by Greer Boyd
Stunned and somewhat shocked, Mary simply stared at him with a look of sheer amazement on her face and could not say a word.
David, misinterpreting her lack of response or voice, continued, “I did not want to make my declaration of love for you in company, but as you are aware, my mother, Georgiana, and Elizabeth have situated things so that no unmarried woman is ever without chaperonage.”
When she still did not speak but continued to stare into his face with a growing look of alarm, he became concerned, “I . . . I am sorry Miss Bennet. It was not my intention to ambush you with the declaration of my feelings or my offer of marriage, and I will understand if you feel that I have assumed too much. Forgive me.”
Charles and Jane still said not a word, but now they looked to Mary with reassurance, ready to provide any assistance she might need.
Finally, finding the words that she had struggled for, she sought his face, “David, I was gifted neither with a mind as quick as my sister Elizabeth’s, nor with a beauty to rival her or Jane’s. Therefore, it took a minute or two for me to realize that you would truly want me, and to arrange my thoughts to respond.”
She blushed brightly, “I love you very much David and truly cannot see my future without you either.”
As he came to stand before her and enclosed her delicate hands in his, she tipped her head up and smiled sweetly at him, “I will most willingly consent to be your wife.”
Charles and Jane burst into laughter and applause, as David grabbed Mary and swung her around in a great circle before clutching her tightly to him and gifting her with a most amorous kiss.
“Well,” Charles chuckled as a broad smile graced his face, “as brother to Mary, I give my wholehearted consent, for I can see that she is as happy as you are. But, I still need to garner approval from Mr. Gardiner, as he is also guardian for Mary.”
Without taking his eyes from Mary, David reached into the pocket of his greatcoat, retrieved a letter addressed to Charles, and promptly handed it to him. He immediately recognized the handwriting as that of Mr. Gardiner. “Charles,” David smiled conspiratorially, “I asked for Uncle Gardiner’s consent before he departed for London, letting him know that I had not approached Mary with my request, but, wondered if he would be agreeable should she say yes.”
As Charles opened the letter, he could not keep from laughing again as he read the letter aloud.
Charles,
Where matters of the heart are concerned, one should not stand in the way. I very much approve of the Viscount and feel that he and Mary will do well.
Please send an express once he has accomplished his task.
Your Uncle,
Edward Gardiner
“Well,” concluded Charles, “It seems that you only need to select a date. And, if you thought that you were never alone before, do not think that the chaperonage will lessen now.”
David quickly spun Mary around again, hugging her close, and giving her another amorous kiss before removing his arm from around her to stand an acceptable distance apart. “I promise to be the utmost gentleman,” as he asked, “but can we have as short of an engagement as is socially acceptable?”
Again, Mary pertly cocked her head to one side, “I shall do my best. May we return to Pemberley House so that I may tell Elizabeth?”
“And, I may tell my parents.”
“Oh, David,” asked Mary with a look of great concern on her face as she nervously bunched and un-bunched the skirt of her riding habit, “do you truly think that your mother will approve of me?”
“Mary, my love, she will probably have the invitations sent by express this very afternoon. She has always wanted more daughters,” replied David gleefully, and then, eyes dancing, he quickly stole another kiss.
When the four riders returned to Pemberley House, they approached the large sitting room where the rest of the family was gathered and talking in a very lively manner. Annabel saw the party as they neared the sitting room, and ran from the room to first hug her brother then to grasp the hands of Jane and Mary.
“Oh, we have the best news ever. Piers asked Georgiana for her hand in marriage, and she has accepted him. Is that not the most wonderful of news?”
David looked to Mary then to Charles and Jane as he grinned broadly, “Shall we join the celebration?”
“By all means,” replied Charles stifling a laugh.
The four walked into the sitting room and immediately went to congratulate the young couple.
“Piers, Georgiana,” inquired David as he took Mary’s hand into his own, “will you also wish us happiness?”
At first, Georgiana did not understand, but when Piers gave David a hearty clap on the back, she understood immediately. With face aglow, she turned to hug Mary and offer warm wishes. Then David quickly steered Mary to his mother, and with obvious pride announced, “Mother, Mary has consented to be my wife.”
Literally before the words were completely out of his mouth Annabel and Aunt Eleanor together embraced Mary. “Now I will have a sister,” enthused Annabel, only to have Aunt Eleanor happily correct her, “You will have THREE sisters, and I will have another daughter.”
∞∞∞
Needless to say, Aunt Eleanor was beside herself as she began to make plans for a most wondrous engagement party. Dinner that evening was as animated as lunch had been, and, as night fell, everyone slowly made their way to their bedchambers.
Elizabeth was having a difficult time letting go of her excitement enough to find sleep. She knew Mary would not find sleep easily this night either, so she went to Mary’s door, knocked softly, and after helping her into her dress robe and slippers, led her up to the nursery.
