by Wells, Linda
“That will not stop him, you know.” Georgiana advised.
Darcy chewed slowly and swallowed, then turned his eyes to his soup and began eating in silence. The two ladies exchanged glances as he steadily finished his soup and then drank his tankard of ale. When finished he excused himself and left the table.
“What happened?” Elizabeth asked worriedly.
“I think that his feelings are hurt.” Georgiana said softly.
“Oh dear.” They sat silently picking at their food and when he did not return for several minutes, Elizabeth stood to look out the window. She saw Darcy exiting the privy and glance up to see her watching. He nodded and turned away to speak with the coachmen and disappeared from view. Some ten minutes later the ladies finished their turns with the commode and returned to find Darcy waiting. He stood and left some coins on the table.
“Are you ready?” He asked quietly.
“Yes, Fitzwilliam.” They both answered and he offered them each an arm and led them out to the coach. Georgiana entered first and Elizabeth stopped when he offered his hand to aid her. “Will, I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt you. I was just frustrated that you would not listen.”
“I know.” His lips lifted a little, and he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I am sorry for upsetting you. Are you ill?”
“I think that I am just weary of travel.” She smiled and he nodded, not quite believing her, but willing to accept her words for now.
“Well then let us finish this journey.” He kissed her cheek and they boarded. When he sat down he saw Elizabeth looking at a basket on the seat next to Georgiana.
“What is that?”
“Buns.” He smiled and his eyes twinkled when she sighed. “And cider. Just in case.”
Chapter 4
“It was awful, Aunt.” Elizabeth took a little sip of tea then set down her cup. They were alone in the private room assigned to them while Georgiana and Mary were measured and fussed over by Madame Dupree’s staff. “Lydia was dancing around, laughing at poor Mary, saying how she would be free to do whatever she wished since she was not going to that horrid school. Kitty seemed torn between joining her and wanting to imitate Georgiana’s poise, and finally succumbed to Lydia’s example. Well, then I mentioned that we would be coming here to purchase Mary’s new gowns and began to talk to Georgiana about how wonderful it is to have a modiste dress you, and they were finally silenced.” Elizabeth sighed. “Then Mama took note of the quality of Georgiana’s dress and began fawning over her in such a honey sweet manner that poor Georgiana had no idea what to do. She kept sending me looks for rescue, which of course I did.”“Did your father step in at all?”
She nodded. “Eventually, so she turned her attention to Fitzwilliam and he stopped her with one look. Papa reminded Lydia and Kitty that next year they would be the ones to go. Jane told them how very fortunate they were to have this opportunity and that it should not be wasted. They need to develop as many skills as they can so they could not only attract a gentleman but keep his attention once they do since marriage is the only means they have of securing their futures.”
Mrs. Gardiner’s brows rose. “Really? I believe that Jane has learned some hard lessons. Has she done anything to improve herself?”
“She is taking on many of Mama’s tasks, and has begun to read a little more. She sings in church now where before she remained silent. I intend to teach her my duties at Pemberley so she will have the knowledge I lacked when I married. If only we could help with her dowry, but Papa refuses to allow Fitzwilliam to do anything. Papa said that he would match the cost of the schooling that the other girls are receiving and add that to Jane’s portion. He said that he is mindful that Fitzwilliam is already paying a great deal for Mary’s education and dresses.”
“That is foolish pride at work there! I thought that your father would gladly accept such generosity, perhaps fuss a bit and make noises of paying Mr. Darcy back, but in the end accept it without thought. It would make everything easier for him, and as you well know, he is not a man to put himself out.”
“I know.” Elizabeth sighed. “Fitzwilliam will speak to him again when we return for Jane. Next Season she can accompany us to affairs and hopefully our presence will help her.” She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes.
Mrs. Gardiner regarded her in silence for several moments. “Lizzy, are you well?”
“I … Of course I am.” She looked worriedly at her Aunt. “Fitzwilliam is hovering over me constantly, I cannot be ill. It would frighten him so.”
