by Bray, Ayr
The Pemberley butler opened the front door with precision timing as Richard reached the top step. Georgiana had been informed of his riding up the drive and was there with the Bingleys to greet him.
“Richard, you are back! We did not expect you,” Georgiana said as she reached out and wrapped him in a hug.
“You did not? Why not? I said I would return.”
“I just assumed you would have received word that everyone left for Rosings Park, and joined them there.”
Richard’s face fell at the news. “Anne is not here?”
“No, she is not, and you should be ashamed of yourself,” Georgiana scolded.
“Had you been here, Miss de Bourgh very well may have taken your head off,” Charles jested. “You put that woman through more misery than you can imagine.”
“She was upset, then?”
“Upset? Harrumph! That is an understatement. Not only did she have to deal with the distress of a broken engagement, but then she had to listen to her gloating mother. I think you will have some serious explaining to do when you return to her,” said Charles.
“She is very angry then?”
“Not angry, per se,” Jane chimed in with all her sweetness, “but all of her hopes of happiness have been shattered.”
“If it were me, I would not want to see you again unless you had changed your mind,” said Georgiana.
“I have, Georgie, I have!” Richard spoke quickly, trying to emphasize how he had changed. “I rode back here as fast as I could with the intent to tell Anne how much I love her.”
“Then you had better get cleaned up, have something to eat, rest well tonight, and then make haste to Rosings Park. It is likely to take you four days complete to get there in this weather. I will make sure a carriage is ready for you in the morning.”
“No, Georgie, I will go on horseback.”
“On horseback! Richard, it is too far to go on horseback in this weather. You should use the carriage. I assure you, we will not miss it. It is safer this way.”
“I can travel much faster on horseback. It is likely I can take off a full day, perhaps two, from my journey if I ride.”
“Very well, but if you get sick with pneumonia, do not say I did not warn you.”
Richard was an hour into his journey before the pink hue of the January sunrise blazed across the horizon to the east of him. Already his fingers and toes were numb, but he did not regret his decision to ride. The two hundred miles between Pemberley and Rosings Park could more speedily be covered on horseback. He stopped for a late breakfast in Leicester at the inn where he had recently spent ten days. He was well pleased at the pace he had set. The fifty miles from Pemberley to Leicester was normally a half-day journey in a carriage on good roads. He calculated the distance, determined to get as far as Luton for the night. If he could make it that far, the remaining seventy-five miles would be an easy trip tomorrow.
He was determined to reach his destination, and when he fell exhausted into his bed at the Luton Inn that night he praised his good fortune. The farther south he travelled, the warmer the weather became, and the roads more passable. He was certain he would make it to Rosings Park in a reasonable time tomorrow.
The following morning Richard was on his way south again. During his ride the previous day he had made many decisions and had resolved to stop in London to meet with his commanding officer.
Tapping on the general’s office door, he heard him command, “Enter!”
“Sir—”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, I did not expect you back in London until the end of the month. Thank you for your assistance in that delicate matter.”
“You are welcome, sir.”
“Very good. Well, what can I do for you?”
Richard took a long, drawn-out breath. Once he made his request, there would be no going back. “Sir, I have had the happy fortune of meeting lady—”
“Congratulations! Do I know her?” The general had long been a married man and highly approved of all his officers having wives. A woman calmed even the most wild man and gave him a sense of responsibility.
“No, sir, I do not believe you do, though you may have heard of her family; the de Bourgh’s of Rosings Park in Kent.”
“de Bourgh … de Bourgh … No, I do not believe I know them.”
“Yes, well, that is not the part I came here to discuss. Miss de Bourgh is the heiress to Rosings Park, and when we marry I will be taking up the responsibilities of master of her estate.”
General Vogel was beginning to understand what the colonel had come to discuss. “Ah, I see. You wish to sell your commission.”
“Yes, sir, I do. Today I want only to notify you of my intent, but I will return before the end of the month to file the necessary paperwork.”
“When is the wedding?”
Richard assessed his general, and then resolved to tell him the absolute truth. “Sir, may I be frank?”
“Of course,” General Vogel said, eyeing Colonel Fitzwilliam suspiciously.
“Miss de Bourgh is my cousin. We have known one another since infancy. The past ten years complete we have loved one another, but we have never been able to declare ourselves because of family politics. You know how it is.” The general nodded and gestured for the colonel to continue. “This Christmas we were able to come to an understanding, but a few days later we found out her mother has run her rather large and once profitable estate to ruin. All of Miss de Bourgh’s inheritance, except her dowry, is gone, and she is forced with the possibility of losing her estate. Though her dowry is a rather large one, I felt it prudent to break our engagement to allow her the opportunity to find a wealthier man, one who could bring a fortune to their marriage and help her restore her home. However, I have since determined I was wrong. I simply cannot allow the woman I love to marry another. I am on my way to Kent to reunite with her, beg her forgiveness, and see if she will take me back.”