“Being with the children always brings me peace. I hope that it will help to soothe you as well,” she offered as she pulled Mary to one of the rocking chairs sitting close to the cribs. Then she went to Thomas’ crib, picked him up gently along with his blanket, and laid him in Mary’s open embrace. Taking Anne Elizabeth into her own lap, she began to rock back and forth as did Mary. They talked softly about the events of the day and of her and Georgiana’s extraordinary good fortune.
“Lizzy,” exclaimed Mary as she adjusted the blanket around Thomas and held him more tightly to her, “I am truly so happy. I know that David is a good man. But, I am somewhat embarrassed by how my body responds to his nearness. And, Lizzy, I am ashamed to say that I could feel a physical response from him when he hugged me tightly, and when he kissed me, I nearly forgot to breathe.”
Elizabeth chuckled, “Mary, until you are married, you and David will have to be as circumspect and diligent regarding the dictates of propriety as are William and I.”
“How will you be able to bear William’s closeness for the remaining months of your mourning?”
“I have waited a lifetime for him. What are a few more months?” Soon the gentle motion of the rocking, and the soothing, even breathing of the children lulled both sisters into a pleasant slumber. It was in the early hours of the morning that Nurse Lauren came into the nursery, roused the sisters, and returned her young charges to their cribs.
Walking arm in arm back to their bedchambers, the sisters became aware of a commotion in the foyer. When they reached the top of the stairway, they met a footman with an express envelope for Elizabeth. She watched as two other footmen, following behind him and carrying similar envelopes, disappeared down the hallway.
“Thank you, Mr. Giles,” Elizabeth turned abruptly to Mary as she opened the letter, “It is from Charlotte.”
Elizabeth,
Anne is quite ill and asked for you to come to Rosings Park as soon as you can if at all possible. The express rider is to wait for your response. I fear that Anne may not last the four days necessary for your journey.
Please hurry.
Charlotte
Elizabeth passed the note to Mary to read, as she hurried to find Aunt Eleanor. Entering the hallway to the family wing, she saw Darcy emerge from his study on his way to his aunt’s roo
m as well. “How quickly can you be ready for the journey to Kent?” he queried.
“As soon as I can be packed,” she replied, “certainly no longer than an hour.”
“Good, please have your maid begin.” Looking back over his shoulder, he added, “You will probably need clothing for at least two weeks possibly longer.”
As Darcy reached his aunt’s room, he found David was already there, prepared to ride to London to collect Richard.
“David,” Darcy placed his hand on his cousin’s shoulder, “Richard has already been sent an express and will arrive at Rosings Park long before your parents and Elizabeth and I do. Will you stay and look out for my family while we make the journey?”
“Of course,” replied David humbly. “You do not even have to ask. Anne and I had a long and fulfilling talk before she left for Kent. We said our goodbyes then. I believe that she knew what was coming, and that was the reason for her sudden desire to be away.”
“I fear that you are correct.” Then turning to his aunt he asked, “Could we be ready to depart within two hours?”
“William,” she responded succinctly, “you know that it has never taken that long to have me packed. Your Uncle and I shall be ready within an hour and a half at most.”
“Then, I will send an express back to Kent immediately, telling Anne and Charlotte of our anticipated arrival, and dispatch another rider to arrange for the lodging along the way. I think that three carriages should be sufficient. You and Uncle will ride with Elizabeth and me. The second carriage will be for the maids and the third for the valets while the additional trunks will be distributed over the three carriages. Fresh teams are already stabled along the way and will be available at each inn,” concluded Darcy.
As he left his aunt’s bedchamber, he sent a footman to request that Charles and Piers join him in his study as quickly as possible. When they arrived, he notified them of the happenings of the morning. Along with David, he asked each for the watch care of his family and his estate in his absence, to which they readily agreed.
While Darcy supervised the loading of the trunks and checked over the carriages, horses, and their harnesses along with the groomsmen, Elizabeth waited in the small sitting room with Aunt Eleanor and Uncle James, Jane, Mary, and Georgiana. She had instructed Nurse Lauren to bring the children there even in their nightclothes as soon as they were awake. Both she and Darcy wanted to say their goodbyes to them personally.
When Darcy was notified that the children were awake, he hastened to the sitting room, arriving just as they did. Elizabeth knelt before them. As she embraced Thomas and then Anne Elizabeth, Darcy knelt beside her knowing that this was to be the first time that she would be separated from her son for so long a period of time. She spoke softly to both of them, “Thomas. Anne Elizabeth. Papa and Mama must travel to see Lady Anne and will be gone for two or possibly three weeks.” She gathered the hands of her sisters and Georgiana and placed the hands of the children into the collective hands of the three women. “We love you very much, but now we are entrusting you into the care of Aunt Jane, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Georgiana. Please listen to them and do as they direct you. Papa and Mama will be back as soon as possible.”
She then took Darcy’s arm and headed swiftly for the carriages, followed immediately by Aunt Eleanor and Uncle James. As they slowly pulled away from Pemberley House, Georgiana looked at Jane, who now held a hand of each child in one of her own.
“Does Elizabeth do that each time she has to leave Thomas?” asked Georgiana as she tenderly mussed his hair.