“What are you feeling, dear?”
“I have a headache.” She sighed again. “I am not hungry and I … I am …” She looked down at her breasts and back up.
“Does it hurt when your husband touches you?”
“No, not pain, just tenderness. Oh Aunt what is wrong?” Elizabeth leaned forward. “Please tell me!”
“Have you had your courses recently?”
Elizabeth sat back and thought it over. “No … I have not even considered it, but no I have not since mid-July.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “I think you have not considered a great many things we discussed after your wedding. You my dear, may be with child.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh no!”
Mrs. Gardiner moved to sit next to her. “Dear, it is a consequence of marriage; I thought that you looked forward to this?”
“But that was before Audrey and Alicia … oh Aunt; you cannot know how frightened Fitzwilliam is for his cousins! He even fears reading letters from his family should there be any mention of the pregnancies! He gives them all to me and only when I assure him that there is no bad news will he read. What will he do with me?”
“It seems to me that you should delay telling him this news until you are certain, although I doubt that you will be able to hide it for long. Your body will be changing and a passionate man like your husband will notice when he comes to visit with you.” She noticed Elizabeth blushing and twisting her hands. “What is it? Has he noticed already?”
“Aunt, Mr. Darcy does not visit with me.”
“He does not? But …I find that hard to believe Lizzy, he loves you deeply! Why would he stay away?”
“He does not.” Elizabeth glanced up and bit her lip.
Mrs. Gardiner regarded her and tilted her head, then whispered, “He sleeps with you? Every night, even when your courses come?” She saw Elizabeth nod and a smile spread over her face. “Oh my. Well then, this is a secret I am afraid you will not be keeping for long at all. Perhaps you should think of a way to tell him, and I will speak to your uncle and have him sit down with Mr. Darcy when you do. Hopefully he can reassure him.”
“Only my safe delivery will do that, I am afraid.” Elizabeth sighed and looked down to her gown. “Should I order some larger things while I am here? Just in case?”
“I believe so. And I have no doubt of it.” She smiled and turned to signal one of the girls. “Mrs. Darcy would like to speak to Madame, please.”
“I wonder if Mama noticed, she started to speak of Mr. Darcy’s heir and my duty to provide one and he gave her another of those quelling stares …” Elizabeth saw her aunt smile and held her hands. “If I am to be a mother, I hope that I can be like you.”
“DARCY, I TELL YOU, she is a frustrating, infuriating, miserable …” Bingley spluttered. “I cannot say more with tact.”
Darcy chuckled. “I understand, but I believe that you have said quite enough. In fact, I am amazed to hear what you have uttered. This is most unlike you Bingley; you are always seeing the positive side of things.”
“Well, that was before I began playing matchmaker for my sister.” He stared down into the glass in his hand. “It was so much easier with you.” Hearing a cough, a crooked smile came to his lips, and he looked up. “But then, your lady was a lady.”
“And what do you label your sister?”
Bingley snorted. “A shrew.” A slight lift ca
me to Darcy’s mouth. “I notice that you do not disagree.”
“No, I do not. In fact, I believe that your matchmaking rescued me from becoming the male equivalent of your sister. I was well on my way to being an insufferable social snob.”
“Yes, that is true; however you have the pedigree to justify it.” Bingley laughed to see Darcy’s brows rise. “I am agreeing with you, not calling you names. Oh Darcy, what am I to do? She drives away the first circles, is laughed at by the second, and scares a perfectly acceptable wealthy tradesman away. Will I ever be rid of her?”
“Plenty of women do not marry, Bingley, women with much less.”
“Yes, but how am I ever to marry if I do not have her out of my care?” He sighed and lifted his glass to his lips. “Who will ever want me?”
“A great many ladies will want you, you are quite the catch.” Darcy assured him. “Just not yet. Perhaps next year at this time you might look into leasing an estate.”
“So soon? You thought it would be another two or three.”
