Mrs. White would pass through town on her way back to her new employers, the Thomases. She would drop off the food to the Carters then. Mrs. White was not as old as her title and position might imply. She, like all house staff who held positions of respect, was given the title of ‘Mrs.’ despite her unmarried state. In truth, she was six months younger than Katherine Carter and the two had bonded like sisters.
Mrs. White had nearly reached the Carters’ home when she abruptly turned a corner and bumped into a member of the militia. “Oh, excuse me,” she replied, blushing. She could not say if it was her clumsy step or the handsome face of the man she had nearly knocked over that caused her cheeks to burn.
Joshua Smith smiled at her and handed her a roll that had toppled from her basket. “Please, do not be concerned. Perhaps it was fate we should bump into each other.” Before Mrs. White could get his name or discover what he meant, he was gone.
She continued onto the book shop and tapped on the door. After a minute, Katherine answered looking pale. When her eyes lifted to her friend’s she burst into tears. No words needed to be spoken. Angela White knew Katherine had just lost her father.
∞∞∞
The Bingleys and Hursts stepped out onto the church steps, and Mr. Hurst called for his carriage.
Bingley’s heart felt heavy. Another holiday… alone. Watching happy families attending services, listening to a sermon on new beginnings and the power of love— it was just too much. He had made every effort to play the role of the carefree bachelor, but he finally accepted he had left that man behind in Hertfordshire.
Bingley looked at his sisters. Caroline and Louisa were engaged in some little tête-à-tête which made him feel even more isolated. He never doubted they loved him, but his siblings had a much stronger bond with each other than they did with him. He could think of only one woman to whom he felt comfortable openly expressing his feelings and speaking his mind. For months, he had been feeling terrible and had thought this pain was because she did not love him. But right now, he wondered if just being near her could be enough. Perhaps his suffering was because she was so far away. He had no intention of disturbing her or making a fool of himself, but he needed to find out if just being near her could give him the comfort which had been so elusive.
“Louisa dear, I fear I have a terrible headache and cannot join you today,” Bingley told his elder sister. Hertfordshire was a mere four hours away, and as luck would have it, Caroline had planned to stay with Louisa for a few days. If he was careful, he could go to Netherfield, and they would never find out. Maybe, if Fate intended them to be together, he would bump into Jane at some point.
Louisa looked concerned. She had not seen a great deal of her brother in recent months and attributed his somber demeanor to feeling under the weather. “Of course, Charles,” she replied with concern. Caroline would normally be irritated, but her brother had been so moody and depressing, she felt relief that he would not be putting a damper on the festivities.
After Charles said his goodbyes, time raced by, and his memories were a blur. It was not until he arrived at Netherfield that he really stopped to consider that his actions might be deemed rash by some in his acquaintance. He had very little time to dwell on that thought, however, because he rapidly became aware things at his country estate were not as they should be.
When he rode to the stables, there was no one there to take his horse. He assumed this was because it was Easter Sunday. He walked back toward the house and noted the gardens were not as well tended as he had expected. When he came in the house, it seemed empty at first. He soon found Mrs. Butler. She was very flustered and hurriedly brought him some food.
“I am so sorry, Mr. Bingley. I gave the staff a half day off for the holiday. I had no idea you would be coming back today or I would have…”
Bingley cut her off with a wave of his hand. “Please. No apologies are necessary. I came back on a whim and I am glad to hear the staff have been given the afternoon off. I will miss Mrs. White’s dinner terribly, but I am sure she will make up for it tomorrow.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
“I assume Mrs. White will be off this evening but will be back tomorrow serving her amazing dishes.”
Mrs. Butler looked a bit uncomfortable. She was not entirely sure if Mr. Bingley had forgotten the cook was told she was no longer needed or if he was making a joke. “I can ask Amy to run over to the Thomas’ in the morning and get instructions from Mrs. White if there is a certain dish you had in mind.”
Bingley now wore the same look of confusion his housekeeper had been donning. “Why would Mrs. White be at the Thomas’?”
“My apologies, sir.” Mrs. Butler had forgotten that he would not know what would have come of the various servants after leaving his employment. “They hired her after her services were no longer required here.”
Bingley’s mouth fell open. He was certain he knew the answer to his next question but needed to ask regardless. “Mrs. Butler, who instructed you to end Mrs. White’s employment here?”
Mrs. Butler began to color. Her discomfort was growing. “Well, Miss Bingley did, sir.”
“And who else were you asked to let go?”
Bingley listened as the list of names grew. He did his best to keep his temper in check, but he could not help that his jaw clench and his face grew red. Mrs. Butler noticed these things and worried that she had done something wrong. “Did I misunderstand, sir?” she asked trying to keep her hands from trembling.
“No, Mrs. Butler, you did nothing wrong. Thank you for the food. I have some business to take care of now. Please feel free to take the rest of the afternoon off. I can see to my own needs until the morrow.” With more than a little relief, the housekeeper left the study and once the door to the study closed, Bingley allowed his hands to ball into fists.
