Chapter 23: Winter
After the whole Lady Catherine meeting, the Fitzwilliam family decided to stay close to each other until they had to leave for Matlock near Christmas time, therefore continuing their holiday in Hertfordshire. Even the Earl and Countess extended their visit and stayed at Netherfield, with the invitation of Charles Bingley.
Beth woke up a morning, in early October next to Jane, and slowly and carefully climbed out of bed. She went to the window which gave a beautiful view over the surrounding neighbourhood, with its rolling hills and harvested fields, and the leaveswhich were turning yellow, golden and red with the changing season. It all looked a little mysterious with the fog surrounding the harvested fields in the early dawn light, which just let her see two riders race across the fields. "Rich? Will?" she said quietly to the window, and held a hand up to her heart, the hand with the engagement ring on it.
Quietly she tip-toed over to the wardrobe and got dressed. The stays were in cotton, and were incredibly soft so it did not hurt her further. The gown was a warm brown colour. She grabbed her gloves, spencer coat and bonnet, before she left the bedroom. When she saw Mr. Bennet in hisfavourite chair in the study reading, she said with a smile, "Morning, sir."
"Morning Lady Elizabeth, or did we not agree on Bennet and Elizabeth?" Mr Bennet said, with a dry smile on his face.
"Yes, we did indeed, Bennet. I am going out for my morning walk; I will be back for breakfast." Beth replied with a smile.
"The usual route, Elizabeth?" Mr Bennet asked, ensuring where she would be, if anything were to happen to her, or her parents inquired of her.
"I believe so. I plan to go as far as Oakham Mount as usual before coming back to break my fast." She replied with a straight face and being careful not to show her overly excited grin at the prospect of whom she might be meeting there.
"Good, off you go then." Mr Bennet said. He knew very well that she was meeting her fiancée on Oakham Mount each morning. They were not really good at keeping their rendezvous' a secret. Even the Earl and Countess knew by now, that they were meeting each morning for a morning walk.
Elizabeth brought an apple to munch on, on the way and one for William's horse as the horse in question was very fond of apples. As she made her way towards Oakham Mount, she wondered at when she and William would marry. Personally she would like a summer wedding, but then Richard would not be able to attend, and she knew that William wanted him to stand up with him at their wedding. Maybe a Christmas wedding then? Was that even possible? That was two months away! Finally she made her way up the last stretch to the top of Oakham Mount. She saw the two men reclining up against the trees, looking very relaxed and talking quietly to each other. She smiled, thinking, two out of four of her favourite men where there.
"Good morning, you two." She called from her position.
William saw her first and his face lit up in a smile. He walked to her and said, "Good morning, love. I was beginning to think that you were delayed this morning."
"I did have to take care not to wake Jane, though I doubt I did; she sleeps quite heavily. Then Mr. Bennet stopped me to make sure I was taking the normal route for my walk."
William's horse Zeus walked over to her and nudged her, "Yes I have seen you, Zeus. I have not forgotten your treat." She took out the apple and gave it to the horse.
Richard who still stood a little way from them, laughed and said, "Ha! Sis you have also charmed Darce's horse! This gets funnier by the day!"
"Why is that, brother?" Beth asked one elegant eyebrow raised in question.
"Because nobody have ever been able to groom him or ride him but Darce, since he got the devil of a horse." Richard told a teasing twinkle in his eyes.
"He is a perfectly calm and disciplined horse in my opinion." Beth replied.
Both men laughed at her as she petted the horse.
Richard was the first one to grow serious, "Sis, father and I were talking last night…"
"About what, Rich?" she questioned softly, though her brows were furrowed in worry.
Richard took a breath and said, "Anne."
Beth's face hardened immediately, at the pronouncement of her hated sister's name. "And?" the tone she used was cold and icy; something Richard and William had learnt it only did when speaking of her former family members.
"Father was debating the idea of making Anne come here, and try to see if her attitude would change or if it has been warped irrevocably by Lady Catherine." Richard explained, being careful not to call Lady Catherine her mother.
"Absolutely NOT! You can tell father that my answer is no. I have no intention of seeing her again, ever; if I have anything to say about it, Rich!" Elizabeth answered, as her voice rose in volume and her brown eyes flashed with strong feelings.
William put a calming hand on her arm, as Richard said, "Lizzie be reasonable, she could have changed since you were children."
"Reasonable?! She made my childhood a living hell, Richard! She is not capable of change, of that I can assure you!" Beth still spoke in the icy tone she had used a moment earlier, though now her anger was on full display.
William calmed Beth down with soothing words, and assurances that nothing bad would happen, where Anne to visit. Richard looked on sheepishly from the sides lines, as his best friend and sister stood in an intimate embrace. After a while, they made their way back to Longbourn, where Richard and William joined the Bennet's in breaking their fast. John Bennet, older than Jane with six years, talked with William about estate business; of how he started out with his estate, and how he dealt with it. Though William earnestly engaged in the conversation with John Bennet, his glance continuously wandered to Elizabeth, to make sure she was all right, then to Richard and back to John.