AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, but you know what I mean.”
“We do,” Darcy replied.
“Jack Bennet’s family were pleased I suspect,” Fitzwilliam said with a laugh just before he forked a particularly large slice of ham onto his plate. “They’ve landed a significant catch with you, Bingley! And in doing so ensured that the entail has been settled. The Collinses will be doomed to a life forever within the close proximity and care of our aunt!”
They all laughed at that though certainly it was unfair on the Collinses!
“They were very pleased,” Bingley confirmed. “Jack has requested that Longbourn is left for his mother and brothers for as long as they require it, which of course I am happy to facilitate.”
“And Mrs. Bennet especially?” Georgiana asked as she had been told tales of Elliot and Jack’s mother and was quite intrigued by her. “Was she pleased? Is she happy to stay at Longbourn or would she prefer the dower house here at Netherfield?”
“She is quite beside herself,” Jack said. “And she will remain at Longbourn!” He shook his head. “I suspect she is busy planning the ceremony already. Which we are quite happy for her to do. Neither Jack nor I have any interest in such things, and Jack is exceptionally pressed to finish a large project with his papa before we are mated, and so needs time to do that, time he can ill afford on planning ceremonies. I understand the text on the papers requires a magnifying glass!” he added as if such a thing was ridiculous.
“And where will you go on your honeymoon?” Georgiana asked, clearly pleased to be afforded all the gossip. Darcy was glad he had decided to bring her down.
“I am going to take Jack on a tour of the continent, I think. He has never left the country, and there is much I can show him. Darcy, you recall when we toured those southern regions of Italy?” he added. “That seems like the sort of thing!”
Georgiana nodded decisively before turning to her brother. “I approve. I suggest you do the same with Elliot Bennet.”
They all ceased their activity at those words and also turned to Darcy. Darcy lowered his fork, which had been halfway to his mouth, and gave Georgiana a glare which was far from indulgent, but it did not disconcert her, and she simply grinned and helped herself to a slice of plum cake.
“Have you spoken with Elliot Bennet?” Fitzwilliam asked, eventually breaking the silence, as Darcy’s express letter encouraging his cousin to come to Netherfield had been sparse on details.
“I have not,” Darcy replied.
“You are able though,” Charles said. “My deed is done leaving you now free to pay your addresses. That is what you were waiting for?” he added.
“I am aware,” Darcy replied. “And, yes, that is what I was waiting for.”
“Then there can be no delay,” Georgiana said. “And Elliot is bound to accept this time. Now that everything is settled with his family.”
Settled…Darcy hoped it was so, but he would have no notion until he was actually alone with Elliot, repeating the sentiments which Elliot had so violently rejected before.
“Are you planning to call on the Bennets tomorrow?” he asked after a moment and Charles smiled.
“I call on them daily and stay until supper. In fact, I will leave in the next half hour and stay until they ask me to depart! Though, tonight I will be obliged to return to Netherfield earlier than usual to collect Fitzwilliam.” He gestured to where a letter was folded next to his dinner plate. “This came a few minutes before you did. I imagine someone, somewhere took word to the Bennets that Fitzwilliam had ridden through Meryton yesterday evening and they have sent an invite for he and I to join them for dinner this evening.”
“Then I will join you too,” Darcy said promptly. “And Georgiana also. Perhaps you will be so good to write to Longbourn and Mrs. Bennet letting her know of the change of plans.”
“I am sure she will be delighted!”
Darcy nodded even as he looked down at his plate and continued with his breakfast. It wasn’t Mrs. Bennet’s delight he wanted though, it was Elliot’s, and he would know soon enough if that was to be the case.
The Closing of Them
Fifty-Nine
At about the same time that the Darcys, Bingley and Fitzwilliam were partaking of their breakfast, the Bennets were sitting together in the dining-room, their attention suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage. It was a little too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, they did not recognise the carriage nor the livery of the servant who preceded it.
“Whoever could it be?” Mrs. Bennet asked, still in her housecoat and bonnet as she twitched the curtains to try and get a better look.
“We are to find out,” Mr. Bennet said as the carriage came to a halt and the door was thrown open.
Elliot couldn’t have said who he might have expected, perhaps someone related to Jack’s upcoming ceremony which Mrs. Bennet was arranging with a vigour that was slightly alarming, or maybe someone related to a debt Wickham owed intent on repayment, but it was neither of those things. The person that stepped out of the carriage though was so far from what Elliot might have predicted that he took a hasty step backwards.
It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
She alighted from the carriage with a look on her face which Elliot could only describe as distasteful. Pausing in front of Netherfield she looked from side to side, window to window, before turning and viewing the park that surrounded the property, her view following the course of the river and all the way down to the agricultural fields.
