October 13, 2014 – I short chapter, I'm afraid. Let's see how that walk ended.
Chapter 26
The next few days were unlike anything Anne Darcy had ever experienced. Her mornings were mostly spent at Longbourn getting to know her family and she often could be found walking with one or two of her sisters about the grounds.
Anne seemed drawn to a particular spot her father had shown her during their emotional tour of the gardens. They had been strolling in a wilderness area when Anne felt Mr. Bennet tense and stop. She noted that the foliage hid them from the view of the house.
"We are here," her father said softly.
"Here?"
"The place where our lives were changed. This is where I was standing when you were taken from me."
"Oh." A pang of an unknown dread made her stiffen.
They stood there for a few minutes; Anne did not know what to say to break the spell.
At last Mr. Bennet spoke. His voice quivered. "After you … left, for a long time I could not find the inner fortitude to come here. Finally, on the one year anniversary of your disappearance, I made myself come to this place to beg God to return you to us." Mr. Bennet wiped at his eye with his free hand; the other remained clutching Anne. "The next time I returned was one year later, and then the year after that and so on – never broken until today. Always it was the same, praying for your safety and for you to be reunited with us. This is the first time in twenty years that I have been here other than my annual pilgrimage."
"Will you come more often now that your prayers have been answered?" Anne asked, as moved as her father.
"Yes, though I suppose this will be a bittersweet place for me." Mr. Bennet led them to a bench not far away. "Your father has many faults, Anne. I often wonder how much better, or worse, things would have been if you had not been gone. I tend toward indolence, my dear, and there were many, many occasions when I wanted to have done with all the economy and struggles to save money. Your mother has very expensive tastes in clothing and – I should warn you – an insatiable affinity for lace. As well, her idea of a good table often exceeds her allowed funds. Normally I am able to withstand her entreaties for a few pounds more, but there are times when I am worn down by all my cares and nearly give in to her requests, for they are not completely unreasonable. However, in those times I look towards here and remember how I once failed my family. I have vowed never to do so again."
"You are too hard on yourself," Anne protested. "How could you have known that danger lurked within the grounds of Longbourn? What could you have done to prevent it?"
Mr. Bennet smiled one of his sad, knowing smiles.
"Eliz… Anne, you are a mother. I think you can understand my reactions better than you realize. What if you returned to Netherfield to discover your Elizabeth had, through no one's fault, been hurt. How would you feel?"
Anne bit her lip and then looked at her father.
"I would feel responsible because I was not there to see to her safety." Anne paused. "I begin to see your point." Wishing to change the subject, she suggested. "Shall we continue?"
Mr. Bennet forestalled her attempts to continue their walk. "Wait a few more moments. I have something else I wish to speak to you about."
"Very well?"
"Anne, I know this cannot be easy for you. It must still be somewhat of a shock. I ask for your patience and forbearance with us. No Bennet is perfect, and I am certain there will be times you will wonder about us. We are simply who we are – imperfect people. We will disappoint you, and I daresay even embarrass you. We mean no offense, but none of us are used to such refined circles in which you now move. In comparison, we are uncouth and simple folk. But we are your family."
Touched, Anne smiled. "I know you are my family. I do not doubt that anymore. As for the other, I believe we will all try."
~~~/~~~
Anne was content with how the reunion was proceeding – until Mrs. Philips called. It was impossible that they would remain secluded from callers any longer and this was a visitor who too was family.
"Cousins? My dear Mrs. Darcy, I had no idea!" Mrs. Philips turned her attention from Anne back to her mother, though she never really stopped speaking to Anne. "Our great grandmother's aunt? How exciting! Mrs. Darcy certainly bears a strong resemblance to you, Sister. What a fine thing for your children! I would be ecstatic if I had children of my own left to marry. Will you go to Town for the Season then? Think of all the rich men the girls will meet. London! Oh, how I wish Mr. Philips would take us to London."
While Anne Darcy was fairly used to the effusions of overbearing women – she had been raised by Lady Catherine de Bourgh, after all – the lack of decorum just demonstrated by the woman who was her aunt nearly made her lose her composure. Nearly.
"Nothing has been decided upon, Mrs. Philips, including when Mr. Darcy and I will be in Town."
"Yes, but you have a house there, and the country is nothing to life in London."
