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Darcy, Lady Elizabeth, Lord James, Miss Darcy, and Ladies Mary and Kitty took a walking tour of the park.

Darcy, as the expert among them, first took them up to the little folly, a small replica of a Greek temple, which provided a panoramic view of the estate as the structure had been built on the crest of a hill.

In front of them they could see the very well-ordered formal gardens with the manor house behind it.

To one side was the wild woodland area that they would soon be exploring, and the Hunsford church’s steeple could be seen above the trees at the end of a natural avenue that led to the parsonage.

After some time at the folly, they entered the wooded grove, and Darcy guided them to the glade.

The path that led to it would have been missed if one did not know it was there.

They wound their way through vegetation and verdant trees until they arrived at the glade.

It was a nice-sized clearing with a pool they were told was fed from an underground spring.

At one end of the pond was a brook that carried the excess water until it joined a stream a few hundred yards away.

There were benches and some nice-sized rocks to sit on to take in the beauty of nature on display.

Darcy told them how, as young boys, he, Richard, and Andrew would play in the glade for hours pretending to be searching for buried pirate treasure, and that in the heat of the summer they used to enjoy swimming in the pool.

It was always cool, thanks to the water that bubbled up from the spring at the bottom.

Lady Elizabeth watched William as he was so at ease, fielded their questions, and answered one and all with patience and good humour, no matter how inane.

This was definitely a man that she had started to admit that she was forming tender feelings for.

The thought struck her as surprising. It was the first time that she admitted to herself that her feelings were deeper than friend or cousin and it excited her.

They walked toward the church before they made a turn back toward Rosings Park.

As they were passing the parsonage, they could not help but see the man who was bowing and scraping to them as they passed.

Before Mr. Collins was able to embarrass himself, his wife Miranda, a Benet as was, joined him near his beehives, and with a simple pressure on his arm was able to still him.

Elizabeth knew the face; she looked so very much like her older sister Harriet.

“I know we have not been introduced, but if you are Miranda Benet then I feel like I know you from talking to your sister, Harriet Forster,” Elizabeth stated with a questioning look.

“I was indeed Miranda Benet, though I am Mrs. Collins now that I am married,” she said with a curtsy. “From letters that Harriet wrote, am I correct that you are Lady Elizabeth Bennet?”

“Yes, Mrs. Collins. I am afraid that I am guilty as charged. Will you introduce your husband to us, please?” Elizabeth asked.

The lady obliged and then as she had been introduced, albeit by herself, Lady Elizabeth introduced the rest of her party.

It seemed that the clergyman was about to start fawning over the highborn people, one of them a marquess, that he had been introduced to when his wife touched his arm again and his mouth closed with a clack, and he remained quiet.

Miranda Collins invited them to tea, but they had to decline as they were expected back at Rosings for tea.

They bid their goodbyes to the Collinses and turned back toward the manor house.

During the walk back, they discussed how fortunate Mr. Collins was in his choice of wife for without her gentle guidance, they could imagine him being very servile and sycophantic on one hand while pompous on the other.

When they were having tea at Rosings, they mentioned the encounter with the residents of the parsonage and Elizabeth shared their suspicions about Mr. Collins.

Lady Catherine explained how he used to be before having the good fortune to be accepted by a strong and intelligent woman.

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

Anne de Bourgh was glowing with happiness on the day that she was joined forever to Mr. Ian Ashby.

Not only had she married the love of her life, but her mother had blessed the union without any reservation.

The previous night her mother and Aunt Anne had given her ‘the talk’, and thankfully had removed any lingering apprehension that the bride may have had.

Mr. Collins had done a credible job, and thanks to his wife effusions and fawning were almost non-existent during the ceremony.

Anne signed her maiden name for the final time and the new Mr. and Mrs. Ian Ashby emerged from the vestry to warm congratulatory hugs and wishes from the family, both hers and his.