∞∞∞
“As I was telling Anne, next year the gardener should plant asters rather than daisies along the path leading to the maze.” If Lady Catherine continued speaking, Darcy did not notice. He nodded, maintained eye contact, and made the occasional sound to appear to be listening, but his real attention was focused on the couple sitting a few feet from the piano. His ears strained to hear what they said and his thoughts continued to return to her. Occasionally, even his eyes stole glances.
Elizabeth’s laugh carried across the room and against his will, he glanced over while he wondered what his cousin had said that had been so funny. Both Richard and Elizabeth had seen the curious looks he had sent in their direction and while it puzzled Lizzy, it thrilled the colonel. He had hoped to force Darcy’s hand, and it seemed he was successfully achieving his aim.
Lady Catherine looked at her companion and followed his gaze. “Fitzwilliam, what are you doing over there? What is it you are speaking of?”
“Music,” he called back. A few moments later, the pair made their way to the piano and she began to play. Fitzwilliam sat next to her to turn pages, and the two seemed to continue to chat as her fingers danced on the keys. Darcy was enchanted. She was not as proficient a player as many others he knew, but it was so evident that she played simply for the joy of it rather than the technical challenges or desire to impress. He had some vague knowledge that his aunt had resumed speaking, but as if on their own, his legs began moving, and he found himself standing in front of the piano watching her.
Anne too watched from across the room. She had been sorely disappointed to discover, during Miss Elizabeth’s first visit to Rosings Park that Mr. Collins was clearly mistaken regarding his cousin’s despair at having been passed over for his wife, Charlotte. She had hoped for a dramatic diversion but had instead been served bland civility. Ahhh, but she wondered, could Miss Elizabeth play the title role in some other play? Perhaps opposite one of her two cousins? She would be ever grateful if Miss Elizabeth, or any woman for that matter, could help her mother dispose of the notion that she would someday marry Darcy. But she had learned better than to get her hopes up. It
was too bad others in the room had not also learned this lesson.
∞∞∞
Later that night Darcy poured himself a tumbler of brandy and reflected on the evening. Elizabeth had given him sound advice that evening. She had reminded him that if he wanted to improve himself, he needed to push himself in those areas which were not his natural forte. The only other people who had ever dared tell him he needed to change his behavior had been his parents. His heart warmed at the memory of her telling him to practice his social skills. With her by his side, he would become a better and happier man. He had considered the suitability of the match so many times before, but never in his calculations had he considered this quality.
He swirled his glass and watched the light pass through the spinning waves of amber. A smile formed on his lips. Tomorrow he would begin to call at the Parsonage. There were several questions he needed to know before he could commit to this match. Could she be happy at Pemberley, so far from her home? What did she deem important in a marriage? Would she mind living on an estate occupied only by Georgiana and himself? Yes. He would delay his departure so he might have some time to uncover her answers to these pressing questions. While his course was not yet finalized, his heart rejoiced because his mind had finally conceded to surrender provided certain terms were met. The war he had been having with himself was nearing its end.
Chapter 23
The final strings of resistance had been broken. Darcy had made multiple visits the Parsonage and was pleased to confirm what he had long suspected. He and Elizabeth were very well suited to one another, and theirs would be a happy marriage. He resolved to take the next opportunity afforded him to make his offer official. With his mind made up, a contentment settled over him.
At one point, Elizabeth had mentioned which were her favorite paths for walking. He suspected she enjoyed their conversations as much as he did and had provided him with this information so they might have further opportunities for such discussions. As they often found themselves alone during these walks, he hoped to use one of these encounters to make his intentions known. But he would be loath to have Mr. Collins appear during his proposal. The scenario seemed unlikely, but that man had a way of always being there to annoy at the least convenient of times.
If Richard could call upon the Collins family shortly after Elizabeth left for her walk, he could breathe easier. While his excitement grew by the hour now that he could finally look forward to their future, he did feel a slight uneasiness over the prospect of announcing his engagement to his extended family. At last, he determined it would be best to engage his cousin in assisting him with this task as well. To that end, he invited Richard for a ride to discuss matters.
Richard Fitzwilliam could not have been happier upon hearing the news Darcy would finally allow himself to place his own happiness over his sense of duty. “Just yesterday I encountered Miss Elizabeth during my tour of the park and I made sure to tout your virtues.” Although this had certainly been Richard’s intent, in actuality he had confirmed Elizabeth’s suspicions regarding Darcy’s involvement in separating Bingley from Jane. In fact, he had convinced her Darcy’s role in the matter was far greater than she had initially thought. This was not an action Elizabeth found the least bit appealing. Rather, it fueled her hatred of the man tenfold.
“I appreciate this, Richard, but I do have more to ask of you.” Darcy slowed his horse as they neared the stables. “We leave the day after next. I have delayed our departure several times, but I have urgent business in London that cannot be further delayed. This means I may require your help in finding some time to be alone with Miss Elizabeth.”
