Seven Days With Mr Darcy

by Rose Fairbanks

  Darcy smiled a little in return. “You arrive shortly before the Earl, Countess, Elizabeth, and her family.”

  “So, what am I to do?” Lady Catherine asked.

  “It is your news to share if you like,” he said. “Elizabeth was with us when the Baroness explained matters, but the others do not know. Would you rather be known as my aunt or my sister?” He quirked a smile at her, wondering if she would give up her superior title as the daughter of an earl.

  Lady Catherine smoothed out the battered paper. “My letter did not divulge who her seducer was.”

  Darcy found it telling that she did not call the man her father.

  “Do you know?”

  “You actually knew him,” Darcy said gently. “Nathaniel Dance, the artist.”

  “Harriet Bisshop’s husband?” Lady Catherine gaped at him. “The Dowager Countess of Liverpool’s brother-in-law? All those years at Knole…”

  “I know,” Darcy nodded. “I wonder if the Baroness would have taken the information to her grave if he were still alive.”

  Shockingly, Lady Catherine erupted in laughter. “Egads,” she said between gasps. “I’m the bastard daughter of a painter. What irony!”

  “Indeed,” Darcy grinned. “How fortunate you are. You might have been in Mrs. Jenkinson’s position.”

  Lady Catherine sobered at the thought and asked to refresh in her usual chambers. Darcy agreed and resumed his post waiting for his other guests, who arrived promptly. Elizabeth whispered that she wished to speak with him privately before the meal. Finding a quiet corner of the drawing room, she relayed the encounter with the Duchess of Dorset. Darcy’s anger simmered at Caroline Bingley and by extension to her brother but he was impressed with the fortitude the Duke and Duchess had shown.

  “Do you think she will consider going?” Darcy asked Elizabeth about the Duchess’ offer for Lydia.

  “I do not know,” she said. “She has had a vicious row with Kitty, who will not believe Lydia’s words at all. I never knew she could be so stubborn — No, do not give me that look.”

  “I only think it is good to be forewarned that stubbornness affects all Bennets,” Darcy said.

  Elizabeth sighed. “I will punish you for your thoughts later. For now, do you think it is too near my cousin Collins?”

  “I think it unlikely that he would ever be invited there again and certainly avoidable for several months. Lady Catherine and Anne would be close enough to provide her with additional company, and we may visit with impunity as well.”

  “I confess, I would like that. I am only beginning to value my sisters again.”

  Dinner was announced, and further discussion was delayed. As the Earl and Countess quizzed Elizabeth and her family, Darcy watched as Lady Catherine’s frown deepened. He had been surprised earlier when she did not scold him for his attachment to Elizabeth. Judging by the looks of disdain on his aunt and uncle’s faces, gossip about Darcy and Elizabeth had evidently reached the Fitzwilliam household.

  “I believe I have an announcement which concerns us all,” Lady Catherine said, and the table paused their conversation to listen to her pronouncement. Using years of experience, she spoke with frankness. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I apologise for deriding your ancestry. It turns out that you are of better blood than I.”

  “How’s that?” the Earl asked from his end of the table.

  “Before I begin, I would ask that each person consider their actions and sense at fifteen. Were you the picture of morality or intelligence?” She waited for everyone to accept her words and glared at the Earl until he complied. Even with such preparation, her revelation was met with shock and denial from the Earl and Countess.

  Rather than offending his other guests, the Bennets and Gardiners seemed amused by the scene. Darcy inwardly laughed at himself. Pride went before the fall. Mere weeks ago, he had presumed his family came from better breeding than the Bennets and behaved better as well. The shouts from the Earl and his leaving the dinner early proved that incorrect.

  “Well,” Georgiana said after he and his wife and left. “Now that the children have left, ladies shall we adjourn to the drawing room?”

  The tension diffused and the ladies followed her lead.

  “What do you know of this Duke of Dorset?” Mr. Bennet asked his soon to be son-in-law.

  Darcy frowned. “I do not know him well, although men I thought I knew well are increasingly turning out to be far different than I had expected.”

