Nick looked hopeful, but Anne seemed still in doubt. No wonder, for it would be a bit of a slight to avoid her mother.
'Just go, you two, I'll make up a beautiful excuse, she only remembers you
dead tired, you could easily be resting. And Nick, you and Simon can come to headquarters, too, just be careful with infatuated looks and kisses. I know I'm the worst offender, I'll be very alert. Will you tell Simon? I suppose I'm going to spend some time on my mother-in-law now.'
Which Elizabeth had to as well, actually she would have preferred to meet her real mother-in-law instead of the sister, from what she'd heard Fitzwilliam's mother had been really kind, but she now had to make do with Lady Catherine.
Taking the turn towards the front of the house where she'd met Fitzwilliam on that fateful day of her visit to view the house with aunt and uncle Gardiner, which had ultimately led to their renewed acquaintance and eventual marriage, Elizabeth was just in time to see a carriage driving towards them, to the stables, avoiding the front of the house. She was still wondering who would visit without sending word when she recognised the team and the carriage itself: it was their own London carriage with the slow-footed mares pulling it! Why? Mrs Annesley could send an express if anything was amiss in London, couldn't she? That would be ever so much faster!
Now she recognised the new stable boy driving, and Frederick had spotted the familiarity of the carriage as well.
'Elizabeth, that looks like your London carriage. Are you expecting someone?
Bingley and Lascelles have their own rigs, and your aunt and uncle wouldn't even fit with their children and staff.'
'I'm as surprised as you are, and I won't hesitate to admit that I'm starting to feel a little apprehensive. Who can that be?'
Well, it wouldn't take long to find out since the carriage was approaching rapidly, the driver bowing respectfully before his mistress and her companions. Elizabeth signalled him to stop, which he did, miraculously just where she could see whom he had driven on a three or four day trip with a team and conveyance meant to be used in town only. The horses didn't look the worse for wear as far as Elizabeth could tell, but they weren't very fast unless driven at the top of their endurance.
And then her worst nightmare came to life right in front of her as she first discerned Mrs Annesley, looking rather apprehensive but also, well, alive, and beautiful, and then beside her... oh my, that was papa!
Her very own father, who she thought was a respectable gentleman, come to Pemberley without his wife and middle daughter but with his second eldest daughter's married housekeeper! In Fitzwilliam's carriage, unasked!
Of course her father only waved, smiling, then knocked on the carriage window to have the driver continue, he didn't care a jot what Elizabeth or her husband thought. He lived life as pleased him, he'd make a great companion for Prince G...oh my God!
Cheeks reddening at even thinking such a profanity, Elizabeth turned towards Frederick and Anne and blurted out, 'That was my father, with Mrs Annesley instead of my mother, and we have Prince George here!'
'And my mother, Elizabeth,' Anne observed dryly, 'I don't envy you and
Darcy, but for myself I'm looking forward very much to the coming days. All the potential for mischief in our combined families come together with our royal visitor. I'm going to try to enjoy it.'
'You're forgetting Mr Collins, Anne,' Frederick added, with a laugh that nonetheless expressed his sympathy to Elizabeth. 'Do you want us to warn Darcy whilst you give your father a warm welcome? At least he didn't drive up to the house.'
For once, Elizabeth was totally overcome, her father with Mrs Annesley?
Were they...intimate? They had always liked each other, she knew that, but she thought they had been proper, keeping a distance. Mrs Annesley's husband was seriously ill!
'Mrs Darcy?'
Nick had a hand on her shoulder, and he obviously understood her train of thought, it was as if he had known all along. She looked up at him to find his expression understanding, and his mind obviously worked quicker than her own.
'With your permission I can come with you and help Mrs Annesley along to the servants' quarters while you accompany your father? Take her luggage so the stable staff won't have to?'
Yes, that was it, separate them immediately, he shouldn't be encouraged to play games with her mother's affections. Even as she thought that she knew it was ridiculous. She liked Prince George, who routinely cheated on both his legal wife, and his illegal one, with married women. If her father made his life a little more enjoyable and did it discreetly, was she to condemn him just because he was her father?
