Mr. Bennet and Mr. Hurst found themselves commiserating once again, some months later.
"Better?" Mr. Bennet asked after Mr. Hurst took a long sip of his brandy. The two gentlemen were enjoying a late-night drink after the other had retired to their rooms. The Hurst family had arrived at Longbourn earlier that day and the upcoming double wedding had dominated the conversation.
"Lace, so much lace." Mr. Hurst took another drink. "It is all overwhelming. My respect for you has grown immeasurably, Bennet. You are a man of immense patience and calm."
"I am a coward who can hide in my bookroom when I need to, but it is seldom this intense. This is wedding chatter. Everything that has been discussed before must be discussed again now that Lizzy is home, em, here."
"None of that, now. Longbourn will always have a special place in Zibby's heart and will always be one of her homes. It serves no purpose to ignore that." Mr. Hurst waved a hand as if dismissing further comment on that subject. "In a month's time, Pemberley and Darcy House, as well as the other Darcy properties, will be home for our girl."
"Ah, yes, Pemberley. I heard Lizzy speaking of it, but how did you find it?" Mr. Bennet asked, sipping his own drink.
"It is genuinely stunning. It is well situated and prosperous. I think Zibby will be very happy there, but she would be very happy anywhere she is with Darcy, blasted fellow." The last words were spoken with affection for he had grown quite fond of the young man.
"Do you regret agreeing to the October wedding?"
"I do not. In fact, I am greatly reassured by our visit to Pemberley. Zibby seemed to belong there. She was nervous during our journey, but it was as if this…serenity settled over her once we arrived. She was truly home." They were both thoughtful for a moment. "Darcy is very generous and making it as easy for us as he can. He has assigned us a set of rooms for our particular use. Zibby and Mae were tasked with modifying them to our tastes. He is doing so for David and Tessa as well as my in-laws. The expectation being we will be making frequent visits. I believe you will find yourself similarly indulged."
"That explains Darcy's recent correspondence asking about my favorite books. I guess that old saying is true, you do not lose a daughter but rather you gain a library," Mr. Bennet joked.
"It will be quite the library to gain and quite the son. It is amazing, I have gained so much this past year. I have my Zibby, David has returned to us, Louisa is the wife and daughter we always wished her to be, and we will soon have a new grandchild. And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge how fortunate we are to have all the Bennets and Gardiners and Phillips as part of our family. No, I do not begrudge them these two months." With a quick grin, he continued "I will get the time back. Darcy will soon discover that he should be less generous in his offers. 'You shall always be welcome in our homes, whenever and for however long you like' leaves him quite open to my schemes. I am thinking a nice two month stay every summer would be just the thing."
"This is a devious side to you, Hurst. I am enjoying it. Let me know when you go and perhaps, we will visit for two months after you leave. Darcy has made us the same offer. And he has gotten off far too easily thus far. For much like neighbors, what are we to do but to make sport for our daughters' suitors, and laugh at them in our turn?"
~~IOAF~~
Darcy arrived a few days later. And over the next few weeks, family and friends started trickling into Hertfordshire as well. So many were coming that Elizabeth wondered where they were all to be housed. The few inns in Meryton were fully booked with friends and distant relations. The Lees joined the Hursts at Longbourn. The Gardiners would reside with Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. Darcy, Georgiana, David, Louisa, and Tessa's family were staying at Netherfield along with some of Bingley's family from the north.
"What of your family? The inns at Hatfield are too far and I do not think they are suitable for a man of your uncle's stature." Elizabeth and Darcy were enjoying a ride early one morning, with Lydia acting as chaperone.
"There is no cause for worry. I have taken care of their accommodation. In fact, I wish to show it to you. Lydia, are you up for a longer ride?" Lydia did not enjoy early mornings or riding, but she had already pledged her service, stating she would much rather join Elizabeth and Darcy as Jane and Bingley were too boring for her liking. She was disappointed that she had only caught her new charges touching and kissing a few times.
"Do I have a choice?" She asked petulantly. "You two are just as boring as Jane and Charles but in a different way. I have not even had my breakfast."
"Never fear, Lydia. You shall have your breakfast and, also, you shall be the first to know our news," Darcy promised her.
"Whatever you say, Fitz," Lydia yawned widely. Darcy only cringed a little when she called him Fitz. Once invited to use the given names of her soon-to-be brothers, Lydia had immediately shortened Fitzwilliam to Fitzy, but she was eventually persuaded to settle on Fitz.
They rode about five miles south of Meryton before they turned onto a pretty lane that led them to a pretty, white house. "Welcome to Richwood Cottage, ladies," Darcy gestured to the house with a flourish.
"Richwood? This is yours, I mean ours, then?" Elizabeth asked.
"It is. I thought we could reserve Richard Abbey for a loftier dwelling. This is too cozy for that name. It used to be Cooper Lodge, which just sounded-"
"Boring," said Lydia.
"Uninspired," Darcy agreed. "Come, let us go inside."
He led them in, and they were greeted by the housekeeper, Mrs. Glenn. She took them around the house, it was sparkling clean and comfortably furnished. Smaller than Longbourn, it had five bedchambers and two sitting rooms. The grounds included an apple orchard, the fruit recently harvested.
"I bought this for us. It will be nice to have our own space when we visit. And for now, my family may use it. It is ready to receive guests. Do you like it?"
"Lizzy, Mr. Darcy bought you a house." Lydia was in awe that a gentleman would do that for her sister. She knew he was wealthy, but he could have leased something nearby for his relatives. This was a whole house that the couple would probably only stay in a few weeks each year. She might be able to use that to her advantage. "I can live here and see to things when you are not here."
Lydia's bold suggestion spurred Elizabeth to finally respond. "I think Mama and Papa would miss you too much, Lyddie. And there is the fact that you are only fifteen. I know, it is very boring of me to say so." She cut off her sister as she saw her mouth form the B of the word. She turned her attention to Darcy.
"But you, my dear man, are very sneaky. I had no idea. It is lovely and so is the thought." She took his face in her hands and kissed him soundly as Lydia watched intently.
"You might not be quite so dull as Jane and Charles. I really should tell Papa that you kissed Mr. Darcy but if you let me stay here for at least a few weeks I might not." She did not truly believe they would agree, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"Lydia, the idea of a chaperone is to prevent the untoward behavior not just report on it. You have failed at your duty. If you tell, I imagine when you are courting or engaged your parents will be very attentive given your lax attitude toward propriety now." Darcy's tone was only held a hint of severity, and he grinned at her to soften his words.
"As if I could prevent you from kissing, even if I wanted to," Lydia huffed in response.
"We marry in a week. I do not think we would be punished very severely if discovered. I know the wedding would not be moved up. We can be very certain of that."
Elizabeth patted Lydia's back to console her sister on her lack of leverage. "Shall we get you some breakfast?"