“As long as he is not arrogant or hypocritical when we ride, then yes sir, he would be welcome,” she said laughingly. Lizzy loved that he could laugh at himself.
Darcy, too, thought of Elizabeth, wishing she would tease him for a lifetime.
“How did you choose the names for your horses Lizzy, Jane?” Georgiana looked from one to the other, anxious to know anything she could about all of them.
“My Papa is enamoured with the study of the heavens, so we named them after planets and moons. When we run out of celestial bodies, we will have to think of something else,” Lizzy answered playfully.
“We have used Greek gods so far. William’s is Zeus and my mare is named Aphrodite. Zeus is well named; he is a very powerful and fast horse and will allow none other than William to ride him,” Georgiana explained, enjoying the conversation. She prayed William would be able to win the lady’s heart, to gift her Lizzy as a sister.
“Mama, will we be able to take our ponies and ride in Hyde Park when our cousins accompany us?” asked a hopeful Lily, immediately seconded by James.
“I promise nothing to either of you, but if your cousins do not object and your father agrees, I do not see why not,” Mrs Gardiner answered, knowing full well that neither her husband nor her nieces would object.
After receiving a nod of approval from her brother, Georgiana issued an invitation she had been waiting to offer since she arrived. “My brother and I would be very pleased if the Gardiners and the Bennets would join us and the Fitzwilliams for a family dinner on Wednesday. We would expect that Mrs Collins and her sister would be part of the Bennet party, of course,” Georgiana asked in her sweet voice full of hope as she so wanted them to come.
“As far as I know, we have no prior commitments. Edward and I will be happy to attend Miss Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner responded.
“The invitation includes your children as well,” Darcy stated, amused at her arched brow and nodding once that he meant it.
“Why thank you, Mr Darcy. That is most gracious. I never assume the children are included, but I know that they are always very happy when they are.” Mrs Gardiner offered a genuine smile, to the true display of how much he intended to win their Lizzy and call them all family.
‘Another point in his favour,’ Lizzy admitted to herself. “I will inform my parents of the invitation. I do not believe that there will be a conflict, but we will not be able to give a definite answer until Jane and I have spoken to them,” Miss Elizabeth replied.
“It will be acceptable for me to attend while in mourning. Miss Lucas, my sister returned to Lucas Lodge this morning so it is only myself in Town. Thank you for the kind invitation Mr and Miss Darcy,” Charlotte said as she nodded a thank you to each in turn. Not long after, the Darcys returned to their home across the square.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Well, I never!” Miss Caroline Bingley screeched as she returned home after a fruitless attempt to visit some of her ‘good friends’ who were members of theTon. “Can you believe that not one person was at home to me today? You would swear that I was as low as those kept and loose Bennet women. To make matters worse, we have not received one call, not a single invitation! Why would you tell the driver not to take me to go visit my friend Miss Darcy, Charles? Just because there was a misunderstanding last time I went to my future home - I mean Darcy House…” she tried to correct herself but knew it was not quite fast enough.
“Caro, I suggest that you rest until we go to the Bedford-Jersey Ball. It is the pinnacle of the season after all, and you want to look your best. All this stress and worry will not help you.” Louisa hoped that she could appeal to her younger sister’s vanity and self-interest.
“You will not believe it Louisa. The gall of those fallen women.” Ignoring her sister, Miss Bingley continued her rant. “After I was refused entrance, I mean once I found out Madame Chambourg’s had no appointments open before the ball, you will not believe who I saw leaving her store on Bond Street! No, you will never guess, Louisa, so I will tell you. Those fallen Bennet women had the absolute audacity to pollute my modiste’s store, walking out as if they owned the place. That such low women are allowed into Madame Chambourg’s! I should punish her by never honouring her with my custom again!”
