She had written letters to those who used to be her friends as well as some of the gossip rags with salacious accusations against Miss Elizabeth Wendell. The problem? Every single letter had been returned to her unopened.
What she did not know was that Ladies Catherine, Elaine, Emily, and some of their friends, including duchesses and other countesses, had warned the papers, reputable and not so reputable, that if they printed any lies about Miss Wendell, especially if they came from the ruined Caroline Bingley, the papers, editors, and writers would all be sued for slander until they were out of business. Knowing those behind the threats, and the power they wielded, caused even the gossip rags, who usually cared not about facts, to refuse to even look at anything from Miss Bingley.
Charles was busy with the business, and he would not under any circumstances take her to London, and even worse, Miss Bingley could no longer manipulate him.
Somehow he had become familiar with her plans to take her revenge on the foundling. He had told her that if she attempted anything more, he would remove her dowry and cast her out without anything. Caroline had seen the resolution in his eyes and had decided that he was perfectly serious.
As unfair as it was, she was powerless to enact her planned vengeance.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“James will not believe that such a library exists outside of a university!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she twirled around taking in the view before her. Father had not exaggerated when he had spoken of the relative sizes of the Willowmere and Pemberley libraries.
Not only was the room far larger, but it had two levels.There was a walkway on the second level with bookshelves from the level of the walkway to the ceiling. Just like on the lower level, there were ladders attached to rails at the top which had wheels at the bottom so they could roll the length of the case to which they were attached. To get from the lower to the upper level there were four spiral staircases, one in each corner. In the centre of the library were rows of shelves about five feet high. There was an area in the middle of the room which had cases with glass fronts. The room sported three fireplaces in various places, and tall windows, almost floor to ceiling, on two walls.
For those who chose to read, or mayhap just relax in this magnificent room, there were clusters of seating consisting of a settee or sofa, two or three wingback chairs and a low table in the middle of each grouping. These clusters of places to sit were placed around the room with some close to fireplaces while others near the windows to take advantage of the natural light. The highly polished wood floor was covered with rugs in each place where seats were arranged. This was no show library, it was one designed for use, and from all of the signs, it was oft utilised.
“Look, Fanny, Lizzy, Mary, there is room for a bed for me in that corner,” Bennet jested as he pointed to a corner near one of the fireplaces.
Fanny gave her beloved husband’s arm a playful tap. “I could see James also requesting a bed be placed here for himself when he sees this library,” she opined.
“I will give him the same reply my father gave me when I made that request. ‘No beds in the library’,” Darcy quipped.
“Are the first editions in the glass cases?” Bennet enquired.
“Several of them. There are a few old and delicate ones, along with some of the original manuscripts Pierre D’Arcy brought with him from Normandie in a vault, the walls linedwith cedar, which has very low humidity for the preservation of the tomes within,” Darcy replied.
“Brother, I know you could get lost in this room for the rest of the day, but it is time to meet everyone in the blue drawing room for tea,” Georgiana reminded him.
Albeit reluctantly, they departed the library and made their way to join the others in residence for tea and refreshment. They arrived just in time for Lady Matlock to begin pouring the tea.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Jenny, that Wickham ‘as scarpered,” Brian Biggs, the eldest of the Biggs offspring reported. “It is not like ‘e said; ‘e is not coming back. ‘E were part of those preparing the new camp, and now the regiment is leaving to join him.”
“That bastard,” Jenny spat out. “What a simpleton I was to allow him to charm me and believe he would marry me. I should have never…” She paused and gathered herself. After all, she was only fifteen and his age was more than thirty! “His tongue was honeyed, and he claimed he was a gentleman, and as such, he could never make a promise he would not keep. And I, like a naïve fool, believed that snake in the grass!”
“We know, Sister,” John Biggs, the younger Biggs brother, soothed. “You ‘ave no idea ‘ow many debts ‘e left be’ind to the merchants. I ‘eard you not be the only one ‘e lied to like that. One lass is with child.”
“Will you be able to find him? He told me they are going to be encamped near Barnstaple in Devonshire. That is so far, how will you find him?” Jenny lamented.
“But the regiment be on the way to Meryton in “Ertfordshir’, not Barnstaple in Devonshir’,” Brian corrected. “Remember, I were friends wif Lieutenant Sanderson?”
Jenny nodded.
“Well, ‘e told me where they be movin’ to. It aint too far. John and me will go find that libertine and drag ‘im back tomarry you. You ‘ave our word,” Brian vowed.
John nodded his emphatic agreement.
Without telling their father where they were going, the huge men set off on the post the next morning. It would take them to London, and there they would find one to Meryton.
Yes, Jenny should not have surrendered her virtue to the officer, but it was done, and there was no way to change that. She at least had the excuse that she was full young and was not prepared for the honeyed tongue and false promises of the seducer. The brothers had always felt very protective of their sister, so they would do what they needed to do in order to make the miscreant marry her. They did not think their father would cast Jenny out—at least that is what they hoped—but they could not take that chance.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The days at Snowhaven had been as enjoyable as had been expected. Even though the only part of the old castle still standing was the great hall and one tower, the youngest Bennets thought it was the best thing they had ever seen. When she was not lost in David’s eyes, Jane found it interesting as well.
Although William had not made a declaration, and as yet she had not felt confident enough to prompt him, Elizabeth knew they were getting nearer to that point. They had spent much time together at Pemberley, and since the arrival at Snowhaven two days previously, except for sleeping at night, they were always close one to the other.
