Chapter 23

Rockhill

The next morning

Charles Bingley wandered down a stone path and halted in front of Rockhill's neglected rose garden, relishing the feel of Miss Bennet's slender hand on his arm. It was a beautiful day with wispy clouds, pleasant temperatures, and a slight wind. The birds were singing, the frogs were croaking, the irises and daffodils were in full bloom, and he was filled with anxious excitement. Yesterday, during the carriage ride back from Rosings, he had decided to ask Miss Bennet to marry him. Now it was merely a matter of finding the right moment for his declaration of love and adoration, but he needed privacy, and regrettably Miss Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner, Lady Rebekah, and Miss Gardiner had all chosen to accompany him and Miss Bennet outside.

"Rockhill is enormous," Jane mused aloud, halting and looking around her with interest. She had never wandered to this particular spot, and was surprised at the size of the eastern wing.

"It seems that the mansion was built in sections," Sophia Gardiner commented, gazing toward the east. "This is the oldest section and I have only walked through it once. Unlike the main building, parts of it are in disrepair and many of the rooms are empty."

"That is not uncommon," Elizabeth observed. "Longbourn was built in one stage, but many a landed gentleman has added onto an existing building as funds became available."

There was a distant sound, and the group turned to see a carriage rumbling down the graveled drive of Rockhill. Elizabeth frowned in confusion, glanced at her elder sister, and said, "Jane, that is the Longbourn carriage, is it not?"

Miss Bennet's fine eyes widened in amazement and concern, and she said, "Indeed it is, Lizzy. Could something have happened at home?"

"As to that," Mrs. Gardiner said with a smile. "I suspect that it is your three younger sisters. Some weeks ago, I sent a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet inviting the three younger girls here to visit at any time. I never received a letter in response, but based on your uncle Aaron's description of your father, he is entirely capable of sending his daughters on a visit without advanced warning."

Elizabeth chuckled as she began hurrying toward the side of the manse, with the other ladies trickling after her like a gaggle of comely geese. "Yes, he would. We must go greet them!"

Jane took a step in pursuit of her sister, only to halt and turn when Mr. Bingley did not move. The young man had an odd, yearning look which bespoke of some inner turmoil.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Bingley?" she asked worriedly. "I know that my sisters can be rather noisy..."

"No, no, Miss Bennet, not at all," he blurted out quickly, shooting a glance at the other women, all of whom were briskly striding toward the now halted carriage. "I wish to say, that is ..."

He got down on one knee now and gazed up into that beautiful face. "Miss Bennet, I love, adore, and respect you very much. Will you be my wife?"

Jane froze in astonishment for a few seconds, and then her countenance lit up with the glowing glory of the sun, "Yes, Mr. Bingley, yes!"

/

"Mary, Kitty!" Elizabeth cried out as she approached the Longbourn carriage. It was indeed her two next youngest sisters, dressed in traveling clothes and looking rather uncertain.

"Lizzy!" Kitty responded in relief. "It is so good to see you."

Mary looked embarrassed and said, "Lizzy, I am so sorry that we have arrived without advanced warning. I tried to tell ... to tell ..."

"My dear, that is entirely all right," Mrs. Gardiner assured her. "Elizabeth, would you please introduce us?"

"Aunt, Cousins, this is my sister Mary, and my next younger sister Kitty. Where is Lydia?"

"She stayed behind at Longbourn," Mary explained, her expression clouded. Elizabeth nodded and turned back to her cousins.

"Mary, Kitty, this is our aunt, Mrs. Sophia Gardiner, her daughter Lady Rebekah Hamilton, and her next daughter Miss Ruth Gardiner. We have two male cousins somewhere, but will need to introduce them later."

"My son Alexander is no doubt touring the property on a horse, and Philip is within playing the pianoforte."

"The earl plays?" Kitty asked in wide eyed wonder.

