne and the estate were protected from his wife’s machinations. He was well aware Lady Catherine, who was in the past a very forceful character, had designs on the estate. She demanded it should belong to her after his passing, and knowing his wife’s character, he was certain she would have used coercion, and worse, to force Anne into ceding the estate to herself. With the clauses he added to his will, he made sure his wife would not be able to satisfy her avaricious intent.”
“What is it you would like from me, Fitzwilliam?” Gardiner wondered.
“If you will accept it, I want to move at least five and seventy percent of my wealth from the four percents and invest it with you. I may not need more, but I must think of the children I could be blessed with in the future,” Fitzwilliam clarified.
“I am not taking on new investors, however, as you are one of my existing clients, that does not apply to you,” Gardiner explained.
“That is good news. Before we depart London, I will go to the bank and leave instructions for the amount I indicated to be delivered to you. We are then for Hertfordshire. Is there anything you wish to send with us?” Fitzwilliam enquired.
“Nothing I know of, although my wife may have something. We have not heard from anyone at Longbourn since we departed. As far as you can tell, how are my nieces feeling about being home?” Gardiner queried.
“To my knowledge, they are adjusting very well,” Darcy opined.
Gardiner thanked the men for the intelligence. He had the butler ask the mistress if she desired to send anything to their nieces. She responded she did not as she had posted a letter the previous day.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the cousins first called at Longbourn after their arrival back in the area, they first met with Bennet to explain the circumstances which had led to his late cousin’s death. In that way, it was left up to Bennet how much or how little of the details he shared with his family.
On joining the ladies in the drawing room, after Giana welcomed her guardians back enthusiastically, Fitzwilliam and Darcy took seats next to their preferred lady.
Darcy decided Miss Bennet looked very well out of deep mourning attire. They were soon debating a book as if they had not been apart for about a sennight.