Jane smiled, and, as they led the children back up to the nursery, explained, “Yes. For Elizabeth, it is a ritual she started when Thomas was still an infant. Whenever she knew she would be away from him overnight even for one day, she wanted him to know that she loved him and trusted those with whom she was leaving him. When we were very young, Mama would sometimes go away with Papa and be gone for several days, leaving us with only the servants to look after us.”
Georgiana tried to hide her astonishment, but Jane insisted, “Our family was not always close. When we were children, Mama often blamed us for not being born male, and frequently told us that we would be less of a burden if she simply left us with gypsies. I knew that Mama was just frustrated with our situation and the younger ones simply thought Mama was being funny . . . well, possibly not Mary, but Elizabeth took it to heart. She was frequently on Mama’s bad side, because of all of the sisters, Elizabeth was the most like our Father: very intelligent and very curious, traits that did not endear her to Mama.”
As they reached the nursery, the children’s nurses met them. As an additional reassurance that she was indeed carrying out her sister’s wishes, Jane knelt before the children, “Thomas. Anne Elizabeth. Your mama and papa love you very much and will be back as quickly as they possibly can. I am entrusting you to Nurse Lauren and Nurse Harriett. Please listen to them and do as they direct you.” The children hugged both Georgiana and Jane then ran to their nurses.
Jane smiled thoughtfully, “You really cannot say it too often.”
∞∞∞
The carriage ride from Pemberley to Rosings Park took almost four full days as rain slowed the last two days of their journey. At each of the Inns along the way, Elizabeth’s maid, Katie, slept on a cot at the foot of her bed. Georgiana had talked with Elizabeth and told her that Katie would be taking her place as chaperone while they traveled. If Darcy wondered why Katie was always at Elizabeth’s side whenever they were not in company of his aunt and uncle, he never questioned either Elizabeth or her maid.
Charlotte and Richard met the carriages as they stopped at the main door of the house at Rosings Park. “Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, I am so glad that you are here. Lady Anne has been asking for you both since early yesterday morning,” announced Charlotte, wringing her hands in fretfulness.
As the party entered the house, they handed their outerwear to the awaiting footmen, and headed up the stairs to Anne’s room.
“Our rector, Mr. Whitehill, and his wife are with her now. They have been faithful to come each day and sit with her while I attend to other duties that she has asked of me,” offered Charlotte, leading them up the stairs.
As they entered the room, the smell of sickness hung heavy in the air. Darcy immediately went to Anne’s bedside, and the rector and his wife stood up from their seats to allow him to take their place. As they stood, Elizabeth noticed the face of the rector’s wife. Somehow she looked very familiar. Then it struck Elizabeth: except for the hair colour, rich blond instead of dark chocolate, she looked remarkably like Annabel, especially the lavender-colour eyes.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mrs. Elizabeth Mills, Lord and Lady Matlock, James and Eleanor Fitzwilliam, may I introduce you to the rector of the Hunsford parsonage at Rosings Park and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Whitehill,” said Charlotte as she indicated each person with a wave of her hand in their general direction.
“Mr. Darcy,” stated Mrs. Whitehill with a tentative smile, “how very nice to see you again.”
As Darcy turned to her, he recognized her immediately. “Miss Carrathers?” he asked.
“I have been Mrs. Whitehill for a bit over nine years now,” she asserted, as she smiled lovingly at her husband. “As all of the parishioners here know, my husband is a very caring and forgiving man.”
Darcy extended his hand to Mr. Whitehill and affirmed, “Very nice to meet you Mr. Whitehill. A parish is always much better served when overseen by a man of your character.”
“Mr. Darcy, it is indeed very nice to meet you. My wife has told me of your assistance to her. We are very appreciative,” replied Mr. Whitehill. Then, nodding a slight bow toward Darcy, he put his hand on the small of his wife’s back. “Well, we will leave you now, but we are at the parish house just across the way should we be needed at any time.”
After they had left the room accompanied by Richard and Charlotte, Aunt Eleanor came to sit in the chair beside Darcy. “William,” she asked, “is Mrs. Whi
tehill Annabel’s mother?”
“Yes, Aunt,” acknowledged Darcy looking at Elizabeth, “she is.”
“What a lovely young woman,” Aunt Eleanor smiled broadly. “I believe I have just seen how my daughter may look in the future.”
“The hair colour may be Wickham’s, but thankfully Annabel’s demeanor is that of her mother,” stated Uncle James without hesitation.
“Wickham?” asked Elizabeth, her brow furrowed and her gaze traveling quickly from Darcy to the older woman. “Aunt Eleanor, Annabel is not your daughter?”
“Yes, she is,” said Aunt Eleanor resolutely as she sat back regally and raised her eyes to meet Elizabeth’s. “I did not give birth to her, but she is truly my daughter.”
“Of course, she is,” acknowledged Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, Darcy,” uttered Anne in a very weak voice, “do not mourn for me. I forbid it. Look out for Richard and for Charlotte, for I love them as much as I do you. They will need your help very much once I am gone.”
