Page 52 of A Life Diverted
For those who chose to read, or mayhap just relax in this magnificent room, there were clusters of seating consisting of a settee or sofa, two or three wingback chairs and a low table in the middle of each grouping.
These clusters of places to sit were placed around the room with some close to fireplaces while others near the windows to take advantage of the natural light.
The highly polished wood floor was covered with rugs in each place where seats were arranged.
This was no show library, it was one designed for use, and from all of the signs, it was oft utilised.
“Look, Fanny, Lizzy, Mary, there is room for a bed for me in that corner,” Bennet jested as he pointed to a corner near one of the fireplaces.
Fanny gave her beloved husband’s arm a playful tap. “I could see James also requesting a bed be placed here for himself when he sees this library,” she opined.
“I will give him the same reply my father gave me when I made that request. ‘No beds in the library’,” Darcy quipped.
“Are the first editions in the glass cases?” Bennet enquired.
“Several of them. There are a few old and delicate ones, along with some of the original manuscripts Pierre D’Arcy brought with him from Normandie in a vault, the walls lined with cedar, which has very low humidity for the preservation of the tomes within,” Darcy replied.
“Brother, I know you could get lost in this room for the rest of the day, but it is time to meet everyone in the blue drawing room for tea,” Georgiana reminded him.
Albeit reluctantly, they departed the library and made their way to join the others in residence for tea and refreshment. They arrived just in time for Lady Matlock to begin pouring the tea.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Jenny, that Wickham ‘as scarpered,” Brian Biggs, the eldest of the Biggs offspring reported. “It is not like ‘e said; ‘e is not coming back. ‘E were part of those preparing the new camp, and now the regiment is leaving to join him.”
“That bastard,” Jenny spat out. “What a simpleton I was to allow him to charm me and believe he would marry me. I should have never…” She paused and gathered herself.
After all, she was only fifteen and his age was more than thirty!
“His tongue was honeyed, and he claimed he was a gentleman, and as such, he could never make a promise he would not keep. And I, like a na?ve fool, believed that snake in the grass!”
“We know, Sister,” John Biggs, the younger Biggs brother, soothed. “You ‘ave no idea ‘ow many debts ‘e left be’ind to the merchants. I ‘eard you not be the only one ‘e lied to like that. One lass is with child.”
“Will you be able to find him? He told me they are going to be encamped near Barnstaple in Devonshire. That is so far, how will you find him?” Jenny lamented.
“But the regiment be on the way to Meryton in “Ertfordshir’, not Barnstaple in Devonshir’,” Brian corrected. “Remember, I were friends wif Lieutenant Sanderson?”
Jenny nodded.
“Well, ‘e told me where they be movin’ to. It aint too far. John and me will go find that libertine and drag ‘im back to marry you. You ‘ave our word,” Brian vowed.
John nodded his emphatic agreement.
Without telling their father where they were going, the huge men set off on the post the next morning. It would take them to London, and there they would find one to Meryton.
Yes, Jenny should not have surrendered her virtue to the officer, but it was done, and there was no way to change that.
She at least had the excuse that she was full young and was not prepared for the honeyed tongue and false promises of the seducer.
The brothers had always felt very protective of their sister, so they would do what they needed to do in order to make the miscreant marry her.
They did not think their father would cast Jenny out—at least that is what they hoped—but they could not take that chance.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The days at Snowhaven had been as enjoyable as had been expected.
Even though the only part of the old castle still standing was the great hall and one tower, the youngest Bennets thought it was the best thing they had ever seen.
When she was not lost in David’s eyes, Jane found it interesting as well.
Although William had not made a declaration, and as yet she had not felt confident enough to prompt him, Elizabeth knew they were getting nearer to that point.
They had spent much time together at Pemberley, and since the arrival at Snowhaven two days previously, except for sleeping at night, they were always close one to the other.
On the final day they were at Snowhaven—the Lucases and Barney had departed the previous morning—the residents were all in the dining parlour when the butler announced a coach was arriving.
“I wager that is my little brother arriving back from Granville,” Andrew opined.
