Pemberley

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  'So the rest of the servants don't know, but you do. At least he isn't toying with her feelings as he has with so many other ladies', but what if your master finds out?'

  Washing and drying done, Simon helped the prince into his nightshirt and led him to the chair in front of the mirror. Very gently he combed out the prince's thinning hair. There was nothing he could say, Prince George knew, they could only hope he'd keep it to himself for no-one else would even discover the mystery he had set out to solve. Anything Simon said could only make things worse.

  'So you know, but you're not going to tell me anything. Aren't you worried? If your master finds out don't you think Mrs Manners will suffer as much or more as your friend? Don't you care about her at all?'

  Remembering the night Simon had spent with Anne when she had an opium-induced delusion that her mother was going to kill her to use her blood to stay young forever, Simon tried to keep his face straight and not give the prince even more information.

  'I apologize. You obviously do care, about both. And you're not worried about them, you're worried about me. There is more going on, and I'm getting

  perilously close to finding out. Simon, I'm not out to ruin anyone's life, I'm just afraid that the most beautiful angel on earth will find herself trapped in an unhappy marriage without love. Or that Manners will not merely separate them but harm either of them when he finds out.'

  Simon was in a terrible quandary, not saying anything would be insufferably rude, he was a servant!

  'Mrs Manners would not thank you for not taking her seriously. She is not a feeble-minded female who doesn't know what is good for her, she is a self-assured gentlewoman who can take excellent care of herself.'

  That was all. Now he wanted to leave and seek some comfort by Frederick's side. It felt as if this was all his fault, that he had been too free with information while in fact he hadn't said that much at all. Prince George was just very good at putting pieces together, and somehow he had taken it upon himself to get to the bottom of Anne's love life. The only thing they could hope for was that he could not imagine Frederick loving a man, whatever horrible preference he attributed to Frederick instead.

  'I know she is, Simon, I know! Which is why I wonder why she ever decided to marry a dominant man like Manners. And I know what she told me herself was the absolute truth, but what if it all falls apart?'

  Simon had to go, he had nothing to add to what he had already said.

  'I am done, Your Highness, may I please be excused to attend to my master?'

  Fortunately his humble attitude did hurt the arrogant prince.

  'All right, all right, I concede, it's unfair to press you about your employer. I can see you really want to leave, but I'd feel bad all night if I let you go like this. Will you believe me if I promise you I only want to know that Mrs Manners is safe? That she will have some love and happiness in her life? I'm not a damned reporter to find out about people's lives then try to ruin them!

  Please don't punish me for my rudeness by not attending to me anymore, I need your care, desperately! I promise I will let you know if I find out anything else, and no-one else. Just you, Simon, it will be our secret, which means you can keep an eye on me. Until I know beautiful, kind Anne Manners is safe, then I'll stop. And I won't ask you anything, no-one will be able to reproach you anything. They cannot, for they won't know.'

  There was no way in which Simon would just tell him Anne would be safe, it would give away even more. They would all have to be so much more careful still,

  especially

  Frederick

  and

  himself.

  He

  bowed

  deeply

  in

  acknowledgement, to also let the prince know that he did not like it but would

  obey.

  'I suppose I'll have to prove myself first. Your dedication to your master is commendable, Simon. I'm very sorry you cannot trust me, but I do understand. Will I see you tomorrow morning?'

  'Yes, Your Highness, I will be here at the usual time.'

  'Thank you very much. I will prove myself trustworthy, really.'

  Simon fled.

  Chapter 18

  At breakfast, Stokes handed Darcy a letter that caused his heart to shoot up right into his throat. He instantly recognised the quality of the paper and the handwriting: it was aunt Catherine's. The last time he'd received a letter from her hand it contained a load of offensive language about the love of his life, and whilst he'd already loved Elizabeth more than life itself at that time, by now he actually knew whom he had married and he loved her even more.

  Because yes, that was possible. If his aunt's reply to his letter seeking information was of a similar nature that would mean the end of any possibility of contact, he would not suffer his beloved to be insulted.

