by Wells, Linda
Mr. Gardiner chuckled. “No, I have no doubt that Darcy spoke the absolute truth, he is a man not given to falsehoods.” Bingley shrugged and nodded with a small smile of agreement. “My niece told me of Miss Bingley’s reaction to Darcy’s exposure of Mr. Wickham. She described it as worshipful. Am I incorrect?”
“No, no, that is precisely it. She had such hopes that my connection to him would win her the prize; it was a foolish scheme that I tried to discourage. I knew there was no chance of that happening. As much as he flaunted society by marrying Mrs. Darcy, she is still a gentleman’s daughter, where my sister is decidedly not.”
“Yes, but I have noticed that more frequently gentlemen are marrying tradesmen’s daughters with substantial dowries. Just listening to my wife talk about the ladies and their latest efforts tells me that a good dowry will override bad personality quirks. Forgive me.” He added apologetically.
Bingley laughed resignedly. “You are not telling me anything that I do not already know, sir.”
“So what will you do with her?” Mr. Gardiner raised his brows and chuckled at Bingley’s groan.
“I suppose that I have no option but to send her home to our relatives in the north. Perhaps the reminder of her roots would be good for her and perhaps let her lower her expectations.” He looked up hopefully. “Do you have any other ideas? I would rather avoid this conversation with her.”
“I am afraid that you will have to speak to her regardless, however, I do know of a few tradesmen who are about my age, perhaps a hair younger, who have worked hard and made substantial fortunes, and are now ready to marry. They would not look askance at your sister, especially with her dowry.”
“She would not accept it. Her sights are set far above our origins.” He shook his head.
“If it means the difference between marriage and not, what is her choice?” Mr. Gardiner looked him in the eye. “Are you ashamed of your roots?”
“No, not at all. I am no more ashamed of mine than …well Darcy could be ashamed of his.” Bingley smiled.
“Excellent. Then perhaps we could arrange for your sister to meet these gentlemen and see if anything comes of it. If she makes a favourable impression she could be off of your hands fairly quickly. I remember that she is not without appeal, and frankly these men would tolerate quite a lot for a handsome wife and dowry to match.” He chuckled to see Bingley’s face reflect his hope. “Of course, she would have to cooperate.”
Bingley grimaced. “I think that the choice of winter with our relatives or marriage to a wealthy tradesman will help her make a sound decision. I cannot help but feel guilty for my part in this. I should have been more vigilant.”
“Your brother Hurst is far more experienced, he should have spoken. Surely he sensed that something was amiss?”
“He did, but … Well, I suppose that my sister has hardly ingratiated herself with him.”
“I can well imagine his desire to rearrange his household.” Mr. Gardiner’s lips twitched and Bingley looked down at his hands to cover his smile. “Every family has members that you would prefer were not, Son. I have a difficult sister myself.” Their eyes met and Bingley nodded.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I am pleased to help. I know of several dinners scheduled for the coming week, I will speak to the hosts; or rather I will have my wife speak to the hostesses to assess which event holds the most promise. Your duty will be to speak to your sister and determine if you will be attending at all. Now, when do you plan to visit Pemberley?”
“I expect to arrive by early October, and stay as long as they will have me.” They laughed. “I planned on taking my sister to our relatives’ home and meeting with the board of directors for the factories, then going south to Pemberley. Perhaps with your help I will be travelling north alone.”
“I understand that they will be coming to town to deliver Miss Darcy and my niece Mary to school then retrieving Jane from Longbourn for the trip back to Pemberley.”
“Yes.” Bingley smiled. “I look forward to meeting Miss Bennet again.” His brow creased when Mr. Gardiner seemed to study him. “She is not like my sister. After her disappointment with Harwick, I hope that she finds much happiness in marriage one day.”
Mr. Gardiner nodded slowly. “So do I.”
JANE CLOSED HER EYES and attempted to drown out the incessant sound of her mother’s voice. What would Lizzy do?
