It was such a pleasure to have no hesitancy about attending her daughter. Aside from Mrs. Hawkins and the other servants, no one else was residing at Netherfield; no one to think it odd how she doted on the little girl. She had full reign over her daughter’s care.
Elizabeth was blissfully unaware of any threat to her enjoyment as she basked in the pure bliss of her daughter’s company, which today found the little girl quite engrossed with trying to catch a butterfly. As it landed on a flower, Ellie would point at it, urging her mother to hurry towards it, only to have it fly away again out of reach. This occupied much of the afternoon to Elizabeth’s delight.
How she wished that this was the way it would always be. She knew her time alone with Ellie was growing short. Mr. Darcy would be back soon, and she would have to relinquish guardianship of her daughter.
While she was in no hurry for Mr. Darcy’s return, she had to admit she was anxious to learn if he had devised a plan that would allow her to remain in Ellie’s company. The subject had never been far from her mind. She hoped that he had been serious in his intentions on this matter. But she had to admit, whatever faults Mr. Darcy might have, he had always kept his word to her.
As they were making their way back to the house, she noticed a rather large and ornately decorated barouche in front of the entrance. She looked inside at the red velvet cushions and plush carpeting, wondering who could own such a thing. Certainly it was no one of her acquaintance.
The housekeeper greeted her nervously, opening the door before she had even approached it. As she stepped into the foyer, she observed Mrs. Hawkins pacing back and forth. A momentary look of relief passed over the woman’s face as she saw Elizabeth, but the look of distress returned almost immediately.
“What is all the excitement?” asked Elizabeth, as she untied the ribbons of her bonnet. “It looks like we have visitors.”
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh has been waiting for Ellie’s return, Miss Bennet,” said the housekeeper with a much worried look upon her face. “She is waiting for you in Mr. Bingley’s study.”
She had heard the name before, of course, from her cousin, Mr. Collins. She knew the lady was aunt to Mr. Darcy, mother to Mr. Darcy’s late wife, and therefore, grandmother to Ellie.
“How nice she has come to visit Ellie,” said Elizabeth seemingly unaware of the pervasive tension around her.
She looked at her daughter, and the little girl looked back at her with adoring eyes. “Come, Ellie, let’s go see your grandmother,” she said as she nestled the little girl in her arms.
As soon as she opened the door, the woman rose from her chair. “Good afternoon, Lady Catherine. I am Elizabeth Bennet. I am happy to finally make your acquaintance.”
“Where have you been with my granddaughter? I have been waiting an hour at least!”
So much for civilities.
As the little girl eyed the woman, she clung tighter to Elizabeth’s neck, hiding her face.
“I’m sorry, Lady Catherine; I was not informed that you would be visiting, or I would have made sure that Ellie was here upon your arrival.”
“It had been my intention to pay a surprise visit to my granddaughter, but now that I have been informed of my nephew’s abandonment of her, I see I shall have to take a more active role in her welfare. I shall take her back to Rosings where she can be properly looked after.”
Elizabeth unconsciously held her daughter closer.
She did not want to be rude to Mr. Darcy’s aunt, but she was not going to let Ellie leave the house with anybody. She tried to maintain a pleasant and polite demeanour.
“I assure you, Lady Catherine, she is being looked after quite competently right here. We are all only too happy to attend her needs.”
“Yes, I’m sure she is being well attended but by whom? Servants? Obviously Fitzwilliam has things to attend that are more important than looking after my only grandchild. What kind of father abandons his daughter to go traipsing around London? I will take her to Rosings where she can be with family.”
“I’m afraid I cannot allow that, your ladyship. Mr. Darcy has left his daughter in my care. I would be remiss in my responsibilities should I let you take her from here without his permission.”
“I do not need permission, Miss Bennet; I am the child’s grandmother! I am almost the nearest relative she has. You will hand her over this instant!”
Lady Catherine took a step forward. Elizabeth held her daughter tighter and took a step back.
She had no doubt that Mr. Darcy would be angry with her for not obeying his aunt’s wishes, but something in the way that Ellie reacted to this woman’s presence made Elizabeth most reluctant. Her motherly instincts rose to the forefront.
“I shall not.”
“Miss Bennet, you ought to know I am not to be trifled with. Despite your sister’s advantageous marriage, it is obvious that Mr. Darcy looks upon you as no more than a servant, and a servant knows her place. You will do as you are told.”
Elizabeth reached for the bell pull. Within moments the study door opened, and Mrs. Hawkins entered.
“Ellie has had a long afternoon, Mrs. Hawkins; perhaps you should take her up for her nap.”
Mrs. Hawkins froze momentarily, seemingly stuck in the gravitational pull of Lady Catherine’s glare. With immense concentration, she forced her eyes away from that lady’s most disapproving countenance and took the child from Elizabeth’s arms, trying desperately to avoid any further eye contact with Lady Catherine. She was visibly shaking.
Lady Catherine took a step towards the child, but Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and countered with her own move, blocking Lady Catherine while Mrs. Hawkins rushed out of the study with Ellie in her arms.
