October 2, 2014 – I decided to give you all an extra chapter this week. I'll answer reviews from last chapter tonight. Cheers!

Chapter 21

Meanwhile, back in Hertfordshire, Miss Jane Bennet was lying feverish in a bed at Netherfield. She and Mary had been invited to dine with the Bingley party that evening.

Unbeknownst to Jane, her hostess, Miss Bingley, had discovered that Jane's parents had accompanied the Darcys on their sudden journey to Kent. Mr. Bingley had no idea why they had left, but Mr. Darcy had assured them they would return, most likely in less than a week.

Caroline Bingley was very curious why her guests had decamped so suddenly. Since her brother knew nothing, or was not telling her what he did know, she had decided that she would invite the Bennets to dinner to see if they would reveal the mystery. There was nothing like a little bit of new gossip to get the blood flowing!

A note had been dispatched inviting Miss Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet to dine the next evening with the family – Miss Bingley did not want to make her motives too obvious – along with the promise of the use of the Bingleys' carriage, if it was desired.

At first, Jane was going to decline. Her father had left her in charge of her siblings while he and her mother were away. But Mary had seen how much Mr. Bingley had admired her elder sister at the assembly two days previous, and she finally convinced Jane that one evening away would not constitute an abdication of her responsibilities. Mary would decline the invitation and remain at home with Lydia and their two brothers.

Unfortunately for Jane, as the dinner progressed, she began to feel quite unwell. Miss Bingley noticed her guest's discomfort – for she had become less and less talkative – and offered Jane the opportunity to lie down. By this time, Jane was really feeling poorly and accepted the offer while she still had the strength to walk. It soon became obvious that Jane was too ill to move, and a note was dispatched to Longbourn advising them of Miss Bennet's condition.

Mary dearly wanted to attend her sister even that very night, but knew she was needed at home. A servant was sent to Netherfield to tend to Jane and Mary made plans to visit her the next morning, at which time she hoped her sister would be sufficiently recovered to make the three mile journey back to Longbourn.

~~~/~~~

Everyone was surprised when Lady Catherine was announced. They had not expected to see her until breakfast, at the earliest. However, Lady Catherine was determined not to look guilty.

"I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I was looking for some papers that I thought you might wish to view."

"Lady Catherine, I thought you had retired for the evening."

"I am not that old, Darcy. I was merely looking for these papers." He had enough grace to nearly blush.

"What are they?" Darcy recovered.

"The first," she handed them to her son-in-law, "is a copy of my late husband's last will. The original is with our family's solicitors in London, of course. The second should be more familiar. It is my copy of Anne's marriage settlements.

"Long ago I thought that if Anne ever learnt she was adopted, she might be concerned about her inheritance. Therefore I decided to have a copy of Sir Lewis' will at Rosings."

Anne was caught unawares. "I had not thought of Rosings…"

"After you came to us, Sir Lewis had his will rewritten. His solicitor took specific care to identify you not by birth, but by your christening."

"Ingenious!" Mr. Bennet said in fascination.

"Darcy, you will see how the will is worded as regards to Anne."

He finished reading and looked up. "Yes, I see that now, and there is an additional provision for any future offspring. Had there been more daughters after Anne, in order to keep the estate intact for want of a son, it would have devolved to… the eldest surviving male descendant of Sir Lewis' cousin." Darcy looked at Lady Catherine. "Arthur de Bourgh," he deduced aloud.

"Yes, Sir Lewis did not want to see Rosings divided or sold which it would have to have been if there were more daughters and no sons. Though had Anne died before she came into her inheritance, I would have controlled Rosings until my death, and then it would have gone to Arthur." She looked directly at Anne when she spoke next. "I told you your father accepted you as his daughter. The will proves it.

"Darcy, you will also notice in the marriage settlements that Anne is always identified as the heiress of Rosings Park. Again, our family solicitor had specific instructions left to him when the will was made. If and when Anne ever married, the contracts would be worded thus. Anne's dowry had been settled on her long ago."

Anne had not allowed herself to consider the fate of Rosings before this, and she was relieved that apparently it was not an issue. However, this did not stop a bit of unease from drifting into her conscience about who should be the heir to Rosings Park.

Darcy saw her distress returning. "Darling?" he prompted.

"Anne?" Lady Catherine echoed.

"I… I have always assumed Rosings was my birthright, but it is not, is it?"

Lady Catherine answered, concern filling her voice. "It may not have been intended as such, but it is now. I am convinced your father would be pleased to know how much you love it and that it will someday be your son's, or Elizabeth's."

"It is all too much right now," Anne said in frustration. So much had happened, it was impossible for her not to be affected.

"What, if anything, has been decided?" Lady Catherine asked.

"I am to write to Lord Perryton and send it to him tonight. He is in Town, so I hope to see him tomorrow." Darcy replied.

"I was going to suggest you ask my brother to come. Until then, please, if there is anything I can do, or you have any questions, you need only ask." She paused to take a deep breath. "I recognize you may resent me and my husband, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, but the past cannot be changed. My concern is for my daughter… our daughter."

"Then you acknowledge that she is our Elizabeth?" Mrs. Bennet asked. The room was still; everyone waited to hear her answer.

The great lady spoke.

"Under the circumstances, how can she not be?"

The two women nodded in an unspoken truce. Anne would be daughter to both.

