Chapter 1

Meryton

August 1849

Elizabeth and Darcy watched with their guests as the white carriage bearing Mary and Richard to London pulled away from Netherfield. Lord and Lady Darcy and their guests returned to the house as Elizabeth began discussing plans with Mrs Bennet for Kitty to return to Pemberley with their party the following week. Shortly later, she asked Banks to have a suite prepared at Netherfield and sent an express to Mrs Hayes asking her to prepare rooms for Kitty and the Bingleys, who, Darcy had just informed her, would be returning with them to Pemberley.

Charles Bingley had asked Darcy to assist him in looking at several estates that were for sale or lease in Derbyshire. The two gentlemen hoped to spend as much of the month as possible fishing and shooting, like they had before their marriages. Charles had apparently informed Jane that they would spend some weeks at Pemberley, and she would have to live with it and be civil. Jane had been positively uncivil all afternoon, which Elizabeth felt was an ill omen. She was not looking forward to a month in Jane's company, without even Mary present to ease the tension. She envisioned that she would spend much time visiting the tenants and her stables before the Bingleys departed, and would leave Jane to spend time with Charlotte, Kitty, and their cousins.

Darcy was more realistic, and gave Elizabeth no orders or ultimatums. "Do you mind having your sister at Pemberley for so long?" he had asked considerately. Of course, Elizabeth could deny Will nothing. She assured him that Jane's coldness would be tolerated for as long as Will desired to be in Bingley's company.

Bingley and Darcy, having been used to spending a great deal of time in each other's company before their marriages, had decided to begin the visit immediately, and even as the wedding guests departed, a cart arrived from Longbourn with the Bingleys' trunks, and the couple were installed in one of Netherfield's guest apartments. When the last of the wedding guests had left, and the last who were staying the night had gone to their rooms, Jane requested a tray in her rooms late that evening for supper and went upstairs to rest. After the long day and the excitement of Mary's wedding, Elizabeth and the rest of the party had agreed that they would all take trays upstairs later that evening, to save the staff from serving them in the dining room. Thus, valets and ladies' maids were dismissed for the night, and the occupants of Netherfield retired upstairs after the day's excitement.

The following morning, the rest of the guests departed for London and while Mr Bingley spent the day with Darcy, Jane went to the village to visit her aunt, leaving the rest of the household to prepare for their departure north. The day after that was Sunday, and all the servants had worked extra hard to remove all signs of the wedding so they could have their typical day of rest. There was a great deal of food left from the wedding breakfast, and since Elizabeth did not prefer to do much cooking in the summer, there was also plenty of cold selections such as ham or chicken ready in the kitchens for meals.

Sunday was spent quietly. The household walked to church, and everyone but Jane enjoyed quiet conversation in the drawing room in the afternoon, while Georgiana, Marianne and Margaret spent much of the day amusing Diane and young William Collins. Elizabeth relished not being expected to provide entertainment to her guests due to it being the Lord's Day. Any attempt to converse with Jane was never a welcome prospect, and Jane rarely willingly participated in any activity with her sister. The family read and talked and rested while Jane ignored the rest of them and looked out of the window serenely.

In the week leading up to their departure, Elizabeth visited her tenant farmers and their wives, made lists for Netherfield's steward, and Mrs Nichols regarding preparations for the winter and Boxing Day. She assisted Kitty in packing and preparing to move to Pemberley, where she would likely reside much her the time henceforth until she wed, now that Mary had married. It was a good opportunity for her to polish her manners and accomplishments alongside Georgiana before her debut, living among the other young ladies at Pemberley, and she would have the opportunity to meet new people in Lambton. She would return to visit Longbourn for a few months a year, perhaps, but she would not likely reside there very much in the future until she wed. Elizabeth had to make the same promise to Mr Bennet regarding not assisting Kitty to wed without his consent, and Kitty reconciled herself to being under the supervision of Mrs Annesley until she wed or at least grew a bit older, knowing Elizabeth would not allow her to run wild as her parents had done in Meryton.

