Chapter 6: Understandings

Good Friday, 27 March 1812

Hunsford

As Charlotte and Elizabeth returned from draping the church altar in black in preparation for Holy Saturday, Anne's phaeton pulled up to the parsonage.

Mr. Collins immediately stepped out of his garden to greet her with his usual servile verbosity but Anne interrupted him. "Miss Bennet, join me for tea today." It was not a request.

At Rosings Park, Anne led Elizabeth to her private wing. "I wish for you to see where we will stay." Anne brought her into the last room of the wing. "This is the furthest from my rooms and furthest from all activity at Rosings. It is the most private room in my home. Peeke will care for us after we are confined. Yesterday, I had the footmen install that bookshelf for you, and we will make whatever other changes you desire. Visit the library downstairs, list the volumes you desire. We shall purchase any others you wish for."

Elizabeth looked around. She felt like Jonah being swallowed by the whale; the long dark hallway led to the belly of the beast. The enormous room was furnished with heavy dark furniture and decorated in red and gold. It took up the last section of the wing and had windows on three sides. They overlooked the front garden, the woods, and the rear gardens. While the abundant light eased the oppression of the room, Elizabeth wondered how such a large room would be kept warm in the winter.

Anne smiled her secret smile. "This used to be my room. It gives the best view of Rosings. I always enjoyed watching the deer and rabbits eat Mother's carefully tended gardens." Sighing, she went on, "Mother moved me to the first room of the wing last year when I was ill." Anne paused. "Do you think you will be comfortable here?"

Seeing Anne genuinely wanted to please her, Elizabeth gave a smile. "I think the room will be very comfortable. Thank you."

Anne returned the smile. "I do want us to be friends. I am not like Mrs. Collins, but maybe you can grow to care for me. I've never had a friend before, only paid companions. Mother has never allowed me the opportunity. May I call you Elizabeth? Or Eliza like Mrs. Collins' does?"

"You may call me either," she nodded. "I believe we can be good friends." Not wholly sure about the strange woman, Elizabeth vowed to do her best.

Anne was an oddity, closer in age to Charlotte than Elizabeth, and seemed unsure how to behave with other people. If her mother had denied her friendships, that may explain it.

As Anne sank into a plush chair facing one of the front windows. Elizabeth joined her. They sat quietly admiring the view. After a few minutes, Anne began to probe Elizabeth to learn more about her family and, more particularly, her sisters. "I prayed for a sibling until my father died. It has always been so lonely. I envy you with a household so full."

Elizabeth chuckled, "I know nothing else. We do have our challenges." Elizabeth told of the youngest sister taking bonnets, of the middle sister's questionable pianoforte skills, and of the second youngest following the youngest in frivolity. Most of all, she spoke of the close relationship she had with her eldest sister—that she and Jane shared a room, a bed, and every confidence.

Her face fell when she mentioned Jane. "Until now, Jane and I have had no secrets."

Anne reached over and held her hand. "I now envy both Charlotte and Jane. To have such trusted confidants to share your burdens with!"

"They have always been a blessing to me. Jane helps me see good in the world when I wish to see the worst. Charlotte shows me the practical."

Anne smiled softly, looking back outside. "I would gladly trade everything for such trusted friends. I have some from Town who call themselves my friends, but they never visit. I have never had anyone who wanted to know me or spend time with me. Not even my cousins. With my poor health, I could never keep up so they have always been strangers."

"Have you been close to anyone? What was your father like?"

"He was the greatest of men! I am much more like him than my mother." Anne recalled her close relationship with her father and how her mother never understood either of them. When her father died, her mother took away many of the freedoms that he had allowed. "She's always been fearful of me catching cold or some action that would cause me to die—then where would that leave her."

"You've been held hostage here," Elizabeth cried.

"Maybe in some ways she has held me here to ensure she has a place at Rosings Park."

"Is there a dower house?"

"There is, or rather, there was. A few years after Father died, a fire started in one of the attics. It has remained in ruins since."

"It should be rebuilt. Living in a dower house is preferable to hedgerows."

Anne smiled, "Yes, but even if it were repaired, she may not have that option if my current heir removes her."

