by Lily Bernard
“I am in London to see my aunt and her family and to visit you. In a few days I am going to live with my sister, Jane and her husband, Charles Bingley.”
“Mr. Bingley has visited us here and at Pemberley many times. He was a very good friend of my brother. He married your sister, how wonderful!”
“They have recently purchased an estate in Derbyshire called Birchwood Manor.”
“I know that estate very well. My schoolmate, Anna Pauling used to live there, and I visited her at Birchwood many times. I heard she moved with her family to the West Indies to be closer to their business interests there. William’s school friend lives on a neighboring estate to Birchwood Manor.”
Aunt Gardiner said, “Miss Darcy, I grew up in Lambton and was fortunate enough to meet your mother several times. My father owned the bookshop in town.”
“You knew my mother? Will you tell me about her? She died when I was just a baby.”
“I remember Lady Anne was quite beautiful. When we entered this room today I was struck by how much you look like your mother. She was always very kind to me. If I was in my father’s store when she came in to shop, she always had a piece of candy for me. My memories of your mother are all good. I was very sorry to hear about her passing.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gardiner. I am always happy to hear people speak of my mother. Pemberley is only three miles west of Lambton and I believe Birchwood is about two miles to the south. Lambton is a lovely little town and the most wonderful place to shop.” All the women smiled at Georgiana’s statement.
“I had the opportunity to visit the grounds of Pemberley several times in my youth. I do not believe I have ever seen a house more beautifully situated on the land as Pemberley.”
“William used the same words to describe Pemberley to me,” said Elizabeth sadly.
“Miss Bennet, perhaps, when I leave London for the country, you would be kind enough to visit me at Pemberley. I would like you to see it.” Both Elizabeth and Georgiana were quiet, thinking of the loss that would prevent them from ever becoming sisters. “I know it will never be your home, but you should know that William told me he was planning to offer for your hand. Richard told me that William did propose and then he was called away to rescue me from Mr. Wickham.” Georgiana paused to compose herself before she added, “he was very excited about showing Pemberley to you. William told me about your love of walking and being close to nature. He wrote to me about his desire to walk the paths of our estate with you. I feel he would want me to invite you to visit our home.”
“Miss Darcy, please call me Lizzy as my family does. I want you to know that I loved William with my whole heart and I will be more than happy to visit you when you are at Pemberley. Now that you know where you can find me, I hope we can continue to communicate. I am certain the Bingleys would be happy to welcome you to Birchwood Manor. I think William would have liked us being friends.”
“Yes, and he would have loved you to see our home. Lizzy, Mrs. Gardiner, please call me Georgie. You are family to me now even if you never married William.”
“Georgie, I will look forward to seeing you in Derbyshire.”
Chapter 17
November 1811
Hunsford, Kent
Dear Lizzy,
I am sorry you will not be visiting us in the near future but pray that you will find happiness in Derbyshire. You would not tell me what was making you so sad before I left Hertfordshire, but I hope you are feeling better now.
You asked about Lady Catherine and I must tell you that she is truly a force of nature. We are often invited to Rosings Park for tea or dinner, but I believe that we are only there to provide an audience for the Lady’s ramblings. She considers herself an expert on any subject that may come up in a conversation.
Lady Catherine was quite upset by the news of her nephew’s death. It seems Mr. Darcy was engaged to her daughter, Anne. Lady Catherine is still very angry at Darcy for his carelessness thus denying her daughter of a husband. She has not provided us with any details of Mr. Darcy’s demise but Miss deBourgh does not appear distressed by her fiancé’s death. She is a very sickly woman who rarely says more than two words in her mother’s company.
Do you remember Mr. Darcy from his visit to Hertfordshire earlier this year? I remember he was very rude to you at the Meryton Assembly and was quite unfriendly to anyone not in his party. One should not speak ill of the dead, so I will say no more on that subject.
