“You will succeed, I am sure, Caroline.” Louisa comforted her younger sister. “This season, you will outshine all the other young ladies, even if in the literal sense, with the brightness of the colour of your dresses!”
The two ladies cackled and left to gather more gossips about the Darcy family and if young Mr. Darcy had returned from his travels.
Chapter 20
July 1808
“I believe I love Pemberley more than any other place in the world, Mrs. Anne.” Lizzy breathed out in contentment. “It is not only the size of the place but the tranquillity and comfort this place brings me is unlike anywhere in the world. I love Longbourn but this place feels like home to me whenever I visit.”
Lady Anne and Lizzy sat under a large tree next to the pond at Pemberley on a beautiful summer day. They were picnicking with Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, who were by the pond to sail two small wooden boats to see who would win the race.
“You are most welcome here and as you are like a daughter to me, Lizzy, to consider Pemberley to be your home as well.” Lady Anne softly smiled. “You have made several friends here and the staff love you. William has told me many times how you are invited to stay with us at any time of your choosing and he wishes you to take you to over to the continent once this war is over and things are calm. He wrote that he hopes you will find him someone who is going to make a good wife. He said all of the ladies he has come across so far have been the same, if not worse, like the grasping women of the ton and he found them dreadfully dull.”
Lizzy laughed, “After our argument regarding Caroline Bingley, Will has been circumspect of every lady who flutters her lashes at him. I know he needs a beautiful lady with genteel manners who is highly accomplished, and I have been keeping my eyes open for a good fit. I have met a number of people at some of the dinner parties in London and now here in Derbyshire, and found two or three ladies who might interest him, but until he returns from his tour, we shall have to wait patiently and perhaps see if a new debutante might come out next season.” She smiled, as she watched Georgiana splashing the water and Mr. Darcy laughing with his daughter and holding her by the waist so she did not fall in. “I do hope Will finds someone who will love your family like I do. Georgiana deserves the best sister in the world; she is such a precious girl.”
Lady Anne nodded, “He will, Lizzy. I have high hopes of a special woman of my acquaintance but I know I must be patient until the time is right.” She replied with a glint of mischief in her eyes. “There is someone perfect for William, even if he, nor the lady, do not know it yet.”
“Who, Mrs. Anne?” Lizzy inquired. “I should like to know who so I can assess her myself.”
“I will reveal it all later, Lizzy.” Lady Anne replied. “How about yourself? You are now a beautiful woman, my dear child. You are no longer the tree-climbing pirate. Would you reconsider marriage now?”
Lizzy giggled, “I am still a tree-climbing pirate, Mrs. Anne! I am only pretending to behave myself and I consider my new dresses as my disguise to be a proper lady in society.” They both laughed. “I cannot imagine any man who can accept me as my true self. Who would marry someone like me who is inept at sewing cushions or serving tea and making social calls? I have very little accomplishments according to the usual feminine achievements and I would not be able to feign that I am someone I am not.” She shook her head. “No man in his right mind would take me for a wife and I could never accept one who cannot appreciate me as a bluestocking and a hoyden. I will refuse anyone who wishes to change me and I will be a spinster who will have to rely on the kindness of your son and daughter to find comfort in my future.”
Lady Anne laughed, “You can be a hoyden and still a woman, Lizzy. We will have our own lessons. I will teach you how to pretend to be a lady in public and be like an actor on stage to impersonate an accomplished woman. You know so much but those fools who cannot see your intelligence and compassion will lose their opportunity to know the most wonderful young lady of my acquaintance.” She stood up and reached for Lizzy’s hand. “Come now, Lizzy. It is our turn to race the boats. I am going to beat you soundly again!”
Lizzy stood and ran to the pond with Lady Anne and the four enjoyed their peaceful picnic together, looking forward to the rest of the summer together in the most beautiful place in all of England.
~*~
New Year’s Day, 1809
“Richard Fitzwilliam! Come here and face me like a man!” Lizzy bellowed. “I care not if you are a colonel in His Majesty’s Army; get your sorry self over here and apologise to
