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Chapter 13
Mrs. Bennet awoke from her nap in a happy mood. Just yesterday they had received an express from Elizabeth telling of the birth of their first grandchild, Lydia's new daughter Alison Wickham, and she had been born the very same day as little Thomas - Lydia would be so amused. Or at least she would, Mrs. Bennet thought ruefully, if Mr. Bennet ever got around to sending word to his northern daughters that they had a new baby brother!
Yes, she sighed, content again. Their new baby brother - Little Thomas. She smiled, and turned her head to gaze at the answer to her every prayer, to look upon her God-given triumph over that wicked entailment, to see - an empty cradle.
"Hill! Hill!" screeched Mrs. Bennet, "The baby is gone! Gypsies must have stolen him while I napped! Call the constable! Call the militia! Call Mr. Bennet!" Her nerves, which had had a tolerable rest for the better part of nine months, returned to her full force when she saw her son was not in the cradle in her bedchamber. Mrs. Hill came running and quickly checked the nursery, but the baby was not in the crib either. Nor did Mary, Kitty, or any of the house staff have any idea where he could be.
Moments later Kitty solved the mystery when she went to the study to alert her father of the situation. She found the baby safely in Mr. Bennet's arms, staring wide eyed at his father's mouth as he read to him from Gulliver's Travels.
"Thank goodness - you've found him!" exclaimed Mrs. Hill from behind, who then hurried upstairs to calm her mistress. Mary immediately took Hill's place in the doorway and peered around Kitty's shoulder.
"Don't you think Swift rather controversial for him, Papa?" she asked seriously, prompting her sister to burst out laughing.
"It's not as though he understands what's being said, Mary - he's only three days old!"
"Don't be too sure about that, Kitty, after all, he is a Bennet," replied their father, "And it's never too early to start the lad's education. Don't worry, Mary, Swift hasn't made much of an impression on him thus far. Thomas found his fist much more to his taste."
It was true. The child now had his eyes closed and was chewing on his fist with vigor. But even he paused to listen when loud thumps were heard coming down the stairs.
The girls made way for their mother as she entered the study crying, "Mr. Bennet, what is the meaning of this?!!"
"My dear, what a pleasant surprise," he answered. "I didn't expect to see you downstairs for another week."
Kitty crossed her arms and leaned back against the doorframe with an expectant grin on her face; she hadn't heard her mother rant for months and thought it might be fun to hear, as long as she wasn't on the receiving end. Mary, thinking her parents could use some privacy, pulled Kitty out of the room and closed the door behind them.
Mrs. Bennet took the baby from her husband, and patting the child gently, held him close. The baby, recognizing the scent of his mother, snuggled even closer and made soft, nuzzling noises.
"What did you think you were doing, Mr. Bennet - taking the baby away without telling anyone? Have you no compassion on my nerves? I nearly had an apoplexy!"
"I'm sorry, Fanny," replied Mr. Bennet, getting up and putting a hand on his wife's shoulder. "When I peeked in to check on you both, you were sleeping but the lad was stirring, and I didn't want him to wake you. I thought it might be a good time to introduce him to my library." Then, leaning towards the baby, he added, "We've been having a fine time, haven't we, Thomas? Maybe Mamá will let you stay a bit longer to talk with the old man?"
Thomas didn't answer. He just nuzzled at his mother's gown harder, his noises getting louder and more demanding. Mrs. Bennet softened a bit as her husband spoke so familiarly to the baby, and she changed her tone to match.
"I'm taking him upstairs now to change and feed him, but if you'd like, I'll have Hill bring him down when he is through."
"We'd like that, wouldn't we, boy?" said Mr. Bennet happily.
"In the future, Thomas, please let Hill or one of the girls know when you take him on an outing. You know how long we've waited for a son - I'm not as young as I used to be - my nerves can't take him disappearing like that again."
"I will Fanny, but you know, you're nerves can take much more than you think. They did very well for you, and me too, over these last few months."
"Perhaps, Mr. Bennet," she smiled, "but let's not put them to any more tests, shall we? They aren't as young as they used to be either."
"I don't know about your nerves, my dear, but I believe you are carrying the proof that we are both still young enough!" His wife, blushing sweetly, quickly left the room.
Chapter 13, Part II
For better or worse... Charlotte reminded herself of her wedding vows, ...and here is where the worst comes in. She pasted a false smile on her face and entered her husband's bookroom.
"My dear, I have had happy news today in a letter from my mother. Our cousin Mrs. Bennet gave birth to baby boy three days ago. Is that not wonderful?" Mr. Collins said nothing at first, he just stared at his wife as if she had spoken gibberish. After staring back at him expectantly for what seemed a very long time without getting a response, Charlotte added, "Mama writes that he is a bit small, as he came early, but otherwise seems quite healthy."
After another excruciatingly long pause, Mr. Collins blinked a few times, then finally appeared to comprehend what she had said.
"A - a boy? But - but - I was certain the Lord would grant my request that it be another girl. There must be some mistake..."
"I don't see how my mother could make a mistake about something like that."
"It - it is impossible that that woman would find favor over ... No! It can not be. Your mother is wrong. The Almighty would not allow such a thing to happen to me. I am an indispensable support to the most favored Lady Catherine De Bourgh; a shining example of righteousness for the humble inhabitants of Hunsford to model themselves after; I do His work diligently every day in this parish, and that puts me in good stead with Him. There has to have been a misunderstanding on your mother's part - that is what I shall believe until I hear otherwise. Now if you'll excuse me, my dear, I am going to Rosings, Lady Catherine may have need of me." He hurriedly left before his wife had anymore good news for him. He knew that he had to be right; he would just refuse to think anymore about any other such nonsense. In the end, his Charlotte would see that he would prevail.
Well, I've done my duty, Lord, Charlotte thought to her maker, as she watched her husband depart. Thank goodness one of us has some simple common sense. She went off to study her household accounts again to see what magic she could work. She had been anticipating a boy, for why should Mrs. Bennet be with child after so many years if not with an heir? Although a girl should have been just as likely, Charlotte had doubted that it would be so. In preparation she had cut back on expenses where she could and had managed to save a bit here and there over the last few months. She was sure that over the next 15 years or so she would be able to save enough for her purpose. Even if Longbourn were no longer in their future, her Rose would have a dowry, Charlotte would see to that.
A week later Mr. Collins received a letter in the post from Mr. Bennet himself, announcing the birth of his new son and heir Thomas Edward Bennet. He included a line, which Charlotte thought was especially for her benefit, assuring the Collins of the continued connection between their families, and that it could be depended upon in time of need.
That was little comfort to Mr. Collins. He could no longer pretend that his mother-in-law had been wrong about the child's gender. Although Charlotte gently reminded him that they should be happy for their cousins, Mr. Collins refused to hear her. He ranted for over an hour about the injustice of the world, the malicious nature of Mrs. Bennet in baring a boy instead of a girl, hinted that the woman must have been in league with the devil, exclaimed how he had never trusted the sincerity of Mr. Bennet's eyes nor anything he had ever said, and assured Charlotte how appalled Lady Catherine would be when she found out how very ill he had been used!
Later that day, when Lady Catherine failed to be enraged by his news and merely expressed surprise at Mr. Bennet finally begetting a son, Mr. Collins thought all was lost and took to his bed for a fortnight. As his appetite remained as healthy above stairs as it had below, Charlotte was confident that her husband was merely having a tantrum, and would come down in due time.
It was just after two o'clock in the morning when Mr. Bingley entered his wife's bedchamber and placed a tray of covered bowls before her. She was sitting up in bed and the tray came as close to her as her seven months pregnant tummy would allow.
"Oh, thank you Charles, I'm sorry to be such a bother," she said, putting down a letter she had been reading, then removing a cover from one of the two bowls.
"It was no trouble at all, darling. It's just - are you sure this is what you wanted?"
"Yes," she said shyly. "I'm ashamed to say that I've been dying for them for it seems ages." She uncovered the second bowl and gave her husband a grateful smile. He was so good to her.
"But are you sure? I mean, you had such a delicate stomach when we first found out you were with child - just the thought of some food would make you run for the nearest... Well, these two things - they don't exactly go together like... peaches and cream - if you know what I mean."
"Oh - but they do, Charles! They do! I just never realized it before!" She scooped a bit of plum pudding and added a slice of beetroot. Then popped the entire mélange into her mouth. "Mmmm!"
"Peaches and cream I can understand, but pickled beets and plum pudding?" Mr. Bingley grimaced and shook his head as he watched his wife pick up another pickled beet and a spoon of pudding.
"Delicious!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm sorry - would you like some?"
"Ahhh, no thank you Jane, I'll pass. By the way," he added, nodding toward the letter beside her, "What news from the Darcys? Have they returned from Newcastle yet?"
Jane wiped her fingers and mouth with a napkin. "Yes, they got back about a week ago, and Lizzy says Mr. Darcy misses my niece already. She wrote that it was amusing to watch Fitzwilliam and Mr. Wickham with the baby - when one would put little Alison down, the other would pick her up again. After a few days, she says even Lydia was scolding them to let the baby be!"
"That would be something to see - your little sister Lydia scolding Darcy! She sounds like quite the mother hen already."
"To be honest, before Lizzy's letter I was a bit worried that Lydia might not be ready for motherhood - I mean, I know I'm not ready for it..."
"You will be a wonderful mother, darling."
"Thank you, Charles, I hope so. But I am so much older, and I will have Mamá, Mary, and Kitty to help me - at least until we move in the spring. It seemed that once Lizzy left, poor Lydia would have no one to help her but Mr. Wickham."
Mr. Bingley began to make a face at the thought of Mr. Wickham helping Lydia do anything, but not wanting to distress his wife, especially in her present condition, he put on a pleasant smile instead and asked, "Did your sister mentioned something that put you at ease?"
