Pemberley

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  'I was hoping to, yes, I really value his opinion. Would it be possible to be present when he examines them?'

  'Of course, we're in the stables all the time, we ride every morning. I'm sure Hugo will be thrilled to look at these, he loves good horses. Come, let's join the ladies, and Mr Hurst and our father-in-law.'

  'Imagine him sending Mrs Bennet and Maria to Brighton to amuse themselves, did you ever expect such a thing to happen?'

  'Certainly not! But I suppose neither of the two is going to do anything foolish.'

  'It is rather hard to picture them behaving improperly. Well, I'm glad you like my horses, and I'm looking forward very much to the coming weeks. You'll hardly notice Hurst, I assure you, he has had a rough time in town, I think he will sleep as much as he used to do.'

  'He has never been a demanding guest, I suppose we'll do well enough accommodating him and his valet. You know I never really got to know your brother-in-law, but I admit that may be my own fault, he just never seemed that interesting. I'll try to correct that error.'

  'I'm certain you will find him very obliging, Darcy. Oh, look! Lydia is here as well! Lydia, my dear, you look well, please tell me how you have been!'

  Soon, Darcy's misgivings could no longer stand against the joy of a family-reunion going on right before him, making a man who had been rather lonely for most of his life feel part of a much larger, warmer whole.

  Chapter 35

  Elizabeth expected Bingley to claim Fitzwilliam and was prepared to share Jane with her father and Lydia, but the carriage turned out to contain another guest, the last person she had ever expected to see again, let alone at Pemberley. As Lydia practically flew at Jane, Elizabeth found herself addressed familiarly and heartily by a thickset man whom she had formerly hardly even considered an acquaintance, let alone a friend. What had gotten into Bingley to bring Mr Hurst to an intimate meeting of friends and relatives?

  'Mrs Darcy, it is so good to see you, it has been such a long time! May I greet you properly, as a gentleman should a beautiful lady?'

  What else could she do but offer him her hand to kiss, he seemed truly pleased to see her, and he was perfectly polite. Fitzwilliam would have to learn to control his feelings of jealousy, Mr Hurst was no competition no matter how charming he managed to be, and her beloved should know that.

  'Thank you, Mr Hurst. You look a bit tired yourself, have you been well?'

  Even as this rather blunt statement escaped her lips, Elizabeth worried a little, he did look the worse for wear, he was not in consumption, was he? Or liverish? People who overindulged sometimes fell prey to some wasting illness because of their bad habits, and to Elizabeth the indolent Mr Hurst was a prime candidate for such an affliction, especially since he seemed to have gained even more weight compared to the last time they met.

  The formerly so bored-looking man smiled sweetly and calmly contradicted her.

  'I am perfectly fine, Mrs Darcy, nothing to fear. I've had a bit of a rough time to be sure, but nothing a few weeks of rest and moderation won't cure. Whilst Bingley used to threaten me with sports, I now think some shooting and fishing or maybe even a bit of riding would not be such a bad thing. Fresh air and moderate exercise will do me a world of good. Or rambling, I seem to remember you doing a lot of that, maybe I can join you sometimes. I've been at Pemberley several times but I have never seen much of the grounds, maybe it is time to correct that omission.'

  Mr Hurst looking for exercise and fresh air? Talking of moderation? What had happened in London to make him look so fagged and unhealthy?

  'I can see you're incredulous about exercise and moderation in relation to my ample person, but apparently there is something as too much indulgence. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't lived it. I will tell you all about it, Mrs Darcy, maybe over a cup of plain tea or a healthy dinner, and when you've gotten over your initial shock you will be tickled and yet undoubtedly too polite to show me your amusement. The self-indulgent Mr Hurst getting his due, I suppose I brought it onto myself. Again, Mrs Darcy, I'm so pleased to meet you and in such bloom, and I cannot wait to tell you my sad, sad story.'

  He did not look sad at all but rather pleased. Well, he had piqued Elizabeth's curiosity, but now she was going to find Jane and greet her as a favourite sister deserved.

