The two youngest Bennets were walking with Lilly and Eddy Gardiner a little ahead of Jane and Mary. One of the footmen was behind the latter pair, the other one and the nursemaid with the younger four. A footman and maid were organising the comestibles for the picnic.
It was then Jane noticed three young men. All were tall. The tallest had dark hair while the other two, an inch or two shorter than him had sandy-blond hair. One of the three was in the army as he was in uniform. Jane could not recognise rank or with what regiment the man was, but there was no mistaking the scarlet coat of the army.
The three were walking along the path towards her and Mary and seemingly deep in conversation.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale had unexpectedly decided to join his brother and cousin to meet with Bingley at White’s. On their return to Grosvenor Square, the three cousins had decided to take a stroll in Hyde Park. It was not close to the fashionable hour so both Andrew and William knew they would be able to ramble without being accosted.
The three had been in a deep discussion about Richard’s regiment’s upcoming move to the Peninsula. As such, they did not notice the group that left the path in front of them andheaded for the picnic next to the duckpond nearby. Neither did they see the two young ladies walking towards them on the path.
The two Bennet sisters only realised the men were distracted at the last moment and hardly had any time to try and avoid the impending collision. The sisters attempted to get themselves over to the left side of the path. They did not succeed completely causing Jane to collide with the man on the left, while Mary managed to avoid the men altogether.
A collision with someone brought Andrew to awareness of his surroundings. He saw a young lady beginning to fall, and instinctively reached out to stop her from hitting the ground.
“And here we thought it was safe to amble in the park and not be accosted by fortune hunters,” William barked. “Your machinations will not be gratified, Madam!”
“William!” Andrew and Richard called out in disgust at once. Both realised they had been in the wrong and the young ladies had tried to avoid them.
The footman had approached but stopped when he saw Miss Jane was well. He would keep watch and make sure the Misses Bennet were safe.
“How dare you impugn my sister’s honour, Sir,” Mary spat out. “You are no gentleman. You were walking and not paying attention and you and your friends walked into us! We tried to avoid you and your inattentiveness.”
William was about to ask the young lady, who did not look much older than Anna, who she thought she was when he saw the warning looks from his two older cousins.
Until then, Andrew had not looked at the woman whom he had stopped from falling. Now he did and never had he seen a more beautiful creature. If Bingley was with them, he would be chasing her as his latest angel within seconds.
“What is wrong with you, William? You make judgements without thinking,” Andrew admonished. “The young lady Miss…?”
“Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet,” Jane supplied.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, I am Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale. The one in uniform is my brother, Captain Richard Fitzwilliam, and the rude one is our cousin, Mr. William Darcy,” Andrew responded. “You must excuse him; on occasion, he suffers from hessian in the mouth disease. As I was about to say, William, Miss Mary had the right of it. We were at fault, not them.”
“Rather than try and have themselves compromised, they did everything they could to avoid us,” Richard added.
“I am but fourteen, the last thing I am looking for is a husband,” Mary stated disdainfully.
Realising he was very wrong; William did the only thing he could. “Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, please excuse my rude and untrue words to you both. It was very wrong and most ungentlemanlike of me.” William bowed to the two.
After looking at Mary who nodded, Jane turned to the three men. “My sister and I pardon your behaviour, Mr. Darcy. In the future, we suggest you evaluate the situation before making assumptions.” Jane paused and looked to where her sisters and cousins were blissfully feeding the ducks. “Now if you gentlemen will excuse us, we need to join our family members.” Jane inclined her head towards the pond.
As much as he wanted to ask her where he could find her again, Andrew said nothing knowing he had no reason to do so without sounding extremely forward.
The cousins gave a bow to the ladies’ curtsies. Jane and Mary, still followed by the footman, headed off the path towards the pond to join their sisters and cousins.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“What can you tell me about what occurred this morning, Wickham?” Hertfordshire demanded when his man reported his wife had been presented and was home.
“Given I was required to wait outside of the palace gates, nothing Your Grace.” Wickham did not add what he would have liked to say: ‘Like you, I am not allowed to attend.’
“Damn Colbath not allowing you to ride in his coach so you were not able to report on what was said to, and by, my wife,” the Duke huffed.
‘Had I been within, they would have said nothing worth repeating,’ Wickham told himself silently.
“And now I no longer have any leverage over that damned man!” Hertfordshire continued, not needing or wanting a response from his man. “At least she is presented, and it will not affect my future son.” He paused. “Bring her to me,” the Duke stated without looking up at his man.
Wickham bowed and made his way to Her Grace’s chambers and knocked on the door. The lady’s maid cracked the door open.