  “Think nothing of that,” Bennet said. “You are still a young man; friends must show their true colours. For what it is worth, I believe Elizabeth experienced the same when her friend married Mr. Collins.”

  “Indeed,” Darcy agreed.

  “I will count on you when dealing with these other gentlemen,” Bennet said. “And you will make her happy, will you not?”

  “It will be my greatest honour every day,” he swore.

  The men discussed the arrangements Darcy had with Wickham, including his unrepentant attitude. “I look forward to receiving Dorset’s letter of confirmation tomorrow,” he said. He would consider it his greatest wedding gift.

  When they had finished, they joined the ladies in the drawing room. They took turns on the pianoforte while Jane, Mrs. Gardiner, and Anne hovered over a book of floral sketches. When the evening ended, he rejoiced as he raised Elizabeth’s hand to his lips. It would be his last night parted from her side.

  ******

  Elizabeth rose the morning of her wedding day with a smile on her face. The arrangements had been so rushed she hardly had time for a new dress made, and certainly not the sort of bridal gown of which most ladies dreamed. Mrs. Gardiner had donated her veil worn a dozen years ago, and fresh flowers circled her hair. The weeks away from her family had taught her that while she would always love them, she yearned to stretch her wings and experience a life away from the nest in which she had been raised.

  As the parson went through the service in the drawing room of the Gardiner residence, Elizabeth hoped it did not make her ungrateful that she did not miss her mother at this moment. Soon, they would journey to Longbourn, and Elizabeth prayed for patience as she anticipated her mother ferrying her about with fanfare.

  In a reversal of expectations, Elizabeth smiled at the arrival of Lady Catherine and Anne, and did not miss the absence of the Earl and Countess. Upon hearing the truth of Lady Catherine’s parentage and her intention of exposing it should rumours spread regarding the Bennets, they had sworn they would break ties with the family. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. She could not see how that would be a loss to her.

  Elizabeth and Darcy, however, did keenly feel the absence of Lady Darcy. Their feelings sprang not only from gratitude for her information regarding Lady Anne, which might mitigate any rumours attached to their marriage, but also by affection. Elizabeth, especially wished she had known the lady longer. In a happy coincidence, Darcy and Elizabeth had both written to the Baroness, vowing to name their first daughter after her. In typical fashion, the lady replied, in addition to wishing them joy, that she did not care what they named their child but instead suggested a school be ladies be erected in her name. Elizabeth rather hoped they could do both.

  Soon, too soon, she was pronounced Mrs. Fitzwilliam Benjamin Conyers Darcy. They enjoyed a brief wedding breakfast in which Kitty pouted that Wickham had not come. Among her other prayers, Elizabeth added that Kitty might come to her senses regarding Wickham. However, for the remainder of the day, Elizabeth vowed to put him and all family scandals from her mind. A little past noon, Darcy and Elizabeth boarded Anne’s phaeton for their London house. Georgiana had removed to Lady Catherine’s house, which she usually did not open as she instead stayed with Darcy or the Earl.

  Darcy and Elizabeth, despite their love, were full of nerves, neither knowing how to be a bride or bridegroom. Instead, they teased and talked, making up for lost time of spending too much worry over their sisters. They ordered an early dinner, and before Elizabeth
knew it, she had retired to the mistress’ chambers. Her maid had arranged a bath for her and laid out a nightgown which must have been a gift from her aunt, as Elizabeth had been too embarrassed to purchase such things with her sisters in tow. She looked in the mirror and brushed her hair as she waited for Darcy to arrive. She still looked every inch the same Lizzy Bennet who had left Longbourn angry and confused. Now, she was Elizabeth Darcy, blissfully happy and stronger than she had ever known.

  “Come in,” she called when she heard Darcy’s knock. She met him halfway across the room.

  “You are beautiful,” he breathed as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  Feeling her desire rise, Elizabeth pulled away. “I have been thinking of what I can give you to show my love and devotion as you are fond of giving gifts to express yours.” Since the first necklace, Elizabeth had received five other pieces with promises for more.

  “You are my gift,” he said and attempted to kiss her again.