  And such a glad meeting followed that Elizabeth couldn't remember ever having had a more moving reunion with her beloved sister, her best friend for as far back as she could remember. Fortunately they had both fallen in love almost simultaneously, or the sister left behind would have been as lost as Lady Catherine had been when her sister had decided to marry.

  'Lizzy, do we have something to discuss in private?' Jane said, beaming.

  'Everyone always said I was the beautiful one, but I am very certain that right now your bloom surpasses mine by far. Or is it just the clean country air, or being able to finally show your sister how wealthy your husband really is?

  Bingley tried to tell me but I never imagined Pemberley to be as grand as this!'

  Dear Jane, she had such good humour these days, and to know instantly that something had changed about her sister.

  'Everyone likes to show off now and then, Jane, and we have had a very exciting week, but you are right, I cannot wait to have you to myself to give you some very welcome news.'

  'Oh Lizzy, that is my dearest wish come true! I suppose papa already told you that we are searching for our own estate in this county or the next? Bingley says his agent has found a very promising property not thirty miles from here, we're going to view it this coming week.'

  'I've heard you were looking, but not that you have a prospect already. Thirty miles would be just perfect Jane, to live so close to each other! I want to hear everything, and you won't believe the things I have to tell you besides that special one, we had a few remarkable visitors this week.'

  By now, Fitzwilliam and Bingley had joined them again, they had walked along with the carriage until it disappeared around the corner but had turned back and were now talking to Mr Hurst. Elizabeth took Jane's arm to take her into the house.

  'Do you want to change before drinking coffee? You must be hungry and tired.'

  'I am both, but I do want to spend some time with you in private before I rest.

  I just have to know everything, Lizzy! But I don't want to hurt Lydia by shutting her out, maybe we can spend an hour with her, first?'

  'Why don't I show you your room, tell you a few things while you clean up and change, and then we'll have coffee with everyone there?'

  'That is a marvellous idea, Lizzy, I want to be polite and not insult anyone but I want to know desperately what you have to tell me. Let me greet your

  husband and then we can go.'

  Elizabeth was glad to find their best guestroom perfectly clean and well-aired, though she hadn't expected anything else from Mrs Reynolds' staff. Of course Jane's maid and Bingley's valet were still busy unpacking the trunks, and the usually-so-calm Jane practically pulled Elizabeth towards the seating area close to the hearth.

  'Better let them do their work in peace, they'll be finished just when you have told me what I have waited to hear for months: dear, dear Lizzy, are you with child?'

  'I think I am, yes, and so did papa. Like you, he saw it before either Fitzwilliam or I had spoken a word, I suppose you and papa know me very well to spot that so quickly.'

  Jane took her hand and squeezed it gently.

  'Lizzy, it's as if you are lit up from the inside, you're practically glowing. I've never seen you look like that, not even when you told me you were going to be married. If you had, I would not have doubted you for a second. You know, you didn't even look like that at the altar.'

  'I suppose I was happy then, but I didn't feel altogether comfortable with the situation, all Fitzwilliam's grand connections waiting for me to make a misstep.'

  'They were not as bad as that, Lizzy. I do think they were very happy to see him finally married, after so many years.
But I can imagine why you would feel that way, I sometimes still do, mostly when we are with Caroline and her husband, everything in their house is perfect, as if she wants to rub in that she made a better match than I. Which I don't care about at all, it's just the way nothing seems real around her.'

  'It isn't even true, you know. Even if you were to look at it from a purely commercial standpoint, as Caroline Bingley might, she had twenty thousand of her own, you had nothing. You made a much better match, even without considering the difference in character between your husbands.'

  'You should have seen Bingley that night at Netherfield, dear Lizzy, our wedding night. He was so much in charge, and both Darcy and Manners listened to him, very attentively. But that was not what we were talking about, we'll hear plenty about Mr and Mrs Grenfell from Mr Hurst, I imagine.

  Bingley says Mr Hurst begged to take him away from their company even if it meant leaving Mrs Hurst for a few weeks.

