“I wanted you to be the first to know, Emmy,” he explained. “I have decided to resign my position in Liverpool. Indeed, I have already written to Mathesons, and I hope to discuss the question of joining my father’s business when we meet.”
Emily was overjoyed. “Robert, I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this news. I have prayed ever since you returned to England that you would come back into the business, and so has Mama. I know Papa would welcome you.”
She could not hide her relief, but was keen to discover what had prompted his decision. Robert was frank in his explanation. “I shall be honest with you, Emmy. I am hopeful, very hopeful, that Rose Fitzwilliam will look favourably upon me. As soon as I have settled my business affairs, I intend to ask her to marry me. In view of my feelings, I cannot continue to live at such a distance from her. What is more, my work suffers from lack of concentration; it is unfair to everyone, including my employer,” he said.
Emily sincerely wished her brother success and happiness, while reminding him to be mindful of the fact that Rose had been wounded and may be circumspect about letting her feelings become deeply engaged again. “I am confident that, were you to be accepted, it will be because she truly loves you and you will be very happy,” she said as she saw him to the door.
***
After they had dined that night, Robert told his parents of his decision to return home and work in his father’s business.
Mrs Gardiner was speechless with delight, and it was quite a while before she could take it all in. So unexpected was the news that she determined to share it with her favourite niece and arranged to visit Pemberley on the morrow.
Aunt and niece were still very close. Many events in their lives over the last twenty years had drawn them into an increasingly intimate relationship. Elizabeth could share in her aunt’s happiness, but even more, she could enhance it by revealing, having first extracted a promise of secrecy, those parts of their conversation with Rose Fitzwilliam’s parents that would allow Mrs Gardiner to understand more fully the reason behind Robert’s decision.
While she was not entirely surprised, for she did admit that Robert had seemed to spend a great deal of time with the Fitzwilliams recently, Mrs Gardiner had no notion of the extent of the understanding between Robert and Rose, or if indeed there was any.
“Would it please you to discover that there was?” asked her niece.
“Certainly. Rose seems a lovely girl with a gentle nature; who could possibly have any objection to her?” she replied, but added with a little sigh, “But, Lizzie, I do hope that Robert is sensible of the responsibilities such a marriage would entail.”
“More than any other marriage?” Elizabeth queried, a little puzzled.
Her aunt nodded and proceeded to explain, “Indeed, yes, because to care for and love someone who has been previously deeply hurt is a very special responsibility. Her parents dote upon her and Robert is a kind man, so I have no doubt that if he married Rose, he would care for her with devotion. I would only counsel some caution.”
Elizabeth, who never failed to be amazed at the understanding and integrity of her aunt, had to agree and admitted she had not thought of it herself. It was generally known that the Fitzwilliams refused their only daughter nothing, particularly not since the tragic death of John Greaves.
Nonetheless, she reassured her aunt, “I am quite certain, my dear Aunt, that Robert will heed your advice. But if they are in love, as I suspect they are, I am also sure they will find happiness together because they are both intelligent people.”
As Mrs Gardiner was leaving, Darcy, who had been visiting the parish school, returned. He greeted Mrs Gardiner affectionately and was told the good news regarding Robert’s return to the business.
“Mr Gardiner is so very pleased, Mr Darcy, as I am too,” she said.
Mr Darcy was delighted and, to his wife’s surprise, suggested that he would throw a party at Pemberley to welcome Robert home.
“We must show that we appreciate his return,” he declared, “and you shall pick the date, Mrs Gardiner.”
Later, writing to Jane, Elizabeth detailed her surprise and pleasure at the news.
My dearest Jane,
I have such good news; if it were not such a wet morning I would have made the journey to Ashford Park to tell you all about it. I may still do that later, but for the moment, this letter will have to do.
There is so much news, you shall have it in little doses.
First, Robert has resigned his position with Mathesons and is returning to Derbyshire, to the delight of our dear aunt and uncle. Even better, he will be going back into his father’s business. Darcy says that Uncle Gardiner intends to offer Robert a partnership.
My second piece of news also concerns Robert; we believe that his decision is linked to his desire to be near a certain lady—Rose Fitzwilliam.
They have been together at several functions, and we have it on the authority of her mother that Rose speaks of him incessantly.
Julian tells me that Robert seems very attracted to Rose. Indeed, at a recent picnic, Julian noted that Robert and Rose were inseparable!
The Fitzwilliams, James and Rosamund, called on us a few days ago, eager to quiz Darcy about Robert—a certain sign, you will agree, that something is afoot. They were given such a good account of Robert’s prospects that they went away quite pleased.
Just think, Jane, would it not be an excellent thing if Robert were to settle in Derbyshire? Our dear aunt has been praying for the day when he would show an interest in the business and take some of the burden off our Uncle Gardiner’s shoulders, for though he is still very keen and active, his health is not what it used to be and Aunt Gardiner fears that he is working far too hard.
With this, Darcy also agrees and because he loves them both dearly, he is very pleased with Robert’s decision. So delighted, in fact, that he has declared that we shall have a party at Pemberley to celebrate Robert’s return, to which you are all invited!