  Of course the others instantly understood what the letter was all about, but there was no way in which Darcy could read it before them with Prince George present. Fortunately, Fielding proved his sensibility by catching the prince's attention.

  'Would you care to spend half an hour on a few Bach pieces I have adapted from harpsichord to piano? I'll play it on the harpsichord afterwards, we have one upstairs, in our private apartment.'

  Of course Prince George knew he was being kept from something, but there wasn't much he could do about it. And besides, he really did love music.

  'I'd love to, you're the only pianist I know who deigns to still play the harpsichord. It's almost a forgotten art, and yet it is so beautiful. Can we start with the harpsichord?'

  'Certainly, we can do that right after breakfast, I have my Bach upstairs anyway.'

  And that was it, the others finished breakfast and retreated to the confidence room, where Darcy decided to read the letter himself, if there was anything

  rude against Elizabeth in there she would not have to see that, let alone read it out loud.

  When they were all seated, Manners cleared his throat and spoke first.

  'I'm sorry to interrupt what I guess is a bit nerve-racking for you, Darcy, but I have some information you all need to know and this is too perfect an opportunity to pass by with Prince George safely in Eric's hands. Do I have your permission to proceed?'

  It sounded ominous, and Darcy nodded.

  'Of course, Manners, I hope it's nothing really bad?'

  'I'll let you judge for yourself. You know by now that the prince has gotten a maid to talk about our arrangements on the second floor, and he has also kindly but incessantly drawn Simon out when he is doing his assumed duties.

  Yesterday evening, Simon returned really upset, the prince had dryly informed him he knew about Anne and Nick seeing each other. He professed being very concerned about Anne's fate if their affair were to come out, and Simon did not dare say anything, mostly because the prince is indeed devilishly clever and would undoubtedly distil even more knowledge from whatever he said, but of course also because the man is going to be our king.

  So, Simon merely hinted that Anne was a woman grown and didn't need a man to patronize her, but nothing more. Prince George let him know he'd pursue his inquiries to be certain Anne would be safe, but to keep his findings to himself and tell only Simon of his progress. Poor Simon is in a state, he fears he will be blamed when he has no way to avoid being alone with a man he says can get a rock to spill its life's story. I just want you to know what is going on and to be on your guard around him. Always. He may even be more clever than you, Anne.'

  'I am certain he is, Frederick. He will not stop until he knows the truth, and I'm afraid he will stay until he knows. Do I have to intervene, tell him to leave our private lives alone?'

  'He will only use it to gain more information, and he'll know Simon talked to us, proving he is more to us than just a servant. Try to tell him nothing, though it will be difficult. All the private information he gains about us will enable him to force us to stay in England instead of going abroad.

  Well, that was about
it. Poor Simon, he had to go back this morning, and then again this afternoon, and tonight, I feel bad for him and guilty I suggested it.

  Now, I've said what I had to say, please carry on.'

  Poor Simon indeed, Darcy had never known him as anything than close-

  mouthed, and now it would seem to him as if this had all started with him, when in fact Prince George had been systematically questioning them all.

  'Will you please tell Simon no-one reproaches him with anything?' Darcy said, knowing all too well he didn't have anything to lose, Anne and Frederick and their lovers were in danger. But Simon would appreciate his assurance, he had always respected Darcy.

  'Thank you, Darcy, that will mean a lot to him,' Manners proved him right.

  Then, as the others proved to Manners they agreed with Darcy, he could no longer postpone the inevitable, and he neatly opened the envelope and read the following out loud for Georgiana, Elizabeth, Anne and Manners to hear.

  My dear Nephew,

  I cannot deny to have read your letter with mixed feelings. It has hurt me a great deal to have had the apple of my eye, my dear sister's son, whom I invested so much time in to help succeed in life despite the disadvantages of his worthless father, turn against me, and so violently. For six months I have wondered what I did wrong in your upbringing to cause you to make such an unfortunate decision, but since you still seem to support it I suppose the less said about it the better.