~~~/~~~

In the early hours of the morning, after everyone else was asleep, Maggie Stuart quietly knocked at the servant's entrance to Lady Catherine's rooms. She could just hear a reply.

"Come in."

It had been a long time since Maggie had visited her mistress' chambers in secret – twenty years, to be exact.

"Did you ever believe the day would come, Stuart?"

Maggie shrugged her left shoulder. "I used to think about it constantly, but it has been years since I have worried about it."

"She will never know the full truth, as long as you do not betray it."

"I have much more to lose now than your ladyship."

Lady Catherine nodded.

"I do not know if I have ever seen a woman look as much like her mother as Anne does Mrs. Bennet. They brought a portrait of the woman painted a few years before Anne was born. Have you seen it?"

"No!"

"It is truly a remarkable resemblance. I think it remains in the parlor."

"I will look before I go to bed." Maggie paused, not knowing what else to say. In truth, there was little left to be said.

"Hold your nerve, Maggie, and our planning will succeed."

"Heed your own words and I have every confidence that the worst is over."

~~~/~~~

After breakfast, the revelation Anne Darcy both welcomed and feared occurred. It had been decided that she would show Catherine and Anne Bennet the principal rooms of the house, without the presence of the other adults; they would be waiting for the three sisters in the parlor next to the music room.

Anne Darcy took her time showing her sisters the house. Slowly the conversation was directed towards matters more personal than how the rooms were furnished. Catherine was a willing ally in leading her sister to speak about growing up in the Bennet household.

"Your older sisters must love to tease you. I wish I had sisters when I was a girl. Cousins are nice, but they are not the same," Anne laughed.

"And brothers are a bother."

"More so than male cousins, I suppose. Then again, I married one of mine."

"My male cousins are all younger than me, by six years at least!" Anne Bennet said.

"I am seven years younger than my husband, but it is different when the woman is the younger." This was a very good place to segue into the desired topic. "I'm surprised that there is such a gap between Miss Bennet and Miss Mary. The rest of you are much closer in age."

"Oh, but there was another…" Aware of what she had almost just said, Anne Bennet threw her hand over her mouth in horror.

"Another…?"

Catherine and Anne Bennet exchanged glances. Catherine answered.

"There was another child, a girl born between Jane and Mary. She was taken from us."

"I am sorry. The death of a child is terrible."

"No, she was taken, stolen." Anne Bennet lowered her voice. "It is not something we talk about." Anne Darcy nodded sympathetically. Anne Bennet then added, "But others do. I learned about it from Susan Long."

"Susan Long? What did she say?" Catherine frowned.

"She told me that if I were naughty, I might be taken away from my family like my sister. I told her she was lying. Then Johnny Lucas said it was true. That I had a sister who was kidnapped and that she was never found. Susan said I had better be nice and not take any chances. It was awful. I ran home and cried to Jane. I knew she would tell me they were just being cruel, but she said that I really did have a sister who was no longer with our family. Then she said we never spoke of it. And I have not, have I, Kitty?"

"No, I have never heard that story from you before. You should have been told by one of us sooner."