The letter was concluded and dispatched without further ado, and Elizabeth made the most of a rainy afternoon sorting through some of her father’s books, which Mary had sent over from Longbourn.
Some of them were valuable volumes, which could be placed in the Pemberley collection, but many were more likely to be at home in the new circulating library established at Kympton.
Coming upon her in the library, Darcy found her tearful, remembering her father, who had left several characteristic little notes and comments in many of his books, all of which brought back fond memories.
He had also missed Mr Bennet, whom he had grown to respect and whose wit and sarcastic humour had entertained them on many occasions. Darcy knew that Elizabeth had been her father’s favourite and had mourned his death for a long while. He persuaded her to leave her labour of love for awhile and keep him company. He had something to discuss with her.
“Lizzie, my love, I have just come from visiting the new community hall and library that we are setting up at Kympton, and I have an idea which I hope will appeal to you.” Elizabeth listened as he explained, “How would you like to have the library dedicated to your late father?”
Elizabeth did not know quite what to say. She had never considered such a possibility. “The library dedicated to Papa—how is it to be done?” she asked, a little bewildered.
“Quite easily,” said Darcy, pointing out that since the building was situated on a part of the Pemberley estate and most of the money for its refurbishment had come from the Pemberley trust fund, the family would be entitled to dedicate it to whomever they chose.
“Since the main intention is to provide a library and reading rooms for the community, I cannot think of a more appropriate person to whom we should dedicate the building than Mr Bennet, whose love of books and reading was legendary,” he said, adding quickly, “But only if it would please you, of course, my dear.”<
br />
Elizabeth loved his generosity and greatness of heart, but most of all she loved his kindness; she had discovered and treasured it through the years of their marriage and it often brought her close to tears.
Occasionally, in rare moments of melancholy, she had dared to think of the awful prospect of life without him and when she did, a dreadful depression would engulf her. So deeply did they love one another, so completely had she come to esteem and enjoy everything about him and their life together, that she was quite incapable of envisaging life without him, except to know it would be totally insupportable.
Just thinking of it brought tears and Darcy, believing that his mention of her father was the cause of her grief, was immediately sorry and tried to comfort her, “Lizzie dearest, had I known it would upset you, I would never have suggested it. Forgive me, it was only an idea…”
But she would not let him continue. “Darcy, there is nothing to forgive. I am sorry to be so silly as to let my feelings get the better of me. Why, I think it is an excellent idea,” she declared and, very quickly recovering her composure, dried her tears and smiled as she said, “Perhaps, my dear, you should, in future, give me fair warning of your good intentions, so that I do not make a fool of myself.”
They had walked together to the end of the library and stood looking out over the prettiest prospect, from the alcove, which had been Mr Bennet’s favourite reading spot.
“Then you have no objection?” Darcy asked.
“None at all. Indeed, I shall be honoured and so will my sisters—Kitty, Jane, and Mary, at least, I can vouch for,” she said, and Darcy was clearly very pleased.
As they went downstairs, she told him she had written to Jane and was hoping to see her soon, when she would acquaint her sister with his plan for the library. “I am quite certain Jane will feel as I do,” she said. “Papa was such a keen reader and always raged against the ‘forces of ignorance’ that kept poor folk and women uneducated and uninformed; it will truly be a great tribute to him. Many of Papa’s books that Mary has sent up from Longbourn could be included in the collection.”
Darcy was gratified by her response. He had spared neither effort nor expense to have the community hall and its library completed, in the hope that Elizabeth might be persuaded to open it.
When he asked her, she agreed with the greatest pleasure. “Of course, it will be an honour to do so.”
“I am very glad to hear it. I had hoped to please you,” he said, and he kissed her before going out to the stables, leaving Elizabeth contemplating the beauty of a huge rainbow whose arch of evanescent colours spanned the park.
***
Jane’s response to her sister’s letter came sooner than expected, in the form of a visit. Having called on Mr and Mrs Gardiner on her way to Pemberley, she was able to confirm that Robert was indeed intending to propose to Rose Fitzwilliam and had already written to her father.
“Oh, Lizzie, you were so right. Aunt Gardiner is very happy,” said Jane, once the sisters were ensconced in their favourite room. “I believe that while all the rest of us had given up on Robert ever marrying, he seemed too serious and too shy, our dear aunt had always hoped he would find someone suitable.”
“Well, Rose is more than suitable. She is an accomplished and handsome young woman with excellent connections; now that Robert’s own prospects are more settled, if they truly love each other, their happiness should be assured,” said Elizabeth.
Jane’s visit to her aunt had elicited more interesting details. “Lizzie, I believe our cousin Emily has been Robert’s confidante and counsellor on this matter.”
Elizabeth was not entirely surprised. “Emily? Well, she certainly kept her counsel; why, I was with her at the meeting of the hospital board only last Sunday and she said not a word.”
“I understand that Robert had sworn her to secrecy until he had everything worked out right. She did not even tell her mother or James, but now it can be told, since Robert is to dine with the Fitzwilliams tomorrow,” Jane explained, adding that if everything went well—that is, if Rose accepted him—they would announce their engagement immediately.