They had planned to announce to their family that Elizabeth was with child before they left Hertfordshire, but a conversation Elizabeth overheard between Jane and Mrs Bennet, who had called to visit a few days before their departure, made Elizabeth change her mind. As Elizabeth approached the drawing room, she heard Mrs Bennet chastising Jane soundly for not having fallen with child. She was in rare form. Elizabeth had not heard her stepmother so frantic since before their conversation the day Mr Collins had proposed to Kitty. Mrs Bennet was ranting at Jane, insisting that Mr Bingley would set her aside if she did not give him an heir, and going on endlessly about all of the advice she had sent to Jane in her letters, which was apparently, according to her, going unheeded. Elizabeth managed to interrupt without the two ladies realising they had been overheard and at Elizabeth's entrance, Jane gave an excuse and made a fast escape.

Elizabeth turned her eye on her stepmother and said, "Why do you plague her so? Mr Bingley has no entailed property, and my uncle has informed me of the details of their marriage settlement. Jane is Mr Bingley's sole heiress. She has no need to produce a child in order to achieve her security."

"She must give him an heir, Lizzy. Not only for her own security, but for that of her sisters! I never produced a son, and if Jane does not either, people will remember it. Do you wish for men to hesitate to offer for Kitty and Lydia out of fear that they may never produce heirs?" raved Mrs Bennet frantically.

"If they are only marrying my sisters for heirs, then yes, I would indeed prefer that they abstain from offering for them. My sisters are not breeding bitches," Elizabeth replied firmly.

"Lizzy, after producing four girls and never a son, if my daughter cannot produce one either, I shall be a laughingstock in Meryton," Mrs Bennet insisted.

"There we have it. You are concerned for your own reputation," observed Elizabeth. "You should realise that if anyone were going to laugh at the Bennets for producing no sons, they probably began seventeen years ago, when you were carrying Lydia after producing three girls already. I am certain the neighbourhood has got over their amusement, Mama."

Elizabeth's stepmother continued to fret and fidget over the matter, and Elizabeth finally snapped, "For heaven's sake, did no one ever instruct you during your marriage that you MUST produce a son at all costs?"

Fanny Bennet was quiet a moment. "My sister and your Aunt Josephine did so a number of times."

"And were you able to do so, just because you had been commanded to?" continued Elizabeth. "You do not need to answer. I know all too well that no amount of cajoling, commanding, or chastisement made the slightest difference. I was there. I watched as girl after girl came forth. Indeed, I am sure it made matters quite worse by destroying your nerves, did it not?" Mrs Bennet refused to meet Elizabeth's eye, and she continued. "Making demands and distressing Jane is not going to assist her in falling with child nor will it have a beneficial effect upon her relations with her husband. You must cease importuning her. Her state of motherhood does not reflect upon you, and you have no lack of daughters to give you grandchildren. Not to mention some women take years to fall with child. Look at Aunt Josephine. Look at Aunt Madeleine. They have lovely families that are no less wonderful for having waited for children for a few years. Your distress is quite premature.

"You must allow your daughters to manage their own affairs. You cannot cause them distress or marital discord because they are not fulfilling your expectations. If they marry, wonderful. If not, it is of little importance. Whether they have children or not is also their own affair. The unmarried all will have independent incomes of their own by a certain age, and their connections will be incomparable by the time they have finished their first seasons. They shall not suffer socially from not having married or borne children, and with so many daughters, it is certain you will one day be a grandmama."

Fanny looked sad. "I just have such hopes for them all."

"That is perfectly natural, and many of your hopes will likely be fulfilled. But it matters little. My sisters are well provided for and well connected. They will not fade into insignificance due to their status as wife or mother, or lack of status thereof," insisted Elizabeth. "My late husband used to maintain that anxiety is the enemy of pregnancy. Distressing Jane is not likely to have a positive outcome. Let her alone. Stop asking about her condition. If she has something to share, she will do so. If she has not informed you that she is with child, then she probably is not, or it may be too soon to announce it. There is no need to keep inquiring about the matter."

"You are correct, of course. People always talking about boys when I was with child was always painful to me when I proved to be carrying only girls. Perhaps I ought to apologise to Jane," said Mrs Bennet.

