by Kate Speck
Mary smiled and headed inside the house to the drawing room with Jane.
William leaned over, “Did you truly read Fordyce’s Sermons, Lizzy? I did not guess you for such a topic of study.”
Lizzy hid her giggles, “Of course not, Will! I read the first page and the last and found it ridiculous. I thought I had hidden the book from Mary but I guess she found it.”
William snorted but composed himself and sat down to converse with the girls until Mr. Bennet arrived a few minutes later.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet embraced their second daughter and soon, Mr. Bennet left to the study to speak with William and Mrs. Bennet spoke merrily to inform Lizzy of the town gossips and the latest news of her brother’s new-born daughter.
~*~
Mr. Bennet shook the young man’s hand. “Thank you, William. The telescope is magnificent and you are very generous to my dear daughter. I wish you safe journey to Cambridge and I will be glad to see you again in December.”
“It is a pleasure, Mr. Bennet. I am only relieved that you do not mind that I obtain certain items for Lizzy. I know even my father would be hesitant if I had given a dagger or a compass or a telescope to my own sister but Lizzy is unique and I know what she enjoys. She would not be content if I purchased jewellery or ribbons as I do my sister.” William laughed. “If I had a brother, the items would be what I would purchase for him and they make Lizzy happy. With your approval, I have an idea on what to get her for Christmas.” He shared with him his plan.
Mr. Bennet chuckled, “Thank you, William. That is a considerate gift and I am grateful for your generosity. Although I could not deny Lizzy anything, it pleases me that you check with me on your gift ideas first. I know she will love it and the lessons to go along with it.”
William soon departed with a smile on his face and Lizzy waved avidly to bid her friend farewell. She knew the next months would pass quickly and she had many topics to study before Will’s return.
She told her father that she would visit with Charlotte Lucas at Lucas Lodge for a while and left to reunite with her nineteen-year-old friend. Lizzy hoped that nearly a year after her betrothed had died in a carriage accident, Charlotte was at last finding peace and looking to the future. Lizzy had promised that since she herself would never marry, Charlotte was always welcome to stay with her and they would take care of each other.
~*~
“I can hardly believe it, Charlotte! Papa wrote to me that Mr. Collins the senior passed and that young Mr. Collins would be residing with us between terms from Oxford but he wishes to court you?” Lizzy was flabbergasted. “Do you truly like him?”
Charlotte blushed, “He is only eighteen years old but he is going to become a man of the church and is in fact, already a landed gentleman. He is leasing out his father’s estate and your parents have been kind to insist that he will always have a place in your family’s home. He will be able to provide comfort and security and I could not ask for more, Eliza. I learned more about him when I saw him frequently back in March and we spent many days conversing during the summer. I believe he is the one for me.”
“Incredible!” Lizzy exclaimed. “Papa told me that if he chooses, he could be master of Longbourn as well. You could be mistress there!”
“Oh, dear Eliza,” Charlotte squeezed her hand, “I could never take place of your mother here. She is wonderful and I would not wish it. If my husband were to be a vicar with a lifetime appointment, I would be very happy being a vicar's wife. I like him very much, Lizzy.”
“I wish you all the happiness in the world, Charlotte.” Lizzy hugged her. “He still has many years of schooling left and is only eighteen now, but I hope you’ll be able to marry quickly.”
Charlotte laughed, “We would need to be in courtship for a while but with Mr. Bennet and my father’s approval, we could marry earlier and he could continue his schooling. The only question would be where I would live, since I cannot remain at home and I certainly could not live here.” They laughed. “His property is being leased and I would not have a place to reside.”
“Well, let’s have you go through the courtship first and we can iron out the details later.” Lizzy beamed. “I shall be most happy to gain you as my cousin, Charlotte! It’s a very distant cousinship but we’ll be related nonetheless!”
Chapter 6
October 1805
Rosings Park’s ambience was as gloomy as expected. There was a quietness that was not present before, where the staff spoke in hushed tones and kept the candles burning low.
