William huffed, “Of course, she liked it. I cannot believe how wrong I was about her.”
Mr. Bennet laughed, “She is a pretty thing, to be sure, William. I know why your eyes were turned but I am relieved to hear that a very big error might have been prevented. I am sure you would have found out for yourself eventually.”
William relaxed and smiled, “Perhaps, but my time in London is limited and I am glad I spent no more than only a few days chasing her. Bingley confessed to me that his sister had been acting strangely and Caroline Bingley had believed that she would be married by this summer. She was certain she could convince me to fall madly in love with her and cancel my Grand Tour.”
“Certainly not!” Mr. Darcy declared. “It is an experience of a lifetime and she believed you would give it all up for her? She has a big opinion of herself, does she not?”
“Yes, father.” William answered. “But Charles is a good fellow, friendly and very honest, almost to a fault and he had no idea of his sister’s duplicity and apologised profusely. He will be telling his father tonight and is glad that his father will likely cut her season short and take her to Rosings Park this month.”
Lord Matlock chimed in, “I have heard from Mr. Grantley that his daughter was not appreciative of Miss Bingley’s attempts to outshine her at the ball and that she had been speaking ill of the family’s situation with the eldest daughter. I had no idea that Mrs. Jenkinson was the elder Grantley daughter who eloped years ago. Mrs. Jenkinson has been a good companion to Anne and my niece has been flourishing away from her mother’s interferences.”
Mr. Darcy stated, “She is a good woman, Henry, and her parents are now willing to take her back and see about getting her married to a respectable gentleman, but she wishes to stay with Anne. I do believe she will be married in the future. I know a very good man who will be a fine match. I hope you will be kind, Henry. She is nearly family now.”
William hid his amusement while Lord Matlock answered, “Of course, George. She is like a daughter to me now. She is very kind to Anne, and Robert and Sarah adore her. Mrs. Jenkinson is more like a mother or an elder sister than Catherine ever was to Anne and I hope she stays with our niece for a very long time.”
“And how is Lady Catherine?” Mr. Bennet asked. “Is she enjoying her exile to Brighton?”
Lord Matlock huffed, “She has always been a pain and of course she is nothing but trouble now. She is miserable and writes nearly every week to beg for her return to Rosings. I will be delighted to write to her that the estate will be leased to a former tradesman!” He laughed loudly. “She will vent her spleen about the shades of Rosings or some nonsense but she will finally realise that her home is now the cottage in the small seaside town, with only a few servants to obey her commands. She complains but she is only fortunate that I did not banish her to Ireland! She has to hire a hackney if she wishes to go anywhere and she is mortified with shame to appear poor. She has been served her piece of humble pie and I hope she chokes on it!”
The gentlemen laughed with Lord Matlock’s jest and hoped Lady Catherine would not cause further strife. The vengeful woman was fully capable of stirring up trouble and they wanted nothing to do with her. Soon, they returned to the ladies and enjoyed the rest of the evening with good conversations and many laughter as friends.
~*~
July 1806
“Somehow it feels different. I know I am the same person as last month but now that I have completed university and will be travelling for the next three years, I feel more grown up and prepared for more responsibilities.” William spoke while relaxing against their tree on Oakham Mount. “I am now one and twenty and ready to take on the world.”
Lizzy laughed from above his head, “I told you that you were old! You will come back from your trip with a full set of grey hair and I will have to help you walk around with a cane.” She easily swung from one branch and climbed down. “I will have to visit you and help you take your walks so you do not grow portly as well.”
William laughed and embraced her as she sat down next to him. “Who is the one giving me grey hairs, young lady? You must come stay with me after I return so we can fence and ride Snowflake and I can teach you to shoot a pistol then. Tell me, Lizzy. Will you miss me? At least a little?”
“No,” Lizzy replied. “Good riddance to you, Will. You have been so annoying lately.”
“Come now. Will you miss me? Just a little? You will not miss me at all?” William whined. “I promise to bring you back many gifts.”
Lizzy laughed, “Of course, I will miss you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and lay back. “I will miss you dreadfully. But I think it’s important for you to go. Too bad it is not to Italy and France and Greece where gentlemen usually go. I hope once this war ends, I will
