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Longbourn - Elizabeth

L ife at Longbourn settled down again, as things returned to what had become normal for them.

The Gardiners and their children left for London the day after Mr William Collins’ funeral, which was a dignified affair, and given the short period that Mr Collins had lived in Hertfordshire, it was well attended.

Elizabeth felt this was more a testimony to the respect her neighbours had for her family rather than for the man himself.

Mr Long thought the service was particularly good, while Lady Lucas was impressed with the food served afterwards.

Even Mrs Golding thought that Mr Collin’s bride comported herself with dignity and grace.

As for young Mr James Collins, he was not at all hard on the eyes, and such a soft spoken young gentleman.

Many of the mamas in the neighbourhood had their eye on him for one or other of their daughters.

Longbourn was a good estate with a solid income of around two thousand pounds a year.

Mrs Bennet clearly meant for him to marry Miss Elizabeth, but as nothing could be decided until after the family were out of mourning for Mr Bennet and Mr Collins.

It was also soon known that Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth would be travelling to stay with that tall, proud Mr Darcy, as he was a particular friend of Mr Bingley almost as soon as they were out of mourning.

And of course the Bennets could not possibly offend Mr Darcy, before Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley were married.

As the Bennets well knew, an engagement was not a sure thing when it came to a marriage.

After all, Miss Elizabeth had been walking down the aisle itself when her father had collapsed, and for Mr William Collins to die so soon after…

This left more than enough time for the young ladies and their mothers in the neighbourhood to begin campaigns to ensure this Mr Collins’ affections.

Charlotte Lucas was married in July to Captain Northam, much to the pleasure of her mother and the annoyance of Mrs Bennet.

“Two daughters engaged long before Charlotte Lucas was engaged, and Lizzy even having walked down the aisle, only not to end in a marriage. It is too much to be borne.” The wedding was a quiet affair.

Charlotte described herself as very happy with her new life. The Captain had taken a small house just outside Portsmouth, and he spent a few months there before going out to sea. Charlotte invited Elizabeth to visit her after her mourning period was over and her trip to the lakes.

Mr James Collins spent most of his day walking around the estate,and getting to know the tenants. Mrs Bennet incessantly suggested that he take Lizzy with him. “Lizzy used to go with my late husband. He always found her assistance very helpful.”

The rest of his time he spent reading, try to understand many of the things involved in running a farm, having tenants, and managing accounts.

Elizabeth went with him willingly; she was always happy to leave the house in summer and spend time in the fields and lanes around Longbourn.

Her cousin was not a difficult companion as his older brother had been.

He asked questions about the estate, some of which she could answer.

Those she couldn’t she had an idea who would know, or where a record would have been kept in her father’s study.

Mrs Bennet seemed pleased with the progress made between the two, mistaking the gently forming friendship for something much deeper.

Mr Darcy and his sister stayed in the neighbourhood for a few weeks and then Mr Darcy had business to attend to.

Miss Darcy stayed at Netherfield with her companion, Mrs Annesley, for another month or two before Mr Darcy came to collect her.

He spent a few days with his friend, his betrothed and her younger sister, before leaving the county.

Indeed the four of them were seen more than once riding around the countryside in a barouche box.

When Mrs Bennet was asked about it, she merely said.

“Mr Bingley is a young man of fashion, and Jane enjoys being able to see the countryside from such a comfortable setting.”

Of course not all over Elizabeth’s time was spent wandering and being driven around the lanes of Hertfordshire. Much of it was spent writing to her dear friend Charlotte and her new, but also dear, friend Georgiana.

Lydia Bennet suffered the most from the lack of society and entertainment that goes with a period of mourning.

She was not used to not getting her way, and there was no dancing, just the odd quiet tea with Mrs Philips and family dinners.

Jane, of course, was permitted to visit and call on Mr Bingley.

But for Lydia there was no solace from the torment of this mourning period.

She had only been a child of four or five when their grandmother Mrs Elizabeth Bennet had died, Elizabeth’s namesake, so had not really noticed the mourning period then. A sad state of affairs indeed.

