The Darcy party had not been inside the house for more than fifteen minutes when Bingley, on horseback, and the carriage carrying Caroline, Louisa, and Hurst arrived in the courtyard. Looking through the window, Caroline could hardly believe the Darcys would know anyone who lived in this gothic nightmare. Anne saw the look of horror on Caroline’s face as she scanned the courtyard with its multitude of pigeons being chased by a half dozen hounds. It was only when she saw Mr. Darcy that her demeanor had changed. No longer was Hulston Hall a dungeon, but a palace, where she was being greeted by Prince Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy had seen the same thing, and wearing an expression that would have been appropriate at a funeral, he had greeted Charles, Caroline, and the Hursts.
Anne had never met the Hulstons, and she was thoroughly charmed by them. Being the parents of four youngsters, while residing in a house with a leaking roof and falling brickwork, they believed that the only way to get through life’s rough spots was to laugh whenever possible. For Anne, whose whole world had narrowed to Rosings Park, the laughter, confusion, and energy of this close family was a source of wonder and amusement, but the Hulstons were not the only ones providing entertainment.
Because of the age of the manor, the rooms were small, dark, and boxy. Even with every flat surface having a candle on it, everyone was cast in shadows. From the far end of a smoky dining hall, Caroline had barely been able to make out Mr. Darcy. Even so, she was certain he had glanced her way on and off throughout dinner. She had squinted so much that Georgiana asked if there was something wrong with her eyes and remarked on how tired she looked.
The following day, after Will had left for Pemberley, Anne witnessed the unfortunate sight of Caroline attempting to befriend the girl she hoped would someday be her sister-in-law. But her behavior was so forced and unnatural that it was the same as watching an actor deliver a poor performance. You just wanted it to stop. Fortunately, for Georgiana, it did. Without Mr. Darcy there to observe her efforts, Caroline realized that engaging his sister required too much effort for too little gain and went to her room until summoned for supper. Citing fatigue, she asked to be excused from the evening’s entertainments, and Louisa and she took their leave.
Once Georgiana and she had retired for the night, Anne thought she should speak to her young cousin about Miss Bingley, because if she did not, Will would.
“Georgiana, I know Miss Bingley can be trying, and she is not the nicest person. However, she is the sister of your brother’s dearest friend and worthy of your kindness. You must realize that until Will marries, you are the mistress of Pemberley. All the duties required of a hostess now fall to you, and you are obligated to see that all of your guests enjoy their visit regardless of your personal opinion of them. With adulthood comes responsibility.”
“I do understand that things have changed now that I am an adult, but what about Caroline and her abominable behavior to the Hulstons? Her disdain for her hosts was so apparent, I was glad that the room was dimly lit so they might not see it.”
“I agree with everything you say about Miss Bingley, but you must be better than she is. Do not descend, but rise above so ill-mannered a person. And because I require your assistance in a personal matter, I need for you to be nice to Miss Bingley.”
For a moment, Georgiana feared that Anne was going to say she was unable to continue their journey. She did look tired, but not as much as one would have expected for someone with such weak lungs. In fact, Anne had mentioned that the farther she got from London the less she was coughing, so what assistance did Anne require?
“Tomorrow morning, as we continue on to Pemberley, I would ask that you travel with Miss Bingley and the Hursts.”
“Why? We had such an enjoyable time together, and you will have no one to talk to because Mrs. Jenkinson sleeps all the time. How have I offended?”
“My dear, you have not offended. It is that I do not intend to go directly to Pemberley, but instead to the inn at Lambton with Mrs. Jenkinson.”
“Oh, Anne! I don’t know about this. I really don’t. I have been testing Will’s patience quite a lot of late, and if I agree to this plan, I shall be guaranteed a rebuke.”
“I am going to ask you to test your brother’s patience one more time. I have arranged to meet a friend at the inn, and I want to visit in private.”
Georgiana found this to be very odd. Who could Anne possibly be meeting? It could not be a man because it was Anne’s intention never to marry. As far as she knew, Anne had no acquaintance in Derbyshire, except the Darcys, and then it came to her.
“Does this have anything to do with Miss Sonnet?”
“I am meeting a friend,” Anne answered, amazed at Georgiana’s ability to connect seemingly unrelated parts and merge them into a logical whole.
“Is your friend Miss Sonnet?” Georgiana repeated, giving every indication that she would keep asking questions until she got the answer she was seeking.
“I am not one hundred percent certain, but it is my hope that Miss Sonnet will be at the inn.”
Georgiana was so excited that she hopped on the bed and nearly catapulted Anne out of it.
“Is Will in love? I think he must be. He looks so forlorn, and what causes greater pain than being separated from the one you love? Please tell me about her?”
“That I cannot do,” Anne said, holding unto the bedpost. “Until I have actually been in contact with Miss Sonnet, I am very reluctant to say anything.”
“What if you do see Miss Sonnet? Will she be invited to Pemberley, so that I may meet her?”
“Georgiana, this requires patience—yours and mine. If all goes as planned, you will meet the lady, and if it does not, your brother will be none the wiser. It is best this way. I intend to leave early in the morning, and it will be left to you to answer our friends’ questions. All that need be said is that I have gone ahead to visit with a friend. Please do not encourage speculation, and say nothing that will make Miss Bingley suspicious.”
“Anne, I assure you I shall do nothing to interfere with the success of your bringing Miss Sonnet to Pemberley, and I shall worry about my brother later.”
After dinner at the inn, Mrs. Gardiner and Lizzy left Mr. Gardiner to prepare for his day of fishing with Mr. Darcy. Even though it was still two days off, his wife was unable to get him to talk of anything other than his upcoming excursion, and so she was abandoning him for more erudite company.
It was a beautiful evening and the air was filled with the scent of the blossoming fruit trees, and many of the merchants had filled their flower boxes with some of the earliest blooms. After they had been walking for a while, Aunt Gardiner finally broke the silence.
“Elizabeth, I do not usually pry into the personal affairs of my nieces; however, your performance this afternoon at Pemberley was so singular, I have to admit my curiosity has got the better of me. May I ask exactly how well you know Mr. Darcy?”
Since leaving Pemberley, Lizzy had been trying to decide how much she should tell her aunt. She had no concerns that she would repeat anything told her in confidence. It was the embarrassment of being so wrong on so many counts that caused her to hesitate.
“When I was in Kent, Mr. Darcy made me an offer of marriage.”
Mrs. Gardiner, who had been walking arm in arm with Lizzy, stopped suddenly, pulling Lizzy back with her.
“Am I to understand you refused Mr. Darcy?” Having spent her childhood within view of the Pemberley estate with all of its grandeur, Mrs. Gardiner thought it impossible that anyone would walk away from an opportunity to become associated with such a great estate and its family.