Mr. Darcy had left his wife and Georgiana at Darcy House in London and travelled to Kent with Lord Matlock only. Knowing that Lady Catherine would be unreasonable with Sir Lewis’ will, both gentlemen wanted to safeguard their families from the vulgar woman who was likely to spew many in invectives when the final decision was revealed.
“Oh, Lewis,” Lord Matlock sighed, “why did you not tell us earlier of your condition? Last letter you sent made me believe you had several months left.”
Sir Lewis chuckled then coughed violently. “Would you have come earlier? Perhaps my dying is the only way to have our reunions. We have had many good adventures, had we not?”
Mr. Darcy sighed as he took a seat. “We certainly have, Lewis; many wonderful adventures together. Our Grand Tour together was one for the ages and there has never been a better tour, I am certain.”
Sir Lewis smiled, “Meeting you, George, was a true blessing in my life. Because of your information, I was able to report the plot on King George’s life and I received my knighthood. Because of you, I met Henry,” he nodded at Lord Matlock, “and married my wife and had my dear Anne. My life has been full and I am satisfied.”
“I was a lad who was only confused and went to you to ask you many questions, Lewis.” Mr. Darcy replied, “No one else might have believed me but you trusted me and you had been a good friend to me.”
“I only regret that I was not a better husband to Catherine. I allowed her to have her own way too long and she has become a shrew in her old age.” Sir Lewis gasped for several breaths. “I wish for Anne to find happiness. I know she has a weak constitution and will not be on earth for very long but I will be patient to see her in heaven later. Please, Henry, George, please promise me that you will care for her. She is the only thing that matters to me now. My dear Anne has been the joy of my life and it has been good to spend my final days with her, but I worry that she will become devastated and will be most unhappy.” He paused for a minute and gasped for breath.
“I will call for Anne now.” Mr. Darcy instructed the footman and returned to sit next to his friend and patted his shoulder. “I promise, Lewis. She will be loved and be comfortable for the rest of her life. She will be treasured, Lewis.”
“Thank you, George.” Sir Lewis breathed laboriously.
Anne de Bourgh soon ran into the room and wailed, “Papa! No, papa, you cannot leave me!”
“My dear... Anne... your uncles... will... take care... of you.” He struggled for another breath. “I love you... dear... daughter. Be... good...” He spoke no more.
Anne sobbed as she grabbed her father’s chest and lay over his body.
Lord Matlock and Mr. Darcy wiped their eyes and solemnly stood next to the bed. Mrs. Jenkinson walked over to her charge and comforted her, rubbing her back gently and smoothing her hair.
Lady Catherine soon walked into her husband’s bed and sighed, “Is it over? What will become of me now? Why did he have to die before leaving me in charge?” She bemoaned.
“You never cease to amaze me with your cold heart, Catherine.” Lord Matlock roared. “Get out of my sight. I do not want you here.”
Lady Catherine huffed, “Anne! Enough now. Come with me. Mrs. Jenkinson, bring her to my rooms now. I wish to console with my daughter.” She turned and left without a look at Mr. Darcy.
“I have never seen a more heartless woman, Henry.” Mr. Darcy sighed. “She has no care for anything but for her own selfish being.”
Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement and instructed the footmen with his orders, then began to compose a letter to his wife while awaiting the parson’s arrival.
~*~
“Anne,” Lady Catherine sighed, “you must cease your crying now. I have to share with you several things that your father had wished for you to know after his passing.”
Anne, who had been crying endlessly sat up straighter and wiped her face. “Yes, mama. I am trying.”
“Mrs. Jenkinson, I need you to go Hunsford to bring the parson here. I pay close attention to the needs of this household and I know my brothers are far too stupid to see to the details. We will need to have my husband's body prepared and dressed in his best clothes and the black ribbons hung.” Lady Catherine instructed. “You must go and find my housekeeper as well, since I had sent her on an errand before realising that Lewis would decide to die on me now.”