As the two women compared their mothers, they found them quite similar in many ways.

~~~oo0oo~~~

As Anne led Elizabeth out of Rosings, Lady Catherine intercepted them. "Miss Bennet, we have arranged to have your luggage brought up to Anne's rooms straight away. Why are you not packing? You must start…"

"Mother," Anne silenced the offensive speech. "I shall see you in your dressing room after I escort Elizabeth out."

Lady Catherine huffed but turned toward her rooms. Elizabeth was mortified, returning to the parsonage shortly after the exchange.

Once her guest had left, Anne confronted her mother. "If you expose my plans, your future is ruined."

"Anne?" her mother asked in disbelief. Her daughter had never spoken in defiance.

"Mother, if you continue with your outbursts, you will be the source of your own destruction."

Lady Catherine inhaled sharply at being taken to task by her frail daughter. Pulling herself up to full height and gaining an air of haughtiness, "Excuse me?"

Anne had never found it worth her energy to cross her mother, but this behavior risked too many futures. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "You do understand Darcy has no obligation to take you other than self-imposed guilt? If this plan fails, you will fall upon the charity of Uncle Henry and Aunt Eleanor. Is that how you wish to live?"

"Humph!" Lady Catherine snorted in indignation. "I should think not. I could barely tolerate family meals. I would never disgrace myself by living with such a pompous ass."

Her mother's hypocrisy incensed her. "You and Uncle Henry spent holidays together until Father died. What occurred to cause the change?"

Lady Catherine haughtily expressed her disgust. "Henry refused to have Robert marry you and align our families. Since your birth, you were destined to be the next Countess Matlock. When you were young, I went to Henry and suggested we arrange the marriage as soon as possible. He left it to Eleanor, but I received no response. I went to Henry again, but he said Eleanor had decided against the union, and he would not challenge her. I told him he was not half the man our father was, letting his wife decide such things. He said…" Lady Catherine paused.

She didn't want to tell Anne what her uncle had said. He had said that both he and the Countess thought Anne a terrible match, that she was of poor health and had no accomplishments. With their title, Robert, the heir, could attract women who would add to their connections and wealth rather than just add to their property—which was all Anne could offer. Even for the property, Henry didn't wish to saddle his son with Anne.

"Well, I'll not repeat what he said, but he insulted both the Fitzwilliam and de Bourgh names. I wouldn't have it and told him so! I told him exactly what I have thought of him, being debauched and spoiled, and fouling the Fitzwilliam name these past years." Bitterness twisted her face into a scowl. "He said the most ungracious things in response… I have no more use for him."

Anne stood, gathering the patience she needed. After clasping hands with her mother, she quietly said, "then this will not do. From this point forward, you must restrain yourself. No speaking of our arrangement, or it will all come to naught."

There was a bit of back and forth, but with Anne's insistence and determination, Lady Catherine was properly humbled, something previously unheard of. She agreed to uphold her daughter's demands.

Once satisfied her mother would not betray them, Anne addressed the contract Elizabeth had demanded. "She needs to be assured that she is protected. I included her silence as a stipulation and made a copy. Once she receives her property and payment, she will return the papers for us to burn." Anne handed her mother the quill and ink as well as the contracts. "You must sign both copies."

As her mother applied an elaborate autograph, Anne showed her one section in the contract, "Elizabeth will still receive the promised rewards if the true parentage is exposed by our family." She looked sharply at her mother, "as well as if there is no child." Lady Catherine nodded.

Lady Catherine was unable to concede the possibilities of the plan not working. As such, she needed to think of the matter in terms of her achievement, no matter how delusional. "Anne, I cannot express how pleased it makes me to finally be hearing your banns this Easter. What an accomplishment! To have finally captured Darcy! This marriage reunites the noble bloodline of my father and joins the great estates of Pemberley and Rosings Park! It will be the most illustrious marriage of the year! I knew I would secure him for you—it being his duty after all"

Anne shook her head. A lifetime of listening to her mother's nonsensical self-aggrandizing and self-congratulations inured her to such rants. "I have never particularly cared for his company, but he will see to your care once I pass. I only hope he shows compassion toward Elizabeth."

"Darcy doesn't rattle on like many men, that does not make him unkind. He will ensure my welfare. Why do you think I wanted you attached to him rather than Richard? Richard is Henry's child - or is supposed to be Henry's child - and who could tell what Henry's child would do! Richard entertains, but he enjoys variety. Darcy, now he's the steady one. The one who keeps Rosing Park sound. The one who will care for me." (1)

Before leaving, Anne called, "Have the gentlemen meet me in the study in ten minutes." Thanking her mother as she stepped out the door, heading toward the study.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Darcy and Richard entered to have Anne address them. "I have two copies of the contract I need you both to sign."

The men looked uncomfortably at one another. Darcy spoke up, "Are you sure we should have the details of such an arrangement in writing? What if unfriendly eyes discover the documents?"

"My copy will remain in my safe. Elizabeth will hold her copy until all the financials are complete, which will happen before she leaves Rosings Park, then she will turn her copy over to us. This protects both our interests." Anne passed the quill and ink to them.

They applied their signatures: Colonel R. Fitzwilliam with his special flourish. Darcy refused to sign his full name, only applying his last name. Once signed, the men rose to leave. Anne stopped them. "We aren't finished." They looked at one another in astonishment but returned to their seats.

Anne addressed them on how to conduct themselves around Elizabeth. "Her well-being is vital to us all. You must treat her as the upstanding gentlewoman she is."

When Richard snorted, Anne glared at him. Richard folded his arms across his chest, "I can't see her as so upstanding after agreeing to something like this."

"She did not agree when you asked her, now did she?" Anne reminded him.

"No, but she did agree."

"She agreed under duress. I garnered her sympathy, but if her father had not been injured she would have already returned home due to your incompetence. To her, you are a lecherous member of the peerage and you, Darcy, are no better. She thinks poorly of both of you."

Richard, as charming as he could be, was still an earl's son and a colonel. Looking over at Darcy with his eyebrows raised in amusement, "We are the most interesting gentlemen she will ever meet."

Anne longed to slap the smirk off his face. Her cousins thought so highly of themselves that they couldn't fathom there might be ladies not so enthralled by either of them. "You treat your mother with respect, do you not?"

Richard sat up straight, lips drawn. "What do you mean?"

"You are considered my cousin, but are you?" Anne paused. "And what about your 'friendship' with Lady Lamb?"

Richard started to scowl. "How did you know…"

Darcy looked at him with a brow raised and an amused half-grin. "Lady Lamb? Really, Richard?"

Anne's decision to maintain a correspondence with her former lady's maid, who now worked for the Fitzwilliams, was an excellent one. "I understand there is not only Lady Lamb, but Lady Oxford, Lady Jersey, and a litany of others you've enjoyed and still manage to attend events with as if they are but indifferent acquaintances." (2)

Darcy, still amused, rolled his eyes. "Lady Jersey, Richard! You'll get the French disease without leaving England!"

Richard quickly composed himself. "Those ladies are only indifferent acquaintances to me, why do you think them anything more?" Putting his nose into the air, he finished, "As Darcy said, lying with such women is bad for your health."

Anne knew better. "It's well known about your mother's affairs and your—friends shall we call them? You must treat Elizabeth with at least the same respect."

Richard, irritated at having his indiscretions made public, decided to change tactics. He smiled wolfishly. "I would love to treat her that way, but you've reserved that honor for Darcy."

"Yes, I have. Darcy is safer. Lord only knows what you would give my heir," she replied flippantly. Losing her patience with her cousin's crude humor. "Richard, you have no reason to treat her other than a respectable gentlewoman. She is more respectable than most of the women of your acquaintance—she is not doing this as a diversion."

Richard scoffed. "You have no faith in me. I will treat her with the greatest of respect. She's a lovely lady. She is saving us from your mother."

"Thank you." She turned to her other cousin. "Darcy, try to refrain from wearing the look of spoiled milk while you are in the room with her."

Darcy scowled; Richard chortled. "Darcy isn't so bad when around people he likes. Some even think him agreeable."

"The agreeable Darcy eludes me," Anne stated flatly. "Ensure you do not disparage her or her family in any way." Pausing while she tried to determine the best way to broach the subject, Anne looked at Darcy. "Be gentle with her. This is not something she desires."

Affronted, Darcy growled, "What do you think I am? And, I might add, it is not as though I want this either." Unthinkable. Anne instructing him how to conduct himself with a woman!

Anne stood, still looking at Darcy. "Yes, but you leave here able to continue your life as you have always known it. Her life will be forever altered."

"You think my life will not be altered from this?" he stormed. Anne's discounting the effect her proposed encounters would have on his well-being was insulting.

"Your life will be altered, but not in the way it will be for her. She loses the ability to marry or have further children to bestow her affections upon. She also loses the child she gives us. While her child, my child, will be given the best life has to offer, it may still be the only child she will carry. What do you lose? You become a widower when I die—you can remarry. You will also have your heir and you add Rosings Park to the Darcy estate. Again I ask, what do you lose?"

Darcy put his face in his hands. Of course, it was worse for her, he was selfish to think otherwise.

"Darcy, just be kind. Don't hurt her."

Lifting his face from his hands, he looked uncomfortably at Anne. "I will do my best."

Anne dismissed the men and returned to her seat. Now she only needed the Bennet's permission to start. By this time next week, there would be no turning back.

