Chapter Two

The next morning, Darcy still could not suppress the smile that graced his normally austere face. In his heart, he knew he had always had a tendre for Miss Elizabeth Bennet since they were first in company in Hertfordshire. However, to have the freedom of interacting with her the way they had the previous day, unfettered by the judgement of others as well as himself had liberated his oft hidden personality.

Darcy's peace did not remain long, for as soon as he appeared in the drawing room after breaking his fast, Lady Catherine waited for him, impatiently pacing the room until he arrived. She used the opportunity to reiterate her ambitions for his marriage to her daughter.

She crossed to stand before her nephew with determination, "Darcy, you will desist with this nonsense, do your duty and propose to Anne, this instant, I insist."

Lady Catherine's words sparked Darcy's outrage. He narrowed his eyes, and his jaw became rigid with barely suppressed anger. "Aunt, I was perfectly articulate with my intention when I spoke with you yesterday on this same topic." His stern posture and facial features bespoke with clarity, "It is you who shall desist in importuning me with your nonsense. I shall never marry Anne! That is my final word on this matter."

Lady Catherine reacted to her nephew's statement with disapprobation, "How dare you, my own nephew, speak to me in such a disrespectful manner."

"If you continue to importune me with your outrageous demands, I shall withdraw my monetary support of Rosings in order to fund your lavish lifestyle which Rosings can no longer sustain."

"What is this nonsense of which you speak?" Lady Catherine sputtered with indignation.

"It is not nonsense." Darcy leveled a stare in his aunt's direction. "Your steward has been obliged to request additional funds each quarter for the management of Rosings and the remaining tenants."

"The reason is obviously the mismanagement of the estates needs by my steward, he receives the same funds as have always been provided. You must take the lazy steward to task for not completing his duties to the standards practiced at Rosings." Lady Catherine tried to extricate herself from Darcy's suppositions.

"I have seen the ledgers so do not imagine me to be ignorant as to the reason for the shortage." Darcy elucidated for his aunt, "The deficit is due to your lavish spending and refusal to implement necessary tenant repairs and upgrades. Rosings does not have the income it once did due to the loss of the tenant farmers that are necessary for an estate to run efficiently." This was not the first time he had a discussion with his aunt about the necessities required to run an estate the size of Rosings, however he hoped he could finally convince her of the reality.

"This is why you must marry Anne." His aunt proclaimed, "You could implement all of the necessary changes at Rosings as you have at Pemberley."

"You do not really want me to take over management of Rosings, do you?" Darcy queried with a slight smile. "If I were to do so, the first change I would implement is to send you to the dower house making Anne the Mistress of Rosings."

"You would manage things from Pemberley." Lady Catherine responded haughtily, "Anne would be Mistress of Pemberley and I would continue to be the Mistress of Rosings."

"Aunt, you are delusional if you believe I would leave you to manage Rosings in those circumstances." Darcy spoke with soft intensity, "In fact, I will be in contact with the Earl as he is the executor of Sir Lewis DeBourgh's Will. I have kept my uncle informed as to the state of Rosings finances and he may have a suggestion as how we may return Rosings to its previous state."

"Nephew, this will not be borne," Lady Catherine exploded, "I shall know how to act." She turned angrily to glimpse Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam standing in the doorway.

"Mother, is what Darcy said true?" Anne questioned, "Have you allowed Rosings to decline for this travesty." She waved her arms to indicate the opulent furnishings, "Uncle informed me that Rosings was mine after I reached five and twenty." Tears flowed down Anne's cheeks, "I have been complacent and did not want to replace you as mistress in your own home." Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy moved to Anne to support their cousin and she stood taller, "I shall no longer permit you to take advantage of my generosity," For the first time in her life, Anne defied and challenged her mother, "If you interfere in the management of Rosings, I will have you removed and relocated to the dower house. Do I make myself clear?"

Lady Catherine contradicted her daughter, "My Darling, Anne, these actions are not necessary. You shall marry Darcy, become Mistress of Pemberley as we have always planned, and Darcy will manage and finance the restoration of Rosings and I shall remain mistress of this great estate."

"Mother, Darcy and I will never marry." Anne's response was insistent "I am now Mistress of Rosings and you will suffer the consequences if you try to interfere."

Anne quit the room followed by her cousins, leaving Lady Catherine speechless momentarily.

Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were proud of Anne for taking control of Rosings. To be supportive of Anne, the three of them had meetings with the key staff at Rosings to implement the changes needed to bring Rosings back to prosperity.

Once those tasks had been completed, Anne returned to her chambers as she was feeling tired after the difficult morning. The Colonel and Darcy had talked through what would need to be done to entice the previous tenants back to Rosings or to ascertain how they could recruit new tenants for the farms once the upgrades had been completed.

After all their plans had been concluded, Colonel Fitzwilliam excused himself to write his father of the news.

