“Meryton. It is southwest of Luton.”
“Ah, then it is perhaps four hours from Mayfair. Your father’s estate is near your fiancé’s property?”
“We share a long border, Lord Matlock,” said Elizabeth. “I have known the Darcys since my earliest childhood.”
“And your engagement is of some duration?”
Elizabeth could not help but feel a little bashful at his questions about her connection with William. “About a year. William proposed before the start of the season last year, and I stayed with my uncle in London for a time to attend the season, where William introduced me to his level of society.”
“That is well then,” said the earl with a slow nod. “While I expect you will do well, experience of any kind in London will help.”
“It has always seemed to me, Lord Matlock,” said Elizabeth, after a moment’s consideration, “that good behavior is the same wherever one goes. Perhaps those in London are more judgmental, but I do not suppose I cannot move in their midst if I remember this simple fact.”
This time, Lord Matlock’s approval was obvious. “Well said, Miss Bennet. You will do well if you hold to this.”
“I must own,” said Elizabeth, “that your sister astonished me, given the subject of our discussion. That Lady Catherine would push even a cherished wish on one who is unconnected to her is far beyond anything I expected.”
The earl’s countenance darkened, and he shook his head, filled with exasperation. “With that, I cannot disagree. To own the truth, I have always considered it an eccentric wish on her part. My brother would tolerate no mention of it; then again, he little tolerated Catherine, even when sheattemptedcivility, which to this day remains her weakness.”
“So, your nephew never meant to oblige her?”
“Jameson never stated his intentions,” replied Lord Matlock. “I suspect he did not intend to marry Anne but kept his own counsel to avoid an argument.”
“Given what I have seen of your sister, I cannot but suppose that was wise.”
Lord Matlock nodded, but it was clear he was distracted. “I hope, Miss Bennet, that you do not take offense at the opinions I expressed. I wish to reiterate my confidence in your abilities, but I believe you will do well with a mentor.”
“Not at all,” said Elizabeth, feeling a little mischievous. “The only question is what your lady wife thinks on the subject, forI cannot imagine she is eager to shepherd a lost sheep about society until she learns what she must.”
“You are a saucy one, Miss Bennet,” said the earl with a laugh. “Levity will serve you well in society, though of course, there are those who will not appreciate it. In answer to your question, Susan is not opposed; we discussed the possibility already. My wife, you will discover, is not averse to assisting. While she is exacting in her standards of good behavior, she is not unreasonable. I cannot imagine she will do anything other than approve of you.”
“Then I cannot wait to make her acquaintance.”
“Let me also say how pleased I am by your reaction to this sudden prosperity. Many would allow it to affect them, such as to provoke exaggerated opinions of their worth.”
“I believe you will discover that William and I have no such pretensions. When William was the proprietor of a country estate in Hertfordshire, I was content to become his wife. Now that tragedy has elevated him, I will not change, and he will remain the same as he ever was.”
“I am pleased to hear it, Miss Bennet.” The earl smiled and rose, and Elizabeth stood with him. “Now, if you will excuse me, it is time for me to return to my home.”
With that, the earl farewelled the company, reserving an affectionate goodbye for his niece and son, and then departed from the estate. Elizabeth could not help but reflect on the contradiction between the siblings, for Lord Matlock was everything generous, civil, and friendly, whereas Lady Catherine was meddling, dictatorial, and disobliging. Then again, there was a vast difference in the five Bennet sisters, so Elizabeth supposed it was not at all unusual.
Chapter XIII
Peace settled over Pemberley for the first time in what seemed like months in the wake of Lady Catherine’s departure. With the lack of such a disrupting influence, the visit of the Bennet and Darcy ladies proceeded in daily meetings and excursions to nearby sights known to both Georgiana and Fitzwilliam and ended a week later with the visitors returning to the south with the promise that the Darcy party would follow as soon as they could thereafter.
As might be expected, Darcy traveled to Lambton the morning the ladies were to depart, eager for a few more precious minutes in Elizabeth’s company. While together, they discussed the last few details they still needed to resolve about their future.
“You may tell your mother,” said Darcy as they stood on the street, waiting for the luggage to be loaded on the carriage, “that I shall return by about the middle of March. I shall write to confirm the exact date when I know it.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. “Mama will be pleased to hear it, for she has gone on about the delay in our nuptials; one might almost think it wasshewho must endure the wait.”
“That is your mother, to be certain,” said Darcy with a fond chuckle for the woman who, while not a model of propriety, was a loving woman who had raised her daughters to be a credit to the family. “What do you say about an early April wedding, Elizabeth?”
“I say that I shall endure it, so long as we do not delay it a moment longer.”
“Then we agree,” said Darcy, kissing her hands. “Inform your mother. Should anything delay my return, I shall still promise to arrive by the date of our wedding, whatever may come.”
“Very well,” said Elizabeth, her pleasure shining in her face.
