“THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT FOUNDLING!” Miss Bingley screamed.
The noise had attracted the Hursts. “Charles, what have you done?” Mrs Hurst questioned when she saw where her sister was.
“And you, Miss tradesman’s daughter, had better never allow me to hear you disparage mycousinever again!” Richardthreatened in a way which caused Miss Bingley to feel a cold shiver travel down her spine.
“Mr and Mrs Hurst, it seems you are innocent in this. We will leave my bedchamber. I expect myformerfriend and Miss Bingley not to be here in a half hour. As far as we are concerned,” Darcy inclined his head to his aunt and cousin, “you two will not partake in your brother and sister’s ruin. As my cousin warned, they need to leave this house before the landlord’s agent throws them out on the morrow.” Darcy saw his former friend was about to protest. “Do not whinge after the fact. You are fully aware of what the lease states, and you knew what we would do.”
With that Lady Catherine, Richard, and Darcy turned their backs on the two Bingleys, cut them, and left the chamber.
While Hurst led a defeated Bingley out of the room, his wife made sure her sister was wrapped in the coverlet to preserve what was left of her dignity. As soon as her sister was in her chamber, very much in a stupor, Mrs Hurst issued orders to their personal servants to begin packing the trunks belonging to the Bingleys and the Hursts.
Chapter 14
When Elizabeth awoke the next morning, she felt a nervous energy. She would be meeting her birth parents today. Based on what Janie’s express had told the family, they would more likely than not be on their way from London already. As she did when she felt like this, she needed to exercise. She dressed in her navy blue riding habit and made her way downstairs.
Mama and Papa would be up already, not only because this was a momentous day, but it was their normal routine. Papa would be going over correspondence and his ledgers while Mama met with Mrs Hill and made sure everything was as it should be in the house. Often before she broke her fast, Mama would have already called on some of the tenants in Longbourn’s village. She would make calls to some of the tenants at their farms after she had broken her fast. Unlike her parents, Grandmama Beth did not rise as early as she used to thanks to her advancing years. Hence, Elizabeth would only stop at the dower house on her way back from Oakham Mount.
“Please have the stables notified I intend to ride out,” Elizabeth requested when she saw Mr Hill.
“Aye, Miss Lizzy,” Hill responded with a bow.
On reaching the study, Elizabeth knocked and entered when bade to do so.
“I see from your outfit you intend to ride this morning,” Bennet observed as he looked up from the ledger he had been balancing. “Are any of your sisters, your brother, or Miss Weasley riding out with you?”
“No, Papa, I am on my own today,” Elizabeth replied.
“Then a groom and footman will accompany you. I assume your aim is to ride to Oakham Mount so you can watch the sunrise?”
“That, and I will stop at the dower house on the way back. Mayhap Grandmama Beth will invite me to break my fast with her. If she does, I will send the groom with a message, so Mama does not worry or wait for me to eat.”
“You are a good girl, Lizzy. Away with you now so I can complete my work before the meal.” Bennet forgot to mention they would have guests at the meal.
Elizabeth came around the desk, kissed Papa on his cheek, and skipped towards the door. As was her wont, she made her way to the stables through the kitchens. As she always did, Cook handed her freshly baked treats wrapped in a cloth. With thanks to Cook, Elizabeth deposited the treats into her one pocket. Before leaving the house, she took a carrot with her.
Aphrodite was waiting for her next to the mounting block. Before settling onto the saddle, Elizabeth approached her mare from the front. The horse shook her head up and down in welcome as Elizabeth approached. She immediately spied the carrot. After rubbing her mare’s forehead, Elizabeth proffered her mount the treat, which was happily taken and munched. Once mounted, Elizabeth directed her horse towards the gate leading to the open fields. The groom and footman were waiting for her just before the gate, the latter having dismounted and was holding the gate open.
As soon as they were in open fields, Elizabeth allowed her horse to run as fast as was safe while riding in a side-saddle. Soon enough, Oakham Mount rose up before her.
When she came here in the morning without any of her siblings, Elizabeth enjoyed her solitude. It was not to be today; there were two stallions and a mare munching on theremaining few grasses which had not shrivelled in the cold yet and the few shrubs which still had leaves. She harumphed and almost wheeled her mount without stopping. She changed her mind, deciding she wanted to see the sunrise, and she would not be scared off by the unknown riders.
She allowed the footman to help her down. “Simon, as there are others here today, I need you to accompany me to the summit,” Elizabeth told the man. Rupert here will look after our horses.” She inclined her head to the groom who had also dismounted.
“Aye, Miss Lizzy,” the footman responded. They began the walk up the path which led to the summit, the footman walking ahead of her, just in case.
Elizabeth relaxed when she saw who was on the summit. She told the footman to stand near the head of the path. She walked towards the two men she had discovered were her cousins during the extremely eventful previous night. With Richard and William was a younger girl with straight flaxen hair, looking away shyly.
“Good morning, Ellie…Lizzy,” Richard greeted.
Darcy welcomed his cousin as well. “May I introduce my sister, Georgiana, to you?” he requested. Seeing a nod, Darcy made the introductions.
“Well met, Miss Darcy. It is good to see you,” Elizabeth stated as she returned the younger girl’s curtsey. She remembered what William had told her about his sister. She was only fourteen, which Elizabeth was sure accounted for some of her shyness.
“Richard and William told me of yesternight. It sounds like the plot of a gothic novel,” Georgiana stated shyly.
“I am not sure it is real yet.” Elizabeth looked at her three cousins. “How is it you are up and about so early this morning? Surely you are not nervous like I am? I did not sleep very much.”
“Miss Bingley attempted to compromise me when we returned from Longbourn,” Darcy revealed. “And her brother attempted to support her.”