"I think Jane talked to Henry shortly after that."

"Your youngest brother?" Anne Darcy asked.

"Yes, Henry is the youngest." Anne thought a moment. "You will not tell Papa and Mama that you know, will you? Jane said they are very sad when anyone talks about our missing sister."

"I can understand. They must have loved her very much."

"I often wonder what she would be like," Catherine interjected. "Would she look like one of us? Would we even recognize her?"

"I have, too," Anne Bennet confessed. "Sometimes I imagine she is a pirate, or perhaps that she lives in a huge house like this. I hope she is alive and well, where ever she may be."

Anne Darcy walked toward the next room before her sisters could see how moved she was. "The next room is the music room. It is one of my favorites, and there is a picture of me, Miss Anne, that was painted when I was your age. My husband has always said it is his favorite."

Anne Bennet walked through the open door searching for the painting Mrs. Darcy had just mentioned. She saw one of a young girl, and a confused look appeared on her face. Kitty came and put her hand on her shoulder.

"But…" Anne Bennet turned to her guide, "that looks like… me!"

Anne Darcy came over and took her hand, and they walked over to the wall for a closer look. "Indeed, that is a portrait of me. I remember sitting for it not long after I turned twelve. I thought it ever so clever that it showed me in the background of the room it which it was meant to hang. And the music, Mother hated the Scarlatti, but it was a challenging piece and I was very proud to be able to play it. It also annoyed my Mother, which made it the perfect choice." Anne tried to give the girl a reassuring smile.

"Why do you look like me—I mean, why do I look like you—in the painting? Are we related? I had never heard of you before two days ago."

"Come, sit with me. May I call you Anne?" The girl nodded. "Anne, the reason we came to Rosings, all of us, was because of this painting," she gestured to the subject of the discussion, "and the one of your mother that hangs in your father's library. You see, as much as you look like me in the painting in this room, I look like your mother in the painting in that room. We came looking for answers. Do you know what we discovered?"

Young Anne shook her head no.

"We found out that I was adopted only a few days after your sister Elizabeth was kidnapped. After reviewing everything we know now, it became apparent that I am your missing sister, Elizabeth."

"You are my sister?"

"Yes, I must be," Anne Darcy assured her.

"You really did grow up in a great big house just like this one?"

"The very one." Anne Bennet looked at Kitty, ready to share her joy. "You already knew!" she accused her older sister, pointing a finger at her in chastisement.

"Papa told us Monday night after the Assembly. Mama recognized her."

"And she fainted?" Anne Darcy was a little taken aback at her youngest sister's question. How would she have guessed that?

"Of course, she is our mother." Catherine rolled her eyes.

"I believe I have much to learn about my family," Anne Darcy quipped, but for the first time, she wondered just what the Bennets were really like.

~~~/~~~

A note arrived at Longbourn first thing in the morning. Actually there were two; one from Jane and one from Miss Bingley.

Jane confessed that she was still ill and did not feel up to a carriage ride home, and apologized for the inconvenience and burden this placed on Mary.

Miss Bingley's missive again offered the use of the Bingley carriage should Miss Mary wish to visit her ailing sister.