“You are maturing more rapidly than I expected. Your sister’s trials have aided you, I think.”
“I was full of confidence that I could handle this situation on my own. I waved away Hurst, kissed Louisa goodbye, spoke with Mr. Gardiner, and convinced myself that by the middle of September I would be bidding my sister farewell on her honeymoon. I could stand up for myself, I thought. I was mistaken. I still need my advisor.” Bingley sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees. “I wished to escape your shadow, but I realize now that your aid was not hindering me, it was propping me up until I could be on my own. However did you take on Pemberley at two and twenty?”
“I had to. You do what you must. There was no choice.”
“I have tried that, I am not you.”
“You do not wish to be me, Bingley.” Darcy smiled at his incredulous laugh. “I mean the responsibilities.”
“Very well, I can accept that. You are rich beyond all imagining you know.”
“Oh, I think there are many who surpass me.”
“No, none of them have Mrs. Darcy.” Darcy’s brow creased and unseeing, Bingley took a sip of his drink and sighed. “Well, we will go to Scarborough in a few days. I will conduct my business and leave Caroline to spend a lonely winter contemplating her future, then I will come to join your house party. I hope that there will be an abundance of angels to distract me?”
“Several.” Darcy laughed when he saw Bingley’s eyes light up. “I thought you might be considering Miss Bennet.”
“I might.” Bingley winked. “As you say, not yet, but in the meantime, I will enjoy her smiles.”
“Do you have someone else in mind?”
“Who? Oh no, I have no real intentions. My bride may be …” he looked out the window of their club to see a group of young girls peeking in a shop window, “still attending school and has no thought at all that an older man is just waiting for her to grow up.” He turned back and grinned. “Perhaps I will rob the cradle as you did, Darcy!” Feeling the steely glare, Bingley cleared his throat.
Still glaring, Darcy asked, “Do you wish for me to try and identify a person willing to take on your sister, regardless of her personality deficiencies?”
“Yes, thank you.” He replied quietly.
Darcy nodded and his lips twitched. “Well, I must go home to meet my child bride and sisters. You are welcome for dinner for as long as you are in town.”
“Is tonight too soon?” Bingley perked up immediately and Darcy laughed at the instant cheer. “I will be glad to come and enjoy your home and your company.”
ELIZABETH STOOD FROM HER CHAIR by the fire in the library when Bingley was announced. “Good evening Mr. Bingley, I am so happy that you could join us tonight! I am sorry to be receiving you here.”
“Why leave a cosy chair for a cold drawing room?” He smiled and bowed. “Thank you for the invitation for dinner, I am eternally grateful.”
“That sounds terribly serious.” She smiled, then stopped her movement to rest her hand on the chair, gripping it tightly, but after a slight hesitation, continued. “Oh! My uncle had some papers for you to look over. I understand that you are investing in his business. I am glad that he has won your confidence. They are in my study, just give me a moment.”
Bingley looked over her pale face with concern. “I will be happy to fetch them Mrs. Darcy, are they on the desk?”
“I …to be honest with you, I am not sure. I do not know where my mind has gone of late.” Elizabeth laughed. “I feel as woolly as a grandmother.”
Bingley chuckled and relaxed. “Well perhaps a second pair of eyes would help.”
“Well come along then, Fitzwilliam is shut up in his study with his cousin, so who knows when they may appear.”
“Ah, discussing secret military affairs, no doubt.”
“Solving the world’s problems over some port?” Elizabeth smiled back at him as he followed. “They need you in there.”
“No, no Mrs. Darcy, I am not a man for military tactics, now finding a pleasant dancing partner in a sea of faces …”
“Oh, well I suppose that is a compliment to me.” They arrived and she turned to see him smiling. “Thank you.”
“You are very welcome.” Bingley stood back and watched as Elizabeth bit her lip and rested her hands on her hips. In the background the sound of the pianoforte carried. “Is that Miss Darcy?”
