Welcome back and thank you for sticking with that story!

In this chapter: Talk about girls, marriages, the Fitzwilliam family and Pemberley (I am sorry Jane Austen).
The describtion of Pemberley is shamelessly based on Chatsworth House.

Disclaimer: I only own my OC's and the storyline.


April 1804

Dinner and Disasters - Part III

Laura Roslin

The food was nearly worth enduring the company of the Hathaways. Not exactly intelligent but very convinced of their own superiority, they weren't what Laura would call exceptionally pleasant. Miss Valerii should have noticed that by now, however, her demeanour didn't change in the slightest. The older woman had to give some credit to her impeccable manners and behaviour, she really had been raised very well. She wondered vaguely whether Bill was enjoying himself and whether she had only imagined him looking over into her direction a couple more times than was appropriate. They would have to talk about that, it wouldn't do for others starting to talk. Additionally, these looks made certain thoughts harder and harder to subpress. Laura busied herself with her own food and conversation, trying to ignore the little shivers that went down her spine whenever she felt a certain gaze flood over her. It made her remember heated kisses in libraries, hands pulling at her stays or simply holding her close while ravishing her mouth. Bruises on her arms afterwards and stammered apologies when he had realized how tightly he had gripped her. Her laughter at his flustered facial expression and assurances that she had enjoyed every minute. She would have gladly skipped the rest of dinner for a rendez-vous and a daring part of her mind started to wonder whether she could potentially drag the man into a dark corner and...

"Ms Roslin, how did you enjoy it?" a voice ripped her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, I was just wonderful," she answered, not exactly knowing what she was agreeing to.

Nevertheless, her companions seemed satisfied with the answer. Suddenly, when she let her eyes wander across the table, her eyes caught at the sight of Richard Fitzwilliam. She liked the young man, dearly, but she knew that he could destroy her carefully constructed life. Not on purpose, but through his straight-forwardness and good intentions. Laura would have to intervene before that happened. She should invite him to dinner and set some things straight. Yes, that was exactly what she was going to do.
When all the ladies retired to one of the finely decorated drawing rooms after the meal, leaving the men to their conversation, the woman became more and more agitated, finding it increasingly hard to keep her hands still. All of her instincts told her Leopold Adama and Richard would get on spectacularly - maybe a bit too well for her taste. To keep herself from worrying, she went on shephearding Charlotte and Kara, who was in a much more talkative mood today. It only took Laura about ten minutes of conversation to find out that the good mood was due to a letter by Samuel Anders, which she had received just in the morning, telling her about his stay in the North of England and the business he was doing. Laura didn't even try to hide her suprise as it was genuine. She had thought the man to be over and done with the girl, but either he had become really bored or things were different than they had first seemed, as much as Laura hated being wrong. At the same time, Charlotte was smiling to herself as if thinking about something pleasant, but when the older woman asked, she only gave vague answers. Not wanting to pry, they changed topics as the Cook sisters joined in. While Miss Cook was her usual cheerful self, Sarah, who was generally a shy girl, seemed very tentative when talking to Charlotte. Whether it was due to the fact that she was someone new or whether it was du to her exotic appearance, Laura wasn't sure, but after five minutes the tension began to ease as they discussed topics appropriate for girls their age.

Laura left them to it, joining Mrs Cook and Lady Bryce for a pleasant short talk and some gossip rather not suitable for the younger girls. It probably wasn't nice talking about other people behind their backs, but for Laura this was valuable information, often determinating who she would invite for dinners or call on. Still, the talk that night was fairly harmless with the ladies gushing about Richard's looks, though Laura had to admit that she had nothing to do with that. Then they were praising his manners, for which she did take some credit. However, if they knew what a rascal he could be! Still, he was sort of a nice one.

"Are you sorry now you didn't bring your Florentia tonight?" Laura teased the marchioness.

"Obviously - he could have her any time if he wanted. But alas, she is already in Bath, visiting her aunt. She is quite good at matchmaking, so I do have hope," Lady Bryce shrugged.

"She is a very pretty girl," Mrs Cook commented kindly.

