“Do not rush it,” the old man advised one morning, looking out over the fields. “It is not a battle to be won in a single day. Stewardship is about balance—keeping the land, the tenants, and your own life in harmony.”
Fitzwilliam had also turned to his cousin Darcy, whose steady hand at Pemberley served as a model. Darcy visited Matlock as often he could during those months, unwilling to leave his wife for long, offering guidance on maintaining the delicate relationships that bound an estate together.
“You have more leadership experience than most landowners, Richard,” Darcy reminded him over dinner one evening. “The skills you honed in the army are not so different from those required here—strategy, decisiveness, and care for the people under your charge.”
The task, though immense, proved less daunting than Fitzwilliam had initially feared. Matlock and Ashburn had suffered from neglect under the previous earl, but the stewards had done their best to maintain order. Tenants, though strained, were not rebellious, and the land itself still had much to offer.
“Your father was many things,” his grandfather remarked one afternoon, “but he at least had the sense to hire competent men to do what he would not. That is a blessing you should not overlook.”
Fortunately, the estates were well on their way to recovery. Repairs had been made, relationships with tenants had been strengthened, and the income streams were stabilising. For the first time since inheriting the title, Fitzwilliam felt a sense of hope.
On the day his mourning period officially ended, Fitzwilliam donned his finest coat and rode to Pemberley. His purpose was clear: to speak with Jane Bennet. His heart had long been settled on her, but he had waited, knowing that the time had not been right before. They had not even been able to court, not then. At first, he had been merely a soldier, unable to marry, but withhis sudden ascension into the peerage, he had faced so many difficulties, and of course, the mourning itself prevented him from speaking to the lady.
However, with his responsibilities more manageable and his future less uncertain, he was ready to pay his court.
When he arrived, Jane greeted him warmly but with a trace of hesitation in her eyes. They sat in one of Pemberley’s sunlit parlours, and Fitzwilliam wasted no time in explaining his intentions.
“Miss Bennet,” he began, his voice steady but earnest, “I have thought of you often over these past months, cherishing the few opportunities I had to speak with you during my brief visits to Pemberley. When I first met you, I was captivated not only by your beauty but by the quiet strength you so often displayed. I admired you deeply, yet I knew I could not offer you a future, for I had little to offer beyond a life spent in the military. All of that changed a few months ago, as you well know.”
He hesitated briefly, his gaze never leaving hers. “For a time, I was certain that I would still not be able to marry as I wished. I had no desire to marry a woman for her wealth, but I believed it would be years before Matlock could be fully restored. Then, the generous gift from my cousin gave me the means I needed. While Matlock might not yet be all it could be, I am no longer burdened by financial worries. Now, I can follow my heart and marry the woman I have long desired.”
For long moments, he held her gaze, his expression sincere. “I know the life I can offer may not be the one you had envisioned, and I would not blame you for hesitating. But I believe we could find great happiness together, and I would count myself the luckiest of men if you would consent to be my wife.”
Jane looked down, her hands trembling slightly in her lap. “I—I am not certain I am suited to such a role,” she admitted softly. “I was not raised to be… a countess. It is a world I do not understand. Surely there is another better suited to be your wife?”
Fitzwilliam leant forward, his tone gentle but firm. “Nor was I raised to inherit Matlock, Jane. Yet here I am, learning day by day what it means to be a steward of something greater than myself. I do not expect you to know everything, nor do I require perfection. What I need is a partner, someone with your kindness, wisdom, and grace. Together, we can face whatever challenges come our way.”
Her blue eyes, warring between uncertainty and curiosity, met his. “You truly believe I could manage such a life?”
“I do,” he said without hesitation. “More than that, I believe you would thrive.”
The room fell into silence, broken only by the soft rustling of the breeze through the open windows. At length, Jane nodded, a tentative but growing smile on her lips. “Then… I suppose I must trust your judgement, Colonel—I mean, Viscount Ashburn.”
“Richard,” he corrected, his own smile spreading. “Call me Richard.”
Ever since Janehad become engaged to a viscount, Mrs. Bennet had crowed incessantly about the match. Since she hadmade few friends nearby, she had spoken of it mainly to her two daughters who lived with her in the dower house, though she wrote frequently to her sisters and youngest daughters and to all her friends in Meryton. She had even written the news to her husband, even though neither she nor her daughter bothered to ask for his permission or blessing.
Instead, Fitzwilliam had asked his cousin for permission, and it was Darcy who signed the settlements on his sister’s behalf. Darcy would have provided his sister with a dowry as well, but Lady Julia had barged into Darcy’s study to make her own offer.
“My dowry is still intact,” she declared. “I had intended to give it to Richard for Matlock. However, since Anne has secured the funds from her mother, mine are no longer necessary. Therefore, I will have my son settle that money on his new wife. I will keep a portion for my own use, but I shall settle half—twenty thousand pounds—on my new daughter.”
Darcy, though initially taken aback by his aunt’s abrupt entry, could not help but admire her approach. It was clear that Lady Julia’s intentions were grounded in both affection and a desire to ensure her son and his new wife would be well-supported. “Very well, Aunt,” Darcy said, after a moment’s pause, then made the necessary adjustments to the draft of the document.
Lady Julia nodded, pleased with her nephew’s agreement. “Of course, but in the meantime, I will begin to make arrangements.” She turned to look at her son, who was still staring at her in surprise. “Do not object, Richard. My dowry is mine to do with as I please. Father has added to my funds over the years, and what I will keep is more than enough for me. You will not allow me to starve,” she said, attempting to interject a little levity into the conversation.
Fitzwilliam stammered out his thanks after several moments and assured his mother that he and his new wife would, indeed, not allow her to starve.
She left just as abruptly as she had entered, leaving both men desiring a drink.
While Mrs. Bennetwould have preferred that Jane go to London both for the wedding and trousseau, she had been persuaded otherwise. Lord Matlock’s illness was cited as the reason, but in truth, neither the Darcy nor Fitzwilliam families were eager to make the journey after all that had transpired in the past few months.
The decision to remain at Pemberley seemed a wise one. Matlock was still in the midst of some upheaval, and both families were still recovering from the turmoil surrounding Lord Matlock’s health and the fallout from his schemes.
For Elizabeth, the time spent at Pemberley was a welcome break from the whirlwind of recent events and the travel they had required. Additionally, the constant visits by her mother, with her well-meaning but often intrusive comments, could at times be difficult to tolerate. When Mrs. Bennet had insisted on helping with planning the wedding, Elizabeth had reluctantly agreed—on the condition that if her mother displayed any hysterics, swooned, or caused undue distress, she would be promptly exiled to the dower house until after the wedding.
“I do hope, Lizzy, that you will allow me to help with the wedding preparations,” Mrs. Bennet said not long after Fitzwilliam proposed to Jane. “I simply cannot imagine how you will manage without my advice!”
Elizabeth had exchanged a glance with Jane, then smiled tightly. “Of course, Mama. Your expertise is invaluable.”
