“That is enough walking for me William, the babies are kicking a lot now, so please help me back to the drawing room.” Lizzy stopped unexpectedly.
“Are you well, Lizzy?” Jane hurried close.
“I am, but when you are as large as I am you will also notice it is hard to walk for too long,” Elizabeth stated.
Seeing the look of concern on her husband’s mien, she assured him all was well, reminding him that he knew she tired much faster at this stage of her pregnancy.
Bingley informed the four young people the Darcys and the Bingleys were returning inside. Darcy told them to only walk in sight of the house and to be back before teatime.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning the Gardiners arrived before ten as Rosings Park was only three hours from London. Once the Gardiners had changed, the group set off for the folly, set on a hill with a nice view of the estate for a picnic lunch. A number of the group rode on horses, but the four pregnant women and the countess, Mrs. Gardiner, and Mrs. Bennet rode in carriages.
The folly was made to look like a small Greek temple, and there was a nice level area at the top of the hill where tables and chairs for those that wanted them were set up. For the more adventurous and those not older or with child, there were blankets and pillows.
The estate’s kitchen staff, under the direction of the cook, had provided a spread that included cold sliced beef and mutton, meat and fruit pies, sweetmeats, cheeses, fresh bread, and an array of libations from water to ale.
Just after the party assembled again, a lone horseman arrived, and after he left his mount with one of the grooms he walked up and greeted Anne with a kiss to her proffered hand. By the becoming blush, everyone that had not yet met him assumed correctly that this was the gentleman courting her, Mr. Ian Ashby.
Once she had been greeted, Anne introduced her suitor to the assembled group. He was a good-looking man just shy of six feet tall, shorter than Darcy and the Fitzwilliam men, but a good height for the diminutive Anne de Bourgh.
On seeing him, both Darcy and Fitzwilliam remembered they had met him at Trinity, he had had a sterling reputation, and from what they knew he was a very honourable gentleman.
It dawned on Darcy his erstwhile friend George Wickham had tried to charm some funds out of Ashby when they were at Cambridge at the same time. Luckily Ashby had been intelligent enough to see right through Wickham’s false façade.
This memory elevated Ashby in Darcy’s opinion. Ashby was two years ahead of Darcy, so they had not the opportunity to know each other better. It turned out that Ashby had approached Anne soon after her return to Rosings Park from Pemberley in January.
Without the interference of Anne’s mother, their relationship had blossomed and progressed to the point they were now at. Seeing the looks that passed between the two, it was a relief for all those meeting Ashby as Anne’s suitor to see there was genuine affection between them.
After a leisurely meal, a number of groups walked in various directions for some exercise many preferred after a good meal. The four pregnant ladies and their husbands remained relaxing at the spot where they had eaten.
Fifteen minutes later, the group that was seated saw a very happy-looking Ashby approach the Earl where he was standing and conversing with Bennet and Gardiner. He said something to the Earl and then Ashby and the Earl walked a small distance from the other two gentlemen. After a short discussion, the Earl shook Ashby’s hand. As soon as this occurred, a joyful and beaming Anne joined them.
“Ashby requested Anne’s hand in marriage, and she has consented. He requested my blessing, which was bestowed with pleasure. Welcome to the family, Ashby, and Anne, I wish you joy,” the Earl announced to all that were not exploring.
“Thank you, Uncle Reggie. I never believed this day would come, but I am so very happy, and I know Ian will always take care of me and our family.” As she mentioned a possible family, Anne blushed a deep red.
“Congratulations Anne, and soon-to-be Cousin Ashby, when will you wed?” Lizzy smiled at Anne warmly.
“We are thinking in about a month, Lizzy.” Anne raised her hand to forestall what Elizabeth was about to say. “Before you say it, we know a lot of you will not be able to come as you will either have birthed your babes or will be entering or nearing your lying ins. As much as we would love to have all of my wonderful family here to celebrate with us, we would rather not wait. We delayed years because of Lady Catherine, so I do not want to waste any more time.”
“Anne, I have a question.” Fanny walked in close.
“Yes, Aunt Fanny?” Anne linked her arm with Fanny’s as she had become more than grateful for the affectionate woman’s closeness.
“Besides your betrothed’s family, all of your family is here for the next eight days until after Easter, correct?” Before Anne could answer with more than a nod of her head, Fanny turned to Anne’s betrothed. “I heard talk of an engagement dinner two days hence when your parents, brother, and sisters will be in attendance, is that not so?”
“You have the right of it Mrs. Bennet.” He agreed with respect and deference, having heard how this woman had immediately proved her love of his Anne and helped her when he had been unable.
“What are you cooking up in that pretty head of yours, Fanny?” Bennet teased, though he already knew exactly what she was thinking for her niece—the adopted daughter of her heart.
“Why a wedding, Thomas! When of late have I not been thinking of weddings?” she replied playfully, then ignored all others and turned to Anne again. “Anne, my dear, you would prefer all of your family to witness your nuptials, would you not? Are we not all here now for the next eight days?” Fanny asked with a smile that said she was having her way but was pretending to allow the bride to think she had input.
“Y-y-yes but...” Anne looked at her in wide-eyed surprise.
“Your fiancé’s family will arrive in two days, will they not?” she asked again as she looked at Anne’s betrothed who nodded dumbly. “Did the both of you not tell us how you have had to waste years and neither of you want to waste more time?” Both members of the newly engaged couple nodded again.
“You have the right of it, Fanny!” the Countess interjected. “Anne there is no need to wait for the banns to be read. Your adept and apt clergyman can issue a common license as you are of age and you can marry while we are all here, unless there is a reason we do not know of why you should wait a month?” she challenged the two, getting this time a mute shaking of their heads.
