Memory: Volume 2, Trials to Bear, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice)

by Wells, Linda

  “To Mrs. Evangeline Carter, for resisting him!” Layton grinned.

  “To the happy couple, may it be inevitable!” Darcy drank and they all laughed.

  Lord Matlock accepted the refill that Darcy offered and settled back in the chair. “Richard swears that he saw that Wickham character nosing about Darcy House when he passed the other day. I am sure it was his imagination. What reason would he have to be there? He is certainly no friend of yours.”

  “No he certainly is not.” Darcy’s brow creased. “Of course, it likely was not him.”

  “Are there an abundance of dissolute men hanging about your neighbourhood, Darcy?” Layton asked seriously.

  “Stephen.”

  He looked at his father. “I am just saying that Richard was shot in the leg, not the head. I trust his powers of observation.”

  “Most of the homes are probably emptying out now; I imagine that thieves are looking at them with anticipation.” Lord Matlock mused.

  “I will send a note to Mrs. Mercer to be on guard.”

  Layton held up his hand. “I already spoke to them Darcy, and Richard proposed staying there himself.”

  “Oh.” A smile appeared on Darcy’s face. “I understand now.”

  “What?”

  “My cousin has created an urgent need for his presence so that he might sleep in my rooms and drink my port. And perhaps have a convenient place to entertain?” Darcy relaxed. “He should have just asked.”

  “He was very convincing, Darcy.”

  “Well I cannot imagine what Wickham would be doing there. I think that my last no was fairly convincing. If it was he, it is possible that he might have ingratiated himself into the bed of a new widow in the neighbourhood. Not everyone in town would know his story.”

  “Well that is true enough. Handsome and charming.” Layton noted and smiled at Darcy’s glower.

  “I never saw it myself.”

  “You are remembering your father’s favour.” Lord Matlock tilted his head to read his face. “I will be honest with you; I did not like it either. Particularly when you were away.”

  “What do you mean?” Darcy’s brow creased. “He visited my father?”

  “Of course, and always with his hand out.” Lord Matlock sighed. “He came by when your father was showing me the jewels he bought for Georgiana, the ones that are saved for her coming out, wedding, and first child?”

  “Yes.” Darcy thought of that afternoon when she had tried on the Darcy jewels and eyed the three unopened boxes so curiously.

  “Wickham had the audacity to enquire after Georgiana’s dowry, laughingly suggesting that he would be an ideal husband.”

  Darcy startled. “He what?”

  “Your father was not amused, I am happy to say. Wickham charmed his way out of that uncomfortable conversation, and after a bit more time, your father handed him a note and he was gone. We spoke at length about him after that, and how careful we will have to be with unscrupulous men interested in your sister’s dowry. I will certainly talk to you about this at length when she is to come out. She will be the subject of a great deal of attention one day.”

  “I know; it frightens me to the bone. I pray that she finds what I have, but I am not blind to the rarity of that. I do believe that I am capable of protecting her from the wiles of a man like Wickham. My sister would never sink to such charm.” Darcy said positively. “She knows her heritage and what is expected of her.”

  “Miss Bingley fell for him.” Layton reminded him.

  “Miss Bingley wanted him for much different reasons.” Darcy sighed.

  Lord Matlock laughed. “Well hopefully Bingley has learned his lesson and will do something about that.”

  “Hopefully my new uncle can give him the fatherly guidance he needs.” Darcy smiled at his uncle. “I certainly appreciate yours.”

  AFTER DINNER THE LADIES left the gentlemen and Elizabeth led the way to the music room. She felt Darcy’s eyes following her; he had barely looked anywhere else during the meal. “It must be a relief to be free of Darcy’s scrutiny, Elizabeth.” Alicia whispered as they walked. “Does he always watch so carefully?”

  “Do you think that he was looking for fault? I thought he was pleased.” Elizabeth asked worriedly. “I was trying to emulate the hostesses I have observed this Season.”

  “Oh no, Brother would not look at you with anything but admiration!” Georgiana declared.

  “I … I assumed he was curious, this was your first dinner.” Alicia looked at her mother-in-law for help.