  Darcy was ready to let his anger get the better of him at this offensive suggestion, as if aunt Catherine had raised him instead of his very own father, but four smiling faces instantly took the sting out of his aunt's offensive opening. What else had he expected?

  'At least we know your aunt wrote this herself, my love. My father would give his right arm to have a connection like this, diversion ascertained. No offence, Anne.'

  'None taken, Elizabeth. I like your father a great deal better than I like my mother. I wish they could meet, that would be one of the more rewarding moments of my life. Now please continue, Darcy.'

  In a way this may have been the better course of events, since I gather you are planning to sully the Darcy name even further than by two unworthy marriages. Spencer tells me your spouses are the absolute cream of London society, but he was always weak where love was concerned, since he doted on his flighty little wife beyond what was proper. My late husband Sir Lewis de Bourgh never saw fit to adapt any of these capricious professions of undying love, he was a sensible man and a good, stable husband. And a loving father

  to Anne, though in hindsight I tend to regret letting him spoil her so.

  Now it was Anne's turn to look angry.

  'As if we never had that terrible row at the parsonage! As if she didn't totally ignore me for ten years! Poor papa, that woman was all he knew. Mr Bennet is much better at that, too, papa never managed to find a life of his own, she controlled his every minute except those he spent on me. I bet she hated me for stealing them.'

  Manners now proved Simon right and Prince George wrong by taking Anne in his arms and comforting her very gently.

  'Ten years are a long time, my dear Anne, but you will adapt Mr Bennet's philosophy yet and find your mother's folly merely entertaining. Now you may be angry if you want to, what your mother did to you was not nothing.'

  And he was right, Anne was doing magnificently.

  Anyway, at least my dear Anne is spared the association with your father's coming infamy by making a sensible commitment to a gentleman of impeccable descent. Mr Manners has written me a very kind letter which proves he is as sensible and as respectable as Sir Lewis ever was.

  I do not hesitate to admit that I have been very lonely last winter, without my dear daughter and Mrs Jenkinson. It is impossible to find an agreeable companion, Mrs Collins used to be suitably obliging but having a son has changed her, I suppose the certainty of improving herself in the future has made her put on airs. She keeps Mr Collins at home with her most of the time with some excuse about the baby, though the thing is as healthy as a child has a right to be. Of course her family is as prolific as most country people, for your sake I hope your situation won't prove the exception, since the papers have been maintaining a stubborn silence on this subject.

  Mr Collins professes to have little time to spend with me but I see him often, crossing the lane, I suppose to enter the back of the house. He has time to lecture my staff but not to play whist with me. But nobody wants to hear an old woman complain, especially not those who profited most from her wisdom, which is why I shall come to the point: I have the letters you asked for in my possession. I advise you to keep them to yourself, nothing can be gained by exposing your family through the follies of one of its members. But they are yours by right, so I will take care they will come into your possession safely.

  Which is why I will wait on you at Pemberley as soon as possible, leaving

  tomorrow. I cannot deny wishing to see my dear daughter again, and to finally meet her husband, though I had to read of her wedding in the papers.

  Of course I must also profess an interest in seeing how your lady manages a household the size of Pemberley's instead of enjoying her mother's efforts at making ends meet. Besides my personal maid I expect to bring four other members of my staff.

  Looking forward to seeing you again,

  'I love my mother-in-law already!' Manners exclaimed, laughing. 'We'll have the best times together.'

  'Well, she certainly changed her mind radically, though not her tone,'

  Elizabeth observed.

  'What will you do, Darcy, will you let her in?' Anne seemed the only one to understand his quandary, he didn't want his aunt in his house, especially not with so many relatives coming over. Hopefully Prince George would have left by then.

  'I suppose I will have to, dear Anne. She is still my aunt and I did ask for those letters. But as explorers you can of course spend much of your time in your headquarters, you need not sit with her.'

