by Webb, Brenda
“Help! Mrs. Bennet! Mrs. Bennet! Help me!”
Inside Longbourn, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet still occupied the parlour. She had insisted they wait in that exact place for the happy couple to come back inside, sure that Jane’s suitor would want to speak to her husband in order to secure permission to marry her. But while Mrs. Bennet occupied herself during the wait by applying lace to Lydia’s new bonnet, her husband had finished his paper and moved to the window to observe the goings-on in the rose garden.
Mr. Bennet positioned himself just in time to get a first-hand view of Bingley’s acrobatic performance. Had he had time to object to the theatrics because Jane might have been hurt, he would have most certainly done so. As it was, he was left to marvel at the man’s audacity, while at the same time, putting aside any doubts he had been having about Mr. Bingley’s intentions. He chuckled silently. After all, Bingley had declared himself quite well with that feat!
Upon hearing Lucas’ screams however, Mrs. Bennet flew out of the house so quickly that she left Mr. Bennet lagging several yards behind. Rounding the side of the house, she ran straight into her would-be son, causing them both to collapse on the ground. And as he scrambled to his feet and began to assist her in rising, Mrs. Bennet exclaimed with ear-splitting decibels, “Oh, Mr. Lucas! What has happened? What is the matter?”
Mr. Bennet had reached the scene just in time to see both parties struggling to get up off the lawn. Biting his lip, he tried hard not to laugh or even crack a smile, as he offered his wife a hand.
“Have you frightened Jane off as well as crippled my wife, Mr. Lucas?”
Gaining her feet, Mrs. Bennet whirled around to quiet him. “Oh, hush, Mr. Bennet! Do not be ridiculous! Mr. Lucas has done nothing of the kind. I am perfectly fine and Jane is… Jane is…” She began turning in all directions and not seeing her daughter asked, “Where is Jane, Mr. Lucas?”
“That is what I was coming to tell you, madam. She has been taken! Spirited away by a man riding a large stallion! I did not get a good look at him but—”
Mr. Bennet fixed a scowl on his face and took a step towards him, hands on his hips. “You mean to tell me that you let someone take my Jane from right under your nose? And from your appearance, it appears without trying to stop him?”
“I… I had no choice in the matter.” Lucas stuttered, swallowing hard. “He was like a demon! Huge! At least seven foot!”
“I thought you did not get a good look at him. And if he was on horseback, how would you know how tall he was?”
Mr. Lucas’ mind raced. “He… ah… he sat tall in the saddle.”
“Hmmm.”
Seeing Mr. Bennet’s skepticism, he continued. “And… and he wore a black mask, like a highwayman!”
Mrs. Bennet gasped, clasping her bosom. “A highwayman has my Jane? Oh, Mr. Bennet, we must call on Colonel Forster to rally the militia to help us find her!”
Mr. Bennet was enjoying the tale and Lucas’ discomposure immensely, but felt obligated to calm his wife. “There, there, my dear. Let us first get the facts before we summon the troops.” He patted her back sympathetically as he enquired of Lucas, “Are you sure he wore a mask?”
Wiping the sweat now beaded on his forehead, that gentleman nodded vigorously. “And his steed was equally large, at least seventeen hands—”
Mr. Bennet held up a hand, interrupting his fable. “I think you have given me enough description to successfully find him.”
Turning to Mrs. Hill who was now standing a few feet behind, he barked, “Tell the groom to saddle my horse and I shall go see what Mr. Bingley has in mind.”
“Mr. Bingley?” Mrs. Bennet parroted. “What has Mr. Bingley got to do with this?”
Lucas wilted under Mr. Bennet’s glare and could not answer, so her husband obliged.
“Mr. Bingley is the one who abducted our Jane from under Mr. Lucas’s nose.”
She rounded on Lucas now. “Why did you not just say so? A highwayman indeed! Why would you make such claims? My nerves shall never recover from this fright!”