“That Mr. Harwick!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed once again. “How dare he treat you so poorly! I have written to my brother and told him how angry I am that he failed you so! Giving permission for such a man to pay court! He should have known that Mr. Harwick was a good-for-nothing!”
“Mama, please, Mr. Harwick did what he felt was best for everyone concerned.” Jane murmured tiredly.
“Best?” She cried. “Leading you on and then leaving you unmarried is not the best! I am so embarrassed! All of my friends are sniggering behind my back! I told them what a great match you made, but here you are at home again!”
“But Lizzy made a fine match, Mama. Your friends should be impressed with that.” Mary said quietly. Jane caught her eye and smiled gratefully.
“Well, there is that.” Mrs. Bennet considered. “Mrs. Darcy! How well that sounds! We must go and visit them!”
“Mama they are on their honeymoon, and Mr. Darcy told you that they would prefer to be on their own.”
“Nonsense! What can they possibly want to do alone all the time?” She declared then her mouth shut. Her two daughters stared curiously at her and she blushed. “I have work to do, I cannot sit here talking to you all day!”
“I am glad to hear that Mrs. Bennet.” Mr. Bennet appeared in the doorway. “I have let you vent your spleen long enough. Unfortunately I do not possess Mr. Darcy’s talent for silencing you with a look, however I do have a tongue and Elizabeth has encouraged me to use it.”
“What are you speaking of?”
“Your inability to curb your tongue is why you are hearing the sniggers of your friends. You were told that Mr. Harwick’s decision was hardly set in stone; you should not have gone about the countryside crowing about it. Your behaviour drove him away. It is my fault for not correcting you; it is my fault that Jane was rejected.”
The three women stared at him in stunned silence. Never had Mr. Bennet taken ownership of their behaviour. He felt their attention and cleared his throat. “Now, what are you doing to improve your situations? Go … Go read. Where are Kitty and Lydia? Set them to … to work, Mrs. Bennet.” He turned and disappeared into his bookroom.
Mrs. Bennet’s gaze went to her girls. “Did I really drive him away?”
“He was displeased with all of us, Mama.” Jane said quietly. “He is no monster. I wish that you would stop speaking of him that way.”
From another room the quarrelling voices of Kitty and Lydia could be heard. “Good heavens what are those two arguing over now! Mary! Give me your book!” She grabbed it and ran from the room, and the two girls sat and drank in the blessed silence.
“Why did you come home, Jane? You surely knew what Mama would be like after Lizzy and Mr. Stewart, although I think that Mama blamed Lizzy for everything.”
“She did, but I felt that I deserved to hear whatever she says. I am partially to blame for what happened.” She smiled to see Mary’s confusion. “I drove him away as surely as Mama and Papa did, I was not welcoming at all. I have learned a lesson though. When I do meet a man who I like, I will let him know.”
“But Doctor Fordyce …”
“Is incorrect. Lizzy was correct. She rarely saw Mr. Darcy, but when she did, she made such an impact with her admiration that he never forgot her, so when they met in truth, they barely hesitated.” She tilted her head at Mary. “I thought that you were not allowed to read Fordyce’s sermons any longer.”
“I am not, but I still remember what I read!” She said obstinately. “Papa is making me read the books that Lizzy used to study, but I suppose that I do not find them as sati
sfying as theology.”
“You should marry a reverend.” Jane smiled. “There must be a good parson in want of a wife somewhere.”
“I am far too young to think of such things!” Mary blushed scarlet. “I am so glad that Papa will not let Mama put me out until I am seventeen!”
“I am so happy that nobody wanted me at fifteen!”
Mary thought of her sister. “I cannot imagine being the mistress of such a home as Lizzy has at my age let alone hers. We must send her a note telling her all about Charlotte dancing with Mr. Hugus at the assembly; only her brother danced with her before. Mr. Lucas even danced with me!” She smiled shyly. “My first assembly and my first dance with a man. Well, my only dance.”
Jane squeezed her hand. “Mr. Lucas is very kind, we should be so fortunate to have such a brother.” She smiled with the memory of his nervous request for a dance with her.