  “My dear, Darcy was most certainly not looking for fault. He was likely unhappy having to share.” Lady Matlock smiled to see Elizabeth bite her lip. “Tell me where did you sit before we arrived?”

  “By his side.”

  “There, you see? It is the different seating arrangement that bothered him, if indeed anything did. I imagine that Elizabeth’s assessment was correct, he was pleased.” They entered the music room and took seats while Georgiana went to the pianoforte and began looking through the sheets. “I noticed that the dinner was not nearly as elaborate as it usually is when we visit.”

  “Are you disappointed?” Elizabeth asked quietly. “Mrs. Reynolds presented me with Mrs. Harris’ menus and I felt that such a display was not necessary for a family meal. Ostentation is the direct opposite of everything that Fitzwilliam is. I … I had a disagreement with her over our views. Was I wrong?”

  Lady Matlock shook her head emphatically. “No. You know your husband. I would say that you know him better than a servant who has lived in the same house with him for more years than you have been alive.”

  Elizabeth glanced at Georgiana who was quietly playing then looked at her hands. “I am trying so hard. I am so frightened of failing and … The responsibilities that I have here are nothing to what I watched my mother address at home. I … I know that I am young and that the staff looks at me warily. I … I think that Mrs. Reynolds has been won, at least as long as Fitzwilliam seems happy, but I cannot stop feeling that they regard me as a … little girl playing house, and they are my dolls to do as I say. Mrs. Mercer was so different with me at Darcy House.”

  “Mrs. Mercer had the opportunity to witness your engagement and Darcy’s transformation firsthand. I wonder how much of what occurred in town was told to Mrs. Reynolds. Beyond that, I saw no evidence of the staff here regarding you with anything but respect. Every servant responded to your direction efficiently. I would say that they were eager to show you to your best advantage. The mistakes you made were covered by their service.”

  “I made mistakes?” She cried and closed her eyes. “I knew it! Oh I am not fit for this!”

  “Nonsense!” Lady Matlock took her hand. “The dinner at Matlock House was the first that you ever prepared, and we never even ate it properly! My dear, you are doing remarkably well!”

  Alicia moved to sit next to her and patted her shoulder. “I do not know that I could have done as well, and I have all of this schooling behind me. You only had your mother and what Lady Helen has taught you.”

  “And Aunt Gardiner.” Elizabeth sniffed and dabbed at her eyes.

  “Have you spoken to Darcy about your fears?”

  “No. He has enough. I am increasingly cognizant of the burdens he carries, and I am trying to determine how I might ease them.” She looked up to them. “He does not need to know of my worries. I do not want him to ever feel that he made a mistake.”

  “My dear, if my husband looked at me the way yours does, I imagine I would have been testing him to see just how many mistakes I could make before he noticed.” Lady Matlock laughed quietly. “You truly have nothing to fear from Darcy.”

  “I just know that if I tell him my struggles that he will swoop in to make it all right, and … I must not let him do that!” She said fiercely. “As wonderful and easy as that would be, it would undermine my position, would it not?” Elizabeth looked quickly between the ladies, hoping that they would agree.

  Lady Mat
lock sat back and took her hand away. “How old are you, Elizabeth?”

  “I … I will be eighteen in two days.”

  “I would swear that you were eight and twenty to hear you speak. I wish that girls were taught how to think this responsibly instead of worrying over the length of sleeves. You will be just fine, my dear.”

  The men appeared at the door and Darcy’s smile fell away when he saw Elizabeth. He ignored the ladies by her side and leaned down to take her hands. “Your eyes are red.”

  “Yours are blue.” She smiled and his brow creased. “I am well, dear. Truly.”

  He studied her silently and kissed her hands. “We will discuss this later, I think. Agreed?”

  “If you insist.”

  “I do.”

  “Am I in your way, Darcy?” Lady Matlock smiled. “Shall I move to another seat?”

  “That is unnecessary, Aunt. I shall move my wife.” He tugged and Elizabeth laughed while he pulled her up to stand. “Where shall we sit?”

