The Pemberley Chronicles 04 The Ladies of Longbourn by Rebecca Ann Collins

Author:Rebecca Ann Collins [Rebecca Ann Collins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
Published: 2011-05-23T03:30:28+00:00

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It was close to midday when, with a gentle knock on the door, Anne-Marie came in to see her. She looked very anxious and concerned that Anna had not eaten any breakfast. The nurse in her was quite censorious, "You must have some breakfast, Anna. I've brought you something, just a bit of porridge and fruit; it will do you good," she said and began to bustle around the room. "Mrs Perrot will bring you some tea in a minute."

Anna did not have the heart to refuse her and ate a morsel or two. When the tea arrived, she was more eager, knowing it would help clear her head, which ached from lack of sleep and too much weeping. After the maid had removed the breakfast tray, Anna rose and Anne-Marie asked, "Would you like me to go?"

Anna shook her head. "No, please stay and tell me about your visit to Derbyshire. How are they all? Did you visit Pemberley?" Anne-Marie told her everything, excitedly retelling her meetings with the Tates, the Darcys, their daughter Cassy, and Dr Gardiner, her husband.

"Mr Elliott was there, with the Tates. He seemed to get on exceedingly well with Mr and Mrs Darcy and Dr Gardiner. Papa thinks he is not really a Tory at all, more a Liberal or at least a Reformist, he says."

She could not keep the excitement out of her voice and Anna, looking across at her, said, "Anne-Marie, I think we are going to have a talk about Mr Elliott fairly soon, are we not?" at which, she gave a shy smile and remembered that she had some very urgent business with Mrs Perrot and was gone, leaving Anna smiling to herself for the first time in many days.

Anne-Marie and Colin Elliott, she wondered at the possibility. He was at least in his midthirties, possibly ten years older than Anne-Marie. She was intrigued by the fact that there had been no trace of it a month ago and yet suddenly, out of Derbyshire, had come this new shyness . . .

Anna determined she would talk to Anne-Marie, but before that she would see Jonathan and discover what he knew of this business. Of one thing she was certain, she would not let Anne-Marie make another barren marriage like her last. Her visit to her sister had only served to strengthen her resolve in this regard.

Jonathan returned from Longbourn, where he had found Charlotte Collins unwell with what looked and sounded like a bad bout of quinsy.

Her throat was swollen and she had almost lost her voice. Having ascertained that Dr Faulkner had been called, he had left urging her to call on him if they needed help.

"I shall send Mr Bowles round this afternoon, Mrs Collins; please instruct him if there is anything you need," he had said, as he left.

Returning to Netherfield, he went upstairs and was delighted to discover that his wife had successfully overcome her depression and was, together with Anne-Marie, looking over the children's clothes closets for garments that may be donated to charity.

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