“We do have a brother, now! Perhaps Mr. Darcy will dance with me someday, he is so handsome.” She sighed at the thought and blushed. “Listen to me, I sound like Kitty!” She saw Jane shake her head and shrugged. “Well a little. Talking of Lizzy makes me livelier, I guess. I miss her so much. I wonder if Mr. Darcy will dance with Lizzy at the assemblies in Derbyshire.”
Jane looked down at her hands. “I have no doubt at all that he will, although I suspect that they will attend private balls rather than public assemblies in his home county.”
“Not if Lizzy has anything to say about it!”
“You have a letter, miss.” Hill entered and handed it to Jane.
“It is from Lizzy!” Jane exclaimed.
“Oh look at the paper!” Mary touched it. “I have never seen such fine stationary.”
“I think that the paper is only the first thing we will have to marvel over when we someday see Pemberley.” Jane carefully broke the wax seal stamped with Darcy’s mark, and eagerly opened the sheets.
17 July 1809
Pemberley
Derbyshire
Dear Jane,
Forgive me for being so slow to respond, I have barely time to scribble a few lines in my journal, let alone write a letter. My husband endeavours to capture my undivided attention! I had to wait for a morning when his steward stubbornly refused to leave his study and at last he gave in to duty. Now do not think him negligent, he is hardly that, but he wishes to make the most of our solitude before Georgiana returns and the harvest begins.
I am slowly becoming acquainted with my duties, or rather with all the mistress should command. I have decided to tackle them by learning a new item each week. I have a list, and I think that by the time our guests arrive in October, I will be in a fair way of knowing the greater portion of them. Fitzwilliam is nervous about having so many here; the most he has entertained were his relatives last year for a few hunts. We will begin visiting the homes of Pemberley’s tenants tomorrow. Fitzwilliam assures me that I have nothing to fear; and he wants them all to know me. I can only trust him, and of course I do. I hope that they will accept and trust me to do what I can for them.
Now tell me Jane, how are you withstanding Mama? If her pronouncements are anything close to what I heard, I know that your head is spinning. I would not hesitate to board a coach to London if I was you, but of course you will not. I highly recommend walking. I know that it is not your favourite activity, perhaps take Nellie out for a ride? Escape is your only hope, that or becoming suddenly engaged! Is Papa at least trying to curb her?
How are our sisters? Have they become studious with Papa’s new edicts? I only say that half in jest; I sincerely hope that he will do well by them. Fitzwilliam is hesitant to believe that anything will change. Please assure me that he is mistaken! I have no concerns for Mary; she will soon shine in her new school.
We heard from Mr. Bingley, poor man. I know that he will be so happy to be here with us and away from his sister! Note that I did not describe her as miserable! I may have thought it but I did not write it down. Well, perhaps I did. I am not you, Jane. I cannot see the good in everyone. Unless it is Mr. Bingley, he is a very good friend to us all.
Please give my love to our family, and please write to me soon!
Elizabeth Darcy
“Marriage has not changed her has it?” Mary said thoughtfully as she read. “I think she is happier, if that is possible.”
“I think so as well.” Jane sighed and glanced at the last lines again. “Mr. Bingley is a good friend to us all.” She said softly.
“I am sorry, did you say something?”
Jane blinked and smiled. “No, nothing at all.”
ELIZABETH REACHED OUT and brushed Darcy’s forehead with her fingertips, moving the fringe of hair away so that his entire face was revealed. She tucked her hands back under the pillow and watched his lashes flutter, and heard a soft sigh. It had been six weeks, and the sight of her sleeping husband had lost not one bit of its fascination, and she suspected it never would. She knew by now that waking him when he was this deeply asleep was nearly impossible, although, admittedly, she had not tried very hard. Likely it was a combination of not wishing to disturb and the pleasure of simply looking upon him in such a relaxed state that held her back. She could touch him, glide her hands from his shoulders, down his back, and over his sweet round bottom and return, and he would smile in his dream, sometimes whisper Lizzy, sometimes hug his pillow or her tighter. It was all the same; to her he was saying he loved her.
