by Kate Speck
“WHAT DO YOU WHISPER ABOUT THERE, DARCY?!” Lady Catherine demanded to know. “It is vulgar to speak only to yourselves, and to be so publicly exhibiting with your betrothed is uncouth!”
Elizabeth laughed into her hands as Mr. Darcy stood. “We are only with family here but I am very pleased to hear you acknowledge my betrothed and I must request to be excused. The gentlemen and I have a topic of import that we must discuss and will join the ladies soon.” He kissed Elizabeth’s hand once more then turned to Jane Bingley, “Thank you for the sumptuous meal as always, Mrs. Bingley.” Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley promptly stood up and departed the dining room, leaving the ladies still sitting in their seats.
“That was most unusual,” Lady Catherine shook her head in confusion. “Why they would leave when we should be moving to...”
Elizabeth stood up and tipped her head to Jane who also arose. “The gentlemen will join us soon. Shall we?” The sisters waited for the other ladies to stand and walk to the drawing room while Mrs. Jenkinson left to fetch Miss de Bourgh’s evening draught.
As they sat together to converse, Elizabeth took the time to learn more about Anne. “Miss de Bourgh, I hope you have found Netherfield to your liking. I understand you do not leave Kent often and pray the travel has not strained your health.”
“I am quite well, Miss Bennet,” Anne meekly answered. “I am rather pleased to be out of Rosings and it is refreshing to see this part of the country. I rarely visit anywhere and to be here in Hertfordshire tonight is an adventure.”
Elizabeth beamed brightly, having heard the frail woman speak more just now than all of their meetings combined. She leaned over and squeezed her hand, “I will be happy to invite you to Darcy House in London or to Pemberley at any time you wish, Miss de Bourgh. I love travelling, having done so little, and every place is exciting. My favourite was Ramsgate last summer where I met dear Georgiana and cannot wait to see new places. Mr. Darcy has promised Derbyshire and Scotland and I am most eager to go anywhere he will take me.”
“Please call me Anne, Miss Bennet,” she replied happily. “You are easy to speak with and I am glad Cousin Darcy is going to marry you.”
“Thank you, Anne. Please call me Lizzy,” Elizabeth responded. “It may be going against your mother’s wishes but I find myself in utter bliss that I will be marrying Mr. Darcy.”
Anne smiled, “She likes you, Lizzy. My mother loves a challenge and she has had sycophants around her all of her life. Even my uncle Lord Matlock cowers to her but she respects those who can form an opinion for themselves. If she did not like you, she would not ask for your views so much, even if it comes out as commands. She liked it better when Mrs. Collins began to resist her demands and she has the highest respect for Darcy, who has never bowed to her his entire life. Mother told me in secret that you reminded her of my aunt Anne who was known to speak her mind but also very kind.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide with what was revealed to her and when she turned to see Lady Catherine who had been speaking with Jane, she could see a small smile in that imposing lady’s face and nodded her head when their eyes met. Now in silent understanding, the two ladies accepted each other as they were and Elizabeth knew that Lady Catherine not only approved but would bless her union with Mr. Darcy.
While they were continuing their dialogue, Mrs. Jenkinson approached them with a glass in hand. “It is time for your medicine, Miss de Bourgh.”
“I do not think as I need it today, Mrs. Jenkinson.” Anne answered. “I am feeling better than I have been in a long time.”
“And the medicine is what has been working, Miss de Bourgh,” the companion entreated. “Come now, I know it is not a pleasant taste but you must drink the whole thing.”
Anne reluctantly complied and returned the empty glass back to Mrs. Jenkinson. The ladies continued to speak more about the wedding that was to take place the day after tomorrow, with Lady Catherine asking about Mr. Robinson and more details of Miss Bingley, who had £20,000 but was marrying a man twice her age with only a small property to his name. Lady Catherine announced that a woman’s choice was limited when connected to trade, no matter for fortune she might have.
