Page 42 of Infamous Relations

Jane’s lips parted with shock. “So I was!” she gasped.

“I was quite sure that you were, in fact, a Valkyrie.”

Blushing, she began to giggle, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. “Oh dear!”

“Should I never discover your name, I planned to regale my regiment with fantastic tales of having witnessed Freyja, the Viking goddess of battle, in action.”

She had to stuff almost her whole hand in her mouth to stifle the peals of laughter that were trying to escape; it could not be more inappropriate. Shoulders shaking, she looked up at him from eyes bright with amusement, and Fitzwilliam realised to his despair that he, too, was quite lost to one of the remarkable Bennet sisters.

Jane had, thankfully, collected herself by the time they arrived at Rosings. Darcy and Fitzwilliam escorted the two sisters into a small sitting-room Elizabeth had not seen before; much more simply furnished than the grand, ornate rooms Lady Catherine had favoured.

Anne was seated by the window, conversing quietly with Mr. Gardiner. She turned her head and smiled as they entered.

“My dear Miss Elizabeth. What a treasure your uncle is.”

“We are blessed to have both my uncle and my aunt in the family,” Elizabeth agreed, moving forward, her hand falling from Darcy’s arm. “Miss de Bourgh…”

“I do not wish for your condolences any more than you do for mine,” Anne interrupted her.

Elizabeth’s brows crinkled, and Anne smiled at her. “I am sure that I do sound just like my mother, yes. Another reason why I have no intention of marrying and inflicting myself as a mother on some unfortunate child.”

Jane, still fighting down laughter from her conversation with the colonel, let out a most unladylike snort. Anne smirked at her.

“You must be the famous Miss Bennet. I quite see why you are lauded as the beauty of Hertfordshire - ah, but I see that you do not care for that description, any more than I care for being known as Lady Catherine’s sickly daughter.”

Sensing a kindred spirit, Jane smiled and moved forward, extending her hands. “Despite the circumstances, Miss de Bourgh, I am delighted to meet you.”

Accepting the friendly handclasp, Anne offered a genuine smile. “And I, you. Please, will you call me Anne?”

Turning her attention to the gentlemen in the room, Anne waved her hands. “Will you all leave us, please? I wish to confer with Jane and Elizabeth in private.”

Given such a request, there was little they could do but acquiesce and depart, though Darcy shot Elizabeth a concerned look before the door closed. She smiled reassuringly at him in return before turning back to give Anne her full attention.

“Firstly,” Anne said once they had seated themselves, and she had poured tea for Jane and Elizabeth from the tray set in front of her, “I would like to offer you my apologies, Elizabeth, for my mother’s appalling behaviour towards you.”

“You owe me no apology, Miss de Bourgh… Anne. We cannot hold ourselves responsible for the actions of our relatives, certainly not those who are far beyond our control.”

“I do hope so, else I will be paying for my mother’s sins for a long time yet to come. But then, you only said that we cannot hold ourselves responsible; no doubt others who are less generous than you will still hold her actions against me.”

“The truth of that will be known only by you and God, come Judgement Day,” Jane said gently.

Anne smiled at her. “Well, I will be glad to let Him be my judge. Speaking of God, though, Elizabeth, I need to ask you something.”

“About Charlotte?” Elizabeth said astutely.

“Indeed. Charlotte — I will not call her Mrs. Collins — has been nothing but kind to me since the first day of her arrival, despite my mother demeaning and belittling her constantly. Indeed, I believe she has been the first friend I have ever had. Should she wish to remain at the Parsonage, I shall be glad to permit her to do so for as long as she wishes, at no cost. I can easily provide a new house for the vicar I will request my cousins help me to select and appoint.”

“That is a very generous offer, Anne,” Elizabeth said sincerely.

“But?” Anne heard the hesitation in her tone.

“I think we both believe that Charlotte was not entirely happy in her marriage. Nor is there a great deal for her to return to with her family, in Hertfordshire, though I would be delighted to have my friend return to us.”

“I thought you would say that. Consequently, I intend to ask her to come to live with me here at Rosings, as my companion. Since she is widowed, she would be considered a quite unexceptionable chaperone. Do you think that she would accept, or would I cause offence by asking?” Anne leaned forward, her expression a little anxious, and Elizabeth realised just how much regard Anne held Charlotte in.

“Anne,” she reached out, touched Anne’s hand. “I honestly believe that she would be both honoured and delighted by such a request.”

Anne’s smile bloomed, wide and joyous. “We will both be in mourning for quite some time, obviously, but I hope that as soon as it is possible, you will both come to visit us, and stay for as long as you wish? Your younger sisters, too. I should like to meet them all.”