‘Honouring her? Caroline has never been allowed into the shop and never will be. I could tell her she is wrong about the Bennets, but that would just lead to another tantrum and neither Charles nor I want that. We will have to try and keep her home until the ball, and then I am sure she will be happy in the company of the highest circle of the Ton. Though I do wonder why we are invited when she just told me no one was at home to her today? So long as Caroline is happy, all will be well.’ Louisa tried very hard to convince herself, though with each new instance of someone ignoring them or not talking to them when encountered, it was getting harder and harder to do.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Sunday, the Hunsford parish church was filled to capacity. There were even some parishioners standing at the rear who could not find a seat. The congregation was hungry for a good parson, and after hearing from those who had the pleasure of meeting him, the congregants were curious and wanted to see if the man lived up to the billing.
The first difference that they noticed is that he did not sprint down the aisle at sight of the de Bourgh party. Many of the parishioners in the church knew that Lord and Lady Hilldale were part of the party from Rosings Park, but Mr Harrison gave them no more attention than any other present at the service.
All noted that Mr Harrison’s voice was a pleasure to listen to and had none of the whining or grating sounds that characterised the voice of his predecessor. To Anne’s pleasure, the sermon was the final piece that she needed to be completely sure about her decision. He preached about the story of the good Samaritan on the road to Jerusalem. He used the parable to extol the virtues of charity for the sake of charity, not for recognition or reward, and within five minutes of the start of the service Anne had decided to offer him the living. Mr Collins had often used sermons to either praise his patroness or to hit the parishioners over the head with the differences of class and rank, often including reminders of the deference owed to those higher than themselves.
By the time that the service concluded, there was not one of the congregants, including Anne, who wanted anyone else to be the shepherd to the Hunsford flock. The same way that the clergyman did not bow and scrape to the Rosings Park party when they arrived, neither did he run down the aisle to bow to them as they exited. He slowly made his way down the aisle and out of the church, stopping and talking to any of the parishioners that desired to talk tohimon his way out.
Before he made it halfway out of the church, Anne was inundated by parishioners beseeching her to offer him the living so that he would be their new parson. If she had not already decided to do just that, the reaction of the congregation would have tipped the scales and removed any lingering doubt. Only once any member of the congregation that wanted to speak to him had done so did Harrison join the Rosings Park party to walk back to the manor house for the after services meal. As they arrived at the house, Anne turned to Harrison and addressed him specifically.
“Mr Harrison, will you please accompany me to my study before we join the rest of the party in the drawing room?” she requested.
“Certainly Miss de Bourgh; please lead the way.” He gestured for her to precede him. On entering the study, Anne sat behind her father’s desk and Harrison sat in one of the chairs facing her. The door was left open for propriety’s sake, and without preamble Anne proceeded.
“Mr Harrison, you have impressed me greatly. You are exactly the type of cleric that we need at Hunsford, and I admit I knew that from our first meeting. The care you have taken to meet and listen to the concerns of the parishioners has only reinforced my belief that you are the right, no, theonlyman for the job. If I had not decided within the first few minutes of your starting the service today, the reaction of the congregation and their beseeching me to gift you the living would have convinced me. I would be most happy if you will accept the living at the Hunsford parish,” she offered and waited for the cleric’s response.
Harrison thought for a moment and before he gave her his final answer, he asked her a clarifying question. “I cannot accept if you expect or demand from me to break the confidences of my parishioners like the predecessor did. If you want that, then I am not your man,” he informed her.
“You have my word of honour, Mr Harrison, that not only would I never expect you to do that, but I will never ask that of you. Unlikemy predecessor, I do not want a sycophant. I desire someone who will put the needs of the parishioners first and not run to Rosings Park every day, leaving no time for his pastoral duties,” she stated emphatically. “I know that is how you will be. But,” she held up her hand and locked their eyes, “I hope you will understand this request; as someone who was in a precarious position of being abused with the intention of harm against me for many years by one who should have been my protector, I request that if you see the same among your congregation you will let me know so we can help those being so abused together. I will not countenance any abuser on my lands.” She waited, letting him think on it and was relieved when his shoulders relaxed.
“That is the hardest part of pastoral duties. To know that I have an understanding patroness that may assist with the extraction of an abused victim will be a blessing—whether to bring that person to a position at the house as a maid for a wife or some other position. I am sorry for your experience, but I appreciate that you are willing to help those that cannot help themselves due to laws. I sometimes wish God had instructed us with a little more clarity,” he admitted.