Mr. Bennet was almost inside the house before Lucas thought to offer to accompany him to question Bingley. However, once the idea had surfaced, he purposefully delayed trying to catch up to Jane’s father. For at this point, the Heir of Lucas Lodge was wondering whether his mother would still approve of Jane if news of today’s event reached the gossips of Meryton. After all, Jane had been compromised and was perhaps no longer the best choice for a wife. Seeing that no one was paying him any mind, he slinked towards the front of the house where his horse was tied.
When Mrs. Bennet had finally gotten her wits about her, she turned to find her choice of a husband for Jane riding away. Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she began to dab at her eyes.
“My poor, poor Jane! To lose such a good match as Mr. Lucas and heaven knows what Mr. Bingley has in mind. At least Mr. Bennet will find him and demand that he marry her!”
~~~*~~~
After several minutes of threading deeper and deeper into the woods, Charles reached a clearing and pulled the horse to a halt. He let Jane slip slowly to the ground, then slung a leg over the saddle and slid off to join her. Her eyes were still as big as saucers, and he smiled at her innocent expression. Tenderly he smoothed a few blond curls that had escaped the cluster atop her head. Still she did not speak.
“Miss Bennet,” he began. She blinked several times, an uncomprehending expression upon her face. “I have returned to Meryton for the express purpose of—”
Suddenly, Jane brought her hands up to cover her face murmuring, “Oh, my heavens! What will Mr. Lucas tell his mother?” Shakily she turned away from him.
Bingley turned her back around to face him, pulling her hands from her face as he took them in his own. “I hope he tells her that you are taken and that there is no longer reason for him to call on you.”
Her lips trembled as she managed to say, “Ta… taken?”
“Yes, taken. As in engaged to another man… engaged to me.”
She seemed lost in total disbelief so he smiled lovingly, tipping her chin up with one finger. “I love you, Jane Bennet. Say you will be my wife.”
She nodded.
“Say it.”
“I… I will!”
Charles cupped the back of her head and began threading his fingers through her golden hair as he guided her mouth to his. Capturing her perfect pink lips, he began a light, chaste kiss. However, as she responded to his urgings and her lips parted, their passion grew. Hearing a sigh, he pulled back to study her, surprised to see tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.
“Jane? Please tell me that those are tears of joy.”
She nodded vigorously, whispering, “I am so happy, Charles. I love you too.”
He could not resist kissing her anew, pouring every ounce of the loneliness he had felt for the last few weeks into the kiss. His longing grew, and he pulled her tighter against his body—so tight she could feel the evidence of his desire and it inflamed her own. Finally, breathless, he quit the kiss, very much aware of where it was leading.
“I suppose we should get back to Longbourn before your father comes after me with a shotgun.”
Mr. Bennet’s voice boomed through the glade. “I think it is far too late for that, young man!”
Jane and Charles both jumped, stepping back from one another. They were stunned as her father kicked his horse into the clearing from his hiding spot in the forest. One of his hounds now bounded ahead of him, running in circles around them and providing ample evidence of how he had found them so quickly.
~~~*~~~
Ramsgate
Gatesbridge Manor
As the Wilkens’ coach traversed the last few feet of the gravel drive that led to Gatesbridge Manor, Elizabeth took in the estate. She had to acknowledge that the mansion was very imposing and regal, though not as beautiful as she imagined it would be. It was constructed of a pink-coloured stone and had very little embellishment—no columns across the
portico, no shutters or wrought iron around the windows. And her view of the grounds from the coach window showed carefully landscaped lawns but few flowers or areas left as nature intended.
The coach came to a complete halt, and her stomach began to churn, just as it did whenever she chastised herself for agreeing to accompany Miss Wilkens to this place. Would her brother be there to greet them? How would she manage to avoid being alone with him if she was under his roof?
As a footman came forward, her attention was drawn to the small number of people waiting to greet them. Pleased that Wilkens was not among them, Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief at her good fortune.