“Well, that is quite a story you have there. I thought sagas such as this only took place in those books my wife likes to read.” He laughed heartily and leaned forward in his chair. “Do you think she will take you back?”
“I certainly hope so.”
“What will you do if she does not?”
Richard’s shoulders sagged as he slowly replied, “Work by her side to help her restore her home, begging her forgiveness night and day until she relents.”
“So, you are determined to give up your commission even if she will not immediately take you back?”
“I am.”
“Very well, I will make some inquiries and have the papers ready when you return. Send me word a few days before you arrive.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Is that everything?” said General Vogel.
“Yes, sir, it is.”
“You are dismissed.”
Richard nodded and turned to leave the room. He paused when General Vogel addressed him as his hand reached for the door. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, I will be sad to see you leave the army, but I approve of your decision. I always say a man needs the love of a good woman. I hope your Miss de Bourgh will be a loving wife for you.”
“Thank you, sir. There is no one else I could ever imagine being with.”
Richard was in high spirits when he rode the remaining forty miles to Kent. He had a plan, and every good soldier knew that the way to win a war was to have a clear plan.
It was nearing three o'clock in the afternoon when Richard espied the chimneys of Rosings Park peeking through the trees. He urged his horse on, both eager and apprehensive to see Anne again.
When the stable boy took his horse, Richard threw his saddlebags over his shoulder and walked up the front stairs. Ringing the bell, he heard a commotion on the other side, but no one came to the door. Richard stood a moment, waiting, until finally he gave up and opened the door himself. He stepped inside to find his parents and Anne arguing with Lady Catherine. The Darcys were standing off to the side, trying to keep out of the fray. No
one noticed him at first, and he soon gathered the reason for the argument; Anne was adamant her mother should leave the manor and move into the Dower House.
“Mother, you should have left days ago. I have been lenient until now, but I will not allow you to question my authority or advise the servants in opposition of my desires.”
“No, Anne, I will not. I have far too many memories here, and I refuse to leave.” Lady Catherine sat down in the chair near the door, determined to stay put. It was clear to Richard that her stubbornness was acting in her favor, and unless his parents and Anne changed their methods the outcome was inevitable. Richard made his presence known when he reigned in his aunt and turned the tides of the battle in their favor. He had the element of surprise, which was highly in his favor as he commanded their attention. “Aunt, you will desist your offensive behaviour and act as a guest should, for that is what you are: a guest at Rosings Park.”
“Richard!” said Anne, when she saw him. She hurried to where he stood and threw her arms around him. Not a word was said; she simply commanded a kiss from him, in front of the entire party.
Lord Matlock cleared his throat to garner their attention, but then he had to grab his side in pain as his wife elbowed him.
“You have come to me. I am so glad.”
“Oh, Anne, I have much to tell you! But first we must settle the problem of your mother.” Richard kissed her forehead gently and then returned his attention to his aunt. Taking Lady Catherine by the elbow, he pulled her to her feet and led her to the door. Then, calling to the footman to follow him with her trunks, he escorted her all the way to the estate’s Dower House.
Anne paced the foyer, counting each second he was away from her. The past fortnight had been the hardest she had ever endured. The fear of losing her ancestral home was nothing to the heartbreak she had been experiencing by having Richard break their engagement and leave her alone.
She had been at Rosings Park for little more than a week, but already she, her uncle, Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Johnson had made ample progress towards ceasing the financial drains on the estate. They were close to knowing the full extent of the deficit and would then be able to determine what would be needed to restore the estate to its previous state of profitability. Anne prayed it would not be more than her dowry. Her mind was somewhat eased when her uncle told her that no matter the cost, he would ensure she did not lose Rosings Park.
When the door opened and admitted Richard for a second time that afternoon, Anne stopped her pacing and looked at him. She feared her eyes were deceiving her, that he was not actually there, until his strong arms circled her and drew her close.
“Anne, I am a fool. Can you ever forgive me?”
Anne looked into his eyes, willing to forgive him anything if he would promise to stay with her. Her heart was too overcome to let her speak, but she nodded.
