Fates Chapter 15 - A generous fate, a pride and prejudice fanfic

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A Generous Fate

Elizabeth and Jane had just left Netherfield when a coach approached Netherfield at a very sedate pace.

Darcy, from his habitual place by the window recognised the crest on the coach. He turned to his friend and enquired, 'Did you by chance extend an invitation to anyone in the Fitzwilliam family?'

Bingley scratched his head and frowned. 'No, not recently.' Suddenly his expression cleared, and he smiled. 'Although I do remember telling the Colonel that he would always be welcome at my house if I ever had my own estate.'

Darcy nodded towards the coach which was just coming to a halt and said, 'I believe he may have taken you at your word. The Matlock coach has just arrived.'

Bingley and Darcy hurried outside and were just in time to see Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam being helped out of the carriage by his batman.

Fitzwilliam gave Bingley a weak grin. 'I hope your invitation still stands, as I am trying to find sanctuary from my mother's fussing.'

'Of course, you are always welcome and by the look of you I believe I can understand why the countess would be fussing. You look like hell.'

The Colonel smiled although it looked more like a grimace. 'I must have improved. Yesterday Bennings,' he nodded towards his batman, 'you remember Corporal Bennings?' Bingley and Darcy nodded at the Corporal in greeting. 'Anyhow, as I started to say, yesterday Bennings claimed I looked like death.'

Darcy held out his hand towards his cousin. 'I suppose on that scale, if hell is an improvement over death, I would hate to see you before. I am glad to see you more or less in one piece.'

'It was a close thing that he is in one piece and not several pieces. But if you pardon my saying so, the Colonel needs to get off his feet again and somewhere that does not move… right quick,' grumbled Bennings.

'Of course. Come inside and I will have Mrs Nicholls make up some rooms for you.'

'I have already arranged for that,' said Louisa who had come to greet their newest guests. 'Welcome, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I have asked the housekeeper to put you in the suite next to your cousin.'

'Thank you, Mrs Hurst.,' the Colonel said with a grateful smile.

'I will take the Colonel straight up if you do not mind,' said Bennings who was still supporting Fitzwilliam.

'Not at all, Corporal. Please make yourself at home, Colonel.'

Darcy took Richard's other arm and very slowly led his cousin to his rooms, which the ever-efficient Mrs Nicholls had kept ready for occupation at a moment's notice. Along the way, Darcy was thinking that it would be interesting to discover what harrowing fate had brought Richard to this juncture.

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Once Richard was comfortably ensconced in a comfortable chair with a footstool, he breathed a sigh of relief.

'How bad are you?' Darcy demanded.

He was rewarded by a crooked grin. 'Not as bad as it looks. It was just that being jostled about in a carriage caused quite a bit of pain.'

'Then why did you travel, could you not have stayed in London?'

'I suppose I could have, but being cosseted and fussed over by mother would have driven me insane. This was the closest place to town I could think of to get away from her.'

'Are you not afraid that she might follow you here?'

'No, since I told her I would go to Pemberley. In about a fortnight I will send Johnston back with the carriage.' The Colonel still managed his usual grin at the subterfuge.

'Are you trying to get Johnston into trouble? Even without changing horses, it does not take a fortnight to make the return journey to Pemberley.'

Richard sighed as he admitted, 'We left town at dawn and travelled mostly at a walking pace.' He held up a hand as Darcy was about to burst into speech. 'I am in no danger anymore, I am simply in pain and need time as well as rest to heal properly.'

While Richard was relaxing, Bennings explored the suite. On his return to the sitting room he said with a cheerful grin, 'Seems like I will be enjoying my stay. The bed looks right comfortable.'

'While I might be prepared to share a tent with you in Spain, I draw the line at sharing a bed with a reprobate like yourself,' growled the Colonel in mock disdain.

'There is no need to worry that you will keep me awake with your snoring. The lady has put us in a suite with two bedrooms.'

'What do you mean, my snoring. It is you who keeps me awake with your wheezing all night.'

Darcy watched the banter between the two men with relief. While Richard did indeed look like he had been to hell and back, the irreverent teasing of his batman seemed the best indicator that the Colonel was indeed on the mend.

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The following morning Richard declared himself perfectly content to spend the day in his rooms with only Bennings for company while most of the others went to Longbourn.

Miss Bingley declined to accompany the party as she claimed to suffer from a headache, a situation for which the others were grateful.

Hurst accompanied his wife in the carriage, while Darcy and Bingley followed on their horses. As the intention of the visit was for Louisa Hurst to see firsthand the duties of the mistress of an estate, the party reached Longbourn just after breakfast.

Once they arrived, Bingley claimed that he too wanted to know more about this aspect of life in the country, joining his sister as well as Jane and Mary as they went about their duties. As he had nothing better to do, Mr Hurst tagged along and observed with pleasure how well his wife was dealing with this new situation.

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As the group went to follow Jane on her visit to the Potters, Darcy was left standing forgotten by the window of the parlour, sporting an amused smile.

The only other occupant of the room noticed his expression and started to chuckle. 'I confess that I did wonder if Mr Bingley had come to discuss which crops do well in this climate as opposed to Derbyshire, or whether he was more interested in less… ah… manly pursuits.'

'I would have thought most people would consider it very manly to pursue a lady.'

'I just hope he does not raise expectations which he is disinclined to honour.'

