Hello. Another chapter. Not many left to go.
Thank you for your time and patience in reading this story. Special mention to these reviewers:
midnitewanderer, Mimsy2021, Guest, Lisa, Guest, RHALiz, Shelby66, Colleen S, Jansfamily4, liysyl, ChrisM0519, LC-elsie, KurukiXV, Firedreams2021, Maria Teresa C, Levenez, Deanna27, Rosalieemmamailie, Les, Myletunelieues
I was not sure which scenario to go with when writing Lady C's part. Here goes…
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"Fitzwilliam, Miss Bennet said that tomorrow, they are going to trim bonnets and make some alterations on the dresses they intend to use for the Miss Mary's wedding. Do you think they will allow me to join in?" asked Georgiana.
"You will have to ask them, Georgiana. I am afraid I know nothing about wedding trousseaus," replied her brother.
"Well, perhaps it is about time you learn more about it. After all, you might be planning your own wedding soon," teased their cousin Richard.
"Knowing Fitzwilliam, he will spare no expense and spoil his future bride," added the countess.
"If Elizabeth will allow me. Her mother, to be sure, will wish for a grand wedding," said Darcy wistfully. Visions of an enchanting Elizabeth dressed in a simple but elegant gown at the Netherfield ball entered his mind. He remembered how he had wanted to touch the strands of pearls that adorned her hair, and feel her lustrous dark curls with his fingers, and --
"Oh, it is Elizabeth now, is it, Darce? Is there something you are not telling us?" prodded Richard.
"Brother! Have you finally asked her? Do you now have an understanding?" questioned Georgiana excitedly.
"The two of you, will you leave Fitzwilliam be? You know he is a reserved man. He will tell us in his own time," his aunt smiled at him.
"Just to be clear, we do not have an understanding. Yet. But I am very hopeful… if I have not mistaken her meaning… that she will be ready --" Darcy stopped speaking when he heard a familiar voice shouting outside the parlour. The four of them looked at each other wide-eyed.
"Aunt Catherine…" Georgiana shuddered.
"Quick! Lock the door!" said Richard.
"Richard! For shame!" admonished his mother.
"Where is my nephew? I need to talk to him now!" Lady Catherine bellowed as the door burst open.
"Not here!" answered Richard.
"Not you! I have no time for your silliness, Richard! I do not know how others can tolerate your behaviour," berated the annoyed lady.
"I can say the same about you," mumbled the officer under his breath, while the Darcys tried to control their mirth.
"Fitzwilliam!" the grand lady turned her attention to her other nephew.
"Yes, aunt?" replied the colonel.
"Not you! Will you stop interrupting, Richard? I am here on an important mission!" snapped the lady.
"Upon my word! Now I can smell victory! Aunt Catherine, YOU are our country's secret weapon against Napoleon! Your thunderous voice alone could prove to be his downfall. He will not stand a chance --" he broke off when he noticed his mother's glare.
"Would you like some time to refresh yourself first after travelling this far?" the countess offered courteously, while the others shook their heads at this suggestion, not inclined to extend the uninvited guest's stay.
"I shall sit down and have something to drink. Georgiana, my dear, could you pour me some tea? Or better yet… Bingley must have some fine wine, yes? I find myself in need of something to soothe my nerves," Lady Catherine said. She felt the fabric covering the settee and brushed off some invisible dirt. "This place is not too shabby. The decorations and furnishings are a little too plain for my liking. It could do with a splash of colour, some reds and golds. Tell Bungley. He does not need to thank me for my recommendation."
"It is Bingley. Aunt Catherine--" Darcy started to say.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by your loquacious cousin," the aunt said his full name for emphasis. "I came here due to a matter of utmost urgency."
"How may I be of assistance?" Darcy enquired with caution.
"You have always been so kind to me, nephew. So considerate. You will make a very good son. Anne will be most fortunate to have someone to look after her," she said then took a sip of her drink. "Mmm… not the best tasting wine, but I guess it will do for the present."
"Aunt, I have been meaning to tell you that Anne and I are --" Darcy's words were cut off by his aunt.
"Oh, Fitzwilliam! Have you finally decided to end your prolonged period of bachelorhood? I have been praying for this time to come. You never did take a fancy to any of the ladies of the Ton. I always knew that you were just waiting for the right moment to get married to the right woman," the delighted lady said with satisfaction.
"Yes, you are indeed correct. I am hoping that, at the earliest opportunity, I will be speaking to --"
"You need not ask for my consent and blessing. I give it to you most willingly," she said, patting Darcy's cheek fondly.
"I… I thank you, aunt… but do you know that it is not --"
"Fitzwilliam, you have made my dearest wish come true. And it is also the fondest wish of your mother, you know that. We were as close as sisters could be. We always dreamt about our children's future lives and made plans beginning from your infancy. But… fate is cruel… so cruel… your mother… she passed away and… she was too young… then not long after… my beloved husband…. he… he…" she then could not continue speaking as she was so overcome by strong emotions. The others in the room did not know how to console her. The countess placed a hand gently on her arm and offered her more wine.
