Surprise, surprise… we are getting towards the end of this story.
I have had 2 surprises – this story ended up being about twice the size I had anticipated, and the greater surprise was how well it has been received.
Thanks for all your feedback.
~O~
Chapter 20
The longsuffering Mrs Nicholls, the housekeeper at Netherfield was grateful to Lady Matlock for sending an express to Mrs Bingley, warning her of the impending arrival of Viscount Fanshaw and Miss Georgiana Darcy.
Bingley, always being an amiable and sociable fellow, was thrilled to have more company. As her nephew wanted to ride to the Hedgerows to inform Elizabeth of the imminent return of her fiancé and his relations, Mrs Bingley, being a good hostess waited for the guests to arrive.
Upon delivering the news, Bingley was puzzled when the name Darcy caused a negative reaction in both Jane and Elizabeth.
'Surely, you have had a chance to discover that under that haughty mask, there is an honourable man,' he coaxed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sighed and with a moue of distaste said, 'I suppose by the standards of the ton, you are correct, but let me tell you what happened the other day.'
Jane and Elizabeth took Bingley to the garden for privacy to relate Darcy's actions. By the time Elizabeth finished her tale, Bingley wore a pained expression.
'I can hardly credit that Darcy would act in such a despicable manner.' He hesitated for a moment before he said, 'I confess Darcy's attitude towards your family when we left Netherfield had me concerned and I wondered if our friendship would survive my marriage to Jane.'
Bingley smiled at Jane as he said, 'If I had had to chose between you and Darcy, it is no contest. You are more important to me than anyone else.'
Jane felt rather emotional at this wholehearted expression of esteem. She took a deep breath and looking into Bingley's eyes said, 'I feel the same way.'
Elizabeth looked away from this rather private moment and muttered, 'But it does make me wonder about Miss Darcy's reason for her visit.'
~O~
It was fortunate for everyone's peace of mind that they did not have long to wait for an explanation.
Since Richard was eager to return to Meryton, he had pressured his brother and cousin into an early start, telling them that they could sleep along the way.
Since the Fitzwilliams who knew the house and the joke about the name had not seen fit to inform the newcomers, other than mentioning that the Bennet ladies had comfortable accommodation, Andrew and Georgiana were amazed when they pulled up at the house.
The Viscount looked at the building and exclaimed, 'Darcy thought that he needed to rescue the lady from this? This is bigger than Darcy House.'
'He never bothers to ask questions but assumes that he knows what is best. I confess that Mr Bennet's sense of humour might have confused things,' Richard answered as he escorted a very nervous Georgiana up the stairs.
'What sense of humour?' The Viscount questioned. When Richard simply pointed at the plaque, Andrew and Georgiana could not help but burst into laughter.
It did not help that Mr Hill opened the door at that moment and with a perfectly controlled expression said, 'Welcome to The Hedgerows.'
The laughter lured Elizabeth from the study and she hurried to greet Richard. He took his time placing lingering kisses on her bare knuckles which caused Elizabeth to squeeze his hands and regretting the presence of what must be his relations.
Richard performed the introductions and then, with a nod towards Georgiana, he requested quietly, 'Could we speak privately for a few minutes?'
'We can use the study,' Elizabeth offered.
As soon as they all had entered the room and closed the door, Georgiana said in a rush, 'Miss Elizabeth, please allow me to apologise for my brother's horrible behaviour. I beg you believe me when I say that none of the family condone his attitude and actions. I was mortified when I learnt of what he has done.'
The distraught expression immediately softened Elizabeth's attitude towards the girl. 'Miss Darcy, you have done me no wrong and therefore have nothing for which to apologise. And I am not so lost to reason that I would hold you responsible for someone else's behaviour.'
'Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. You should know that I and the whole family have cut connections with him.'
'You have cut your connection to your brother?' Elizabeth exclaimed in astonishment.
'I had to. After what happened I could not trust him.' Georgiana glanced up at Richard before returning her attention to Elizabeth. 'I know that it is an imposition, but Richard is my second guardian, and I was hoping that you might consider allowing me to live with you after your marriage.'
The pleading look would have melted a much harder heart than Elizabeth's. She took Georgiana's hands, absently noticing that the young girl topped her own height by an inch. 'I would be delighted to have you living with us. I am used to having four sisters and I had wondered how I would deal with having none.'
With her best impish smile she added, 'I suppose that having a cousin will fill the hole nicely. But since we are to be family, call me Elizabeth or Lizzy.'
Georgiana pulled her hands free so that she could throw her arms around Elizabeth for a fierce hug. 'Thank you, Lizzy. I am Georgie,' she said with tears of relief in her eyes.
~O~
The men had watched the scene quietly and the Viscount could not help but envy his brother's good fortune to meet such a kind lady. To him it made Darcy's actions even worse.
But it also made him wish to meet a lady of similar quality.
He was pulled from his reverie when Elizabeth suggested that they should meet the rest of the family.
Andrew was amazed when Mrs Bennet greeted him pleasantly but did not fawn over him. After hosting an Earl and a Countess on several occasions, a Viscount was not so very special. Especially since she had no age-appropriate daughters for him. Jane and Lizzy were engaged, and she had come to realise that the others were too young.
~O~
Another mother's thoughts were focused on matrimony.
Lady Catherine was concerned that Fitzwilliam Darcy still had not proposed to her daughter. For years she had pushed him to marry Anne so that he would take her to Pemberley and leave her to run Rosings without his interference.
