Mr Darcy,
Considering the impertinence of my questions, you take no liberties by the reply you sent me.
As we have decided to speak plainly one to the other, I must tell you that the words in your reply occasioned much joy for me. The reason is that my feelings are quite the opposite of what they were when you proposed to me at Hunsford in April. It is very gratifying that your love is constant, and you did not allow a little thing like my vociferous rejection to dim your feelings for me.
If, as we both seem to want, we come together, we need to pledge to never allow misunderstandings to come between us. For my side, I vow to speak plainly to you so that you will know how I feel. If you do the same for me, we will not have to labour under wrongheaded assumptions.
We will be back in Derbyshire, in your area, about the 15th of July. My fervent hope is that we see one another then.
You, William Darcy, are the owner of my heart.
Your Elizabeth Bennet
Each perusal brought to light some new delight as he discovered the depth of his love for her. He returned the most important keepsake he owned back into the safe. He had just locked it and replaced the bookcase when there was a knock, and upon being bade to enter, hisbutler proffered him the salver. It was a note from Aunt Elaine.
“The Matlock courier awaits your reply,” Douglas intoned. Before he bowed and withdrew. Darcy broke the seal and read.
13 July 1812
Snowhaven
William,
Your Uncle Reggie and I require your and Gigi’s presence at this estate on the morning of the 16th of this month before 11 o’clock.
It is for family business. Your uncle said to tell you that attendance is not optional.
My love to you and Gigi,
Aunt Elaine
Even though it would delay his seeing his Elizabeth, Darcy did the only thing he could after such an emphatic summons; he sent an affirmative reply.
Chapter 26
Charlotte arrived at Rosings Park’s stables at the time she had agreed to meet Mr Fitzwilliam on Monday morning. As she did not own a riding habit of her own, Anne had lent her one which used to belong to Mrs Jenkinson, who was of a similar size as Charlotte. It was a light green colour, which Anne opined suited Charlotte’s complexion very well.
Jenki had not ridden a horse in many years, ever since it became clear Anne did not have the strength for the sport. She had gone to see her sister, which it now seemed was to become permanent, as the former companion was needed to look after her nieces and nephews.
In consultation with Richard, Anne had decided to give Jenki half of her dowry in the way of a pension. As her dowry was forty thousand pounds, Mrs Jenkinson would be set for life with an income of eight hundred pounds per annum if she left the money in the four per cents. Charlotte was not aware yet, but the other half of Anne’s dowry would be hers.
Anne was seated on a chair in the shade next to the paddock so she could watch Richard administer Charlotte’s lesson. Brian Johns was standing close by in case she needed anything. John Biggs was with the men keeping Lady Catherine from escaping the dower house.
The letter from Jenki had arrived on Saturday, and now that Richard had agreed to what she wanted to do with her dowry, Anne would speak to Charlotte about both things later in the day.
Richard had argued that Charlotte would not need the additional funds, if as he hoped, she was to become the mistress of Rosings Park. In that case, he intended to share anything which was his, and he wanted his cousin to enjoy the remaining half of her dowry. Anne had disagreed and won the day when she asked him why he was arguing with her at the end of her life. She smiled to herself when she imagined her mother’s reaction when she discovered that the new mistress of the estate was none other than the lady she had failed to evict from the parsonage. She watched as Richard introduced Charlotte to the mare she would be riding.
“This is Grace, and she does live up to her name,” Fitzwilliam explained. “She is five years old and is just over fourteen hands high. As you can see she is a grey, and if you like one another, she will be yours for as long as you are at Rosings Park. Extend your hand like this.” Fitzwilliam took her left arm, had her open her hand palm up, and he gently guided her hand towards the mare.
As would be expected Grace sniffed Mrs Charlotte’s hand, and she must have liked what she smelt because she bent her head and rubbed her nose against the hand. Next, Fitzwilliam placed a carrot in Mrs Charlotte’s hand. She extended it on her own, and this time the horse sniffed her offering; the animal flapped open her lips, took the carrot without harming the hand holding it, and happily munched it. The lady had made a friend for life.
Even though he hated side-saddles for ladies, Fitzwilliam taught Mrs Charlotte how to mount that abomination of a saddle from the mounting block. Once she was secure and her feet placed correctly, he led the horse around the paddock twice before allowing Mrs Charlotte to have the mare trot slowly on her own.
It seemed that the lady was a natural. She had a very good seat and only had to be shown things once.
When Fitzwilliam noticed that Anne was napping in the shade, he closed the distance between himself and the other horse and rider. He caught Grace’s bridle and halted her. “Mrs Charlotte, this may be too soon, but I was wondering if you could see a future with me,” Fitzwilliam enquired.
Charlotte almost lost her seat, so shocked was she. “Why me, a plain widow, when as the master of Rosings Park, you could have your pick of pretty ladies in London?” It killed her to ask that, but after her first mistake, she had to be sure.
