“Hello, Grace, are you taking your Papa home to the parsonage?” Jane asked.
“No silly pwetty lady, Papa is takingmeback home,” Grace told Jane seriously with wide eyes.
Without asking, Grace climbed into Jane’s lap and got comfortable. “Please pardon my daughter’s forwardness, Miss Jane,” Elliot stated contritely.
“How could I be upset at such a darling child wanting to sit with me,” Jane replied sincerely. Having Grace in her lap just felt right.
“Come, Gracie, we must return home,” Elliot told his little girl. “It is time for your nap and I am sure we will see Miss Jane soon.”
Grace reluctantly climbed down from her comfortable seat. “Will you come visit me at the pawsonage soon, Miss Jane?” Grace asked hopefully.
“Soon, Miss Grace, I promise,” Jane replied as she gave the cute little girl a kiss on the cheek.
As he walked away with his daughter, Elliot turned and saw Miss Jane was watching him too. He knew much of her story, as he had prepared the annulment documents for the Bishop. Elliot was well aware why she had no need to wear black for the lecherous, blasphemous man she had married. Since becoming pastor of the parish, Elliot had heard about Collins’s unwanted advances to some of the girls in his flock. If the man was not already dead, Elliot would have happily dispatched him.
He was aware even with her marriage having been annulled, it was far too early to show an interest in Miss Jane. That she would be the ideal parson’s wife was not in question. His parishioners loved her and would do anything to protect her if needed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A few days after Easter, the guests started to depart Rosings Park. First, the Lucas and Gardiner families returned to Hertfordshire. The reunited sisters tearfully all solemnly promised each other that they would all be together for Mary’s wedding in June, or they might see one another before then.
There was no residual uneasiness between Bingley and Jane; it had been exactly as Mary had predicted. As Jane stood next to Lizzy and William, she watched the Meryton contingent disappear from view down the drive and was at peace.
Later that afternoon the Matlocks,sansTiffany, and Hilldales departed for London. They planned to remain in Town until the end of the season and then return to Snowhaven and Hilldale after attending the wedding in Hertfordshire, where they would reclaim Tiffany.
The next morning it was the three Darcys and Tiffany who were to depart. “Lizzy, you must write and tell me about your impressions of Pemberley. Richard has told me much, so I believe you will love it there,” Charlotte told her best friend as she hugged her.
“You cannot doubt I will maintain my correspondence with you, my dear friend,” Elizabeth vowed as she hugged Charlotte. “Anne, it has been a pleasure getting to know you,” Elizabeth stated as she moved to hug her cousin. “I look forward to seeing you at Mary’s wedding in June.”
“It was a joy to get to know you too,” Anne responded as she returned her cousin’s hug. “Thank you for bringing joy into my dour cousin’s life, and what you did with Giana is nothing short of a miracle.”
“You know me, nothing less than a worker of miracles would cause me to enter into the married state,” Darcy drawled. Darcy also hugged Anne, something he would never have done before he was married to Elizabeth because his Aunt Catherine would have screamed compromise.
“Anne, will you and Jane join the Fitzwilliams when they come to us for Christmastide in Derbyshire?” Elizabeth invited.
“I promise you, if I am healthy enough, then I will be there,” Anne returned.
“Unless Anne cannot make the journey, I will join you,” Jane assured her sister.
Georgiana and Tiffany said their goodbyes and boarded the coach; they sat with Mrs. Annesley between them on the rear-facing seat, leaving the forward-facing seat for Elizabeth and William.
“I thank God I have my big sister back. I told you this already, but I could not be prouder of you if I tried,” Elizabeth told Jane as she hugged her tightly.
“Being able to call you sister again is the greatest gift I could have prayed for,” Jane said as a few tears escaped her eyes. She saw Elizabeth’s look of concern. “These are tears of joy, not sorrow. I will miss you, and I look forward to seeing you in June. I only hope my reception in Meryton will not be too frosty.”
“That, my dear Jane, willnotbe a problem. Aunt Sarah, Lady Lucas, is back home and singing your praises. By the time you return to Meryton, you will be welcomed with open arms,” Elizabeth insisted. “And if there are any who do not treat you well, they will have to answer to me!”
“You will write to me, will you not?” Jane implored.
“Of course I will. I will see you in June at Netherfield Park.” Elizabeth hugged Jane again and kissed both of her cheeks.
“Take care of my cousins, Sister,” Darcy intoned as he hugged Jane.
“I will do everything in my power to obey your command,” Jane returned. Darcy inclined his head, hugged and kissed both Anne and Charlotte, clapped Richard on the back, then joined his wife in their coach. Once the door closed and Biggs and Johns took their positions on the rear bench, Darcy tapped the ceiling and their carriage slowly started moving as the matched team of six strained to build some momentum.
The four residents of Rosings Park stood under the portico, watching until the Darcys’ vehicle was no longer visible, then turned to go inside.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