She shook her head to clear it of the implications of her father's behaviour and tried to frame a reply for Nick.
'Please, Nick, I'd appreciate that very much. I'm rather upset. You knew, didn't you?'
Now Anne and Frederick looked their question, they would consider a gentleman travelling with a female servant a slight impropriety, but Mrs Annesley was as genteel as most ladies.
'I saw your father in the back of the house once, ma'am, though I didn't know who he was until he went to a concert with Anne. Simon was dismayed and asked me to keep it quiet, so I did.'
Yes, some things were bad enough to shock even Simon. Now Anne and Frederick started to understand and looked at her with compassion, not
disgust or even disapproval.
'Thank you, Nick, I suppose that is the only thing we can do. Frederick, Anne, would you please inform Fitzwilliam of the facts? I'll take care of the rest myself, later. Now, tell me frankly, do you think we should put my father on the first floor and Mrs Annesley in the back of the house, or do we give them both a room on the second floor with you lot?'
'It will save on the nightly traffic, ma'am,' Nick replied drolly, and of course he was right. The chances of her father staying put in his room were negligible, and any sneaking on the first floor bore a significant risk of discovery by either Lady Catherine or her maid, who was in and out of her mistress' room at the strangest hours.
And besides, Elizabeth had a sneaking suspicion her father knew about Anne and Nick at the very least, he'd said some things in the carriage just after Georgiana's wedding that suggested he'd found out somehow. There had also been a hint of what was going on between himself and Mrs Annesley, but Elizabeth hadn't wanted to acknowledge what she heard, she realised now.
'I suppose Nick is right, though it makes our situation a bit forced,' Frederick observed. 'But I suppose we'll just have to live with that the coming fortnight or so, with all our friends and your family arriving. We will manage, but I would suggest choosing rooms on Eric and Georgiana's side of the floor.'
Nick nodded, he'd make sure those rooms were made ready and that Mrs Annesley found a suitable welcome, which was a great relief to Elizabeth for she really did have to talk to papa before setting him loose on Prince George and Lady Catherine.
They split in two pairs right there, Anne and Frederick on their way to Fitzwilliam to warn him Mr Bennet had arrived with Mrs Annesley instead of his spouse, Elizabeth and Nick to the stables to receive their latest arrivals.
'I'm sorry you had to find out this way, ma'am,' Nick observed, 'but there was no way I could have told you. I lived in near-constant fear of you and Mr Darcy at that time.'
'I understand, Nick, especially since Simon rightfully asked you to keep quiet about it. What would have changed if I'd known? There is nothing I can do to stop my father except expose him, and that wouldn't help in any way. I suppose it was right in front of me all this time, they liked each other so much, and frankly, they're an excellent match. If only my father had taken the trouble to look for a woman of Mrs Annesley's calibre before he married. But he had to decide in favour of the first pretty face he met in the nearest village.
I'm glad Fitzwilliam took more trouble than that or my sisters and I would all have been in a difficult situation by now, instead of being happily settled.'
Only then did what he'd also said
register.
'You're not afraid of us anymore, are you?'
'No, ma'am, you've been more than kind. Mr Darcy, too, though I'm still not entirely comfortable around him.'
'Not even after wiping the floor with him wrestling?'
That gained her a tiny smile, and she understood all over again why a relatively plain looking man like Nick had never lacked lovers.
'Especially after fighting him, I'm stronger and have more experience fighting dirty, but there is a fire in him that I've rarely seen in a gentleman. People say you've tamed him and in a certain way I believe them. He'd never attack someone physically, but there is something about your husband which makes me wary to raise his ire.'
'His good opinion once lost is lost forever, that is what he once said about himself when we'd just met. But it's not true at all, Mrs Reynolds' description was closer to his true nature than his own. She said that people called him proud because he didn't rattle away like other men. That is my beloved, he merely seems severe because he doesn't try to make himself agreeable. You know he has come to like you a lot, don't you?'