  “I know,” she said breathlessly and held his eyes as she untied her dressing gown and allowed it to flutter to the ground. Darcy’s sharp intake of breath and instant widening of his pupils told her he enjoyed what he saw.

  “I love you,” she said and lifted his hands to her lips. “I can think of no greater gift I can give you than my heart and my trust. Tonight, you will claim my body,” she said as her pulse quickened at the thought.

  “But this union is an expression of my love for you. Each touch,” she trailed a finger down his cheek, and he turned his head to kiss her palm. “Each kiss,” she said and pecked his lips before dragging her mouth down his throat, “is a marriage of passion and love; of trust and sense.”

  Darcy moaned appreciatively, and Elizabeth smiled against his flesh.

  “I love you,” he said and swooped her into his arms then walked her to their bed.

  *****

  Three days after the wedding, Darcy called on the Duke of Dorset at his enormous house in Mayfair. Darcy was shown to the Duke’s library, full of artifacts ranging from natural history to vases from antiquity. The Duke also had several shelves devoted to dried plants and various drawings of their dissected parts pinned to the walls. Also on a wall was a map of Europe with pins in it. Given the state of things with Napoleon for nearly the last decade, Darcy assumed they were locations the Duke desired to visit when peace was restored. Darcy had the impression that if the man had not inherited a dukedom, he would have become an explorer or scholar.

  “Darcy!” The duke said the minute the door flung open. He bounded over to his sideboard. “A drink?”

  “No, thank you,” Darcy declined and then sat when it was offered.

  “I did not think to see you so soon after your marriage.” His Grace winked. “I was on my way out to call on Jane, actually. I hope you can make it quick.”

  “I believe you mean Miss Bennet,” Darcy narrowed his eyes.

  “Feeling territorial, are you?” Dorset laughed. “She has only been your sister for a few days! I suppose you have come to talk to me about my intentions?”

  Darcy scowled. “Not today, although soon, I think.”

  “Oh? If you are asking about Wickham it is all arranged.”

  “I think we understand one another,” Darcy said and scrutinised his companion’s face.

  “You want Wickham…shall we say, out of your life?”

  “To say the least.”

  “He hurt your sister, I understand,” Dorset said, his lip curling like an angry animal.

  “Not as much as he has hurt others like Elizabeth’s.”

  “Yes…Jane’s pain is palpable.” Dorset stared at his drink for a moment. “My uncle can do many things. If it were me, he would not even survive a journey across the channel.”

  Darcy held up his hands. “I do not want him murdered. But the regiment he is in will soon deploy?”

  “Within weeks. And what of Miss Kitty?”

  “She will be taken care of and perhaps heart-broken. Elizabeth and I have discussed it and if Kitty blames us then we will simply have to bear her anger.”

  “You are likely saving her from a life of misery. Although, there is always a chance that he will survive.”

  “We will not beg trouble and worry about that until we must.” The clock chimed the quarter hour and Darcy stood, stretching out his hand. “It occurs to me I may seem less than grateful for your assistance in affairs but truly, allow me to thank you.”

  Dorset heartily shook Darcy’s hand with a firm grip. “Think nothing of it, brother.”

  “Brother!”

  “If she accepts me, that is. I intend to ask for Jane’s hand this morning.”

  “So soon?” Darcy said before thinking. Seeing the Duke’s reaction, Darcy hastily added an apology. “Forgive me. Best wishes, then. I will see myself out.”

  Far from being offended, Dorset smiled at Darcy and walked with him to the door. “Do you know what this means, Darcy?”

  “What, Your Grace?”

  “You shall have to change cricket teams next year.” Dorset laughed and clapped Darcy on the shoulder.

  Darcy shook his head at his soon to be brother-in-law’s levity. While driving Anne’s phaeton back to his house, he considered that, while Wickham had still attached himself to the Bennet family and gained his money, it was not as dreadful as Darcy feared when Elizabeth first approached him. He was not ruining the Bennets. Darcy had seen Elizabeth’s concern for Kitty, and previously for Lydia, but she had no need to despair for her beloved sisters. If Wickham survived the war, they would deal with matters then. In the unlikely event that either Kitty or Lydia’s situation became known, Society would not shun a family married into a barony and a duchy.