“Let us hope that Melody wanted to see him. After what I heard of her first marriage, I could understand her never wanting to go near another man,” Lady Matlock worried.
About ten minutes later, Richard appeared at the drawing room door looking rather forlorn. “I did call at Granville, but unfortunately Melody…”
“Oh, Richard, I am so very sad for you. You have loved her for so long and to be turned away like that. I was worried her previous marriage had convinced her never to marry again,” Lady Matlock lamented.
“As I was about to say, Mother. Melody was overjoyed to see me, and we are engaged.” Richard turned, reached his hand out and he and a beaming Lady Melody entered the drawing room hand in hand.
“My betrothed decided to end her mourning at six months. Her former father-in-law is not well pleased, but the Earl of Sainsbury’s bluster does not concern us. ”
There was a cacophony of wishes for a felicitous future, and many hugs welcoming Melody to the family. Between the exclamations of joy, Lady Melody was introduced to Elizabeth and the Bennets.
Lady Melody Ranger—she refused to allow anyone to use that last name when referring to her—was about the same height as Jane.
She too had blue eyes, but she was a strawberry blonde with a little bit of a wave in her hair.
Seeing the way she lit up whenever she and Richard looked at one another left no doubt of the love between them.
Having been received with great warmth by her soon to be parents-in-law, Lady Melody stopped in front of Elizabeth as soon as she was able to step away from them.
“If I remember the brief introductions between wishes for our future felicity, you must be Ellie. Richard told me all about how you were discovered. If I did not know that he does not dissemble, I would have thought it was all imagined. However, seeing you before me and how closely you look like your mother and the Countess would have told me who you are, even before Richard told me all. It is so good that you were found,” Melody stated.
“Thank you for the welcome, Lady Melody.” Elizabeth curtsied.
“We are soon to be cousins, none of this Lady nonsense. Please call me Melody, may I address you as Ellie, or do you prefer Lizzy like the family who raised you call you?”
“Yes, Melody, I would be happy for you to call me by my familiar name,” Elizabeth allowed. “As to the names, I answer to both. Seeing that you will be Richard’s wife, and he calls me Ellie, it will be less confusing if you use that name as well.”
“Have you and Richard decided on a date you will marry?” Jane enquired. “David and I will marry in January. And please address me as Jane.”
“Richard did tell me about David Wendell’s engagement to you, Jane,” Lady Melody responded. “As we have waited for some years longer than either of us desired, we will marry on the final Saturday of November, the final day of the month.”
“Will you marry from your brother’s estate?” Elizabeth queried.
“Indeed, Harry and Marie arrived back at Granville two days previously, and agreed that Granville is where I should marry,” Lady Melody reported.
“Even though as a woman of age, and a widow beside, I did not require my brother’s permission, there was no question about Harry giving his permission and blessing for Richard and me to marry. ”
By Marie she meant Lady Marie Smythe née Russell—the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford—was the Countess of Granville and Lady Melody’s sister-in-law.
“I understand my brother and sister met you at the ball in Hertfordshire?” Lady Melody continued.
“Yes, we did meet there. He told us you wanted to attend but you were in mourning for your late husband,” Elizabeth responded. “It seems that is no longer the case. I offer you my sympathy for the loss…”
“Do not. Please know that it was a relief,” Lady Melody insisted.
“I honoured my father and accepted his choice, and against my better judgement, spoke my vows. However, I regretted the union every day and can only be thankful that in His wisdom, He did not allow any children to be born to not only a loveless marriage, but a marriage based on mutual disdain. My former father-in-law is very angry that his line will end with him, but it is as it should be.”
“Will you join us when we travel south on the morrow? Or are you for Granville?” Elizabeth asked.
“Granville for me. Richard will be there by mid-November, and then hopefully, the rest of you a sennight or so later so you may attend our wedding,” Lady Melody invited. “Formal invitations will arrive in a few days.”
“It is not hard to see what attracted Richard to you, Melody. You will do very well together,” Elizabeth opined.
A few days later, after Richard had returned Melody—who had become very close to all—and her maid to Granville, the extended family began their journey back to Longbourn and Netherfield Park.