  'She must have made a few more mistakes in your upbringing that you would even consider not receiving her with open arms. I'm sorry, Anne, Darcy, to make fun of something that must be pretty serious to you. But I will support you as I did with Mr Collins, I can draw your aunt's attention and keep her entertained and out of your hair.'

  Imagine aunt Catherine with Mrs Bennet, the possibilities for ruining their time together with the people Darcy actually liked were endless. Mrs Bennet was easy to ignore, but aunt Catherine...

  'But Fitzwilliam, doesn't aunt Catherine's letter more or less prove that George is our half-brother? She talks about bringing the family down, I suppose she means papa having a bastard son by mentioning that.'

  'It could be, Georgiana,' Elizabeth replied, 'but if it were to become public knowledge that your father was an adulterer it would be shameful enough. Of course there is no real reason to let anyone know your father had a mistress unless a child had ensued, the only reason to tell Wickham that his mother had an affair with your father would be if he was his son, he has the right to know that his dear friend was actually his father and knew it. But still, Lady

  Catherine's remark doesn't prove anything, we'll need to see those letters to be certain. If only Prince George has left by then, nothing good can come of those two meeting. Though I dread the very thought of my mother and Lady Catherine in the same space.'

  'The latter is a lot more likely than Prince George not having left in four days, my love. Maybe we can embrace your father's view on people: enjoy the diversion they have to offer us. And I am certain that your mother and aunt Catherine in the same room will offer a world of diversion.'

  'For those strong enough to be able to enjoy the follies of others, Darcy,'

  Anne said, 'I intend to be one of them. No offence, Elizabeth.'

  'None taken, Anne, it's a real comfort to me that I am not the only person present with a very annoying mother. Aren't you proud, Georgiana, that you rated your own insult from Lady Catherine?'

  Geor
giana laughed and replied, 'Certainly. So far she always managed to ignore me. I almost hád to marry a cow herd's son, to gain her attention, you know.'

  'Do you suppose that is why I fell in love with a commoner? To be noticed by my own mother? If I'd married Darcy she would still have had eyes only for him.'

  'I can get you noticed by your mother, too, my dear wife,' Manners interjected with a smile, and Darcy was sure he could, 'but do you want to? I know her advice is priceless, but so far you seem to have managed quite well without. I suppose you are not going to accommodate her? Riding, shooting, you name it, we'll still be doing that together?'

  'Of course we are,' Darcy exclaimed, 'this is my house, I'll not have my aunt tell me what to do here. We may want to move the Zumpe back to your headquarters, though, so you can escape from her constant notice. As soon as Prince George leaves, I'd suggest.'

  They decided to do just that, and then they were done. Darcy was planning to take Prince George on a ride with his thoroughbreds that morning, but it seemed unwise to go all by himself, and there was someone in their midst who had asked to experience them flying.

  'Manners, do you want to join Prince George and myself for an exciting ride behind my thoroughbreds?'

  Their friend's eyes lighted up and he said eagerly, 'Yes, please! I really want to see his reaction, but I also want to experience the speed myself. I'll skip the riding lesson this once, though I must say I never thought I'd improve my

  riding this much. Still, summer is yet to come, plenty of time to perfect my seat.'

  At Bob's request, Bruce was going to join him on the box, he knew what he was signing up for, and Darcy hardly recognised the young bully he'd sent to Pemberley to learn about loyalty and hard work. Bruce had learned a lot about horses as well, and soon he'd learn about himself: was he as fearless as all young fellows considered themselves?

  They were going to use Elizabeth's carriage, it was not the fastest Darcy owned but one could not harness a team of four in front of a curricle. Using four thoroughbreds would be close to suicide. And anyway, he was not going to drive those horses himself, he was a reasonable driver but handling even two thoroughbreds was too much of a good thing. A four-in-hand was totally out of the question, that took years to learn. If Elizabeth ever got too large with child to ride safely he'd exchange the curricle for a phaeton and have Bob teach them both to drive well, but they'd stick to a single horse or a pair of very gentle ponies.