Page 49 of Master of Netherfield
Mr Bennet took his daughter’s hand. “You are correct. Be her friend now; this will be a difficult week for her and for her brother.”
When the carriage halted in front of a pleasant looking shop in the village, several people gathered to watch who stepped out. When the unknown gentleman and his young lady companion descended and entered the shop, whispers began to spread. Several folk left to ask and tell while others joined the pedestrians watching through the windows.
“Away with ye!” called the proprietor of the shop to small boys staring in the windows while his wife came forward to assist the customers.
“Good day, sir, miss,” she said. “How can I be of assistance this morning?”
“Good morning,” the gentleman said. “Are you Mrs Barnes?”
The woman was pleased to be known and nodded her head. “Indeed, I am sir. And my husband, Mr Barnes, is the owner of our shop.”
“I am Thomas Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. My brother Edward Gardiner is married to your daughter I believe.”
“Mattie! You know my Madeline?” the woman asked. Turning to her husband she called, “Mr Barnes, come immediately! This is Mattie’s brother-in-law and niece from Hertfordshire.”
The proprietor stepped close before he bowed, “Jacob Barnes, at your service sir.”
“Thomas Bennet. Madeline has told us many times of your excellent shop here in Lambton.”
“Thank you, sir. Have you word of Mattie?”
“I fear I do not,” Mr Bennet explained. “My daughter and I escorted Miss Darcy to Pemberley from her home in Hertfordshire.”
“Mr Darcy rode ahead,” Elizabeth explained. “We came with Miss Darcy to allow the gentleman the chance to speak with...”
“It is sad that Mr George Darcy has died,” Mr Barnes said. “But young Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is here now in his place and all will be well again with the great estate.”
“How may we be of assistance today?” asked Mrs Barnes.
“I need to purchase ribbons for Miss Darcy. We are friends and I know the widths she prefers.”
“Come this way miss,” Mrs Barnes said as she led Elizabeth to a nearby table.
Mr Barnes turned to Mr Bennet and asked, “Have you heard from Gardiner lately? We had a letter almost two weeks past from Mattie with news of her two little ones, but I have not heard from Gardiner in over two months.”
“I understand he is busy with cargos from the Dutch East Indies.”
**++**
On Wednesday following the arrival of Miss Darcy on Monday, Mr George Darcy’s body was entombed beside his wife’s resting place in the mausoleum in the chapel on the Pemberley grounds. Six generations of the Darcy family lay here in silence and splendour. Almost one hundred gentlemen and notables from the surrounding area attended with almost fifty ladies gathered to wait at the house.
For over an hour, Georgiana and Elizabeth sat with the visiting ladies in the afternoon parlour while the gentlemen attended the funeral service. There was a quiet hum of gossip the entire time and Elizabeth thought her friend miserable in her black gown with black ribbons.
Ladies took turns coming to speak with Georgiana to express their sympathies, and then in the same breath, to inquire as to the location of Mrs Murray and the marriage prospects of the young Mr Darcy. Both Elizabeth and Georgiana did not know how to respond to the questions until Mrs Annesley came to their rescue with answers of ‘Thank you’ and ‘We have not been introduced to anyone by the name of Mrs Murray. She is not in residence in the house.’
When the ordeal was ended, Elizabeth and Mrs Annesley took Georgiana above stairs where the young woman cried while Elizabeth held her. Mrs Annesley returned to Georgiana’s room with a thimble of sherry that she made her charge sip slowly so as to not cough.
“Such bad manners!” Mrs Annesley fussed about the visitors and their questions. “Asking such questions of young ladies! And at a funeral!”
“I shall be well, Mrs Annesley,” Georgiana insisted.
**++**
Following the funeral and departure of the guests, William invited Mr Bennet to ride with him across the fields. Elizabeth wished she could attend them but knew it would not be proper on the day of the funeral. She remained indoors with Georgiana, and they repaired her bonnets with black ribbons.
**++**
Chapter 18.George Wickham’s Resolution