This night, the eve of his sister’s return, they had spent walking under the light of the full moon, hand in hand, until they reached the lake and sat together, their bare feet dangling in the cold water, and talked. Darcy at last spoke of his mother, and how her sudden loss had nearly paralyzed him. Then he spoke of his father, and how he now understood the depth of his despair. Elizabeth understood already his fear of losing her, but now it was spoken coherently and they discussed it openly. She had been waiting for him to say more, she knew him well now, and knew it would come when he was ready. Darcy had been dwelling on the subject when he was alone. She had reassured him the best way she could, and told him that she did understand the risks of pregnancy and childbirth. They discussed all that they understood of their religion’s teachings, and how different the expectations of their society was from those below them, and ultimately they agreed that despite their worries, children were imperative to Pemberley’s future. Clearly his fears would not be resolved with one hug. He would need to talk about it frequently. She learned that each of them had roles to play in this unusual marriage, and in this subject she was to be the strong and reassuring partner. It was only fair; he was the strong one for nearly everything else.
“You are a complex gentleman.” She whispered to him and kissed his slightly parted lips. He smiled and his eyes opened to see her for a moment, then he fell back to his dreams. Elizabeth smiled. “aha!” She snuggled against him and thought over the end of their conversation at the lake.
“Will you be happy living here, do you think? More than in town?” He smiled and ducked when she kicked some water at him.
“What a ridiculous question! How could any woman say no to that?”
“I can imagine a few.”
“I imagine you have met a few.”
“So you answered your own question, will you answer mine?” He kicked a little water back at her and turned when she wetted her hand to flick droplets at him.
“Of course I am happy here. Do I not appear that way?”
“You are always happy.”
“And that is so terrible because …”
He chuckled. “Dearest I am still a dour fellow; your light is what draws me out. It is my desire to always see you happy.”
“So that you will keep feeling as wonderful as you do now?” She tilted her head at him and saw his nod. “Fitzwilliam, why not simply say that you need me?”
Darcy smiled. “Because when I do, you become shyer than I.”
“So you force me to debate philosophy with you to make a point.”
“Precisely. I knew you would understand, you do understand, do you not?”
“Yes, everything that we have spoken of tonight makes that perfectly clear.”
“So my dear, are you feeling shy, out here in the dark with the crickets and the owls?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Keeping his eyes on her he pulled off his shirt, and breeches, then stood before her nude and holding out his hand. “Come.”
“Where?” She laughed, and while running her hands over his admirable thighs, heard a groan and was pulled to her feet. He began to unbutton the simple morning dress she wore. “Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth exclaimed and hid against his chest when her clothes dropped to the ground.
His arms came around her waist and held her close. “WE are going swimming.”
“No!” She turned her head to stare at the inky black lake. “Oh no, not in the dark!”
“So you would prefer to swim the lake in the daytime? Very well, tomorrow morning when the boys are out exercising the horses …”
“You would never …”
“No, but I do wish to … Oh Lizzy, I want to feel you hold onto me while I … let me show you.” He scooped her up and strode down into the water. When his feet slipped she squealed, when the cold water touched her she nearly swore, and Darcy, delighted with her discomfort, naturally dropped her into the water.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy!”
“Yes my love?” He lifted her back up and kissed her soundly. “I never let go.”
“You are determined to scare me to death!”
“Why would I want to do that? I just said that I needed you.”
“No you did not.”
“Why are we arguing semantics when we could be enjoying passion?”
“And what sort of passion do you expect in this cold water?”
“I just wish to kiss you, love.”
Elizabeth sighed and thought over the glorious demonstration of devotion her reassured Fitzwilliam had displayed in his kisses, and giggled when she remembered her disastrous swimming lessons. She caressed him again and held his waist, then fell asleep.
Darcy awoke many hours later to find Elizabeth burrowed against his chest, and rested his face on his pillow to watch her sleep. He dared not move, for as soon as he did, he would be lost in her eyes. She always woke when he caressed her. Instead he thought about the past weeks together, and wrapping a long curl around his finger, thought about how many things had changed between them.