  What I want to know is how long you've known, and whether you have seen

  anyone yet.'

  Seen anyone yet? What did Jane mean? She did not need to tell her sister she didn't understand for Jane had seen it in her expression.

  'A midwife, my dear Lizzy. My maid said it was best to see a midwife from the start and she was right, I was really anxious sometimes and now I just tell the midwife and she assures me my complaints are all a normal part of bearing a child. Bingley would have preferred a doctor but Petra said not to trust them because they are men, what would they know? She is quite a character, like your Fanny I picked her up in London and you can hear it in the way she speaks, but I like her and she referred me to a midwife who had delivered countless babies. Mrs Jones is a character, too, but I thought I'd choose someone for their competence, not their sophistication. Caroline made fun of me for following a commoner's advice and refusing to drink wine as long as I am with child but I don't care, I want my baby to be healthy and I trust Petra and Mrs Jones. Petra says her sisters are much older and already have children, and Mrs Jones delivered them all. I'll miss Mrs Jones when we move, or maybe I'll go back to London to have the baby.'

  A midwife! Of course! Elizabeth berated herself that she didn't think of that before, after the whole episode with Charlotte and Fanny in London. Well, she could easily ask Sarah for the name of hers. But what if she was wrong, what if she was not with child at all? Though with papa and now Jane seeing a difference in her it almost had to be true.

  'I am not even sure I am indeed with child, Jane. I was hoping to ask you how you knew. I've missed several bleedings, I've gained some weight and sometimes I cry for no reason at all and a minute later I cannot remember what made me so upset.'

  Jane nodded and asked, 'How many did you miss?'

  'I think about three. Last time was at the end of January, when I passed over a concert because I didn't feel like going. But I don't feel that much different, no strange cravings or morning sickness.'

  'I asked mother about when she had us and she said she never had a thing wrong with her. Maybe that means we won't either.'

  'True. And I do have this feeling something has changed, and now papa and you say you can see it. I'll ask Sarah about a midwife next time I see her. I haven't told anyone, you know, not even Lydia. Just Fitzwilliam.

  Oh, look, your maid is ready for you, and I'd better return to my other guests, see how Fitzwilliam is coping with Mr Hurst's being here. See you in the

  drawing-room when you are ready!'

  Let Jane wonder what that was about, if Jane asked, Elizabeth would tell her about her his jealousy, they were sisters, they used to share everything and why shouldn't they anymore? Jane would never tell anyone. To think Jane also had a London maid these days, maybe Fanny could teach this Petra about fashion during her stay at Pemberley, with Jane's beauty a perfect dress would make even more of an impression. It might make Jane feel more secure towards Mrs Grenfell, such a shame Jane had to associate with her sister-in-law and her husband on a regular basis.

  And thinking of Fanny, it was high time Elizabeth told her own maid of her pregnancy, she should not hear it from someone else's maid or valet if Elizabeth made it public. In fact, Fanny had so much experience being around pregnant women, babies and children, she probably already knew or at least suspected.

  This was turning out to be a fabulous day, Prince George back to London, Mr Collins back to Kent, and thus headquarters their own once more. Nick was glad to have more time with Anne than just the nights and an hour or two riding in the mornings, she had needed him with her mother in the house but there was no way to be together safely with her mother's maid sneaking around. Sitting at the large table with the others, Anne on his lap openly, Nick felt very much included in this closely-knit group, not like a servant at all but just one of six friends.

  'So, what are the chances of us really going to Vienna?' Simon wanted to know.

  Simon had been the main advocate for a trip overseas for some time now, at least in Nick's view. Eric and Georgiana of course wanted to go but Eric feared trouble on the way, and since Eric was the only one of them who had actually travelled beyond the British Isles, Nick tended to take his objections very seriously. What if it really was that dangerous? He couldn't bear the thought of Anne being threatened by robbers, hungry peasants or angry townspeople speaking a totally different language and living totally different lives. Let alone running into a division of the French army.