Wishing you much happiness in your new home,
Charlotte Collins
Elizabeth had been living at Birchwood Manor for almost two months. Shortly after her move, she resumed her habit of taking a long walk every morning before breaking her fast. She often carried Darcy’s book of sonnets with her and she would pause on her walks to read one or two and think about him. When Elizabeth was alone she still cried about her lost love and the life they would never have together.
Despite her sister’s resistance, Jane insisted that Elizabeth begin riding lessons with their groom before the weather turned too cold. “Lizzy, the Derbyshire terrain is not as conducive to walking as the paths surrounding Longbourn. You will be able to see much more of the landscape on horseback and when you grow tired, your horse can bring you home.”
After several weeks of almost daily lessons, Elizabeth began to enjoy riding and became quite proficient in the saddle. One afternoon when Elizabeth and Jane returned from riding together, they entered the drawing room to find Charles having tea with someone they did not know.
“Lord Winthrope, pray allow me to introduce you to my wife, Jane, and our sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Both women curtsied and Lord Winthrope bowed to his new acquaintances.
“Please call me David. I have been David Brooks my entire life until I lost my dear father last year.”
“I am sorry for your loss. I fear I do not feel comfortable calling you David. May I call you Brooks?” Jane asked.
“Of course, all my friends from my school days still call me Brooks.”
After having tea and spending some time together, Elizabeth thought that David Brooks was quite handsome and had a very engaging personality. Before he left Birchwood, he asked Elizabeth if she would like to go riding with him the next day. She paused for a moment before saying, “I will be happy to ride with you tomorrow, your Lordship, I mean Brooks.”
Brooks bowed. “I am delighted to have met you all and I will see you tomorrow.”
Their first outing together was not long and being on horseback was not conducive to much conversation. When they returned to Birchwood, Brooks asked Elizabeth if she would like to ride again the next day and she agreed to the plan.
They began to spend time together almost every day. They learned that they shared many common interests. Elizabeth thought about her feelings for him and knew that she considered him a friend, albeit a very handsome and considerate one. When he helped her dismount, she could smell his musky scent and was happy he did not use sandalwood soap.
One morning, shortly before Christmas, Elizabeth went through the kitchen to get an apple to nibble on while she walked through the gardens. “Mrs. Wilson, what is that lovely smell?” Elizabeth asked Birchwood’s cook.
“You smell the orange pomanders, miss. They are oranges which are covered in cloves. We hang them in most of the downstairs rooms during the Christmas season and they give the house a lovely aroma.”
“Cloves? I do not believe our cook at Longbourn ever used them.”
“I am not surprised to hear that, miss. My husband brought them back from India for me when he was serving in the Royal Navy. Mr. Wilson told me that cloves are thought to represent undying love. He was quite the romantic in his youth.” Mrs. Wilson paused as if reminiscing. “You are such a lovely young woman and I am sure you will find your undying love sooner than you think.”
Elizabeth said sadly and distractedly, “Maybe I already have.”
“Ah, Lord Winthrope is it?”
Elizabeth looked up to
see Mrs. Wilson smiling at her. “I was not thinking about him but Lord Winthrope is a very fine gentleman.”
“Indeed, he is. Now, off with you miss and hurry back. It is cold outside, and breakfast will be ready soon.”
“I will be back soon.” As Elizabeth left the house, she thought about what Mrs. Wilson said about cloves and undying love. She knew she would never forget Darcy, but she was thinking about him a little less every day. Now, this exotic spice reminded her of everything she was feeling, primarily, her undying love for Fitzwilliam Darcy. As she walked away from the house, she remembered their final morning together. She recalled the happiness she felt when Darcy took her hand and wrapped it around his arm as they walked together. Elizabeth could still remember the thrill of being held in Darcy’s embrace after she accepted his proposal. Her heart began to race just as it had when she first felt the warmth of Darcy’s arms around her. She recalled how she enjoyed inhaling his intoxicating sandalwood scent. All these thoughts went through her mind as she slowly walked back toward Birchwood Manor.
