A/N - This chapter is unedited. Please let me know if you see any issues or where you think the story might drag.

Let me know if you continue to see any issues with consistency, language/usage, or just too much information. This story will be published on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited at some point once it is finished (new target: September 10?).

Chapter 27

At Pemberley, the new family was settling into a routine. Mrs Gardiner had departed, but their two sisters remained and provided a lot of help to the new parents, particularly Elizabeth, as she still needed help with her duties as mistress of such a large estate as Pemberley. For much of that spring and into the summer, Mary and Georgiana visited the tenants and took care of concerns outside of the house, although they met with Elizabeth each morning as they discussed what was needed. Elizabeth appreciated this help, and although she knew she could do what was needed, she thought it was good for the girls to practise the skills these visits required.

Eventually, summer arrived and along with it came several visitors. The first to arrive, early in June, were Jane and her new husband. Although many letters had been exchanged between the two, they were delighted to see each other after having not been in company for over eight months.

Elizabeth hurried down the steps as Jane stepped from the carriage to meet her. "Oh, Jane," she cried as she wrapped her arms around her sister. Both women had tears streaming down their faces when they separated while their husbands stood watching, their amusement apparent on their faces.

Quietly, Darcy welcomed his new brother to his home. "Welcome to Pemberley, Mr Hastings," he said in his grave tone. "We are pleased you and Mrs Hastings could join us for a few weeks. My wife was most upset that we could not attend the wedding, and she has been greatly looking forward to your visit."

"I do believe that my attendance is less important than that of my wife's," Hastings replied, his voice not masking his amusement. "I believe it will be several minutes before either notices us, and I feel that once Jane meets your son, our presence here will be even more de trop."

Darcy chuckled. "Then, perhaps, I should escort you into the house and offer you a drink in my study. I doubt our wives will notice if we leave them here. Elizabeth will eventually remember me, and you are newly married enough that your wife will miss you soon enough."

Hastings laughed, and the two gentlemen made their way toward the house. They were only a little surprised when the ladies followed them.

"Mr Hastings, I have been remiss in not greeting you as well," Elizabeth said as she hurried forward to take her husband's arm as they walked up the steps and into the manor. "Rarely have I gone so long without seeing my dear sister, and I have missed her so much. So many things have changed in our lives this time — she has married a dear man, and I have a son. Despite our letters, we have much to catch up on. You and William should plan to become very good friends on this visit, as I fully intend to take up much of my sister's time."

They all laughed at that, and despite her words, Elizabeth sent them to their rooms to refresh, informing them that tea would be served in the family sitting room in an hour. "And, if you are too tired from your journey, take all the time you need to rest before dinner. You will be here above a fortnight, and while I have much to share with my sister, this is also your wedding trip, and I know you will wish for time away from our company. Do not feel you must spend all your time with us."

Both Mr and Mrs Hastings denied this claim and arrived for tea, taking slightly more than the hour suggested to join the rest. Once there, the groups divided between the sexes, the four sisters Georgiana was easily included among the Bennet sisters by now) speaking together about this and that and the two gentlemen coming to know each other better by speaking of their time at Cambridge and the sport to be had while visiting the country.

After speaking for a time together, Jane and Elizabeth soon separated from the group for a more private conversation. "How are you finding married life, dear Jane?" Elizabeth asked quietly.

Jane blushed brightly. "I am finding it very … pleasant," she replied after hesitating a moment. The two ladies laughed a little but then proceeded in quiet conversation to discuss married life. However, this conversation soon turned from pleasant topics to more difficult ones.

"I had expected that my giving birth to a son would have softened Mama toward me somewhat, and she would have written to me by now," Elizabeth began. "Kitty and Lydia both have said that she seems subdued and that she crows about my son to the neighbourhood, but she has still not written anything to me."

"We stopped briefly at Longbourn on our way to Pemberley," Jane sighed. "Mama is … well, I am not certain what she is. She seems aware of the gulf between the two of you, and I think she realises she needs to apologise, but she is as yet unwilling to do so."