  Bolstered by such positive thoughts, he did not expect a sobbing Elizabeth to launch herself into his arms the minute he stepped into the house. “Elizabeth, love, what is wrong?”

  “The baroness,” Elizabeth managed between sobs. “We just got word…”

  Elizabeth did not continue but Darcy’s throat tightened. “She is gone?”

  “Yes, I am so sorry.” Elizabeth squeezed him tightly. “I hate that she went alone.”

  “She went the way she lived — on her own terms.”

  Darcy managed to lead Elizabeth upstairs to their chambers and held her in his arms as she cried herself to sleep. When she awoke some hours later, he rang for a supper tray. Elizabeth withdrew a note from her pocket.

  “This came with the letter conveying the news.”

  Darcy ripped open the missive and saw his aunt’s script.

  My Dearest Nephew Lord Darcy,

  You have always lived up to your noble names. Now embrace your Bluestocking heritage. Renew the club with Elizabeth as hostess.

  Your aunt always,

  M. D.

  Continued in Lady Darcy’s Bluestocking Club

  Continue reading for a sample!

  Lady Darcy's Bluestocking Club

  You have just finished reading Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride, book 1 in the Pride and Prejudice and Bluestockings series. Lady Darcy’s Bluestocking Club is now available for pre-order and will release in late 2020.

  Excerpt

  Elizabeth Darcy gulped as she saw the sign marker list the ever-more-rapidly-approaching town of Meryton. “We do not have to visit. There is still time to turn back,” she said to her husband.

  “Lady Darcy, are you afraid to visit your mother?”

  “Afraid? No, never,” she affected a grin. The bravado could not last long, however. Shoulders slumping, she sighed. “If fear is based mostly on anxiety over the unknown then, no, I am not afraid at all. I know all too well how she will react. I can hear her shrill voice and feel her flutterings already. Please? May we go home?” Elizabeth buried her face in her husband’s arm as the carriage swayed.

  “If we do not visit her then we risk her calling on us in Town…”

  “Oh, no. We cannot risk her wanting to accompany us to every ball. She would introdu
ce herself to everyone.”

  “Besides, I know you wish to lend your support to Jane.”

  Elizabeth sucked in a deep inhale. Letting it out, she muttered under breath. “It is not as though she loves him.”

  “What was that?”

  “You heard me,” Elizabeth said. Yanking her arm from around her husband’s she crossed them across her chest and frowned. “I cannot believe you are letting her marry him.”

  “I am hardly in control of your sister’s choices. Nor am I her guardian.”

  “You cannot tell me you believe them well-suited.”

  “Why not?”

  “She is so innocent, so pure and he—he—he is so worldly! He could have anything and anyone.”

  “Does it not mean his affection for her must be all the more genuine?”

  Elizabeth’s frown deepened as she did not want to admit to Darcy being correct.

  “Nor would I say the Duke is very worldly.”

  “His father—”

  “Yes, his father! Who are either of us to point fingers at someone’s family as proof of their own character?”

  “I will concede to that,” Elizabeth said disgruntledly.

  She could understand why Jane accepted the Duke of Dorset’s proposal after a mere week of acquaintance. Bingley had proven disloyal and too weak. However, Elizabeth knew Jane still loved him. Her affection for Dorset extended only to gratitude for loving her and saving her sisters from disaster. Dorset had used his family’s position to send Wickham to Spain so Kitty would not need to live with the pain he must bring any wife. Dorset’s mother, the dowager duchess, had invited Lydia to live with her until after her confinement. It was agreed that Lydia would stay at Knole Park in Kent with Dorset’s sister so no one in Meryton might guess the truth—that she was with child.

  Additionally, Kitty had refused to come to Jane’s wedding if Lydia were there. It made more sense to continue with the lie that Lydia was away for her health and could not return than to invent a new excuse for Kitty’s distance from the family. Of most of this, Mrs. Bennet had no understanding. Even if she did, Elizabeth noted, she would focus only on the fact that Kitty had married an officer, Elizabeth was married to a baron, and Jane would marry a duke. The fragile condition of their family’s reputation and honour would be lost on her.