~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I will do as you have instructed, Father. I am sorry I brought dishonour to the Darcy name today,” William replied contritely.
“William, the stablemaster will be your manager, and you will follow his orders to the letter. Do not let me hear of any arrogance directed to any of the grooms, stable hands, or any other. It is time for you to learn some humility, my son,” Robert Darcy told his heir.
After the boys and the housekeeper were dismissed, Lady Anne turned to her husband. “We need to formalise a document that refutes my sister’s nonsense about a betrothal between William and Anne. Also, as much as it pains me to say this about my sister, we need to severely limit contact between her and our son and any future children we may be blessed with.” Lady Anne wistfully rubbed her belly. She suspected she was with child again, but with so many failures between William’s birth and the present, she would not say anything to her husband until she felt the quickening—if it got that far this time.
“You have the right of it, Anne, my darling wife; I could not agree with you more. Ever since Lewis drowned fishing, she has become unbearable, so we will keep our distance. I will not miss her pontificating on subjects of which she has no knowledge. I intend to suggest to Reggie he exercise his prerogative as Anne’s guardian, as I do not believe Catherine will put anyone’s interests ahead of her own selfish, avaricious ones,” Robert Darcy said resignedly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“William, you got off lightly. I was convinced your father would whip you,” Richard stated as he mock wiped sweat of his brow after they reached their suite.
“Lightly!” William shouted in a high pitch which his voice changed to when he was upset. “I have to work as a common servant, I am to be…”
“Shut up, William! Have you learnt nothing from your folly today?” Richard asked as he shook his head in wonder as his cousin seemed to miss the point of his upcoming lessons. “You can be such an arrogant arse at times. You need to make a decision. Will you follow the insensible ravings of Aunt Cat, or your parents?”
“But AuntCatherinewas so adamant she was right,” William protested, even though he was not as sure of himself as he was before.
“So, according to you, he who makes the most noise is right? Do you not know empty barrels make the most noise? And here I thought you intelligent, Wills,” Richard responded.
His younger cousin felt the gut punch as he started to question his own beliefs in earnest, something he had not been willing to do before. As he examined his memories, he realised that the rest of the family only tolerated his Aunt Catherine, and no one paid her pronouncements any heed, except for himself.
“It could be I was mistaken in my beliefs,” William owned sheepishly after almost twenty minutes in serious contemplation.
“Could be?” Richard challenged with raised eyebrows.
“Was mistaken, alright, Rich? I see now I was wrongheaded. I need to accept my punishment graciously, do I not?” William realised.
“Finally, some words of sense out of your mouth today, Wills. There may be hope for you yet.” Richard slapped his cousin on the back and changed the subject to one they both loved: horses.
Chapter 4
“Fanny, Bennet, and my beautiful nieces, I am so happy to see all of you,” Edward Gardiner said to the Bennets as they arrived at the parsonage. They were welcomed by Reverend Lambert for a family dinner to meet his daughter and her siblings.
“Will you introduce us to your new family please, Gardiner?” Bennet requested.
Gardiner proudly introduced his betrothed Madeline, called Maddie; her father, the Reverend Arthur Lambert; Harry, the eldest Lambert offspring, and his wife Amanda; and the middle sibling, Grant.
“Edward told me you girls are very advanced in your musical and language studies,” Madeline Lambert told her soon-to-be nieces, hoping to put them at ease. “Where are your other three sisters?”
“Mary was tired from our excursions today, so she is with Kitty and Lydia at the inn,” Fanny explained.
“Oh, yes,” Hattie Phillips interjected, “Fanny’s girls are more accomplished than many older girls.” Hattie no longer gossiped, but she was proud of her nieces, for it was on them she and her husband poured their attention and time to make up for the sad fact she and Frank had not been blessed with children of their own.
“Quam operor vos facere,Miss Jane?” Reverend Lambert asked Jane how she was in Latin, sure girls so young might know a word or two, but no more.
“Ego sum etiam valde gratias ago tibi, domine. Quid agis hodie?” Jane responded in his selected language, saying she was well and asking the clergyman how he was with perfect elocution. Just when he believed he could not be more shocked, the younger girl introduced as Lizzy spoke.
“Domine dominus noster Latina didicit ex nostra bene Lectiones sumus.” Elizabeth offered proudly, telling him that they had learnt Latin well from their masters.
“Good lord!” Mr. Lambert exclaimed.
“Would you rather converse in Greek, French, or Italian, sir?” Elizabeth asked innocently. After the shock wore off, there was laughter in the room as everyone assimilated the knowledge that Hattie Phillips had not made an empty boast.
After a very enjoyable dinner, Maddie led the ladies and the two eldest Bennet sisters to the drawing room while the men sat and drank their port or brandy at the table. “Lambert, do you know the Darcys?” Bennet asked.
“Quite well. They are the nicest of people, always willing to help, and not just with money. Why do you ask? Do you know them?” Lambert senior asked.