“How could I ever believe I could live without you? The past two weeks have been torturous for me. My heart longed to be with you, but my head told me I should not be so selfish. I reasoned that you needed a man with fortune, but then in the very next moment my heart would take over again, and I knew that so long as we are together everything will work out. I know if we work together we can restore Rosings Park. It may take every penny we have, and every ounce of our energy, but I know we can do it together.” Pausing, he looked into her eyes, which had misted over with tears of happiness. “Anne, I must tell you how much I love you. I love you with every ounce of my soul. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, Richard, nothing could make me happier.”
The two shared a passionate embrace that Richard pulled out of first. “I have more to tell you.”
“More? What else can you possibly have to say that cannot wait until later? I would prefer another kiss.”
“As tempting as that is, I must tell you everything. On my way here, I stopped in London and told my general that I want to sell my commission. It is my intention to help you restore your home and make it my own.”
Though it was not what she expected, nothing he could have said would have made Anne happier. She raised up on her tiptoes and commanded another kiss from him. His tender kisses were a balm to her troubled soul. With him, everything was possible.
Although Anne had always considered him handsome in his uniform, when she entered the chapel on the arm of her uncle and saw Richard standing at the front in his grey coat, she thought he had never been so handsome. She could hardly believe she was finally marrying her true love, and rejoiced that she and Richard would never be parted again.
Anne had been relieved when Richard returned and confessed he could not live without her, that he had chosen to sell his commission and become the master of Rosings Park so long as she would have him. No woman had ever agreed as fast as she had, nor planned an entire wedding so quickly.
Anne cared not for the large fanfare of a London wedding. No, she wanted a simple wedding at the Hunsford Chapel, as soon as possible.
Anne Fitzwilliam nee de Bourgh was one of the happiest brides Elizabeth Darcy had ever laid eyes upon. Her entire being glowed with warmth and happiness whenever she looked upon her new husband. It was a look Elizabeth knew well, for after two full months of being married she still looked upon her husband in the same way.
The Darcys left Kent not long after Richard and Anne’s wedding. Their return trip would take three days, but happily for them the weather was mild and the roads well maintained. Elizabeth reclined in the seat against Fitzwilliam, his arms wrapped tightly around her as she rested her head against his chest, a rug placed across their laps for warmth.
“Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said, “though our first Christmas was much more exciting than we thought it would be, I think it turned out well.”
“I agree,” Fitzwilliam responded, kissing the top of Elizabeth’s head.
Elizabeth tilted her head to look into his eyes. Smiling, she asked, “Do you think we will ever be able to top it?”
Fitzwilliam laughed, strengthing his hold around Elizabeth. “I certainly hope not. I prefer that our next Christmas be fraught with dullness.”
“Oh no, I would never want that. I love the pomp and fanfare of a festive season.” Elizabeth continued to hold the gaze of her loving husband. “Oh, I have the perfect solution!” she exclaimed.
“And what would that be?” Fitzwilliam asked curiously.
“I think we should fill the house with children and enjoy an intimate family party.”
A broad smile spread across Fitzwilliam’s face as he responded, “What a perfect idea.” Then, tipping his head towards his beautiful wife, he kissed her in such a manner there was no question that he agreed with her proposal.
Epilogue
With the Darcys, Richard and Anne were always on the most intimate terms; they really loved them and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who had supported their love match from the beginning.
I wish I could say, for the sake of the couple, that their happiness was all that was needed to make Lady Catherine de Bourgh sanction their marriage, but it was not. Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her daughter and nephew, and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character, she announced that she would not sanction the marriage and would not allow Anne or her husband in her presence ever again. Lady Catherine lived the remainder of her days isolated at the Dower House, and in the end she died bitter and alone, not once setting eyes upon her grandchildren who Lord and Lady Matlock loved so much.Lord and Lady Matlock were determined that Richard should be successful as the master of Rosings Park; their affection for their son and new daughter-in-law drew them oftener from home to Rosings Park, and they delighted in arriving especially when they were least expected.
Lady Catherine had indeed run the estate into financial ruin, but luckily it was not so far gone that it could not be recovered with the resources Anne and Richard had available between her dowry and the sale of his commission. To further th
e restoration efforts, Lord Matlock met with his eldest son, and the two of them agreed to settle Richard’s inheritance upon him immediately rather than wait for the Earl’s death.
It seemed like a long time, but in actuality it was only three years before Anne and her husband returned the estate to its previous state of grandeur. Under Richard’s care the estate thrived, and in another five years complete it matched the profitability of Pemberley.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ayr Bray was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband spend their time sailing the world. Ayr loves to lie on the fly deck with her laptop writing from exotic locations. Then she and her husband sail off into the sunset to their next destination, where her next book comes to life.
If you would like to contact me, you can email me at [email protected] or visit me at http://www.ayrbray.com.
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COPYRIGHT
Copyright ©2013 Ayr Bray