Suddenly the door to the coach flew open, and the footman reached inside to hand Alfreda down from the carriage. Elizabeth was next to step out, followed by Mrs. Armstrong. By that time, there was a large woman coming down the steps towards them, and she wondered at the frown on her face.
“Miss Alfreda,” the unsmiling woman said while dropping a small curtsey. “We are pleased you have arrived safely.”
Alfreda turned to Elizabeth. “This is our housekeeper, Mrs. Cuthbert. She and her husband have faithfully served our family for the last thirty years or more.”
Elizabeth smiled at the woman who only nodded curtly and turned to direct the footmen with the luggage. Glancing at the other servants, she noted that they, too, had similar frowns and would not meet her eyes. Having never been introduced to such dour servants, she began to wonder why they would act so coldly or were not corrected. However, her musings were interrupted by Alfreda.
“Come inside, Elizabeth! I cannot wait to show you our home.”
Our home?
Elizabeth paused to regard Alfreda who had a very pleased expression upon her face.
“For it will be your home as well, once you and Brother are married.”
~~~*~~~
Chapter 19
Milton
Ashcroft Park
It was evening by the time the coach entered the long drive to Lady Ashcroft’s estate, which was situated almost exactly half-way between London and Ramsgate in the town of Milton. Audrey’s keen eye was already examining the manor house as they entered the long front drive to Ashcroft Park.
The exterior of the edifice was beige sandstone, three stories high, lined with pristine white columns across the front and matching shutters on every window. Even the balconies were surrounded by white ironwork, not in a busy pattern as some she had seen, but impressive enough to add to the beauty without overpowering it. One year, while they were in Town for the Season, Joseph had had the balconies redone in the ironwork simply to please her, as she had admired them on another grand house. Lady Ashcroft smiled in recollection of how proud he had been when showing her the results.
This estate had been in her late husband’s family for years, and she loved it dearly, though she no longer visited regularly. There were far too many memories to face there, and it was much too easy to leave when she felt overwhelmed. Consequently, after her husband’s death, Audrey had taken to residing most of the year in London, even though she preferred life in the country.
When Fitzwilliam had expressed a wish for her to live with him and Georgiana, she had eagerly accepted, knowing they spent most of their time at Pemberley. There had been one point when she had considered selling Ashcroft Park, but she could not go through with it. Joseph had loved it so. No, she would leave it for Richard. Fitzwilliam certainly did not need it, and she doubted her brother would be very generous with his second son in view of how he had stood up to him. Lady Ashcroft smiled, imagining the earl’s face when he learned the details of her will. Her thoughts were interrupted as a footman opened the coach door, and she followed Georgiana out, eager to stretch her legs.
As her niece hurried up the steps, she was greeted by the housekeeper, Mrs. Parker. However, knowing what was to come next, the faithful servant did not walk down to meet her mistress. Instead, she waited patiently on the portico while, as was her custom, Audrey Ashcroft ordered the coach on to the stables before slowly making a complete circle where she stood, taking in every aspect of the property. This was her own way of greeting the estate that had been her home with Joseph, and she was very pleased to find it almost the same as when he lived here.
As usual, the realisation that she had last seen her beloved on this very spot produced a terrible ache in her heart, and upon completing the circle, she closed her eyes. It was as though time had stool still, she felt once more the softness of his kiss and heard his whispers of devotion as he bade her goodbye on that fateful day. Promising that he would return as quickly as possible and adamant that she wait at Ashcroft Park since she was great with child, he had entered a similar coach and was lost to her forever. When word had come that his ship had sunk, the shock of it had caused the loss of their child as well.
“Aunt?”
Georgiana’s uneasy voice penetrated her consciousness, bringing her back to the present. Her niece had reached the entrance of the house before turning to see that she was still standing where she had alighted from the coach. Pasting on a smile in order to staunch the tears that threatened, Audrey Ashcroft turned and hurried up the steps.