"I grant you, madam, that London is full of opportunities one can only find there, but that does not mean that the country does not have its own attraction. I enjoy living at our estates as much as I enjoy the entertainments the London Season affords. This past year we have spent the majority of our time in Derbyshire and I have not missed living in Town at all."
Mrs. Bennet needed to have her share in the conversation. "Our cousin had her first confinement this year, Sister. Of course they would have remained on their estate for the birth of their daughter."
"Oh, I see now!" Mrs. Philips cried in understanding. "The air in the city is not safe for a woman in such a delicate condition. Of course you wanted to give birth at the child's ancestral home. It is perfectly clear to me now. But a daughter? Let us hope you are not like your cousin Harriet and give birth to five daughters before producing a son and heir." She turned to Mrs. Bennet and dropped her voice to a loud whisper. "Mr. Bennet was very tolerant about that, Sister. Thankfully I gave Mr. Philips the two sons he wanted right away and could end all that that entailed."
Mrs. Bennet gave Mrs. Philips a knowing look. Anne used the lull to change subjects and asked Mrs. Philips about her sons. As her aunt was willing to talk about her children, Anne was not required to do more than politely listen. Anne knew what the woman had referred to before while speaking of heirs, and Anne pitied her. There was more to coming together as man and wife than the procreation of children, but Anne knew that not many couples experienced the joy of a love match. What should be a pleasure was a duty.
Once again Anne thanked God for her husband. He was the perfect match for her.
~~~/~~~
Darcy had overheard much of the conversation with the women before Mr. Bennet offered an escape to the library. He could tell by his wife's posture how uncomfortable she was. He also knew that she did not need his assistance; she was the one more able to tolerate society both at its best and at its worst.
Mr. Bennet offered his unexpected son-in-law a drink.
"I suppose it should have occurred to us that you would have other family in the neighborhood," Darcy confessed.
Mr. Bennet dismissed his offered defense with a wave of the hand. "It is my fault. I should have discussed my other relations before now. Though having met one of them, I think you might understand why I was avoiding introducing this particular connection. What makes it all the more humiliating is that I spoke to Mr. Philips yesterday."
Darcy raised his eyebrow, intrigued.
"Mr. Philips is not only my brother-in-law, but my attorney as well. I went to see him about formalizing Anne in my will. She will have her equal share of her mother's dowry along with her brother and sisters."
"Sir, that is unnecessary. Anne is more than well provided for and I am confident that she would rather see the money go to her siblings. It cannot be a great sum and…"
"I appreciate what you are trying to say, Darcy, but consider this – she had her life here at Longbourn stolen from her. Would you now deny Eliz…Anne her birthright as well?"
"No sir, I would not. However, I know my wife well enough to tell you that she would be much more satisfied in sharing it with her siblings who do not have anything near the dowry she was given by her adoptive parents. This does not even take into account her inheritance from her father, from Sir Lewis. He made her his sole heir."
"I am well aware of his efforts to buy his pardon. All the better that Anne is treated with the honor and respect due Elizabeth Bennet, my daughter."
Darcy could see he was getting nowhere with the gentleman and that continuing the discussion would do nothing but anger the man displaced as his wife's father.
"Then on behalf of my wife, I thank you."
Mr. Bennet relaxed his tightened jaw and let out the breath he was holding. The hard look on his face faded to the more accustomed sardonic smile.
"I have always said young lovers will rant and storm to have their way, but I think the righteous indignation of a father is a fair match."
The corners of Darcy's mouth twitched. He took a sip of his drink. "Indeed."
~~~/~~~
Alone that night in their room at Netherfield, Fitzwilliam told Anne of her father's actions.
"I wish he had not done it. The Bennets cannot have much money to offer their children. Her father was an attorney. Mrs. Philips told me herself that her husband was once his clerk. The estate itself is not half the size of Rosings or anything near Pemberley. I would not be surprised if my de Bourgh dowry is twice as much as the Bennets' combined."
"I agree, but Mr. Bennet would not be moved. He insists it is yours and was becoming quite belligerent. Anne, I think he still harbors much guilt about your abduction and that naming you in his will is a means for him to exorcise some of the self-reproach he bears. There is also the small fact that you are his daughter and entitled to your share."
"I do not need it."
"Nevertheless, it is yours. While I agree that the money would be of far greater benefit to your siblings, we can always address it with them when the subject becomes germane. Let your father derive comfort from his gesture."
