Page 20 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

“She is a most tenacious leech, is she not?” Lizzy muttered in my ear. I had to bite on my lips to keep from laughing out loud.

“Please do not mention leeches. If I never see another one, it will be too soon.”

Lizzy looked quite horrified. “Oh, my goodness. Anne, I am so sorry, I did not think.”

I smiled and pressed her hand. “Those horrors are in my past, thanks in part to you and Darcy. Let us forget them and think only of the past as it gives us pleasure, is that not your philosophy?”

“You recall far too well, Anne.” Elizabeth’s smile is so lovely. “I must be careful what secrets I confide in you, I think.”

She was teasing, of course. She knows my deepest secret, and I trust her absolutely never to reveal it, at least not to the one person who must not know.

Across the room Richard caught my eye and feigned a yawn behind his hand. He repeated it until Doctor Spears noticed and sent him to bed. Spears had been speaking with Mary; I wondered how many yawns it had taken to get his attention.

If only we could all escape Miss Bingley so easily!

Richard had passed a painful night, and Doctor Spears forbade him company. Rain kept us indoors, where Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst pressed me to approve their objections to Jane’s plans for Netherfield’s guest rooms.

“Rosings is renowned for its magnificence,” Caroline told me. “Surely you cannot approve these plain guest rooms? Netherfield is a house of consequence, not the farmhouse dear Jane seems to imagine.”

Jane’s face fell. I could not let Caroline claim that I agreed with her.

“Netherfield is a fine house, Miss Bingley. Jane’s plans will make its rooms comfortable and handsome. Guests of rank have grand rooms enough at home; they need not find an imitation of them here.”

Miss Bingley listened more closely when I mentioned guests of rank.

“My uncle the Earl prefers comfort to display, as my aunt did when she was alive. Once, at Rosings, he had several ornaments removed from his rooms and called them useless folderol.”

Lizzy was definitely laughing behind her hand, but Jane’s expression was of pure gratitude. Deliberately, I linked my arm with hers.

“Some rooms need fresh wallpaper and linens, but Jane is right to keep the sound furniture. Those burgundy chairs would look charming in the flowered fabric she has chosen.”

Caroline fell silent. She could hardly dismiss an argument about rank after making such a point of asking for my opinion.

As though I had seen so many great country houses. My experience extended only to Rosings, Pemberley and Netherfield.

26 May

I could not have been more astonished to venture out into the garden after breakfast and discover Richard sitting at his ease there, soaking up the warm sunshine. The French doors into his room stood wide open, and behind him I could see Sanderson stripping the bed and making it up with fresh linens.

“Good morning, Annie!” Richard greeted me with a broad smile, making to rise from the bench where he sat until I indicated firmly that he should not.

“Good morning.” I approached eagerly, returning the smile and taking a seat beside him. “Dare I hope you are feeling better today?”

“Mary gave me one of her teas last night, and I slept well. Better than with laudanum; that brings on nightmares.” He looked away for a moment.

“Doctor Spears sings Mary’s praises as a herb woman.”

“And in other things.” Richard gave me a sly smile. “Would you care to wager on how long before he makes her a proposal? A shilling says it will be before the month is out, now he is in close proximity to her home and can discuss the matter with Mr Bennet.”

“I do hope so. Mary deserves to be happy, and he seems perfect for her. You have taken the bet I would have made, though; now must I have the first week of June?”

Richard chuckled. “Indeed. If any of the others wish to place their bets, they must take later.”

I laughed at his arbitrary decision. “Well, I cannot say I approve of gambling, but if the stakes are only a shilling, I accept your wager.”

“Shake on it.” He held out his left hand. When I took it, he lifted mine to his lips and kissed my knuckles. Even through my glove I felt the warmth of his mouth.

“It is good to see you looking well, Annie,” Richard said quietly. “When I think of how my aunt treated you, all those years...”