The de Bourghs left this morning. I managed to see Anne before she departed, for I knew she would be taking a walk through the rose garden. I pretended that I had met her there by accident and, as I walked along beside her, I told her how much I had enjoyed her visit and that I hoped to see her again before very long. She said that her mama had no plans to visit Pemberley again for the time being, and that the Darcys would visit Rosings next.
I asked her about Rosings, saying, ‘Is it as big as Pemberley?’ to which she replied, ‘Oh, yes, it is just as big and just as fine. The gardens are better, for Papa liked flowers and so they are always very colourful. The Rosings park is also, I think, more beautiful.’
‘Shall you like to inherit it, or will it be a burden to you?’ I said.
‘I shall like it, I think. It means I will never have to leave, not even when I marry and I do not think it will be difficult to care for because I will have a husband to help me look after it.’
‘Then let us hope he knows how to care for an estate,’ I said, thinking that the fact of my father’s stewardship might be of some advantage to me after all.
‘I think he will,’ she replied.
And I wondered, Is she thinking of me?
She smiled at me and I smiled in return.
Perhaps she was making no more than a general remark, but even so, as I stood at the corner of the drive this afternoon and waved to her as she passed by in her carriage, I felt I had made the most of my opportunity, and when she waved back I went inside feeling well pleased.