The winter weather in Derbyshire was much colder than Elizabeth and Jane were used to. On most days, they were unable to walk or ride due to the cold and snow. Charles was kept busy by his many responsibilities as an estate owner. The female residents of Birchwood Manor kept themselves occupied by writing letters, reading, playing the pianoforte and sewing. Jane was quite talented at all kinds of needlecraft and would often create her own designs. On very cold days in front of the fire, Jane taught her sister some of the more intricate stitches she knew. Elizabeth was receptive to Jane’s instructions and by the time it was almost spring, she was much more skilled with a needle and thread.
During this time, the residents of Birchwood Manor saw very little of David Brooks. The path from Winthrope Hall to Birchwood Manor was covered with snow and ice and when the weather was slightly warmer, the path was nothing more than deep mud.
Elizabeth kept herself busy and tried to think about Darcy less and less. The sisters were seated by the fire while Jane was trying to teach Elizabeth a new needlepoint stitch. “It is too bad that we have been denied our neighbor’s company these many weeks. Do you not agree?”
“Do you mean David Brooks? I hardly expect him to visit when there is so much snow and ice.”
“Have you not missed his company? You were spending a great deal of time with him before the weather turned so cold.”
“Jane, I know you mean well, but Brooks and I are friends. That is all, we are friends. Please do not think that there is anything romantic going on between us.”
“I will do as you say, but I think you should keep an open mind when the thaw begins.” ‘My sister does not see the look on David Brooks’ face when he sees her. I hope the spring thaw will enable him to be more open with his feelings and my sister more receptive to him.’
Chapter 18
As soon as the weather began to improve, Jane wrote to her father and invited her family to visit them at Birchwood Manor. Mr. Bennet was happy to receive an invitation to visit his two eldest daughters. When he wrote back to accept her invitation, he told Jane that Kitty and Lydia had decided to stay back in Meryton with their Aunt Philips. The youngest Bennet sisters felt that Derbyshire would be too boring and besides, the militia was due to arrive in Meryton soon for their spring maneuvers.
On a sunny day before Easter, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived with Mary and there was a very happy family reunion. “I am happy to see you looking so well, my Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet said as he embraced her.
“Yes, Papa, being here has truly lifted my spirits.”
Almost as soon as she descended from the carriage, Mrs. Bennet was busy inspecting every inch of the manor. She made suggestions on how Jane could improve the décor and the placement of the furniture. When her mother began criticizing the way the kitchen was laid out, Jane had had enough. “Mama, Mrs. Wilson and the rest of our kitchen staff are doing a wonderful job with things just the way they are. Now, would you not enjoy a cup of tea and some of Mrs. Wilson’s delicious cakes?”
“I suppose a cup of tea is in order.” The ladies soon joined the others in the drawing room and after tasting several of Mrs. Wilson’s creations, Mrs. Bennet was soon praising the talents of the cook.
The Bingleys invited David Brooks to dine with them on the second night of the Bennets’ visit. When he was introduced to Mrs. Bennet, she was almost speechless at the idea of her daughters being friendly with ‘royalty’. When he asked the Bennets to call him Brooks, Mrs. Bennet was very adamant. “Sir, you are a member of the nobility, and it would not reflect our respect for your position in society if we were to call you anything but your Lordship.” After Mrs. Bennet’s proclamation, both Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth could be seen rolling their eyes at what they had just heard. During the meal, Brooks was very charming and calmly withstood several inappropriate questions from Mrs. Bennet concerning the size of his estate and his yearly income.
When they were all sitting together after dinner, Mary and Elizabeth played the pianoforte for the assembled guests. They played several duets and then Mary accompanied Elizabeth as she sang. While she was performing, Elizabeth noticed that Brooks did not take his eyes off of her. ‘Was Jane correct about his feelings for me?’ Warm applause followed the performance of the Bennet sisters and Elizabeth hugged Mary in appreciation of her playing.