Elizabeth argued, “But what of a gentlewoman who has little fortune? Does not the same rule apply? You are aware that I have only £1,000 to my name and that is only after my mother’s passing and some people thought me a fool to decline Mr. Collins. And I have connections to trade, with my dearest uncle who is a merchant in town. Perhaps it is undue prejudice to limit a woman’s worth, only for her beauty or connections or fortune, but what incredible blessing would it be, to be accepted for her character and sense by a man who would give all of himself to care for his wife. I have not the fashion sense of some,” she winked at her dearest sister to subtly refer to Miss Bingley, “and am an obstinate, head-strong girl, and although I would have chosen to remain single rather than marry someone I did not love, I know Miss Bingley’s choice is also hers and she will have her dream wedding and I pray she will find joy in her life.”
Lady Catherine smirked, “You would say that because you have everything you want now. Do you see why I wanted Darcy to marry Anne?” Everyone looked at Miss de Bourgh who was nodding off in her seat. Lady Catherine sighed, “She would not have been happy and Darcy is even more impertinent than you, Miss Bennet. I see he has given you the Queen’s ring.” She noted the ring on Elizabeth’s finger. “Although my father was an earl, did you know Darcy’s family comes from royalty? George Darcy was grandnephew to the Earl of Northumberland, who is a direct descendant of King Henry III. There is a great story about Henry Percy, the Sixth Earl of Northumberland, who was reported to have been betrothed to his cousin Anne Boleyn before her marriage to King Henry VIII and by that line, Darcy is a cousin to the Duke of Somerset. He has royal blood flowing through his veins and was born for greatness and it has been a family tradition to carry on the Percy name and the Ramsgate cottage is named after his ancestor that has been in the family for ages.”
“Oh, I have been there, Lady Catherine!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “It is a beautiful house situated perfectly near the seaside. That was where I met Georgiana.” She beamed proudly at her young friend.
“And I recall hearing that Georgiana had left it suddenly.” Lady Catherine turned to her niece with a quizzical brow. “Why did you need to return to London?”
Georgiana paled for a moment and Elizabeth rushed in to respond in her stead, “Was it not when the viscountess was in confinement? I recall hearing that Lady Francine gave birth to the heir around that time?” Georgiana quickly nodded her agreement and Lady Catherine changed her topic to the importance of heirs and resumed her monologue.
Elizabeth smiled in relief that Lady Catherine knew nothing of Georgiana’s situation in Ramsgate and turned to Anne to see to her comfort and saw that the lady was unable to keep her eyes open. “Mrs. Jenkinson, perhaps it is best for Miss de Bourgh to return to her rooms. I will check on her in half an hour to ensure she is resting well.”
Mrs. Jenkinson gladly agreed and aroused Anne enough to take their leave and went upstairs.
The gentlemen soon returned to the ladies and Darcy immediately took a seat next to his betrothed. “All is well?” He asked quietly.
“It is, William,” Elizabeth affectionately answered. “I believe your aunt has accepted me as your future wife. She has lectured me for a full quarter hour on the importance of giving you an heir and several other children to ensure that the Percy and Darcy family lines continue.” She winked discreetly, “I believe constant practice will be necessary to achieve perfection.”
Mr. Darcy laughed loudly, causing the room to stare at the typically reticent man. “What? I do know how to laugh!”
Colonel Fitzwilliam joined the merriment, “I know that, Darcy, but it is not often and you are a smitten mooncalf. It is good to see you with your betrothed.” He turned to Bingley, “Now, tell me more about your sister’s wedding plans. Is it true that she will b
e wearing a full purple garb as if she were of royalty? Of course Queen Elizabeth’s law no longer applies nowadays but it is an extremely costly colour and she is likely to never wear it again.”
Mr. Darcy chuckled, “You are as bad as your father sometimes, Richard, gossiping like old ladies of fabric and laces. What care have you about ladies’ fashion?”