“You know I always make my turn-about when I exit the coach.”
Georgiana’s dark blue eyes were unsmiling as they searched her. “I know. But you always look so sad afterward that it worries me.”
Pulling her into a quick hug, Lady Ashcroft released her and pushed her towards the door playfully. “Oh, do not fret over me, child. It is just old ghosts coming to call. I may look sad, but actually, I am very blessed to have so many happy recollections of this place.”
As Georgiana entered the house, she began the requests that always accompanied a visit here. “Will you tell me again the story of how you and Uncle met? And how he chased after you until you caught him?”
Lady Ashcroft managed a small chuckle. “I have told you that story a dozen times.”
“Yes, but it is so romantic. And will we go to the gallery so you can show me his portrait and tell me once more how he hated standing still so very long and recount how you tried to make him smile so the artist would get angry?”
“If that is your wish.”
“You know I never tire of hearing you tell of Uncle Joseph.” Georgiana’s eyes clouded again. “I only wish I had known him.”
“I wish you had too, darling girl. He would have loved you so. He always wanted a daughter.”
By then they had entered the large foyer of the warm inviting home, and Mr. Parker, the short, balding butler, was hurrying forward. He greeted them warmly as he took their wraps and gloves.
“Lady Ashcroft, what a pleasure to have you here again!” He could not help beaming at Georgiana. “And you, Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana blushed and nodded, while her aunt replied, “Thank you, Parker. I can truly say that it is good to be home once more.”
Mrs. Parker had managed to get ahead of them and was backing towards the grand staircase as she recounted all the preparations. “Your rooms are ready, and I have everything in place for your baths. The water is almost hot enough, and Cook will have dinner ready by the time you are finished bathing.”
“I can always count on you to have everything in order,” Lady Ashcroft commented as the housekeeper beamed with pride. Then she focused on her niece. “What say you to having trays sent to your sitting room after we have bathed? It will be more comfortable than just the two of us occupying the dining room.”
“That is a wonderful idea. I am really quite tired, but I was hoping to prod at least one story out of you before I fall asleep.”
Her aunt laughed. “Then let us hurry so we shall have the time.” Then turning again to Mrs. Parker, she added, “It is settled. We shall have dinner in Georgiana’s sitting room right after we finish with our baths.”
“Yes, madam.”
As the long-time housekeeper watched her mistress hurry up the stairs behind her niece, she recalled that whe
n the Master had brought her here as a bride, Lady Ashcroft had instantly charmed them all and had taken her place as though she had always been a part of the household. Effortlessly carving out a spot in all their hearts, she could not have found a more fitting or more beloved mistress for Ashcroft Park. Their union had been ideal, and all was right with the world until the Master had been lost at sea. But despite the passage of time, his widow had stayed faithful to his memory and remained dedicated to his ancestral home and to the welfare of those who served there. No, not a one of them could complain of how they had fared, though they had known great sorrow.
Mrs. Parker had often dreamt of how life might have been had the Master not perished or had the child at least survived to term. Surely if the boy had lived, their lives would have been so very different. They would have had the joy of seeing their Master’s son mature into a man—someone to take his father’s place, and the Mistress would not have stayed away so much. But alas, that was not to be. Not only did the child die, but his mother almost perished as well—her sorrow being so great. Only Lady Anne Darcy, who had lost so much herself, had been able to reach her youngest sister.
It was likely due to the fact that Lady Anne brought young Master Darcy with her and he brought laughter back into the house. Then later, Georgiana joined her brother to brighten her life. Even now, these two are a balm to her soul! God bless them!
Suddenly aware that her eyes were pooling with tears, Henrietta Parker took a ragged breath and looked about to see if anyone had noticed. Though several maids were working in that area, none met her gaze. Taking stock of herself, she rose to her full height, put on her usual sober expression and went in search of a footman to carry the pails of hot water. After all, she always found plenty of time to dwell on what might have been when the Mistress left again.
