Chapter 9

The Earl of Matlock had arrived. His voice loudly proclaiming "Off with his head" the two old friends clasped each other's arms in greeting.

"Its been far too long Matlock"

"Aye, Bennet but you are here now and I am very glad you are"

The two old friends settled down together. Bennet decided he had worked enough and that he would do a few more hours tomorrow. Matlock had brought a bottle of Madeira.

"This I thankfully laid down before the embargo started. Managed to get a couple of cases. I thank you again for putting me in touch with Gardiner"

"If you like that you will love both our mead and elderberry wine" Bennet happily filled two glasses. "Fancy a match"

"Thought you would never ask"

Three hours later and Matlock was setting his King on its side "Dammit Bennet does your brain never take a rest"

Bennet smiled at him "Yes my brain has been busy since arriving in town"

"Wellesley not riding you too hard is he?"

"Nothing I cannot handle, by the way you have a sister don't you"

"Yes" said Matlock "used to have two, Darcy's mother Anne died when my niece was very young, other one is Lady Catherine de Bourgh and don't you forget the Lady part" Matlock laughed at his own humour "why do you ask?"

"Damn woman is the benefactress of my cousin heir to the property due to the entailment. Last letter I had was again full of her praises and that she thinks he should marry one of my daughters to heal the breach I had with his father" Bennet grimaced at the thought. "Hated his father, rotten to the core don't see that his son would be much better"

The Earl sat for a minute thinking "Had a thought, you turned down the earldom they wanted to bestow on you didn't you" Bennett nodded "Get them to remove the entail, let him have a property elsewhere" Matlock declared.

Bennet looked at him for several long minutes then recharged their glasses "Now that's an idea I can work with, I am not one nor ever have been for a title, Sisters married well and I always counted you a good friend"

A tap at the door heralded Elizabeth and Jane their father motioned them to come further. Both were happy to see the Earl again. Elizabeth handed her father a letter "From Mrs Hill" her father nodded and put it to one side.

"Well Bennet it's a shame you won't join us at the theatre but I understand. Would send my carriage for you nice and early so we could get you up the stairs which are shallow"

Mr Bennet looked at his friend of over twenty years "Alright you twisted my arm"

"Oh Papa," cried Jane "are you sure"

"The theatre isn't far around five and ten minutes, with shallow stairs and a good strong arm to lean on I will be fine." He gently held his daughter's hand and Lizzie placed her hand on his shoulder. "If I keep resting up all should be well"

Matlock came over and clasped his friend's other hand "leave all the arrangements to me, I can't tell you how happy this makes me old friend.

Darcy sat in his study two days after asking for a courtship, he congratulated himself on getting so far. He had visited Mr Bennet the day before and although the gentleman didn't have a lot of time he had welcomed Darcy into his sanctum. In fact he seemed to welcome the intrusion. They had enjoyed a glass of the elderberry wine as Mr Bennet had given his permission. Darcy and Elizabeth had also enjoyed a walk in Hyde Park with Jane and Bingley. Unbeknownst to him Bingley had also asked Jane for a courtship and Jane happily said yes, both their faces had suffused with colour and Bingley had been so overcome that he had lifted both her hands to kiss them. A knock at the door "Enter" he called

Jem slipped in with two younger boys they had obviously had a wash before coming into the study. A footman brought in some of cooks freshly made pies and Darcy bade them to help themselves the two boys fell on the food. Jem looked at his boss as they waited for the food to be eaten the footman came back with some lemonade that cook had made them. When both hunger and thirst had been quenched they approached Darcy's desk. Jem was obviously their spokesman.

"I showed them Mrs Younge when she left the house yesterday. She always leaves at the same time so I waited by the corner with me friends. Always has her nose in the air so she didn't see me, followed her to Hyde Park she walked through the park on the main path a gentleman was waiting for her. They kissed real passion" the other two nodded at the description of what they saw. "They found a bench and there was a nice bush behind it and that's where we hid, she said Oh George Mr Darcy has returned so we will have to put off our plans for the moment and George got mad and said that she had to persuade you to send Georgiana for some nice sea air. He didn't care where then they started kissing again and he told her that when they had the money they would be together proper"

The two lads nodded again at all that Jem had disclosed. Darcy looked at them both and Jem said "Colin then followed the man back to his digs I hope we done right Mr Darcy"

Darcy looked at Colin "could you take a friend of mine there tomorrow?" Colin looked at Mr Darcy and nodded. He opened his desk and took out three pouches with coins in them and gave them to each of the boys. Jem grinned up at him Darcy gave him a smile in return "and thank you all"

Darcy looked at the clock, he had been busy since the boys had gone, letters to his solicitor and one to his Steward at Pemberly. A footman knocked and entered with another letter for him. He saw that it was from Pemberly from his head groom. 'Duster arrived safely, settled well already meeting the ladies, seems keen' Darcy grinned his cousin had honoured the bet and now he owned an excellent stud horse, The breeding programme could begin.

The ladies fluttered about getting ready for the theatre the younger ones were thrilled with their dresses, hair was being twisted and turned and curled Jane and Elizabeth had done all this many times so were far more relaxed. Finally it was time to leave. Their father had already left and the carriage was waiting for them. The theatre was indeed very close but having arrived later there was now a queue of carriages Lydia and Kitty were straining to see everything as they rolled closer and closer. Mary and Kitty had been to Kew gardens two days in a row. Kitty enjoyed drawing and painting flowers and Mary enjoyed drawing them for their healing properties so had been on a pleasant journey of discovery. So Jane and Elizabeth were asking her about what she had seen.