"Pretty she is, but also stubborn as a mule," the Marchioness commented dryly, "the looks, the education - all wasted if the stupid girl doesn't want to marry. She takes you as an inspiration, Ms Roslin."

What could have sounded accusing or condescending was softened by the proud look in the mother's eyes. She couldn't have fooled Laura anyway, knowing very well that the young Selina Palmer had refused suitor after suitor before finally becoming Lady Bryce in a very unlikely but advantageous love match and having three healthy children which was even more unlikely due to her age. Also, the family was rich enough to support a spinster daughter anyway, should Florentia decide to actually remain unwedded.

"Daughters...," the third woman sighed, "I have two - one is scaring away the men with her energy and the other one won't talk to anyone. But at least my Sarah is only 16, so this might still work out. I don't know whether I told you, but last Town Season we made the aquaintance of Fitzwilliam Darcy."

She gave Laura a knowing look.

"Anyway, Cecilia was as cheerful as ever and was literally bouncing and he was so dour, shooting her down immediatly. Of course, she tried again, I believe she just wanted to make him feel better. Then his friend, Bingley I think, joined them and they actually talked. I was so happy, and then this red-haired devil sweeps in, turning the whole mood sour."

Laura rolled her eyes.

"If you mean Caroline Bingley - I am sorry Cecilia lost her chance spending time with my dear relative because of her. If it is any consolation - she won't become Mistress of Pemberley either, I am quite certain of that."

"Is the house really that grand?" Sarah Cook asked, having heard the last sentence.

"It is indeed very grand and very stately and the grounds are extensive, very well kept. It has everything one would expect."

"How does it compare to Caprica Manor?" Lady Bryce asked cheekily.

Laura laughed.

"They are different in a way, though obviously I do prefer Caprica Manor. Pemberley looks like a golden ashlar with colums and decorations. Caprica Manor isn't that compact, it has more different shapes. It is probably also a bit smaller, Pemberly has definitely the bigger guest wing, but my library and art collection are even more extensive than Darcy's. The lake on my property is less shaped and more natural, same for the hills, I guess the premises are about the same regarding the size, though my steward is basically allowed to do what he wants on an area surrounding his cottage, so I should probably substract that. As I do keep my horses next to Caprica, the stables and paddocks take up quite a fair amount, but it is worth it. I also have the much nicer rose gardens and fruit trees, not that anyone bothers."

"Do you think Mr Darcy would agree?"

"I don't know, you would have to ask him."

Laura desperatedly hoped they would not ask her about Rosings Park, truth be told she didn't care for the estate too much. Thankfully, the girl started chatting among themselves again while the older ladies' topic moved back to potential husbands for eligible children.

"Aren't there a couple of Agathons still on the market?" Lady Bryce inquired.

"Yes, all but Isabella actually. Though as Robert Agathon has just joined the military, I don't know whether he is in the right place to marry right now. You might want to push Cecilia towards Karl Agathon though, Mrs Cook," Laura commented.

As her hope for a potential match between him and Kara seemed quite in vain as nothing more than friendly affection had come from their interaction so far and Bill would definitely not animate her further (which was, in her opinion, a bit stupid), Cecilia might as well try her luck. To be honest, every man should be happy to have the good-natured young woman with a considerable dowry for a bride. Laura was wondering whether Lee had actually had any interaction with her so far. They might not be the worst match London had seen in the last few years - it would be practical, at least. She only saw the men once more that evening when they met again in the foyer which had the advantage that she also didn't have to deal with Richard Adar too much. The woman relaxed slightly when she detected no change in Bill's demeanour towards her, so apparently Richard had kept quiet. Most guests including the Cooks and the Hathaways seemed on their way to the next ball, but Laura was tired and only wanted to go home. She did have to promise to Mr Valerii to call on them soon, a promise that she could give easily. Her goodbyes to Bill and his children were poliute but short, for all others knew they were nothing more than friendly aquaintances. When the young Fitzwilliam offered her his arm to escort her outside, she took it, noticing with some amusement that Bill seemed slightly annoyed.

"Richard, I expect you to call on me some time during the next week," she commented before getting into her carriage.

He nodded. "Of course."

Then the door was shut and Mr Gaeta started her beautiful horses in the direction of home.


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