Page 108 of Regrets

In this, they were not far wrong; as her ladyship had once told her nephew, the second son of a well-placed family would suit her very well as a son-in-law. There would be no need for Anne to endure the possible horrors of a London Season, and also no need for Anne to ever leave Rosings. If this meant that her ladyship would need to remove to the Dower House, well and good, for that house had been scrupulously maintained and furnished for just that purpose.

A dancing instructor had been hired and came every day to Rosings Park to work with Anne. Anne very much wished that Georgiana was still with her, for what fun they would have had, dancing together! But as it was, Anne was made to dance with the instructor, Mr. Sterling, a short tubby little man who nonetheless moved with great agility across Rosing’s dance floor, or Mrs. Jenkinson, who had been made to learn the man’s part in the various dances so that Anne could practice when Mr. Sterling was absent.

Lady Catherine herself taught Anne how to address various levels of nobility, including elder sons, younger sons, and daughters. Anne should probably have had someone rather more au courant than Mrs. Jenkinson as a companion these past few years, but it was too late to think of that now.

Lady Catherine determined that Anne should have a London modiste fashion her ballgown; come to that, she would need a new gown as well. In an unexpected fit of generosity, Lady Catherine invited Mrs. Jenkinson to come along and get a new gown as well.

She thought to stay again at Matlock House, as she thought it very possible that Darcy and his new bride would be at Darcy House, and it would be awkward for her to be there as well. This time she thought to send a message to her brother and sister, rather than simply arriving.

Eleanor,

Anne and I are to do a little shopping in London. Might we presume upon you to host us? Mrs. Jenkinson will be with us as well. I do not expect to stay more than one night.

Catherine

***

The message arrived just as the Countess was cudgeling her mind to think of how to amuse Georgiana. Having Anne here, even for one day, would be wonderful. The Countess wrote back at once.

Catherine,

As it happens, Georgiana is with us, but for just a few more days; if you make haste, the girls could see one another.

Eleanor

Chapter Ninety-Seven

Well, you have certainly come to the right place for advice on how to avoid an unhappy marriage, Mary,” Mrs. Bennet’s tone was humorous.

Mary lifted her head. “I did not intend to offend you, Mama,” she said, in a small voice.

“Not at all,” Mrs. Bennet replied. “What I did wrong was to not discuss the matter with my husband. I should have said ‘Well, Thomas, I am no scholar! If it is your intention that I should discuss such matters with you, you will first have to teach me enough to hold my own in conversation!’”

“What if he had agreed to teach you?” Mary asked.

“Then I would have sat down and learned the best I could for perhaps one hour a day. For I had my own concerns in running the house, balancing the accounts, managing the servants and so on.”

“Ah. So a negotiation as to how much time you would commit to it might be required.”

“Quite right. In a better world, the husband would also spend an hour a day learning whatever it is that interests his wife, but that is not the world we live in, child.”

Mary nodded vigorously. “And what about our different hours?”

“Again, talk about it. I would say it is your right to get up when you wish and go to sleep when you wish, but make certain he understands that you are in no way trying to avoid him by retiring early. You have the habits of a lifetime, and it would be difficult indeed to change them now.”

“And if he insists that I change to suit him?”

Mrs. Bennet laughed. “Then suggest a compromise. You try it his way for a week and he must then try it your way for a week. I think once he understands how difficult it is to break such habits, he will then allow you to slumber as you please, as long as you make time to – well, I believe you understand me.”

Mary blushed. “I do, yes. That is excellent advice, Mama.”

“Of course, once the children come, a good deal of this goes out the window. The children will become your primary concern.”

***

Mary returned home full of good, wifely intentions, only to learn that Mr. Rochester had gone out for the day.

Chapter Ninety-Eight