by Wells, Linda
Elizabeth put down the letter and took his hand. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Thank you, dearest, but it is true, and you have witnessed it from time to time.” He kissed her hand. “I am fortunate that my descent was halted before it became ingrained.” They smiled at each other then he picked up Mrs. Gardiner’s letter while still holding Elizabeth’s hand. “Your aunt seems to have taken Miss Bingley aside and reminded her of her position.”
“Yes, my aunt has a talent for that; I hope to be like her someday.” She smiled as Darcy’s eyes began to twinkle. “What are you thinking?”
“I believe that you are well on your way.” Darcy laughed when her brows rose. “Well, in any case, the tradesman’s wife seems to have informed the tradesman’s daughter that she is nothing special and to get her priorities in order, which should be security.”
“Which means marriage.”
“Which means, Miss Bingley has reluctantly accepted the offer of courtship from Mr. White.”
“Well, she will always smell nice, and she will have a home.” Elizabeth offered.
“You are too good.”
“As long as she is not visiting us, I give her all the goodwill I possess.”
“That is a great deal.” Darcy’s fingers entwined with hers. “I need to have a portrait of you made. I need to see that sparkle in your eye captured on canvas.”
“Would it be similar to the one of your parents’? The two of us together? I would like that very much, and maybe … maybe the artist could paint a miniature for me.”
“Of us together?” Darcy’s thumb began stroking her wrist.
“No, just of you.” She smiled shyly.
“May I have one made of you? I need you to sit here on my desk to keep me company when I am working.” He smiled and she looked down to nod. “Thank you, love.”
“Oh!” Georgiana entered the room to see Elizabeth’s head down and Darcy grasping her hand. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all dear, come in.” Darcy smiled and Elizabeth looked back up. “What can we do for you?”
“I have a letter from Mrs. Somers.” She held it up. “She asked me to thank you again for your generosity.”
“It was the least I could do. How fares her father?”
“He is not well at all.” She looked at the letter. “She is grateful that she will have a little time with him before the end. Fitzwilliam, if her father dies soon, could she come back to us?”
“There would really be no reason to, Georgiana. You will be leaving for school in a matter of weeks.”
Elizabeth touched a letter. “I heard from Mary, she is so happy to be going to school with you. She is very nervous.”
“So am I.” Georgiana sank into a chair and watched her brother’s thumb as it continued to move on Elizabeth’s wrist. “Audrey told me what to expect, though she is a lady and I am not.”
“Does that frighten you? Do you think that the peers’ daughters will treat you unkindly?”
“I do not know. Audrey said that most of the girls are nice and that there is a mix of them. The snooty ones are girls we would not like anyway.” She smiled and lifted her chin. “So I will ignore them.”
“Good for you.” Darcy cheered.
“Elizabeth taught me that.” Georgiana smiled at her.
“They will probably leave you alone but I fear for Mary there.” Elizabeth confessed and felt Darcy’s grip tighten. “She will be so low compared to the others. They will not be kind once they know her circumstances, and they might even challenge you to explain your favour.”
“There is nothing wrong with her! Besides, she is my sister now, so she is the same as me.”
Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged looks. “I am pleased to hear you say that. Keep in mind that she is just like I was, even worse since she never came to stay in London with our relatives. She cares little of fashion, and is very studious.”
“Oh.” Georgiana looked to her brother. “What should I do?”
He smiled. “Could you do what Father asked you to do for me? Could you look after her?”
“But she is two years older than me! She should be the one caring for me.”
“But she does not know how. You must educate her.” Elizabeth smiled. “We shall begin with taking you both to Madame Dupree to purchase your wardrobe.”
“We will have to go early then.” Georgiana looked at Darcy. “In the middle of September?”
“We will leave in two weeks, dear. We will stop at Longbourn to collect Mary, and she will stay with us until school begins.”
“And then after we leave, just remember that Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will come to you should you need anything at all. And we will come to London for your school holidays.”
Georgiana nodded and stood. “I will write to Mary and tell her our plans and reassure her.”