The sisters were naturally happy for their cousin. He, unlike Richard—who had always been a popular favourite with friends and family—had been a quiet, unassuming young man, and, having spent many years overseas, he had returned a stranger to most of them.
But Jane had some news of her own, which she was sure would excite her sister’s interest. Young Sophie, the Bingleys’ lovely daughter who had recently celebrated her seventeenth birthday, had been invited to spend the Summer in Kent with her sister Emma Wilson and her family.
“Emma is expecting a child and would like to have Sophie stay with her,” Jane revealed to Elizabeth’s great delight.
“Oh Jane, that is excellent news! It will surely complete Emma’s happiness,” she said, and Jane agreed.
“It should be very nice for Sophie too, I know the Wilsons lead a rather quiet life, but they are so close to London, I am sure she will have the opportunity to attend a ball or two and perhaps take in an opera,” Jane said, adding that she hoped it would also give young Louisa a chance to come out of Sophie’s shadow.
“Emily has offered to involve her in her charity work, and Bingley thinks that is an excellent idea. We are keen for her to develop her own interests; it can be difficult for a younger sister to make her own way, but we shall give her every encouragement,” she said.
The sisters spent the rest of the day so happily that by the time Bingley arrived to take his wife home, they were scarcely aware that some six hours had passed.
Robert Gardiner went to dinner with the Fitzwilliams to find that his sister, Caroline, her husband Colonel Fitzwilliam, and their eldest daughter, Isabella, had been invited too. They had heard of his decision to return to Derbyshire and his father’s business, and both Fitzwilliam and Caroline applauded his judgement warmly.
Rose, looking cool and beautiful in a simple silk gown, greeted Robert with a radiant smile and gave him her hand. Robert said he hoped he would have some time to speak privately with her.
Surprising him, she said, “Of course you may. There are some beautiful roses out in the conservatory; I should love to show them to you, but I do believe my father wishes to see you first, Robert.”
Once again, he was astonished by the ease with which she dealt with the situation. Indeed whenever he seemed awkward, she intervened to put him at ease and smooth things over for him. Having already written to his prospective father-in-law, Robert was not expecting to have a meeting with him so promptly.
Sensing that he was somewhat nervous, Rose accompanied him to her father’s study, reassuring him that her father was “by no means an ogre” before leaving him to return to their other guests.
As the evening proceeded, Caroline, seeking to ease her brother’s path, suggested they take a look at the much-vaunted roses in the conservatory. Rose and Robert accompanied her and Isabella to view the famous blooms.
Caroline’s plan became clear when she took a quick look, dutifully praised the roses, and then stepped out into the garden, taking Isabella with her to admire the view.
Robert, realising that she was obviously trying to give him some time alone with Rose, turned to find the lady standing beside him.
With as much courage as he could muster, he declared his feelings, expressing the depth and warmth of his love for her, and asked if she would marry him and so make him the happiest of men.
Rose, whose ability to surprise him continued unabated, listened with great attention and when he had finished, thanked him sincerely and accepted him without pretence or fuss.
Robert, his face reflecting his heartfelt delight, took her in his arms and told her in even more ardent terms how much he loved and admired her.
So engrossed were the couple in establishing the extent of their mutual admiration and happ
iness that the return of Caroline and Isabella went unnoticed until Isabella tripped over a plant stand and the lovers broke apart to accept their congratulations.
Caroline, whose own marriage was the source of great felicity, was overjoyed that her brother was to be similarly blessed, and so indeed was Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was swiftly told the news by his wife.
Thereafter, the evening became a celebration, for James Fitzwilliam had already privately assured Robert of his blessing, and Rosamund welcomed him with affection and hope that he would make her beloved daughter happy.
Following this auspicious event, the dinner party at Pemberley had grown into something approaching a ball, since it was no longer a party to welcome Robert home, but an occasion celebrating his engagement to Rose. The younger members of the families were eager for a ball. Darcy was easily persuaded to overcome his lack of enthusiasm for dancing and a fine group of musicians was hired.
Preparations were afoot to accommodate a very much larger number of guests than had first been anticipated, and Jenny Grantham and her staff were working hard to ensure that all was in readiness.
***
On a warm Summer evening, with only a gentle breeze coming in the open doorway, James Courtney decided to take his two older children along with him on his usual Saturday evening parish visits. Emily and Caroline had agreed to meet and plan their own contribution to the Pemberley Ball.
The sisters had the house to themselves. Sitting around the dining table at the Rectory, they had plans and lists spread out all over when Isabella, who had been out in the garden with little Jessica, came racing into the room.
“Mama, there’s a little boy running up the lane, he looks very frightened and quite exhausted…” And as Caroline and Emily rose to go to the door, she added, “I think he is one of the Irish children from the camp on the moors.”
Believing the child was either lost or come for help (the Irish preferred to ask at the Rectory for assistance, rather than risk rejection or ridicule in the village), Emily went out into the lane to meet him. She recognised him as Tom, whose mother she had helped with food and clothes a few days ago.
The Women of Pemberley Page 15
