Page 85 of To Love And To Cherish
Adam bent and kissed her hand. “He is a lucky man.”
As Adam and Marcus mounted their horses for the journey back to Carrbridge, Elizabeth embraced Ancilla and Mary, offering thanks and affection. Darcy returned, informing her that they would need to secure rooms elsewhere.
He scanned the group. “Where is Adam?”
Lucas said, “Gone. He wished to be away quickly.”
Darcy nodded once. “Please give him my best. And know that if ever any of you are near Bakewell, the doors of Pemberley stand open.”
He looked down at Elizabeth, his wife, and offered his arm. “Shall we, Mrs. Darcy?”
She placed her hand in his.
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. Let us go home.”
Chapter 43: Mrs. Bennet
Pemberley Derbyshire
August 6 1811
Mr. Thomas Bennet sat at his desk in the library, a letter held loosely in his hand. The handwriting was unfamiliar, bold and angular, and the paper was heavier and finer than most. The wax seal was one he did not recognize. He turned the large envelope over before breaking the seal and unfolding the pages within.
His eyes moved swiftly to the signature, Fitzwilliam Darcy. The very gentleman who had spoken to Mrs. Bennet on Mary’s behalf. The same Mr. Darcy who had, it seemed, urged his friend to propose to Jane with far greater speed than the amiable Mr. Bingley might have managed on his own. Mr. Bennet began reading with mounting astonishment.
The letter was a formal request for his daughter Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.
For a moment, he sat stunned. Lizzy had a suitor. The date on the letter was August 6th. Today was the 20th of August. A full nineteen days had passed. Perhaps by now she was already betrothed, or even married.
He blinked and read again the name: Fitzwilliam Darcy. Could this be the same Mr. Darcy who had visited Netherfield with Mr. Bingley? He chastised himself. He really ought to pay better attention to the comings and goings in his own house. So this Mr. Darcy had followed Lizzy to Scotland? A besotted suitor, no doubt, and the thought pleased him. His Lizzy deserved to be cherished by a good man.
He reached into the envelope and withdrew a sheaf of legal documents. Marriage settlements. He perused the contents and stopped, astonished. The man was to settle forty thousand pounds upon Elizabeth for her maintenance should he predecease her, with additional provision for any children born of the marriage.
Mr. Bennet slipped the papers carefully back into their envelope, rose from his chair, and locked them within the safe. He would wait to inform Mrs. Bennet until the deed was done and the couple stood before them. Then, and only then, would he let her know. He frowned. Frances would be positively green with envy.
Mrs. Bennet’s temper had not sweetened with Mary’s marriage to Mr. Collins Bennet, as he had once hoped. He had long believed her anger stemmed from the entail, but of late, he wondered whether it came from her very nature. Jane was happily married to a wealthy young man, and Mary to the future heir of Longbourn, yet Frances remained spiteful, particularly toward Elizabeth.
He spent the afternoon pondering whether anything could be done. As the sun dipped below the horizon, he came to a decision. If her grievances were born of money and status, perhaps those concerns could be answered. At the very least, he could insist upon civility. Elizabeth deserved at least that.
He rang the bell, and Alice soon appeared in the doorway.
"Alice, please let Mrs. Bennet know I wish to speak with her."
"Yes, sir," she replied with a curtsey.
Moments later, Frances entered the study and sat in the nearest chair, arms crossed.
He regarded her in silence for a moment. She was still beautiful at one-and-forty, capable of turning heads, but her countenance was sour.
"Frances," he began, "what think you of Mary’s match?"
She blinked, surprised. "Well, I say Mary did very well. She has saved our family."
"Yes," he agreed. "I am grateful she did not marry Doctor Edgerton. In marrying the rector, she has secured your home for another generation."
Mrs. Bennet nodded. "Her husband is well paid and keeps a fine rectory. There’s an orchard, and chickens too, she wrote to say as much. It appears our middle daughter is quite happily situated. In fact, Mary has even written to ask whether Kitty might come for a visit. Charlotte Lucas, too. Evidently, there is a wealthy widower in the parish with a young daughter; he is in need of a wife. And there’s a young estate owner who might suit Kitty. Four-and-twenty, not yet looking for a wife, but Mary believes he’ll come round when he sees her beautiful sister."
He observed with some satisfaction that her expression had softened.