The party mounted their carriages and preceded the newlyweds to Rosings for the wedding breakfast. Mrs. Anne Ashby felt warm all over as Lipton, the butler, announced the Honourable Mr. and Mrs. Ian Ashby to their assembled friends and family.

Darcy looked wistfully at Lady Elizabeth.

Although he did not begrudge her brother Tom his happiness in being accepted by Lady Amy Ashby, he was envious.

Not of them, but rather of the fact that he had not yet attained the bliss that they so obviously had gained.

The engagement had not yet been announced; however, Elizabeth had shared the glad tidings with him.

He could not but see her willingness to confide in him as a good sign.

When his mother had approached him with the suggestion that Anne and her betrothed may enjoy Seaview Cottage, he had offered its use without delay and the couple had immediately accepted his offer.

At the wedding breakfast Lady Sarah Bennet was sitting with Ladies Elaine, Catherine, and Anne. “Your Anne is glowing with happiness, Catherine,” the Duchess observed.

“A blind man would be able to see that, it is so obvious. I could not be happier for my Anne. There is no doubt in my mind that Ian will always make her happiness his priority.” As she spoke a single tear slid down her cheek and her sister squeezed her hand and handed her a silk.

“It is as they were formed for each other,” she added.

“You are correct, Catherine. My namesake will have a very felicitous marriage,” Lady Anne agreed.

“It is a good thing that my niece has followed the family tradition and made a love match,” Lady Matlock said as she watched her niece talking to Lord and Lady Metcalf. “Are you packed and ready to depart to town with us this afternoon sister?”

“Yes, Elaine,” Lady Catherine smiled sadly, “everything is packed. Did I inform you that I have retained Mrs. Jenkinson as my companion?”

“No, you had not mentioned that, Catherine,” Lady Anne’s smile brightened, impressed that her sister had made sure that Anne’s former companion did not have to shift for herself. “That was an excellent idea.”

“The lady served my Anne faithfully for many years, so I offered her a choice. She could take the retirement that Anne and Ian offered her, or she could be in my service and act as my companion.”

“She is still relatively young, so I suppose that she did not feel ready to retire. Although she is paid as a companion, she too receives companionship with one she has known for many years,” Lady Sarah stated then looked at her friends with an arched eyebrow just like her middle daughter was wont to arch when she was teasing.

“I am bursting to tell you a secret, so long as you swear that you will keep my confidence until the official announcement.”

“Do you mean to tell us the Lord Birchington has an understanding with Lady Amy, Anne’s new sister?” Lady Catherine asked the very surprised Duchess.

“How…” Sarah Bennet did not complete her question.

“Just as anyone can see the happiness between my niece and her husband, it can be seen between your son and Amy,” Lady Anne teased Lady Sarah.

“We understand and respect that no announcement was made before Anne’s wedding,” Lady Catherine added, “It speaks well for your son and new daughter that they did not want to draw attention from the bride and groom.”

It was not long after that Anne Ashby retired to change into her travelling attire and once, she returned, she and her husband made a circuit in order to take their leave of their guests.

The family members accompanied them outside to wish them a good wedding trip, and after a last hug and kiss from her mother Anne and her husband entered their carriage and were off on the five-hour journey to the cottage.

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

George Wickham was as sure as he could be that Lady Elizabeth Bennet took her rambles in Hyde Park on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and was followed by only the two footmen.

He had been informed of the Bennets return to Town on Monday the three and twentieth day of March, and the next day, Tuesday, the harlot had taken her walk along the same circuit she had previously taken, the footmen the same distance back from her as she walked.

He had instructed some of his spies to hide near the bridge and they had reported the same thing; that once the lady was descending the bridge, and before the footmen gained it, she was out of sight for but a moment.

On Wednesday she had ridden in the park with some of her family, the mouse, and the prig.

He cared not a whit about the mouse’s thirty thousand when he was about to demand one hundred thousand for the harridan.

After she repeated her walk with no variations on Thursday, Wickham and Withers sat together and planned while Mrs. Younge made sure that they were not disturbed.