October 20, 2014 – Time to set up the final conflict of the story. Don't forget the blurb – there is a "hunsford" coming, though not at Hunsford itself.


Chapter 29

Before he traveled to Rosings. Lord Perryton decided to call on his sister. Lady Catherine had come to London the week before. He understood why she had quit Kent, but he wondered if it would have been better for her to remain at Rosings.

"How long will you remain in Town, Catherine?"

"I am not certain. At least until Anne's family returns to Hertfordshire. It is ironic. I wish Anne and Fitzwilliam had never gone there, and now I cannot wait for them to return so I might go back to my own home."

As they sat digesting her statement, the earl could not help himself; he had to ask the one question that weighed heavily on his mind. "Would you never have told Anne the truth?"

Lady Catherine did not pause before she offered her response. "No, I would have gone to my grave with the secret." Her brother started to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him. "I told you my motives before, and nothing has changed. There will be repercussions for her and her children if it ever becomes known that she was adopted. Society's perception of her will be irrevocably altered if her true family is revealed. Elizabeth, and any other siblings to come, will be tainted by the association."

"I think you grossly over-estimate the situation, sister. Anne is now as much defined by her marriage as she is by Rosings Park. In addition, she is a Fitzwilliam by marriage as well as adoption. There is much to be said for that."

"I suppose you are correct in her Fitzwilliam connections."

The earl smiled. At least she agreed with him on one point; it was a good time to press another. "Catherine, you must be very careful in how you speak about the Bennets to your daughter."

"I am fully aware of that, Harold."

"I do not think you are. I know you better than anyone. Let us be realistic. The Bennets' place in society, while not plebeian, is nowhere near ours. You have never had much patience for your social inferiors."

Lady Catherine raised her chin a bit higher. "We are of the highest circles."

"Nearly. But that is no reason to denigrate Anne's family to her face. Even you can admit that she has undergone a great shock. Now she struggles to understand her place in the world. It is only natural."

"She is my daughter, no matter her birth."

"I know, but she is also a Bennet with five sisters, two brothers and two parents she has only just met. They are her blood, of that there is no doubt." He sighed, unsure of how to make his sister understand his point. "Because of that tie, Anne will feel loyalty to them. If you question their worthiness to be a part of her life, she may very well question your place in it. After all, had not Lewis interfered, you would have none."

Lord Perryton watched his sister as he spoke. He could see the effect of his words; she appeared afraid. He leaned forward and gently took her hand and held it in his.

"She loves you, Catherine. Treat her new family with respect and she will not reject you. You have not raised her to be resentful.

"I also think that the next time the Bennets come to Rosings, or any place else you might be, that you should not run off again. It gives the appearance that you have something to hide. It also would not hurt you to get to know her new family a little better." Lord Perryton playfully squeezed his sister's hand. "You might find you like them."

~~~/~~~

Light rains in the earlier hours of the morning had settled the dust that had been prevalent the last time Lord Perryton traveled to Rosings. Once again he was going to meet with his nephew. This time he knew what awaited him.

He did not waste time requesting a conference with Darcy. The earl arrived at the study first. He poured himself a drink and sat down in one of the large leather chairs by the fireplace. As he looked around, Harold Fitzwilliam recalled many of the previous occasions he had been in that same room over the past two and twenty years. He thought of the late master of Rosings, Lewis de Bourgh. Lord Perryton still had a hard time accepting that his brother-in-law had orchestrated the kidnapping of a gentleman's daughter to pass off as his own offspring. There had to be more to the matter, yet despite his efforts, nothing had been learned to disprove Lady Catherine's explanations.

"Lewis, would that you were alive and able to answer for yourself."

The door opened and Darcy looked around the room before stepping in and closing the door behind him.

"I thought I heard you talking to someone," Darcy said as he lowered himself into a chair.

"Just voicing my thoughts. I hope you do not mind that I helped myself to a drink."

"Not at all. I think I will join you."

The earl waited for Darcy to find his seat again.

"This quest I am charged with has led me all over London and into the country," he began.

"Any new information?" Darcy queried.

The earl shook his head. "Not a blasted thing. And now there are only two more leads from Mrs. Stuart left to follow. I have little confidence in either, and one of them may prove especially difficult and time consuming to chase down. That is part of the reason I came to Rosings now, to ask you what you want to do. As you recall, the chambermaid and manservant left for America not long after Anne was brought here. I gather this maid was brought into the conspiracy late and the man even later. I am very doubtful either one will be able to shed any new light on what happened. They may be nearly impossible to trace, if they are even still alive. This is not the best time to travel to our former colony."

"I know, and I share your opinion on the matter. Yet we have vowed to search for the truth." Lord Perryton had his answer.

"I plan on speaking to their family here in Kent tomorrow. If I come away from those meetings with legitimate information on their whereabouts in America, then I will send one of my men across the Atlantic as soon as possible."

"I think that is a reasonable plan. I wish we had more options, though." Both men scowled, wishing the same thing.

"Can you think of anything we have missed?"

Darcy's face showed his concentration, and then became thoughtful. "Did my uncle have anyone else in whom he may have confided?"

"His steward, probably. Too bad Mr. Wiggins died 17 years ago."

"What about his valet?"

Of course! "Now there is a thought! He was younger than Lewis, that I remember. We would find his name in the old ledgers if Stuart does not remember."

"I doubt she has forgotten."

"I doubt she has either. Very good, Fitzwilliam. We may get to the bottom of this after all."

Maggie Stuart had not forgotten. The earl left with the name of Roger Walls and nothing more. Mrs. Stuart told him that Walls had left after his master had been laid to rest and had not been seen at Rosings since he received a bequest in Sir Lewis' will. Maggie did not tell him that she had seen him since, away from Rosings.

