Chapter 12:

The following day, Mr. Collins was frantic to have a Countess, as well as an Earl soon to stay in his humble parsonage which he often took the opportunity to repeat to Jane, who was too kind to un-friendly to him. The earl was due to join his family today which excited Mr. Collins further. Jasper had sent a surprise ahead for his wife and sister knowing how much they had missed their own papa. Their father arrived to surprise his daughter as requested by his son-in-law, he was a man averse to change, but he had sorely missed his two eldest daughters and with Mary gone, there was no sensible conversation at all in his own home so he was forced to travel to his sensible children.

Jane was too excited to see her husband and be with her father than pay attention to Mr. Collins's continued silly behavior towards her new rank. Mr. Bennet was enjoying watching his son fawn all over Jane and often whispered "Collins is not a sensible man." to the amusement of Jane and Lizzie and vexaition of Mary.

Elizabeth found her new brother to be an odious, dull stupid man who only respected rank, she was finding it harder to be around Mr. Collins and his feelings towards his relatives, these feelings ran away from him, how gracious it was to be connected to such a noble family of Ashbrook as well as the noble family of De Bough. The family gathered for tea they had just finished a delicious luncheon Mr. Collins was continuing his conversation on how blessed he and his wife were to have such connections.

Jane could sense Lizzie was losing her patients with her newest brother and her father looked utterly bored. Lizzie couldn't care less about rank and society which was their newest brother's favorite topic outside of Lady Catherine's greatness she craved intellectual conversation, she couldn't wait for Jasper to arrive, so with her father, they could debate books, philosophy, and laugh at Mr. Collins. Jane sensing the building tensions diplomatically diffused the situation.

"Apologise Mr. Collins for interrupting," said Jane " Lizzie " she continued, "It is such a beautiful day, why don't you go for a walk we have hours before we are due to dine, I know how fond you are to be with nature, Papa I know you would like to accompany Lizzie it has been far too long since you were last together"

Sensing her sister was gifting her an afternoon free from Mr. Collins Lizzie Jumped at the opportunity.

"Well Jane, you are correct I think I will go for a walk if you don't mind, if Mary doesn't need me, Papa will you join me?"

"Yes, dear sister you should go for a walk, my patroness always says that gentleladies should often walk outdoor as the fresh air is good for their constitutions" agreed Mr. Collins. " Mr. Bennet it will sadden for me to lose your company this afternoon"

Mr. Bennet replied, "Collins I would hate to take you away from the ladies or your parishes, I will have to content myself with my Lizzie company." He winked at Lizzie as he rose to take his leave.

Elizbeth wouldn't miss the opportunity to escape she grabbed her Bonnet, Plisse, and gloves, raced toward the doors, dragging her dear Papa with her they strode off towards the beautiful park that surrounded Rosing.

The Eastbourne party had arrived at Rosing, within a few hours Richard and Darcy were ready to leave for the peace of Pemberley. Catherine Anne was happy to be their thou with her grandmother who shared a uniquely special bond Darcy supposed she was the only person that Lady Catherine actually respected or even cared for. Darcy hated to upset his daughter and take her away from her grandmother so he was determined to last a few more days at Rosing before setting out for London.

Being at Rosings gave him the opportunity to review the estate's books, sadly his aunt's ostentatious spending hadn't diminished. It had to be rained in from time to time otherwise he would be footed with the extra bills. It also meant he could have a few months of peace away from Lady Catherine without her interference in the raising of his daughter she had taken Anne's letter to heart, she had a particular way she believed young ladies should be raised.

They enjoyed luncheon as a family when the nursemaid came to collect Catherine Anne she informed Darcy that she planned to take Catherine outside to walk around the park, his daughter loved the outdoors, any opportunity to walk her poor nursemaid who would spend hours chasing her around the park. He wished to join them but he was halfway through renewing the estate's books and the sooner he could finish with them the better. Darcy was in the middle of the books when his aunt entered unannounced, interrupting his thought process she advised him that their party would have company for dinner in two days' time, her clergyman, his wife and their guest would join them.

Darcy never asked who the clergyman guest was, his aunt went on to tell him Mrs. Collins's father and two of her sisters were staying, one was married and one was single. If he had the foresight to asked which two of her sisters were staying, he would have had the shock of his life, he would have raced to the parsonage he just presumed it was the two younger sisters. As he knew the elder of the two was recently married as he had seen the announcement in the times, he would have to warn Richard about the behavior of the youngest Bennet sister.

The sun was shining bright and the sound of birds was in the air, they strolled along the well-groomed paths. The gardens were maintained to a high standard, with beautifully kept flower beds and lushes greenways. The Kentish countryside was full of green woods and rolling hills, the Bennets were delighted to be in each other company after such a long time. They had been walking for around half-hour when they heard voices and a burst of childish laughter in the distance.

As they continued down the path a nursemaid with her small charge appeared. The Bennets nodded which was return politely by the nurse and the child waved. The child was well dressed little girl with a head full of unruly black curls that had been pulled back with a bow. The child appeared to be in a serious conversation with her nurse who was pointing at mud splatters on her gown, there was something familiar about the young child, who had large sparkling brown eyes her features also looked familiar. Lizzie presumed she had met the girl's parents in Hunsford village. Suddenly the child burst into giggles and ran away from her charge, the nurse chased after her charge. Mr. Bennet chuckled "That young girl reminds me of you Lizzie, you were always running away from your nurse, I think, that was the start of your mother's nerves", they both laughed, ow how she had missed her father they headed towards the parsonage.

