Page 61 of Suddenly Married

Richard received orders to move north and take charge of the troops and their training. He was expected to remain there for at least six months, perhaps even a year.

For that reason, he would have little opportunity to travel, and before his departure, he wished to speak with his cousin and his wife to ensure that all was well at Rosings. His cousin Darcy had promised to make his annual visit the following year to supervise the work of the new steward.

“Dear Anne, I promise I shall write to you as often as I can. Please do the same and let me know how you fare. If you cannot write, ask Mrs. Jenkinson to write for you,” Richard said, affectionately caressing her hand.

“Dear cousin, do not trouble yourself so much on my account. Ever since my mother learned that I was a married woman, she has been somewhat calmer. Although she has not told me so, I do not think she disliked the idea.” Anne paused to regain her breath before continuing.

At last, she drew a letter from her pocket and handed it to the Colonel.

“Richard, this letter is for the woman who shall one day be your wife. I know you have no interest in anyone now, but when you are a widower, you may wish to marry again. I want your future wife to understand the nature of our marriage. Do this for me, Richard.”

The Colonel accepted the letter and replied firmly, “Very well, Anne, but I wish to speak of this no more. You are here with me, and you are my wife.”

Richard remained a week with his aunt and cousin, and both ladies enjoyed his company greatly.

Nearly two years later, Anne passed away in her sleep on a cold February night.

Few were aware of her marriage, so immediately after her funeral, Anthony de Bourgh claimed to be the rightful heir of Rosings, arguing that Anne had died single and childless.

Great was his astonishment when he learned that Anne had been married for more than two years to Colonel Fitzwilliam, and that he was her sole heir.

That day, Lady Catherine expressed her gratitude to Richard for caring for Anne and for protecting both her and her legacy.

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Mrs. Davis invited a group of friends to tea.

Among them was the gossipy Mrs. Peterson, delighted to attend a gathering filled with ladies of high society with whom she could share the latest scandal.

What she did not know was that Mrs. Davis had taken tea the previous day at Countess Matlock’s house, where she had held a most interesting conversation with her ladyship and her charming son, the Viscount.

“My dear friends, I must tell you something I witnessed with my very eyes. It is not that I am a gossip, but you ought to know the truth about certain people before inviting them into your respectable homes. The new Mrs. Darcy is nothing more than a libertine. Newly married, she is also Mr. Clark’s new mistress. ”

All the ladies reacted with expressions of horror, though inwardly they savoured the juicy tidbit. Mrs. Davis, however, resolved to put an end to the misunderstanding at once.

“My dear Mrs. Peterson, you are quite misinformed. The new Mrs. Darcy is Mr. Clark’s sister-in-law. Her elder sister is the gentleman’s wife.”

“And then, whence come all these rumours?” Miss Smith inquired curiously.

“This is entirely the work of the wicked and immoral Lady Isabella,” Mrs. Davis explained with composure.

“It began many months ago when that dreadful woman’s husband invited Mr. Clark and his young wife to a literary gathering.

Mrs. Clark is one of the most beautiful women in London, as well as charming and kind.

Lady Isabella could not endure the presence of a lady superior to her in every respect, so she attempted to seduce Mr. Clark.

He rejected her decisively, and from that day she has pursued him without ceasing.

She seeks to destroy Mr. Clark’s marriage, for he is an honourable man who would never entangle himself with a woman like her.

Consider, Mrs. Clark is with child, and yet that immoral woman persists in trying to injure him.

It must be she who spread the vile rumour concerning Mrs. Darcy—another young lady both beautiful and decent.

I have no doubt she envies her as well.”

Mrs. Davis also informed her friends that the Matlocks openly supported their nephew’s new wife. Furthermore, she related that Mrs. Darcy’s other sister was married to the youngest son of Admiral Walker, and that Lady Isabella had likewise attempted to ruin young Captain Walker’s reputation.

When Mrs. Davis concluded her account of Lady Isabella’s many faults—and those of her pitiable husband—all the ladies were outraged. They vowed never again to invite such a woman into their homes.

Meanwhile, Lawrence’s mother and Mrs. Gardiner warned their own circle of friends, chiefly the wives of merchants, industrialists, and bankers, of Lady Isabella’s harassment of Lawrence and her attempts to discredit him socially. These ladies, in turn, promised to alert their husbands.

