Chapter 14
Mr Darcy called a meeting immediately upon returning to Rosings that morning. Everyone involved in, as he called it, The Double Wedding Mission must be present. Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, and Jane must form a team to pull the cart of the ladies' interests to accomplish that momentous day. Mrs Annesley would ensure propriety was considered and adhered to at all times. The two grooms would begin that day to complete all the manly tasks involved in the event.
He told the gathering, "The first thing that must happen is Jane must write a letter to her sister stating 'I am willing.' You will tell her all actions you know being taken to accomplish the wedding by the Ides of April."
Jane whispered to Richard. "Is he always so masterful?"
Darcy heard and answered her. "I am not, but I learned very quickly once my father became ill that certain things were required to run an estate properly. The first was to know when to take charge. This is one of those occasions."
"My Papa could have learned a thing or two from you about how to manage his estate."
"Yes, he could. Remember, I have met your father."
"Mr Darcy… excuse me, Fitzwilliam, when exactly is the Ides of April?" Richard kissed her hand as he grinned at his cousin."
"It is the 13th day of the month. As I said you will write the letter, and I will see it is sent express to her. Make certain the first thing you say is, I am willing. Do you believe you will be able to complete it this morning?"
"Yes sir, as soon as this meeting is over, I will not dawdle, but put my mind and fingers to the task."
Darcy thought to himself that Elizabeth's sister had also learned some of her papa's sarcasm. He gave her his most honest smile and said, Yes Jane, I have complete confidence in your commitment to our mission.
For the rest of the meeting, they spent their time accomplishing a very thorough, as Darcy put it, 'division of labour.' His usage of the term he had learned from reading Adam Smith's The Wealth Of Nations caused Richard to choke back a laugh. His cousin glared at him for not being serious enough in front of the ladies.
Eight days after sending her letter to Jane with the proposal for Mr Darcy, Elizabeth received an express.
Hunsford Parsonage, Kent
March 24, 1812
Mr Darcy is willing.
Dearest sister, your betrothed is quite masterful! He has decreed and our band has agreed, we are to have a double wedding as soon as possible after the ides of April. Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy gave me permission to address him so, told me that means the thirteenth day of April. This is the date we are hoping to arrive at Pemberley.
We leave Kent for Hertfordshire two days after Easter. Richard and I will inform Papa of our intention to wed. We have been asked by your betrothed not to mention you. He does not believe the man who disowned you has the right to know. While we are at Longbourn, he will be meeting with Uncle Phillips to ensure all your requirements are legally documented in a marriage contract. I believe he also plans to add to the agreement settlements for you and any children you have. His goal is to have the necessary papers prepared for you to see when we arrive.
From Hertfordshire we travel to London. I will be staying at Darcy House with Miss Georgiana Darcy, and her companion, Mrs Annesley. Richard and Fitzwilliam will reside at the Earl of Matlock's House for propriety's sake. I have become very fond of your soon to be sister. Her demeanour is very timid due to I believe some recent disappointment. Having experienced my own profound loss when we were separated, I am no stranger to melancholy. I am hoping when we are alone, she might confide in me. She needs to talk to another young lady I believe. Her plight has allowed me to realize how fortunate we were to be able to unburden our hearts to each other until our parents thought it best we never talk again.
While the gentlemen are taking care of all manner of legal business, Georgiana and I will be shopping for wedding clothes. I plan to ask Aunt Gardiner to accompany us. I hope you have not been eating too many of those mince pies you have learned to bake. We are ordering your clothes according to the measurements our aunt has from the last new dress from your time in London. All we buy is being charged to the Darcy accounts. I assure you we will not be extravagant. I told Fitzwilliam it is not your way.
Lizzy, the first thing we must do when we arrive in Derbyshire is to indulge in some time alone together. I have barely had a chance to understand our lives are about to change drastically. We will be sisters and cousins for eternity. Our parents tore us asunder but serendipity has joined us once again.
All my love,
Jane
Hill answered the door to an imposing older lady whose voice did not ask but demanded. "I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I must speak with Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"She no longer lives here, your ladyship."
"Where does she live?"
"I believe no one here knows."
"Where is Miss Jane Bennet? I am certain she told me she lived at Longbourn with her sisters."
"She definitely knows Miss Elizabeth lives elsewhere. The rest of the Miss Bennets are here and Miss Jane was here earlier with a gentleman to see her father, but they left several hours ago."
"Take me to your master."
"Yes, your ladyship. I will take you to the mistress to wait while I see if he is available."
Upon arrival at the parlour, Mrs Bennet and her three youngest daughters were expectantly awaiting their distinguished visitor. They had seen the elegant barouche box pull up outside. It was the second such occurance of the day. Jane had arrived home from Kent in an equally impressive carriage. Her greeting to her mother and sisters was brief before she and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who accompanied her, walked to her father's bookroom without any explanation of their intent. In what seemed like less than half an hour later they returned.