Lady Catherine stared at Elizabeth with beady eyes. “Mr. Darcy will learn of your insolence. I am most seriously displeased, Miss Bennet. “
Elizabeth turned her back on the woman and waited for her to leave, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. As soon as she heard the study door slam shut, she found the nearest chair and collapsed into it.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Mrs. Evanston entered the breakfast room and informed him of a gentleman awaiting his presence in the study. “The gentleman is most insistent,” she advised, “and has stated he has important business to conduct.” Darcy released a sigh of annoyance at the unwelcome intrusion but put down his coffee cup and headed for his study.
London was already beginning to wear on his patience. A dinner party the previous evening among the highest of society was little different than that of Lady Waverly’s except that the young ladies who attended were less obvious in their intentions; their intentions being, of course, marriage. However, what they lacked in directness, their mothers more than made up for. This morning his tray was filled with invitations to dine.
As he reluctantly entered his study, he observed a stout gentleman with a very round face and equally round glasses seated in the chair across from his desk. He was dressed in dull brown, which seemed to suit him perfectly. An overstuffed pouch, which obviously contained many papers, was resting on his lap.
As Darcy approached, the man immediately rose from his seat, dropping the pouch to the floor. He seemed torn between greeting his host and picking up the papers that had escaped their confines but chose the latter.
When he had gathered everything, he straightened to offer his greeting.
“I beg your pardon; please excuse me, sir,” he said.
Darcy nodded.
The young man cleared his throat. “I take it, sir, that you are Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, married and recently a widower of Anne de Bourgh, and father to Anne Elizabeth Darcy?”
Darcy walked over and took the seat behind his desk. “That is correct. Do you have business to conduct with me?”
The man seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “I do indeed, sir. I have been trying to contact you for some time.”
“In regard to what, may I ask?”
“Oh, forgive me, sir. I am Walter Whittaker. I am employed at the law office of Jerome Fagan Associates. I have come to execute the final provisions of Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s estate.”
Darcy indicated that he should take a seat, his curiosity piqued.
Mr. Whittaker retook the chair across from Darcy and rested his pouch on the desk. He spent the next several minutes shuffling through the papers it contained.
“Ah, here we are. Yes, the last official business of the estate,” he declared as he adjusted his glasses on his nose. “Sir Lewis de Bourgh had bequeathed to his daughter and sole heir a sum of ten thousand pounds to be paid to her upon attainment of her thirtieth birthday.” He looked up briefly from his papers to catch the eye of his host.
His eyes then went back to his papers as he continued. “In the unhappy event that Anne de Bourgh should die before attaining the age of thirty, the bequest shall be passed down to be shared equally amongst her heirs.”
As he finished, he looked up, waiting for a response from Mr. Darcy.
Darcy’s response was one of surprise, and it was evident by the look upon his face. “So my daughter Ellie is to inherit the ten thousand pounds?”
“That is correct, sir. All I need you to do is sign these papers where I have indicated.”
Darcy looked over the papers for several minutes as he was not going to sign anything that he had not read. After determining that the papers were in order, he attached his signature where required.
“That should conclude our business, Mr. Darcy. May I say how very sorry I am for your loss, sir?”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Mr. Whittaker was placing the signed papers into his pouch, he touched his hand to his forehead. “I don’t know what is wrong with me today. My head seems to be elsewhere except on my business.”
He again opened his pouch and produced an envelope affixed with Sir Lewis’s seal. “This envelope was to be given to Miss Anne de Bourgh on her thirtieth birthday, along with her inheritance. I shall leave it in your capable hands, sir.”
~*~
The carriage stopped in front of the theatre, and Darcy withdrew and helped his sister down. They only had one more day in London, and Darcy could not be more relieved at the prospect of returning to Netherfield. However, both he and Georgiana had been looking forward to tonight’s play, one of Georgiana’s favourites, Twelfth Night.
As they entered the lobby of the theatre, Georgiana looked all around her with pleasure. She always felt like a princess whenever she attended such events. Everyone was so finely dressed, with their best behaviours and manners on full display. Her handsome brother, the attraction of many female theatre goers, escorted her gallantly to their private box. He ensured her comfort and offered the opera glasses for her use during the performance.
At intermission, they again made their way to the lobby to seek refreshments. As Darcy braved his way through the throng of people, he was encountered by Lord Westcott. “Ah, Darcy, what a most pleasant surprise!”
His daughter, Miss Westcott, was immediately by his side and expressed her delight as well. After the usual pleasantries were exchanged, Lord Westcott declared, “Now you must join us for dinner tomorrow evening, Darcy. My daughter and I insist; isn’t that so, Arielle?”
The young woman blushed but quickly responded, “Oh, yes, you must!”
Even though he had no objection to spending a pleasant evening catching up with old friends, he was anxious to return to Netherfield, and this would delay their departure yet another day.
“That is very kind of you, Miss Westcott, but I’m afraid we leave for Netherfield tomorrow morning. I am here with Georgiana,” Darcy said as he indicated her waiting near the stairway to their box. Gaining her attention, her face lit up upon recognizing the faces that accompanied him.
Georgiana made her way through the crowd and joined her brother. “We have just invited you and your brother to dine with us tomorrow evening, Georgiana,” said Lord Westcott. “But he has indicated his intention of departing the city in the morning. Perhaps you can convince him to stay one more day.”