"Well, if you do so, certainly do not tell her I had anything to do with it," joked Elizabeth. "That would not be well received at all."

Mrs Bennet smiled. "I shall write to her after your party has left Meryton. I should like to see this Pemberley myself, Lizzy. It is tragic that I travel so poorly." Elizabeth's stepmother always became ill on very long carriage rides, and so had no interest in travel outside of Meryton, or occasionally St Albans. A visit to her brother in London had always been a rare event indeed.

When Elizabeth shared the discussion with Darcy later that night in their bedchamber, he confided Bingley's concerns from when they had been in London. "I had not brought it up before, because Bingley told me in confidence, of course, but now that you are aware of it, it cannot do any harm."

Darcy did not mention the part that Jane was worried that Elizabeth would conceive first. He rather thought that Mrs Bingley might be quite distressed to learn that Elizabeth knew the private fears she had shared with her husband alone. Indeed, he was not even certain that it had been proper of Bingley to tell him at all, but he would do his best to support his friend and protect his wife's secrets. It was obvious to him that in his concern for his wife, Bingley had slipped into his old habit of confiding everything to Darcy, but it would go no further.

The two agreed that their announcement must be made long before the Bingleys departed from Pemberley, for it would very soon become quite apparent on its own, but it did not need to happen while Mrs Bingley was still smarting from her mother's reprimand. They decided they would wait until they had been at Pemberley for a week or two, then inform the rest of the family by letter.

*****

Eventually the party took their leave of Hertfordshire, and headed north to Pemberley. Concerned about Elizabeth's health in her condition, as well as the comfort of his grandmother at her age, Darcy slowed their journey, and included many rest stops, resulting in the journey taking five days instead of three. Elizabeth rather thought it made the journey even more exhausting to drag it out so; she told Darcy on their last night at an inn that she could not wait to lock herself in her chambers at Pemberley with a book and a cup of chocolate for an entire day. When Darcy asked if that tradition might not be rude to Jane and Bingley, Elizabeth replied with a wry smile, "You shall keep Bingley occupied, I am sure, and I am certain that Jane will leap at the chance to avoid me for an entire day. Indeed, if she has been distressed about falling with child, perhaps she could do with a restful day on her own in environs such as Pemberley offers. Or perhaps your steward will monopolise you as he always does when we return, and Bingley might spend the day alone with his wife."

Darcy agreed that she very well could be right. "I must say that the casual, relaxed element that you have brought to Pemberley's environs might be just the surroundings the Bingleys need to relax and forget their troubles. I am going to suggest to Bingley that he use this holiday to court his wife all over again. Her happiness and contentment at his attentions might assist with their goals. He should plan many outings and romantic activities just for the two of them while they are with us, and utilise Pemberley's hothouses to his benefit. Perhaps once Richard and Mary return, the Bingleys might like to use our cottage at the lakes for a time before returning to London."

Elizabeth agreed that it sounded like a marvellous idea, and the next afternoon when they were escorting the carriages on horseback, Darcy mentioned the idea to Bingley, who smiled. Darcy was a good friend, who Charles knew cared about him sincerely and wished wholeheartedly for his happiness. This was why he had braved Jane's displeasure with this trip, and by seeking an estate in Derbyshire. Jane did not care for the idea at all, but Bingley missed his close friend's steadfast support. Jane had grown rather distant in recent weeks, and his friend's advice was sound. Bingley would begin to court his wife in earnest again.

At length they finally arrived at Pemberley, and Elizabeth was correct. Jane had found the five-day journey just as exhausting as had Elizabeth and the other ladies, and she too, welcomed the idea of resting in her apartment for an entire day, while the gentlemen rode the estate and occupied themselves with Darcy's steward, who had a mountain of tasks awaiting Will's return. Mrs Hayes could always be counted upon, and had all ready for the ladies to rest in their chambers the next day. Once Elizabeth had a day of blissful leisure, she joined Darcy in riding the estate to see the progress of the work on the new stables and tenant houses.