"Yes. Apparently there is an older woman nearby - a major's wife - who has taken the younger officers' wives under her wing, sort of like a surrogate mother. Lizzy has met her and has a high opinion of her, thinks she is quite sensible, which is high praise from Lizzy. She or one of the other wives visits nearly every day to see if the new parents need any help. And since Lydia is such a poor correspondent, Lizzy asked Mrs. Blaine to let her know how the Wickhams are doing from time to time."
"That does sound reassuring. I am glad that we will have family nearby to help when your time comes - and don't forget, Louisa has promised to come and stay with us for a few weeks once the baby arrives."
Jane's smiled lost some of its sincerity as she replied, "It is so good of your sister to be willing to leave her husband for so long. We are both fortunate to have such a loving family."
They fell into silence for a moment, for although both young people had similar thoughts on that subject, they were kind enough to keep those thoughts to themselves.
Chapter 14
One morning Charlotte was surprised to learn from the kitchen maid that Mr. Collins had finally left his sick bed, had had his breakfast some time ago, and had already departed for Rosings. Happy that the man must have decided to make the best of it, Charlotte went on about her daily business, starting with seeing to the baby's needs.
Her own breakfast sat untouched as she attempted to feed Rose. Although her daughter did not usually object to eating her porridge, today she had just discovered that she could make some lovely patterns on the table if she could hit Mama's spoon just right.
"I guess you have had enough to eat, young lady," said Charlotte, putting the bowl out of reach. Instead of wiping the baby off right away, she adjusted Rose on her lap so she could play more easily with the porridge on the table. A few untidy minutes couldn't hurt, Charlotte reasoned.
While she watched her daughter develop some essential art skills, her husband returned - and apparently in a good mood, for he did not even notice the mess Rose was making.
"Good morning, Charlotte. And how is young Catherine today?" he asked happily.
Rose looked up. The Father man had actually spoken to her - at least she thought he did - it was hard to tell because he called her that Cat-Run name. Didn't he know that her name was Rose? Cat-Run was that loud lady that lived at Auntie's house.
"You seem in better spirits, dear," responded Charlotte. "Did Lady Catherine have good news to share with you?"
"Lady Catherine was kind enough to bestow on me many gems of wisdom this morning, for which I am extremely grateful; for anytime that great lady condescends to take notice of this poor clergyman, I am exceedingly delighted. However, as glad as I am to have been received by our patroness, I must confess that I owe the improvement of my spirits this morning to the enlightenment I received on the way home, which I am sure must have come from God Almighty Himself!"
Mr. Collins paused to give Charlotte an opportunity to give a small gasp, which he seemed to find in keeping with the occasion, then continued.
"Moments ago, as I was contemplating our sorry plight - a plight I have reflected much on these last few weeks, a plight which those unscrupulous Bennets have left us in - truly a most pitiable state..."
"Yes..." Charlotte prompted. Rose went back to playing with the porridge, she was used to her father's droning.
"As I thought of how wretchedly I had been used, I recalled again how careless my cousin Bennet and his wife have been in raising their five daughters."
"Mr. Collins, you really should not say such things of our cousins," cautioned Charlotte.
"You said as much yourself, my dear."
"I most certainly did not!" Rose looked up again - this could be interesting; it sounded like the Father man was being naughty and Mama was scolding him.
"You spoke only the truth, Charlotte, and as such, it is nothing to be ashamed of."
"I would never speak so ill of my good friends!" she insisted.
"But you did - when that youngest chit of a daughter of theirs ran off with that soldier last year, I distinctly remember you saying that her licentious behavior had proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence."
"That is what my mother wrote to us - I was reading to you from her letter!"
"Well, it makes no difference, for it was the truth." The Father man was going to be in BIG trouble now - he wasn't listening to Mama.
"As I was saying," he continued, "I thought of how the Bennets would fare no better in raising this new son of theirs than they had with the daughters, and what a sorry childhood he could expect." Charlotte opened her mouth to object to husband's unkind words, but he left her no room to interrupt. "That put me in mind of something that her ladyship had mentioned at Rosings this morning. She generously cautioned me to instruct you to keep our young Catherine safe from chills this winter, reminding me of the many infants that perished last year."
"Yes," said Charlotte sadly, "the Newton and Patterson babies from fever, and the Delver toddler from whooping cough. But our Rose is such a healthy baby, and I'm sure we can keep her safe..."
"Lady Catherine was even kind enough to recommend a number of ways to eliminate drafts from the parsonage windows. She said if we made a paste of..."
"Mr. Collins, you said she put you in mind of..." Charlotte succeeded in interrupting. As much as she did not like the direction this conversation was taking, she had heard enough of Lady Catherine's helpful household hints first hand; she certainly did not need to hear them by way of her husband, too.
"Well, as I reflected on those poor, lost souls, a thought occurred to me - one that must have proceeded from the Almighty Himself, for a simple clergyman such as myself would never presume to think such a profound and ..."
"You were saying a thought occurred to you..." prompted Charlotte again, wishing he would get to the point.
"Yes, it occurred to me how fragile and uncertain a young child's life is in this world, more so with a frail, tiny baby with negligent parents like the Bennet lad. His chances of survival are greatly reduced."
"Mr. Collins - what are you saying!" Charlotte was appalled at her husband's implication.
"It occurred to me, my dear Charlotte, that the Lord may not have abandoned us, that we may still have a very good chance of ending up with Longbourn after all!"
"What an awful thing to say!"
He's done it now! thought Rose, Mama is REALLY mad!
"Nonsense - I speak only of possibilities. You said yourself that the child was on the small side - he may not grow healthy and plump like our little Catherine here. Small babies tend to be sickly - sickly babies tend to die early. Even if he does survive past infancy, accidents happen all the time - an unsupervised and likely reckless boy is apt to get into all kinds of trouble - a fall from a tree, a misstep in a stream, hunting accidents... "
"Mr. Collins! You must stop this talk!"
"I'm only thinking of our children, my dear. It is not at all unlikely that one day our Catherine shall live at Longbourn after all, as we all were meant to."
Charlotte was saved from answering by the maid, who announced that the carriage from Rosings had arrived for her. Charlotte, grateful to end such an unholy conversation, wiped off Rose's messy hands and face, took off her bib and began putting on her coat, which was in a basket nearby.
"Aren't you going to finish your breakfast?" asked Mr. Collins.
"No, I've lost my appetite," Charlotte said shortly. "Besides, Rose and I are leaving - Anne is expecting us."
"Oh yes, don't keep Miss De Bourgh waiting. And please give her my most humble regards. Well, there is no use in letting good food go to waste," he continued, pulling Charlotte's still untouched plate towards him and beginning his second breakfast. He had his faith back, God was in His heaven, and all would be right with his world.
"Say good-bye to Father, Rose," sniffed Charlotte, still angry at her husband's audacity, but determined to be civil and dignified even if he were not.
Rose dutifully brought her hand up and down in her newly learned trick of waving bye-bye.
"How long has she been doing that?" asked Mr. Collins in amazement, but still with a mouthful of food. He normally did not pay much attention to his daughter, thinking of her more as a creature of little significance rather than a true person. But if she was finally beginning to act like a real person, he thought, perhaps it was time that he gave the child some notice.
"For a week now," Charlotte answered. "She's very proud of it."
"As well she should be. Good-bye Catherine." Mr. Collins gave his daughter a small wave and the first real smile she had ever seen on him.
Hmmmm, thought Rose, This Father man did not seem so bad after all. He smiled and waved at her today. Of course he did call her Cat-Run again, but at least he seemed to be trying now. Rose smiled and waved back at him even harder as her Mama carried her out the door.
That image of her father stayed with Rose for a long time; it was the last image she ever had of him. Forty-five minutes later, the kitchen maid found Mr. Collins dead at the breakfast table, choked to death on braised kidneys.
Chapter 15
"Are you sure the staff in Town knows you are coming?" Mrs. Bennet asked Mr. Bennet.
"Yes, I'm sure," he replied as he pulled on his greatcoat. "Lizzy wrote that they sent an express to their housekeeper in London to expect Mr. Bingley and me this afternoon; she and Darcy should be arriving later this evening. We shall all leave tomorrow morning for Hunsford. I wish it were over with - I hate funerals, and this one will be particularly painful."
"Yes, Mr. Collins was such a young man. Poor Charlotte. Her father and brothers left yesterday, you know?"
"All of her brothers?" Mr. Bennet asked in surprise.
"No, just the eldest five; the other two are too young to attend, of course. I was surprised Lady Lucas did not go as well. If it were me, I should have wanted to comfort one of my girls - but I suppose she feels she must make preparations for Charlotte's return. With the baby, she will need more room than she did before her marriage, not that there is much room to be had. Perhaps when her brother William marries, she will move in with him."
"That is not likely - Lizzy said they never got on."
"What has that to do with it? Family is family."
"Charlotte and her daughter are our family too, Mrs. Bennet."
"I have not forgotten that, Mr. Bennet; I am not unfeeling. It is her exact situation that I dreaded for myself and our girls for so many years - that you would die, we would be left penniless, and find ourselves in the hedgerows. If our situations were reversed, and Charlotte had had a boy and I another girl, I should still be living with that fear. How strangely things have turned out."
"And where are our girls, by the way? I thought it was a bit too quiet. Are they not to bid their father good-bye?"
"I sent them up ages ago to bring Thomas down, I don't know what could keeping them."
"Most likely a dirty nappy, and neither willing to change it." As if on cue, a commotion of an approaching argument between the two remaining Miss Bennets could be heard coming down the stairs.
"...but Mary, he has been smiling - for weeks now," insisted Kitty.
"Not really, Kitty, he only smiles in his sleep - and that doesn't count. Those are more like ... practice smiles," Mary replied knowingly. "Hill says when babies truly smile, they smile with their eyes. Thus far I have not seen his eyes open when he's looked like he was smiling - have you?"
