by Wells, Linda
“She will not let him stay out there for long.” Darcy observed. “Just long enough to make him …”
“Desperate.” They laughed and Mr. Gardiner nudged him. “Lizzy seems to be bearing the attention of the neighbours well.”
A smile came to his eyes as he watched Elizabeth introducing Rosalie around. “She is doing that on my behalf. I warned her that I would not do well with a crowd. I am grateful for your tolerating my company for so long.”
“You know that it is a pleasure, Son. And it is probably for the best to keep you apart from the curious. I am afraid that news of your experience did come here, courtesy of Mr. Collins.”
“Collins?” Darcy’s good mood evaporated and he glared over to the little man in the corner of the room who was eagerly talking to Mr. Bennet. “Why would he be interested?”
“He was nearly the recipient of the living at Hunsford, via the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the esteemed aunt of you.” He snorted and performed a mock bow.
Darcy stared. “Speaking of bending over backwards to create a connection!”
“And he is the heir of this estate; it will be run into the ground within a year.” Mr. Gardiner sighed. “Particularly if my brother does as he proposes, and allows a marriage between Collins and Lydia.”
“She is fourteen! Has he proposed? Surely he has not agreed!”
“It would not be for several years, but she would be promised to him. It smells of my father’s desperation to marry off Fran before Bennet realized what he had done.” Mr. Gardiner appreciated Darcy’s affront. “You do not approve?”
“Sir, I do not care for Miss Lydia, but I would not wish such a marriage on any child! She should have a choice, at least when she is old enough to know her heart and mind, even if Collins likely is the best offer she will ever receive. My sister is nearly the same age and I would not trust her judgement with such a decision, and would without question refuse my permission. I realize that I fell in love with Elizabeth when she was but fifteen, but … we did wait! After Lydia has received her schooling …”
“Ah well that is it, Bennet now thinks that it is hopeless to try. He envisions Lydia running wild through London and coming to a sad end. Marriage, he thinks, is the only hope.”
“He will not send her? What has changed? We discussed this! He must at least try! If ever there was a girl in need of discipline …” He waved his hand over the gaudy display of decoration and the groaning buffet table laid out with two competing tastes in food, watched as Lydia giggled and flirted with some gawking youths, and stuttered, “Sir, whatever you and your wife did to correct my Elizabeth from thinking this is attractive, and formed her behaviour, I am forever indebted.” Darcy looked with great appreciation to where Elizabeth stood, and then noticed that she was showing signs of fatigue. “Excuse me sir, she needs me.” Striding across the room, he ignored the looks of curiosity and admiration that he inspired and touched Elizabeth. “Shall I relieve your burden, love?”
“Oh, thank you!” She handed over Rosalie, who squealed to be in her father’s firm grip. “I did not think I would tire so soon.” She reached up and smoothed over Rosalie’s dress and smiled at him while he smiled widely at his baby. “I think you would rather speak to her anyway.”
“I will not lie about that.” He looked around the room. “Would you mind if I take her for a breath of air?”
Elizabeth laughed and caressed his cheek. “No Fitzwilliam, not at all. Have a good long talk with her.” Darcy bent and kissed her softly. Hearing giggles behind him, he blushed. “Another.” She whispered. Smiling, he happily kissed her again, then turned and escaped.
“Lizzy!” Kitty whispered. “Mr. Darcy is a rake!”
“No, Mr. Darcy is a gentleman.” She sighed at his retreating form. “My gentleman.” She turned back to Kitty. “Where is Georgiana, you two should be getting to know each other while you have this opportunity.”
“She is with Mary.” She pointed to the pianoforte. “I … I do not know music.”
“Well she does not know much of drawing, so you can teach each other.” Elizabeth took her by the hand and started over to the girls. Kitty resisted. “What is it?”
“What will I say to her?”
“She will be just as tongue-tied as you I promise, now come on.” She gave her a hand a tug and led the way, pausing to roll her eyes at Jane as she passed.
“Are you happy, Jane?” Lucas said quietly. “You did not want to remain outside with me.”