Jane said to her mother and sisters "I am on my way to London with Miss Darcy and her companion, Mrs Annesley. Papa will inform you of my plans." With no other words, she returned to the carriage where they could see two other ladies awaiting her return.
Mrs Bennet had called after her to explain what was happening but was rudely ignored. Now, it had been several hours and Mr Bennet had yet to come out of his bookroom. While waiting for him to communicate, she had been fuming about her husband's merciless malice. How dare he withhold the knowledge she suspected had been relayed—an announcement of her oldest's betrothal, or even possibly marriage. Her remaining daughters were at a loss how to tame her histrionics. Jane had always been the one who was most adept at calming their mother.
Just as she almost began protesting her husband's cruelty for the fourth time, Hill announced Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She and her daughters had heard her name numerous times during Mr Collins stay. All heads lifted in startled recognition before standing to make the appropriate curtsies.
Hill returned to the parlor quickly to let all know her master would receive her ladyship. Mr and Mrs Bennet's two youngest were relieved to learn their papa was not averse to being diverted by his heir's patroness. His wife and Mary were less pleased about their guest leaving the room. They both had hopes of learning something about what had transpired in Kent during Jane's visit.
Lady Catherine entered Mr Bennet's bookroom barking a demand. "Where is Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"
He motioned her ladyship to have a seat before he spoke. "I have no idea. I was persuaded by my wife and brother-in-law to disown her and the particulars of her banishment have been kept from all here at Longbourn as part of the agreement."
"Your other daughter, Miss Jane Bennet, seems to know. She is betrothed to my nephew, Mr Darcy's cousin."
"What you say may be so, but Lizzy was not mentioned when she and Colonel Fitzwilliam came this morning to inform me of their impending nuptials."
A decidedly unladylike sound of disapproval exploded from her throat. With the release of her less than well controlled emotions, she finally sat down in the chair opposite him. "Are you at least able to tell me what despicable behaviour caused her to be disowned?"
"Of course. The entire incident was to me a delightful bit of absurdity. She was attending a masquerade in Vauxhall Gardens. The costume she wore was one mostly worn by men during carnival in Venice with a tricorn hat and a gold half mask. She was seen kissing a man dressed practically identical to her by my wife's brother."
"Were there numerous enraged citizens who saw what they thought was two men kissing?"
"No, I was told only Elizabeth's uncle saw. He and my wife were, in my opinion, entirely too squeamish. They could not bear the thought of being connected with the incident."
"Did your brother-in-law try to apprehend the man and make him marry her?"
"Oh yes, the gentleman, still wearing his identical costume to hers, was found playing cards in one of the boxes."
"So, was he forced to save her reputation by marrying her?"
"Yes, Mr George Wickham agreed to do the gentlemanly thing."
"Mr George Wickham was the scoundrel?"
"Yes, your ladyship, he agreed to do the honourable thing, but alas, he did not show up at the church. Do you know him?"
Her face registered disgust as she said, "he was my brother-in-law's steward's son. A true gentleman would have done his duty!"
"Yes, Mr Darcy, who I believe is one, felt just such an obligation when he and Elizabeth were found alone in the library at Netherfield in the middle of the night. According to some gossip I heard, my daughter was in her nightclothes with bare feet."
Lady Catherine's face colored and her tone became accusatory. "Did you demand he marry her?"
Mr Bennet was not in the least intimidated by her ladyship's hauteur. Instead, he chuckled as he replied. "No, I told him it was nothing to me how he resolved his crisis of conscience. You see, by then, I had already been persuaded to disown her for her previous folly."
Her voice gentled from outright ire to dismissive contempt. "Mr Bennet, your daughter seems quite adept at trapping men into marriage. Mr Darcy has been meant to marry my daughter since their infancy, and when I find Miss Elizabeth, I will tell her so."
"She probably will be relieved. She has never been much pleased with the idea of being some man's wife."
A similar sound to the one he had heard a few minutes before came out of her throat. "This conversation is a waste. Do you know where your daughter Jane Bennet has gone with my other nephew?"
"I believe London, although I do not know the address. Your ladyship should talk to Mr Collins about Elizabeth's location. He wrote me in a recent letter of overhearing your nephews talking about her. It seems she might be a shopgirl somewhere."
With that Lady Catherine de Bourgh stood and began her way to the door, when, turning hastily round, she added, "Mr Bennet, I had hoped to find you reasonable, but depend on it, you are not. I am most seriously displeased with your careless attitude toward your parental responsibilities. Do you honestly believe that by disowning your wanton daughter your obligation to protect honourable gentlemen from her wiles ceases? You deserve no more of my attention. I send no compliments to your wife. It is my opinion she must be equally responsible for Miss Elizabeth's deplorable behaviour." She left the room slamming the door behind her.
