Page 32 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

“Indeed! Perhaps that is why I care so little about lace,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully, “since it is such a great passion of my mother’s.”

Kitty said, in a very passable imitation of Mr Bennet, “No more talk of lace, my dear!” That brought us all to laughter.

I wish Richard had been here. There are so many little things I want to tell him, though an account of his cousin’s dog being put to flight by a kitten would hardly justify a letter. I hope he is comfortable at Matlock and not finding my uncle’s attentions too trying. Richard dislikes being fussed over, though he is quite willing to fuss over me.

I have been very happy today, all the same. We sat together for above an hour, discussing Mary’s house and laughing over Kitty’s attempts to draw furniture from her descriptions, until Mrs Reynolds interrupted us, advising Elizabeth that some neighbours had come to call. I was quite sorry to put our plans aside, though curious to discover who our visitors might be. I have never felt so much at home anywhere, and I am very glad we have the whole summer before us.

23 June

Our visitors on Sunday were the Thurstons, with their new daughter-in-law and her brother, Mr Hugh Byerly. I had not expected to see him again, though I suppose there was no reason to think he would never return to Derbyshire. His sister married Matthew Thurston, the second son; it was in celebration of their marriage that the dinner and dance in April was given.

Kitty tells me the bride had a very considerable fortune. Mrs Thurston certainly seems pleased with her, though whether for her money or her own sake I cannot say. I found her very pleasant. She admired Darling extravagantly and wished to hold her, quite unconcerned when we warned her that the kitten might catch her claws in the lace upon her sleeves.

Mary received a great many congratulations, of course. Mrs Thurston kissed her and said how glad she was that Christopher had found someone to make him happy, which made Mary blush very prettily. It was a much nicer thing to say than expressing astonishment that he should have chosen her, and I was grateful to Mrs Thurston for it.

Mr Byerly remembered me at once, and asked whether I had exhausted Pemberley’s library yet.

“I fear I have hardly made a beginning,” I confessed. “We have been away, you know.”

“I hope you enjoyed the visit. You were with Mrs Darcy’s family, were you not?”

I said that I had enjoyed it very much, and found myself telling him about Mary’s engagement and the house near Leicester. He listened and asked several questions about the property.

I could tell him little about the land, but I said that I should like a garden of my own one day, with roses I might grow myself. He did not seem disappointed by my ignorance of the acreage.

“I am trying to learn what questions I ought to ask before purchasing a place myself,” he explained. “Mr Thurston has been very obliging, but I begin to suspect that owning an estate requires rather more knowledge than I presently possess.”

“Then you should ask Darcy,” I said. “He is always attending to some matter at Pemberley, and knows everything about his tenants and their concerns. Nobody could be a more attentive landlord.”

“I should be glad of the opportunity, if he could spare the time.”

Darcy heard his name and came over. Before our visitors left, he and Mr Byerly had arranged to visit part of the estate together. They spoke of drainage; I cannot now tell you which fields they meant to inspect.

I had almost forgotten the arrangement until Lizzy told us at breakfast that we should have an additional gentleman at luncheon.

“Mr Byerly seems a very agreeable young man,” she remarked.

“He is,” I said, and continued spreading honey on my bread.

I looked up a moment later to find her smiling at me, one eyebrow raised in that arch way she has.

“What?”

“Nothing at all, Anne. May I have the honey?”

I passed it to her, feeling foolishly warm about the face. Surely I may find a gentleman agreeable without everybody making something of it!

Mr Byerly came in with Darcy a little before luncheon, with dust upon his boots and apparently a great deal to think about. Darcy seemed pleased with the morning’s work, and continued their discussion at table until Elizabeth protested that she had hoped to be permitted some conversation with her guest.

Mr Byerly apologised at once.

“I fear I have been taking advantage of your husband’s patience, Mrs Darcy.”

“His patience is quite safe. I am concerned for yours. Once you encourage him to discuss Pemberley, there is no knowing when you may escape.”

Darcy gave Elizabeth a look, but there was a little smile about his mouth. She smiled back, and I attended to my plate until they resumed speaking to the rest of us.

After luncheon, Mr Byerly asked if I would show him the library.