“Did you see to their planting?” Anne lifted a cheek to receive her morning kiss. She motioned to a footman who began gathering a plate of food for Richard as he lowered himself into the seat beside her.
“I did.” Darcy placed a cup of coffee in front of his cousin before pouring one for himself. “Richard barked orders, and I ensured they were carried out.” They had set out early that morning to the site where Mr. Kellet had been laid to rest one week earlier to plant a few flowers ─ ones Mr. Kellet had particularly admired in her garden now also grew near his headstone.
“Good. I am glad.” She sipped her tea. “Mr. Cranfield arrives today.” Cranfield had stayed with them for only a few days after the fire. He had business that needed his attention, but he had promised to stay on his return trip. She expected a happy announcement from that quarter before he left again.
“You look happy, my dear.”
She patted Richard’s hand. “I am content.”
“Not happy?” asked Darcy.
She furrowed her brows as she considered how to explain her feelings. “It is hard to feel gladness when you have so recently lost much, but I do not feel despair either. Sadness, I will own, but it lessens as acceptance of change grows.” She shrugged. “My heart is content to feel each emotion as it passes. It neither wallows nor flutters. I suppose one could say I was happy if meaning at peace.” Her eyes widened. “I do not ever remember feeling as I do now. Mother and Father were never content, you know.” She glanced at Darcy. “And then there were Mother’s expectations.”
“He would have spoken sooner had he known you were uneasy,” said Richard before Darcy could apologise.
She blushed. “I do not blame Darcy. I remember begging him not to speak. I foolishly hoped Mother would see reason or give up hope, and I secretly feared she would select someone…” Her blush deepened.
“Far worse?” asked Darcy dryly.
“Yes,” she said, making Darcy’s brows rise. “You did not love me as a man should love his wife, and I did not love you as a wife should love her husband, but at least I knew you would treat me well and were not after my money. A loveless marriage is bad enough, but one, where I would be treated as nothing or less, would be worse.”
Darcy nodded once. “I agree. The first would be bad ─ the second far worse.”
“But neither of us needs fear such an outcome now.”
Darcy grinned at her with a twinkle in his eye. “I heard your intended was not only in want of a wife but also an estate.”
“Darcy,” Richard growled.
“Oh, hush,” said Anne with a laugh. “I am quite happy with my intended no matter his fortune.” She leaned closer to Darcy and whispered loudly. “He is the son of an earl, you know.”
Both men joined her in laughter.
“Ah, it is good to hear laughter around here.” Lord Matlock gave Anne a kiss and clapped both Darcy and Richard on the shoulder. “Wanted to deliver the special licenses myself and see to the signing of the marriage contracts.” He placed a packet of papers on the table.
“Licenses?” asked Darcy.
Lord Matlock smiled. “A gift for Catherine if she wishes to use it.” He winked at Anne. “Perhaps you could instruct her in the proper way to secure a husband.” He chuckled at her blush and his son’s scowl. “I should like to meet with you and Darcy, Richard, to go over the particulars of the agreement. Anne, you are welcome to join us.”
“I should like that, but might I ask that Mother also be allowed to hear the particulars.”
“If you wish, my dear.” Lord Matlock took the coffee Darcy offered and waved the footmen from the room. “Have you settled on Harrison as a replacement for Kellet?”
“He comes highly recommended by Mrs. Kellet, and he knows the responsibilities of the job. He has been reliable thus far.”
Matlock smiled. “He is who I would have chosen. Well done.” He tipped his head to the side. “Not so different from filling the ranks of a regiment, is it? Listen to reports, watch behaviours, and assign men according to their skills. There is much you have learned as a colonel that will transfer to master.”
“Speaking of colonels,” said Richard. “I was visited by two.”
“Have they informed you of their operations?”
“They have. It is another reason Harrison seems a good choice. He is not unfamiliar with that particular area of Rosings, and he has their approval.”
“Good. It is a sticky business there. Best to keep on the proper side of things.” Lord Matlock set his cup on the table. “I shall see all of you in the study in one half hour.”