A few minutes later Mr Bennet joined his wife and daughters. All looked expectantly at him. When he did not immediately speak, but instead appeared to be savouring his encounter with Mr Collins' patroness, she impatiently asked him, "what had Lady Catherine to say? Why would she not rest herself before continuing her journey?"
"I suppose she did not choose it. You and I were accused us of being less than diligent parents, and with that condemnation she would go.
Elizabeth read Janes letter numerous times over two days There was nothing to disappoint, but still insecurity persisted. Was he feeling a similar doubt about their commitment? The business transaction that would join them forever was amenable, but she wished there could be some mention of love or affection. She would have even welcomed some reference to lust.
The memory of that long ago kiss in Vauxhall Gardens caused her to dream about experiencing such a sensual upheaval with Fitzwilliam. And yet the second kiss with Mr Wickham had been less than earth shattering. Still imagining what marital duties with Fitzwilliam might be like occupied much of her time these days. Thoughts of love and possible love were all around.
Uppermost on her mind when not contemplating her own was the wedding of Esther and Jamie. It was to happen the following Tuesday morning. The wedding would be at Mr Goodwin's and Mrs Swift's church. A great deal of convincing by the two, who had both been christened there as babes, was presented to persuade the vicar to allow the marriage of a lady who was Jewish to a gentleman who was Church of England. In the end their standing in the community persisted, and the banns had been read. She hoped the matter of the license for her wedding was part of the manly business Jane had mentioned in her letter.
She had a fitting for the second of the two dresses she was having made this morning. This was the one she would wear to Esther's wedding as well as to greet the Pemberley party on the Ides of April. Every time she thought about Jane asking when it was caused her to chuckle. Upon completion of her fitting, the beauty of the day induced her to walk to the waterfall to continue pondering conjugal relations.
Her favourite spot did not disappoint. The carpet of bluebells in the dense wood surrounding the stream had begun to bloom. She decided she would gather some from here to make a wreath for her hair on her wedding day. As she sat contemplating the beauty, she wondered whether Jane was receiving advice about her wedding night from Aunt Maggie. Perhaps her sister would share any knowledge she had been given. She doubted her mother had been asked to instruct her while she was at Longbourn.
As she did so often these days, she thought of David and the book she had read describing it. This always prompted her to contemplate Fitzwilliam's flanks. What had Vasari found divine with that part of the statue's anatomy? She had become accustomed to the contracting of muscles in her lower belly and the area between her legs that accompanied such thoughts. Her mind switched to wondering whether his library had books explaining such reactions.
Finally, in the hope of ending her useless musings on the nature of lust, she directed her attention to the forbidden path down the hill. She knew for a fact they were not home. It was still early, so she decided to see what her soon to be home looked like.
Just as Elizabeth stepped onto the drive at the end of the path down the hill, she saw Mr Wright coming toward her on horseback. Her first thought was the mortification of being seen trespassing. She was certain he had recognized her. There was no way out of her dilemma. Suddenly she realized she would soon be mistress of this estate in a little over a fortnight. It was nonsensical to be intimidated.
Fitzwilliam's steward did not look disapproving as he greeted her. "Good day Miss Elizabeth. What brings you to Pemberley?"
"I decided to walk to the waterfall to see what it looked like decked out in the latest Spring fashion. The bluebells are beginning to bloom. It is my favourite place for a ramble."
"Yes, it is a beautiful spot. Mr Darcy is quite fond of it as well."
"My sister is in London with Mr and Miss Darcy. They will be arriving hopefully by the middle of April. She just became betrothed to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Since they are all in London, I figured it would harm no one to come down and take a peek at the house."
"Mr Darcy told me the colonel was considering marriage, but I did not know it was to your sister. I have today been to the Ashcroft Abbey accumulating information he needs to negotiate a longterm lease of the property."
"Why does he want to lease it?"
"It is for Colonel Fitzwilliam, so he has a place to live with his bride once he leaves the army. The colonel also should be able to improve certain ventures Mr Brown, the steward, has begun. He will not be an absentee landlord."
"Do you believe the lease will happen?"
"Mr Darcy is determined to persuade Sir Arthur Dugdale, the owner, when he sees him in London. He has significant gambling debts."
Elizabeth hoped the emotions she was experiencing were hidden from Mr Wright. "I hope for my sister's sake, he will be successful. I knew she would be living nearer to me when they married, but it would be so wonderful if it is closer than I expected."
"Miss Bennet, would you like me to apply to Mrs Reynolds to give you a tour?"
"No, I need to return to my duties in the bookshop. Mr Darcy has promised to have me visit when he returns to Pemberley. I will wait."
"At least allow me to have a carriage take you back to Lambton."
To this she agreed. The privacy of the carriage ride provided time for her to mull over the meaning of his generosity to his cousin, her sister and to her. Could she be wrong about his motive for marriage? Was love involved?