~~~oo0oo~~~

(1) As mentioned earlier, many later children of the peerage of the time were not the biological children of their 'official' fathers. A few quick and easy to find are Lady Oxford, Elizabeth Lamb (Lady Melbourn), or Emily Lamb. Most of their children were not considered to be fathered by their husbands.

(2) Look up those ladies. Lady Caroline Lamb and Lady Oxford were both lovers of Lord Byron and others. Lady Jersey had so many affairs when her husband was asked why he didn't defend her honor, he said he didn't want to duel half of England.

Note: In case it's not clear - Charlotte does not know Anne wants Elizabeth to have a child, she is getting the story that Elizabeth will be a friend and companion to her for a year, and that Anne is arranging to change things so Elizabeth is the one who inherits Longbourn. As a way of recompensing the Collinses, Anne is giving them an estate that is currently making money. They could either kick that family out and move in, hiring a curate for the Hunsford Parsonage or they could pocket the money until they are ready to move in.

Suggestion: FanFiction author StoryLady (author of The Rising Hysteria of Elizabeth Bennet) recommended a talk by Robert Markley called "Is Mr. Darcy A Virgin? Masculine Sexuality in Pride and Prejudice." It's a fascinating blend of what Jane Austen set up in her stories vs the real life at the time. Because there is such a variation on what Darcy's £10,000 a year is in today's money, I will add Markley's calculations for his earnings today is between $12-15 million/year. And, yes, he concludes Austen's Darcy was a virgin but in real life, no 28 year old man of his social status would be. (Also interesting to hear his short bits on what college was like at the time.)