Darcy narrowed his eyes. “What are you up to?”
Mrs. Burroughs wore a very sly expression. “Never you mind.” She looked at her daughter. “You know, I wouldn’t need Whitehead’s help if you would just do your duty and marry Anne.”
“Mother!” “Cate!” The two cried together.
“I do not understand why you two are so opposed to marriage! You’re second cousins—surely there’s nothing unseemly about that! Besides, you would finally reunite Pemberley with the B&R.”
Anne hid her face in her hands. “Mother, please.”
Darcy gave Anne a sympathetic look before addressing his cousin by marriage. “Do we have to go through this again? I’ve told you—I love Anne like a sister, but I want no closer relationship with her, and she feels the same.”
“But the land! You would control all of Long Branch County!”
“Great-Grandfather Darcy split up the land for a reason— Pemberley for Grandfather George and Rosings for Great-Aunt Elizabeth—and I’ve no desire to undo what he did.”
“That has nothing to do with anything. That is not a reason to defy my wishes.”
“And Anne’s wishes? What about them?”
“Anne will do as she’s told,” Catherine demanded.
With a sob, Anne fled from the room. Darcy watched her go before rising to his feet, fury painted in broad strokes across his face.
“Why do you do that?” he demanded. “Why do you diminish her at every turn? She’s your daughter, madam!”
“How dare you speak to me that way? Indeed, she’s my daughter, and you’ve nothing to say about how things are done in my house! Until you marry Anne, she lives here, follows my rules, and you can keep your opinions to yourself!”
Darcy sat down, working to control his temper. He had no desire to wed Anne, but he did wish to broaden her rather limited horizons. He had to be at his convincing best. “Please pardon my outburst, Cate. You’re right—this is your house. Whatever our disagreements may be, I’d like it if Anne kept a close relationship with Gaby.”
“Her name is Gabrielle, William. I despise pet names.”
Darcy seethed. “Be that as it may, I’d like my sister and Anne to spend more time together.”
Catherine nodded. “That is a suitable activity.”
Her smile was not lost on Darcy. She’s thinking, no doubt, that any closer attachment between Anne and Gaby can do nothing but further her goal of a union of Pemberley and the B&R. Poor, deluded fool! How could my cousin have married such a woman?
“Thank you. Perhaps they can see each other after church some Sunday soon, if the weather moderates?”
February
The weather stayed cold and windy for most of January. It wasn’t until the second week of February that the temperature rose. So it was that the Bennet women walked from the church that Sunday in a relatively balmy forty-five degrees towards the Bingley household. They would have accompanied Jane and Charles after services, but Mary delayed their departure, speaking at length to Reverend Tilney about the musical selections. Mrs. Bennet and the others were impatient to leave—Mr. Bennet having already ridden home to see to chores—but Beth saw what her mother did not, thankfully for Mary.
She sidled up to her sister during their short journey. “The reverend was very accommodating today, wasn’t he?” she teased.
It was not the air that caused her sister to blush. “I… I don’t know what you mean,” Mary stammered.
“Don’t worry,” her sister whispered in her ear. “I won’t let Mother know.”
Mary pretended ignorance. “Know what?”
Beth gave Mary a condescending look. “Mary, you can’t fool me. I know you like… someone.” If anything, Mary blushed brighter. With amusement, Beth added, “And I think he might like you, too.”
“Yeah,” Kathy agreed, who had been listening in.
Mary began coughing, which turned Mrs. Bennet’s attention from her discussion with Lily over the dresses favored by the other members of the congregation. She fussed over her middle daughter, claiming that she had certainly caught a cold, while Beth and Kathy shared a giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Lily demanded.
“Nothing,” Beth managed before giggling again.
Lily pouted. “No one tells me anything.”
“That’s because you’re the baby, and you don’t understand such things,” Kathy opined.
“I do too!” the youngest Bennet cried.
“What is this?” Mrs. Bennet turned from Mary. “What are you arguing about?”
Kathy crossed her arms. “Lily is being nosy again.”
Lily was indignant. “Am not! You’re keeping secrets from me again. It’s not fair!”
“Now, Lily…” Beth tried to placate her, but was interrupted.
“It isn’t. But just you wait. One day, I’ll have a secret to keep from all of you. The biggest secret in the world! And I won’t tell any of you a thing!”
Mrs. Bennet hushed her daughter. “Stop it, all of you! Do you have no compassion for my nerves?”
“Oh! You always take her side!” cried Kathy.
In this manner the five women continued to their destination, earning not a few curious stares from the townspeople they passed along the way, only ceasing the complaining once Mrs. Bennet reached the Bingleys’ small porch. The door was opened within moments of her knock by Dr. Bingley, as if his mother-in-law’s action was anticipated.
The Bennet ladies entered the small sitting room, used during the day as a waiting room for patients, only to find it was already occupied. Beth, for one, was so stunned by the identities of the visitors she cried out.
“Mr. Darcy?”
Indeed, the owner of Pemberley Ranch was standing by the settee, a cup of coffee perilously balanced in one large hand, next to two fashionably dressed women. Beth recognized them as Miss Gaby Darcy and Miss Anne Burroughs. Jane was in a chair next to them, obviously in the middle of an interrupted conversation, and all wore expressions of astonishment at Beth’s outburst.
Charles stepped forward. “I believe y’all know Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Miss Burroughs. We were pleasantly surprised when they dropped by right after we got home.”
The Bennet ladies confirmed that they had met the Darcys but said they were not acquainted with Miss Burroughs, though they had often seen her in church. The introductions were made, Miss Burroughs lingering with Beth and Mary, while Jane and Gaby entertained the others. Beth could see Lily and Kathy openly staring at the Darcys as if they were creatures on display. For the first time, she regretted George Whitehead apprising them of the Darcys’ colorful background.
“I understand from your sister that you play, Miss Beth, and that you and your sisters sing very well,” Anne managed to say, keeping her eyes lowered.
Beth laughed. “Not very well—my sister is obviously having fun at my expense.” She noticed Mary’s hurt look and quickly added, “But Mary here is the musician of the family.” Now that Jane has left us—and a poor substitute she is, she added to herself.
Mary puffed up, pleased at the compliment. “I would love to hear you play, Miss Burroughs.”
“Me?” the girl squeaked. “Oh, no, Miss Mary, I don’t play!” Anne’s face turned from white to red, and the other two ladies were mortified.
It was Darcy who came to her rescue. “It’s true Anne doesn’t play, but my sister does, and the two of them have sung some very pretty duets in their time.” If anything, the compliment seemed to embarrass Anne even more.
The four of them stood about in an awkward silence, none knowing what to say next. Beth could not stop glancing at Darcy’s dark good looks. Finally, Darcy broke the impasse.
“It seems we’ve intruded on a family get-together, Charles. We’ll take our leave.”