On a stone pathway outside Rosings, Anne de Bourgh introduced Charlotte Collins to her viscount. “My dear, this is Mrs. Collins. She is a particular friend of Elizabeth Darcy. She has come to tend mother and I thought she might enjoy a turn about the garden before she returns home to Mr. Collins.”
Henry’s voice held a most solicitous tone as he addressed the timid woman. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance Mrs. Collins. I am most grateful you took Anne’s place at her mother’s side so that I might not dine alone with Miss Bingley.”
Charlotte glanced at the handsome man before her. “Twas my pleasure, sir. I would not see anyone dine alone with Miss Bingley should I have the power to save them from the ordeal.”
Henry carefully offered his arm to Charlotte before doing the same for his Anne. He saw the sparkle in Mrs. Collins’s eyes as she accepted. The poor woman was unused to the gallantry of a gentleman. From his conversations on the matter with Mr. Darcy at Pemberley, he was hesitant to think Mr. Collins a man in the truest sense of the word.
As the trio walked side by side, the evening air provided a welcome respite from the oppressiveness of the great house behind them.
Anne spoke of Elizabeth and Pemberley to Charlotte since the two friends had not seen one another in quite some time. “Elizabeth is well and I hope to return to Pemberley before the babe is born, though she and Lady Anne will be in London soon. The Bennets came to stay for the holiday and may have left to return home by now. Henry and I are to be wed in the gardens of Pemberley.”
Charlotte was pleased to know of her friend’s impending motherhood and became comfortable in the presence of Henry and Anne. However, her mind was in turmoil over the idea of Lady Catherine’s plan for the couple. “I am most grateful for the news of Eliza; I have missed her so. I believe she would wish me to share my thoughts on the presence of Miss Bingley.”
Charlotte took a breath to steady her nerves and continued. “I met her here in the garden not long after she arrived. I must say, I did recall her from the assembly in Meryton after her brother had let Netherfield. I fear she is much the same now as she was then, quite disagreeable.”
Anne glanced at Henry and moved closer to his side. “I have met her in passing in London before but yes, she is most disagreeable though she does seem to enjoy Henry’s company.”
Charlotte’s brow creased with worry and she halted her steps. She must make Anne and Henry know that Miss Bingley intended to come between them. But she did not wish to reveal Lady Catherine’s plans for fear Mr. Collins would learn she had been eavesdropping on his patroness.
Henry noted the fear in the woman’s eyes and spoke gently to gain her attention. “Mrs. Collins, what has happened? Would you care to turn back? We must not keep you from Mr. Collins for much longer.”
Charlotte shook her head and swallowed the fear that gripped her as she considered Mr. Collins’s actions should she cause trouble at Rosings, especially for Lady Catherine. “I must go but there is a warning I would give first. There is a plot afoot to see you parted. Miss Bingley is a treacherous woman with no compunction when it comes to flirting with any man of means who crosses her path.”
Henry and Anne wondered at the words of the parson’s wife but honored her wish to leave them in the gardens after speaking her mind. Henry offered to walk as far as the parson’s cottage with her as the evening shadows deepened, but Charlotte refused him.
“I have walked the path between Rosings and home many times, I will come to no harm.”
Anne watched the parson’s wife as she left them and wished Elizabeth was at Rosings. Plainly, Charlotte Collins was in need of her dear friend. A letter to Darcy House would not go amiss.
She turned to Henry, grateful for his warmth and solid presence. He led her farther along the path as he considered Charlotte’s words. “The poor woman, I wish there was something to be done for her. Clearly she does not trust Miss Bingley, a mark in her favor I say. I wonder if she meant to tell us more but cannot because of her husband?”
Anne found herself in agreement with Henry. Mrs. Collins had been eager to warn them away from Miss Bingley but had seemed almost frightened. Perhaps she did fear for her husband’s position. “I believe you are correct, Henry. Her words were wise and true. Caroline Bingley is not to be trusted. Something has happened to make Mrs. Collins insist we not fall into her trap. It might be that mother and her guest are plotting against us. It would not surprise me, I fear.”
Henry stopped in the shadow of an archway covered in climbing vines and drew Anne into his arms. “There is nothing Miss Bingley nor your mother might do to keep me from your side, my dearest Anne.”
There in the gardens with Henry’s arms about her, Anne knew he would never compromise himself with Miss Bingley. He was as wary of the woman as Charlotte Collins had been. They must not linger at Rosings if Lady Catherine was not terribly ill.
“I shall send for mother’s physician on the morrow, he will have to come from London. Should he say that mother is well enough to depend upon her servants we shall be away to Pemberley. I would not stay and suffer the company of Caroline Bingley after Mrs. Collins’s warning.”