She was engaged in planning how to get Darcy to return to Rosings, when her brother was announced.
'Henry, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?' the lady asked with any evident pleasure.
'I have come for a very special occasion. And I have brought another visitor.'
Lady Catherine brightened. 'Is Darcy with you? Is he ready to do his duty to the family?'
'No. Darcy is busy, and I expect him to be on his way to Pemberley as we speak.'
'Then whom did you bring?'
'Mr Thompson, our family solicitor.'
'Will he prepare the marriage articles for Darcy and Anne so they can marry immediately upon his return?'
'No. Mr Thompson is here with a copy of your late husband's will and a great deal of paperwork to transfer Rosings into Anne's name as her birthday is today.'
'WHAT! That cannot be. Anne is too sickly to look after Rosings.'
'I am as capable as you of lounging about the house and giving ridiculous orders, mother.'
Lady Catherine's head whipped around, and she stared at her daughter on the arm of one of Matlock's footmen.
Anne smiled at Matlock. 'Good afternoon, uncle. Your timing was excellent, Mrs Jenkinson was just trying to get me to drink my tonic… the one which makes me sleep for most of a day.'
She gave Lady Catherine a malicious smile. 'Dear John, here,' she patted the footman's arm, 'encouraged Mrs Jenkinson to take a dose of her own medicine. Perhaps you should take some as well? I am certain that things will look much brighter tomorrow if you do. Is that not what you always tell me?'
While Lady Catherine glared at the impertinence of her daughter, for once she was at a loss for words.
'I think that is an excellent idea,' Matlock agreed with a challenging look. 'Unless of course you wish to retire to your rooms and start packing, Carry.'
'There is no need for me to pack. I am not going anywhere.'
'But you are. I am sure that you will be delighted with the Dower House.'
'I will never move to the Dower House. You cannot make me,' protested Lady Catherine, expecting to carry the day by her usual determination… or sheer wilfulness as her family called it. 'Apart from that, it is uninhabitable.'
'And whose fault is that? But do not worry, I have had workmen ensuring that the roof does not leak.'
'I am too busy to move. I am expecting to interview several clergymen this afternoon to replace Mr Collins.'
'As I will be the mistress of Rosings as soon as we sign the papers, I shall be happy to attend to that duty,' Anne contradicted her mother with glee. She had waited for years to throw off the yoke of her overbearing mother. Today was the day she had anxiously awaited.
'You have no experience with such a weighty duty.'
'And whose fault is that, Catty?' the Earl intervened and delighted in the glare from his sister as he kept using her most hated nickname. 'But no matter, I am here and will be pleased to assist my niece in taking on her duties.'
At a signal from Lord Matlock, two of his footmen stepped up and escorted a protesting Lady Catherine to the rooms she would shortly vacate.
'Thank you, uncle,' Anne de Bourgh said simply.
Mr Thompson joined them and soon Rosings had a new mistress.
~O~
The first actions of Anne as the new mistress of Rosings were to have Lady Catherine's throne removed from the drawing room and then to request the presence of Mr and Mrs Collins.
While she and her uncle waited for their arrival, Lord Matlock briefly filled Anne in on the happenings in the family and in Hertfordshire.
Unsurprisingly, she was furious with Darcy, but impressed with Georgiana's reaction, which gave her an idea to be considered at a later date.
Equally as predictable, she was highly amused by the situation in which the Bennets found themselves. 'I liked Miss Elizabeth when she visited, but never had a chance to speak to her. Mrs Collins had only good things to say about her. I shall miss Mrs Collins. She was the only one with sense around here.'
'When you present the living to your new parson, you can always insist on him having a sensible wife,' Matlock suggested teasingly.
Anne cocked her head as she considered the advice. 'I thank that is an excellent idea.'
~O~
As expected, upon entering, Collins bowed several times before he noticed the absence of Lady Catherine and her chair.
'I had anticipated that Lady Catherine had sent for me to assist her in interviewing for my replacement. After all, your parson must be the kind of man who will properly respect Lady Catherine and ensure that the congregation maintains the distinction of rank. No one would know that better than I.'
'While I appreciate your offer, Mr Collins, but as of today, I have come into my inheritance and therefore I am the mistress of Rosings. Unlike my mother I am more concerned to engage a parson who will look after his flock than flatter me. Therefore, I will not require your assistance.'
'But surely, a lady as delicate as yourself–'
'Shall be very well served by the advice of the Earl of Matlock,' Anne interrupted. As much as Collins wanted to protest and be of service to the lady, he could not argue against the suitability of the Earl.
'Since there is no reason for you to delay taking on your own inheritance, I shall be happy to assist by making a carriage available to you for your move to Longbourn,' Anne offered.
Before Collins could swamp the company in his effusions, Charlotte said, 'You are all that is gracious, Miss de Bourgh. I suppose that in a way it is fortunate that I have only been here for half a year and our possessions are few. I expect that it should not be an effort to pack up this afternoon and be ready to leave in the morning.'
Charlotte gave a quick glance at her husband and carefully said, 'As for making my farewells, I have spent all week doing just that. All the parishioners have been most eloquent in wishing us well for our future in Hertfordshire.'
After a few more polite phrases of leave-taking, Mr and Mrs Collins made ready to take on their own future.
To ensure a smooth transition, Lord Matlock remained at Rosings for a few days, assisting Anne with the replacement of staff loyal to her mother as well as the installation of Lady Catherine in her new abode.
~O~
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Checkmate, Mr Darcy by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2024
