The night before, the adults all met in the Bennet parents’ private sitting room. Fanny could still hear the conversation in her head verbatim.
“We thought at some point, even at the end of the season, that taking Lizzy to Town would be safe,” Fanny had said, “it seems there is disagreement among you?”
“As much as I would like to have Lizzy and all of you visit me at York house, she looks too much like my Cilla to take the chance. I move in the same circles as the Jerseys, as do the Matlocks, Holders, and the Darcys.” The Prince said thoughtfully.
“The Prince has the right of it, Fanny and Bennet,” Robert Darcy stated. “There are too many in society who will recognise Priscilla in Lizzy, especially now. It will only become all the more obvious as she gets older.”
“When we are all together at one of our estates, we are able to control who visits and who does not,” Lady Anne agreed. “How would we explain to Lizzy, if she did go to London, that she would not be allowed to venture out in society? She, Jane, and Mary would see through the ruse and know there was something else at play. We may be able to fool your younger three, but certainly not the older sisters.”
“It seems that my aversion to London will have to persist. What of when Jane comes out in five years? How will we tell Lizzy she is not allowed to attend Jane in London for her festivities around her come out?” Bennet asked.
“Jane does not have to be in London for anything but her curtsy to the Queen,” Lady Edith suggested. “Using your dislike of Town, we can have her ball at one of the country estates, say Holder Heights, as we are her godparents. Just like we do now, we can make sure that we only invite those who would not have known Priscilla.”
“Not to mention as Lizzy will not be out yet; she will have minimal contact with those attending,” Fanny stated.
“If Jane asks why she is not to have a London season, we will have to tell her," Fanny Bennet pointed out.
“At eighteen, or there abouts, I have no fear she will not understand. It will be a surprise, but I am sure she will love Lizzy as she always has once she learns the truth,” Fanny opined. “At least we have five years before we have to confront that particular issue.”
The meeting ended soon after with the consensus of their plan.
Having heard her father pontificate on his dislike for London and theTonmany times, Elizabeth accepted what her mother told her. She would go to London at some point, of that she was certain.
Chapter 11
“Do we have to go visit the Bennets for Easter, Mother?” William Darcy asked almost petulantly the day after he returned from Eton.
“Yes, we are going, William. When will this nonsense of you not wanting to be around Elizabeth end?” Robert Darcy asked pointedly.
“You are sixteen, William, not a little boy any longer. What you did five years ago has been forgotten by everyone except the two of you,” Lady Anne told her son.
“You seem to enjoy your debates with her, Son,” Darcy pointed out.
“She is intelligent, far more so than I would expect from a little girl, but she does not like me,” William complained.
“Have you allowed her to know you the way we do? For whatever reason, when you are around her, some of your old arrogance and hauteur makes an appearance. It is like you wear a mask in her presence.” Lady Anne looked at her son quizzically. “The rest of us know the month you spent in the stables after we returned from Holder Heights in 1795 chased the last of your improper pride from you, so why can you not relax around Lizzy?”
“I am not sure, Mother,” William answered honestly. “Mayhap it is because she makes me nervous, and I do not know why.”
“You will need to get over it, William,” Darcy instructed. “We will be there for three weeks complete. You have not yet met the science and maths masters, Mr. May and Mr. Deacon, have you, William?”
“No Father, I have not,” William owned.
“You like astronomy, do you not?” William nodded. “So does Lizzy, and other than your Uncle Thomas, I have yet to meet one more knowledgeable than Mr. May. That may be a good way for the two of you to at least call a truce and become more relaxed one with the other,” Darcy suggested.
“You are good with maths, William, so there is another area of commonality you have with Lizzy. I am sure you will learn from Mr. Deacon while we are at Netherfield Park,” Lady Anne told her son.
“Then there is the love of books you share,” Darcy added.
“It is true, she does love the library at Pemberley,” William allowed.
“You two have far more in common than not,” Lady Anne pointed out. “The only problem is you are two of the most hard-headed people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You both have an element of pride which holds you back from letting go of the past.”
When William Darcy thought about the situation between himself and Elizabeth Bennet, he had to admit that there was no real reason for the distance between them other than neither was willing to give an inch to the other. Mayhap it was time to change that dynamic. As he was the older and the one who inflicted the first blow, he decided he needed make the first overture to Elizabeth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Will Uncle Freddy be with us for Easter, Mama?” Lydia asked as the family was breaking their fasts.
