“You are a man I would not dare refuse anything you deigned to ask. As I know my Charlotte heartily approves of you, I would never deny her anything I was able to give her. You have my consent and my blessing to marry my daughter. As you are now betrothed, she will return to reside with the Gardiners while in London, will she not?” Sir William asked, but it was not a question so much as a statement.
Sir William proudly made the announcement in the sitting room. It was met with universal approval. In discussion between the newly betrothed couple and her parents, it was decided the wedding would be from Lucas Lodge on the final Friday of February 1811.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Caroline, are you sure this is what you want to do?” Bingley asked his sister. Along with his older sister and her husband, Harold Hurst, he had travelled to Scarborough to make sure his sister was sure she wanted to leave the shores of England forever.
“Yes, I do. I am ruined in society here, and I cannot abide spending the rest of my days with our aunt under her rule. No one knows me there and with my wealth, I will be able to establish myself in Boston,” Miss Bingley stated. “It will give me a fresh start.”
“You do know this means we will more than likely never see one another again,” Louisa Hurst stated.
“That is part of the price I must pay. I blamed Jane Bennet, but she did not force me to take the actions I did. You tried to tell me I was wasting my time with Mr. Darcy and I refused to listen to you,” Miss Bingley owned.
“She is not Jane Bennet any longer,” Mrs. Hurst informed her sister. “The fate she wished on her sister is hers; she was required to marry that stinking man so her mother and unmarried sisters would have a place to live when their father passes away.”
“It seems anyone who tries to harm Eliza Bennet receives the pain they tried to visit on her, but in larger measure. I tried to ruin her in Mr. Darcy’s eyes and in society, and I am the one who is cast out,” Miss Bingley stated introspectively. “Do you know what happened to her?”
“I have not heard her name spoken in London, although this Miss Elizabeth Gardiner is becoming a darling of theTon. Evidently, she is also from the Meryton area, but we never met her when we were in the neighbourhood,” Bingley related.
“Are your arrangements made?” Mrs. Hurst asked.
“Yes, I have passage from Liverpool on a Dennington Lines ship in three days,” Miss Bingley confirmed.
“I will take you to Liverpool,” Bingley volunteered. “I suggest we request the captain of the ship lock your bank draft in his safe. The first thing you should do when you arrive in Boston is open a bank account and deposit your money,” Bingley posited to his sister. “I have heard there are many hucksters who like nothing more than to separate people from their money. Please take care of yourself; you will be on your own there.”
“Thank you for accompanying me,” Miss Bingley stated sincerely.
The two sisters hugged and cried as they said goodbye. Hurst grunted something unintelligible, and then Bingley and his younger sister boarded his coach. Louisa Hurst stood watching until the equipage turned a corner and it was lost from view.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Georgiana received an express from her brother, one in which she hoped to read that he was coming to London.
13 December 1810
Pemberley
Giana,
I had hoped this letter would be to let you know I would be coming to London, as I had decided to join you and the Fitzwilliams for Christmas. After hearing so much about your wonderous friend, Miss Gardiner, I could not stay away; I had to meet the creature who has helped you recover so fully.
You know what is said about the best laid plans, do you not? I was about to write my letter informing you I would be leaving Pemberley in a few days, but I am afraid that is impossible now.
Do not worry, sweetling, I am hale and healthy. There has been a devastating fire in the north village. It seems the Blacks forgot to extinguish a bedside candle when they went to sleep. Mrs. Black must have knocked it over, because when Mr. Black awoke the fire was on his wife’s side of the bed. She urged him to get the children. As you know they have four little ones.
He had just gotten them out of the house when the roof over the bedchamber collapsed, with Mrs. Black inside. It is not known why she did not follow Mr. Black out of the bedchamber. Doctor Jackson speculated she may have been overcome with smoke, but we will never know what actually happened.
The cottage was a complete loss and by the grace of God we were able to stop the fire spreading to other cottages in the village. Mr. Black and his four children are at the manor house until Chalmers and I find a temporary situation for them. I have already told my steward to start rebuilding the cottage as soon as Mrs. Black’s body is recovered and the rubble cleared.
When the Blacks move into their temporary dwelling, I will send a maid with them. Mr. Black is devastated at the loss of his beloved wife and I do not want him to worry how he will keep the house and care for his children when he needs to work his farm.
I pray you understand why I cannot in good conscience leave now. Easter is on the fourteenth day of April, but I promise you I will arrive in London by the beginning of March. It will give me time to plan the spring planting with Chalmers, and as long as there are no more disasters, I will be there.
Please know how much I miss you Giana. I am so happy you have recovered as you have. I owe debt of gratitude to your friend Miss Gardiner, that I will never be able to repay.
In addition, I vow I will not mope around as I did before I departed for Derbyshire.
You did not tell me if Richard’s application to Sir William was successful.