"I'm sure he must have..."
"There - that proves it," Mary said smugly as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She was carrying the baby, with Kitty following right behind. "If he had really smiled, you would know for certain, isn't that right, Mamá?"
"Goodness, you girls argue over the silliest things! Your father has to be on his way to pick up Mr. Bingley at Netherfield. Now kiss him good-bye, and pass Thomas to him so your father may do the same to him."
"Good-bye, Papa," said Kitty.
"Please give our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Collins."
"Thank you, Mary, I will." Mr. Bennet received a kiss from both daughters, then took Thomas from Mary and swung him up slightly before settling him in his arms. "There's my boy!"
"Mr. Bennet, do be careful!" admonished his wife. Ignoring her, he continued his one sided conversation with his son.
"Will you miss the old man while he's away? Or can't you wait to start running the place on your own?" The baby stared back at his father for a moment as if in thought, then his eyes brightened and the corners of his mouth twitched upward for an instant.
"There - did you see that?" asked Mr. Bennet excitedly.
"See what Papa?" asked Kitty.
"He just smiled at me!" exclaimed Mr. Bennet. He then proceeded to tickle his son on his chin, "Didn't you, boy? You smiled at your Papa, didn't you?" Encouraged by his father's touch, Thomas answered back by repeating his smile, this time holding it - with both his mouth and his eyes - for a full fifteen seconds; time enough for even the dubious Mary to affirm that it was a true smile.
"There, Mr. Bennet, you have claimed your son's first smile!" triumphed Mrs. Bennet, "What a nice parting gift."
"Yes, it was, and one I'm glad for - I needed something happy to take with me. But here is the carriage. Good-bye, boy," he said, kissing the child's head before handing him back to his wife. "Fanny, I expect to be returning with the Darcys in a week. I'm sure you'll have no trouble while I'm gone. If anything does come up, your brother Philips can handle it, or perhaps that handsome clerk of his - eh, Mary?"
"Father! Mr. Stewart and I are just casual acquaintances," she said with a blush.
"Yes, you looked very casual together at Aunt Philips' pianoforte' the other night," giggled Kitty. "Every time he turned the page for you, you turned as red as you are now!" The only response she got from Mary was a glare.
"Hush Kitty, don't begrudge your sister a beau, she's doing very well for herself, which is more than I can say for you at the moment." Kitty stomped her foot at her mother's reprimand, but said nothing more. "Now, Mr. Bennet, don't worry - we shall be fine - but do tell the coachman to mind his speed."
"I will, dear," he said, giving his wife a quick peck on the cheek, causing Kitty to forget her sulking and start to giggle again. "Good bye girls, mind your mother." With a wink to Kitty, and a wave to the others, he was gone.
Mrs. Hill was just coming into the front hall when the ladies re-entered the house.
"Oh Hill, Papa got Thomas' first smile. I so wanted it to be me," said Kitty, forgetting that a moment ago she had claimed that her brother had been smiling for weeks.
"Never mind, Miss, the young master will be blessing all of us with smiles in a day or two, you'll see." The two girls passed into the other room, with Mary requesting Kitty's advice on a new bonnet she was trimming. Mrs. Hill approached their mother, and in a hushed voice asked, "Mrs. Bennet, didn't I see young Thomas smile at you this morning - after you fed him?"
"Perhaps, Hill, but Mr. Bennet need not know," answered Mrs. Bennet.
Hill smiled in understanding. "Of course, Ma'am. No need to tell the men folk every little thing, is there?"
Chapter 16
The maid went to open the door; Charlotte cringed; she knew what was coming. More visitors wishing to give their condolences to the bereaved. More parishioners with pity in their eyes, asking each other in hushed voices what would become of the pastor's widow and child, left behind with no visible means of support, assuring each other that Lady Catherine would see to their needs - at least until the widow was packed off back to her father's house.
Charlotte did not think she could take much more of it. She had been numb for much of the last week, trying to keep worries at bay by tending to Rose. Anne had been a great help, deflecting her mother's interference in a direction that would be of most use. In fact, all funeral arrangements for Mr. Collins had been left in Lady Catherine's capable hands. Charlotte was comforted in the knowledge that that was the way he would have wanted it.
She looked up when the latest group was ushered into the parlor, then smiled her first smile in a week that had nothing to do with Rose - it was Lizzy. Of course Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Bingley were with her, but seeing Lizzy made her feel somewhat like her old self again, not some poor widow woman to be pitied.
"Lizzy!" Charlotte exclaimed, giving her friend a hug, "I didn't expect you. I'm so glad to see you! Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, it is so good of you to come."
"Oh Charlotte, we are so sorry for your loss," Elizabeth said, returning the hug.
"Mrs. Collins - Charlotte," Mr. Bennet said, "You have my deepest sympathy. My wife, Mary, and Kitty send their condolences as well."
"Thank you Mr. Bennet."
"And please accept the condolences of Jane and myself," put in Mr. Bingley.
"Thank you Mr. Bingley. How is Mrs. Bingley? I hope she is fairing well."
"Tolerably so. Although she would never admit it, I fear my wife has been a bit uncomfortable lately. I am hoping when we return to Hertfordshire that Mrs. Darcy's visit will make the remaining month of her confinement more pleasant for her."
"I am sure she will, it is one of Lizzy's special talents," said Charlotte turning back to Elizabeth.
Sir William Lucas approached to greet his neighbors, bidding the gentlemen to the other side of the room to meet the new cleric. Mr. Darcy ignored him, preferring to stay in his wife's company. He bowed as his cousin Anne joined them, carrying Rose in her arms.
"Lizzy, I am sure you remember Miss De Bourgh. She has been my rock ever since it ..." Charlotte paused to compose herself. Elizabeth gave her friend's hand a squeeze in support.
"Mrs. Darcy, it is good to see you again, and you Fitzwilliam," Anne said quietly.
"Please call me Lizzy," replied Elizabeth.
"And you may call me Anne. We are cousins now, too," Anne said, receiving a smile from Mr. Darcy, the first she could ever recall him directing at her.
"This must be young Miss Collins," said Mr. Darcy.
"She is beautiful," exclaimed Elizabeth, reached out for the child. "May I hold her?" Rose buried her face in Anne's shoulder at the approach of the newcomer.
"I'm afraid she is a bit shy of strangers lately, Lizzy," apologized Charlotte. "With so many coming and going this week, she doesn't know what to make of it all."
"Oh, I understand. This must be so frightening for her."
Rose peeked out to get a quick look at the lady who tried to take her from Auntie and caught sight of a tall man behind the lady. Even though he smiled, he was no one that she had ever seen before - like most of the people who had been coming into the house these last few days, making noise and upsetting Mama. She buried her face back in Auntie's shoulder.
"It is alright, Rosie," Anne reassured her. "Mr. Darcy won't bite."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Miss Collins," Rose heard a familiar voice say. "I can recall him biting me on at least two occasions."
She looked up to see a man in a red coat. Rose remembered him - it was Kerna! He had visited them once before - right before Mama added that red Kerna-Fits-Will-Yum doll to the row of dolls on her basket. He was Auntie's friend with the nice nose. To the others' amazement, Rose smiled at Colonel Fitzwilliam and reached out for him. He took her from Anne and as soon as she had settled comfortably in his arms, she immediately began playing with his face.
"That's a surprise!" exclaimed Anne.
"Why? Miss Collins and I are old friends," stated the Colonel. "Aren't we Miss Collins?" Rose just smiled widely at her new plaything and stretched his left nostril.
"Well," confessed Charlotte, "lately the only gentleman that Rose will go to willingly is my brother Lewis - and then only after he had been here for an entire day and was constantly playing the fool for her."
"He is so cute when he does that," Anne whispered to Charlotte.
"Perhaps it is my nose rather than myself that she remembers," suggested the Colonel as Rose started pulling on his right nostril. Charlotte took that as a cue to pry her daughter from the poor man's face. Although the Colonel acted as though he did not mind the abuse the child was giving him, Charlotte could not help but think that it must hurt a bit.
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled thoughtfully as the mother adjusted her child on her hip. Not many women could look so well in that position, but Charlotte seemed to brighten when her daughter was near. The Colonel quickly recollected himself, and why he had called.
"Forgive my intrusion, Mrs. Collins. When I heard the sad news of your husband's death, I had to come and offer my regrets - and see if I could be of any service to you and your daughter."
The joy Charlotte had felt at seeing so many of her old friends, and particularly a new one, dissipated as she recalled her situation and the reason for their visit. Although she would be the first to admit that she had never loved her husband, they had managed tolerably well together. She even thought she might miss him - but more for her daughter's sake than for her own; she already was missing the independence she had known as his wife. And she had to admit that she did feel slightly responsible for the man's untimely death - they had been her braised kidneys he had choked on after all. Reluctantly Charlotte switched back to reality. The change was not lost on the Colonel, who regretted being its cause, nor on Elizabeth, who still wondered at the easy way Rose had taken to the Colonel.
"Thank you for coming, Colonel Fitzwilliam. You are too kind, but Lady Catherine and my father seem to have everything in hand. We are to return to Lucas Lodge next week."
"So soon?" asked Anne. Charlotte smiled weakly and nodded. The Colonel frowned, something that also was not lost on Elizabeth. She determined to speak to her husband later that evening.
The next day while the gentlemen attended the funeral, Elizabeth kept Charlotte company.
"So you are returning to Hertfordshire?"
"Yes, I am moving back to Lucas Lodge, at least for a year. I hate to put more upon my parents, but Lewis has offered his room to Rose and me so we will be able to get out from under foot if need be. And I would like to think that I could be of some small help to Mother and Maria with the other children."
"I have no doubt that you will be Charlotte, but ... well, Fitzwilliam and I have talked. We would be happy if you and Rose would come and stay with us at Pemberley."