~*~*~
Anne stood on the terrace overlooking the garden. She breathed deeply of the fresh night air that carried the fragances from the blossoms below her. She blew out her breath, thankful for this moment of quiet. It had been a busy day. It began with the details of her wedding contract and progressed to choosing fabrics and patterns and being measured and draped as the modiste and her helpers, who had accompanied Lady Matlock from town, began work on her trousseau. Even now she knew that details regarding food and beverages for the wedding breakfast were being discussed.
“Are you well?” Richard wrapped one arm around Anne’s waist and pulled her back against him.
“I am.” She leaned back into him lightly.
“I’ll not break or topple, Anne,” he whispered in her ear.
“But your leg…”
“Is healing as it should. I have been a very good patient…a task which has not been easy, I assure you.”
She laughed. “I have seen you scowl. I know it has tried your patience.” She leaned back a bit more and tilted her head up to look at him. “Thank you. I know you do it for me.”
“I would do most anything for you.”
“You always have,” said Anne. “I have been thinking about this lately. Darcy would often question when I asked for assistance, but you would do whatever I asked without a moment’s hesitation. If it made me happy, it was done ─ even if it put you at risk of getting into trouble. You only ever refused if you thought it would do me harm.”
“But it is Darcy’s nature to question.”
She turned to face him. “Yes, but it is your nature as well. You always questioned him. You were not so willing to bear your father’s wrath for him.”
“But he was a boy.”
She smiled at him. “Perhaps.” Her arms wound around his neck. “Or perhaps you have always held a special place in your heart for me.” She felt him waver just slightly. “We should sit down.”
He shook his head. “Not yet.” He bent his head to kiss her gently. “I rather like the feeling of holding you like this.”
“Mmmm. I like it, too, but your leg will grow weary as mine are doing. I find I would like a rest.” She helped him to a bench along the wall of the house. “I have also evaluated my own actions.”
“You have?”
She nodded.
“And what have you found?”
She clasped his hand between hers. “It is rather silly.” She gave a small, embarrassed laugh. “When I would play with my dolls, their father’s name was always Richard, and Darcy was always their uncle.” She glanced at him and saw his amused smile. “I told you it was silly.”
He shook his head. “It is not silly,” he assured her though he did laugh softly. “So tell me, was this Richard a good father?”
She bit her lip and ducked her head slightly. “Not always. The mother had to scold the father sometimes for allowing the children to do things that ruined their clothes. He even let them eat sweets before supper and skip lessons to play games. Can you imagine?” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
His whole body shook as he laughed, and she joined him. “I can.”
“I think it is because I always longed to do those things.” She leaned into his shoulder.
“And I would have let you while Darcy would have preached duty.”
She nodded. “I believe you would have.” She sat silently for a moment, contemplating the man next to her as a father. “You will make a fine father,” she said at last. “Darcy will, too, and with Elizabeth as a mother, his children may have a hope of having as much fun as ours.”
Richard lifted her hand to his lips. “And you will scold me when I allow them too much fun?”
“Of course. I am my mother’s daughter and very good at scolding.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I have endured your scolding before.” He looked to see who had come to join them on the terrace. “And I have also endured Darcy’s.” He leaned toward her and kissed her, long and deeply and slowly, completely ignoring the throat clearing sounds Darcy was making.
~*~*~
Mrs. Jenkinson fastened the string of pearls behind Anne’s neck. “You look lovely,” she said as she looked at her former charge in the glass. “I had always hoped to see you as a happy bride.”
Anne turned and clasped the hands of her friend. “And now you have, for I am a very happy bride. I pray you will have as much success with your new charge.”
Mrs. Jenkinson sighed. “Miss Barrows is exuberant and does not lack the ability to put herself forward, but she lacks refinement.”
Anne laughed. “She will do well with you to guide her. When does her brother arrive?”
“We are expected to meet him in London by week’s end. He is much like his father, so I expect we shall get on quite well.”
“And how does Miss Barrows accept the absence of her mother and father?”
“There are tears, but they are not so frequent as they once were.”
Anne patted Mrs. Jenkinson’s hand. “You were always very good at comforting me, and you were often more a mother to me than my own was. Miss Barrows is fortunate.”
There was a soft rap at the door to the sitting room.
“Mr. Darcy.” Mrs. Jenkins dipped her head slightly in greeting as she opened the door. She smiled at Anne and slipped out.