'I did hope he didn't disapprove of me anymore, ma'am.'
'If you keep a close eye on him next time you meet you'll notice it's more than that. We're here, Nick, I need to see my father alone before he meets our visitors. Will you arrange their rooms with the butler or Mrs Reynolds? I'd be very much obliged.'
'Of course, Mrs Darcy, your wish is my command.'
The tone at which he delivered the statement confirmed Elizabeth's guess, he liked her and wanted to do her a favour, he was not part of their staff after all.
And frankly, she preferred his and Simon's company to aunt Catherine's, and maybe even her father's, but duty obliged her to stay with the old relatives instead of the young crowd. She just hoped Lady Catherine would produce those letters to reward Elizabeth for her patience.
'Thank you very much, Nick, you're saving if not our lives, hopefully at least our credibility as respectable people. My own father!'
Nick dared to speak up, and surprisingly mildly.
'I suppose your father needs a little love, too, Mrs Darcy. Please don't be too hard on him, Mrs Annesley is a very superior woman and she has had a very
hard time, for years according to Simon. I suppose she needed a little comfort and one thing led to another.'
He was right, of course Elizabeth knew all that, living with Mary and their mother couldn't be altogether bearable either, even though both were in perfect health. Feeling less and less certain of her own indignation she prepared to greet Mrs Annesley as kindly as ever.
'I suppose you're right, Nick. I'll try, he has always been a good father to me.
Thank you.'
He bowed in acknowledgement and fell into place behind her, waiting patiently for the moment his services were required. Elizabeth had always taken servants for granted, but lately it was getting harder to hold onto the natural order of her world, where her own people were supposed to be morally superior and more talented than those who served them. When in fact some of those were clearly much more capable and deserving of respect, and in all honesty, much better suited as friends since they had something interesting to say. So how to fittingly reproach papa for choosing to befriend someone talented with excellent manners and conversation?
Had Mrs Darcy changed significantly since Nick first met her? She seemed so much less formal than she had been, and somehow less above him. Of course Nick was a few years older than her and a man of the city, whereas Mrs Darcy had grown up rather protected in the country, as far away as possible from what Nick was inclined to see as the real world. With no male siblings, a supremely foolish mother if Simon was to be believed, and a smart but indolent father, one would expect her to be rather naïve, and yet she wasn't. Somehow, she seemed more worldly-wise than her much better educated husband, and she was much more outgoing to people in general.
But not to her staff, not at first, according to Simon. He had described his earlier bond with Mr Darcy as very close, apparently they had been like brothers. That had ended with Mrs Darcy pointing out to her adoring husband that he was favouring his valet over the other staff, resulting in jealousy and bullying. But if Nick were to form an opinion now, he'd say Mr Darcy was the strict one and Mrs Darcy almost familiar with her staff, at least with Simon, Nick, Fanny and Mrs Norman. And yet, of those only Fanny was actually staff, Mrs Norman was very independent and Mrs Darcy's teacher, and Simon and Nick were Frederick's servants and not even that. Simon didn't even get wages, he had his own fortune to provide any extras he
needed.
Just before Mrs Darcy greeted her father and his mistress, Nick would never say it out loud but it was very obvious to him at least that something was going on between those two, he decided the difference was that Nick's involvement with Anne had come out: before that, Mrs Darcy had been kind, but not as familiar as she was now. So familiar he dared advise her to be mild and understanding to her father. Nick did not judge Mr Bennet to be someone to take kindly to his daughter interfering in his private affairs, or affair in this case, and Mrs Darcy really loved her father, a falling-out would hurt her far more than a little scandal in the family would. They'd all take care it didn't go very far, the Pemberley servants were close-knit and close-mouthed, and Bates didn't even know who Mr Bennet was. And if he did get wind of it, Nick could easily cow him into silence, they worked for the same master now and Bates was not a brave man.