'I confess I have seen my friend fall in and out of love on many occasions. This time he seems more serious.' Elizabeth raised a quizzical brow and Darcy clarified. 'He only mentioned your sister's beauty once since he met her.'

'Thank you, Mr Darcy. That is reassuring,' replied Elizabeth.

After a moment's hesitation she completely changed the subject. 'I need to inspect the fences on the home farm, which I was going to do tomorrow, but since Mr Bingley does not require our presence, would you care to accompany me on my walk?'

'Thank you, Mrs Elizabeth. I would enjoy stretching my legs for a change.'

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They set out, going past the stables to collect Bob, who always accompanied Elizabeth on her outings.

In answer to Darcy's query about her unusual chaperone, she said with a grin, 'I believe Mr Jamieson, the stablemaster, only keeps Bob on because he can keep up with me when I am walking.'

Since she was setting a brisk pace, Darcy could well understand the need for Bob.

As they walked, Elizabeth pointed out features of her estate, and improvements she had made and others she considered making. Darcy responded with suggestions of what had worked for him at Pemberley.

When they did not speak, they each thought about their companion.

Darcy was impressed by the ability Elizabeth possessed in not only continuing the administration of the estate as her father had done, but making improvements. She was so very different from the society ladies he had met in the past.

Those ladies would stroll languidly while Elizabeth strode with purpose. Instead of sporting a bored demeanour, Elizabeth's eyes were sparkling and there was a vibrancy about her which drew him like a magnet.

It was such a pity that she was not better connected because in every other aspect she seemed to be absolutely perfect.

For a moment he considered that as the owner of her own estate, she would make the perfect wife for a second son, such as his cousin Richard, who needed a wealthy wife as he had no expectations.

But the instant the thought crossed his mind, he felt such alarm at the image of Elizabeth in the arms of his cousin that he could barely breathe.

Refusing to consider the matter, especially his reaction to the idea, he wrenched his mind back to the present and focused on his surroundings.

'What is the matter with those fields?' he indicated the area on the other side of the fence. 'They appear untended.'

'Those fields belong to the farm being leased by Mr Chambers,' Elizabeth answered with a grimace. 'I am afraid that he is very traditional and refused to listen to my suggestions about improving his yield with crop rotation.'

Darcy nodded in sympathy. 'I too had a couple of tenants who were reluctant to embrace new ideas. It took me several years to convince them to use the new farming methods.'

'At least you are a man and your tenants knew you and expected you to manage your estate. Mr Chambers objects to take suggestions, as he was heard to put it, from a slip of a girl who should not get above her station to think she can meddle in men's business.' Elizabeth paused and sighed. 'I was told he then proceeded to tell people that I should get myself a husband and added in graphic detail to which activities I should confine myself,' she added with a slight blush.

'I gather he is something of a misogynist.'

'He is simply a man of our times. It is a rare man who can accept that women have the ability to learn things other than household matters.'

'You should know that I have read Mary Wollstonecraft's book and I quite agree with her that women should be allowed to be educated.'

'You think then that women should improve their minds by extensive reading?'

'Indeed. I have never understood why any man would want a wife who has not the ability to hold an intelligent conversation.'

'Perhaps because these men are incapable of holding an intelligent conversation themselves?' suggested Elizabeth with an impish grin.

Darcy could not help but chuckle at the impertinent comment.

'Perhaps you are correct. But if you live on an estate there are long evenings which will be spent predominantly in company with ones spouse, with no other people about. I have always felt that such time will be more pleasurable if one can spend it in elegant discourse. After all, one cannot spend all of one's time reading.' Darcy delicately forbore to mention that while there were other pleasurable activities in which a couple might engage, even those could not take up all evening. One had to have some conversation at some time.

'My father would have disagreed with you. He spent every minute he could in his library. But I suppose he was an exception.'

'Was he the one who collected all those books I saw in your library?'

'Indeed, and I was fortunate that he allowed me to read anything I liked.'

'If he allowed you to delve into matters generally considered unsuitable for ladies, did your father teach you to manage your estate, since you have only sisters?'

'I wish that were true, but I must confess that he was a rather indolent man, who did not encourage his tenants to move with the times and that is now causing me some issues.'

Elizabeth nodded in the direction of the neighbouring fields. 'Since Mr Chambers has refused to use the new farming methods, his harvests have been getting progressively worse. He is at the point where he cannot pay his rent and I had no option but to send him a notice to cancel his lease.'

She shrugged. 'Not only do I miss out on the rent this year, but I need to allow the fields to lie fallow for a year to let them recover. For that reason I cannot in good conscience get a new tenant until then.'

'Have you considered getting a tenant who will work to improve the fields while you waive the rent and possibly pay him a small amount to live on?'

Elizabeth stopped and stared at Darcy. She closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them again, a chagrined smiled played about her lips. 'No, Mr Darcy. I had not considered that option. It had simply not occurred to me.' Her smile broadened. 'That is a brilliant idea. Now I only have to find someone who would be willing to take on such a project.'

'I am pleased to have been of assistance.' Darcy smiled and bowed.

He did not realise how his smile coupled with his respectful attitude affected his companion.

Elizabeth thought that if she had not sworn off men for all times, this gentleman could be a serious danger to her equilibrium. Fortunately it appeared that while he seemed to enjoy her company, it was only as a fellow landowner and perhaps a fledgeling friend.

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