Darcy also wrote the Earl to inform him of the changes at Rosings and to request his help with Lady Catherine and arranged for both letters to be sent by messenger.

Darcy repined that he had been unable to call on the parsonage as he had arranged with Elizabeth Bennet.

As he thought about waiting until the next day to make his call, he found that notion untenable as his inclination was to visit her now and he would bring along the promised selection of reading material for her to peruse from his private collection.

A short while later, he carried the wrapped package of books as he strolled toward the parsonage.

When Darcy arrived at his destination, he was shown into the private parlor where Elizabeth was located. "Miss Bennet."

"You have found me all alone this afternoon," Elizabeth explained, "as Mr and Mrs Collins are out for the afternoon with Maria."

"You have my sincere apologies, for I was unable to call on you this morning as arranged, however, I am hoping for forgiveness as I have arrived with the promised selection of reading material for you to peruse." Darcy placed the package down and unwrapped the parcel. Elizabeth rose to her feet and crossed to view the proffered books.

Her eyes grew wide as she took in what Darcy had brought, "You have brought me quite an array of books from which to decide, 'The Missionary: An Indian Tale' by Lady Sydney Morgan. I have read another of her books called, 'A Wild Irish Girl' and liked it quite well; however, I have not read this one." Elizabeth ran her fingers along the spine lovingly. Her gaze fell on the next offering and her eyes grew wide, "I do love the 'Life and Options of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' by Laurence Sterne. I have read it many times and it is one of my favorites. As you know, I dearly love to laugh. Mr Darcy, however will I choose?"

Darcy grinned at her excitement, "You may choose as many as you would like in the hopes that you will not have to fall asleep reading Fordyces Sermons again."

"You have so many great possibilities, Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth, A Simple Story by Elizabeth Inchbald, Gullivers Travels and A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, Amelia by Henry Fielding and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, if that was not enough, you have brought Voltaire, Samuel Johnson, Euripides and Sir Walter Scott." Elizabeth's eyes sparkled in merriment.

Darcy laughed, "All you have to do is ask and you shall receive."

"What, no Shakespeare." Elizabeth smiled mischievously.

"As outdated as is the Rosings library, you would find Shakespeare is well represented." Darcy noted with a quirk of his lips.

Elizabeth contemplated, "I am positive you are correct, Mr Darcy. The only time I visited Rosings library, I believed it to be too perfect, every book was shiny and new as though not one had ever been removed from the shelves to be lovingly read by the estate's occupants. As though the volumes were purchased as a symbol of status." She glanced up at Mr Darcy and he saw a twinkle in her eye, "In comparison, in my father's library, all of the books on his shelves are all slightly worn and appear to have been read and well loved."

"I would agree with your assessment of the library at Rosings." Darcy smiled, "You would find the library at Pemberley to also be the repository of well loved and cared for volumes, however certainly well used by generations of Pemberley's residents. To my father and I, adding to the library has been a true labor of love."

Elizabeth picked up two of the books and returned to her previous place on the settee, "At this time, I shall limit my book selection and shall borrow the new Lady Sydney Morgan and Tristram Shandy for when I have finished the first."

"I heartily approve." Darcy expressed as he wrapped the other books back into the parcel.

When he returned his attention to Elizabeth, she indicated a chair, "Please take a seat, Mr Darcy."

He accepted her request as he seated himself across from her as she had recommended. He took a moment to enjoy the sight of her before him, "Miss Bennet, I must again apologize for missing the morning call as had been arranged."

"Mr Darcy, all is forgiven and no further apology is necessary. I must admit to curiosity as to what matter of importance kept you away this morning." Elizabeth queried pleasantly.

With a sigh, Darcy explained the situation which had occurred at Rosings with his aunt and the major changes to be implemented at the formerly great estate. When he finished his recitation of the mornings events, he saw the shock on Elizabeth's face.

"Poor Miss DeBourgh." Elizabeth was sympathetic, "Lady Catherine is sure to make things difficult as all of you work together toward achieving the goals you have set for Rosings"

"Your assessment of Lady Catherine is correct." Darcy articulated with a sigh, "She will never accept her new situation with grace. Her identity is 'Mistress of Rosings' and we are hopeful the Earl will be able to assist us with her ladyship." As Darcy noticed the time, he stood to take his leave, "I am positive in the coming days, I shall be in desperate need of the sanctuary and serenity of our shared 'secret meadow.'"

"Mr Darcy, you may well find me there with my new reading material." Elizabeth suggested with an arch of her eyebrow and slight smile gracing her lips.

Darcy reluctantly took his leave from the parsonage and Miss Bennet. She had lightened his heart with the warmth of her spirit. As he walked slowly to Rosings, he had an epiphany, the meadow no longer held the key to his serenity as his sanctuary was now, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.