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Chapter 29

B ells attached to the tack of the horse rang joyfully as Darcy drove the sleigh which seated six on three benches, each seating two adults comfortably. Miss Bennet sat next to him, with Richard and Miss Mary in the next row, and Parker and Miss Lucas on the last bench.

They were being pulled effortlessly by a single Shire horse on the morning of New Year's Day. Andrew, accompanied by Lambert was driving one of the two larger sleighs, it could seat twelve comfortably, and more when the majority of the riders were children as was the case. It was pulled by two Cleveland Bays who were accustomed to working together. Snow was still falling, but it was not as heavy as it had been the afternoon and evening of the previous day, all through the night. Had the snowfall not lightened significantly, the mothers, who were in the warmth of the house along with the Earl and Gardiner, would have protested their children being allowed out of doors.

After hearing Miss Bennet speak of how much she would like to see the peaks, Darcy turned his horse to the west as they travelled along the floor of the Pemberley Valley. Just before they reached the river Derwent, which cut across the valley from north to south about two miles before the western edge of said valley, the snow stopped and the clouds parted. Darcy pulled back on the horse's reins and halted the sleigh near the bank of the river. He caught Miss Bennet's attention and pointed.

Elizabeth's breath hitched when she saw the magnificent view before her. There were still clouds near the summits of three particularly tall peaks, but seeing the real thing, even with the residual clouds, was so much more beautiful than the plates she had looked at in a travel book in her father's study some years ago. Seeing the reproduced painting had made her determined to see the mountains for herself one day, and here they were before her. She was closer to them than she had ever thought she would be. There was no missing the fact Mr Darcy had paid attention when she had asked his aunt about the peaks and been determined to gratify her, and he had!

Once the second sleigh arrived next to them, Darcy pointed to the three highest summits with his gloved hand. "That is Kinder Scout, the tallest peak in this shire at over two thousand feet," he shifted his hand, "that one is Bleaklow, which is only about ten feet less than Kinder Scout in height, and the third one is Higher Shelf Stones, not much less height than the other two. Off in the distance is Black Hill, which is a little less than two thousand feet."

"In the summer, William and I travel to see the peaks up close, well also the lakes," Georgiana shared. By the time everyone went to bed the previous night, Giana was on familiar name terms with Elizabeth and Mary as well.

"It is not hard to imagine how everything in the area will look in spring and summer. I am sure it would make a wonderful vista to capture," Catherine sighed.

"In that case, Miss Catherine, we will have to make sure you visit Pemberley at that time of year, so you may capture whichever views you choose. That is, as long as you gift me one of your drawings or paintings," Darcy offered.

Catherine was chagrined she had been so forward while at the same time happy Mr Darcy had made the offer. She and Lydia hoped they would be able to maintain the connection with Giana. "Please pardon me, Mr Darcy, I was not fishing for an invitation." She blushed deeply; the colour of her cheeks could not be blamed on the cold .

"Do not make yourself uneasy, Miss Catherine, had I suspected you were, I would not have made the offer. And besides, I would gain another picture for one of my studies. It is always a pleasure to have friends visit us," Darcy responded to put the young lady at ease.

Elizabeth was greatly impressed at the way Mr Darcy had replied with understanding and kindness to Catherine's statement. A man with less compassion could have made her sister extremely embarrassed at the comment she had made before she had fully considered her words. It was another tick on the good side of the ledger for the handsome man. So far, the good side had most of the ticks while the bad side had nothing of significance.

As if the weather knew it was time for them to return to the mansion, the clouds reasserted themselves, and by the time the two sleighs were half way back to the manor house, the snow had once again begun to fall in earnest.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The prediction the party from Lambert Hills would remain past the one night they had intended to be at Pemberley had been borne out. The snow had ceased to fall on the third day of January, and thanks to slightly warmer weather, the Lambert Hills party was able to depart on the morning of Epiphany Eve.

Had the Gardiners, the four Bennet sisters, and Miss Lucas not needed to commence the journey southward on Monday, the day after the morrow, there would not have been a need to leave Pemberley as soon as the roads were somewhat passable. As it was, the two hour journey without a change of horses, had been closer to three hours due to the conditions.

Three ladies in the coaches returning to Lambert Hills were admired by three men at Pemberley. The men were not very sanguine with the departure of the lady in whom he was interested, so they had done something to rectify the situation .

To that end, they would see the lady of their own choice on Monday. Bingley had previously agreed to travel with the Gardiners, and now they were to be joined by two Darcys, a Fitzwilliam, and two Parkers. The male of the latter was the only one of the three men who could actively court the lady who intrigued him.

As such, Arthur Parker who was normally not an outgoing man, with sincere encouragement from his sister, requested, and was granted a courtship by Miss Lucas on Friday evening. Seeing that he had two curates and could call on the one from the Metting church when needed, Parker's duties—with the unreserved approval of his friend and patron—would be performed by the curates while he was away.

The carriages arrived back at Lambert Hills in the late afternoon just as the temperatures were falling, and dusk was heralding the fast-approaching darkness.

Those who would depart on Monday morning made directly for their chambers to begin the process of packing, so there would be little or none to do on the Sabbath. They worked on their trunks until dinner, and after the meal as well, prior to spending any time in the drawing room, only making for that room once the balance of the packing had been completed.

Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Mary met in their shared sitting room before they went downstairs to join those in the drawing room for a while before retiring .

"You seem very happy with your courtship," Elizabeth observed as she looked at her good friend.