The tenants were quite pleased and excited about the improvements to their homes. Wives confided to Elizabeth that their chores and taking care of their children had never been easier now that they had pumps, drains, proper basins, tubs, and water boilers in their homes. It had been an unfathomable expense for the comfort of mere tenant farmers, but the benefits were already making themselves known. As well as the objections. It was hard to believe there could be any. Still, several local estate owners disliked hearing of the Darcys' improvements. There were letters of reprimand from his neighbours waiting for Darcy. It could hardly have been a surprise that the tenants of other estates nearby had heard and wanted such comforts for themselves. Their masters, the ones sending the letters of great disapproval and outrage, were not inclined to offer them.

"I will not hear a word," Darcy confided in Elizabeth. "Perhaps if they would make some investment into their tenants' health and comfort, their estates would be so attractive that farmers and their families would never want to leave. The cities and factories are eating up good workers from the farms as it is. Pemberley still takes care of our people, and so we had not experienced the exodus of tenants that our neighbours face. But many Derbyshire landowners have complained of tenants moving en masse to the cities for better jobs, pay, and conditions in recent years. Your investment has only ensured that families are happy to remain at Pemberley for generations to come, I hope. It is only right that the estate is improved by us for our heir. I have always disliked the idea that tenant farmer families ought to be as poor as some of them are. If I am doing what I am meant to do, then every person at Pemberley must be thriving, and living in dignity and comfort. Pemberley farmers have always been rather genteel, due to my insistence that they do their best to read and write and educate their children as best they can, and due to those efforts, Pemberley has thrived."

The new doctor at Pemberley, Mr Lloyd, had visited all of the families on the estate several times, gaining the trust of the tenants and their families with his calm and reliable demeanour and gentle touch. News travelled quickly that he and Mr Clarke were not like the sawbones of old, who were more likely than not to drain the life from their patients like vampires. There was already talk of fewer illnesses among the tenant families since Mr Lloyd had begun to advise the wives on the estate, and one farmer had named his new son Lloyd after the doctor had assisted the midwives to bring his wife through a difficult breech birth.

The new stables were spacious and modern; many of the horses had already been delivered from Newmarket, and Elizabeth's assistant stablemaster had stayed behind in Newmarket to see to the care of the foals who were not ready to travel a long distance yet. Due to so many rival stables trying to steal Elizabeth's secrets, Elizabeth's stablemaster had moved most of the Palomino operation first. The stablemaster and grooms at Pemberley's house stables had grumbled a bit, and so Darcy arranged for those stables to be rebuilt, with improved quarters upstairs for all the outdoor staff.

A new foal had been born, the very first of the new Pemberley stables, a lovely black colt with a white blaze upon his forehead that resembled a strike of lightning. From the colt's excellent lines, proportions, and pedigree, it was obvious he would be a stunning and enviable piece of horseflesh. Elizabeth gave him to Darcy as an anniversary present and Darcy named the young horse Jupiter, inspired by the blaze on his head, and Elizabeth's tendency to name her horses after mythology. After the colt had been weaned from his mother, he would be sent out to run in the meadows with the other young colts until he was old enough to be trained. Georgiana's horse Persephone and Elizabeth's Athena would soon be making the journey to Pemberley with the other young horses from Newcastle and then Elizabeth and Georgiana would begin working with the stablemasters to train their mares. Elizabeth believed in training her own horses herself when possible. She insisted that Georgiana and Darcy do the same, to better bond with the animals.

*****

Marianne, who was an accomplished walker, was wild to go back out exploring the countryside, but her mother persuaded her that Viscount St Claire would call as he had promised, and Marianne was determined to be there when he presented himself to Darcy. This led to three weeks of Marianne and Kitty sniping at each other, constantly remaining indoors, and bored out of their minds in the drawing room until Marianne, discouraged by the interminable waiting, abandoned the house and began walking for hours each day. This had been her usual habit before leaving Pemberley for the summer, sometimes with and sometimes without her younger sister Margaret. She had a terrible propensity for getting caught in the rain, and she almost always managed to evade the stable lads and footmen that Elizabeth had insisted must accompany her. Elizabeth had chastised the girl every way she could think of, but technically the Dashwoods were guests, and Marianne was not under the authority of Mrs Annesley, though Elizabeth thought she ought to be, due to her impulsive nature. Elizabeth loved her exercise, and still did a fair amount of daily walking herself, but she knew the dangers to young girls walking alone in the countryside. Marianne paid little heed, and continued to evade her walking companions.