Elizabeth could see Lady Catherine hiding her laughter also and could not help but join in when Mr. Bingley cheerfully responded, “She wished to be queen for the day and all ladies should at least enjoy their wedding day. There will be forty courses for the wedding breakfast and dancing, and she wanted a full ball but Mr. Robinson finally put his foot down when she suggested inviting thirty guests from London and to go on a wedding holiday across the country for six months to flaunt her marriage. After the wedding breakfast, she will be riding the carriage to Robinson Manor and will likely be sewing for the orphans in her glorious purple gown!”
The room erupted in laughter at his banter but everyone quickly shut their lips when the drawing room’s doors opened and Miss Bingley and the Hursts strode within.
“You are all having a merry time,” Miss Bingley announced with her nose in the air while she took a seat as if she were the guest of honour. “Pray, of what have you been conversing?”
“Oh, nothing much, Caroline,” Mr. Bingley answered first. “We spoke of many things; the wonderful meal, Darcy’s wedding next week, yours the day after tomorrow. How was your visit with the Robinsons?”
Miss Bingley rolled her eyes, “Well enough, I suppose. Mrs. Robinson is nearing eighty and is set in her ways but I hope to show her my talents soon and convince her to allow me to remodel the entire house according to my tastes. Mr. Robinson is most fortunate to be gaining my dowry and I shall persuade him to add several wings to the lodge to convert it as a mansion as large as Netherfield.”
Elizabeth could see almost everyone shaking their heads at the nonsensical woman who thought herself better than she truly was. She stood up, “Well, I will check on Miss de Bourgh and will retire. It has been a long day and I have several calls that I must make with Mr. Darcy tomorrow.”
“I shall retire also,” Mr. Darcy also arose to his feet. “I am required to join Miss Bennet on these calls but I find myself enjoying them. I know Lady Matlock will insist upon calling on another dozen of her friends when we are in London and I will acquiesce to my lady’s wishes to proudly accompany her wherever she goes.” He smiled broadly and left the room with Elizabeth, with several others also turning in for the night.
Mr. Darcy walked Elizabeth to her door, “Good night, my love. It has been a day of high and low emotions but I am glad to have shared it with you.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, “Days to go, Elizabeth, and I will never need to part from you.” He kissed her again and opened her mouth to reach deeper, when there was a cough from the hallway.
“GOOD NIGHT, COUSIN!” Colonel Fitzwilliam loudly declared, laughing to see his cousin colour while hiding Elizabeth with his body.
“I suppose I should leave now.” Mr. Darcy smiled. “Good night, my love. See you in the morning. Meet me in the garden at our hedgerow where I first held you in my arms and I shall steal more kisses then.” He departed after another peck on her lips.
Elizabeth watched him walk to his rooms, and after quickly checking that Anne de Bourgh was resting comfortably, she entered her bedroom and wrote of her day in her journal. She quickly fell asleep to dream of her life with Mr. Darcy and felt more contentment than she had in all of her days put together.
Chapter 27
Elizabeth had been meeting Mr. Darcy every morning during her walks to Oakham Mount, and although their time had been spent in kisses and intimate embraces for over a week, she was determined to explain to him of the diary today and how she knew of the future in several instances.
She saw him pacing back and forth in the Netherfield Gardens by their special place and approached him carefully. “Are you well, William? What has happened?”
“I am well,” he immediately kissed her lips. “I am only anxious to get Wickham out of Hertfordshire and Lieutenant Denny believes Colonel Forster will be able to dispatch a squad of men by tomorrow. He will be here another day and I will be sending Richard and one of my men to Brighton but will have the other two officers stay through next week. I have been given permission to continue my task until our wedding and then I will be a free man.”
Elizabeth laughed, “You are not a slave to the Secretary at War, William! As a consultant, you are free to come and go, are you not?”
Mr. Darcy smiled, “Yes, but as brigadier, I have responsibilities to my men also and I wish to not only capture the traitors but discover who is behind the plot. Wickham gave us a location, a tavern where he met with two men who were given directions by this woman, the one that is funding the conspiracy, so we are one step closer. We just need to locate the woman.”
