Elizabeth awoke in her old room at Netherfield and stretched before rising from her bed. The smile on her face had not left since arriving home the day before.
Richard and Rose had been inseparable and so there was no question they would take up residence again in her sister’s home rather than at Longbourn.
She would go to see her father in the afternoon and bring Richard and Rose along, and Mr. Harley. Elizabeth thought her father and her butler might get along famously.
The quiet of the house caused her to stop and listen with a grateful heart. With her sisters gone to Longbourn with their mother and Richard ensconced happily in the nursery with Rose and Sophia, the golden silence was a treat.
Fitzwilliam House had come alive with the Bennet sisters and young Richard running up and down the stairs and gathered at the dinner table. Her heart gave a twist for they had all made the townhome feel more like her home.
She washed her face and dressed quickly before a maid might come and fuss over her hair and attire. A simple day dress and her hair pinned up would more than suffice for a day wandering the fields and visiting her father.
When she entered the breakfast room, a footman welcomed her and went to retrieve the post. “A letter came for you early this morning, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. It is from London.”
For a moment, the hope that it was from Mr. Darcy filled her heart but she knew it was likely from Miss Darcy.
She took a plate and helped herself to the offerings on the sideboard. There was freshly baked bread and a wonderful pot of blackberry jam that she preferred over the heavier dishes.
With her plate before her and a hot cup of tea, Elizabeth relaxed and enjoyed breaking her fast alone in familiar surroundings. The footman returned and gave her the missive.
“Is there something more I might do for you, Mrs. Fitzwilliam?” he asked.
“Yes, please. Could you send Mr. Harley to me. I have need of him today.”
The footman nodded and gave a small bow before leaving her again. Elizabeth opened the letter and sat it on the table to smother her still warm bread with the blackberry jam. It was indeed a letter from Miss Darcy.
The young woman wrote of how terribly she missed Elizabeth and her sisters and that she hated they had removed to Hertfordshire in the midst of her season.
Elizabeth regretted leaving her friend but her sorrows would soon be remedied by the many demands on her time.
She scanned the letter for any mention of Mr. Darcy and there, near the end, Miss Darcy had written of his temperament since their argument.
He is short tempered and altogether most disagreeable. I have never known him to be in such a mood for long but it is his daily habit to lock himself in his library and address anyone who enters in a curt and irritated manner. I believe it has to do with your absence. I have spoken with him and said that when my season has come to an end, I will travel to Hertfordshire myself to see you.
Elizabeth smiled for she thought how funny it would be to see Miss Darcy do just that whether her brother approved or not. There was only so much pressure a gentleman might endure before indulging the women in his life.
Jane entered with Charles and Elizabeth stood to hug them both. “I am so happy you saved my room for me. It is so good to be home again.”
Charles was as happy as Elizabeth. “Rose has nearly driven everyone in the house mad in her crying for Richard. Thank heavens you came!”
Jane asked about the letter. “It seems someone was missing you before you left Town.”
Elizabeth did not mind sharing her problems of the Fitzwilliams and Darcys with Jane and Charles. “Yes, Miss Darcy was sad to see us repair to Hertfordshire. She writes that she may come for a visit when the season is over. I don’t know that her brother would allow it.”
Mr. Bingley filled a plate for Jane from the sideboard and then got one for himself. “And Darcy, was he sad to see you go Lizzy?”
Jane admonished her husband but only in a halfhearted manner. “Charles, it is her first day home!”
Elizabeth folded Miss Darcy’s letter. “I do not know Mr. Darcy’s mind on the matter. He and I had a disagreement over Major Wickham and he kept Miss Darcy away from Fitzwilliam House. I was surprised to receive a letter from her.”
Mr. Bingley sat and pushed around a sausage on his plate. “Why was Darcy upset about Major Wickham? Was the man attempting to court you?”
Again Jane attempted to soften her husband’s forthright questions. “Lizzy may not wish to speak of it just now, my love. I would not be surprised if the Major did have such feelings. He was partial to Lizzy years ago when he was a lieutenant stationed in Meryton.”
Mr. Bingley gave a low chuckle. “That would set Darcy off if I recall his temperament correctly. He and Wickham have a history of sorts.”
Elizabeth’s ears perked up at this. “What do you know of their differences, Brother?”
“Well, Wickham grew up at Pemberley and Darcy’s father favored him. He sent him to school with Darcy and wished for him to have the living at Kympton when he passed. He never put it in the will but Darcy knew of the unwritten promise.”
Jane placed her fork on her plate and leaned in closer. “Do go on, what else is there? I had no idea Major Wickham was connected to the Darcy family.”
“Oh, indeed. I am certain Darcy wishes he never met the man. He paid him a small fortune over the living at Kympton. You see, Wickham was never the kind to become a vicar and live a pious life. Ho no! He was too popular with the ladies. There were whispers of bastard children at one point.”
Charles waggled his eyebrows here drawing gasps from his wife and sister.
“And he gambled heavily. Always Darcy would fix everything because of the connection to his family. I suppose that all ended when he bought Wickham his commission but I don’t know for certain. Darcy complained less about him after that.”
Elizabeth looked stricken as she lost her appetite for her breakfast. “I did not believe the man was so bad as all that. Mr. Darcy warned me several times and was quite angry I did not agree with him.”
Charles nodded his head. “Oh he was as bad as all that, and may still be the rake Darcy charges him to be. If Wickham set his sights on you, and he would be stupid not to see the prize you represent, I could understand Darcy’s behavior. It might have seemed overbearing to you, like his warning me against Jane, but in this case I would side with Darcy.”
Mr. Harley entered the breakfast room and Elizabeth stood. “I have much to think on before I reply to Miss Darcy.”