  “Well, Georgiana is going to perform for us, shall we take a seat near her?”

  They settled on a sofa near the pianoforte. Lady Matlock whispered to her husband and he whispered back. They laughed with their shared observations. Layton and Alicia sat side-by-side and watched their cousins.

  “Are you well?” Darcy said softly, sending shivers down her spine with his warm breath upon the nape of her neck.

  “Stop that!”

  “What did I do?” His voice smiled and he leaned closer to whisper again. “I only wished to be sure of your comfort.”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes against the sensation, only to feel his thumb stroking endless circles over her palm. “My discomfort is more like it.”

  “You are shivering, how can that be on such a warm evening?” Darcy kissed her ear.

  “I … I am containing my ire. You are preventing my enjoyment of Georgiana’s performance.”

  “She is playing scales, my love.” He kissed her hair. “Your scent is intoxicating.”

  “So is yours.” Elizabeth sighed and leaned against his shoulder. Their fingers entwined and Elizabeth looked up to see his smile. “You look far too pleased with yourself.”

  Darcy chuckled. “While I admit to enjoying seeing the fire when your hackles are raised, I am happier still to see you relax.” He raised her hand to his lips to kiss her fingers, then tucking her hands within his grasp, looked to his sister. “What shall you play for us, Georgiana? We have been anticipating your performance.”

  “Oh!” She startled and blushed.

  “Come on Cousin, stop staring at the lovebirds and entertain us.” Layton called.

  “I am sure that the sight of their absolute lack of appreciation for decorum will become quite familiar very quickly.” Lord Matlock laughed. His wife poked him and he laughed harder. “Helen! You do not agree?”

  Layton spoke up. “Oh she will give Darcy a pass on behaviour just as she would Richard, but me or Audrey …”

  “I will not dignify that accusation with any attention.” Lady Matlock huffed. “I did not play favourites! Remember that when your child is born, Stephen!”

  “I will, whenever that happy event comes about.” He smiled at Alicia, but she only blushed.

  Darcy looked worriedly at Elizabeth then to Alicia. “Is there something that we do not know?”

  “No, not yet.” She said quietly and looked to Lady Matlock expressively.

  “No, not yet, but of course we have great expectations.”

  “Oh.” Said Darcy who smiled and relaxed again.

  “Oh.” Said Georgiana, deflating from the prospect.

  “Oh.” Said Elizabeth who looked to Alicia and saw a tiny nod.

  “Oh ho.” Said Lord Matlock who read his wife’s pleased smile.

  “Oh yes.” Layton took Alicia’s hand and kissed it. “Great expectations indeed.”

  15 AUGUST 1809

  Tomorrow I will be eighteen. Never in my wildest imaginings could I have conjured the location where I find myself on this day. I am sitting in my husband’s study, in his chair, before the desk that seems nearly as large as the bed we share. Everywhere I look there are neat piles. Letters to be opened, answered, or ignored. I am continually amazed with the sheer volume of the letters of congratulations that continue to flow in, but Fitzwilliam makes a point to tell me exactly who these people are and just what their motivation is for knowing him.

  Some sit on boards for charities that want his benevolence. Some are schoolmates hoping for a loan. Some are merely hoping for a connection and his attendance at their events now that he is married. And then there are a few, a very few, who he truly considers to be friends. Add to that the letters of business, and the demands from the tenants, parson, magistrate; how my husband has time to smile at me is miraculous.

  My petulant worries over inadequacy for my position seem petty in the extreme. I am grateful that I may ease this burden from him, although he constantly reminds me that he never took this particular duty on. Of course he wheedled his way into goading me to talk about it. It is infuriating the way he never forgets things! Just when I think that I have him sufficiently distracted from a subject, out of the blue he will open up the discussion. And what is even more infuriating is that there is no pattern to it! I can no more tell that a kiss on my throat will lead to an interrogation or if it will begin with him towering over me with that frustratingly endearing frown he wears! How can I combat such a stern expression? I believe that if he ever was justifiably furious with me, I would only feel his chastisement for a short while before I would wish to smile at how ridiculously attractive he is with that furrowed brow and want to kiss it away! Oh this man!