“She would appreciate that very much Georgiana.” Elizabeth smiled.
Darcy watched her leave then squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “She is growing up. I am pleased with the changes that are coming over her. She seems to be less self-centred. This is your doing.”
“Oh, I cannot claim credit for that, Fitzwilliam! She has only been home for a month. I am sure that your aunt and cousins had more influence than I.”
“No, I disagree. Her time at Matlock House taught her proper behaviour and the expectations of our class. Her time with you, watching you learn your role, seeing you interact with the staff and the tenants, witnessing our love, has taught her humanity. That is a rare quality for someone of our circle to possess, and I am so happy that you have given it to her.”
“Thank you, Will.” Elizabeth said softly. “But you are the same; I think that she watches you as much as me.” Darcy blushed and tried to cover his embarrassment.
“Are you sporting for an argument, Lizzy?”
“I would win.”
“I would let you.”
“You never let me win.”
“When it would work to my advantage I do.” His eyes twinkled at her.
Elizabeth’s flashed. “Oh? And when is that? Do you consider me incapable of making my point and backing my assertions with proven fact?”
“I said nothing of the sort, I merely state that I know when to let my obstinacy go.”
“Because you feel that you are always correct.”
“Not always.”
“Oh! But most of the time?”
Darcy pursed his lips and smiled while shaking his head. “I will not satisfy you with an answer to that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have a long memory and will undoubtedly use the answer against me endlessly through the rest of our long lives.”
“You just gave me your answer!”
“I did not, I said nothing.”
“It was implied.”
“It was …” Darcy began to laugh. “Oh dearest, I love you.”
“Not fair, sir.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled at him.
“Sir?”
“SIR!”
Darcy sighed and looked sadly down at their tightly clasped hands. “You do not love me.”
“Now you are putting words in my mouth.” She saw him peeking up at her. “You play dirty Mr. Darcy.” His lips twitched. “Oh all right, I love you!”
“Was that so hard?”
Elizabeth stood and squeezed his hand. “I will not dignify your question with a response. Now if you will excuse me, I have letters to write.”
“Sit here with me and write.”
“I will accomplish nothing with those blue eyes looking at me.”
“I will be quiet.”
“I said your eyes, Mr. Darcy, not your voice.”
“Please do not leave me alone.” His voice was very low and soft.
She sank back down into the chair. “Now that request I cannot ignore.” Elizabeth took a sheet of paper and picked up a pen. “Do not dare to smirk.”
“I would not think of it.” Darcy lifted the lid
to the inkpot and smiled. I won!
“WHAT AN EXCITING DISPLAY!” Elizabeth looked around at the enormous crowd of Pemberley’s tenants, rich and poor alike, as well as possibly the entire population of Lambton, as they spread over the grounds of the home farm and celebrated the successful end of the harvest on the bright mid-September day. She laughed while turning to beam up at Darcy. “I have never seen the like!”
“I wonder at your amazement, love. You planned it all.” Darcy raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “This is the most spectacular Harvest Home Pemberley has seen in my memory. Well done!”
She blushed with his praise and bit her lip, looking happily around at the animated faces of their tenants. “I hardly did this alone; in fact I hesitate to take any credit at all. All I did was look in awe at the plans your very capable staff presented to me. This is nothing new to them. I have always wanted to have a proper harvest celebration, and only requested that certain items be included. Longbourn has a small celebration every year, but … oh I wished to do so much more for the people who work so terribly hard.” Elizabeth felt his hand squeeze hers tightly and looked up to see his warm gaze. “What is it, dear?”
“I hardly have words to explain my feelings. Never has this celebration been so jubilant, and your influence is everywhere, no matter what you say.” He smiled happily and scanned the crowd. “I am glad that we chose to hold this now, before leaving for London. I like having this as a Pemberley affair alone.”
“What would it be otherwise?” She laughed and he shrugged. “You did not wish to share this with our family and guests?”
