Page 93

“The carriage ride was comfortable enough, although I cannot say the trip was wholly uneventful.” She threw a glance towards Georgiana and then Anne.

His voice low, his warm breath caressed her ear. “Are the two of them once again at odds?”

“Is there even a need to ask? What say we put off this discussion for another time?” Ben raced up to his mother, took her by the hand, and started coaxing her along. Darcy smiled at the young lad’s enthusiasm. As soon as they had entered the park, Ben’s excitement took hold. He had spoken of little else other than the prospect of being once again in Camelot and all the fun that was to be had within its environs.

Darcy headed over to his sister’s side with the intention of lightening her spirits. He knew her well enough to know the one thing she wanted most from the trip was for it to end with Anne’s being left behind.

Having always prided himself on his determination to do whatever it took to bring a smile to her face, the one place he had drawn the line was in regards to their cousin Anne. Georgiana was most unhappy with his decision to have Anne live with them at Pemberley for as long as she wished. His sister did not trust their cousin; she even complained of Darcy’s unwavering impartiality to his cousin, and she blamed Anne for making Darcy’s life miserable for so many years with her deathbed schemes.

He had lost count of the number of times her ladyship had summoned him to Rosings Park on the excuse that Anne desperately needed him else all hope was lost. Finally he had enough—he declared his intention never to set foot at Rosings again should Anne and his aunt persist in their hopeless quest. Nevertheless, his familial affection for Anne did not wane and once she had suffered and subsequently recovered from a true near death experience, a heartfelt apology on her part was all it had taken—one proffered to both Elizabeth and to him—to earn Anne a place in their new family, much to Georgiana’s chagrin.

How disappointed he had been that Georgiana had put off her coming out Season that year. Even though he was not anxious for her to make her debut in Society and toss her hat into the marriage market as it were, still it must be done. His suspicion that his young sister was enamoured of Ben’s tutor, Mr. Coolidge, had not waned. Surely she must know I would never countenance such an alliance. Why, the gentleman is so far beneath Georgiana in consequence as to be laughable. On the other hand, Darcy could scarcely deny that an alliance between his sister and his friend Charles Bingley would meet with no objections—at least not from him. His aristocratic uncle and aunts might have something to say; however, their opinions would not influence him so long as such an alliance was something Georgiana truly desired.

Then again, it is entirely likely that Bingley has met and fallen in love with someone else. The last he had heard from Bingley, he was hopelessly in love with a woman who had committed herself to another—said woman being his own sister Jane. Though Darcy had never detected any symptoms of love in Jane towards Bingley, he had to allow that his friend’s feelings for her were as strong as ever. As difficult a time as he had in deciphering Bingley’s hastily-written, barely-legible letters, the message that sprang from the pages was the repeated references to the former Miss Bennet.

Lady Catherine was glad for her daughter’s return as evidenced by her warmer than usual greeting when all her guests arrived, as well as her cheery demeanour at dinner. “How do you get along at Pemberley, my dear?” Lady Catherine said to her daughter.

“I find it absolutely delightful, Mother. Thank you for asking.”

A tall, large woman, with strongly marked features, which might once have been handsome, Lady Catherine acknowledged her daughter with a slight nod, before continuing her inquisition. “And your health? Are you making certain to take care so there are no relapses of the malady that often afflicted you while you were here?”

“I am happy to say I have suffered no such relapses.”

“Very well. I should like to suppose that you are home to stay.”

“Mother, I am glad to be here, but I have not resolved on staying or leaving at this point. We shall see.”

Anne looked at Darcy and Elizabeth, hoping to see some sign of how they regarded her lack of decision, but she saw nothing that attested to their sentiments. Georgiana’s face brightened— the same as it always did when she thought Anne would be taking her leave. What was most important to Anne, however, was the prospect of seeing her cousin Richard again. She knew she would always see him as long as she resided at Pemberley. However, the only time she would ever see him again should she decide to remain at Rosings was at Easter. Anne truly did liken her time at Rosings to more of a prison sentence. Never did she and her mother go anywhere or do anything that did not serve as the means of satisfying her mother’s desires, whether it was travelling to town or to the coast.

If her mother truly did miss her company, it was because she was simply tired of rattling around in that big empty mausoleum by herself.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam arrived late that evening after most of the household had retired. He did, however, have word sent to Darcy of his safe arrival as well as his desire for an early-morning ride—that was, if his cousin could manage to tear himself away from his dear wife.

Darcy and Richard had just finished a strenuous horseback race. Now they guided their horses along at a leisurely pace.

Darcy spoke first. “I was beginning to suspect you might not join us here at Rosings this year, my friend.”

“I am not one to eschew family traditions out of hand, although in this case I was sorely tempted. As you are no doubt aware, Father is intent upon an alliance between Anne and me. Making matters worse, the last time I saw Lady Catherine at Pemberley over Christmas, I saw that look in her eyes.”

“That look?”

“Do not feign ignorance, Darcy. You know of what I speak. I saw the same look bestowed upon you every year since you reached the age of majority now directed towards me.”

“Oh, that look.” Darcy shrugged. “Would marrying Anne be the worst thing in the world? You are getting no younger, you know, and marriage to Anne would be the means of keeping you in the manner of living befitting the second son of an earl.”

“Have you been speaking with Lord Matlock, too?”

“I am only speaking the truth, my friend.”

“Of course, were Anne to marry, she would no longer be living at Pemberley. Is that part of the reason you are trying to persuade me to marry her?”

“On the contrary. I would not wish to see the two of you married merely for my own convenience. I would only wish it were it something both of you desired.”

“Then, you are not finding it inconvenient having Anne live with you at Pemberley?”

“You know how important Anne is to me. I would not object to her living with us always. Georgiana—on the other hand…”

Richard laughed knowingly. “So, all is not tranquil in paradise.”