CHAPTER 1
It seems that people of a certain class and possessed of a certain standard of living should, though more than satisfied with material concerns, want for some excitement once in a while. Elizabeth Darcy had been living in great contentment with her husband Fitzwilliam at his family estate of Pemberley, but at least once a year she enjoyed the long journey south to her childhood home of Longbourn, where her parents and two younger sisters still lived. Though she and Darcy were happy to have Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mary, and Kitty visit them often, and Darcy did not like to be separated for long periods of time from his beloved Elizabeth, he was happy to let her enjoy staying with her family in those surroundings so familiar to her before they met. Elizabeth liked to travel, and found the journeys back and forth between Pemberley and Longbourn to be an adventure each time she made them. She also hoped for new and exciting events to happen during each visit.
On this particular trip to Longbourn, the Darcys came together, and were happy to join Elizabeth’s elder sister Jane, her amiable husband Charles Bingley, and their infant son, Charles Junior. Mr. Bennet enjoyed the company of his sons-in-law, whether in the library, which pleased Darcy most, or riding and hunting on the grounds, which Charles enjoyed more. Jane and Mrs. Bennet were bustling around the kitchen downstairs along with their long-serving maid Hill and the Cook to prepare that evening’s dinner. Mary and Kitty were entertaining their nephew, whom they called Charlie, by riding him around the park in his own little carriage.
On this pleasant early afternoon, as everyone else seemed involved in some worthwhile pursuit, Elizabeth took advantage of the relative quiet in the upper part of the house to sit down in her room with a novel. The mildness of the weather and the pleasure of her surroundings had calmed her desire to have something new and interesting happen. She was turning the pages in a frequent, though languid manner, when her maid knocked and entered, bearing a card on a tray.
“Madam, Miss Anne de Bourgh is here, requesting to speak with you. I have settled her in the drawing room.”
“Thank you, Sally.” Anne de Bourgh! Elizabeth felt more than a little consternation at the announcement of this unexpected visitor. Why would Lady Catherine’s daughter come to visit her, of all people, and what did she want to talk about? Elizabeth could not imagine that Miss de Bourgh desired her company, not after Elizabeth had accepted Darcy’s proposal of marriage, ending Lady Catherine’s hopes, and perhaps Anne’s, of uniting the two branches of the family. However, here she was at Longbourn, and Elizabeth would go down to meet her and learn what prompted her visit.
She followed Sally along the hallway to the stairs. When her maid turned to let her pass, she asked, “Did Miss de Bourgh come alone, or does she have companions?”
“She is quite alone, Madam, except for her chaperone who remains with the carriage, but she insisted on speaking with you at once, unless you were not feeling well enough to have visitors.”
“I see.” Another mystery! Not only had Miss de Bourgh traveled here, hardly a favored acquaintance and a possible nemesis, but she had also come only accompanied by a chaperone and actually had expressed a desire to speak with her.
Her visitor rose quickly as she entered the drawing room, and they exchanged curtsies. “Mrs. Darcy, thank goodness I have found you at home!” Anne de Bourgh’s voice was unusually strong. “I trust that you are well?”
“Thank you, I am,” Elizabeth replied. “I hope that you are well also, and I am gratified with this opportunity to see you again. I hope your trip here today has been pleasant and uneventful.”
“It certainly was. I am happy to tell you I am well also, and I am very grateful for your welcoming me.” Anne de Bourgh looked down. “Please forgive my haste in coming to see you, as I am sure my visit is rather unexpected—” She trailed off.
Elizabeth nodded, not wishing to make the situation more awkward. “Please stay a while, and be comfortable. Shall I ring for tea?”
Her guest sat down with a weary air. “That would be lovely. No matter how long they last, carriage rides do tend to tire me out.”
“Of course they do! Only the most skilled drivers, I feel, can prevent us from arriving at our destinations all bruised and worn out, from the state of the roads. I am not surprised such rides weary you.” Elizabeth sat down herself. “Now I have done it! I am being a poor hostess by reminding you of your return journey home, with little to look forward to, except more bouncing about and bruising.”
Her visitor smiled at that, then seemed determined to begin speaking. “Not at all. As for my visit, I assure you that I come here of my own free will. I do not bear a message from my mother, Lady Catherine, nor would I.” She paused to consider her next words. “I wish you and Mr. Darcy much joy in your marriage, and do not bear either one of you any ill will for any reason, despite whatever my mother has said to you in the past.” Her eyes grew large in her pale face. “Please believe me when I say that I am sorry my mother is displeased with Mr. Darcy, but that is her affair! I do not share her feelings.”
Elizabeth took her hands in her own. “How comforted I am to hear you say so! I feel the loss of your society very keenly, and I know that, while our marriage has been most unwelcome to Lady Catherine, our estrangement from her upsets Mr. Darcy greatly. He has sent letters to effect a reconciliation,” she gave a delicate pause, “but he has received no reply from her, so we assumed that Lady Catherine’s feelings toward our marriage are unchanged.” Anne de Bourgh nodded. “I do not wish to upset you, but I did wonder if perhaps you did share her feelings. I am very relieved that you do not.”
“I certainly do not share them! It is true that Lady Catherine has said many times over the years that she expected Mr. Darcy and me to marry, and that his mother Lady Anne also desired such a match, but I believe there is not a single scrap of paper anywhere that states such an intention, as if it were sanctioned by an act of Parliament.” Miss de Bourgh sighed, and Elizabeth concealed a smile. “Forgive me for saying so, for I do not mean to imply that Mr. Darcy would make an unsatisfactory match! Quite the opposite, of course! However, my mother has simply willed a marriage between the two of us to happen, and is quite unable to accept that it has not occurred.” She gave Elizabeth an imploring look. “How I have missed you at Rosings Park! I am truly happy for both of you, and feel no animosity at all. If I have been too forward in reference to your marriage or Mr. Darcy himself, I beg your forgiveness.”
Elizabeth tried to soothe her in her sweetest tone. “I take no offense at anything you have said, and I thank you for your well wishes.” Anne appeared mollified but kept silent, clasping and unclasping her hands. Sally arrived with the tea tray, and once she was finished serving Anne resumed.
She looked less pale and more comfortable, but astonished Elizabeth with her next remark.
“Sometimes I do not express myself clearly enough. I just told you that I feel no animosity toward both of you, which is true; however, if you can forgive me for saying so, I confess that perhaps what I do feel is envy.”
“Envy? Of us? Whatever do you mean?”
“Well, I shall begin by saying my mother has been very good to me, and, though she would never admit it, constantly worries about my delicate health.” Anne put down her cup and looked away. “However, except for visitors, my only society consists of Lady Catherine, the Collinses, and sometimes our cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.” She saw Elizabeth giving her an appraising look. “My mother is a formidable woman, and the Collinses are decent, proper, and welcome at Rosings.” Elizabeth nodded. “I only mean to say that my own social circle is very small, and one can become lonely at times.”
Anne rose and came over to sit beside her. “I admit that I am very lonely, and that nothing would make me happier than to be married, and married well.”
“By married well, do you mean being financially secure?” Elizabeth was aware of Anne’s fortune and position as Lady Catherine’s daughter.
“No, I mean being married as compatible as you and Mr. Darcy are!” She looked away again. “I am an heiress and the daughter of a peer of the realm. I have no doubt there are expectations of whom I should marry, based on my potential husband’s social position and financial stability! However, as shocking as this would sound to my mother’s ears, I wish to marry primarily for love. How I wish I had a lifelong companion as you do! Hence, my reason for visiting you.” She swallowed. “I came to ask your advice about some prospects.”