Jane turned away from watching her sisters and gave him a glowing smile. “Oh, so very happy! I am sorry, Robert, but our mothers worked very hard for this, we could not hide away, no matter how pleasant the occupation.”
“Pleasant indeed. You have me tied up in knots.” He whispered, and taking her hand, kissed it. “I am in desperate need of a distracting occupation.” Seeing her blush, he groaned and looked around the room for something to discuss. “Our mothers have gone rather … honestly Jane, our mothers have shown no restraint whatsoever. It is embarrassing how gaudy this is. I am sorry.”
“I expected nothing less from my mother.” Jane smiled and shrugged. “She was denied the big society wedding with Lizzy and Mr …Fitzwilliam. And your mother is marrying off her eldest son and the heir. If you think about it they have been competing with each other since they became neighbours.”
“So they have.” He smiled at her desire to declare peace between the families, and looked around. “I suppose that if I ever drive you to run away from me, you will certainly know the path home.”
“Why would I want to leave you?” Jane said softly and looked at her hand in his. “I am yours forever now. Home is with you.”
“Yes, but home is so full of people.” He let out a frustrated breath. “I am anxious to go anywhere but here, and beyond the lilac bush would be preferable.”
“I am afraid that we have no choice but to stay, for a little while anyway.” She blushed at the intensity of his gaze. “Robert, you must not look at me so!”
His smile returned. “How am I looking at you?”
“Like …” She glanced around and turned back to him, “Like a ravenous wolf about to devour a lamb.”
He burst into laughter and raised her hand to his lips. “Well, it is certainly how I feel. I wish that we were leaving on our journey this moment, but since we are not, perhaps when the guests depart, you and I can take our good time returning home.”
“And what will we do?” Jane sighed.
“Oh … I will think of something appropriate.” Lucas smiled when she blushed. “Something private. I think that we will be walking home, and taking a very circuitous route.”
“Oh!”
He nodded and looked at her intently. “In fact, I do believe that I know just the place for us to visit.”
“It is private?” He nodded. “Then I look forward to it.” Jane smiled to see his eyes light up. “What have I done?”
“You have given your husband a spectacular gift.” He winked and stood tall. “Thank you.”
“A toast to the happy couple!” Sir William raised his glass. “May you always be as happy as you are today!”
“Hear, hear!”
“May you have many healthy children and long lives!”
“Hear, hear!”
“And may you live in peace with your relatives.” Mr. Bennet winked and raised his glass. The guests laughed and he noticed Elizabeth walking quickly from where she had been standing with her sisters, a hurt look marred her face. He then noticed his wife was busy talking to a group of ladies nearby. Turning his head, he saw through the window that Elizabeth had left the house and was headed into the garden where Darcy was sitting on a bench with the baby. His brow creased, he walked towards his wife and listened to the conversation.
“I have never seen a man take such an interest in his child!” Mrs. Goulding commented. “Why Mr. Darcy seems besotted!”
“My husband certainly never carried my girls about.” Mrs. King a
greed.
“Well she is a pretty thing.” Mrs. Bennet allowed. “But his behaviour amazes me, a man as rich as Mr. Darcy with his great estate was surely disappointed in the birth of a girl. You heard me tell Mrs. Darcy how she failed him.” She nodded her head, “Well, she will just have to tolerate his attentions until she gets him that son, there is no escaping it. He needs his heir.”
“I doubt that it is a trial.” Mrs. Long noted as she gazed at the handsome man striding angrily towards the house.
“Mrs. Bennet, a word?” Mr. Bennet said quietly.
“What is it, Mr. Bennet, I do not have time for such things, oh look here comes Mr. Darcy!” She beamed. “Mr. Darcy, we were just speaking of you!”
“Mrs. Bennet, I would like to speak to you, privately.” He spoke in very soft voice, and glanced at Mr. Bennet, “And you, sir.”
“Well, come to my bookroom, then.” He took Mrs. Bennet’s arm and leading her to the room, closed the door.