"It is kind of you to offer, Lizzy, but I would never dream of imposing..."
"Nonsense! Was I imposing when I stayed with you last year? Truth be told, I would dearly love your company. And at Pemberley you would be among friends - family really - surrounded by people that love you, yet there is ample space for you to find solitude if you need it, without having to worry about Rose."
"Lizzy, I appreciate the offer..."
"Charlotte, just consider it, please. I would so love it if when we return to Derbyshire in December you would come with us."
"I think it unlikely, but I will keep it in mind. Thank you, Lizzy."
"So your mother and cousin have made peace?" Charlotte asked Anne after the rest of the mourners had left.
"Yes, they talked for quite some time before the funeral, and you saw yourself how cordial she was to Mrs. Darcy - Lizzy," Anne tried shyly.
"Well, at least cordial for Aunt Catherine," put in Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Anne laughed in agreement. "She was on her best behavior, I think the worst is over. Perhaps now she will let me visit Georgiana in Derbyshire."
"That would be nice for you, Anne. It would do you good to travel more," commented Charlotte. She paused, wondering if she should say more, then added, "The Darcys have invited Rose and I to stay at Pemberley with them for a while."
Anne's face lit up with excitement. "Oh do, Charlotte!" she exclaimed, "Then I could visit you and Rosie as well."
"Yes, then I cou ... uhh ... Anne could visit you," agreed the Colonel, blushing at what he had nearly said. He knew himself well enough to know that he was attracted to Mrs. Collins - but the woman's husband was barely in the grave, for heavens sake! There was such a thing as propriety.
Charlotte indulged herself in a bit of wishful thinking, reading more into what the Colonel did not say than she knew she should, then remembered how newly widowed she was - prompting her to become extremely mortified with herself. She quickly said, "I do not plan on going. It was kind of them to ask, but I am sure they were just being polite. I doubt Mr. Darcy would appreciate the intrusion so early in his marriage."
"I know my cousin, Mrs. Collins. If he was not 100 percent sincere in his offer, it would not have been made," Colonel Fitzwilliam assured her. Charlotte smiled in gratitude of his support and found her eyes locked with his for quite a few heartbeats more than was appropriate. It was unsettling for both of them, although an experience that either would gladly repeat.
"What did you tell them?" asked Anne, bringing the attention of both back to the conversation.
"That I would consider it and let them know before they left Hertfordshire in December. However, I know I shall remain with my parents."
"I am sure you will do whatever is best, Mrs. Collins," said the Colonel. "But know that my cousin's offer is true and that you and your daughter will be more than welcome should you decide to journey to Pemberley."
Charlotte saw the truth in his eyes, and was caught by them again. She turned away quickly, afraid she would read more in them than her common sense told her was possible. The Colonel chose not to look away, but said a silent thank you to the dear departed for his fatal eating habits, promising in return to keep a close eye on his young family - a very hopeful eye.
Chapter 17
The housekeeper met the travelers at the door of the Darcys' London townhouse as soon as they arrived from Rosings.
"Mr. Bingley, an express has just come for you from Netherfield - within this very hour! It is time, Sir. Your wife..."
"Dear Jane!" interrupted Elizabeth.
"Oh, goodness me!" Mr. Bingley exclaimed. "Darcy, I must have your fastest horse!"
"Of course, Bingley, you are welcome to him," replied Mr. Darcy, nodding a silent command to a groom who appeared out of nowhere, then disappeared again. "But if you wait just a moment for fresh horses to be brought out, we can all go on to Hertfordshire together in the carriage."
"Yes Charles," agreed Mr. Bennet. "That sounds like an excellent idea to me."
"I'm sorry, sir, but cannot waste a moment, and it would be a punishment for me to sit and worry so long in a carriage. I must be off."
"I understand perfectly," said Darcy with a glance to his wife. "But do be careful, Charles. Try to make it to Netherfield in one piece. We will be there shortly."
In an instant he was gone on the best horse Mr. Darcy's London stable had to offer.
Mr. Bingley jumped off the horse, ran into the house and up the stairs. He met Kitty coming out of Jane's chamber.
"Mr. Bingley, they aren't done yet. I would not go in there now if I were you," she warned, trying to coax him back along the hall and downstairs where she knew proper gentlemen were expected to wait.
"Kitty, I have to be with Jane!" he said decisively. Nothing would keep him from his wife at a time like this. She needed him! He pushed past his sister-in-law and into the room - then time stood still.
He had burst in at the worst possible moment for a proper gentleman to burst into a birthing room. What he beheld was so overwhelming that he just stood frozen - watching, listening, and unable to move.
"Just a little more..." said the doctor.
Of course, in his youth Mr. Bingley had seen more than one litter of puppies come into the world.
"You are doing fine, Jane," encouraged Mary from one side of her.
And he had witnessed the birth of numerous horses in his time.
"One more push, Mrs. Bingley," pleaded the housekeeper from the other side.
But nothing had prepared him for this!
The sounds ...
"Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." voiced Jane delicately - or at least as delicately as one in her present state could voice - which, to be honest, really wasn't very delicately.
... the colors ...
"The head is out ..." murmured the doctor. "Hmmm - a tad on the blue side. No matter, that should pink up presently."
... the sheer un-dryness of the whole business!
"... and here's the rest! Whoa - brought a bit of a shower out with you, aye Little One?" the doctor asked the squirming shape that Mr. Bingley could not quite make out. "Now Polly will tend you while I tend your mother," he added softly handing the still unseen object carefully to the housekeeper, who briskly wrapped it in a cloth and rushed off to a side bureau.
"Oh, Jane - it's a girl!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Bingley hadn't noticed that his mother-in-law was in the room before; she was standing somewhat behind the doctor holding a bundle of clean linen.
Then Mr. Bingley heard a sound that was totally unfamiliar to him, and yet very familiar. It started out similar to mewing, but not like any cat he had ever heard. It grew gradually higher in pitch and louder, finally leveling off into short lusty cries.
Still Mr. Bingley just stood there, trying to take it all in - until he felt a slight pressure behind his knees and found himself falling backwards onto a chair. Kitty had pushed one into him from behind.
"I tried to warn you," she said smugly.
"Is she alright?" he heard Jane ask anxiously.
"As right as my last," reassured the doctor, but Charles did not hear him; he did not even hear the baby's cry as it lessened - he heard only his wife's voice. He came to himself at last and quickly went to her side.
"Oh Jane, you were wonderful," he gushed, "I can't believe..."
"Mr. Bingley, you should not be here!" scolded Mrs. Bennet, grasping her pile of linen closer to her chest.
"It's alright, Mamá," said an exhausted Jane. "I am so happy you are home, Charles - and that you are here, with us." She paused and looked at her mother. "Mamá?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course, dear," said Mrs. Bennet, answering the unasked question. She handed Charles the linens. "Mr. Bingley, may I present your heir."
Charles blinked at the bundle in his arms and it blinked back. A little red face stared up at him then with an intensity that Charles had never felt before. The only thought that came to him was how much this child resembled a wise old man. Then the babe closed its eyes and Charles instantly was holding the tiniest baby he had ever seen - much smaller than he remembered his little brother-in-law being - with just a hint of wispy strawberry blond hair.
"She - she is beautiful, Jane," he said in awe, never taking his eyes off the child.
"Yes, he is, Charles. That is your impatient son," corrected Jane softly, "who would not wait for his Papa."
Charles looked up in confusion as the smiling housekeeper handed a second bundle to Jane.
"Here," whispered Jane, looking lovingly at the child in her arms, "is our daughter - who did wait for her father so he could see her grand entrance. And you are right, Charles. She is beautiful."
"Two?" he asked dumbly.
"Yes," she answered. "Two."
Mr. Bingley again felt the pressure behind his knees and gratefully sat down in Kitty's chair again.
"Then that's the one I just saw ..."
"... come into the world? Yes Charles. Oh - she just opened her eyes and they are ... violet? Yes, they are not quite blue. Truly Charles, they are violet. I wonder wherever she came by those?" asked Jane in astonishment.
Early morning trips to the kitchen to fetch plum pudding came unbidden to Mr. Bingley's mind.
"And if I am not mistaken, Jane, that son of yours looks to be a red head," proclaimed Mrs. Bennet. "Do you know of any in your family, Mr. Bingley? Your grandfather or an uncle perhaps?"
He thought for a moment, then replied, "I think I recall my great uncle Melcomb being referred to as a redhead." But in his heart Mr. Bingley suspected the true blame lay with pickled beets.
"And what am I to call my new grandchildren?" queried his mother-in-law.
"Charles Christian," replied Jane, getting a silent confirmation from her husband.
"And the girl?"
Mr. Bingley looked at his daughter, then with adoration into the eyes of his wife. "She is a miniature of her mother and heaven sent. Janet Grace?" he tried. Jane blushed, but nodded her agreement.
There must be such a thing as a flock of angels thought Mr. Bingley contently as he surveyed his little family, for surely he had been blessed with one.
Chapter 18
Rose woke from her nap and looked at the room above her, or at least that which she could see from her cradle. It was not her room at home; it was Mama's room in Grandpa's house. She missed her own home. It was noisy at Grandpa's house and sometimes dangerous. Just yesterday Unka Harvey had hit her with his stuffed bunny and made her cry. Even though Grandmamá had scolded him and sent him out of the room, he had snuck back in, took her Father doll away and tried to feed him to the dog! Mama had saved the doll but now he had to stay in her sewing basket, out of reach of Unka Harvey, until she had time to sew Father's head back on.
With him gone, Rose only had two of her dolls left with her in the cradle, her blue Mama doll and her red Kerna doll. She knew where her Auntie doll was, but she had no way of getting her back; Aunt Abby had hidden Auntie in her room under her pillow, along with a small green ball that Kerna had given to Rose. Aunt Abby liked green.
