Chapter 6

Bingley and Darcy sat together in the dining room eating a hearty breakfast when the Hursts came in. Louisa looked a little pale and requested from her husband a cup of tea and some dry biscuits.

"Is everything ok Louisa" Bingley asked of her

Louisa looked at her husband who shrugged leaving the decision to her "I will need the doctor to confirm but I think I am with child"

Bingley shot out of his chair a huge smile on his face "oh how wonderful oh congratulations to both of you"

Darcy added his own congratulations.

Mrs Thompson the housekeeper entered with a plate of biscuits and Bingley requested a doctor to visit, "I will organise that now sir" she bustled out of the room.

Bingley retook his seat but couldn't stop smiling. They heard the knocker and moments later voices in the hallway. The door opened and a footman entered and announced "Colonel Fitzwilliam"

"Richard, how good of you to come" Darcy was pleased to see his cousin.

"Darcy, Bingley and the Hursts" Richard bowed in greeting to them all

"What, are you doing in this neck of the woods, I thought you were busy in Town" asked Darcy "not that I am not pleased to see you"

"Let me get myself something to eat and some coffee and I will answer any questions that you might have for me" Richard smiled at his cousin while heaping a plate full of ham and eggs and some toast.

They let him eat for several minutes also indulging in a second cup of coffee.

"Right, first things first your letter Darcy we will discuss that later, second I have some business here, so hope to prey on your hospitality Bingley"

"By all means" the jovial man said. I will organise it with Mrs Thompson directly.

Elizabeth returned to Longbourn after a shorter walk than usual. She had gathered some wild flowers for the breakfast room and for her father's study. Her father arrived at his door at the same time she did putting the flowers on the table "one moment papa, let me just remove my outerwear" she quickly removed her things. Her father took her arm and walked slowly to the breakfast room.

"did you enjoy your walk?" her father asked

"oh yes, not long enough but with the aunts descending today I thought I would be needed here" she replied.

A soft grunt was all the answer she got. She smiled at him, having reached the table and his chair with a slight turn he lowered himself carefully. "No extra men at the table, how strange" he said to the room in general.

Jane blushed, and looked down at her plate. The others just laughed. It was always good to have visitors and they were all looking forward to seeing their family today. After the meal Elizabeth helped her father back to his study. He settled into his favourite chair and picked up his copy of Plato he glanced outside and saw a familiar figure making his way towards the house. Mr Bennet sighed deeply. A few minutes later a knock at his door he bid them enter

"Colonel Fitzwilliam to see you sir" said Hill

"He may enter" said Mr Bennet

Richard strode into the room his usual smile on his face "Bennet, I hope you are well" he shook the gentleman by the hand.

"I am well, to what do I owe the pleasure" Mr Bennet indicated the chair opposite and the Colonel sat.

"Wellesley needs you in town. He has hired a house and staffed it. We need you there as soon as you can make it. A refitted carriage will be here at the end of the week. We will make your journey as comfortable as possible." He stated

"Richard we have a problem, the heir to Longbourn is thrusting himself into our lives I cannot leave my daughters at this time, knowing the man he is" Mr Bennet said

"Bring them all with you the house is large enough, a bedroom has been outfitted for yourself, it will be good for them the Season will be starting soon and there are other delights especially for the older girls" Richard knew it was in the bag and nearly sighed with relief.

Mr Bennet's mind ticked off all the joys for his daughters and the fact that Mr Collins would not be happy. The house would be closed off, The Hills and cook could visit family, yes it would be excellent "yes, that would do us very well"

"Excellent" said Richard "On another note Papa has cursed you out again and if you meet each other in Town he wants your head on a plate"

Bennet guffawed loudly "Oh it will be so good to see your mother and father again."

Hill brought in coffee and the two friends relaxed for a good catchup on all the news including things that could never be sent by letter.

A carriage was sighted by Lydia as she arranged the flowers for the parlour. She bubbled with excitement at seeing her extended family. She ran to the stairs and called her sisters down. Hill bustled passed just as happy to see them Lady Julia Lewis with her Husband Lord Christopher Lewis and their son Jeffrey and Lady Bethany Chalmers with Lord David Chalmers and their son Robert entered the hallway and it was a muddle of arms and heads as greetings and kisses between all of them. Outerwear was shed and they all made their way into the parlour.

"Your family has arrived" Richard smiled

"Yes, we will give them a few minutes to settle down, You knew Jeffrey and Richard at Cambridge did you not?" Bennet enquired

"Yes, I had a year with them but Darcy and Bingley will know them very well" Richard said

The sound of the tea tray just filtered through the not quite shut door. "Time for us to make an appearance before they send out a search party" the door opened fully and Elizabeth appeared "and there she is" said Bennet

"Richard, how wonderful to see you" Elizabeth smiled at the gentleman

"and you Miss Elizabeth" the Colonel replied.

Richard gave his arm to Bennet and they slowly made their way to the parlour.

At Netherfield the doctor had confirmed Mrs Hursts suspicions and all the gentleman had gathered to celebrate with a glass of wine, Mrs Hurst decided to stick with tea. Bingley couldn't get over the fact that he was to be an uncle. Oh to be married and have a family it was all he wished for. He liked Netherfield a lot and he was going to look into buying it. It was ideally situated to town the neighbours were very fine people and he had felt very welcomed. He had an excellent steward if only Caroline wasn't the way she was. He hoped she was learning. His mind drifted to Miss Bennet and he suddenly felt very warm. He knew her family were arriving today so a call was really impossible. Ha! Caroline had thought the Bennet's without connections ha! Again and again. It would be good to be in the company of Robert and Jeffrey again.

A thought suddenly occurred to him "How about we invite the Chalmers and the Lewis's for a shoot, I am sure Richard would happily join in. I say where is Richard"

Darcy looked up from the paper he was reading "Richard said he had some business in the area, I have no idea what time he will be back"

Mrs Thompson bustled in then to tell them there was a cold collation in the dining room but there was hot soup if anybody wanted any. Hurst tenderly offered his arm to his wife and led her there. Soup was just what he wanted. The table was spread with the usual cold cuts of meat there was also cheeses and crusty loaves and a large tureen of soup. After the soup had been consumed the men settled to attacking the cold cuts and cheese. Mrs Thompson removed the unwanted dishes to a tray a footman was holding, when Hurst exclaimed on the excellent cheese and pickle on his plate. Mrs Thompson smiled "Yes sir, The Bennet's farm and staff produce some excellent products, I have been trying to get the recipe for the pickle for many years"

Bingley added his thoughts on the excellent fare, Darcy agreed there was an enjoyable tang to the pickle that seemed to bring out the flavour of the hard cheese. "do you buy a lot of their products" he asked

Mrs Thompson thought for a moment "we do, the cheese and the ham, the pickle and sometimes they offer jams for sale depending on crops"

"do they also sell their wine" Darcy asked as casually as he could

Mrs Thompson smiled "Well two years ago they started selling both their mead and their elderberry wine, they also sell an elderflower cordial which might interest Mrs Hurst"

"well, I think a half dozen bottles of each, and if they have their rosehip jam add a half dozen jars of that and the pickle" Darcy said.

Hurst rubbed his hands together, Darcy had already mentioned the mead to him and he couldn't wait to taste them

"I will go this afternoon in the dogcart to pick them up, I will send a note to the farm now" she curtsied and left the room.