"Do you think she will ever apologise?" Elizabeth asked. Jane attempted to frame a reply but was interrupted by the door opening. The baby had awoken from his nap, and his nursemaid's instructions were to bring him down as soon as he was ready. "Jane, Frederick, I would like you to meet our son, Alex," Elizabeth said as she stood and walked to the door to take her son from the maid.

"Oh, Elizabeth, he is so precious," Jane cried, following Elizabeth and reaching out to take him from his mother's arms. Elizabeth reluctantly surrendered him and allowed Jane to cuddle him for several minutes. The gentlemen approached their wives. Darcy stood behind his wife to embrace her, while Hastings stood beside Jane and looked down at the babe in her arms.

"I believe he looks very much like you, Darcy," Hastings laughed. "I believe he even has your scowl."

Elizabeth laughed at the comment. "He is my husband's twin, or at least that is what some older servants and tenants claim. I carried him for nine months, but he comes out the perfect image of his father; there is not a bit of his mother in him at all."

Darcy barked a laugh. "I am not certain I agree with that, my dear," he interjected. "He is as troublesome and opinionated as his mother." He squeezed her waist as he spoke, and she turned to him to accept a kiss.

"And you delight in having such a troublesome wife, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and well you know it. Had you wanted a complacent wife, you could have married one of those persistent society women who chased you all those years," Elizabeth retorted.

The couple were momentarily lost in their teasing while their guests merely rolled their eyes at their antics and continued admiring the baby. After a few minutes, the child became heavy in Jane's arms, and the group moved back to sit.

"He is very handsome, Lizzy," Jane said.

Elizabeth beamed. "We certainly think so," she replied. Darcy merely nodded from his seat next to his wife, his arm wrapped around her waist.

Conversation remained on the child for a short time until Jane requested to show her husband around the gardens before they needed to dress for dinner. Jane spent the previous summer at Pemberley and had a few favourite spots she wanted to show her husband. Understanding the need to walk for a time after such a long journey and seek some time alone, they graciously excused their guests, retiring to their room for their own private time.

"What did your sister say of her visit to Longbourn?" Darcy asked as they made their way upstairs.

"Not much. We spoke of other things and only just began speaking of my parents when Alex was brought in," Elizabeth sighed. "I am certain we will speak again."

With that, the two made their way to their bedchambers for a rest before dinner.

The two sisters found additional time to speak a few days later. "Jane," Elizabeth began. "We began to speak of our parents, and, obviously, we have not seen them since our last conversation with them. How are things there? Letters only say so much, and Papa, well, Papa is not the best correspondent in ordinary circumstances, and his letters now seem to say even less. We still receive reports from Mrs Hill and Mr Todd, and Papa writes of the estate but not much else."

"I am certain you know that both Kitty and Lydia are presently at home," Jane began. "Kitty and Lydia assist Mama with her tenant visits, and Mama was very surprised to learn our sisters frequently assisted you and me when we were still at home. Lydia apologised to the Lucas family at Christmas, and while that relationship is still strained, I think that has as much to do with Charlotte as anything else. The Lucasses are unhappy that your husband offered Charlotte her own cottage and that she chose to live in Derbyshire rather than nearer to Meryton."

Elizabeth nodded. "Lydia wrote of her determination and her reception when she did so. She knew it would be difficult, and Lady Lucas made it no easier, but Lydia anticipated that. Charlotte has settled well here and will likely visit us while you are here. She enjoys having her own home and received word recently that Mr Collins has arrived in Africa safely."

"Yes, well, Mama and Lady Lucas no longer visit with each other and are very cool toward each other now. They do not openly disdain each other, but it is a near thing," Jane said. "Of course, both women seem to recognise the danger of openly speaking out against the other." She stopped and sighed and turned back to the topic of their parents.

"Papa and Mama speak now, although it is mostly the business of the estate. They meet at breakfast each morning and discuss their plans for the day and any needs around the estate. Mama is doing well as the Mistress of Longbourn and has given her role a new life. She stays busy with the tenants and spends more time in the kitchen garden and the still room. The kitchen garden needed work, as none of our sisters ever did much there, so it remained untouched for most of the year. I showed Mama some of what we used to do in the still room with the plants, and she enjoys working in the gardens. She is becoming better at aiding the tenants with illnesses and the like, as you and Mary used to do, and spends time with the children on the estate.