"How can I not be? Mr Parker is a very good man for whom I find I am developing tender feelings, regardless of my past pronouncements about not being romantic. All I ever wanted was my own house, a husband who was not vicious, and some security. Romantic feelings were never part of my requirements. In fact, I used to believe felicity in marriage was a matter of chance. Being around the Gardiners, Lamberts, and even the Matlocks and Hilldales have shown me another way. He is joining us with his sister on Monday in order to speak to my father, even though I am of age," Charlotte reported. "Do you know when he spoke to me privately, he admitted some things about himself in case I wanted to cry off?"

"What things, if you are at liberty to share?" Elizabeth enquired.

"After Cambridge he lived with his oldest brother in Sanditon. In addition, his next older brother, Mr Sydney Parker was also present for the first year; this was before he took orders. To escape the teasing of his two older brothers and older sister, Miss Susan Parker, he used to feign illnesses he did not have. It got to the point where he had enough, so he took orders, and with his younger sister—who was also not well treated by their three eldest siblings—he struck out on his own. He renewed his friendship with Mr Darcy without expectations and ended up over the next two years with the three livings he has now."

"It speaks well of his honour that he wanted you to know all there is to know about him, even if it could be construed as negative," Mary opined. "Are the Parker parents no longer in the mortal world?"

"No, Mr Parker shared that his parents succumbed to an illness during his final year at Cambridge. As his older brothers and sister were all of age, he and his sister were under the brothers' authority until he too reached his majority. He is only sorry he could not leave as soon as he turned one and twenty, but until his brothers agreed to allow Diana to go with him, he would not abandon her."

"It sounds like the rest of the family is not worth knowing," Elizabeth guessed.

"I cannot but agree with you," Charlotte stated. "He has made his own way in the world, and until she marries, he will continue to support his younger sister, even if she never marries. She had no dowry to speak of, but Mr Parker has saved some of his income for her, so she has almost two thousand pounds now."

"For my part, I could not be happier for you, Charlotte," Elizabeth enthused, "you have chosen a very good man."

"And what of you and Mary?" Charlotte enquired slyly.

"Unlike you, we can do nothing even if we wanted to until our mourning period is complete two thirds of the way through April coming. I changed it once, unconnected to my romantic future, but I will not change it again even for that reason," Elizabeth replied.

"I know the Colonel will have to return to his regiment towards the end of this month, but on horseback, it is less than three hours from London to Meryton. Mr Darcy will be much closer at Netherfield Park," Charlotte teased. "I know, I know, neither of you have an understanding with either man…yet."

"Charlotte Lucas! Now that you are in a courtship with a man about whom you feel tenderly, you see romance everywhere. If you are not careful, you will become a matchmaker in the ilk of our mothers," Mary huffed. She silently admitted she could not really refute Charlotte's assertions.

Charlotte raised her hands in surrender, and after sharing some laughter, the three made their way down to the drawing room.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As the sky began to lighten in the east on Monday morning, two coaches and a carriage, along with their attendant outriders arrived in Lambert Hill's drive and pulled up behind the two Gardiner conveyances already in place. The smaller carriage behind the two newly arrived coaches, was for personal servants .

The Bennet sisters and Gardiners made their way to the conveyances in which they would ride, only after hugs and kisses, to and from, the residents of the estate. There were added lamentations from Addie who did not know how she would ever learn to play the pianoforte without Cousin Mary, Henry's demands that Cousin Lizzy remain to tell him stories, and little Rory who did not want his friend Joshua to go home.

The Earl and Countess would leave Pemberley after they broke their fasts to travel the fifteen miles to Snowhaven before continuing on to London. They would be accompanied by Lord and Lady Hilldale, Joshua, and the babe, Rosie. Like the Lamberts would be hearing from Rory about not seeing his new friend, so would Joshua be making his protests to his parents and grandparents at not seeing Rory.

With final goodbyes conveyed, and the travellers seated in the various coaches, with waves, and a few tears shed by the Lambert children, the five conveyances were off.

For the first leg, Elizabeth was in the primary Gardiner carriage with her aunt, uncle, Catherine, Lilly, and Eddy. Charlotte was riding in the Darcy equipage with the two Darcys, and two Parkers. Mary, the Colonel, and Lydia joined Bingley and the Hursts. The second Gardiner carriage had the two youngest Gardiners, the governess, nursemaid and Madeline's lady's maid riding in it, while the rest of the personal servants were in the final conveyance.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and feigned sleep not long after they turned onto the road pointing them south. She needed to speak to Jane. ‘ My dearest sister, I still miss you all the time, but it is becoming slightly more bearable, ' she said silently with her closed eyes pointing to the heavens. ‘ I am going home to reconcile with Mama and Papa. As angry as I was with them, I know it was never their intent to hurt you. The problem was neither of them thought beyond their immediate desires, and you Dearest, paid the ultimate price for it .

‘As I told Mary, I had to do this sooner or later, otherwise the resentment would have festered and eaten at my soul. It is now possible and necessary due to all of the changes first Papa, and now Mama have made. I think I will like to see who they are now. All that will be missing will be you, my one and only best friend and sister. Yes, I know, you are always watching, so you know my heart is open and ready for love. Speaking of which, I am so very happy for Charlotte, as I am certain you are as well. If there is anyone who deserves happiness, and a partner who appreciates her for the gifts she brings, it is our Charlotte.

‘Please forgive me if I do not speak to you as often as I have done since your parting, but you must know you will always be in my heart. I will admit to you, Janey, I am looking forward to the nineteenth of April, not because it is the end of my mourning for you, but for the possibilities it will bring, that is, of course, unless I have misinterpreted all of the signs from William…Mr Darcy. He really is the best of men. I cannot know the future, so it will be what it will be. I love you, Janey, and always will. '

With that, Elizabeth fell asleep and did not wake until the first rest stop.

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