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Lords Birchington and Netherfield and the Ashby’s arrived at Birchington after but a four-hour carriage ride from Pemberley.

Birchington was a large estate, about two thirds the size of Pemberley, and the main Bedford estate, Longfield Meadows, was a little larger than Pemberley.

The Marquess would inherit the Meadows, along with the rest of the Bedford properties and assets, when he ascended to the dukedom, and he prayed that it would be many years in the future until that happened.

Lord James Bennet wished that he could have remained at Pemberley, but he knew that there was at least two years before he could declare himself for Lady Georgiana, and only then if the feelings that he believed existed between them were still present.

He knew that he was in love with the lady and could not imagine falling out of love with her, and he hoped that he was correct in his observations believing she had tender feelings for him because he did not want to think about his world without her in it as his future helpmeet.

Lord James remembered how happy they were to escape the spring rains that had seemed to inundate London of late.

He and the rest of the Bennets loved riding and were frustrated by the rains keeping them from their favourite pastime in Hyde Park or other open spaces where they could give the mounts their heads.

While his brother was giving his betrothed and her mother a tour of the manor house, James and the Earl of Ashbury were planning a long ride in which they would allow their horses to gallop at full speed for some portion, as much for the horses as for themselves.

James smiled as he thought back to his Aunt Rose admonishing Uncle Sed not to ride in the rain and the obstinate man doing so anyway.

There was no one that loved riding more than his Uncle Sed.

Birchington’s topography was much like that of Surrey where Lady Amy had grown up. Unlike Derbyshire to the west, Yorkshire was much flatter. As they pulled up to the manor where the butler and housekeeper awaited them with footmen at the ready to unload the baggage, the Ashbys admired the house.

It was a three-story structure in the shape of half an ‘H’ with a circular drive and a protective porte-cochère under which carriages could halt to ensure the occupants stayed dry no matter the weather.

In the centre of the drive was a grass area with several benches.

The formal gardens were to the left and right of the drive.

Lord Ashbury could see that his daughter would be very happy here, and he could not miss the love that she had for her betrothed that was returned in full measure.

“Tom, your estate is beautiful,” Lady Amelia stated as she looked around from inside the carriage.

“Soon to be our estate, my love,” her betrothed corrected her, earning him smiles from her parents.

As soon as the conveyance came to a halt, a footman placed the steps and Tom Bennet exited then turned to assist first his betrothed and then her mother from the coach.

Once all five had exited, he introduced the senior staff to their soon to be mistress.

“Lord and Lady Ashbury and Lady Amelia Ashby, may I introduce Mr. Jacob Franklin and Mrs. Loretta Browning, the butler and housekeeper at Birchington. Mr. Franklin and Mrs. Browning, the Earl and Countess of Ashbury and my betrothed, Lady Amelia Ashby.” The servants made their bow and curtsy which was acknowledged by the Ashbys then the party entered the house while the footmen removed their trunks.

“The chambers in the family wing are prepared as you instructed, my lord,” the housekeeper informed the master once they were in the entrance hall.

“I assume that you would all like to change and refresh yourselves?” Tom asked, and his guests nodded their agreement.

“Thank you, Mrs. Browning, I will show my guests to their chambers.” He placed his fiancée’s hand on his arm and covered it with his other hand.

“Amy, father Maxwell, and Mother Gillian, please follow me. James knows where his are so he can find his own way,” Tom teased his younger brother.

Lord Tom showed them to their chambers and pointed out the gallery that they would see as part of the tour just beyond the family wing.

The Earl and the Marquess of Netherfield confirmed their plans to ride as soon as they had changed into riding attire.

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

Among other things, the Earldom came with a townhouse on Portnoy Circle in Mayfair.

A week after the elevation, the new Earl and Countess of Brookfield had taken up residence in their town home they renamed ‘Brookfield House’.

With the assistance of Bennet House’s housekeeper and butler, the new town home was fully staffed.

Jane Fitzwilliam liked her matronly housekeeper, Mrs. Maureen Carrington, very well.

