Page 133 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

The breeze pushed the window open wider and voices from outside interrupted their conversation. Apparently, the newly hired help was already attending to their duties.

Darcy still remembered the house well enough to easily find the dining room.

Mrs Clarke greeted him with grateful joy, fussing around him anxiously. It took Darcy quite a while to calm her and convince her to sit and enjoy breakfast with him. While the lady looked animated and excited, her appetite was low, subdued by her restlessness.

“Mrs Clarke, let us not discuss this matter any longer. It is my pleasure to see this house restored to its past beauty. And if you are able to rent rooms again, so much the better. You owe me nothing and I do not wish to see you distressed. The view from my room is spectacular; I can see why my mother adored it.”

His tone, although polite, allowed no further argument on the subject, and Mrs Clarke abandoned any attempt to express further gratitude.

“I am glad you are enjoying the view, sir. Lady Anne spent hours by the window. She had a pianoforte up there and she used to play. Your father asked us to send it back to Pemberley fifteen years ago…”

“Yes, I remember. I know my mother spent many summers here. Do you happen to remember if she had any friends who visited her? Any usual visitors, somebody who kept her company regularly?”

He struggled to conceal his uneasiness as he brought up the intrusive questions; his curiosity, however, would not be easily defeated.

“Friends? I cannot recall anyone particular, sir. I know she was always with her companion. And Lord Matlock and Lady Catherine came with her occasionally. And there was an old doctor and a young one who took care of her.”

“Yes, Doctor Burton and his son.”

“Oh dear, yes, are they still alive? Doctor Burton was old even then.”

“He passed away before my mother but the son, Doctor John Burton, is still close to our family,” Darcy replied, still hesitant and uncomfortable. “Anyone else, perhaps? Outside the family?”

“I do not remember. But I will think harder. And I will ask Jenny—she has been with us for more than thirty years now. And even if she is older than me, her memory is much better.”

“Very well. And…as for your neighbours, do you know which of them have been around since those times?”

“Well, the closest to us are the Dunns, the Fitzroys, the Crawfords, the Stantons and the Youngs. I think they have all been here since I was a child—at least the families have. Some members have passed away, some have moved away, but their families have remained.”

“Thank you, Mrs Clarke,” Darcy attempted to sound light and calm. Even if it was an unreasonable assumption, those names increased his anxiety, as he realised the secret might lie among them. There was not much he could do, but at least he could walk around the nearby houses, and steal some glances. He might notice something, anything…

“Mrs Clarke, I heard the sound of a pianoforte yesterday. It was an excellent performance, indeed. Do you know who might have been playing?”

“Oh yes, of course! It is Julia, the Fitzroys’ granddaughter. She is married to a naval captain and she has two lovely young children. Her husband is fighting in the war and she has returned to live with her uncle and manage the household. The old Fitzroys passed away years ago.”

“I see…” Darcy replied.

“Julia was a good friend of my daughter when they were young. They both married quite well, to worthy men with good livings, thank the Lord! But her husband’s occupation is very dangerous in these times. She seems to suffer for him so much! It is such a pity for her, she is such a pretty and caring girl. She always has been! And so accomplished! She plays and sings and paints and takes care of everything.”

“How praiseworthy,” Darcy answered. “For her talent at the pianoforte, I can testify myself. My sister is also very fond of music and exceedingly talented too.”

“Oh, dear Miss Georgiana, I would give anything to meet her. Mrs Reynolds told me that she was the sweetest and most beautiful child she had ever seen.”

“I know she would love to meet you too and hopefully it will happen soon. But I am not certain of my plans yet. Now please excuse me, I am going out for another ride if you do not mind,” Darcy concluded.

“Yes, yes. And I will talk to Jenny and see if we can remember any friend of Lady Anne, although I doubt it. What a wonderful and fine lady she was. The finest. And she loved you both so much.”

“Yes, I know,” Darcy replied, eager to leave.

“I understand why you are looking for people who may have known her. Any memories about her must be very precious to you,” Mrs Clarke continued and Darcy’s embarrassment increased.

“Indeed,” he said briefly, then took his farewell again.

Mrs Clarke’s voice calling to the servants followed Darcy as he left the house. He welcomed the fresh air and was about to mount his horse when his attention was drawn to a large group of ladies and children heading towards the shore. He could not clearly see them through the trees and bushes, but their voices sounded loud, bright and joyful.

He suddenly realised that he could not remember a single instance when he had heard Georgiana laughing loudly, unrestrainedly, with all her heart, as most children were wont to do. She had always been shy and reserved, always guarded with her manners, always worried about disturbing others. She had always been so perfectly behaved that she had barely had the time to be a child.

As he mounted, Elizabeth’s smiling eyes appeared in his mind for a moment, but he dismissed the image quickly and spurred on his stallion.