All Hallow's Eve (65 page)

Weeks ago, Mrs. Bennet had written of a minor difficulty concerning the double wedding of Jane to Bingley and Mary to Richard. She had always imagined the church decorated with specific flowers and trimmings that were not obtainable through normal channels in the winter season, and asked Elizabeth’s opinion of her new plan. Knowing that most of the plants from Mrs. Bennet’s original design were currently available in the hothouse at Pemberley, he had offered to supply them.

As the couples exchanged vows, Elizabeth met
William’s
gaze from across the aisle. In place of the regret he expected to see in her eyes, he watched as her love shone from her soul, sweeping aside William’s worries. Fighting the urge to step across the aisle and take his wife into his arms, he vowed to redouble his efforts in helping her find a Thin Place at Pemberley. They could not return home soon enough to suit him!

~%~

Upon her entrance, Mr. Bennet looked up from his book and smiled at his
favourite
daughter.

“Am I disturbing you, Papa?”

“Not at all, my dear.”

Elizabeth settled into the chair across from her father. “When I did not find you in the ballroom giving lessons, I knew you would be here.”

“Whenever I have a few moments to myself, I am drawn to your husband’s magnificent library. I would like to extend our stay, but we cannot leave George alone for long, I am afraid. Perhaps if I promise to return soon, William will allow me to take a few books with me to Longbourn.”

Elizabeth laughed. “If that would be a way to guarantee frequent visits, I am certain William would be more than happy to lend as many as you would like.” She raised one eyebrow. “Unless you have something else in mind that will ensure your presence at Pemberley becomes a common occurrence.”

Mr. Bennet suppressed a smile. “I should have known that you would guess.”

“Since arriving at Pemberley, you have been putting William’s fighting abilities to the test. May I inquire as to the result?”

“You know very well what I have found! Your influence has done him much good, but it is more than that. I have watched him with Georgiana—he is a natural teacher.” He took his daughter’s hand. “You do know that I had been considering you for the position of Lead
Immun
when I pass on. I had hesitated to declare it openly
since you already have so many responsibilities, and I have always been actively searching for another. William is the
O
ne, I think. You will not mind my saying that he will surpass your level of skill before long.”

“There is no need to fear even the smallest amount of offence on my part, Papa; I am of the same mind. William is the better choice, by far.”

“I knew that you would see it clearly, my Lizzy. You are correct in saying that you will see much of me in the future. If your husband accepts, I intend to spend a good portion of my time training William while I am still young enough to make the journey. The Reynolds boys will not mind keeping me company on the trip, I am sure.”

“It is a good thing that you have always employed a steward, Papa. Your hiring one now would seem strange. It is a shame that George cannot be of some assistance.”

“Actually, he is a great help. It took quite a bit of urging on my part, but now George rides along with me on many of my daily chores. In spending so much time together, I have come to know him fairly well. You were right about him, Lizzy; he is a good man. George does take good care to stay at home whenever I am uncertain whether my business might risk his safety. Lydia keeps him company when he is not out with me.” Mr. Bennet winked.

“When we were in Hertfordshire, William and I agreed that he is almost unrecognizable with longer hair, a beard, mustache,
and spectacles,
but it is wise for him to stay away from those who are not completely trustworthy. About Lydia...” she hesitated a moment, deliberating whether or not she should tell her father what she knew. “From the first moment George saw Lydia, he had developed a
tendre
. In fact, the
Olc
had singled her out in order to torture George.”

“Actually, George had informed me of this himself. Perhaps I shall accompany them to Scotland before they settle at William’s estate. Surely, he cannot marry in England.”

“I am surprised George broached the subject
of marriage
!”

Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Actually, it was Lydia who proposed to George. He brought her to me so that I would talk some sense into her
, but h
e found himself attempting to convince me of his unworthiness as well.” 

“Do you think he is recovered sufficiently to begin a new life in the north?”

“With Lydia’s assistance, by the summer he will be.” The clock chimed. “It is later than I thought. While I have enjoyed our
tête
-à-
tête
, we should dress for dinner.”

“When shall you speak to William?”

“I would like to
talk
to the two of you alone after our meal tonight, if it is convenient.”

Elizabeth rose and kissed her father’s forehead. “I think this will make William very happy, Papa. Thank you.”

~%~

May 30, 1812

Elizabeth stood in the
centre
of the meadow that she always used as her starting point—the one that Georgiana had used just one month ago to perform the ceremony of
Imol
to perfection. Checking her compass, she tried to find the first tree that was not marked. An inexplicable sorrow fell over her when she realized that almost all of the trees already bore marks.