Darcy paced for a moment then looked out of the window to where Charlotte sat with Elizabeth and Rosalie. While he watched his wife wipe her tears, he began to speak. “Madam, my wife has told me that once again, you have informed her of how she has disappointed me with the birth of our daughter. Who are you to claim to know my mind and heart enough to chastise her and further, to expound upon it to the neighbourhood?” He turned to glare at her and spoke in a low, angry voice. “I know of your reaction to the news of our injuries, and it was selfish in the extreme! You made my wife cry needlessly over hurt from you at a time when we were both fighting for our lives! Your behaviour infuriates me, and your callous machinations to benefit from your daughters’ marriages disgust me. I am a liberal master, so I have been told. I take great pride in caring for those who depend upon me, and although it is done unwillingly, I have agreed to provide for you should Mr. Bennet predecease you. I do this not for you, but for my wife, who despite your neglect, still feels obligated to respect her parents. She has forgiven you time and again in the hope of one day receiving a hint of praise from you. Why she would seek it from such a woman as you is beyond me, but it only proves that her heart is good and her loyalty absolute. However, madam, I will tell you here and now, if I EVER hear of one more disparaging, unkind, or dishonest remark directed towards or about my wife, my children, or my family from you, I will burn that agreement and see you escorted to the poor house rather than help you again! And do not think that I will not hear, madam. I will.”
He turned to Mr. Bennet. “As for you, sir. If you do not even make the attempt to rescue your youngest daughter from the purgatory of ignorance where you have cast her and do not send her to school, I will pledge to wash my hands of the agreement and this estate, as well. How you could consider losing this opportunity to correct your mistakes with that wild child you have created is negligence of the highest order!” Darcy fumed. “Perhaps marriage is her only salvation, but to that …weakling heir of yours? At least wait for an age when her reason may make that decision. At fourteen your daughter would have him bent to her will in days, and likely off with a far more satisfying man within weeks. I do not know if schooling will improve her, but a strong hand that you clearly lack is needed to save her, and no, it will not be mine.” Darcy stopped and squeezed his eyes shut, and gasped; raising his hand to his head, then grasped the back of a chair. The room was spinning and his head was pounding. “Elizabeth.”
“Mrs. Bennet, fetch Lizzy!” Mr. Bennet took Darcy by the shoulders and helped him to sit down. “There, sir, you are overwrought, you are not ready for such demonstrations.” Darcy held his head in his hands and said nothing, trying to breathe through the pain. Elizabeth flew in and knelt by his side.
“Fitzwilliam? What happened?”
“I … I … Elizabeth.” He reached out and she held him, stroking back his hair and kissing his lips. She looked up to her father.
“He was delivering an impassioned speech, and was felled with pain.” Mr. Bennet said quietly. “I am sorry to have inspired it. Mr. Darcy,” He touched his shoulder, “it will be as you say.”
Darcy nodded and squeezed his eyes shut as they welled up with tears. Elizabeth held back from asking anything of what happened, but her glare at her father and hovering mother spoke of the years of anger she had never expressed. “Would someone please locate Mr. Darcy’s valet and ask him to bring his elixir?”
“Yes, yes of course!” Mrs. Bennet cried and scurried away.
“No, dearest, I … I am well now.” He breathed deeply. “It is fading.”
“Fitzwilliam Darcy, you cannot lie to me or anyone else.” Elizabeth hugged him and kissed his forehead. “A little bit will not hurt you, and we will be leaving soon so you may sleep in the carriage.” She kissed his cheek and then his nose. “We will shock our sisters with our cuddling.”
Laughing softly when she ruffled his hair, he opened his teary eyes to see the concern in hers. They kissed again. “I love you, too.”
“Lizzy?” Jane entered with Robert. “What is wrong? We saw you run in here. Charlotte said that Fitzwilliam is ill?”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam just has a little headache, and you know me, always jumping to conclusions that it is worse than it is. Do not let us spoil your celebration.” She smiled and he nodded, and tried to hide his grimace. Both Jane and Robert looked at them doubtfully. Adams entered with a glass of wine. She thanked him and held it to Darcy’s lips. “There Jane, here is a lesson for you. This is how you treat an obstinate husband.”