Richard stopped his horse altogether. “She will be coming for tea this evening. I am sure I can devise some scheme to facilitate your needs.”
Darcy had not considered a proposal tonight, but now that the possibility had been raised, he could see no objection. The sooner things were settled, the happier he would be. But he still had a bigger request for his cousin. His eyes shifted toward his aunt’s estate. “And if she says ‘yes…’”
Richard interrupted Darcy. “When she says ‘yes.’”
Darcy smiled at his cousin’s excitement. “Will you help me prepare our aunt and your family to hear the news? I fear not all of our relatives will be as happy to hear of my plans as you are.”
Richard assured Darcy that he would help smooth the path.
Elizabeth never made it to tea at Rosings Park that evening. Her anger at the news that Darcy had played a major role in Jane’s misery had culminated in a headache providing her with the perfect excuse for avoiding an encounter with the man. Or so she thought. Upon discovering Miss Elizabeth had remained behind at the Parsonage, Darcy saw the perfect opportunity to speak with her privately. With Richard’s help, he slipped away with ease and soon found himself standing in front of a door that separated him from his destiny.
He wanted to start their marriage off with a clean slate. He would be honest with her about the struggles he had overcome to reach this point. She would appreciate that his love for her was so great he had chosen to overlook his initial concerns. He would arrange for her family to come to Pemberley, and once Georgiana met her, they could select a date. It was at that moment his nerves awoke and he suddenly felt ill. He, who was incredibly shy, was about to bare his entire soul. It took all of his courage to raise his fist and rap on the door.
∞∞∞
Mr. Bingley would be leaving for London on the morrow. He should have left a week earlier, but his anger with Caroline had kept him away from London longer than he had initially intended. He wanted her to know he had defied her wishes by returning to Hertfordshire . He also wanted her to have time to process that he had discovered what she had done. But if he stayed any longer, he would not be able to prevent himself from calling on Longbourn, and once he saw Jane, he would be entirely lost. If he stayed much longer and Jane found out, his failure to call on the Bennets would also seem terribly rude. He could not bring himself to face her knowing she felt nothing, but he was loath to offend her. As Jane was still in London, his fears were unfounded. Bingley, however, being unaware of this fact convinced himself his short visit must now come to an end.
He decided to indulge himself before he departed with one last ride through the beautiful country estate. He took the road away from Longbourn and came across the trail where Agnes Ashbury’s body had been discovered. The wall he had commissioned had been built. His thoughts drifted, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the door of the Ashbury cottage.
“Mr. Bingley?” Mrs. Ashbury had heard the horse approaching and thrown open the door expecting to receive a delivery but instead finding a most unexpected visitor standing on her porch. “Is there something I can do for you?”
Bingley was silent. He was not entirely sure why he had come to visit Agnes’ family. He had thought of the poor girl often and wondered if her family had found any solution to their financial struggles. As he stood there formulating an explanation for his visit, Mr. Ashbury walked up behind his wife and spoke. “Mr. Bingley! Did Mr. Darcy send you?”
Mrs. Ashbury looked at her husband and a wide grin spread across her face. “Of course!” She had forgotten of Mr. Bingley’s close friendship with her benefactor. “Any friend of Mr. Darcy’s is a friend of ours. I apologize for my confusion. We are expecting a delivery, and I thought when I heard your horse that our supplies had arrived,” she said as she belated stepped back and invited Mr. Bingley inside.
It was on the tip of Bingley’s tongue to ask about the Ashburys’ relationship with Darcy, but when he stepped inside the only question that came to his mind was, “What is going on?”
Unbeknownst to Bingley, Darcy had also met with the Ashburys during his time in Hertfordshire. He had gone to express condolences for the loss of their daughter, but what struck him nearly to the point of haunt his thoughts, was the dilemma they faced. They had started a conversation where the Ashburys expressed how proud they had been
of their daughter for finding a proper job. Soon the conversation turned to the difficulties many of the local families faced in finding work in the countryside. Here was a family who was struggling to survive. It seemed there had to be some way for such a family to maintain financial independence without moving to the cities. Darcy could not forget the conversation. He felt certain this same struggle were facing some of his own tenants. Hardworking, honest, and willing bodies looking for a way to be useful. It seemed as if he was sitting on a major asset, and by not making effective use of it, he was not only forgoing an opportunity for his estate, he was also failing those who looked to him for protection.
While in London he considered and researched several businesses that were labor intensive, were not likely to become automated, and could be run out of a country cottage. He considered several trades that involved an element of artistry for it would be difficult for a machine to replicate something that was prized for being unique and beautiful. A few weeks after leaving Netherfield, Darcy had sent Richard to Meryton to broach the subject of a joint venture with the Ashburys. He wished to see if this type of arrangement could be profitable and successful before approaching his own tenants.
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