But, at length, October arrived, and the Gardiners returned to Longbourn to leave their young children behind in the care of Mary and Kitty Bennet, and take the two eldest with them north.

Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley and the Hursts would be travelling with them, and they would meet Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley along the road, near Bakewell.

* * *

Monday, 12th of October 1812

Bakewell Inn - Darcy

Darcy hardly knew what to do with himself.

He was to see Elizabeth again, and it had been weeks since he had last seen her.

But today would also be the first time he had seen her since she was out of mourning for her father and Mr Collins.

The first time he would see her in months when she would not be dressed in black, the first time, since he had come to terms with his hopes and desires, that she was not engaged to someone else.

He and Georgiana were waiting for Elizabeth and the rest of her party to arrive.

They had arranged to meet at an inn at Bakewell where they would all stay for the night, before leaving for Chatsworth in the morning.

Chatsworth was a grand house and reminded him in many ways of Pemberley.

There was something about the character of the house and the grounds themselves, even though they were entirely different estates, that seemed to connect them.

They would carry on north from there to Pemberley, spend a few days relaxing after their journey, and maybe go to the peaks.

Georgiana had talked of little else than about what they could do with Elizabeth and Miss Bennet, but she was silent now, too excited to speak.

They were sitting in the common room of the inn. Darcy would normally have asked for a private room rather than waiting for Elizabeth in the common room, but he wanted to be able to see her as soon as she arrived.

His mind wandered back to the carriages and transportation arrangements.

He had his carriage, the Gardiners would be bringing theirs, Bingley was to ride to the inn and then join Darcy in his carriage.

The Hursts would meet them at Chatsworth with Miss Bingley and Mrs Annesley in their carriage.

His barouche could comfortably hold four, and the Gardiners and the two Miss Bennets were also in a barouche.

Bingley would no doubt want to ride with Miss Bennet, which meant either Miss Bennet would join them in his carriage or Elizabeth would join them and Bingley would take her place.

That would of course be the best arrangement, and with Georgiana with them there would be nothing improper about it.

Ideally Georgiana would not be with them, but he would happily have anyone in the carriage, except for Miss Bingley or Lady Catherine, to be able to ride with Elizabeth.

The door opened and Bingley walked in, “They haven’t arrived yet, have they?” He asked earnestly.

Darcy smiled at his friend and shook his head, too nervous to speak. Bingley settled down next to them to wait. They did not have to wait long before the sound of a carriage was heard pulling up outside the inn. Georgiana leaped to the window.

“It’s them, they are here!” she said before running for the door, Bingley rushed out behind her. Darcy smiling to himself followed them, only slightly more slowly.

Mr Gardiner was helping the ladies out of the carriage. Georgiana was embracing Elizabeth, Darcy caught Elizabeth’s eye and held it for a long moment until Georgiana released her.

“Oh, how I have missed you!” Georgiana said delightedly, before rushing over to embrace Miss Bennet as well, who had just descended from the carriage, being helped by Bingley, rather than her uncle.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said bowing to her, “I hope you are well and that you have had a pleasant journey?”

“Aye, very well indeed.” She replied softly.

He stood and took her in for a moment. It had been months since he had seen her in anything other than greys and blacks .

She was wearing a white morning dress with a simple printed pattern of yellow flowers on it.

She was bright, healthy and looked happy to see him.

After polite greetings were exchanged by all parties they proceeded into the inn, for refreshments.

A few hours later the party were walking around the gardens at Chatsworth.

Miss Bennet and Bingley were walking together.

Mr Gardiner was having an animated conversation with one of the fish in the area, while Mr Hurst listened politely.

Mrs Gardiner, Mrs Annesley and Mrs Hurst were looking at the different roses in the rose garden.

Darcy had been hoping to find a quiet moment with Elizabeth, but instead had Miss Bingley attached to his arm, leaving Elizabeth and Georgiana walking arm-in-arm behind them.

He made a point of turning every so often to comment on a particularly fine view, or to ask their opinion.