Andrew thought he was seeing things. There on a bench under the old chestnut tree in the centre of the green sat the woman who still inhabited his dreams. Not seeing her these many months had done nothing to chase her from his consciousness.
“Andy, at what are you staring?” Richard enquired.
His brother was sitting as if frozen on the forward facing bench staring intently out of the window facing the green.
As much as he wanted to strike the ceiling with his cane and have his coachman halt the conveyance, Andrew was well aware of how it would look and the last thing he wanted to do was frighten Miss Bennet.
“I-it is nothing, I thought I recognised someone, but I was in error,” Andrew hedged.
“What say you to our riding to Castlemere and fishing in the lake on Monday?” William suggested. “The inhabitants have been undisturbed by me for far too long.”
“The lake at that estate is far larger and deeper than thepondat Pemberley,” Richard ribbed. He knew an easy way to discompose William was to give an implied insult to his father’s much loved estate.
It was a long standing competition—albeit a friendly one—about which estate, Pemberley or Snowhaven, was the better. If Richard was honest, he would admit his uncle’s estate wasslightly superior, not only because it was a little larger, but it was much closer to the peaks and the view of said mountains from the hill behind Pemberley’s manor house was unrivalled.
“What would you expect,” William bit back peevishly. “The one at Castlemere is natural, ours is manmade. It is still better than the duckpond you have at Snowhaven.”
Soon enough the coach made the turn onto Pemberley’s land. They would arrive in less than a half hour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Are we agreed, we will take a wait and see attitude as far as the Duchess goes,” Lady Matlock verified.
“What Darcy proposes is prudent, Elaine,” Lord Matlock stated. “We know not what her situation is. Also, even though he may not be there now, Hertfordshire may arrive at his estate and I am with Robert on this. There is no reason to be connected to him at all.”
“I do feel bad for her, she is so very young,” Lady Anne lamented. “Everyone here saw her at the presentation.”
“You could see she was aware the eyes of every courtier were upon her and she just raised her chin and walked, always looking directly ahead,” Lady Matlock recalled. “What do you think her Majesty said to Her Grace?”
“I believe they are the only two ladies who would be able to answer that question,” Darcy opined, “and given the lack of gossip about their conversation since the Duchess’s presentation, it will not be something we will ever learn.”
Further conversation about the residents of Castlemere was interrupted when the butler, Reynolds, informed the master a coach had entered the park.
Having promised Anna she would be notified when William and her cousins arrived, Lady Anne instructed thebutler to inform Miss Darcy. The two sets of parents had just exited the door leading to the internal courtyard when, with blonde ringlets bouncing, Georgiana arrived breathlessly having obviously run from the music room in her excitement.
Anna launched herself into her brother’s arms without thinking as soon as the three cousins alighted. She suddenly became rather shy as she remembered the lessons Miss Younge had been teaching about propriety and comportment. Anna blushed deeply at her lapse. “Please pardon my display,” Georgiana stated contritely, her eyes directed at the ground.
“Although I have not been gone for so very long, I too missed you Sweetling,” William soothed. “Rather than be upset, it warms my heart you were so happy to see me.”
“Truly?” Georgiana lifted her head, a smile forming on her lips.
“You know how much I abhor disguise, so yes, your vivacious welcome was appreciated,” William assured his much younger sister.
After greetings were exchanged, slightly more sedately than Anna’s had been, the family group made their way back into the house.
In keeping with their decision, the parents did not mention the presence of the Duchess at Castlemere.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth was sitting in the rose garden near the entrance to the castle when she thought she was seeing an apparition. If she did not know better she would swear she was looking at one of the Gardiner footmen.
As he drew nearer, she realised it was not a spectre, but a real flesh and blood man. “Peter! Surely my aunt and uncledid not send you all the way here from Gracechurch Street did they?” Elizabeth wondered.
“No Miss Lizzy…sorry, I mean Yer Grace, I comes from Lambton,” the footman responded. “Mistress sent a letter for you.”
“You may still call me Miss Lizzy when others are not near us,” Elizabeth looked to where the two guards were stationed. She had seen them relax as soon as she indicated she knew the man. Also, they were well out of earshot. “How is it my aunt and uncle are so near? Is anyone else with them?”
The young man withdrew the missive from a pouch and handed it to the Duchess. “This ‘ere will explain all. Should I wait for a reply?”
