Page 19 of Regrets

Lady Catherine laughed softly to herself. She had been informed of the girls’ excursion to Hunsford the very moment she had entered the house. Did they really think that her servants would keep such a thing secret from her?

She had had a good deal to think about of late. She had long ago accepted the fact that Anne’s poor health condemned the girl to a quiet life at Rosings Park. She had chosen a steward who would be capable of managing the estate for Anne after Lady Catherine’s death; then, after Anne’s passing, the estate would go to a cousin of her late husband. It was unfortunate, but there it was.

Since Georgiana’s arrival, however, Lady Catherine had begun to believe that a different future was possible. Anne’s cheeks were rosy, her thin frame had begun to fill out. There was strength in her walk, and determination in her words. This Anne, this new Anne, was a different person entirely. She was someone who might marry and produce a child!

Lady Catherine was not someone who was easily given to hope. She had suffered a good many disappointments in her life, not the least of which had been her poor marriage.

Catherine Fitzwilliam had been well-born and well-dowered, but she had never been a beauty. It was unfortunate for her that a good number of debutantes with good birth, good dowries and good looks had come out the same year that she had, and so she had been entirely overlooked. The second Season had been much the same; by the time she had her third Season, she was firmly fixed in everyone’s mind as a failure. Other girls laughed at her behind her back. Then she watched as her younger sister, Anne, married the wealthy and handsome George Darcy.

It was only Sir Lewis de Bourgh, drunkard, gambler and all-round rotter, who had finally made her an offer, and then only because he had completely run out of money. She accepted him because she had no choice, but his estate, Rosings Park, had made it all worthwhile. She had fallen in love with Rosings the moment she had seen it, and had suffered her husband’s drunken advances only so that she might remain at Rosings.

The day he had died, falling off his horse in an intoxicated state, had been the second best day of her life; the first, of course, had been the day that Anne had been born.

Lady Catherine was afraid to hope too much too soon. She would wait; she would watch Anne to make certain this newfound strength was real. If it was, then Anne could actually marry and bear a child!

And in that case, it would be best all round for Anne to marry one of the local gentry and not go to Town. Lady Catherine could not bear the idea of her beloved Anne at the mercy of the ton.

Chapter Seventeen

Mr. Darcy was surprised to discover that he was not happy at Pemberley by himself. He thought he had grown used to it by now, given that Georgiana had been away at school for so long, but it seemed he had now become rather accustomed to having someone to speak with at the end of the day. His Aunt Eleanor would doubtless say that what he needed was a wife, and he suspected that she was not wrong.

Perhaps he should have tried harder to find Georgiana a companion, so that she might have remained at Pemberley. But as things stood, he had to content himself with her letters, which came every week.

To his surprise, this week he had also received a letter from his Aunt Catherine.

Dear Darcy,

You have done me a great service by having Georgiana come to stay. The difference I see in Anne is nothing short of miraculous. She laughs a good deal, and the two giggle together, and I frown and pretend to disapprove, but in truth I could not be happier.

The phaeton and pony have been a great success. You were entirely right; it has been good for Anne to be out of doors, and to have some measure of independence. The two girls actually journeyed to Hunsford one afternoon, without telling me! They had the good sense to take a footman, so I suppose there is nothing I can complain of. They think I do not know about it, and they delight in their secret.

It is all quite humorous!

Your grateful aunt,

Catherine

Mr. Darcy was astonished by this letter. Aunt Catherine was actually grateful to Georgiana!

In any event, it was now September, and high time that he retrieved his sister so that they might go to Meryton together.

Dear Georgiana,

I have promised Bingley that I would visit him at his leased estate in Hertfordshire. It is only fifty miles or so from Rosings Park, so I will come to get you and we will go first to London and then to Hertfordshire together.

I know that you will miss Anne, but you must remember that your loving brother has been without you all these many weeks, and longs to see you!

With much love,

William

And one more letter.

Dear Aunt Catherine,

I was everything gratified to receive your latest. I believe the visit has done as much good for Georgiana as it has for Anne. Georgiana has written to me repeatedly as to how very kind you have been to her, and I am grateful to you.

But alas, it is time that Georgiana returns to me! I will come for her in a week’s time.