Chapter 6
I made my decision. I could not let the Countess and Earl die. Over the years I had lived in this time period, my friendship with the Countess had grown deep, and I grew fond of the Earl once he let his guard down. He was always respectful of my intelligence. And since I was throwing caution to the wind, I accepted John's offer, with the agreement that the wedding would be set for after the Countess gave birth and the christening of the child six weeks after birth.
The days that followed were filled with a whirlwind of emotions. John's courtship became more open, his affections no longer masked. We walked through the village, My hand on his arm and his hand holding mine, and shared quiet conversations under the ancient oak trees. The villagers began to notice, offering their congratulations and well-wishes.
Our engagement was announced at a small gathering in the village. John stood beside me, his eyes shining with happiness.
"I am truly honored to be marrying such an extraordinary woman," he said, raising a glass. "To our future together."
The room erupted in applause, and I felt a warm blush spread across my cheeks. Elizabeth beamed at me from across the room, her eyes glistening with happy tears. Little Rachel, however, had a different reaction.
"But I don't want you to go!" Rachel protested, her small face scrunched in distress.
Kneeling down to her level, I took her hands in mine. "Rachel, I promise I will visit you often. You are very important to me, and I will never forget that."
Rachel's lip quivered, but she nodded, sniffling. "You promise?"
"I promise," I said, hugging her tightly.
Around the same time, Sarah came to me with surprising news. "Mrs. Palmer," she began, hesitating slightly. "Mr. Hill has asked for my hand in marriage."
I smiled broadly. "Sarah, that's wonderful! I am so happy for you."
"Thank you, ma'am. I do wish to stay here at Longborn after we marry. Mrs. Bennet has approved for me to start training as the new housekeeper once Mrs. Watson retires. Our wedding is in six weeks, and I know you will have moved to Netherfield by then."
Though her departure as my maid meant I would need to find someone new, I was genuinely happy for her. "Sarah, that is wonderful news. You will make an excellent housekeeper. And of course, I will attend your wedding before I move to Netherfield."
Six weeks passed quickly. Sarah and Mr. Hill's wedding was a beautiful affair, attended by the entire staff of Longborn and close friends. Elizabeth and I watched as Sarah, radiant in her wedding gown, exchanged vows with Mr. Hill. It was a touching ceremony, and I was overjoyed for her new future.
"Sarah, you look stunning," I said after the ceremony, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you, Mrs. Palmer. I am so grateful for your support," she replied, her eyes shining with happiness.
Elizabeth smiled warmly at Sarah. "We are very proud of you, Sarah. You will do wonderfully as our new housekeeper."
"I will do my best, ma'am," Sarah said, her voice filled with determination.
As the time to move into Netherfield approached, Elizabeth's mixed emotions became more evident.
"I am so happy for you, Rachel," she said, holding my hands. "But I will miss having you here. You have become like a sister to me."
Tears welled up in my eyes. "Elizabeth, I will miss you too. But I will be back for a few weeks before the wedding. This isn't goodbye."
She hugged me tightly, and I felt the strength of our bond. "Promise you will visit often?"
"I promise," I said, my voice thick with emotion.
The day I moved into Netherfield was bittersweet. John helped me carry my things, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of change. The Countess welcomed me warmly, her eyes bright with gratitude.
"Thank you for doing this, Rachel," she said, squeezing my hand. "I am so relieved to have you here."
"It is my honor, Countess," I replied, my resolve strengthening.
As I settled into my new quarters at Netherfield, I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. The future was uncertain, but I had made my choices. Now, I had to live with them.
As I settled into Netherfield, the repercussions of my decisions weighed heavily on my mind. The estate was grand and beautiful, but a sense of uncertainty lingered. With Oak Mount equidistant from Netherfield as it was from Longborn, I decided to seek more insight from my Kindle, especially now that the dates of the Earl and Countess's supposed deaths had passed and my acceptance of John's proposal was firm. Perhaps history had more to reveal.
With that thought, I headed to Oak Mount. As I reached the familiar spot, I opened the Kindle, hoping for clarity. This time, the history had changed. The Earl and Countess had given birth to a son, Robert Lee Jr., who would grow up and introduce Rachel to her husband, he would then get married and live part of the time at his wife Estate, leasing out Netherfield. My heart swelled with joy at this revelation. Also, Edward Gardiner was back in the story. He was described as a tradesman with the Midas touch, knowing exactly what to invest in. The text mentioned his half-sisters, Mary and Frances, and identified his mother as Rachel Gardiner.
Reading about Edward, I had the strange sensation that he should have always been there, but for a time, he wasn't, and I couldn't recall why. It felt right, as though the pieces of a puzzle had fallen into place. I had always known Rachel Bennet would marry well, but to be Lady Rachel. Yes, that seemed right.
Relief and happiness washed over me as I walked down Oak Mount, feeling more at peace with my choices. Returning to Netherfield, I found the Countess in her favorite sitting room, her face lit with the glow of impending motherhood. Mrs. Bennet and I joined her, eager to offer our support and advice.
"Countess," I began, "it's important to stay as relaxed as possible during these final weeks. Stress can have adverse effects on both you and the baby."
The Countess nodded, her hand resting on her swollen belly. "Thank you, Rachel. Your presence here has been such a comfort."
Mrs. Bennet added, "Remember to take short walks every day. Fresh air and gentle exercise will do wonders."
The Countess smiled warmly. "I appreciate your advice, both of you. I feel very fortunate to have such knowledgeable women by my side."
Later, John and I shared a quiet evening together, enjoying a walk through the Netherfield gardens. The sun set in a blaze of color, casting a warm glow over the landscape.
"John, this place is beautiful," I said, leaning into his side as we walked.
"It is," he agreed, his arm around my waist. "But it's even more beautiful with you here, Rachel."
We talked about our future, about our plans and dreams. His affection for me was evident in every word, and it made my heart swell with love and a touch of guilt for the secret I still kept from him.
A few days later, I visited Longborn. Little Rachel greeted me with a squeal of delight, and we played together in the garden. Her infectious laughter filled the air, momentarily lifting the weight on my heart.
Elizabeth watched us with a smile, but when we were alone, her expression turned serious. "Rachel, you seem troubled. What's on your mind?"
I sighed, sitting down beside her. "Elizabeth, I feel guilty. I've accepted John's proposal, but he doesn't know about my past. I'm deceiving him by not telling him I'm from the future. What if there are consequences?"
Elizabeth's gaze was compassionate. "Rachel, you have to follow your heart. If you believe he deserves to know, then you should tell him. But know that he loves you for who you are now, not where you come from."
Her words gave me strength. I realized that honesty was the only way forward. I couldn't build a future with John based on a lie, no matter how difficult the truth might be.
That evening, I found John at his office, going over some papers. My heart pounded as I approached him.
"John, there's something I need to tell you," I began, my voice trembling.
He looked up, concern etched on his face. "What is it, Rachel?"
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "I'm not from this time. I come from the future."