As a result of these combined efforts, Lady Isabella soon ceased to receive invitations to the most important social events of the city. Lord Fleming, for his part, desperate to recover financially, could not find a single honest merchant or businessman willing to associate with him.

Thus, Lady Isabella found herself living a triple torment: with ever less money to spend, cast into social ostracism, and every night haunted by dreams of the only man she desired—and who utterly despised her.

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Elizabeth was reunited with her entire family to celebrate her mother’s birthday.

The sisters had prepared a wonderful dinner for Mrs. Bennet, who had suffered so much of late that all her daughters wished only to see her happy.

Elizabeth, who had always been critical of her mother’s constant complaints, came to understand them better at the time of her father’s illness.

In the span of a single week, she had felt what Mrs. Bennet had endured for years.

Her thoughts soon returned to the present.

Jane and Mary were accompanied by their husbands, who conversed pleasantly with the family.

At that moment, Elizabeth would have liked her own husband to be there.

He did not possess Lawrence’s easy charm, which made everyone laugh, nor Captain Walker’s charisma when recounting his many expeditions.

Her Fitzwilliam was reserved and somewhat shy, but she did not care. He was her husband, and she loved him.

Mrs. Bennet was declaring to all present that she had been as beautiful as Jane in her youth, when Mr. Hill entered to announce visitors.

“My dear Mr. Darcy—oh, Georgiana! What a surprise to see you here on my birthday!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, visibly delighted.

Elizabeth was stunned. She had never imagined that her husband would come to greet her mother. “Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, what a wonderful surprise,” was all she could manage to say.

Mr. Darcy and his sister greeted everyone politely.

Then he approached his mother-in-law. “Mrs. Bennet, my sister and I have brought you a gift. It was Georgiana’s idea, and I did everything in my power to make it happen.

The difficulty is that we cannot bring it inside. You must step out to see it.”

“How compelling! A gift so large that it cannot enter the house,” Mrs. Bennet replied in amazement, puzzled but eager. Mr. Darcy offered his arm, which she was most pleased to accept, and the family followed them outside.

Before her house, Mrs. Bennet beheld a splendid carriage drawn by two horses, with a coachman and a page in attendance. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, my nerves! Is this beautiful carriage truly my gift?”

“That is correct, Mrs. Bennet. Georgiana informed me that your last carriage had belonged to Longbourn and that you were in need of a new one. We made a few alterations to ensure greater comfort. And should you ever decide to visit Pemberley, you may now travel with greater ease.” As Mr. Darcy spoke, the coachman and page opened the carriage doors to display the interior.

After inspecting it closely, accompanied chiefly by Lydia and Kitty, Mrs. Bennet shed a few tears. Mr. Darcy handed her one of the handkerchiefs Elizabeth had never given to him, which Mrs. Bennet herself had embroidered.

“Mr. Darcy, you honour me by using my humble present,” she said, drying her tears.

Then, overcome by emotion, Mrs. Bennet embraced her son-in-law, and he returned the embrace.

It was spontaneous and sincere, and the gesture moved him deeply.

Glancing ahead, he saw all the Bennet sisters smiling at him, but it was Elizabeth’s bright, excited look that caught his eye.

Mrs. Bennet immediately began to plan visits to Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long, determined to show them her gift, but Jane, with her habitual serenity, soothed her. “Mama, today we are having a family dinner in your honour. That may wait until tomorrow.”

“You are right, Jane, but tomorrow I shall go without fail,” Mrs. Bennet agreed, though she could hardly walk for all the excitement.

Seeing her condition, Lawrence said gently, “Mama Bennet, I think it is time you rested. You must be strong tomorrow when you show your gift to your friends.” And, as she could scarcely take another step, he lifted her in his arms once again and carried her back inside.

The whole family followed, laughing merrily. Elizabeth took her husband’s arm and whispered, “Thank you, my love. It was a beautiful surprise.”

“It is but a small way of thanking your mother for bringing the most wonderful woman in the world into it,” Mr. Darcy replied to his gratified wife.

Mrs. Bennet, content and laughing in Lawrence’s arms, whispered into his ear, “You are still my favourite son-in-law, my dear Lawrence.”

“I know,” Lawrence answered with a wink.

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