Page 23 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

It is Sunday, and I was surprised to find Richard dressed and at the breakfast table. He announced that he meant to attend church with us.

Darcy seemed ready to object, pointing out that the men usually walked the mile to Meryton to go to church, until Jane remarked there were too many ladies to travel comfortably in just one carriage anyway.

“And even if there were not, I should happily give up my seat for our dear cousin and walk to church with you, husband,” Elizabeth said pertly.

“Most certainly not, in your condition!” Darcy exclaimed, and that was how it was announced to all and sundry that Elizabeth is expecting the Darcy heir around Christmastime.

Miss Bingley’s smile fixed in place. Georgiana later said she looked as though she had bitten into an unripe lemon; I had seen her fingers tighten round her napkin.

To our suppressed delight, Miss Bingley claimed a headache and withdrew, leaving us to go to church without her, and Mrs Hurst decided she had best stay behind to take care of her sister.

Jane and Lizzy decided on two carriages for comfort, and both the Bingley and Darcy carriages were brought round. I started towards Darcy’s, then paused. Lizzy and Georgiana would ride there, and Mrs Annesley would go with Georgiana.

“Would you object to my company, Mrs Bingley?” I asked Jane shyly.

“Of course not, Anne! And who is this Mrs Bingley you speak of so formally? I am your friend Jane.” Smiling in her sweet way, she linked her arm through mine and led me to where Mr Bingley waited, a broad smile on his face, to hand us up into the carriage.

“Tell the Colonel to ride with us,” Jane instructed her husband. “He will have the whole seat to stretch his leg out upon then, rather than having to share.”

“Of course, my angel,” Bingley said, and Jane beckoned me to sit beside her. She squeezed my hand and gave me a small, knowing smile.

“I’m rather glad Caroline and Louisa have decided not to attend church today. It gives me more time to get to know your cousin, Anne!”

I looked at her in surprise. Jane’s smile turned a little rueful; perhaps she had guessed that Caroline’s company had been difficult for me too.

“Richard is the finest man I have ever had the privilege of knowing,” I said. “I am so proud to claim a relationship to him.” Even if it is not quite the relationship everyone thinks.

“Why, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me, I am sure,” Richard said from the carriage door. I had not seen him approach.

Waving away Bingley’s offer of aid, he climbed somewhat stiffly into the carriage and dropped into the seat opposite, smiling at me.

“I did not know I had such a champion in you, dear Annie.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I managed to answer him. “You have been my champion, cousin. ’Tis only fair I should try to be yours, too.”

Richard sat beside me in church and shared my hymnal. I liked hearing his baritone among the other voices, and he rode back to Netherfield with Jane and me. He rested after luncheon, but joined the company again at four and entertained us with stories. I could see he was tired before the afternoon ended; even so, it was a pleasure to have so much of his company today.

30 May

My uncle the Earl arrived today at last. He had been visiting one of the family’s smaller estates in Ireland when word reached him of Richard’s injury.

He spent much of the afternoon with Richard and Doctor Spears. They joined us at dinner, where Miss Bingley nearly pushed Jane aside to take the seat next to my uncle.

She had scarcely begun to talk when he turned to her with a faint frown and asked,

“Who are you, again?”

Miss Bingley said little for the rest of dinner. I would have hugged my uncle, had he cared for public displays of affection. Instead I sat on his other side and listened to his fishing stories. He can talk of fly-fishing for an hour without noticing that anyone else has ceased to listen. I must introduce him to Sir William Lucas; perhaps each would at last find an audience to his satisfaction.

Richard caught my eye once and gave me a curious look. I turned back to my uncle. I see little enough of him, and he deserved my attention after his long journey.

“It’s good to see you looking so well, Annie my dear,” Uncle said kindly as the dessert course was brought in. “And with a healthy appetite, too!”

I paused with my fork above a generous slice of Netherfield’s excellent apple tart. “Am I getting fat?”

“Good God, no!” He laughed, put his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. “You are one of the prettiest girls I know, Annie, and not the slightest bit fat. You’ll take London by storm this autumn.”

“I beg your pardon?” Richard said sharply from across the table. “What’s this about Anne and London?”