“But ma’am, why not send a footman or a maidservant? I should be here to comfort Miss Anne.” Mrs. Jenkinson argued.
“BECAUSE I...” Lady Catherine softened her tone, “I am grieving for the loss of my dear husband and I know you are most capable. I do not trust anyone else to follow my instructions to ensure all is followed. Please, do this for me in my time of need. My daughter and I need privacy to mourn.”
Mrs. Jenkinson softened at the humility of the lady of the manor. Lady Catherine had never spoken so kindly before and after a kiss on Miss Anne’s temple, she headed out of doors to do as requested.
“Anne,” Lady Catherine began, “I have packed a small bag for you and we must depart now. Your father had wished for us to travel to London so that we do not have to suffer the misery of seeing him dead in his coffin and desired for me to find you a husband. The carriage is waiting for us and we must leave now.”
“But I wish to stay!” Anne argued. “I do not wish to go to London and I do not want a husband. I thought I was to go live with Uncle Henry.”
Lady Catherine turned red but took a deep breath and offered her some liquid from a wineglass. “Drink your draught, Anne.” She waited until Anne drank down the liquid. “We must depart now, child. Do you wish to dishonour your father’s wishes? He wanted to see you married and have children and to be a good mistress to this grand house. You do not wish to make a spectacle of yourself and make me carry you now, do you?”
“But what of Mrs. Jenkinson? I need my companion and my maid with me.” Anne continued to question after she placed the cup on the table, “Where are we to go?”
“Mrs. Jenkinson is to follow us later. She must see to several items here first and I have left detailed instructions for her. Everything is already prepared and we will have Dawson with us. We will be comfortable where we go and you need not worry.” Lady Catherine grabbed her daughter’s arm. “Come now. It is time.”
Anne, who had been afraid of her mother all of her life, relented and stood up as her mother pulled her. She was rushed down the stairs without a pelisse or a shawl and her mother roughly pushed her into the awaiting carriage in the back of the mansion and tapped on the roof.
“All will be well, Anne. I will receive what I deserve and so will you.” Lady Catherine softly commented as she closed the curtains within the carriage.
~*~
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘GONE’?!” Lord Matlock shouted. “WHERE?!”
“I do not know, milord. Lady Catherine sent me on several errands and when I returned, I could not find Miss Anne anywhere. Some of her clothes are missing and Lady Catherine and her maid are also nowhere to be found.”
“How could you allow this to happen?!” The earl raised his voice again.
“It was not Mrs. Jenkinson’s fault, Henry. She has been nothing but kind to little Anne and has been an exemplary companion. She has been more mother to Anne than her own.” Mr. Darcy soothed his brother. William had told him of Richard’s great love for the young woman and he sympathised with her situation. “Can you tell us what Lady Catherine told you to do?” He spoke kindly.
Mrs. Jenkinson nodded, still a little afraid of the earl’s wrath. “She told me to fetch the parson and when I got to Hunsford, I found out that he had already been summoned to Rosings Park. I then went into the village to look for the housekeeper in order to instruct her to purchase black ribbons, but could not find her there and I was surprised when she greeted me at the door after I returned, only to advise me that the master had passed and preparations were already underway. I headed straight for Miss Anne’s rooms and that was when I made the discovery.”
“She is up to something, Henry.” Mr. Darcy responded. “Catherine abducted Anne without her companion because she either wishes to hold her own daughter ransom from us, or she might be thinking to marry off Anne to the first man she passes in order for Anne to inherit. They are likely headed to London and will be hiding and I know not how we would be able to find them.” He gripped his fists in anger, “The foolish woman! Even if Anne marries, she will never inherit. Lewis was correct to set up contingencies and he guessed his wife might do something terrible and changed his will. She should have been made aware earlier so that she would not attempt something foolish like this. Catherine will get nothing now, even if she finds a husband for Anne. How do we find them? We must protect Anne, even if it is from her own mother.”