  I have no idea what set me off on this subject. Now I remember. I am sitting in his study, somewhere I do not usually come when he is absent, but today he is off touring the estate with his uncle and cousin, Alicia is taking a rest for some unidentified illness, Georgiana is joyously playing the new pianoforte that Fitzwilliam purchased for her a few weeks ago, and Lady Matlock sat me down to go over in excruciating detail my duties as mistress. EVERY single one. It was exhausting, and when I was at last released the first thing I thought to do was come to sit in the embrace of my husband’s chair. It is here that I feel so safe that I am free to rant on about nothing at all. How he tolerates me is a mystery, but I remain grateful for it daily!

  I hear Georgiana calling so I must end this now. My new sister is so happy to be home, and I look forward to our guests departing so that we might truly form the bond that she deeply needs. I shall embrace my Fitzwilliam’s chair and return to my work. Thank you dearest, even in your absence you comfort me.

  Darcy set down the journal and moved his knotted ribbon to the page before sitting back and listening to the laughter drifting down the hallway from the general direction of the music room. He smiled to hear their happiness and closed his eyes to drink it in. His eyes opened when Lord Matlock knocked and took a seat across from him.

  He gestured to the hallway. “The house is alive again, Darcy.”

  “It is.” He sighed and smiled. “All due to a slip of a girl.”

  Chapter 3

  “You are serious? I refuse to accept this!” Caroline declared. Bingley closed his eyes, steeled himself, then faced his infuriated sister again. “That is your only choice, Caroline. It is your performance that put you into this position. If you had just kept your business out of the papers all would be well! I was having a hard enough time moving about in the first circles without Darcy’s presence, but add in your behaviour and I … I am an amiable man Caroline, but for the first time in a very long time, I find that I must use all of my strength to conjure a smile! I feel as lost as I was when I first arrived in town with a pocketful of money and no idea how to proceed! The inroads that I have made into society are … Do you know how it feels to have people perpetually snigger at you behind your back?” Bingley paced. “I must repair the damage to my name, and I must do it on my own. If Dar
cy were here undoubtedly all would be smoothed over quickly, however, I realize that I cannot be labelled as Darcy’s puppy forever.” He stopped and looked her in the eye. “That is what they call me. I must be my own man.”

  “What does that have to do with me?” She sniffed. “You failed me!”

  “I?” Bingley stared. “I admit that I was completely taken in by Wickham, and I wish that I had listened to Darcy’s counsel, but it was your machinations that encouraged him in the first place. I cannot believe that you thought marrying Wickham would get you the first circles!”

  “I thought that he was … It does not matter now. It was clear that I would not get to the top through marriage to any other gentleman who was available to me.” Caroline sank down on a sofa tiredly. “I have been through two Seasons, Charles. I am not blind. I know that I am undesired by the first circles. I had such hopes when Mr. Darcy befriended you. If you had just encouraged him my way …”

  “Darcy’s heart was taken before you ever met him.” Bingley pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.

  “So I did have a chance with him!” She cried.

  “No Caroline, when I was first befriended by Darcy, before I knew the man he truly is, I thought it was a possibility, however remote, simply because of your dowry and he, I expected, would be like so many other men I have met and would accept a woman for the financial gain. But he made it very clear to me that he was not interested in you from the start. I thought then that it was our origins alone, but …it does not matter. He was not interested at all, and I might add, the more he heard of you and saw you, the less he liked you.”

  Caroline bristled. “What do you mean? I am the perfect example of a proper woman.”

  “You learned your school lessons but nobody taught you kindness. And you aspired to be far above yourself. You could have easily won a man from Hurst’s level if you had been the slightest bit accommodating. I told you to give Darcy up.”

  “I do not know what you mean; I am kind to all who deserve it. I realized that Mr. Darcy was taken, and when Mr. Wickham came along I believed his tales, and thought if he was such good friends with Mr. Darcy, at least I would go to Pemberley that way. Mr. Darcy has everything that I have ever wanted. And then he rescued me.”