"I think she wants to apologise but is uncertain how to do so," Jane finally said. "She feels ashamed for how she has treated you — she has said as much — but does not know how to fix things between you."

"Or she simply does not want to," Elizabeth interjected. "She writes to Mary, and I have occasionally read some parts of those when Mary has insisted. She knows she has been wrong; she has apologised to all the rest of her daughters, but she simply cannot bring herself to do the same to me. Admit it, Jane, she has apologised to all the rest of her family."

"She apologised for always pushing me to be more forward and for encouraging Kitty and Lydia to flirt. She admitted that her insistence on our all finding husbands, regardless of how we did so, was wrong."

"She has also apologised to Mary for slighting her and undervaluing her, but she cannot bring herself to do the same for me," Elizabeth stated. "I do not know why she hates me so much, but I know that it irks her to know I was the first to marry and to marry well and that my husband is the one who saved them. She cannot bring herself to apologise because she cannot admit that I have done well." No longer able to remain still, she stood up and began to pace the room.

"Calm yourself, Lizzy," Jane said. "It cannot be good for you to get so worked up over something you cannot do anything about."

"I am calm, Jane," Elizabeth retorted. "I have always known that I was my mother's least favourite child and that she has always resented me for not being born a boy — as if I could have done anything about that. I have not heard a word since I told her I would no longer tolerate her abuse of me, especially after my husband saved the family from ruin. She will never accept that she is in the wrong, so I think I can consider our relationship severed. I do not anticipate that ever changing."

"She knows she was wrong, Lizzy," Jane insisted. "Perhaps if you were to invite her here …"

Elizabeth cut her sister off. "No, Jane, I will not invite Mama here. With their need to retrench to repay the loan, they do not have the funds for such a journey, nor will I ask William to send a carriage to retrieve them to bring them here. Since we wed, my husband has almost constantly fed, housed, and clothed at least one of my sisters, paid for Lydia to attend school, and covered the cost of a companion to educate my sisters since neither parent seemed willing or able to do so. Additionally, he loaned my father a significant amount to cover debts that should never have arisen had he acted responsibly at any point during his marriage. Why would I ask my husband to assume yet another expense to bring my parents here when my mother cannot be bothered to pick up a pen for any purpose except to complain about how terrible a daughter I am for forcing them to cut back on selfish spending to pay back the substantial loan he asked for as some sort of 'payback' for allowing William to marry me? No, Jane, I will not ask my husband any such thing."

"But Lizzy …" Jane tried again, only to have her sister stop her again.

"No. I will not relent. Mama will not see my son until she apologises. I said in October I would not step foot in Longbourn again until I was welcomed there by both my parents," Elizabeth declared.

No amount of Jane's pleading would change Elizabeth's mind, and Elizabeth was unwilling to discuss it further. She would visit with Kitty and Lydia when they were in London and invite them to visit her in town, but nothing Jane said would persuade Elizabeth to take the first step to restore the relationship with her mother.

Despite this conflict, Jane and Elizabeth did manage to have a good visit with each other, and their husbands enjoyed getting to know each other better. The two gentlemen found much in common and a shared interest in discussing books and estate management and spent several pleasant afternoons fishing together or riding the estate.

During their visit, the entire party enthusiastically engaged in multiple picnics and other outdoor activities as the weather remained fine. In keeping with a promise made months prior, Darcy took on the role of teaching Mary how to ride a horse. Jane eagerly joined these lessons, with her husband providing support and guidance. While all three Bennet sisters received basic instruction in childhood, practical experience was limited before Elizabeth's marriage. Jane had, on occasion, been afforded the chance to ride, but the absence of suitable horses in the Longbourn stables hindered frequent practice. Darcy began Elizabeth's riding lessons the previous summer, but her pregnancy prevented her from continuing. Therefore, she relished the opportunity to resume her lessons and the pleasure of riding alongside her husband again.

Too soon, it was time for the Hastingses to depart. Jane made a final plea encouraging her sister to visit their parents, but on this, Elizabeth was firm — she would not step foot in Longbourn until her mother apologised.