'Papa, you're a few days early, we didn't expect you until next week! And where are mother and Mary? Not indisposed I hope?'
Oh, yes, Mr Bennet was fond of this daughter and much, much less confident about this mad scheme of his than Nick had thought. Guilt practically oozed off him, and poor Mrs Annesley didn't know where to look. Then the elderly gentleman composed himself and did what he had to be aching to do: he took his favourite daughter in a firm embrace. When they had also kissed heartily, he was back to his usual confident self.
Nick was glad of his status as servant for it meant he did not have to do anything until addressed, he might have greeted Mrs Annesley but he'd much rather watch the interaction between father and daughter. Maybe Mrs Annesley did, too, to know where she stood during her stay here.
'My dear Lizzy, you grow more beautiful every day, you look positively radiant! I've missed you so much, and I was dying for a sensible conversation, so I decided to come a little early to have you to myself for a few days. Though I cannot remember Darcy having a fancy for outrageously sized carriages, which suggests you have other visitors. I hope I'm not inconveniencing you in any way.'
He said that, but Nick could hear he didn't mind a bit, he knew his daughter loved him and would receive him with open arms. Except for that one tiny matter....
'Oh, and your mother and sister are both better than ever, it's just that I didn't expect them to really enjoy the company here at Pemberley, so I proposed
their finally going to Brighton for a fresh sea breeze and a glimpse of some red coats, since your husband saw fit to rob Mr Wickham of his shoot-me-now uniform.'
Which meant he had dumped his silly wife in order to enjoy the superior company all the more. Not a bad decision considering their present visitors, if Simon's opinion of Mrs Darcy's mother was as accurate as Nick had found his other information, Lady de Bourgh and Mrs Bennet would not make an elegant ensemble. And Mrs Darcy would very much prefer Prince George not to set eyes on her mother, that was a certain thing. Mr Bennet now continued, almost apologetically.
'So I rode to London on horseback, since your mother had the carriage, and stopped at your house there because the weather was atrocious and to see how Mrs Annesley was doing. We've been writing, you see. I decided I'd spare myself the wet ride and convinced Mrs Annesley to lend me the carriage. And when I found out she had some things she needed to discuss with you and Darcy I talked her into coming along for a few days. I can get a ride back from one of your sisters, I'd prefer to ride with sensible p
eople but your aunt and uncle will have their carriage filled up with children, maids and toys.'
Of course Mrs Darcy was by now totally won over by her father's usual biting humour, though his allusion to Mrs Annesley's situation was a bit worrying.
With her husband fading there was so much scope for tragedy in whatever need she had to see her master and mistress.
Mrs Darcy seemed to think the same thing, for she nodded to acknowledge her father taking responsibility for bringing the carriage, then turned towards the Darcy's London housekeeper and offered to shake hands like gentlemen did among each other.
'Mrs Annesley, that sounds rather worrying, I hope your husband hasn't taken a turn for the worse?'
The housekeeper accepted her mistress' hand and shook it, then replied,
'Sadly, yes, it cannot be much longer now. Not days, but weeks at the most.
Mr Bennet assured himself of Mr Annesley and our children being taken care of properly, and then he convinced me to come here with him. I am in need of your advice on how to proceed with the centre piece and my problem cannot be solved by writing for instructions, I really have to show you what I have done so far to be able to explain what hinders my progress. I didn't feel it could wait until winter or I would not have bothered you here. But I'll be
glad to return to London as soon as this matter is resolved.'
Mrs Darcy's father had visited Mr Annesley?
'I'm sorry to hear that, Mrs Annesley. Of course Fitzwilliam and I will be at your disposal to look at your work so you can proceed. We have two separate but rather important guests that we have to spend some time with, but I suppose you will want to take some rest first after such a long journey. If you would please follow Nick, he will have a room prepared for you on our second floor, with those we call the explorers, Mr and Mrs Fielding, Mr and Mrs Manners and Nick and Simon. They’re planning to go to the continent and spend a lot of time together.’
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