“They are not, Mother,” Becca agreed. “You all remember hearing about Fitzwilliam Darcy, who you have never met?” Her six children nodded. “According to the investigator, he and Mr Bingley have been good friends for many years. If we grant his friend the lease, there is a chance we will finally get to meet him here as he is pledged to assist Mr Bingley with learning estate management.” Becca looked at Jane. “You, Jane dear, will be a target for Mr Bingley’s ardour. Hisangels,as he calls them, all have physical attributes like yours.”
“So not only is he capricious but shallow as well?” Henry shook his head.
The twins had turned twenty in March, and Henry had graduated from Cambridge in April. Like his father before him, he was an undefeated chess champion at the university.
“Do not disallow him the lease on my account,” Jane insisted. “I am confident in my love for Andrew; I know that heis on his way back to me. Besides, I am not so weak as to not be able to fend off a determined man. Also, since you employed John, Brian, and the other men, no undesirables will approach us.”
With two daughters out, and Mary to join them soon enough, Bennet knew he needed men to guard them. Their connections and reputed dowries—even though the true amount was not known—were too attractive to desperate men. Hence, in consultation with Devonshire, Matlock, Hartington, and Richard, mostly the latter, Bennet had employed former soldiers as footmen-guards before Easter past. Ten men met the criterion they had decided was needed, and they were led by two enormous men, John Biggs—very aptly named—and Brian Johns, both former sergeants in the Royal Dragoons. Anyone who suspected the big men were slow because of their size would be in for a rude and, more to the point, painful, awakening if they attempted anything untoward with any of the Bennet siblings.
“What Jane said is true,” Elizabeth added, “and it seems the Bingleys will provide us with a certain level of entertainment, and you well know how much I love to laugh.”
Becca and Bennet looked at one another and communicated silently as they had begun to do more than two and twenty years past, even before they married. “I will inform Phillips that he may accept Mr Bingley as a tenant. If they are too bad, there are enough clauses in the lease that will allow them to be evicted,” Bennet announced.
“If Mr Darcy joins Mr Bingley, I hope he will bring Georgiana Darcy with him. It has been eleven or twelve years since we saw her, but she was an extremely sweet girl,” Lizzy remembered. “I think she is a little younger than Tommy.”
“Speaking of our scamp of a brother, can you believe he will begin his final year at Eton in September?” Jane shook her head.
Tommy had turned sixteen in February, and he was taller than any of his siblings. Even though Henry was more than a head taller than his twin, his younger brother was at least three inches taller. Not only was the younger Bennet son tall, but his shoulders had begun to broaden, and for the last six months, he had passed his older brother in feats of strength. Henry did not resent that his younger brother was taller and stronger than himself. As long as he was taller than Lizzy, he was happy.
“Jane, do you really want to call one who towers over you a scamp?” Tommy jested.
“Is everyone joining Tommy and me when we go for a ride once the temperature cools somewhat?” Henry asked his sisters. All four indicated they would be joining their brothers.
“Mrs Phillips and Master Frank,” Hill announced.
“It is good to see you and little Frank, Charlotte,” Becca welcomed. “Where is Betty Sarah?”
Charlotte curtsied while her son gave an almost credible bow. She had delivered two children since marrying Phillips. Their son, Frank the younger, was six, and their daughter was three. Anyone seeing Frank and Charlotte Phillips together could not imagine him being stuck with Hattie Gardiner as his wife. It was little wonder Miss Gardiner remained a spinster.
“My daughter is at Lucas Lodge being entertained by her grandparents, aunt, and uncles. Little Frank insisted on accompanying me, so he could see your horses, if you will permit him,” Charlotte stated.
“Tommy and I will take him to tour the stables,” Henry volunteered, and Tommy nodded his agreement.
Her son looked at her with a beseeching look. “Yes, Franky, you may go with Henry and Tommy. You will listen to them, will you not?” A delighted young lad nodded emphatically. Charlotte smiled when her son held out his hand, and Henry took it without hesitation. With her son having his wish granted, Charlotte sat down near Jane and Lizzy. Soon the three friends were speaking of nothing and everything.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I am so sorry, Fitz; I should never have agreed to marry Mr Wickham,” Giana stated tearfully when her brother had come to see her.
“You have the right of it, Sweetling,” Darcy responded tenderly. “However, the fault all lies with me. Had I done what I should have, what Richard urged me to do even after I mistakenly employed Miss Younge, you would have never been in the position you were to err the way you did.” Darcy paused as he hugged his sister to himself. He shuddered at the thought of how close he had come to losing her. Something he had come to realise was that self-loathing and recriminations would not change anything which had occurred. If he indulged himself in self-pity, it more likely than not would stop him from being the brother and guardian his sister needed and deserved. Yes, he had to learn from the past, but he had to move forward and not wallow.
He looked into his sister’s eyes so she would see the truth of what he needed to say. Darcy proceeded even though Giana had dropped her eyes to the floor. “Richard told me how you refused to fall for that man’s attempts to urge you to elope. That showed a strength of spirit in the face of the blatant manipulation the two miscreants were attempting to use on you. It also demonstrates that you have a good grasp of right and wrong. I know you attempted to write to me, but Miss Youngewaylaid your missives.” Darcy lifted his sister’s chin. “I want you to know how proud I am of you.”
“How can you be proud of me, Fitz?” Giana enquired.
“For all the reasons I listed. I reiterate, had I not failed you, you would have never been in that position. Also, it was my decision to try to keep you innocent and ignorant of Wickham’s character. So, you see, there are many things for which I need to atone.”
Understanding that Fitz was not angry with her, but rather proud, Giana’s countenance lit up. Then she remembered something Richard had told her on the journey back to London. “I know that Miss Younge is being transported rather than hung for theft. Also, I am aware that George Wickham met his end. Richard said he did not kill him; is that true? I am only worried for Richard, not that the man is no more.”
“No, Richard did not cause the libertine’s death. He went the wrong way without any help from our cousin, and that was how he met his death. Giana,” Darcy waited until she looked directly at him, “never think that anything you did led to his death. It was his own decisions which ended his life.”
Giana felt a great weight lift from her shoulders. She could now move forward without feeling guilty about what had occurred in Ramsgate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not long after Richard shared the Ramsgate affair with his parents, Lord and Lady Matlock made the walk across the green to Darcy House. Seeing that their nephew was truly contrite and determined to improve his character, they did not berate him—too much.
“William, let me reiterate something Richard told you earlier,” Lord Matlock stated sternly. “If your arrogance andstubbornness ever wilfully puts my niece in harm’s way another time, I will use all of my influence to have you stripped of your guardianship. That being said, your aunt and I believe that you are sincere in your desire to change.”