The next visitors to Pemberley were Lord, Lady Matlock, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Since Anne's death, Lady Catherine attempted to claim her place as Mistress of Rosings, but the family quickly made it clear that was not to be the case. According to Anne's will, the estate was left in its entirety to Richard Fitzwilliam, although Lady Catherine retained the right to the dowager house and her remaining dowry for her lifetime. The funds from her dowry were to be used to maintain her household, although major repairs would be paid for by the estate. The cost of decorating and paying for servants was to come from her own funds, which meant that she was not able to decorate as ornately as she would have wished. She had a substantial income for one in her position, more than fifteen hundred pounds per annum, but she would not enjoy the same access to the estate funds as before and would have to be more prudent in her expenditures.

When Anne came into her inheritance almost a year ago, and her mother was sent to the dower house, many of the servants at Rosings were replaced at that time to ensure they would be loyal to their new mistress and not the former one. As the Matlocks and Fitzwilliam began making plans to depart Rosings for Pemberley, they ensured these servants were aware that Lady Catherine was not to be permitted into the mansion, especially when no one was in residence. This difficulty caused them to be delayed, but it did allow Fitzwilliam to travel with his parents. An express sent from Pemberley requested they stop in Hertfordshire along the way to escort Kitty and Lydia Bennet, along with their companion, Mrs Martin, to Pemberley.

The Darcys received word of the carriages' imminent arrival and were waiting at the grand staircase when their guests arrived. Once again, they welcomed their guests to Pemberley, paying particular attention to Lydia, who had never been there before. Lydia was duly impressed with Pemberley and, as the last Bennet sister to see it in person, she heard much about its grandeur. Nonetheless, she was taken aback by the sheer size of the estate and had much to say about how surprised she was at the size of the park. While she was not nearly as interested in the hills and trees that surrounded the estate, she was struck by its design and the architecture of the manor house itself.

Soon, everyone was shown to their rooms to refresh. Elizabeth escorted her two sisters to their rooms, and after only a moment to refresh themselves, the girls asked to meet their nephew. Leading them to the nursery, they found Alex was awake and ready for company, so they spent a half hour together with him before carrying him down to meet his great aunt and uncle.

It was his second cousin, however, who was most interesting to the baby, and the former colonel kept his attention for some time by making silly faces and telling ridiculous stories. Fitzwilliam kept the entire room entertained, not just Alex until the child began to loudly insist on being fed. Elizabeth took the child back to the nursery, and the rest of the party disbursed to rest or work until it was time to change for dinner.

Lady Matlock, being particularly fond of the child whom she endearingly referred to as her "grandson," relished every moment spent with him. As Darcy's parents were dead and her own children not yet married to give her grandchildren of her own, she gladly embraced the role of surrogate grandparent to her nephew's infant son. During their visit, she dedicated a substantial amount of time to the nursery, enjoying precious moments with Alex. Lord Matlock, too, found delight in the company of the young child, joining his wife in the nursery whenever possible, although he also spent a great amount of time consulting with Darcy about estate matters. The three gentlemen also spent several afternoons fishing, and Darcy and Richard rode out on the estate several times.

Soon enough, it was time for Lord and Lady Matlock to retreat to their own estate, which was only a few hours away. They left the girls there, as previously arranged, and even Richard decided to stay for a longer visit. Once again, his attention was drawn toward the Bennet ladies' companion, the widow of a soldier who became a companion. Mrs Martin was very ladylike and genteel, as expected of a companion, but something about her caught the former colonel's attention. They spoke often when they were in company and found much in common.

Fitzwilliam, despite all his claims that he would never marry, finally began to feel that marriage was in his future and the more time he spent with Mrs Martin, the more interested he became in that state. He wondered how his parents would react were he to suggest he would marry a companion, but it was clear she was a gentlewoman who fell upon hard times. Since the Bennet sisters were not known amongst the ton, and it was rather unlikely that others knew she had been in service, perhaps they could marry without anyone knowing. These thoughts, and others, drove the former colonel to take part in several long, punishing rides during his visit to Pemberley.

Copyright 2023 Melissa Anne