Margaret attended to her lessons under Mr Mason, and continued to excel in geography. She spent time with the other young ladies, learning ladylike pursuits, but like Elizabeth, she had no patience for embroidery, and little for pianoforte. She could draw fairly well, but it did not hold her interest until Mr Mason interested her in cartography. Georgiana began to give her lessons on the harp, and Margaret took great interest in Elizabeth's industry periodicals, and though her mother voiced concern, Elizabeth encouraged the young girl to read whatever took her interest. She amused Will and shocked her mother at dinner when debating about the news or advances in industry or agriculture; debates that Marianne never failed to roll her eyes about, sometimes muttering that it was unnatural and contrary to the sensibility a proper girl should display.

As to the menfolk, Bingley and Darcy made trips every few days to view estates within a day's travel, and Bingley compiled a list of acceptable homes to present to Jane. After visiting more than half a dozen, they determined that only four were acceptable, all within a one or two hour carriage ride of Pemberley. He planned several drives for just he and Jane to view these estates alone, bringing picnic lunches and the like, allowing his wife to view the houses at her leisure so they could decide together what would suit them.

Bingley planned his outings to view the estates well, and the couple happily settled upon Tatton Hall, a grand stone Georgian mansion somewhat larger than Netherfield. With a twenty-acre park, and only an hour carriage ride from Pemberley, Charles was ecstatic. In no time, he met with the solicitors in the nearby market town, negotiated a purchase on favourable terms, and signed the requisite documents to make Tatton Hall the Bingleys' country estate. They were to take possession just before Christmas, and would reside at Pemberley until their new home was ready for their arrival.

Of course, until then, Jane would be at Pemberley. But Elizabeth found that she could find ways to politely avoid Jane's company quite easily. Charlotte, being out of mourning, was quite friendly with the local ladies, and Jane accompanied her on calls quite often. Elizabeth hosted several dinners and parties welcoming the Bingleys to the county, and ensured they were included in the invitations she accepted, to give Jane the opportunity to become better acquainted with other landowners and their families in the area. At least once per week, Bingley arranged a private dinner with his wife in the conservatory or the orangery.

Dear Colonel Brandon became a regular visitor. He rode and fished with the gentlemen regularly, and dined with the family frequently; Mr and Mrs Ferrars often accompanied him. Elizabeth noticed that the colonel watched her sister Kitty often and intently. She had no opinion on such a match. There was a considerable difference of age, but many couples did not find that to be an obstacle, and she would not object if she believed Kitty wanted it, especially since it would have to be a considerably long and very quiet courtship. She did note that Kitty had not yet discerned the gentleman's interest. If Kitty noticed him on her own, and an inclination began that survived to her majority, it would certainly be an abiding one. Kitty was not the childish, immature girl that Elizabeth had once been so suspicious of Wickham for paying attention to. She was maturing beautifully, becoming Catherine Bennet more than simply Kitty, although Elizabeth would prefer it if she waited a few more years before settling on a suitor, and there was every chance that she would. Indeed, she spent most of her time studying fiercely, and in something of a friendly academic rivalry with Georgiana. She avoided Marianne, and pretended not to care when the other girl boasted of her imagined attentions from Willoughby, who himself had conveniently never materialised.

Darcy had confided to Elizabeth that he knew the young man was in the area, that he had sent his card round to him, and that after his attention to the ladies at Pemberley while the Darcys had been away, the more time that passed before the young man presented himself, the less likely it would be that Darcy would receive him if he did.

"It is unacceptable that the man called upon my house so frequently, like a close acquaintance, when I was not here, and then to abandon those calls when I return. It is very likely that if he does not materialise, I will inform the staff that he is not to be admitted when we go away again. As it is, I have already informed them that he is not to call upon any of the ladies of the house until I have met with him. That is basic propriety, but somehow, he seems to have missed that lesson. I will not, however, have him seducing our young ladies when I am away from home." His wife quite agreed with him, although they had not spoken of it to Marianne.