Page 42 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
Anne laughed softly, for Charlotte’s succinct summary had merit. “Do say you will agree to come to Rosings Park with me. Help me keep my mother from giving dangerous advice. She would have continued to confine me if not for Richard’s interference. I fear a tenant might follow her direction against the threat of being thrown off the estate. Yes, the charges are great. Darcy never counters her and ignores my concerns in favor of not causing ascene. Nothing is worse to him than ascene.”
“If I choose to stay with you at Rosings Park, it will be with the expectation of spending many years with my friendAnne de Bourgh. If I agree, it will be because her well-being matters to me. And only then, if your husband, cousin, and friend, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam,alsoagrees. Know I wish you a happy marriage these many years to come.”
Inexplicably, to Anne at least, those very words caused a fissure in Anne’s chest. A moment later, she was sobbing in Charlotte’s arms. Anne found the greatest comfort when Charlotte whispered soothing words.
They were startled when Richard’s strong arms wrapped around them both, enveloping them in his subtle cinnamon and clove scent. Anne appreciated that he held them until her tears stopped flowing down her cheeks.
“I love you, Anne.” Fitzwilliam kissed the top of Anne’s head.
“I know. I have always known,” Anne said, pulling back, but holding their arms so they were forced to stay connected.
“Anne, please,” Charlotte whispered.
“I apologize, Miss Lucas,” Fitzwilliam said, stepping to Anne’s side.
“There is no need, sir. You are caring for Miss de Bourgh…Mrs. Fitzwilliam…Anne.”
Anne tucked into Richard’s chest, giggling, because Charlotte gave up trying to decide what to call her, settling on Anne, as she had suggested at the outset of their walk.
“Anne,” the colonel’s voice changed to his gentlest of tones. He looked down at her with a careful smile. “My parents, Ana, and I followed your good example in partaking of an early afternoon walk in the gardens soon after you requested your friend join you. They overheard your conversation with Miss Lucas.”
“Do not ask me to thank them for their abandonments or lie by saying no harm came of it, Richard.”
“I would never do you such disservice. But Ana always wished to spend more time with you.”
“I have not for a day thought otherwise.”
Anne held her hand out to Georgiana, who burst into tears. Georgiana flew into her arms. Fitzwilliam then handed each a handkerchief to dry their tears.
“Thank you,” Georgiana sniffled. “I knew equal loneliness. Had you explained, evensomeof this, I would not have spent these last years believing you wanted nothing to do with me. Forgive me. I was so much younger and foolish.”
When Charlotte gently rubbed Georgiana’s back, Anne understood why the Miss Bennets loved the lady dearly.
“Oh, what a muddle we make of our lives without being open with those we love,” Anne said, wiping her tears, then Georgiana’s. “I would never let my mother interfere with your life, my darling. You are so much more accomplished at sixteen than I was ever allowed to become. You have had masters and your studies. I was a trophy in my mother’s drawing room, an accomplishment she had worked hard to achieve. That was all she saw me as, allowing me none of my interests. You, too, would have been stifled at Rosings. Your letters sharing your studies were food for my very soul.”
“It explains the exceedingly polite replies since we brought you to London. I regret not battling Catherine more for you to have all the same benefits of other young ladies your age, Anne,” Lady Matlock said, then walked closer, also crying. She saw in the way Anne flinched from her touch that she had failed her niece in a way she had not considered nor intended.
What no one expected was Georgiana’s reaction.
“Foryears,you have promised all was well with Anne. I now learn that neither of you knows that her favorite cake is lemon, and that she prefers her tea unsweetened because of the generous amounts of honey used to mask the taste ofunnecessary medicines. My brother explained to you the lengths Lady Catherine goes to so Anne cannot claim her inheritance. You never took the trouble to check my aunt, so that Anne could know me at all. How dare you not intervene when you knew she was hurting Anne?”
“Richard protected me, dearest,” Anne said, lifting Georgiana’s face and turning it so her young cousin focused on her and their cousin.
“Do you really believe I would allow Anne to suffer without intervention?” Fitzwilliam scowled deeply, causing Georgiana’s countenance to brighten.
“Yes, you are the greatest of men and a hero every lady dreams of,” Anne said, looking at him appreciatively, though she teased him for their young cousin’s enjoyment. “I will send our uncle the paperwork for the annulment today. I prefer it never becomes known to avoid causing you any shame or disgrace to the family.”
“No, Anne. Without reference to anyone else,Iask that you wait until there is cause, need, or reason,” Fitzwilliam said between them. “Give it some time, think about what it is you need. Then, we will discuss what we both wish when I next visit Rosings. Having finally returned, I am happy to stand with you against your mother in whatever capacity you require.”
“You are beholden to none. You are quite rich,” Anne said in her exasperation.
“Let us go inside. I believe it will soon rain,” Fitzwilliam said, glancing up at the darkening skies.
Anne saw Charlotte had adeptly sidestepped when Fitzwilliam offered his arms out to her and Georgiana. She saw Charlotte’s surprise when Lord Matlock offered his arm to her, though he had so far been cordial, even affable, in his conversations with her.
“You show yourself to be an excellent friend to those I love. I thank you, Miss Lucas,” Lady Matlock said, dabbing her eyes.
The earl added, “We will find a way to make amends, my dear. I will ask Richard how we might begin.”