Lizzie awoke early the following day she had always risen with the sun, she dressed and ready herself for the day before setting off on a long walk. Lizzie thought about her situation in Boston it had been pleasing, she had more freedom there as an unmarried woman than she did in London, but nothing beat being able to roam freely now she was back in the countryside. She enjoyed spending time with her sisters and had helped Jane to raise Edward, she treated him like her own Edward had healed a small part of her heart that she thought would never be able to heal, she was thinking of Clara Anne as she often did when she came across the young girl from the previous day. The girl was sitting on the grass at the edge of a meadow of wildflowers, Lizzie could not resist the child but not wanting to frighten the child gently coughed the girl looked around, smiled, and got to her feet.

"Good Morning Miss, you are out early."

The child nodded shyly she couldn't have been more than three or four, much too young to be out with an adult.

"Are you suppose to be out without your nurse" she gently inquired.

"No... my papa will mad" the glint in the girl's eye that sparkled that told Lizzie the girls was not frightened by her papa "Papa wanted to speak with Grandmama, nurse fell back asleep I don't think she is well"

"What about your Mamma will she be looking for you?" coaxed Lizzie

"I don't have one" whispered the young girl. Lizzie felt sorry for the girl she quickly changed the subject.

"I'm sorry to hear that, I'm Lizzie may your name?"

"I'm Cathy," said the girl with the brightest smile

"I'm picking flowers for my nurse I know all the best spots, they will make her feel better" the child clung to an array of flowers mixed with weeds. Lizzie chuckled she was enjoying the girl's company but she knew her family would be worried if they couldn't find her.

"Well you best get back miss Cathy and place then in water before your nurse wakes, I'm sure she will be delighted with your efforts"

"ow I will Miss Lizzie ..." smiled the girl

"Adieu Miss Cathy" Elizabeth smile at the child, she watched as she retreated towards the manor house, she must enquire with her sister regarding the child.

Elizabeth finished her walk and returned to the house hoping to speak to her sister upon her entrance she found her sisters were out making calls in the village, Mr bennet had retreated to her room to rest and escape his son law.

"My dear sister you are back. Did you enjoy your stroll, please sit I will ring for tea" Collins happily cried "Miss Bennett we haven't had much time to talk"

"Thank you, sir, tea would be appreciated" sensing the topic he would pick and the fact she was well and truly stuck she decided to open the conversation.

"Sir, when my father and I walked yesterday in the park, we came a young child and her nurse, she had dark curly hair, was well dressed she was maybe about three or four, would you know who they are?"

"Well miss Elizabeth, I do believe you had the honor of bumping into the young Miss Catherine, Lady Catherines only grandchild, unfortunately, her daughter Anne died in childbirth, I hadn't heard that Miss Catherine and her father were visiting I must go to Rosing at once to welcome them, ow this is good news indeed. Good News"

At this point, her sisters returned from their calls they settled back in the parlor, Mary excused herself to perform her duties. Jane and Elizabeth were in Mary's private parlor their conversation so lead to her walks around the Rosing Parklands.

"Jane, me and papa met the sweetest little girl in the park, she is a very pretty child, unruly curly her, her gown covered in mud, and her eyes there was a gleam of cheek in them I met her again in the park today" Elizabeth sighed "she must be the same age as my Clara" the last point was barely a whisper. " and papa said she reminded him of me"

"Lizzie, I know how hard this must be, you mustn't let your imagination run wild, Jasper promised us he would find out what he could of Clara Anne and Mr. Darcy," Jane said as she wrapped her arms around her sister.

"I know, I know it's just so hard not knowing, if she is safe, happy, what she is like jane, I kneed to know"

The conversation was stopped by the sounds of hoofbeats drew them to the window where a man was galloping down the drive on a handsome horse. To Jane's pleasure, she recognized her husband she shouted for the nurse, and the viscount to join her in greeting him. Jasper's arrival made the parsonage a bit cramped the parsonage wasn't built to house seven adults the servants and one child. Once they had all greeted Jasper and a proper introduction had been made the Brodwick family and Lizzie tried to spend as much time as possible outdoors with Mr. Bennet accompanying them to escape his other son-in-law.

The family had decided to picnic Mr bennet planned with the viscount he was enamored with her grandson. Jasper took this opportunity to walk with Lizzie, he wanted to share was he had sort in London. Jasper told her how he had rejoined his old club, it was there that he decided to discreetly enquire about his old friends. Not many of his acquaintances were willing to talk about Darcy as he was known to be a very private person. All's he found was that he had married quickly shortly after they left for Boston before his wife gave birth to their daughter. Unfortunately, Darcy's wife had died in childbed and he was left to raise their child, he didn't spend a lot of time in London as he prepared to be at Pemberley with his daughter. Many of their mutual friends expected him to remarry soon as he would surely need a male heir.

Lizzie was astounded to hear the information jasper had gathered, the panic set in, where was her daughter and how would she find her, she had always presumed she was safely at Pemblery with her father. Jasper soothed his sister he promised they would locate Clara Anne. Jasper secretly wondered If the young girl known as Darcy's daughter was Clara Anne, but he didn't want to raise Lizzie's hopes, Jasper spoke what they were both thinking the only way they would know for sure was if they approached Darcy directly.

The brother and sister returned to their party as the picnic was coming to an end, the family was due at Rosing for dinner that evening, they would need to be heading to the parsonage to change.