After greeting Mrs Annesley and Miss Jones, Elizabeth led the way into the house, where Mr and Mrs Nichols metthem at the front door. Papa had told her that all of the Longbourn servants were temporarily at Netherfield Park. However, Mr and Mrs Hill remained at Longbourn to be Mamma’s and Papa’s eyes and ears during the construction while her parents were away.
Mrs Nichols showed Miss Elizabeth to her suite on the family floor while Mr Darcy was told that the rooms he had used on the guest floor when last at the estate were ready for him and his valet.
After they washed and changed, Elizabeth and Darcy joined their sisters in the west drawing room. It was smaller than the principal drawing room, but they were not such a large group. They fielded many questions from the two youngest Bennets about Bennet House and what had occurred in London. Elizabeth informed them of Jane and Jamey selecting a date for their wedding, and that set all three younger ladies to speculating about the wedding and the gown Jane would wear. That also led to Kitty and Lydia asking if they had any new dresses or gowns.
“Yes. Mamma purchased two for each of you. You will receive them when we arrive at Rosings Park,” Elizabeth informed her youngest sisters. “Before you get too excited, do not forget they are styled for girls not out yet.”
“Lizzy, we know that,” Lydia replied pertly. “After what almost happened to me, it is much better I am back in.” She looked at her friend. “Anna and I were worked on by the same scoundrel. I feel no sympathy for him or the way he ended up. It was his due!”
“I shared what almost happened to me with Kitty and Lydia when I was told what that dastard attempted with Lydia,” Anna stated unrepentantly when she saw her brother’s questioning look. “I agree with my friends, the world is better without him in it.”
From what Darcy could tell, Anna had been imbued with some of the Bennet sisters’ confidence. That was something which would only stand her in good stead in years to come.
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased to note the changes in Kitty and Lydia. It seemed that with Miss Jones’s lessons and with encouragement from Anna and Mrs Annesley, her sisters were learning how to act with propriety. An even bigger surprise came after dinner when Anna exhibited without any hesitation.
The next morning the Darcy coach and the Bennet carriage departed for Kent and Rosings Park.
Chapter 25
At the moment they passed the Hunsford parsonage, Elizabeth half expected her ridiculous late cousin to be standing in the garden bowing low as the coachman guided the Darcy coach onto the drive leading to the mansion. She was in Mr Darcy’s coach along with the man himself, his valet, Miss Jones, and Jenny. Kitty, Anna, and Lydia were in the Bennet carriage accompanied by Mrs Annesley.
Elizabeth had to admit, if only to herself, that she no longer felt any discomfort in Mr Darcy’s company—in fact, the opposite was true. On the journey from Netherfield Park to Rosings Park, they had enjoyed some debates—free of any of the acrimony she used to try and insert. They played two games of chess—they had played one to a draw and the other she had won in the end—and he had convinced her to agree to learn to ride. After all, Papa now had a stable of very good horseflesh at Rosings Park. Elizabeth also expressed an interest in learning to drive the pony-pulled phaeton her late distant-cousin, Anne de Bourgh, drove until about a year previously when she had become too infirm to do so.
When the two conveyances were drawn to a halt in the drive close to the front door of the manor house, Elizabeth saw Mamma, Papa, Jane, and Mary, flanked by several footmen, waiting to welcome them on the broad top step.
“Thank you for bringing my girls to Rosings Park, William,” Fanny said gratefully. “We only arrived some three hours before you.”
“I second my wife’s thanks, Darcy. The Fitzwilliams andHadlock are waiting for us in the drawing room,” Bennet agreed as he extended his hand to the younger man. He did not feel it necessary to mention that Hadlock was sleeping in the dower house to make sure they observed propriety. After coming so close to ruin before, Bennet was leaving nothing to chance. “Mrs Starkey will show you to the chambers my wife has assigned to each of you. I assume the new arrivals would like to wash and change before joining the rest of us?”
Darcy was about to make his way to the suite he and Richard shared in the family wing when he stopped himself. This was not the Rosings Park his Aunt Catherine had ruled, and he was no longer family. Instead, he waited for the housekeeper to inform him that he was still sharing a suite with Colonel Fitzwilliam, only now they were in the guest wing. Thankfully, Richard was on hand to show Darcy to their shared suite.
“You almost did the same thing I did when we arrived earlier and marched off towards the suite we used to share,” Fitzwilliam said with a wide grin. “Bennet would not have been impressed as it is being shared by Misses Elizabeth and Mary until they can redecorate this mausoleum to bad taste.”
“Where are Andrew and your parents?” Darcy enquired.
“My Father and Andrew are waiting for Bennet in the study. They need to go over what Andy did between Anne’s passing away and Bennet’s arrival. Seeing that you have as much experience as anyone with the management of this estate, I suggest you make yourself available to assist. It could not hurt you in the eyes of a certain lady.” Fitzwilliam waggled his eyebrows at his cousin. “Mother is in the drawing room.”
“What of you?” Darcy queried, praying that Richard’s reply would not be one which would freeze his heart. “You always said you needed an heiress. The Bennet sisters are that now.”
“I said that flippantly. I am not as poor as I make myself out to be. I have been saving my allowance and most of my wages since the day I joined the Royal Dragoons. Also, I am neither too proud nor foolish enough that I turned down the estate Father gave over to me,” Fitzwilliam stated as he led his cousin into the sitting room between their bedchambers.
“Which estate, and does that mean you will be resigning from the army?” Darcy responded excitedly.
“General Atherton is already in receipt of my resignation, and as soon as it is processed, I will sell my commission,” Fitzwilliam revealed. “As to the estate, I assume Father did not tell you?”
“Inform me of what?”
“Father swapped Pale Run in Surrey with the Duke of Hertfordshire and received Castlemere in return. Hertfordshire was thinking of selling the estate, as it was not one of those entailed to the dukedom. He is tired of managing an estate so far away, and as Pale Run was not entailed either, the two men agreed to exchange them. They both earn between five and six thousand pounds per annum, so to them, it was fair. Father had the deed issued in my name. For a few moments, my old pride at not wantingcharityraised its head, but I did not act on it. This is all very recent. With regard to the Bennet sisters, you may relax; none of them has turned my head, before or after their change of fortunes. I have my eye on a lady, but I need to wait a while before I may approach her.”
“It is the best news that you will no longer ride into battle! Not only that, but your estate shares a boundary with Pemberley,” Darcy said as he clapped his cousin on his back. “You have been very sly; I had not an inkling of this occurring.” He paused as he looked into his cousin’s eyes. “Richard, any help you need to learn to manage your estate, anything at all, you need only ask.”
“I know, William, and when, not if, I need guidance from you, I will request it.” Fitzwilliam gave his cousin a knowing look. “Things between you and Miss Elizabeth look far warmer than the previously iced-over relationship you had. Has she not agreed to ride with you in your coach several times?” He saw his younger cousin nod as a silly grin formed on William’s face. “Surely you must have detected a change in her feelings towards you?”
“Yes, things are much better between us. However, I am determined to give Miss Elizabeth as much time as she needs before I rush in and declare myself. Previously, in my arrogance, I could not conceive of her refusing me, and you know how well that went. My desire to have her as my wife is immutable. That being said, I am fully cognisant that for anything to develop between us, it must be a mutual choice.”
“That, myyoungcousin, is a much healthier attitude. In myhumbleopinion, it is notifbut ratherwhenMiss Elizabeth will be ready to hear you speak.”
“May He hear you and allow it to be so.”