She listened. “No, that is Mary, it is ponderous.” She sighed dramatically. “I hope that Georgiana can discourage those tunes else we shall be preparing for a funeral soon.”
“Heaven forbid.” Bingley stepped over to the desk, “Are they here?”
“Hmm?” She looked up at him distractedly when her mouth formed an “O,” her eyes closed and she began to crumple.
“Elizabeth!” Bingley reached for her and she fell into his arms. “Elizabeth …” He looked desperately around the room. She was leaning heavily against his chest with her face tilted upwards and her lips slightly parted. Hesitating for several heartbeats he gazed down at her, then moved, lifting and gently placing her on a sofa. Kneeling by her side, he took her hands and called out to the hallway. “Is anyone there?”
A footman appeared and startled to see the mistress’ position. “Sir?”
“Please fetch Mr. Darcy, his wife needs him. And …and the housekeeper.” He looked down to her face. “Elizabeth, please wake!” She opened her eyes and blinked. Bingley sighed with relief. “You had me quite frightened; do not ever do that again!”
Darcy flew in the doorway before she could answer. “Elizabeth! What … what happened?” He looked at Bingley who rose to his feet and moved out of the way. “Dearest!” Darcy sat beside her and held her hands.
“I … I am not sure. Mr. Bingley …” Darcy turned to him.
“We were looking for some papers from Mr. Gardiner and she fainted.”
Darcy immediately spun around. “Fainted! You are ill! Enough of this, I will send for the physician immediately! You have not eaten for days dearest, you have no strength!”
Richard stood behind the sofa and looked down at her with an encouraging smile. “And that is why she faints. Do not send for the blood letter, feed her, she will be herself once she has a good meal.”
Darcy’s brow was deeply creased and he did not take his eyes off of hers. “Is that what you wish, Lizzy?”
“You are giving me a choice?” She smiled and extracted a hand to caress his cheek.
Richard laughed, and Bingley smiled and looked at the floor. “I would prefer that you be cooperative, my love.” Darcy’s hand lifted to hold hers against his face and he turned his head to kiss her palm. “I know enough of you that being a patient would not be something to your liking.”
“Is it anyone’s?” Richard asked, then noticed Mrs. Mercer hovering near the doorway. “Ah! A woman with sense. What do you recommend for our fainting mistress?”
“You fainted, madam?” Mrs. Mercer bustled in. �
�Have you eaten?”
“There!” Darcy said triumphantly.
“I think that was my conclusion as well, but do I get any thanks?” Richard sniffed.
“I caught her.” Bingley offered.
“I should have caught you.” Darcy said emphatically.
“Through a wall?” Elizabeth’s brow rose and she laughed. “I am fine, truly.”
Mrs. Mercer cleared her throat. “Perhaps you gentlemen would care to leave us for a moment?”
“Why?” Darcy demanded.
“So that I might speak to the mistress, sir.” She said firmly but respectfully to her master.
“Go on, dear. I am well, truly.”
“Come on man, nothing will be accomplished with you staring at her. Let the ladies have their discussion.” Fitzwilliam put his hand on Darcy’s shoulder. “Let us return to your study.”
“How am I to concentrate on anything there? You wish for me to stay, do you not?” He clutched her hand tightly.
“I do, but clearly Mrs. Mercer has other ideas. I will be with you shortly.”
“I will come to you.” Darcy looked at his housekeeper. “I want to be back in five minutes.”
“Yes sir.”
Reluctantly Darcy stood and the other men guided him from the room. Mrs. Mercer shook her head then turned to Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy, I have had my suspicions since you arrived, but now I am convinced. Are you with child?”
“My aunt believes so.” Elizabeth whispered. “I have said nothing to Mr. Darcy.”
“He will have to be told, madam. This could be his heir.”
“Yes, but you saw his behaviour.”
Mrs. Mercer sighed. “Yes. His mother’s death was devastating. He has been afraid of pregnancy ever since.”