Even more surprising was the person who brought them. During breakfast at Netherfield, Miss Bingley gave a report on Miss Bennet's condition. It appeared to be nothing more than a cold, but the young woman would be bedridden for at least one day, and possibly more. Mr. Bingley was saddened that such a lovely creature as Miss Bennet should take ill. He directed that anything that could make Miss Bennet more comfortable during her convalescence should be done. He then suggested that Miss Bennet might be cheered by a visit from her family. Miss Bingley agreed, sensing an opportunity for more information on the mysterious absence of the Darcys and Bennets, and suggested a renewed offer of the carriage. Mr. Bingley was delighted with his sister's thoughtfulness and decreed it would be as she wished.

It was at this point that Sir John Whitby made the very gallant gesture of offering to personally see the note Miss Bingley was preparing to Longbourn. This too sat well with Mr. Bingley, though not so well with Miss Bingley. Within the hour he was on his way on horseback to complete his commission.

Mary was about to decline the offer, even though it was obvious she longed to see Jane and ascertain the extent of her illness with her own eyes.

"Miss Mary, your sister would rest easier if she saw you, I believe. The maid that attended her last night told me Miss Bennet did not rest well."

"I would like to go to her, but my father has left my younger sister and two brothers in Jane's and my care. Since Jane is not here, I must remain."

"Surely an hour or two away would do no harm. You have servants enough, and if your brothers and sister were set to their studies while you were away, they would be occupied."

"Really, sir, I must remain home while Jane…"

She was interrupted by the hoof beats of a horse riding at a gallop to the house. The rider dismounted and approached.

"Excuse me, Miss. I have a message for Miss Jane Bennet or Miss Mary Bennet."

"I am Miss Mary Bennet." The young lad handed her an envelope. "Let me go inside for your…"

"Oh no, Miss Bennet. I am Mr. Darcy's courier. I am instructed to wait for any response you might have and then return to Kent via London."

At that pronouncement, Mary took a few steps away from both men and unsealed her letter. Sir John watched as she gasped, clearly astonished. Then she smiled and rejoined them.

"I have changed my mind. I would be happy to accept the offer of a carriage to Netherfield, but I fear I cannot wait that long to see Jane. If you will agree to wait for me, I will go with you on horseback."

Without bothering to linger around for an answer, Mary left to order her horse made ready and give the housekeeper instructions for the care of the courier, and then went upstairs to change into something appropriate for riding.

Sir John and the boy stood watching this unexpected whirlwind of activity.

"I think I should see to my horse. It looks like I will not be leaving for a few hours."

Sir John only nodded, still a bit startled by the events and by the changes in Miss Mary.

Only one other woman had affected him in such a way. It had happened the first time he had met Miss de Bourgh. He had not planned on attending Almack's that night, but he had. When he saw her, he could not stop staring. Anne de Bourgh had the most beguiling eyes he had ever seen. He arranged an introduction and was lost. She unsettled him and made him feel invulnerable at the same time. However, she was not meant for him; yet he was thankful that he had almost loved her. It gave him hope that he would meet the woman who was his destiny.

Mary Bennet was the first woman who had captured his imagination since Anne de Bourgh. They had only met once, and then only for one dance. What power did this young lady, born to some insignificant landowner, in an out of the way corner of Hertfordshire of all places, have over him? She could not be called beautiful, though that did not mean she was unlovely. She was no Miss Bingley, fashionable, accomplished, wealthy, but Mary Bennet had other qualities the Miss Bingleys of the world would never have. She was not self-conscious and Sir John found it endearing. It was obvious that she had read too many moralistic writings – she quoted Fordyce four times no less! – but that only served to reinforce that she was a woman of the highest moral character. The right man could mold such a personality into a woman of virtue, an excellent wife, whose value was immeasurable. He could respect and esteem such a spouse…

Sir John shook his head and grinned. How on earth had he gone from arguing with a young woman on the wisdom of visiting her ailing sister to thinking what an excellent wife she could be? That a wealthy, single young man's fascination could so rapidly turn from admiration to matrimony was something Sir John had no time to dwell on; the subject of his reverie had returned. To Netherfield they must go.

A little lighter chapter this time. And a few too many sentences ending in prepositions. Oh well!