She ran a very tight ship and had come with wonderful characters, and best of all she and Mrs. O’Grady, Bennet House’s housekeeper, were best of friends.

The new butler was one Mr. Jeffrey Thatcher, the younger brother of Humphry Thatcher, the Bennet’s butler in Town who had been an under-butler for over five years.

As happy as he had been in the Duke of Cornwall’s household, he jumped at the chance to advance without having to wait for his mentor to retire.

Brookfield House was a large house, and the Fitzwilliams were very pleased with it.

Previously, both Fitzwilliam couples had resided at Hilldale House and the twin sisters had enjoyed still living in the same house for at least some of the time.

While Jane and Marie would miss being in the same house in Town, they had long known they would eventually separate, and were grateful that they were marrying men who were close and understand and support their desire to stay close to one another.

For the third morning in a row Lady Jane Fitzwilliam, Countess of Brookfield had been sick in the morning.

Her lady’s maid suspected the cause, but as her mistress had not sought her council, she remained silent on the subject.

Lord Richard Fitzwilliam was worried; his Jane had been ill, and he wanted to assist her in some way.

“Jane, my love, do you object if I summon Mr. Bartholomew to examine you?” he asked with no little concern.

Lady Jane, who had missed her last two courses, suspected what her ailment was because her breasts were tender; she agreed that he could summon the doctor so they would both be sure. Lord Brookfield also suspected the cause, but he too wanted to hear from a physician to be sure.

As far as Jane knew, Marie was not yet with child, but if she was enceinte, after her husband, she wanted very much to tell her twin.

Once things were confirmed, and her mother and father returned from Pemberley in a little more than a sennight, she would share her news with them as well as with Mother Elaine.

As if thinking about her sister conjured her, Lady Marie and Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam arrived just after the footman was dispatched to request that Mr. Bartholomew attend the Countess.

“I was just thinking about you, Marie,” Jane hugged her sister. “Welcome, Andrew, what brings you two here this morning?”

“Has Aunt Rose sent you a message yet?” the Viscount asked.

“We have not checked our post this morning,” Lord Richard stated. “Why do you ask?” As he had asked his brother the question, Mr. Thatcher knocked on the sitting room door and entered with a silver salver with but one missive on it. Richard removed the note and nodded his dismissal of the butler.

“I believe that is the same note Aunt Rose sent us,” Marie opined.

Seeing the questioning looks from her brother and sister she explained.

“Uncle Sed is ill. You know he is too obstinate to refrain from riding in the rain, and it seems as if he took ill two days ago. He has had a high fever but insists it is nothing and has joked with Aunt telling her that no one dies from a trifling cold.” Richard read the note from their Aunt and confirmed that it held the same news that Marie and Andrew had shared.

“You know how concerned Aunt Rose is when Uncle Sed is ill,” Jane Fitzwilliam stated. “After Mr. Bartholomew calls, we will hie to Bedford House. Will you two join us?”

“Are you with child, Jane?” Lady Marie asked as her twin intuition kicked in.

Knowing that she could not hide anything from her twin, Jane admitted her suspicions, “It could be so, Marie, which is why we are waiting for Mr. Bartholomew. We are seeking confirmation.”

A half hour later the doctor arrived, and after a short examination the Earl of Brookfield was called into his wife’s chambers where he was informed that the physician believed that his wife was about two months with child and that their first son or daughter would enter the world in November or December.

After Bartholomew left, the four siblings rejoiced at the news.

Marie had always been sure that she would become pregnant first, but her courses had come last week so she knew that she was not yet in that state.

Marie felt a surge of envy that her sister had attained the state that she had not, but so too was she extremely happy for her brother and sister.

Once the discussion of the new life to come was concluded, the four donned their outerwear and had the carriage summoned to take them to Russell Square.

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

The younger Bennet twins, who would have their come out the coming season as they would turn eighteen in March of next year, and Lady Georgiana were riding around the park during the tour of Pemberley.

They planned to return in a few hours and had taken a picnic meal with them for luncheon and were escorted by the Darcy footmen, a groom, and their companions.