"My dear Lewis… he… he… he left this world… too soon… and I was left to care for our only daughter all by myself… oh… my poor Anne… she has been so lonely…" she wailed even more.
"But… she has you, aunt… she is not truly alone--" Darcy spoke softly, feeling some sympathy for her. Perhaps now was not the best time to disclose his intention to court someone other than Anne, he thought.
"Yes! You are right. I have made sure… that she does not leave… that she remains where she should be…"
"What do you mean, aunt?" the colonel wondered.
"She cannot leave! Do you understand? She cannot!" the tone of her voice suddenly changed.
"Why would she want to leave? Her declining health does not permit her to venture out often," the colonel became more curious.
"Anne has become more outspoken these past few years. She keeps asking for more… freedom. That is the word she uses. I do not know where she got that idea from. Freedom! Bah! She… she might leave me. That is why she has to marry Fitzwilliam. I know my nephew will not keep her away from me. Half the time they can stay at Rosings, and the other half, we can all live at Pemberley together. Do not be alarmed that she cannot produce an heir for you, Fitzwilliam. She is not really ill…" she smiled slyly.
"Is she not? She looked very pale during our last visit. And she scarcely conversed with us, except for a few exchanges at dinner," the colonel recalled.
"Oh, that is due to the effects of her medication. With an increased dose, she becomes more subdued… more compliant. She hardly ever drives the little phaeton now. Come to think of it, she spends more time asleep than awake. Ah, it is so peaceful at Rosings, and I know she is always safe inside," she spoke with a hint of tenderness in her voice, then started to giggle uncontrollably. "My Anne… she will always be with me."
"But she is at Rosings now, correct? She did not accompany you here, did she?" the colonel sounded very concerned for their cousin.
"Oh, she was fast asleep when I left. I told her companion to keep giving her more drops so she does not miss me too much while I am away. And more importantly, so she does not escape…" she said in an almost conspiratorial voice.
"Will you excuse us for a moment, aunt?" Richard asked, signalling to the others to follow him out of the parlour.
"Where are you all going?" the lady eyed them suspiciously.
"Oh… uh… we… um… just wanted to plan our trip… yes… to Rosings… so we can visit Anne. We do not want her to be lonely, after all," the colonel conjured up an excuse, earning the glare of the others.
"That sounds splendid! I shall wait here until you are ready. And could you send for some wine? I am quite thirsty. Your friend Brindley really ought to train his staff better. Imagine making a lady wait so long for a drink."
The officer issued some instructions to a servant in hushed tones and met with his relations in an adjoining room.
"Richard! What on earth! What are you thinking? I do not want to go to Rosings!" Darcy immediately confronted him.
"I do not know, to be honest. I had to come up with something fast! Aunt Catherine has lost her mind. Can you not see? Anne is being administered an excessive amount of drugs. It does not sound good. Our cousin is at great risk. We need to save her," Richard tried to convince them.
"Why would Aunt Catherine harm her own daughter?" Georgiana asked innocently.
"She wants to control Anne, so our cousin does not leave her. It is dangerous. We do not know what substances Anne is being given, and how much. An overdose can be lethal. Who knows how long this has been going on for?" Richard continued.
"I also noticed your aunt's erratic behaviour. Her moods shifted so rapidly from being content to being melancholy to being angry to being delirious. She also seemed to have forgotten that she had already been provided a drink. It is really quite strange," the countess shared her observations.
"What do you suggest we do? We cannot all go to Rosings now," Darcy replied, still uncertain about their next course of action.
"I think we should take your aunt to Matlock House. We need to discuss this as a family. Your uncle should make the final decision as to what to do with his sister," the countess proposed.
"We should leave immediately then," the colonel stated.
Darcy nodded solemnly, not looking forward to leaving Hertfordshire.
"London is only a few hours away, Darce. If father makes a resolution tonight, you can be back here within a day."
"Very well. Georgiana, would you be happy to stay here with Mrs Annesley? I have every intention of returning as soon as I can. Hopefully tomorrow." Georgiana did not feel overly concerned with being left at Netherfield. She found that Mrs Hurst was an attentive host without being overbearing.
"I just hope your aunt will be sensible in the carriage," the countess thought out loud.
"Do not worry, mother. I have taken care of that," Richard winked.
The countess found the trip uneventful, except for the occasional disturbance from the snores of someone who had some laudanum mixed in with her fortified beverage.
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Well, that was very different to how I envisioned the conversation would go, but there will be part 2 when they get to Matlock House.
Yup, still aiming to finish this story by August! Please bear with me.
Thank you to your answers to my previous question. I guess D and E have a lot of things they can argue about. I do not think they have completely gotten rid of their pride and prejudices. Darcy as master of a grand estate has been used to being in control and Elizabeth enjoys her independence… but the making up would be sweet… or fiery… ;-)
Next question… if you have a choice in employing PnP characters, who would you choose and what roles would you give them in your household/estate?
e.g. Darcy – gardener pruning shrubs outside your window (it would be improper for him to be a lady's "maid"); Bingley – footman (imagine him in livery)
Thank you all. Till next chapter.