"If I could move my bed in there I would never ever leave" she said with a smile.

"Especially if Mr Warner is there too" said Kitty cheekily

A dark blush suffused Mary's cheeks. Being the quietest of the sisters she thought they didn't notice her but obviously they did. "Yes, Mr Warner is a bonus as he is very knowledgeable about all the plants and flowers especially the orchids I enjoyed our conversation and he admired my drawing of them" she looked at Kitty praying she wouldn't say more, but Kitty was already back people watching.

At last it was their turn to disembark the door opened and there was Bingley ready to help Jane out then Mr Darcy helped the others out then taking Elizabeth's he lifted her hand and kissed it. He wished she wasn't wearing gloves but her eyes sparkled at him. She placed her hand on his arm and they walked in. The crowd inside was unbelievable to the younger girls and they looked slightly nervous with all the noise but they spotted their party and joined them. Aunt Bethany looked them over in approval. Lady Matlock saw that everyone was there and they should start making their way to the boxes. It had been decided that all the 'young' ones would be in Darcy's box and all the 'oldies' would be in the Matlock's box. Mr Bennet was already there with the Earl and seemed very comfortable. Everyone settled and Lydia and Kitty were soon using the opera glasses to people watch. Darcy had been very strategic with placing Elizabeth on one side of him and his sister on the other his hand dropped down his side and he accidently bumped Elizabeth's he twisted his hand slightly and took her hand in his. The smile she gave him made his heart pump that little bit faster. The lights were dimmed and the curtain raised and the orchestra started to play. During the intermission the gentlemen went to get refreshments Georgiana, Kitty and Lydia immediately went into a huddle to talk about everything they saw. There was a crush outside of people trying to visit the box it had not gone unnoticed regarding Darcy's attention to a certain young lady. Thankfully the men returned and they settled down again as people went to visit other friends and gossip.

Darcy returned to Elizabeth's side and leant in and whispered into her ear "Have I told you today how beautiful you are"

"You have sir" Lizzie smiled at him

"well I will just say it again, You look very beautiful this evening" his hand reached down to link her fingers with his.

The performance was over and Mr Bennet waited for the boxes to empty. He sat with the Earl and his Lady chatting quietly waiting for the queues to die down. Darcy along with Georgiana and the Bennet's entered the Earl's box. Kitty and Lydia gushed over the performance which they had highly enjoyed. They asked their father if they could also go to Mr Darcy's house for supper. Bennet gave his permission. He was starting to feel tired so made his excuses about joining them. Darcy could see the man was in pain and brushed away his apologies. Richard entered the box and told Mr Bennet that it would be safe to exit now as the stairs were clear. Darcy offered his arm to him and Mr Bennet took it gratefully and they made their way slowly out. Mr Gardiner placed himself behind him and Richard went just ahead it was slow progress but nobody minded. The Earl's carriage moved up for them and they entered after Mr Bennet had been helped in. The Earl told Darcy that he would see him shortly.

Everyone dispersed to the waiting carriages for the short trek to Darcy House. The girls looked around them in wonder the frontage alone was very impressive. A footman held the door open for everyone to enter and other servants appeared to take the outwear from them. Darcy led them all into a parlour and a footman brought round glasses of wine and for the youngsters there was lemonade. Mary. Jane and Elizabeth also chose lemonade. Their aunts sat with them and they discussed the entertainment. Darcy cornered Richard and explained briefly but quietly the situation he found himself in with Mrs Younge and Wickham. When he mentioned Georgiana and her dowry Richard was nearly beside himself with anger. "I will be here tomorrow at ten, I will need both Jem and Collin"-

Darcy nodded and signalled the footman over, he whispered some instructions to the man who nodded and left the room. "Colin is spending the night here with his brother and Jem, I think they will like living at Pemberly. I had a chat with them earlier and are both mad on horses and now that I own Duster I will need a few more stable hands and maybe train them up to be grooms."

"Shall we join the ladies?" Richard asked as he passed another footman and took a fresh glass of wine.

The Matlock's arrived and they headed straight for Jane and Elizabeth, "Your father said to enjoy yourself he is going to get tucked up with Caeser his mind needs sharpening"

The food was plentiful, with plenty of fresh bread cold cuts and cheeses a large tureen of soup resided in the centre to which everyone partook. Darcy hadn't bothered with a seating plan and let everyone sit where they wished as long as he was near Elizabeth he didn't really care.

Lady Julia and Lady Bethany along with Lady Jessica and Madeline Gardiner had had their heads together most of the evening their husbands didn't seem too worried. Lady Jessica, stood and clapped her hands. Everybody turned to her. "The Castlemaines have their ball next week which usually starts off the Season. We are holding ours on the Friday following you will all attend except for our girls not yet out." She saw the three girls droop in disappointment "Dear ones your help though with the invitations will be gratefully appreciated" she smiled at them to soften the blow. They all expressed an interest in helping, even Mary who knew she would be expected to attend. Her heart sank a little at the thought but her inner smile knew she could hide more in the crowd.