He knew it was his pride that his judgement was always sound which had led him to employ Mrs Younge, but he did not want to think what that meant.
At least, he and Richard would be leaving London for their annual visit to Rosings Park in the next few days. Richard was now the commander of the Dragoons’ training grounds since his last wound in battle. He could no longer ride and wield his weapons at the same time.
He was prepared for his Aunt Catherine’s continual harping on the need for Darcy to marry his cousin, Anne de Bourgh. Due to his aunt’s claim that it was something his late mother had wanted as well, and had she lived long enough to agree with her sister, he may have married Anne. However, Anne de Bourgh was far too sickly and frail. Darcy was not sure she would survive marital relations, never mind birthing an heir. Besides, although it was not what he desired, if he never married, Anna’s future son could inherit Pemberley with the proviso that he take the Darcy name.
With Lady Catherine’s harping and his attempts to undo the damage she had done to the estate since last year when he visited, Darcy was confident of one thing: Miss Elizabeth Bennet would be the last thing on his mind.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth had borne her cousin’s constant allusions to all she had lost by not accepting his hand with her equanimity intact—mostly—at dinner, and then in Charlotte’s parlour after the meal the previous day, the day they arrived. It had been a relief when she retired for the night, even if she and Maria were sharing the room until Sir William departed in a few days.
She had risen with the light of the new morning after their arrival, as was her wont at Longbourn. Making sure she did not wake Maria, Elizabeth had dressed herself and tied the laces on her trusty half boots. Even though the sun was not up yet, she took a bonnet and her light shawl. It was no longer cold thanks to it being spring, but the mornings were still cool. Elizabeth let herself out of the parsonage’s front door and began to walk towards the groves Charlotte had indicated.
She set off at a blistering pace, the same as she always used when she walked. With each step she took, Elizabeth felt some of the frustration with her simpleton of a cousin bleed out of her body. After crossing the drive leading to themansion, she walked on a path into the grove closest to the parsonage. Now that the trees were fully leafed again, the branches formed a canopy across the path.
As she walked, she was serenaded by the songs of the finches, robins, and wrens, among others flitting from branch to branch above her. Elizabeth never felt so peaceful as she did when she walked out as she did now.
She had been walking at that steady pace when she reached a place where a few paths converged. It was a large clearing with a nice tree trunk lying among the wildflowers on one side. It would make an ideal place to sit and read if she needed to escape the parsonage. One path seemed to lead in the direction she imagined Rosings Park’s mansion was found; another led to a field of wildflowers. Elizabeth could identify bluebells, oxeye daisies, yellow rattles, and crocuses from where she stood. There was a riot of colour which had many bees already flying from one blossom to the other. It was below a small hill with a folly atop it. Elizabeth could see it was built to emulate a Greek temple.
Another path led to various fields, and the last path led into a second grove. As she had an adventurous spirit and had a great curiosity, Elizabeth took the path into the second grove. She knew she was walking back towards the parsonage, so she was not concerned about getting lost.
About fifteen minutes from when she began to walk this path, Elizabeth noted a path which was perpendicular to the main one. Being inquisitive, she followed it. She heard the buzzing and croaking of insects, frogs and toads before she saw the glade with a nice pond in its centre. There were three stone benches spread around, and other than a clearing around the pond, the area was enclosed by trees. There were waterlilies floating on the surface of the pond. Elizabeth saw at least two lily pads with frogs on them. It was such a peaceful place—a place she decided was even better for seeking solitude thanon the tree trunk in the clearing where all the paths crossed. Yes, to be able to walk among this unspoiled nature, Elizabeth would tolerate her cousin’s inanities.
Chapter2
“Sir William, Cousin Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Maria, you will not believe the honour we are to have this day. The beneficent Lady Catherine de Bourgh has invited us for dinner,” Collins gushed on his return from reporting to his patroness.
Except for the Sabbath, Mr Collins was expected at Rosings Park each day at midday to report all the goings on in the parish to Lady Catherine. This included anything the parishioners told Mr Collins in confidence. The great lady would hie to the houses of those who reported problems to Mr Collins and scold them, telling them that they should expect problems because of the lowness of their birth. Then, she would sweep out of the abode, and in her mind the problem was solved.
As soon as the members of the parish realised that Mr Collins was reporting anything they told him, whether in confidence or not, to his patroness, almost all ceased sharing anything with the man.
“Yes, my dear, we generally dine at Rosings Park twice a week,” Charlotte responded calmly.
“That is true, my Dove, but now Cousin Elizabeth will see… erm, I mean my father-in-law, sister-in-law, and cousin will experience Lady Catherine’s condescension.” He turned to his cousin. “Do not make yourself uneasy, Cousin Elizabeth, if you do not have a good quality gown to wear. The best you have here will do. Lady Catherine likes to maintain the distinction of rank.”
All Elizabeth could do was roll her eyes when her cousinbustled off to his study to work on the outline that Lady Catherine had given him while he was at Rosings Park for next week’s sermon. Elizabeth had been in such a good mood since the morning when she walked and spent time in what she was coming to think of as her glade. It did not take long in Mr Collins’s company to foul her mood. The way he revered his patroness, you would think they were having a meal with Their Majesties at one of the royal residences.
A letter had arrived from Jane earlier that day. Elizabeth had thought to wait until her walk on the morrow, but she was too impatient to wait. “Charlotte, will you excuse me to go to my chamber to read a letter from London?”
“Of course, Eliza. If you want some solitude, Maria will remain here with me and my father so that you may read it at your leisure,” Charlotte responded.
Elizabeth did not need to be told twice. She bounded up the stairs and entered the bedchamber she was sharing with Maria until Sir William departed on Friday. She smiled as she lifted the missive; Jane had used the Gardiner seal. Now all Elizabeth could do was pray that Jane was happier than the last time they had exchanged letters.
17 March 1812
23 Gracechurch Street
London
My dearest Lizzy,
You know not how much I miss you. It is less than 6 weeks until I see you here. Dearest, do I sound selfish? I do not mean to be as you deserve to enjoy your time in Kent without worrying about my feelings.
Lizzy, I had a long talk with Aunt Maddie, and she made me see some things I did not want to consider before this.
Let us say that you have the right of it. Miss Bingley (I know she is not now, nor was she ever, a friend to me) prevaricated in her letter. She and Mrs Hurst, even with Mr Darcy’s assistance, all convinced Mr Bingley to remain in London.
If that is all true, what does it say about Mr Bingley’s love for me?