Henry was pleased to hear his beloved’s decision on the matter. He would never press her to leave her mother before she was certain of the woman’s health but he was eager to leave Rosings. “Come, let us go inside. We are both tired from our travels. We will know what to do after the physician has seen your mother.”
The couple left the garden and turned for the front door of Rosings as clouds gathered around the moon.
Elizabeth Bennet paced the floor of her room before sitting by her window with a book. She found it difficult most nights without Mr. Darcy beside her as she slept. On the morrow, she would leave Pemberley with Lady Anne. Their trunks were packed and waiting to be loaded.
She smiled as the kick of a small foot demanded her attention. Caressing the place where her babe had made his own sleeplessness known, Elizabeth found herself singing quietly to the small one residing within her womb.
When her lullaby was finished, she began to speak of Mr. Darcy and the house in London. Though her last visit to Town had been marred by the wicked deeds of Sally Younge and George Wickham, Elizabeth was not afraid to return there and make happy memories with her husband.
A light knock upon her door startled Elizabeth and she stood to cross the room. Lady Anne entered, her face alight at the sight of her new daughter with a hand on her middle. “I could not sleep and thought perhaps you might suffer the same. I wanted to sit with you and the babe in the hope we might tire one another out enough to sleep for a few hours.”
Elizabeth took Lady Anne’s hand and placed it upon her middle where the little feet were busy at play. Lady Anne gasped and pressed her hand firmly against the place where her first grandchild grew strong.
Elizabeth swiped at a happy tear as her mother-in-law laughed at the antics of her first grandchild. “He is awake too. I believe he must know we are off to join his father come the morning.”
Lady Anne took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to the chairs before the fire. “I found it quite odd that my sister would invite Miss Bingley to Rosings. I dare say her motive is to come between Anne and Henry. I cannot imagine she would have any other use for the company of Miss Bingley.”
Elizabeth agreed heartily. “If there is one to match Lady Catherine’s cunning, it would be Miss Bingley to be sure. While I have worried for Henry and Anne, I have no doubt their love will keep them safe from those two and any conniving at Rosings.”
Lady Anne was pleased to see that Elizabeth had come to such a conclusion on the matter. Now that the Bennets had gone, the atmosphere at Pemberley had become peaceful once more. Elizabeth had been able to hear herself think and thus her worries had lessened in the face of truth and logic.
Yawning discreetly, Lady Anne settled deeper into her chair. “Would you read to me, my dear? Your voice is a fine one for such a thing.”
Elizabeth retrieved her book and began to read. She settled comfortably in her chair by the fire and was soon lost in the words as they flew by page after page.
Within an hour she yawned and glanced up to find Lady Anne sleeping soundly beside her. She rose and took a quilt from the back of her chair and tucked it carefully about the woman she had come to love as much as her own mother.
She went to the window and stared at the moon before turning away to her bed. Lady Anne’s presence caused a distinct happiness in her heart and Elizabeth fell asleep whispering words of comfort to the babe still active in her womb.
In the morning, Elizabeth was awakened by Lady Anne. “Lizzy, tis early and we must hurry on our way if we hope to be in London in a few days’ time.”
Elizabeth stretched and yawned, eager to break her fast and leave for London. “Surely you did not spend the whole of the night in that chair?” she asked as Lady Anne folded the quilt Elizabeth had thoughtfully placed about her the evening before.
“I did and rested well. Your skill at reading the written word has always soothed me. I thank you for the kindness.”
Elizabeth rose from her bed. “Tis not only kindness but genuine love and affection, my dear mother.”
Lady Anne placed the quilt over the back of the chair and turned, her lashes wet and her face soft in the early light that filtered through the heavy curtains of the room.
She took Elizabeth’s hand in hers and squeezed gently. “To hear myself called mother again from such a lovely, young woman is a gift I shall cherish always. Who might have thought that lake would bring you to me when I needed you most?”
Elizabeth bit her lower lip to hold back the tears that threatened her every other hour, it seemed. She had been told by her Aunt Gardiner that a woman cried while carrying a babe to become accustomed to the joys, and sadness, every mother would see as she raised her children.
Within the space of two hours, the ladies of Pemberley were happily seated in their carriage eager for their trip to London to be done.
Lady Anne was particularly pleased to feel the fresh air rushing through the carriage. “The weather is simply perfect for our trip Lizzy. And William will be surprised we have come. We shall visit the shops and find some lovely ribbon for the baby’s gowns.”
Elizabeth found herself happier than she had been since Anne and Henry left for Kent. The nursery would be ready when they returned from Pemberley and a wedding in the garden would be the event of the season.