~~~/~~~

It was not difficult to locate the family of Sarah Simmons. They were still one of Rosings' tenants. He also learned from Mrs. Stuart that Bobby Weeks came from the neighboring estate of Lord Metcalfe. His sister and brother still worked there.

Lord Perryton interviewed the rather nervous servants and tenants. No one had received any word from Sarah or Bobby for at least five years, but after speaking with the families, the earl was able to piece together where they had gone after they left Kent. The newly married couple had initially settled in New York, finding work with two wealthy families there. However, within a few years they tired of being apart because of their employment and left New York to go south to Baltimore. This time they found work in the same household. After Sarah gave birth to their third child, Bobby decided he was ready to become his own master. The family used their savings to move west to the frontier. After this, information became very spotty. At least two more children had been born, and one of the children had died. The family was considering moving again. That was the last anyone had heard of them.

When the earl broached the subject of the money for the passage, only Sarah's sister knew much about it.

"Sarah said she'd done a special service for the mistress and Lady Catherine had given her and Bobby passage in gratitude. When I asked Sarah what she had done, she said it was something special and she wouldna betray her master and mistress. I've always wondered what she did. But she and Bobby was happy ta be able to marry and go on their adventure. I wish I coulda gone with 'em, but Papa couldna afford to send any of us with 'em, even though they said we could come."

Lord Perryton was not surprised by what he had learned. It seemed futile, but he would send a man to the United States for Anne's sake; it would be a miracle if the Weeks were found.

~~~/~~~

Charles Bingley found himself with an estate full of business and nothing to do. Oh, he was busy enough meeting with the steward of Netherfield, accompanying Hurst and Sir John on shooting excursions, and dining with several families in the neighborhood. His sisters certainly enjoyed those evenings out, displaying their superior fashion, while all the time bemoaning their hosts' country manners, but he did not share their pleasure – or censure. He missed the one face that could make any gathering a more joyful event. He was pining for one Miss Jane Bennet.

The other bachelor of Netherfield, Sir John Whitby of Slaton Manor, Surrey, was awaiting the return of his Miss Bennet, Miss Mary. He did not fancy himself in love, as Charles Bingley surely did, but he knew he could grow very fond of the girl if given enough time. Thus he counted the days until the Darcys and Bennets returned to Hertfordshire.

Both men made plans for their lovemaking. They would begin at the ball that Bingley would host Thursday next. As soon as Longbourn was inhabited, the men would descend upon the place and secure sets for the dancing. They would show their preference by opening the ball with their ladies and further demonstrate it by requesting the supper dance. Standing up a third time with their ladies was too forward, but that did not stop them from wishing they could indulge.

"Do you think I am acting rationally, Whitby?" Bingley asked late one evening when the men were alone.

Sir John laughed. "Since when is courting a woman of little dowry a rational undertaking?"

"She is not a woman, she is an angel."

"Oh please! How much have you had to drink, Bingley?"

Bingley smiled mischievously. "Not that much, my friend. But this is serious. You know my propensity to fall in and out of love. How can I know this… this feeling is genuine?"

"Darcy must have been very direct," Sir John replied.

The younger man nodded. "Direct enough. Yet I cannot be too angry with him, for he had a valid point. Are my actions raising expectations that I am unsuited to fulfill? Marriage is a … frightening enough prospect without doubts that I am marrying someone completely unsuited to be my wife."

Sir John's face became solemn. "If you believe Miss Bennet to be unsuitable, you must withdraw immediately."

Bingley's response surprised him – he shook his head and the corners of his mouth turned up lightly.

"It is not Miss Bennet whom I doubt, but my own self. Has enough time passed to prove a constancy of affection that will last a lifetime together? Can I be a good husband to her - to any woman?"

Sir John set his drink down and measured his words. "Bingley, Charles. If these are your real feelings, then I suggest you take your time to get to know Miss Bennet more fully. There is no need to rush to the altar. Your lease runs through next Michaelmas. Surely by the start of the Season you will know your mind on the matter." And then in a lighter tone he continued, "Besides, I need you to remain in Hertfordshire so I may do the same with my Miss Bennet."

"Ah, Miss Mary Bennet. Caroline will be crushed, you know."

"Hardly." Sir John rolled his eyes. "I think she has hopes of a taller husband. She must have been severely disappointed when Darcy married Anne."

"It was not too awful; she had not spent much time with him before he was off the market. He was already engaged when she came out."

"She will want to return to Town soon, I think."

"I need her here, though, and that will mean a promise to her to return to Town for the Season, even if I do win Jane Bennet's favor. Caroline is not used to such a limited circle of acquaintance, nor do I think she will want to relinquish her role as mistress. She will wish to make a match if I make one myself."

Sir John knew his friend was undoubtedly correct in his estimation of Miss Bingley.

"Then I propose a pact. We will declare ourselves before the end of winter, or we flee the field in glorious defeat."

"Agreed." Bingley then refreshed their drinks and raised his in salute. "To the ladies of Longbourn!"

"Here, here!"