  With their new connection to Prince George the temptation to stay safely in England was growing. Since the prince had found out about Frederick and Simon already, there was little reason to avoid town this winter, and Prince George had promised to include Simon and Nick in his entertainments. If

  anyone asked, and they would since he was an equal member of this strange assembly, Nick would be tempted to vote for staying. Simon wanted the freedom of the mainland, where he could pass as a gentleman on his grand tour, to be with Frederick all the time. But Nick feared that Simon underestimated the fatigues and dangers of travelling so many miles, across such unknown territory. Maybe that was because Simon had a strong partner who could take care of himself, a natural leader and a strong shooter and fighter.

  Or maybe Nick and Eric underestimated the hardiness of their own partners, a little voice in his mind observed, maybe they needed to see their ladies as equals instead of as slightly inferior and needing protection. Anne had often enough insisted that being a woman or a man was as much of a coincidence as being born with a certain rank.

  'I wrote to Mr Clementi right after Prince George explained the seriousness of the situation, to ask whether his connections considered their territory secure for travellers. And I wrote to Mr Zumpe, he has relatives in Germany so I thought he might know more about the situation there. But of course that was only a few days ago, I do not expect a reply before at least a week has passed.

  If they say all is safe I'd have no objections to going abroad. But for myself, I have plenty to learn and teach in London, travelling is exhausting and I'm not looking forward to that or the possible dangers. And I like Prince George a great deal, I'd like to get to know him better and see how far his influence will bring us.'

  'Georgiana?' Simon asked, not a hint of his usual modesty in his voice. And Georgiana replied as frankly.

  'I'd love to see Vienna, but Eric is the only one among us who knows how far it actually is, and what travelling such a distance is like. I am inclined to listen to him and not just because he is my husband. But the two of us will be going back to London anyway in a few weeks, we will know a lot more about the situation with Prince George before we all have to make our final decision. Let us at least wait what Mr Clementi and Mr Zumpe have to say.'

  So Georgiana wanted to see whether Prince George delivered on his promise to become Eric's patron before making their plans for Vienna more concrete.

  Very sensible, but then she always was.

  Simon nodded, but it was obvious he was losing a little heart. As if to prove
his commitment to his lover by helping him find out what chance their excursion still had, Frederick now looked at Nick.

  'And you, Nick?'

  'I will follow the three of you wherever you go, and I'd love to be your cousin, Frederick, wearing beautiful clothes and riding a spirited horse. But I do fear trouble, I cannot talk my way out of a scrape in German or French, and whilst I can fight and shoot, one cannot just shoot one's way through a foreign country. I'd need to know it was safe before feeling comfortable going. If not, I would prefer to stay in London or, and as a city boy I cannot believe I'm saying this, in the country. Where I can ride and hunt and play billiards with you.'

  Nodding in acknowledgement, Frederick turned to Anne.

  'I'm with Nick. I want Simon to be with me openly but not at too high a cost.

  But Simon, you said yourself Prince George promised you a role in his entourage, you will not be relegated to the back all the time, not even in town. And if Mr Clementi says it's safe, I'll gladly go to Vienna together.'

  Poor Simon, he was not all happy hearing their frank assessments, but he did not just concede his point and bear with the disappointment as a servant would, he accepted their opinions because they made sense.

  'I really don't want to go abroad either if it's unsafe. I just don't trust Prince George, he uses people as if they are tools or worse, toys. He professed to like me a lot, but how do I know he won't betray us, even accidentally? He doesn't seem to care at all about other people. Maybe Eric and Georgiana can find out how dependable he is, it would be kind of exciting to mingle with the cream of London society, especially if we have people in the back as well.

  Though that would be Nick and myself.'

  Now Frederick took his partner in his arms and kissed him.

  'It is not at all certain we cannot go to Vienna, Simon. Prince George wants to keep Eric in London, he may have exaggerated the danger. Let us just enjoy summer in the country, and Eric and Georgiana can take the prince's measure on how dependable he is. Remember, if he tells on you and me we may have to quietly disappear from this country, or at least London.'