"Very well. It seems I have no choice."
"In this matter, no." Fitzwilliam pulled Anne into his arms.
"What were your impressions of my Aunt Philips?"
He could not help himself – he shuddered. "We do not have to invite her to Pemberley or Rosings."
Anne sighed. "I am of the same mind. However, what troubles me most is my mother – Mrs. Bennet, I mean. I could tell that she was very much in favor of what her sister was saying. She has intimated more than once her hopes that we will assist in bringing my sisters into better society."
"Has she been as direct as Mrs. Philips?"
"No, but she would get a gleam in her eye much like Mama – Lady Catherine – when she was trying to get me to marry you. I suppose it is only natural for a mother to want good matches for her children. She certainly is not discouraging Bingley or Sir John from calling."
"The gentlemen appear fascinated by your two sisters. Bingley does not surprise me; you know how often he falls in and out of love with a pretty face."
"Jane is beautiful!"
"I do not disagree, though I think her sister is even more lovely."
"Mary would blush if she heard you."
"You take great delight in appearing to misunderstand me."
"Only because I delight in the pretty compliments you pay to prove your devotion."
"Hmmm, you are trying to distract me."
"And succeeding quite well?"
"Not yet. We need to discuss this."
"I know we do." Anne pulled herself out of her husband's arms and sat up, piling pillows behind her to lean against the headboard. Fitzwilliam watched and when she was comfortably settled, sat up next to her.
"Part of me is thrilled to see my sisters catch the attention of two good men. Yet I am concerned. Charles Bingley is not known for his constancy and Sir John – he admitted the night we returned to Hertfordshire that Mary reminded him of me. I worry that he is acting on his past … infatuation … with me and not because he truly likes Mary for herself."
"Your concerns are similar to mine. I also wonder at the gentlemen's attraction being reciprocated. Jane is polite, but I have yet to espy any feelings of a deeper nature in her for my friend."
"It is early, and she is very reserved. Had you not noticed? She reminds me much of you in that way."
Fitzwilliam frowned in concentration. "Now that you mention it, I can see you may have a point. Do you think she likes Bingley?"
"She received his attentions with pleasure; whether she wishes for anything other than his friendship, I can only speculate."
"What of Mary and Sir John?"
"I wish I could be certain he has not somehow confused her for an imitation of me. If he has not, then I wish him well. He's certainly taken his time in deciding to look for a wife again."
"And Mary?"
Anne laughed. "She is the easiest of them all to understand. She is confused by being so singled out."
"Confused?"
"Oh yes! Pleasantly confused, but confused. You can see it in the way she holds herself. Her face betrays her, too. She likes it when Sir John comes to sit with her, but she cannot look him in the eye. She blushes and whenever the conversation gets to be too much for her, she falls back behind the safety of the moralistic texts she has studied. I rather doubt any man has ever paid her much attention – and with such a beautiful older sister I can see how she would be passed over."
"Should the interest continue to develop, would you support the potential unions? Neither woman will bring much wealth or connections, other than to you, to the matches.
"If, and you know Bingley nearly as well as I. If Bingley can manage to stay in love and Sir John likes Mary for who she is, and not for whom she is related to, then yes, I can support them. I worry though, that one of them will get hurt." Anne brought her husband's hand to her mouth for a kiss. "I think you should talk to Bingley and Sir John."
"About your sisters? Why should I?"
"Because they are your sisters as well. Besides, we both know that if a man paid this kind of attention to Georgiana, you would have already warned them off."
"I would not 'warn them off'."
"Fine, lectured. You would have interviewed them and told them in no uncertain terms to take care to behave as a gentleman ought – or else you would call them out!"
"You are wrong. I would not interfere."
"We both know you would, so stop trying to deny it."
"Perhaps a friendly conversation over a glass of port."
Anne rolled her eyes and then rolled over to put her arms back around her husband. She snuggled against his chest. "You will speak to them?"
She could feel his chest rumble as he laughed softly.
"You will not relent, will you?"
"Of course not. Just say yes and then feed my vanity by telling me how beautiful I am."
Fitzwilliam tilted her head up and their gaze locked as he leaned down, claiming her lips. "As you wish, darling." They kissed once. "If I could compare thee…" It was not long until Anne demanded he show her by actions, rather than words, how much he adored her.
Darcy is in Big Brother Mode. This will be fun!