“Brother? Is it imperative that we leave tomorrow? I would so much like to have a chance to visit the Westcotts. Lord Westcott always has such wonderful stories to tell about mother and father. Please, might we stay one more day?” she implored.
Not wishing to disappoint his sister, he acquiesced.
~*~
After the confrontation with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth had almost been tempted to sleep on the floor of Ellie’s nursery. But with her room only two doors away, she convinced herself that she would hear if anything went amiss.
As she entered the nursery the next morning, Mrs. Hawkins turned to her with Ellie in her arms. The little girl’s delight at seeing Elizabeth was immediately reflected in her smile.
“Tell me, Mrs. Hawkins, how long are you to remain in Mr. Darcy’s employ?”
“Not too many more weeks,” Mrs. Hawkins replied. “Ellie will soon no longer require my milk. I have been gradually weaning her off it. And I have already been contacted to work for another couple soon. The wife is expected to give birth within the next two months.”
Elizabeth thought about this information for a few moments before asking, “Do you know if they have already engaged someone else to look after Ellie?”
“I believe Mrs. Reynolds is interviewing for the position right now.”
“Mrs. Reynolds?” asked Elizabeth.
“Yes, Mr. Darcy’s housekeeper. She has been like a member of their family for many years.”
Elizabeth dismissed the subject for the moment. “Have you seen the new doll Georgiana was sewing for Ellie? I have been looking for it for days but cannot find it anywhere.”
“I believe Miss Georgiana was putting some finishing touches on it. It is probably still in her room. You go and look for it while I finish dressing Ellie.”
As Elizabeth entered Georgiana’s room, she looked around for the doll. Retrieving it from the bed, she turned to leave but noticed some miniatures on the dresser. Closer inspection revealed one to be of Mr. Darcy, and she smiled at the likeness. She decided she would borrow the small oval painting with an idea in mind.
~*~
The morning of their departure was finally upon them, and Darcy was eager to return to Netherfield. Georgiana had impeded their departure when she requested an opportunity to browse a few of the shops of London. In the second shop they visited, Georgiana noticed her brother’s impatience at her indecision and questioned him.
“What is it, Fitzwilliam? You are not concerned for Ellie, are you? I am sure Miss Elizabeth is being most attentive to her needs.”
“No, I believe I could not have made a better choice than Miss Elizabeth in whom to entrust Ellie’s care. I . . . I guess I am just anxious to see her again.”
“Ellie or Miss Elizabeth?” asked Georgiana as she raised an eyebrow.
“Why, Ellie, of course,” answered Darcy as he felt his complexion change colour.
“Are you sure, Brother?” she teased. “I could not help but notice your preference for Miss Elizabeth’s company at the ball.”
“Yes . . . I think very highly of her. She is a most interesting young woman. One cannot help but admire her. Do you not agree?” he asked.
“I like her very much, Fitzwilliam. I have come to value her friendship,” replied his sister.
He smiled at his sister, and, in his most amiable voice he said, “I, too, have come to value her friendship. I am most happy to see that we share the same good opinion.”
“Could we invite her to join us at Pemberley, Brother?”
“I was thinking the very same thing.”
Georgiana gave him a big hug. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”
As they departed the city, he concluded that he was no more susceptible to the ladies of the ton now than he had been on approaching his first season. If anything, he was less interested than ever in anything or anyone the ton had to offe
r.
Even if friendship was all Lizzy could offer him, he would rather spend time within the confines of friendship with her than in the unbounded liaisons so recently offered in London. He also knew that he would compare every woman he would meet to Lizzy, and every one of them he would find lacking.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
As soon as she entered Bingley’s study, he realized how much he had missed her.
“Good evening, Mr. Darcy. I have been anticipating your return. I have been most anxious to speak with you,” she said as she walked towards him.
He rose to greet her and gestured towards the chair next to his, and they both sat. “How did you enjoy your time alone with Ellie?” he inquired.
“You hardly need ask, Mr. Darcy. It was all I had hoped for.” Except for practically throwing your aunt out of the house, thought Elizabeth.
“I trust your trip to London went well.”
“It may not have been all I had hoped for, but it definitely was all I had expected.”
“Do you plan to stay on at Netherfield for a while, or must you now return to Pemberley?” asked Elizabeth.
“Georgiana wishes to stay a few days before we must travel again.”
“Then I shall be glad to have her company for a few more days.”
His two weeks in London had accomplished little in the way of lessening his feelings. His concentration was now rested on her mouth as she spoke, and he recalled the sweetness he had found there.
“I am anxious to hear what solution, if any, you were able to come up with regarding my seeing Ellie, Mr. Darcy. I admit it has constantly occupied my thoughts these past two weeks.”
“I believe I have found an answer, Miss Bennet. As Georgiana has expressed a desire to form a closer friendship with you, I thought perhaps you could spend several weeks during the summer and some holidays at Pemberley as her guest. That certainly would allow ample time for you and Ellie to be together.”
He was not sure just what she had expected him to suggest, but her face most definitely registered disappointment.
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