“No. I suppose that is it. This is for us.” He looked around and spotted Georgiana. “Do you realize that …” His eyes grew moist and he stopped. “Forgive me.”
Elizabeth followed his gaze to see Georgiana laughing and dancing with the children. “These are probably Georgiana’s last moments as a child.” She saw him nod and leaned against his shoulder. “She will have dancing lessons now, and be taught the ways of society.”
“She has been taught these things before but now they take on a far more serious connotation.” He swallowed and sighed. “Soon she will be grown and gone.” He looked down to see Elizabeth’s soft smile. “I am a silly fool.”
“No Fitzwilliam, you are behaving like a father.” She touched his cheek and he kissed her fingertips. “That is a good thing, I think.”
“I suppose.” He smiled then pulled himself together to greet the tenants who came by in an unending stream to express their appreciation for his benevolence and care. Elizabeth stayed by his side, holding onto him tightly as he addressed and listened carefully to each man, acknowledged each farmer’s wife, and solemnly greeted the silent children who surrounded them. She would bend far down to smile warmly at each child and compliment their mothers for how finely they were turned out, and after each family departed, Darcy would give her hand a squeeze. When at last the greetings were finished he turned to her and kissed her gently. A rousing cheer instantly spread through the crowd and both blushed. “I wanted to thank you for helping me through that. I forgot myself. Forgive me.”
“I have never seen you so comfortable with greeting people before, you had nothing to endure at all.” Elizabeth caressed his face and kissed him, which inspired another cheer. “Forgive me.” She blushed and looked down. “Why do they cheer so?”
“They are happy to see the master married.” He smiled as she blushed anew. “They are hoping for the future of Pemberley.” Elizabeth raised her eyes to his. “Come, dance with me.”
“In front of all of these people?” She teased as he led her to the line amidst the applause of the crowd. “What has come over you?”
He drew a deep breath and looked around. “These are our people, dearest, and you have made this our home. I would gladly never leave here again.” He bent and kissed her before stepping back and taking his place. Elizabeth laughed and he smiled. “Now mistress of Pemberley, let us show these people how to dance.”
WICKHAM SCOOPED UP HIS WINNINGS and gave his companions a slight bow. “I thank you for your generosity.”
“If you want to thank us, you’d stay and give us a chance at winning it back.” One man growled.
“No, not tonight, perhaps some other time, my lady awaits me.” He gestured to a table where Mrs. Younge sat and watched him.
“Are you in love, Wickham?” The table erupted in laughter.
“I love what the lady is willing to provide.” He smirked and the men’s suggestions and commentary followed him across the room. Sinking into his chair he looked over the meal that was spread before them. “What is all this? No desire to cook tonight?”
“I got an advance in pay to buy supplies for my students.” She shrugged. “Why not have a bit of meat for me as well?”
“hmm.” Wickham tucked into the thick soup and looked up to see her hand out. “What?”
“Rent money, pay up now. I know you are flush, your friends gave that away.”
Reluctantly he handed over the coins. “You are a hard woman, Dotty.”
“I know to get it from you now before you spend it all.” She regarded him carefully. “What are you going to do? You need an income.”
“I know. I put some feelers out, my name remains one to avoid, but the gossip is dying down with most of society gone to the country. It’s the mid-level gentry that I have to win over again, and they are still here in numbers.”
“What do you plan to do in the meantime?”
“I have some ideas, of course, I have you.” He grinned and she grimaced.
“I will be in the school next week. I saw the roster of names today.”
“Oh? Anyone interesting?” He slurped his soup and reached to tear off a piece of bread from the loaf.
“Georgiana Darcy.”