Darcy sipped and shuddered. “Terrible.”
“I agree.” She watched him finishing the drink and took the glass away. “Adams, could you please have the coach prepared and let Mrs. Robbins know that she will be taking charge of Rosalie for the trip to the inn?”
“Yes, Madam.” He bowed and left.
“Better?” She said softly when he smiled a little, and with her help stood then drew her into his arms, but it was she who was supporting him.
“Thank you, love.” They kissed and Robert slipped his arm around Jane’s waist and looked at her.
“I like this lesson we have been given today, even if I suspect the cause.” He glanced at his new in-laws, then leaned forward and kissed her. “I plan to emulate our brother and sister.”
“Well, just wait until you come to Pemberley, and nobody will question you.” Darcy said quietly, and they were all relieved to see the colour gradually returning to his face. “When should we expect you?”
“As much as I wish to follow you this afternoon, we will have to wait a week or so. Father wishes me to be at hand when the Reverend de Bourgh presents his settlement.”
“I understand; I would do the same for my sisters. Their futures should not be left to the four winds.” He glanced at Mr. Bennet, who nodded.
“Well, let us say our farewells and gather our sisters, and be on our way before you drop off.” Elizabeth said softly. I will just have a word with my parents and be right with you.”
“Should I remain?” He took her hand and squeezed.
“No.” She kissed him and everyone left, Jane took Darcy’s arm to offer support and he quietly thanked her. Lucas closed the door behind them. Drawing herself up, Elizabeth thought of Lady Matlock and how she would expect her to behave. “Mama, Papa, I do not know what was said here, but I suspect that Fitzwilliam was fighting a battle for me. It is time that I did that for myself. Mama, I respect you as my parent, but I will no longer tolerate any remark or behaviour on your or my sisters’ part that is disparaging of me, my husband, or child. I am Elizabeth Darcy, and I take the care of my husband’s name and reputation very seriously. Your behaviour reflects upon my family. Papa, I expect you to follow through with your plans, please do not disappoint me.” She kissed his cheek and then turned to her mother and kissed hers. “We will see you in September.”
She stepped out of the bookroom to find Darcy leaning against a wall and waiting for her. He smiled and she took his hands. “Now we may go home.”
&n
bsp; Chapter 23
A bump of the carriage woke Darcy with a start. Squeezing his eyes shut again, he became aware of the dull throb in his head that seemed to be a constant companion since they began the journey home, and was worsened at the wedding breakfast. It was something he hoped would eventually become a thing of the past; at least it did not seem to bother him when he was walking anymore. Slowly, he reopened his eyes and found that Elizabeth’s curls had been his pillow. He kissed her forehead and peeked down to see that she appeared to be asleep against his shoulder, and felt her arms wrapped around his waist. Another bump and he looked out of the window. Recognizing the terrain, he knew they were soon to be entering Pemberley’s outer perimeter. He felt a great sense of relief flood over him.
“You seem happy, Fitzwilliam.” Mary said shyly.
“Mary, forgive me for not noticing you.” He smiled and noticed that Georgiana was asleep on her shoulder. “I see that we are both serving as pillows.”
“Yes, she dropped off not long after you and Lizzy did.” She smiled. “I do not mind.”
“We are nearly home.” He pointed. “Do you see that old house there? Whenever I spot that, I know we will be at Pemberley’s gate within a half-hour. I cannot say enough how happy we are to go home.” Looking back at her, he saw trepidation. “You are frightened.”
“It shows?” She said worriedly.
“I am afraid that you are not accomplished at hiding your feelings. And you have a sister who knows you very well, and who is proficient at reading emotions that frankly, I miss on a regular basis.” He laughed softly and kissed Elizabeth’s brow when he felt her hug him and he hugged her back. “As my wife reminds me often.” Seeing Mary’s blush, he tilted his head. “You may as well become used to us displaying our affection, Mary. I will never hold back from my wife in my home. At a public event, certainly we will observe decorum and propriety, but in the privacy of our family setting, I will express my love.” He looked at her straight in the eye. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” She bit her lip. “It is strange to me.”