Rose picked up her two remaining dolls and held them above her head, making the cradle rock slightly. "Mah ah 'erna, Ahna ah adah," she said. Mama and Kerna, Auntie and Father. "Ayih ih 'oze, bah-bah" Staying with Rose bye bye. She continued to babble as she moved the dolls above her in and out of the sunlight that shone through the window.
It was not all bad at Grandpa's house, Rose thought. There were a lot more people to watch than she'd had at home. Although she had not seen Unka Lewis since he brought them to stay a few weeks ago, there were many other Unka's and Aunts, all of various sizes and speeds. Unka William was like Father, he hardly ever smiled or even looked at her, but Grandpa more than made up for him; he was always laughing, smiling and saying "Cap it all! Cap it all!" Unka James smiled too, and would talk to her and pat her head. Aunt Maria and Aunt Susan sang and played music, Unka Tommy and Aunt Abby read to her. Unka Martin played games with her and showed her picture books. Grandpa, Unka James and Unka Alex gave her horsie rides on their laps. And even though Grandmamá said "No" too much, she sang songs to Rose and rocked her to sleep.
Charlotte opened the door to her room slowly so as not to wake her daughter if she was still asleep. Seeing the dolls sailing above the cradle, Charlotte confirmed that Rose was awake, but she chose to watch for a few moments from the doorway and just listen to her daughter's chatter. She had always enjoyed hearing her younger siblings "practice" talking to themselves and found even more pleasure in hearing her own child. Eventually Rose noticed her mother at the door and reached out, dolls still in hand, to be picked up.
"What a pretty smile you have for Mama!" Charlotte said. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"'erna!" stated Rose, holding her red doll up to her mother's face.
"Yes, that is the Colonel. Did he have a nice nap, too?"
Charlotte laid Rose on the large bed in the center of the room and talked to her as she changed her clothes. When she was through, she flipped the baby over to allow her to enjoy her favorite sport - crawling up to the headboard and pulling herself up to a standing position, with Charlotte nearby to give her a little confidence.
"We received another letter from Uncle Lewis today," Charlotte said.
Rose held the headboard tight, but turned her head toward the door looking for her favorite uncle. He wasn't there.
"He is in Derbyshire, you know. Surveying Mr. Bingley's new estate."
Rose turned her attention back to the headboard and started to walk, pulling herself along to the right.
"He says he has been contracted to do a number of other jobs up there, mostly for acquaintances of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. He will be staying in Lambton for a few months and is hoping we come up with Lizzy so he can see us again. He thinks if we stay here Grandmamá might be tempted to dismiss the governess she hired last year and use me in her stead."
Rose reached the end of the bed and could go no further. She looked long and hard at the floor below, then turned to go back in the other direction.
"I do not think she has that in mind - yet, although it does seem like something Mama would consider. I did help raise your younger Uncles and Aunts after all. And this governess lets the little ones get away with things I never would have. But I haven't the heart to take on raising anyone but you at the moment, Rose; although who knows what a year will bring? Lewis thinks I need time away to decide what to do with my life after mourning, and that the Darcys' offer is perfect for that - and other things. Did I mention that he enclosed a note for Auntie Anne?"
"Ahna?" Rose's head snapped toward the door, and she was disappointed when Auntie did not come walking in. After a moment she turned around again, and continued on her way.
"He wants me to send it on to her. And she enclosed another note for him in her last letter, too."
Rose went back to the center of the bed and looked down, first on one side of her, then on the other. It did not seem that far to where her feet were, but Rose had no idea how to get the rest of herself down there.
"She thinks we should go with the Darcys, too - although something tells me that she has more than our interest at heart. I think she is hoping to visit Pemberley while Uncle Lewis is still in Derbyshire. What do you think?"
Rose looked at her mother, then the surface of the bed and whined.
"Are you stuck, Precious? Don't you know how to get down? Here, Mama will help." Charlotte sat Rose down on the bed and handed her the Mama doll, while she absently played with the Colonel doll as she spoke.
"I saw Lizzy this morning, too. She mentioned that Mr. Darcy had gotten another letter from his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam."
Rose's eyes lit up as she reached for the doll in her mother's hands, but Charlotte did not notice and continued playing with him.
"She said he has been asking after us. She gave me that I-know-what's-what look of hers and said that he had inquired in a number of different ways whether you and I would be in Derbyshire at Christmas time. I am sure he was only being polite. Anyway, Lizzy made a point of reissuing her invitation for us to join them when they leave in a few weeks. I told her I was still considering it."
Rose gave up trying to take the red doll from her mother and settled for chewing on the blue one. She still kept a close eye on the Colonel however, just in case he should come within her reach.
"I have to admit, it has been harder coming back home than I thought it would be. I would like to be useful, but all the responsibilities I had before my marriage are done quite capably by Mrs. Alberts and Maria. The governess keeps the younger children in hand most of the time, although I doubt anyone can keep that Harvey in hand for long; he is full of what your father used to call "the devil".
Rose looked briefly up at the door to see if Father had come. She had not seen him in a long time and wondered if he knew how to get to Grandpa's house. She hoped he would not get lost on the way. It had been a long trip.
"I love Mama and Papa dearly, but sometimes there is just too much going on here. Yet as hectic as it is, they do not really need me, I think we get in the way more than we help, and I do not think displacing the governess is a solution. I would still be the poor widowed daughter who tends the other children because she has no life of her own. And I do miss having a life of my own. I miss the quiet days in my own home and I miss my independence. I liked being in charge of my future - our future."
Rose offered the wet Mama doll to her mother, who was too lost in her own thoughts to notice.
"Unfortunately, our options are limited. The alternative to living here is living with your Uncle William when he marries Miss Jones next year - and they would like that no better than I - or taking service as a governess or lady's companion, which would inevitably separate us." Charlotte sighed. "Lewis is right, I do need some time." She put her hands down and looked seriously at her daughter.
"Here I am talking of our future, and you - the one my plans will effect the most - do not even have a say in the matter. I wish you could tell me what you want, Rose. What would make you happy?"
Rose leaned forward and grabbed the red doll out of her mother's hand. "'erna!" she squealed, hugging it and her Mama doll tight to her chest. Charlotte smiled sadly and took the child - dolls and all - into her arms in a similar embrace.
"Me too, honey," she whispered. "Me too."
Chapter 19
Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth paused their conversation at the sound of laughter coming from Mr. Bennet's library; it was not the first occasion during the afternoon visit. The Darcys had come to bid goodbye to the Bennets as they were leaving for Derbyshire in the morning, after a very enjoyable, albeit tiring six weeks in Hertfordshire.
"What are they going on about, I wonder?" asked Elizabeth.
"And with little Thomas in there, too! I have told your father that the library is no place for an infant, but still he insists on having him there. He claims it is never too soon to start his education."
"I think it is sweet of Father."
Mrs. Bennet shrugged, then raised her voice a bit to be heard over the latest round of laughter. "So you were saying Charlotte will be joining you in the morning? I am not surprised. It must be hard to be mistress of a household one day then in a matter of weeks be forced by circumstances back to the position of eldest daughter, not to mention having a child to rear."
"I am sure that was part of it, but I got the impression her main concern was for Rose. Lucas Lodge is a much more ... active ... place than the Hunsford parsonage..."
"With all those children running about, I should say so!" interrupted Mrs. Bennet.
"Rose is a happy baby, but not used to so much coming and going; it must be very confusing to her. I think Charlotte is just hoping for some quiet stability in their lives. Not that Pemberley does not bustle with activity of its own, but it is not hard to find solitude when one wishes, and that might be what Charlotte needs right now."
Elizabeth's last words were all but drowned out by another round of laughter, this time because the gentlemen brought their revelry out of the study with them.
"Mr. Bennet, whatever are you subjecting our son to? Really, he is much too young to be around such nonsense!" scolded Mrs. Bennet on seeing her husband come into the room carrying Thomas in a basket made up as an infant bed.
"Oh, so that's the basket Charlotte gave you?" exclaimed Elizabeth. "She told me she had given you one that Rose had outgrown. And she even made little dolls to hang from the handle - how precious!"
"She is a clever woman," said Mr. Bennet.
"Yes she is," agreed his wife. "The yellow is the Mamá doll, the brown is Papa. We named the blue one Mary and the green one Kitty - I hope you don't mind Lizzy, but he sees them more than you..."
"And the red soldier?" asked Elizabeth. As if on cue, Thomas batted the red doll with all the strength of a three month old and sent the doll sailing around the handle of the basket, causing the two men to roar with laughter.
"That, my love," answered Mr. Darcy, "is our brother Wickham."
He's here, thought Charlotte, He's finally here!
When she had agreed to join the Darcys on their return to Derbyshire, Charlotte had told herself that it was the most sensible thing to do - to leave her parents' home before she and Rose got too settled in; that after hearing so much of Pemberley from Lizzy, Anne, even Lady Catherine, she was anxious to see that grand estate and spend time with her dear friend again; even that in the end everyone was right, she and Rose needed some peace and quiet now, away from everyday worries and her parents' bustling household. But now that he was here, she knew that she had been lying to herself. She had come for one reason and only one reason: it was the one place she could go that gave her any hope of seeing Colonel Fitzwilliam again; her one, vain, silly, unrealistic, romantic, hopelessly-impossible hope. And now he was here, in the same house, and she was hiding in the nursery.
She and Rose had spent a quiet but happy Christmas season with the Darcys. Miss Darcy - Georgiana - had fallen in love with Rose instantly (but who did not?) and was the perfect mother's helper, nearly as good as Anne. The Colonel had been expected for the holidays and it seemed the whole household was in anticipation of his arrival. It might have been Charlotte's imagination, but it seemed like Lizzy and Mr. Darcy went out of their way to mention him to her on a daily basis - which made each day that he failed to appear that much more disappointing to Charlotte. Finally, a few days before Christmas, Colonel Fitzwilliam sent word to Mr. Darcy via express that it was impossible for him to get away from his current assignment for some time - at least another month. Reminding herself of all the sensible reasons she had come, Charlotte resolved to enjoy the company of her friends and her daughter for the remainder of her visit.