Lord Matlock rubbed his face. “George, go and return to London. See if you can get your investigator to locate my witch of a sister and if there is any way to bring back our niece with her virtue intact, the price does not matter. I do not know how I can contain this shame from the public but the priority is to retrieve Anne from my insane sister.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “I will do so. I will also send word to Margaret to join you here. Since Catherine is no longer mistress and will never enter these doors again, it would be of great help for your wife to be by your side. Rosings will need a mistress for the next several days and we will close it down until we decide what to do next. I honestly thought we had more time. Also, I would like to take Mrs. Jenkinson with me. Once we recover Anne, my wife and Anne’s companion will need to look after our niece.”
“Thank you. That is a good idea.” The earl answered calmly and looked at Mrs. Jenkinson. “I apologise, madam. You have been very kind to Anne and the closest thing she has to family here. I will stay and ensure Lewis’ last will and testament are fulfilled, George. If you are able to return for the funeral in three days, I will see you here then.”
Mr. Darcy quickly had his carriage prepared and departed Rosings Park with a heavy heart. Not only had his dear friend and brother-in-law passed today, but Lady Catherine was causing all kinds of strife to bring shame and controversy into the public light. He hoped his niece Anne would be found quickly but he had absolutely no idea where to begin the search.
Chapter 7
“Tell me again what you heard, word for word, John.” William requested.
John Knightley took a deep breath, “Andover heard from Cavanaugh, who read a letter for Bertram, that Wickham promised to repay his debts in three weeks when he married some little thing for her large dowry and gain a large estate and become master. It was written that he travelled south to Kent to find employment but met a desperate, rich lady who wanted to marry off her daughter and offered the position to Wickham.”
“You are certain it was Kent? And the name of the estate that was mentioned in the letter? Do you remember what the estate was called?” William asked in high alert.
Knightley replied, “Yes, Kent. I am certain of that. I cannot recall the name exactly but it was something flower-like. Iris Hall? Jasmine Manor? Magnolia Park? I honestly cannot remember.”
“ROSINGS PARK?!” William exclaimed. “Do you think it was Rosings Park?”
“Perhaps.” Knightley replied. �
�That sounds familiar but I cannot be certain.”
William quickly called his valet to prepare his horse and wrote a note. “I have no time to lose. My father is in London right now, I believe, and I must get to him now. Please give this letter to the headmaster and I will return in a week. I must leave immediately.” He handed Knightley the note. He turned to his faithful friend, “Do not speak of this to anyone, John. You have been a great help and I believe my cousin is in danger.” He embraced his friend and tapped his shoulders. “Thank you. I am glad you came to me with any information regarding Wickham.”
Knightley nodded and tapped his friend’s shoulder in return. “Get to it, sir. Save your cousin and tell me all about it later.”
William rushed out of his rooms and mounted his horse. It would be a full day’s journey and he could only hope it was not too late.
~*~
“What in the world happened, George?” Lady Anne fussed. “I am saddened to hear that Lewis has passed but I do not understand what my sister has done. Why in the world would she leave Rosings with her daughter? There is a funeral to be organised and household businesses to oversee. Why would she leave Kent?”
Mr. Darcy sighed, “Anne, I have written to Lady Matlock and I hope that she will be amenable to travelling to Rosings to assist your brother straightaway. Margaret will take care of the details with her husband but it would be helpful for you to work with Mrs. Jenkinson to think of any place that Catherine might take Anne. I have sent for my usual investigator but I have no idea where to begin and how we would be able to track them. If she is using an alias, it will be an impossibility.”
“Oh, George, Anne will never be able to marry and lead a normal life due to her illness.” Lady Anne wiped her tears. “I had hoped that with her residing with Robert and Sarah in Matlock, she will be able to experience some of the joys of being a young woman and be loved by her cousins. I wished to give her as much happy experiences until her time comes to an end and Catherine is ruining it. How do we find them, George? We must find them.”