The following day, Elizabeth and Brooks returned from their ride and entered the drawing room to join the others for tea. Mrs. Bennet was absolutely thrilled by all the attention Lord Winthrope was paying to Elizabeth. “Lord Winthrope, it is so good to see you again and so soon. Are you often a guest at Birchwood Manor?”
“Madam, I fear I intrude on the goodness of your two daughters much too often.”
“Sir, how can you say such a thing? I only wish my dear Lydia was here. She is the true beauty of the family.”
“Perhaps I will meet Miss Lydia at another time. Is there not a fifth sister?”
“Oh yes, Kitty, she goes wherever Lydia goes and it seems to me that she laughs too easily.”
“Mama, Kitty is a charming young woman with a mind of her own. She is also a very talented artist. Brooks, you must be tired of hearing about my absent sisters.”
“Mrs. Bingley, it is my pleasure to listen to all this talk of siblings. Sadly, I am an only child with no family to speak of.”
“I am sure that Jane and Lizzy are honored to so often be in the company of nobility, sir.”
“Madam, you are too kind.”
Elizabeth thought, ‘and quite a diplomat.’
Shortly before they were to return to Hertfordshire, Mr. Bennet asked Elizabeth if she would accompany him on a walk. As they were walking down the garden path, her father said, “I am happy to see that you have found someone you care about. Lord Winthrope seems to be a very decent fellow.”
“No, Papa, it is nothing like that. Brooks and I are just friends. That is all we are, friends.”
“Lizzy, you can tell yourself that all day long, but I have been watching the two of you together and he thinks of you as much more than a friend.”
“You must be mistaken, Papa. He has always been a perfect gentleman around me. He has never said anything that would lead me to believe we are anything more than friends who enjoy each other’s company.” ‘Now that my father has said it, is David Brooks courting me?’
Shortly after the Bennets departed for Hertfordshire, Elizabeth received a note from Georgiana Darcy. She wrote that she and Mrs. Annesley were staying at Pemberley and would love to see Elizabeth again and meet some of her family. Elizabeth found Jane sewing in the drawing room. “Jane, I just received a note from Georgiana Darcy.” Elizabeth immediately realized that she must invent a reason for Georgiana to be writing to her. “I was introduced to Miss Darcy at a charity tea I attended with Aunt Madelyn while I was staying in London. Miss Darcy and I had a very pleasant conversation at the charity event and she invited Aunt Madelyn and me to tea at her home. When
she is not in London, she is at her family’s estate which is not far from here.” Jane had no reason not to believe Elizabeth’s explanation of her friendship with Miss Darcy and was happy to oblige her sister. An invitation to Birchwood Manor was issued and accepted.
A few days later, when Georgiana and her companion arrived, Elizabeth and Georgiana were very happy to see each other again. The young women embraced each other and walked into the house arm in arm. Jane was curious about the true nature of their association but said nothing. Georgiana was wearing a grey gown and Elizabeth asked her why she was dressed in mourning. Georgiana told her that her cousin, Anne deBourgh, had passed away a few weeks earlier. Elizabeth and the others expressed their sincere condolences. Elizabeth remembered Darcy telling her that his cousin had been in poor health her whole life. She felt very sorry for Lady Catherine and thought about how very lonely her life must be without her daughter and her nephew.
Jane thought it was time to speak of more pleasant things. “Miss Darcy, my sister told me that you are quite proficient on the pianoforte. Would you be kind enough to play for us today?”
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth beseechingly and Elizabeth said, “Georgie, if you can put up with a much inferior partner, would you play a duet with me?” Georgiana smiled and said, “I would be happy to play with you, Lizzy.” The two women sat beside each other on the piano bench. Elizabeth remembered that Colonel Fitzwilliam said that Georgiana had stopped playing when Darcy died. Elizabeth whispered in Georgiana’s ear, “Have you played since your brother’s death?”
“No, my brother was my only audience and every time I have tried to play my pianoforte, I see William sitting nearby and I begin to cry.” Elizabeth took Georgiana’s hand and gave it a squeeze of support.