That was over five weeks ago. She had almost convinced herself that she merely admired the man and was grateful for his kindness and support, until she saw him at the bottom of the stair when he arrived with Anne that afternoon. Charlotte knew she felt more than admiration - much more - when he looked up at her and met her eyes. It was then that she realized how big a fool she was for hanging on to that thin thread of hope. She was a widow in mourning; how could she ever be more than that to him? Unprepared as she was for such a realization, she mutely nodded a greeting and fled to the nursery.
I am finally here, thought Colonel Fitzwilliam, heedless of the small talk being exchanged in his cousin's east parlor, after waiting all these months to see her, and still haven't managed to speak a word to the woman.
The assignment that kept him in the south until early February took him near Rosings a few days before Anne was due to travel to Pemberley. Lady Catherine was only too happy to accept the Colonel's offer to escort her daughter to Derbyshire. She herself planned on making the trip in two months time as the Darcys had invited her to celebrate Easter with them and she, surprisingly, had accepted. The weather was mild for that time of year and the journey was a pleasant one for all occupants of the coach: Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, although the latter's thoughts were turned more toward their destination rather than his companions. He had spent a good part of the last few months planning a dozen scenarios of what awaited him at Pemberley, but they might all come to naught if he had been wrong that day in Kent; if what he had felt so strongly was not mutual after all.
On their arrival the Colonel was encouraged by the smile that lighted Mrs. Collins face when she saw him, but he had barely held her eye for a moment when she seemed startled and disappeared from view. She disappeared so quickly that Anne had not even seen her there. Things did not bode well for the Colonel.
Charlotte sat in the window seat, allowing Rose to stand beside her and play, glad that the child would help distract her from her conflicting thoughts: joy that the Colonel had finally arrived and desolation that he had been a longed for dream, destined to be out of her reach. She sighed and let Rose take her finger, watching her daughter toddle away as far as she could without letting go.
"She's walking!" exclaimed a voice from the doorway. Charlotte jumped, holding tighter to Rose's finger. She had never expected him to follow her to the nursery.
"Not quite," Charlotte replied when she recovered herself, "Not on her own. She hasn't tried to walk without holding on yet."
"I am sure it is just a matter time. My, but she has grown since I saw her last - since I saw you last." When Charlotte did not answer but kept her eye on her child, the Colonel turned his attention to Rose, who was smiling up at him. He knelt down beside her, took her free hand as she reached for him, and said, "And how are you today, Miss Collins? You are such a big girl now!"
"Eeeeffpt!" replied Rose, letting go of her mother's hand to grab the Colonel's nose and squeal in delight.
The Colonel winced. "Someday you must tell me, Miss Collins, what you find so fascinating about my nose."
"Well, it is rather a handsome nose," said Charlotte with a grin.
"Really?" This was the most encouragement he had received yet. He turned toward Charlotte and caught her eye, "I am glad you think so," he replied.
Oh my goodness - what have I done? she thought, looking down and blushing crimson. She had been flirting! She had never flirted in her life! As her eyes fell on the black skirt of her mourning dress her embarrassment turned to shame. How could she have done such a brazen thing with Mr. Collins barely four months in his grave? And how could she have such strong feelings for another man so soon after her husband's death? She was even more mortified when she realized that she had never had such feelings for her husband - even when he was alive - what kind of heartless, soulless woman was she?
The Colonel's heart raced when their eyes met. She feels it, too, he thought with elation as he held her gaze. Then she withdrew her eyes and seemed almost ... sad.
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Collins - Charlotte?"
Surprised by the use of her first name, she looked up to find his eyes had never left her. He could not have been so forward, not with someone like her. He was a gentleman. She was confused, convinced she must have heard him wrong.
"No," she began, "I just..."
"Where's my Rosie!" boomed Anne's voice from the hallway. "There she is!" she added as she entered the room.
"Ah-nah!" exclaimed Rose as her Godmother scooped her up and swung her into her arms.
"Elizabeth kept saying you would be right down with my Rosie, Charlotte. I waited as long as I could, but I could not wait any longer - not to see my Rosie!" Charlotte, breaking free of the Colonel's gaze, rose to embrace her friend.
The Colonel stood up, still watching Charlotte. He knew it disturbed her but he could not help himself.
"It's so good to see you, Anne. I'm sorry if I kept you waiting." Charlotte did her best to keep her composure, but with the Colonel's eyes always on her, she knew it was just a matter of time before she broke. She had to get away to think, to try to make sense of her jumbled emotions.
"You're forgiven, Charlotte. I'm just teasing, but you know how much I love your daughter!"
"Yes, I know you do, Anne. And Rose loves you too, we both do." You and someone else. Oh, she had to leave, now. "And now I find I am keeping Rose waiting, too, for I was just about to get her some supper. Anne, would you mind watching her for a few moments?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
"Thank you, I won't be long. Excuse me, Colonel," said Charlotte, as she quickly fled the room.
Charlotte had not gone to the kitchen, she had slipped out onto the terrace overlooking the rose garden to collect her thoughts. It was there that Colonel Fitzwilliam found her.
"You must be cold," he said, removing his coat and putting it over her shoulders.
"Thank you, but you needn't..." she protested. Why did he follow her? Could he not see how much he confused her when he was near?
"I was happy to hear that you accepted the Darcys' invitation to Pemberley."
"They have been very kind to us."
"I was happy to hear that you were to come to Pemberley. I was anxious to... renew ... our acquaintance."
"Now you are being too kind." She met his eyes.
"No, I am being selfish; knowing you would be here when I came to Derbyshire saved me a trip to Meryton - and less familiar surroundings."
"I don't understand, why would you go to Meryton? Surely Anne had no intention of visiting me there?"
"Anne has nothing to do with it. If you remained in Meryton, I would have found an excuse to take me to Hertfordshire. The assignment I was on could easily have taken me there - it involved evaluating locations for quartering the militia. Naturally, if I were in Meryton, I would have had to pay my respects to you and your family."
"My father would have been greatly flattered by the compliment, Colonel, but again I do not see the need..."
"Do you not, Charlotte? I would not be there to see your father - at least not until after I saw you."
"Sir?"
"Please, call me Richard. I wanted to see you - needed to see you. And I hoped - prayed - that you wanted to see me, too."
"Oh, I did - I do. But Colonel..."
"I know propriety would have me wait, Charlotte, but I am not exactly a young man. Nor does my profession allow me the luxury of a great deal of time to pay court to a woman..."
"Pay court?"
"I should have liked to court you properly, Charlotte - with your permission of course, but I find I will need to abbreviate it..."
"Colonel..." Now he was making no sense, for surely he could not be serious.
"Richard."
"Colonel," she said firmly, "I am in mourning; courtship is out of the question! You could have any woman in London, nay England, for the asking; what sir, do you want with me?"
"I do not want any woman in London, nor any other woman in England - or the World for that matter. I want you, Charlotte, for you. I have had flirtations with dozens of ladies of the ton, but courted none of them; probably because I could never see any future for me beyond the courtship, so I never began one. But with you, Charlotte, I can see a future; I can see us making a life together. I find I am in love with you, Charlotte. As I said, I should have liked to court you properly, but since that is not an option... Charlotte, if you and Rose will have me, I would be most honored if you would consent to be my wife."
"This is all so sudden. I need time to think..."
"Don't think. Do you love me? Could you love me - in time?"
"I do love you - Richard. I can not tell you how much, how very much. But..."
"Then it is settled," he said, pulling her closer and kissing her lips gently.
Taken again by surprise, Charlotte returned his kiss without thinking, realizing only after they'd begun that she should not have; but by then it was too late, she did not want to stop. She paused only to murmur, "Yes, it is settled," then saw no need to think of anything other than the man in her arms, for quite some time.
Chapter 20
The Darcys did not seem to find it odd that Colonel Fitzwilliam and Charlotte were never out of each other's company for the remainder of the day, nor were they surprised that the Colonel left mysteriously the next morning and returned three days later. The rest of Pemberley's inhabitants were not left to wonder long after his return as he and Charlotte announced their engagement at dinner, the Colonel having received the blessing of Sir William and Lady Lucas for the match during his absence.
The wedding date was set for the week after Easter. Charlotte knew some people would fault her for mourning her late husband for only six months, but the date was a compromise between propriety and practicality, and Charlotte was nothing if not practical. The happy couple readily accepted the Darcy's offered to have the wedding in Pemberley's church and breakfast afterward at the estate.
After dinner over port, Darcy again congratulated his cousin.
"Elizabeth and I are happy for you and Mrs. Collins, Fitzwilliam. May you have as much joy in your marriage as we have in ours."
"Thank you, Darcy. It is comforting to know that some members of my family wish us well. I know of at least one that may have... reservations."
"I assume you mean your father? Well, he has made no secret that he expected you to marry well."
"I am; I could not ask for better than Charlotte."
"Granted, Fitzwilliam, though I doubt the Earl will agree."
"I know what Father had planned for me, Darcy, but one can not afford to take only money into consideration when marrying - you better than anyone knows that. Although after we wed I may need to cut back on some ... frivolities ... that I have been accustomed to, we should be able to manage tolerably well. I invested the bequest your father left me, as well as that from my grandmother; and am getting a fair return. It may not be much by your standards, and certainly not by the Earl's, but it will be adequate for our small family - even if I can no longer depend on my father's support. It is enough to let a house in town and allow us to fit it up properly; my Army pay should take care of the rest."
"For the present, no doubt, but have you considered the future and a growing family?"
"Of course. Charlotte and I have talked, and yes, we do plan on having more children. Don't worry, Darcy, they will be provided for; I do have some prospects, you know. I am still heir to my great uncle Matthew's Yorkshire property."