Wickham stopped his activity. “Is that right?” He said slowly. “So Darcy is sending his precious sister to school, probably so he can have his comely wife to himself, not that he knows what to do with her.” He became lost in thought, remembering his visits to Darcy House when the son was away, and he acted as a playmate to the favourite child of his benefactor. The behaviour was effective in charming Mr. Darcy until he made that great mistake in suggesting that he would be an ideal choice as her husband. Wickham internally cringed when he remembered the jewels they were examining being slammed into a strongbox and saw that Mr. Darcy was working to control his anger when he stood to put it away. By the time he returned to his seat his face was a smooth mask, just the same as his son’s, but Lord Matlock did not hide his disdain at all. “Idiot. You overplayed your hand. I bet I could have pulled it off if I was more subtle.”
“What did you say?” Mrs. Younge asked curiously as she watched emotions crossing his face.
“Oh … Miss Darcy has a dowry of thirty thousand pounds.”
Mrs. Young gasped. “And what were you going to do?”
“Marry her.” Wickham shrugged when she laughed. “I know it was far-fetched, but the girl does like me.”
“Thirteen-year-old girls like any handsome man who smiles at them.”
“That is true.” He said thoughtfully. “That is very true. Thirty-thousand pounds dowry. Darcy has entirely too much money.”
“YOU BARELY ATE BREAKFAST, please dearest, have something now.” Darcy pushed the bowl of soup closer and lifted the spoon in preparation to feed her. “Come, I do not like seeing you ill.”
“You have never seen me ill, Fitzwilliam.” She smiled weakly and gently pushed his hand away. “I am fine, I am just not hungry. When we arrive at Longbourn I am sure that Mama will have something prepared.”
“But that will be at least two hours. Please, I cannot have you fainting there!”
“Because you would be left alone to take on my family?” She leaned on his shoulder and laughed softly.
“Well there is that, but I was thinking that your family would not think well of me appearing with their favourite daughter in less than pris
tine condition.” He tilted his head and smiled a little, but the worry remained in his expression.
“Favourite?” She settled in closer. “Maybe to Papa.”
“Oh your mother’s last letter clearly stated how proud she is to be the mother-in-law of Mr. Darcy.” His lips twitched a little, and he felt a pinch through his coat. “Please, Lizzy?”
“Do eat Elizabeth; Fitzwilliam is a nervous wreck when the people he cares for are ill. You have seen how upset he has been with Audrey and now Alicia’s pregnancies.” Georgiana looked to see her brother’s expression change to reflect his fear. “I am sorry; I should not have mentioned it.” He nodded and returned his intense gaze to Elizabeth.
“I am not ill, I am just not hungry.” Elizabeth saw their scepticism. “Very well, give me some bread.”
“And soup.” Darcy pushed to bowl to her again. “Please?”
“A little.” She sighed and took a mouthful, but did not miss the triumphant gleam in his eyes. “You sir, are a nuisance.”
“And proud of the title.” He smiled and watched her take a bite of bread and relaxed enough to eat his own meal. “We will stop at Longbourn long enough for greetings and loading Mary’s trunks. I want you in our home with good reliable meals and a warm bed. If I was not hol …” Elizabeth’s wide eyes stopped him before he blurted out to Georgiana that they shared a bed and that he held her freezing body all night. “ …wholly convinced that we are already staying at the best inns, I would take our business elsewhere.” He saw her eyes lift to the ceiling and smile at his quick recovery.
“I was comfortable.” Georgiana shrugged. “But I will be glad to be in my bed tonight. I wonder what it will be like at school. Audrey and Alicia told me about it, but until I am there, I suppose it will remain a worry.”
Elizabeth put down her spoon and Darcy immediately stopped eating to watch as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Are you worried?”
“Yes.” Georgiana said softly. “But I … I have decided not to be afraid.”
“Well that is good news. How has that come about?” Elizabeth startled when she felt a cup of tea being held to her lips. She saw the concern in Darcy’s eyes and took a sip. He set it down and popped a piece of bread in her mouth. Elizabeth chewed and seeing Georgiana hiding her giggles behind her hand, at last closed her eyes and glared. “Fitzwilliam Darcy, stop this!” She said in a low angry tone. “I am not an invalid! I am simply not hungry!” She tore off a large piece of bread and pushed it between his frowning lips. “There! Do you see how it feels?”