“Well, I am certain you will find your answers, my love.” Elizabeth wrapped her arm around his as they continued their stroll. “Now, I do wish to continue our conversation. We had much to reveal yesterday but were also interrupted several times, and I still have to tell you about how I knew about Georgiana and of a few other pertinent information.”
“Yes, and I have something to tell you also,” Mr. Darcy confessed, “which will need to be done before we are wed, but first, please allow me to apologise again for my abhorrent behaviour yesterday. I cannot believe I thought you a spy and a traitor and I was torn that I would have to either arrest you or commit treason myself to run away with you. I will never think so little of you again. You are the best woman I know and I could not live a day without you.” He kissed her lips. “I love you. I truly love you above anyone else in the world.”
Elizabeth sighed in contentment, “I know, and I love you best in the entirety of humanity. I never knew such love. I cannot live without you, William.” She returned his kiss most passionately.
After several minutes of affections, Mr. Darcy took a deep breath, “Days to go, my love, only days left. I truly never knew love before I met you. I am extremely relieved that I did not marry someone else and that you waited for me as well.”
“William,” Elizabeth enquired with furrowed brows, “Anne, Anne Chapman, is she... is she still living? What happened to her? You said you broke off the engagement and the man who fathered her child was sent away from Pemberley but what happened to Anne Chapman?” She wondered if the Anne from her diary could be Anne Chapman.
Mr. Darcy nonchalantly replied as they continued their ramble, “Oh, she is alive. She is somewhere in the north, possibly Newcastle? The tenant at Pemberley was a married man with six children and he and his wife left the county and moved to... Shropshire, I think. Father was friends with Mr. Chapman and although that family was in shame, they remained cordial and I think last I heard, Anne Chapman was married off to a farmer and gave birth to five children in five years. I was told that her husband was relentless in his demands, as he believed that the more children he had, the more workers he would have for the farmlands. As far as I know, she is still alive and constantly in the pregnant state.” He embraced her, “Shall we do the same? I would love to see you carrying our child,” he trailed his kisses along her jaw. “I cannot wait for our wedding night.”
Elizabeth moaned and mouthed his ear and neck, “Oh, we will never finish our conversation...”
From a distance, there was a shout, “Sir!”
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth leapt apart from each other and laughed, “See? Interrupted again!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she winked.
An officer approached him with a serious look, “My sincere apologies, Brigadier Darcy. I was in the main house to give you this letter that Frank brought but was commanded by Lady Catherine to find you urgently. I was told you would be walking with Miss Bennet and wished to wait for your return but she insisted... She...” He flustered his words.
“It is all right, Major Wilson,” Mr. Darcy
nodded. “Lady Catherine does not understand priorities and everything is always urgent with her. I will go to her now.” He turned to Elizabeth, “Shall we face her together? If she is approving of our marriage now, I have no clue what she would need so pressingly at this moment.”
Elizabeth nodded and returned to the house with Mr. Darcy, with the officer returning to his duties after handing the letter to his superior.
~*~
“But she was so well last night!” Elizabeth proclaimed. “Anne said she was feeling better than she had in a long time.”
Lady Catherine shook her head, “It comes and goes and she is typically good for a few days but then she becomes ill again. Mrs. Jenkinson is caring for her now and I am certain she will recover quickly but we will require further hospitality.” She looked at her nephew, “You will direct Mr. and Mrs. Bingley that Anne and I will be here another night and I will condescend to attend Miss Bingley’s wedding. I would like to see that harridan in all her grandeur in royal colours when she finally becomes a gentlewoman by marriage, even if to such an old gentleman. Harold told me that Miss Bennet’s uncle, that Gardiner person wishes to purchase Netherfield from you in two or three years. At least Miss Bennet’s connections will be improved further when Mr. Gardiner becomes a landowner,” she declared but then coughed quickly, “I forgot I was not supposed to say a word about that, Darcy. At least it was only in front of your betrothed.” She then promptly left them alone in the drawing room to return upstairs.
“What does she mean ‘purchase Netherfield from you’?” Elizabeth blurted out. “YOU own Netherfield?”