"The sheep farm?" The colonel couldn't help smiling at his cousin's indignant expression. Darcy opinion of that piece of property was obvious.
"It's no Pemberley, I'll grant you, and it is the least profitable of my uncle's holdings, but it cleared nearly two thousand last year."
"Indeed?"
"And I have been told with proper management that could double - but that is some time in the future - we don't want to rush dear Uncle Matthew to an early grave."
"Isn't the man nearly eighty?"
"A spry seventy-eight in June. And he is welcome to live to be one hundred-eight; I won't wish Mother's favorite uncle ill, especially when he has been so kind as to make me one of his heirs. Besides, Charlotte and I agree that I still have a few good years left in my profession. She has no objection to living in town for the time being and being a solder's wife."
"When do you plan on telling your parents?"
"Sunday. I warned my mother of my intentions a few weeks ago. She suggested, if I was accepted, that an opportune time to break the news to Father might be right before Sunday services begin; that way he is more likely to ... restrain ... his objections until he has had an hour or so to cool - consider - the matter. "
"A strategic assault then?"
"Quite."
The Colonel was not the only gentleman visitor to Pemberley that week. Charlotte's brother Lewis was still residing in Lambton and often dropped in, sometimes stopping by on his way to or from a surveying job at a neighboring estate. It was during one of these visits that Anne expressed an interest in his profession; Lewis offered to give her, and anyone else that might be interested, a demonstration. So it was that on more than one afternoon, Anne, Georgiana, and once even Mrs. Jenkinson, found themselves on the lawn of Pemberley learning a bit about the art of surveying.
Charlotte and the Colonel chose to decline these outings, preferring to spend some quiet time together or with Rose in one of Pemberley's many sitting rooms, although usually when the Colonel was entertaining Rose, one could hardly call it quiet. Friday afternoon found he and Charlotte with the child in the east parlor. The Colonel had just taught Rose a simple game of Peek-a-Boo, where they would take turns peeking up over the back of a sofa and saying "Boo", she standing on the seat looking back, he crouching behind it.
"Peek-ah..." began the colonel from the floor.
"Boo!" laughed Rose, peering up over the sofa, then squatting down to begin the game again.
"It amazes me that she never tires of that game," commented Charlotte, looking up from her embroidery.
"Are we boring you, madam?" asked Fitzwilliam.
"Not at all, I am finding it quite entertaining."
"It certainly has to be more enjoyable than looking at your brother's surveying equipment time and again. I don't know why Georgiana and Anne find it so fascinating. It's fairly rudimentary mathematics. I can not believe they are going out with your brother again today."
"Georgiana is not," commented Charlotte. "I believe she was to help Lizzy with a table design this afternoon."
"I am a bit surprised Anne hasn't tired of the business yet."
"It is obvious that there is much that has captured her interest, but I do not think they will be doing much surveying today."
"What makes you say that? I thought that was the point of the excursion."
Charlotte looked up again and smiled at her fiancé. "Because Lewis' equipment is still in the entry hall."
"Ohhh," said the Colonel, suddenly enlightened. "Well, it is a rather fair day to be out. What about you and our Little Miss here? Would you fancy a stroll in the gardens?"
"Yes, I believe we would. Let me fetch our coats from upstairs," suggested Charlotte, rising and setting her work aside. "I'll be but a moment."
"Take your time, my dear. Rosebud and I will find something to amuse ourselves. Peek-ah..." he said, turning back to Rose.
"Boo!" she cried as she stood up momentarily, then squatted down again to wait for her next turn.
They had been playing for some minutes when the Colonel heard a voice booming behind him.
"Richard Colin Montgomery Ian Fitzwilliam! What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, bother," said Fitzwilliam under his breath as he rose to face the door; the Earl always had such perfect timing. "Hello, Father. What a surprise." he greeted the older man pleasantly.
"Not nearly the surprise your mother and I received yesterday by express! Some nobody by the name of Lucas from Hertfordshire - Hertfordshire of all places - had the audacity to wish us well. He congratulated us on the upcoming joyous occasion of our families being joined! Apparently this country bumpkin is under the mistaken impression that you are to marry his daughter - a widow of a country parson. Not an heiress or debutant, mind you, but a - a..."
"Boo!" exclaimed Rose popping up from behind the sofa, startling the already irritated Earl.
"Yes, Rose, I agree," the Colonel said quickly, "A beautiful, intelligent, kind and gentle lady. It is true, Father; I have proposed to and been accepted by the widow of a respectable clergyman. She is a wonderful woman with whom I have every intention of being very happy with for the rest of my life. But I am getting ahead of myself," he said bending down to pick up Rose. "Father, I should like to present to you Miss Catherine Rose Collins, soon to be Fitzwilliam." He met his father's eye before turning back to the child. "Rosebud, meet Grandpapa, the Earl of Matlock."
"Mah-lah," Rose tried, looking the newcomer up and down.
"Richard, I warn you..." began the Earl. He was in no mood for Richard's games or taunts.
"Can you say Grandpapa?"
"Mahhh-Lahhh!" Rose insisted stubbornly. It was then that her eye caught something of interest on the new gentleman's coat. She reached out her arms for him. The colonel, seizing the opportunity, pushed the willing infant into his father's unexpectant arms before the older man could object. He was a bit mystified by Rose's easy acceptance of a total stranger until he saw what had captured her attention. She apparently found the braid on the Earl's shoulder something worthy of immediate investigation. She sat contentedly in the Earl's arms, playing with the braided material with both her hands while softly singing "Mah-lah-lah-lah, Mah-lah-la."
"This is not the reason I am here," he indicated Rose, attempting to give her back to his son, who blatantly ignored the gestures. "I have come to talk some sense into you. How can you even consider this alliance? We've nothing to gain from it!"
"On the contrary, Father, I have everything to gain by it. It has been some time now that I have realized my life was ... incomplete. It was only when I became reacquainted with Charlotte that I realized what was missing."
"You are talking nonsense. The woman's obviously playing on your sympathy, expecting you to solve all her problems. I always told your mother you were too nice for your own good. If it's a wife you want, come back to Town. London will be full of young, fresh faces in a matter of weeks, you can take your pick of the latest crop of well-dowered debutantes."
"You are wasting your time, Father. I've already made my choice."
Meanwhile, Rose thought the two Kerna's - for she considered the man who held her to be quite like her Kerna - just wider and a different color - were totally missing what was important. Could they not see how nice this stringy-thing was? Looking up into the eyes of the man that held her she said very seriously, "Mah-lah."
"I believe you mean 'Mat-lock', " corrected the Earl, looked down at the child and meeting her innocent eyes with a stern glare. He had no qualms about frightening one so young.
Rose was anything but. She looked up at his thick, fuzzy, gray eyebrows and gave him her most winning smile. She put her head on his shoulder and patted the braiding of his coat. "Maaaahhhh-laaaaaaaaaa," she sang. The Earl of Matlock could not help but soften his stance towards the tot, until he remembered his son was watching.
Charlotte chose that moment to return and was privy to an unusual sight. Her fiancé looking quite amused, with eyes locked on his blustering father, who for some reason was holding her daughter. Stranger than that, her daughter seemed quite at home with the Earl of Matlock, although the same could not be said for him.
"My lord," said Charlotte entering the room with a curtsey. "I am sorry I was not here to greet you properly. I hope Rose has not been bothering you."
"Do we know each other, madam?" asked the Earl rather brusquely, causing his son's color to heighten. The Earl had barely looked at the woman who had just addressed him, assuming she was a nanny come for the child, then noted his son's reaction to her entry - the boy seemed to grow a foot when she walked in, and frankly no longer appeared to be his little boy, for that is how he had always been considered by his father despite his 30 years, but to become very much his own man. This must be the widow that had captured his heart. She was older than he had imagined, not stunning at all, nothing that would explain his son's recent failure to see reason. But there was also something vaguely familiar about the woman, although he could not place her.
"Yes, my lord," she said, taking her daughter from him and gently removing the child's hands from the man's coat. "But I am not surprised if you do not remember me. My late husband had the parish at Hunsford, near your sister's home of Rosings. She kindly invited us for dinner one evening when you visited with her the Christmas before last."
The Colonel went to Charlotte's side, placing his arm on her back. "Father, I am pleased to present to you Mrs. Charlotte Collins, my bride to be." Although he smiled brightly at her, then his father, Charlotte detected a note of challenge in her fiancé's voice.
"Oh yes," the Earl replied. He was feeling less awkward now that the child had been removed, although the waif still smiled up at him from her mother's shoulder, quietly singing Mah-lah-lah. "I recall the occasion, but for some reason you look ... smaller."
"Father!" Fitzwilliam was appalled. He would have expected such a tactless remark from Lady Catherine, but not from his own father.
"It's alright, Richard. He meant no harm and he is absolutely correct. When last we met I was ... larger. It was a few months before Rose was born."
Now it was the Earl's turn to color. "Ahh, yes, that would explain it." He thought it best to do what he'd come for before his son tried to deter him further. "Mrs. Collins, might I have a word with you in private?"
"No, Father. What you have to say to my future wife you can certainly say in front of me."
Charlotte put her free hand gently on his arm. "Richard, I am honored that your father would like to get to know me better. Perhaps you could see if your cousin needs help?"
"Which?" All three of his cousins were perfectly capable of doing whatever they were doing without his assistance. In fact, if Charlotte was right in her assumptions, he knew of one in particular that would not welcome his presence at the moment. Charlotte, on the other hand, could have no idea what the Earl could be like, especially when he was... out of sorts.
"Any," she answered, thinking he looked very cute when he was being protective. "Or you could take Rose for a turn in the garden. I will meet you there shortly."
"Are you sure about this," he whispered as they helped Rose into her coat, "I know my father."