Sighing, she placed her hand upon her midsection. “It may be a great inconvenience this year, little one, but if we must return to Longbourn for the
Sanun
, we shall!”

By all estimations, her baby was predicted to be due in mid-November. The entire family, especially William, hoped that Elizabeth would not have to travel such a long distance so near to the end of her time. Therefore, Elizabeth had vowed to continue searching daily, as long as the weather—and her body’s demands—would allow.

Her main purpose in methodically following a different path every time
she walked was to search for a
Thin Place
upon the grounds of Pemberley
where she would be able to perform the
Sanun
. To date, she had not felt even the smallest amount of the telltale vibrations that would lead her in the right direction.

Elizabeth looked
around
at the tree line
, hoping to see William making his way toward her, but she did not.
Al
t
hough she was impatient to begin
the
day’s search,
she would not venture out past this point alone
, certain that he would worry excessively if he did not know where to find her.

Eventually
she heard
t
he sound of hoof-falls
.
Elizabeth shaded her eyes and looked
about
to see from which direction
the noise
originated
. She smiled
in appreciation of
the
upright
posture
of the gentleman who
sat
astride the perfect stallion.

When the horse came to a stop
,
William slid to the ground
gracefully
.
His scolding expression was one that Elizabeth had become used to of late.
“Elizabeth,
I have repeatedly requested that
you
w
ait at the house, even if I am late
in meeting you.
If something should happen to you whil
st
you are out walking
alone
, I would never forgive myself.”

She stepped closer
, wrapping her arms around his waist and brushing his lips with hers
. “As you can see, I am
well
.”

As always, his severe
countenance
melted
away
at
his wife
’s touch
.
His hand caressed her cheek.
“
My Elizabeth, I cannot help but worry.
Are you certain that Jane
has approved
these long
walks?”

Her answer was said with a hint of amusement.
“
Both
s
he and
I have
explained to you
many times
that I should continue what I am used to for as long as possible. I have
always
walked
great
distances whenever I could.
”

He sighed, pulled her closer, and
rested his cheek against
her forehead. “I would greatly appreciate it if you did not do so
alone
—
at
least
not
until after my son is born.”

“
I promise that y
our
daughter
and I shall
only walk out with
either
you or Georgie from now on
, even if I must wait to do so
.” She pulled away from him quickly
and placed
both hands upon her belly. “OH!”

“Elizabeth!” He lifted her
into his arms
and strode quickly
toward
the edge of the meadow
.

“William, wait!”

“I knew I should not allow you to walk so far!”
He sat her gently on a fallen log.

She
tried to keep herself from smiling
. “William, my love
—
truly, I am
well
. It is just
that I think
I felt the baby move
for the first time
!”

He
knelt by her
side
and
gestured toward her mid-section. “May I?”

“Of course
.” She took his hand and placed it where she had felt the movement. “
I
t was barely a flutter
to me
—
from what I am told,
you may not
detect
anything from the outside
for a few weeks
.”
She felt it again. “There it is, directly below your hand. Did you feel
her
?”

His disappointment was almost palpable.
“No, I did not.”

“Be patient, William; she will give you ample opportunity to feel her movements before long. For now, I do believe we should begin our walk.”

~%~

Several days later, after walking out from one of the last few trees without a mark, Elizabeth gasped
and looked into the woods
. “Do you feel it, Georgiana?
O
ver in th
at direction, towards the house!
” Elizabeth pointed.

“I do not feel anything.
What is it?
”

“Do you remember how you had said that your mother’s meadow always called out to you, even when you were a little girl?”

“Yes, I
had
always assumed that somehow I sensed that it
had been
my mother’s
favourite
place.”

“Now you know better. The vibration of the
Thin Place
calls out to me
in a similar fashion
, though from what my grandmother told me, it is much
more
strong
ly felt
for a High
Priestess
than a
Priestess
.
Y
ou should feel
something
as we get closer to it.
”

After walking a while, Georgiana gasped. “I do feel
a slight vibration
, Elizabeth! If I am correct about where we are, I
have
always felt
there was
something strange when
near
this place,
and so I avoided it.
I did not understand what it meant until now.”

Some minutes later, the ladies moved through
a gap in the
bushes and into a meadow
similar in shape
to
the one
between
Longbourn
and Netherfield Park
, though larger in size
.