~~~/~~~

Anne Darcy had spent the last ten days at Rosings with her birth family. In some ways she felt she knew them well, and yet hardly knew them at all.

Of her two parents, she was drawn to her father. Anne had come to appreciate his quick wit and sarcastic humor, though she detected that it could easily turn biting. It was also obvious from whom Anne received her intelligence; her mother's mind was nothing to her father's. Mrs. Bennet was also prone to exaggeration and was easily excited. While Anne Darcy appreciated her enthusiasm, it did become wearing after a while. She finally understood her sisters' and father's comments on her mother's character. Yet this silly woman had given birth to her and never gave up hope that they would be reunited.

The younger siblings were refreshing in their youthful exuberance. Anne Bennet reminded Anne Darcy of herself at that age, not only in physical resemblance – which was great – but in temperament as well. The young girl would keep her parents on their toes. William and Henry appeared to be good boys; Fitzwilliam certainly liked them. Lydia proved to be a hopeless flirt and the most like their mother. Anne appreciated her fearlessness, yet recognized that she would be the hardest trial to her parents. Teaching her restraint and curbing her boisterousness without breaking her spirit would be a challenge. Catherine, as Kitty preferred Anne to call her, was unremarkable, but not in an ungenerous way. Anne rather believed that sister would be happiest with a husband who wanted a quiet wife. Catherine would be content to follow such a man to a peaceful marriage.

Anne's interactions with Mary did nothing to dispel her first impressions. Mary was intelligent, but tended to fall back on the moralistic teaching of the writers she read. What amazed Anne was how often Mary was completely correct, but not because she had reached the proper conclusion in a conventional manner. Mary would have argued they were inside a room, not because they were inside, but because they were not outside. This ability to take a divergent path to the same conclusion amused Anne. She continued to believe that what Mary needed most was exposure to the larger world. On one point Anne was particularly impressed; Mary was completely devoted to her brothers and sisters and would defend them at the slightest provocation.

Jane Bennet proved to be the one sibling Anne could not understand. Jane was serene to a fault. She watched over the family with a protectiveness that could be explained by Anne's disappearance twenty years before. Yet Jane did not appear to extend that protectiveness to Anne herself. It was as if Jane were waiting for something, and Anne knew not what it was. Jane's reticence bothered her. What would it take for her eldest sister to accept her as her younger siblings had already done? Must she earn Jane's regard? From everything her family told her about Jane's nature, it should not be necessary. Evidently, Anne would need to spend more time with Jane before she could call her at least a friend.

At last it was time for the Darcys to travel to Thigston for the christening of Arthur's son. They offered the Bennets the use of the house for another few days, but Mr. Bennet did not wish to remain if the Darcys were gone. The same three carriages that had come to Rosings the previous week left for London together. The Darcys would break their travel in Town to check on Georgiana, who was staying at Alton house with Lord and Lady Perryton, while the Bennets would push on to Hertfordshire. They would all meet again next week in time for the Netherfield ball.


So the bachelors have a plan to court their ladies and Anne is wondering why Jane is proving to be such a challenge to come to know. Instinctively she knows why Jane is so protective. The kidnapping has affected her more than the other Bennet children left behind.