"Exquisitely, my dear sister," Elizabeth replied with a chuckle, just as Jane, blushing rosily, approached with Mr. Bingley in tow.

"Jane!" Kitty cried out irritably. "I…"

"Kitty, Mary, everyone," Jane interrupted, her delight overcoming her usual diffidence, "we have a wonderful announcement. Mr. Bingley and I are engaged!"

/

"Thank you, Phoebe," Elizabeth said to the maid, who dropped a curtsey and scuttled out the door.

"I do not know why I had to come," Kitty whined in a nasal tone which set Elizabeth's teeth on edge. "Lydia was permitted to stay home, after all."

Elizabeth sighed and sent up a quick prayer for patience. She had been startled when two of her younger sisters had appeared unexpectedly at Rockhill, and was guiltily pleased that Lydia had not come as well. Lydia was a noisy and gauche young woman and rarely a pleasant companion.

"Why did Lydia stay at Longbourn?" she asked as she gazed out the window. Mr. Darcy and her Uncle Gardiner were approaching the mansion on horseback; both rode well, but the younger man looked particularly handsome on his black steed.

"She refused to leave with the militia still in town," Mary explained in a disapproving tone. "Mother wished her to come to Rockhill as well, but she threw such a tantrum that Mamma gave in, as usual."

"I tried throwing a tantrum," Kitty said sullenly, "but of course Mamma did not listen to me."

Elizabeth suppressed a sigh and turned away from the window. "You will enjoy it here, Kitty, though I confess I do not understand why our mother wished you all to travel here on short notice."

"She said that with Cousin Philip an earl, there will be more chance that we will find someone to wed if we spend time here with our noble relations," Mary explained quietly.

"How did she find out?" her elder sister asked in frustration. "We tried to keep the information from her that our cousin is the new earl."

"It is all over Meryton now, Lizzy," Kitty explained truculently. "Lady Lucas told Mamma, and she heard it from Charlotte Collins, who heard it from Mr. Collins, that our cousin Philip Hamilton is the new Lord Chartham. I do not know what I will do here, Lizzy. There are no officers and the nearest town is miles away. I know because we went through it on the way here. I will be so bored. It is not fair that Lydia gets to stay home!"

Elizabeth's mind had run onto other things. "Mary, Kitty, did Father tell you anything about Mr. Wickham?"

"No," Kitty replied, her expression growing even more woebegone, "and that is another thing that is not fair, Lizzy. I will not get to see Mr. Wickham before the regiment removes to Brighton. He is so handsome!"

Elizabeth bit her lip and turned back toward the window. She had hoped that her father would act in some way to protect the citizenry of Meryton from the charming but dissolute Mr. Wickham, but it appeared that her father was too lazy. It was both frustrating and disturbing.

/

The library at Rockhill, which had been neglected for many years, was gradually coming back to life. The servants had polished the floors, wiped down the bookshelves, and washed the windows, while Mrs. Gardiner had ordered a rug from London, woven with gray and brown yarn, shot through with gold thread. Best of all, new books were arriving almost daily from London and the bookstore at Knoll's Wood, and were now inhabiting the formerly barren shelves. It was a perfect place for a celebratory drink.

"Many congratulations, Bingley," Darcy said heartily, lifting his brandy glass toward his friend.

"Yes, you are to be congratulated," Mr. Aaron Gardiner agreed happily. "Miss Bennet is a lovely and charming young woman."

"I could not be more delighted," Bingley exclaimed, his face alight with joy. "I am off to Longbourn tomorrow, sir, to ask Mr. Bennet's permission and then I will proceed to London to write up the settlement papers. I know I can trust you to keep my betrothed safe and happy while I am gone."

"We will endeavor to keep her both entertained and well, Mr. Bingley."

/

/

Author Note: Another TWO CHAPTER day! Note: I plan to publish this in early February, and due to Amazon's requirements, I will need to take most of it down from FF on Jan 28.