"You forget, dear, I have had to deal with his sister for years. Don't worry, I will be fine."
The colonel gave a parting glance of warning to his father then reluctantly left with Rose. Charlotte invited the Earl to sit as she returned to her seat, an offer he chose to decline. He paced once or twice half the length of the room before coming to a stop in front of her.
"Mrs. Collins, let me get right to my point. I assume you know why I've come."
"Yes, my lord; to determine my suitability for your son and to be dealt with if I am found lacking."
"I admire your candor, Mrs. Collins. I must admit, you are not what I expected."
Charlotte raised a brow, but remained silent.
"I will be frank, if this is not a match I can condone, I will cut my son off. Richard thinks the two of you - three of you - can live happily ever after on love, but I know my son. Without my support he would be forced to give up many of the things he considers necessities: his suite in the townhouse, club memberships, London society and its entertainments, connections with most of his family and friends. Do you think you can compensate him for such a loss?"
"I already have, sir, although I scarcely hoped it was possible. Your son loves me, and I him."
"Love is easy to live on until the bills start coming due."
"I think you underestimate your son, my lord. Richard is prepared to do without some of the things he has grown used to, most of which I have done without all my life. With a little guidance, he is quite capable of living within his income."
"And you intend to give him that guidance?" accused the Earl.
"I am not without some skills, sir. I am quite adept at running a household on an income far less than that of your son's. I also have had the benefit of the patronage of your esteemed sister in the past. Over the years she has given me invaluable advice, much of it on economizing. I have complete confidence that we shall not only be able to make ends meet, but even have a bit left over to restore the occasional luxury."
"Excellent, if my son were looking for a housekeeper."
"The material your son will not regret, my lord, but the withdrawal of your good opinion would be a blow, and an unnecessary one. As unlikely as it would seem, Richard and I suit. I admit that I bring little to the marriage but myself, my daughter, and my love, but your son is confident in our success. I will make him a good wife and never bring disgrace to your family. Can you not accept what will make him happy?"
The woman looked up at him with the same artless eye of her child; he had no doubts of her sincerity, just her wisdom.
"I have my reservations, Mrs. Collins, but as you say, it is his decision and he has a right to stand or fall by it. Are you prepared to fall with him?"
"We won't fall, my lord," Charlotte said in relief, then added with a glint in her eye, "If London proves too expensive, we can always relocate to Hertfordshire."
"That threat, madam, would have been enough to prompt my support," the Earl said dryly. "Had you mentioned that sooner, we could have saved ourselves the trouble of this discussion."
After the Earl had paid his respects to his nephew and his wife, he took his leave. He had much to tell his own wife once he returned to Matlock. He was stopped midway into his carriage by the addresses of an apparently nervous young man.
"Excuse me, my lord, I - I am Lewis Lucas. Could I have a word with you please?" Lewis queried hesitantly.
"Lewis Lucas? Are you by chance one of Mrs. Collins' brothers? Well, save your breath, boy. I've already given her and my son my blessing."
"Sir, it's not their blessing I needed to speak with you about."
"No? What is it then?" he asked stepping down from the carriage. It was then that his niece Anne stepped out from behind the young man.
"Good afternoon, Uncle," she said shyly.
Chapter 21, A
To say the Earl was surprised to see his niece in such close proximity to the young Lucas lad would be an understatement. Instinctively he knew he would not be seeing Matlock soon. He sent the carriage back to the stable and ushered the young people into a more private setting, one of Pemberley's unoccupied sitting rooms. Once behind closed doors, Mr. Lucas stated his fervent wish to marry Miss Anne, and Anne requested her uncle's advice in approaching her mother with their intentions.
Although at first the Earl did his best to point out the disparity of the match to her, and to him the obstacles that he would need to overcome to live in her sphere - particularly one big, opinionated one - neither she nor Mr. Lucas could be swayed from their attachment. Anne insisted there was no disparity; besides being the son of a knight of the realm, Mr. Lucas was a gentleman in a gentleman's profession. For his part, Mr. Lucas assured his Lordship that he was confident he could take care of and provide for Anne adequately; there was a demand for reputable surveyors in the kingdom and he had gained a favorable reputation within superior circles of society, due considerably to the patronage of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. (The Earl had to admire the boy's self-assurance.) Next he attempted to persuade them to wait a season or two, allowing the young man time to prove his worth to Lady Catherine and letting her get used to the idea. The Earl was sure that the young man would be willing to endure a longer engagement, however Anne insisted she had waited long enough to start her life and was not going to wait any longer. (The Earl cringed at her obstinacy; for the first time in her life his niece bore an uncanny resemblance to his sister.) Anne declared she was of-age and could marry where she chose. She was prepared to go to Gretna Green if they could not come up with a timely scheme of winning her mother's approval.
The Earl considered this for a moment; the scandal would turn the attention of the ton away from his son's marriage to a newly widowed yet undistinguished woman, but he thought better of it; any scandal would reflect badly on the entire family. He assured his niece that he would intercede with her mother for them, requesting only that they give him some time to consider the matter. Approaching Catherine would be a delicate matter; it would require patience, strategy, and most likely deception. He would need to take advantage of his current locale to confer with his son and nephew.
Darcy rose from his desk when his uncle entered his study.
"Uncle Robert, I thought you had gone. Is something wrong?" asked Darcy with concern.
"You don't know the half of it," replied the Earl, sitting down heavily in the nearest chair. "Pour me a drink while we wait for Richard. Better pour one for yourself and your cousin, too." They both looked up as Colonel Fitzwilliam came in, closing the door behind him.
"Father, I thought we'd finished our business. You haven't changed your mind about Charlotte have you?" he asked defensively.
"No, my lad, it's her brother..."
"Oh," he said matter-of-factly. "Lewis."
"Capital," muttered Darcy, causing Fitzwilliam to raise a brow in his direction.
"You knew?" exclaimed the Earl, "Both of you?"
"I found out just today, Father. Charlotte told me." He turned a questioning eye to his cousin. "Darcy, you knew?"
"Elizabeth told me as well, at her cousin's funeral," he confessed, bewildering both the other men. "She... knows things." His uncle nodded; he had been married nearly thirty-five years; had she been there, his wife would have known, too. The colonel wasn't convinced, but then he was still a bachelor. "I hoped it was a passing fancy on at least one of their parts," Darcy continued, "One that would fade with time and distance."
"As it did for you and Bingley?" remarked Fitzwilliam sardonically. Darcy merely shrugged in resignation.
"Gentlemen, I need your advice. Catherine does not yet know of their attachment. Anne has asked me to help gain her mother's approval."
"Impossible," Darcy stated. "She has barely acknowledged my wife and we have been married well over a year. I doubt Mrs. Collins will receive a warm welcome to the family from her - no offense Fitzwilliam, you know I have nothing but respect for Charlotte." His cousin gave a nod of agreement; he knew his aunt just as well. "Sir William Lucas made his fortune through trade. Although Aunt Catherine has no reason to dislike Lewis as the brother of her late clergyman's widow, she will not look kindly on someone with such low connections making an offer for her daughter."
"Perhaps she would overlook his family's background in trade if their connections were considerably higher," suggested the Colonel.
"How do you propose raising the Lucases' connections?" asked Darcy incredulously.
"Not so much raising the connections as ... raising speculation."
"Speculation, eh?" The Earl was intrigued. "With Catherine that just might work, one just has to plant a seed and her imagination might take her the rest of the way. Now as for what to speculate on ... How came Sir William to knighthood?"
"I believe," Darcy answered after a moment's reflection, "that while mayor of Meryton some years ago he addressed the court at St. James. He apparently made such a favorable impression on the King that he was knighted shortly thereafter."
"Do you know how long ago that was?"
"Charlotte will know," said Fitzwilliam. "You have a plan, sir?"
"Possibly; what do you think of this..."
The next month was a hectic one for the Earl. There were banns to be posted and licenses to be obtained. His son brought his fiancée and her daughter to Matlock for a week to meet the rest of the family, where they "passed inspection" with flying colors - especially with the lady's future mother-in-law, who was greatly relieved that her bachelor son had finally found his ideal match. Anne had gone along, too, but the Earl thought it best to leave her intended in Lambton and her engagement a private matter, confiding only in his wife, until the most opportune time to inform his sister of the young couple's intentions.
The week before Easter, at her brother's request, Lady Catherine arrived at Matlock. He asked her to spend a few days at their family home before continuing on to Pemberley. She was clearly put out about Mrs. Collin's presumptions on marrying into her illustrious family, but the Earl cautioned her against voicing her displeasure for the moment. He reminded her that as head of the family, he had given his son his consent and he personally approved of the bride-to-be; however, he assured her, he was still investigating his future in-laws for he had recently gotten wind of a rumor that the Lucases of Hertfordshire were not all what they seemed. It was possible, though unlikely, that they had higher connections than was previously thought, and though he was not at liberty to divulge what those connections were without confirmation, he did not care to have his sister speaking out before all the facts were known. What he could tell her was that there was more to the story behind Sir William's elevation to knighthood than a pretty speech to the King. He was looking into the matter, discretely of course, and the moment he received word, he would take her into his confidence.
As much as she pressed her brother for more information, Lady Catherine received little more than that. However after imbibing a bit too much port one evening, the Earl let slip a remark about the gratitude of a highly placed individual to Sir William, then seemed to regret this indiscretion and immediately changed the subject. Lady Catherine would have dismissed it as nonsense but for an earlier remark her brother had made - that his son mentioned that the second Lucas brother looked nothing like the others, looked nothing like his father nor his mother for that matter. This brought to mind when Lady Catherine had seen the majority of Charlotte's brothers at Mr. Collin's funeral, and indeed she remembered noting that one of the older boys - what was his name? Lucious - no, Lewis - was taller and darker than his brethren; indeed, she could recall no family resemblance in the young man in the least. Was it possible that he was not truly a Lucas?