Page 11 of The Earl’s Second Chance

CHAPTER SEVEN

The House Opposite

The Countess of Matlock called before noon the next day.

Lady Rebecca Fitzwilliam was a handsome woman in her middle fifties, with silver threaded through dark hair and the composed authority of one who had survived court, childbirth, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She had heard of Lady Herfershire through Lady Allerton and was curious about the family across the square.

Curiosity became liking over tea.

Fanny admitted she had spent the morning rearranging place cards for her first formal dinner and feared seating a baron before a viscount.

“Do it once,” Lady Matlock advised, “and the baron will be delighted while the viscount tells everyone. Both will remember the dinner.”

Fanny laughed. “Then perhaps I shall seat them in the pantry and preserve my peace.”

Elizabeth watched her mother with a tender amazement. Removed from constant fear and her husband’s ridicule, Fanny Bennet’s natural sociability had matured into warmth. She remembered names, marriages, illnesses, and children. People felt welcomed by her because she truly wished them comfortable.

Lady Matlock invited them to walk in Hyde Park the following afternoon.

Her elder son, Anthony Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hartley, joined them near Rotten Row. He was thirty-two, broad-shouldered, serious-eyed, and less immediately charming than Mr. Bingley. He bowed to Jane, noticed her beauty—as every man did—and then did something Charles Bingley had rarely done.

He asked a second question.

Jane had mentioned the Herfershire tenants’ school.

“What alterations did you make to it?” Hartley asked.

“Only small ones. We added a separate room for the younger children and persuaded the schoolmistress to include more arithmetic for the girls.”

“Persuaded?”

Jane’s eyes warmed. “Lady Elizabeth argued. I persuaded.”

“And which method succeeded?”

“Mine, but only because hers frightened the trustees first.”

Hartley laughed.

He walked beside Jane for the next half hour. He asked what she read, whether she preferred town or country, and why she had chosen the harp. When she gave a modest answer, he waited for the fuller one.

“You dislike speaking of yourself,” he observed.

“I dislike seeming to value my own opinions too highly.”

“An opinion need not be infallible to be worth hearing.”

Jane looked at him with startled pleasure.

Across the path, Elizabeth caught her mother’s eye. Lady Herfershire made no exclamation, no broad smile, no whispered prediction of marriage. She merely turned to Lady Matlock and discussed the weather.

That restraint cost her dearly and pleased Elizabeth more than she could say.

The Bennets’ first at-home morning brought a procession of visitors. Lady Allerton came early enough to give confidence. Two duchesses came out of curiosity. Several mothers brought eligible sons. Caroline Bingley arrived late and apologized with extravagant affection.

“Dearest Lady Jane! How wretchedly unfortunate our meeting yesterday was. Had you only mentioned the happy change—”

“I attempted to,” Jane said.