Page 63 of Shields and Roses

"I should like to meet Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner some time," she said. "They seem like such wonderful people. They are the ones who helped Richard keep in contact with his father, with Mr. Bennet and with me, all without my mother suspecting a thing."

Shaking his head in wonderment, Darcy said, "Do you know, if it were not people I care about who are the targets of her displeasure, I would almost begin to feel sorry for your mother. What hope does she have to prevail with so many intelligent and determined defenders ranged against her?"

"Do not discount her plans, connections and general sneakiness," Anne warned. "We must continue to be both determined and careful. I am hoping at some point she will slip up in a way that will allow us to stop her for good, but right now the only way I can see that happening is for her to actually cause significant harm to someone and be caught at it."

Darcy nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose Richard and his father have already put much thought into ways to neutralize the threat she poses," he mused.

"Years of thought," Anne confirmed. "So, let us find more productive things to talk about. I would love to hear about Georgiana and her studies along with any other news you have of Pemberley."

Smiling, Darcy launched into an update on all the latest news of his sister and their home. The conversation kept them occupied for quite some time. The day was well-advanced when Richard finally rejoined them.

"The message has gone off safely and should be in Mr. Bennet's hands this afternoon," he said. "They also actually did find a little damage that could have resulted in a broken axle later on if they had not dealt with it. They were able to strengthen the area with metal sheathing until you have the time to have the damaged parts fully replaced."

"I am glad you had them check. I would hate to be delayed on our way to Meryton."

With a nod of agreement, Richard continued, "I also took a ride and did some quiet checking in the village. Not only did your mother have them remove old Mr. Gerard's effects from the parsonage, there are rumors that Mr. Collins will be moving in with a wife. One of the housemaids was dismissed in anticipation of Mrs. Collins doing any extra work needed."

"None of our information says that he is married," Anne told them. "Sir Phillip has been keeping a close eye on him at Uncle Peter's request. Between his information and what our uncle's investigator found out, we would have known if he was married."

Richard nodded. "Father would not have missed something like that. Knowing what we do of Collins' character, he would not marry without Aunt Catherine's consent. That means she has decided who is to be his wife and the marriage is planned for some time very soon. I do not see how his marriage could affect any of the people we are trying to protect, yet at the same time, I have a very bad feeling about this."

"Will we be seeing Sir Phillip at the wedding tomorrow?" Darcy asked Anne.

"As my father's only remaining male relative, he was planning to be at the wedding and give me away, while his mother stood witness. I know we spoke earlier about one of you giving me away, and I expect he would step aside since you are both more closely related. Given that I have been unable to communicate with him since Mother confined me to the house, we should probably stop at the dower house on our way to the church, so he knows the wedding is still on."

"Sir Phillip has been here and helping you. He deserves to take precedence. If he is to give you away, Richard and I should be witnesses. That way there is no question that your family approved of the match even if your Mother tries to make trouble later," Darcy said.

"I wish I had thought to call on Sir Phillip while I was out riding," Richard added. "I could have confirmed with him and he could have passed the word on to Martin so there is no chance of confusion. I held off, knowing it would probably be reported back to Aunt Catherine and might make her suspicious, but I should have taken the chance."

"I told Martin that I would be there no matter what my mother did to stop me," Anne said, "even if I had to sneak out of here in the middle of the night and walk all the way to Boxwell alone."

"Have no fear, Anne. We will get you there," Darcy promised.

~o~

"What do you mean, driving? I see no reason for you to do anything of the sort," Lady Catherine insisted when the subject of Darcy taking a morning drive with Anne was broached at dinner.

On Anne's advice, Darcy had waited to mention the drive until after the first remove. They all hoped Lady Catherine would have talked herself into a more relaxed mood by then. She had spent the entirety of the first course regaling them with the minute details of her recent "improvements" to the estate. Unfortunately, that did not produce anything resembling a more tolerant or reasonable mood when the new subject came up.

"I see no reason for Anne to leave the house," she continued. "Her health will not permit unnecessary comings and goings. A drive around the neighborhood is simply out of the question."

Anne, true to her usual practice, remained silent, her expression bland and her eyes fixed on her plate. Instead, Richard jumped into the conversation, asking almost coyly, "Oh, is Anne so very ill then? I thought her health must have improved if you considered her well enough to marry."

Darcy spotted the annoyed look Anne gave Richard, although with her head still down, it was hidden from her mother. Richard pretended not to notice, although Darcy was certain he had also seen the look.

"Of course, she is well enough to marry," Lady Catherine snapped, gripping her fork more tightly as she stabbed at a small chunk of beef on her plate. "I simply see no reason for her to endanger her well-being gallivanting around the countryside for no reason."

"Ah, but I do have a reason for us to take a drive together," Darcy said. "I have a particular topic to discuss with her, and I want the setting to be more special and private than one can find inside the house. A spring drive in an open carriage is considered most romantic."

"Hmph. Romance!" Lady Catherine grumbled. "Useless drivel. I would have thought you had already said anything of that sort that was necessary. After all, you spent practically the entire day with her."

"That was more of a cousinly discussion," Darcy said placatingly. "I told her of recent events and things she might want to know for the future. It was not at all the sort of conversation to bring a man to declare himself to his future wife."

"Recent events, hmm," Lady Catherine said, her eyes glinting sharply. "Did you tell her about your search for Miss Rose?"

Darcy bowed his head in mock humility. "I did mention the mistakes I made in that regard and assured her that I have learned many lessons from the experience."

"What other sorts of things did you tell her about? What kind of things did you think she needed to know about the future?"