Former Colonel Fitzwilliam was slowly but surely beginning to learn what he needed to so that he could manage his estate. He had written to both Andy and William to ask when they would be able to come to Rosings Park to teach him how to be master of a great estate. He also needed their advice on employing a new steward.
The latter had written back and said he would be happy to help, but William also said he would not be able to leave Derbyshire before the end of July or early August. William had not said so, but Richard thought that his cousin’s reluctance to leave Pemberley for some weeks was connected to his pursuit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He could not understand why Andy had not responded to the two letters he had sent to Hilldale. That was out of character for his brother.
One person who had been a great help to Richard was the former Miss Charlotte Lucas. He had acquiesced to her request not to be called Mrs Collins due to her repugnance of that name, so instead Fitzwilliam addressed her as Mrs Charlotte.
She was very helpful with the tenants and those who lived in the village whom she knew well from her time as the late parson’s wife. It had not taken long for Fitzwilliam to learn that where Mrs Charlotte had been universally loved, her late husband had been reviled. They could trust her, while they would never tell the late Mr Collins anything they did not want repeated to Lady Catherine.
In addition to knowing the people, she was intelligent and practical. Hence, Fitzwilliam was able to lean on her for help and advice while he waited for his cousin to arrive and his brotherto respond to his letters.
He knew she had not been happy in her former marriage, as was highlighted by the fact she was already in half mourning and would soon be out of mourning altogether. While she had been Mrs Collins, Fitzwilliam had not been able to reconcile how an intelligent, good woman like her had tied herself to the late sycophantic imbecile. As improper as it had been, he had felt an attraction to her. However, if he were to see if there could be something between them, he must at least wait until she was fully out of mourning.
Anne de Bourgh could not understand why Richard had made no move to get to know Charlotte better. She was ill but not blind. She had noticed that there had been a mutual attraction between the two when her cousins were here over Easter. For obvious reasons, both fought hard to hide it.
Charlotte was now free from that idiotic man, and yet neither of them had given any indication of a deeper attachment. She would not be like her mother, who was securely restricted to the dower house, by attempting to impose her will on them. All Anne could hope for was that the two would find one another when the time was right.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Richard joined her and Charlotte in the drawing room after being out and about on the estate most of the day. “A letter arrived from Snowhaven,” Anne stated as she inclined her head to where the missive lay.
Fitzwilliam picked it up off the side table and sat in a wingback chair. “You ladies do not object if I read this, do you?” He asked.
Both his cousin and Mrs Charlotte indicated he should go ahead.
He broke the seal and consumed the news his mother wrote. At least, he understood why Andy had not responded. He was not at Hilldale, and only very urgent epistles had beenforwarded to him at Lake Windermere.
Anne and Charlotte both looked at Richard with raised eyebrows when he let out a bark of laughter. “What amused you so?” Anne enquired.
“Mother writes that Andy met a lady while he was holidaying in Bowness-on-Windermere. Not only that, but when he met her, he presented himself as Mr Colin Hillman, a minor gentleman. The lady cared not for his wealth or lack thereof. He disclosed the truth to her and her sister before he asked for and was granted a courtship.” Fitzwilliam looked at Mrs Charlotte. “We both know the lady and her sister.”
“Jane and Eliza!” Charlotte exclaimed.
“That is correct. Thankfully, Andy is enamoured with Miss Bennet and not Miss Elizabeth. William would have skinned him alive had he attempted to engage that lady’s affections,” Fitzwilliam reported.
“You are speaking of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who was here over Easter? The one William stared at all the time?” Anne verified.
“The very one,” Fitzwilliam confirmed. “According to mother, her opinion of William is much better since she rejected his proposal Easter past.” He stopped speaking, seeing the eyes of both ladies become wide. They had not known.
“William proposed!” Anne exclaimed.
“I told that stubborn girl Mr Darcy had tender feelings for her. Eliza denied it, and she refused him. Only Eliza.” Charlotte shook her head.
“She did the right thing…” Fitzwilliam explained. At the end of it, both ladies agreed with the rejection. “And now she has tender feelings for William, and he still wants her. On top of that, it seems that Miss Bennet will be my sister.”
“That is why our cousin willnot come for the next few weeks,” Anne understood.
Charlotte felt envious, not for the Bennet sisters’ good fortune, but rather for the fact that she was alone and would more than likely remain so. Now that Mr Fitzwilliam owned an estate like Rosings Park and everything that went with it, he could aim much higher than a plain widow.
It was ironic that she, who had disclaimed the need for romantic love in a marriage, was falling in love with a man she thought would never be interested in her.
~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet had held onto a letter from Jane for a few days now, but he realised it was patently unfair not to share the contents with his wife.
Fanny was much calmer than she used to be, and if he was honest with himself, she was working on improving her character, especially her propensity to say the first thing which entered her head. It had been quite some time since he had heard his wife indulge in gossip.
He entered the drawing room where his wife was working on sewing clothing for the tenant children, another major change. She had begun to visit the tenants, which was something she had refused to do for over twenty years.
Once the shock that the mistress of Longbourn was calling on them wore off, it did not take long for her to become liked by the tenants’ wives and children.
“Fanny, I have received a letter from Jane and your brother each.” Seeing she was beginning to get worried, Bennet continued. “All is well, I promise you. In fact, I have a feeling you will like this news.” Bennet sat next to Fanny on the sofa and took her hand nearest to him in one of his own. “Jane met a man while she and Lizzy were being hosted by the Gardiners in the house they leased right next to Lake Windermere.”