“Are you ready?” Darcy pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time.
Anne raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest. The tapping of her toe drew his attention away from his timepiece.
He crossed the room to her. “Aside from the scowl, you look lovely, Cousin.” He kissed her cheek.
“Thank you.” She walked to the window that overlooked the garden. “We have time. You are not late unless you arrive after the bride.”
He chuckled and took a seat. “Has your mother heard of this theory?”
Anne looked over her shoulder at him. “She has; though, she does not approve.”
“I thought as much.”
“She will no doubt be along to fetch me if I do not appear when she thinks I should.” She turned and leaned against the window frame. “It was not long ago that we met here just like this.”
“And you were waiting for your mother then as well.” He stretched out his legs in front of him and crossed them at the ankles.
“And you were rather more anxious that day.” She came to take the seat next to him.
“As were you.”
“Indeed.” She laughed. “I shall never forget the shock I gave you when I told you Mr. Collins had been married. I thought I had gone too far in my attempts to discover your feelings for Elizabeth.”
He grimaced. “I admit I had trouble breathing and thought my heart might just cease its beating.”
“I am sorry.” She laid her hand on his arm.
“I am not.” He covered her hand with his. “For in that moment, I knew my heart would not survive without her.”
She smiled at him. “We have both found our heart’s desire, have we not?”
“Indeed we have.”
She rose as she heard the clickity clack of her mother’s shoes in the hall. “It will be your day soon,” she said to him as she smoothed her skirt.
He beamed at her and extended his arm. “Just three more weeks.”
“And Bingley will join you?”
“That is the reason for the delay. Elizabeth and Jane wished to share their day with a double ceremony.”
“And you cannot deny her a thing,” Anne teased.
“I tried.” His face took on a bit of a rosy hue. “I was not pleased with the delay.”
She laughed.
“Anne…” Her mother’s reprimand about minding her time died on her lips as she opened the door. She dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “Oh, you are so beautiful!” She clasped her handkerchief to her heart. Excitement shone in her eyes. “Imagine, your wedding day has finally arrived!” She cast a stern glance at Darcy. “No thanks to you, Darcy.” She winked at Anne as Darcy rolled his eyes.
“Mama, it was not his doing. He is not the one who…”
Lady Catherine clucked her tongue. “It is not fitting to speak of unpleasant memories on a day such as this.” She gave them both a nudge toward the door. “Today is as it should be. There is no better day than the day you marry the one for whom your heart yearns.” She sighed.
Anne shook her head in wonder. She still had not gotten used to the changes in her mother. She would miss her when she moved away. She and Mr. Cranfield had married only two days ago and would be leaving on the morrow. They would begin their life together near where his boats docked before travelling on to London at the end of summer.
She smiled and felt a laugh bubble up inside her as she and Darcy began descending the stairs. She was recalling the reaction of both Darcy and Elizabeth to the news that Mr. Cranfield owned a very nice home near Cheapside, not too far from where Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle Gardiner lived. This fact combined with the comment Lady Catherine had made about hosting her new niece, Miss Bingley, and assisting her in her search for a husband was more that the two could countenance without dissolving into an extended bout of laughter. Richard did his best to explain the reason for their laughter while Lady Catherine shook her head and declared that Miss Bingley’s attitude was not to be borne ─ which again caused general laughter among those who knew Miss Bingley.
Anne’s stomach did a little flip as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and they faced the door to the drawing room where Mr. Collins and Richard, as well as a few assembled guests, awaited her.
“Are you well?” asked Darcy, noticing her pause.
She nodded, a smile suffusing her face. “I have never been better.” She waited while her mother slipped into the room and took her place next to Mr. Cranfield. Then it was time for her to join Richard in front of the garden doors where he stood propped on his crutches with Mr. Collins. She pulled back slightly on Darcy’s arm. He looked at her, his brows furrowed.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For helping me find my own happiness.”
“You’re welcome, but I did very little to assist you.” He looked at her face and then Richard’s. “Happiness often follows when you listen.”
“Listen?” She looked up at him in confusion. “To what?”
He smiled at her and tipped his head toward Richard. “To your heart,” he said as he began leading her into the room. “Always, listen to your heart.”