by Wells, Linda
“I am rather surprised that you want to be away from Jane.”
“Oh, well.” Lucas blushed a little and cleared his throat. “I thought she could use the rest.” Darcy’s chuckle made him smile. “I was dying to leave home.”
“I am sure of that.” Darcy said quietly and continued to stare forward.
“I mentioned before that Mother thought Charlotte should come with us, to provide comfort to Jane, after my …attentions. I said that we would be here in just days so she could probably tolerate me that long before Eliza could …” Lucas heard another chuckle and his face reddened again. “Well she clearly is quite well. Did you have a companion?”
“No, we just came here.” Darcy smiled and looked over to him. “We discouraged the thought of bringing anyone along even though Mrs. Bennet offered her services several times.”
“What a nightmare that would have been!” Lucas’ eyes widened and he laughed. “I have to tell you, after that set down you delivered at the wedding breakfast; she has been silent, well, quieter.”
“I lost my temper.” He murmured.
“It was time that someone did.” Lucas looked out over the beautiful landscape. “Your sister Georgiana is being punished, I gather?”
“Yes.”
“Jane and I talked about it last night. She does not know the circumstances, Eliza would not speak of them, but she did admire you, both of you, for remaining steadfast, despite your dislike of the decision.” Darcy turned to him and saw Lucas nodding. “The Bennets grew up without direction; they were left on their own to understand the rules of proper behaviour. My parents are silly in so many respects, but they are shrewd or Father’s business would not have been a success. One thing that Mother taught us was that children like to know the rules. They may test them, but they feel better knowing what they are.”
“And how long should a punishment for violating them carry on?”
“I would say no more than a week would be sufficient for this banishment to the nursery. Your family arrives tomorrow?” Darcy nodded. “Well, missing the welcoming dinner would surely let them know that she had done wrong.”
“And then let her back in, knowing that they all know.” Darcy smiled and relaxed. “Very well, I shall do just that.”
LAYTON AND ALICIA exchanged glances. Audrey nudged her mother and raised her brows. Lady Matlock shrugged and stared at her husband, who looked between Darcy and Elizabeth. Singleton watched the exchange of looks and focussed on the empty chair between Mary and Lucas. Jane cleared her throat and took a sip of wine.
“All right, what is the story?” Lord Matlock pointed his fork at the empty chair. “If this was Matlock, we would not blink at a child being excluded from the table, but this is Pemberley where we have been told repeatedly that you live by your own rules.” He sniffed and smiled. “What did she do?”
Darcy spoke quietly. “She is living with the consequences of her actions for a period of time.”
“How long?” He nodded to his wife. “Punishment is only effective if it is not a pittance, and yet not a lifetime.”
“I intend to end it tomorrow.” He looked at Elizabeth to see her nod. “It has been four days. And I wanted her to miss the first dinner with the whole family here before it was over.”
Lord Matlock chuckled. “Well done, Darcy.”
“I hope so.”
“Is she shooting daggers at you?”
“I have not noticed.”
“Well you would not; it would be behind your back.” Layton grinned. “That was your method, was it not, Audrey?”
“Stephen!”
“Oh, that explains it.” Singleton laughed. “I have felt the prick of your gaze when I raise your ire, my dear.”
“You, raise my ire? How could that be, you are perfect.” Audrey’s lips twitched and she took a bite of her venison. “As I tell you constantly.”
“Is that what you were whispering about last week?”
“No, I was encouraging you to tell me how perfect I am.”
Alicia laughed. “Oh my, listen to you two, fighting like an old married couple!”
The rest of the table burst into laughter and Darcy looked to Elizabeth, who smiled at him and shrugged. Lady Matlock looked between the two, and read their eyes. “It is sometimes harder to be the one who does the punishing than the one who receives it.” She smiled at her son and daughter. “Of course they would disagree.”
“Mother, I do not wish to discuss your punishments. Let us just say Darcy, Georgiana is doing quite well with only a tongue-lashing and exile.” Layton saw Audrey nodding. “Of course, Richard never was punished.”
“That is so true.” Audrey agreed. “He could get away with anything.”
“Children, how old are you? Still holding on to these petty protests when the man is not here to defend himself? I am of a mind to forbid you dessert.” Lord Matlock winked when they groaned. “Mr. Lucas, you have been silent, tell us of your father’s methods.”
Lucas startled in mid-chew. “Oh, Father left it to Mother.”
“And Jane?” All eyes turned to her.
“Oh …we …” She looked at Elizabeth.
“We governed ourselves.” She answered. “Which is perhaps why I take it so seriously now.”
“But as tomorrow is Elizabeth’s birthday, the exile shall end. I do not wish to separate the family on such a special day.” Darcy’s eyes smiled. “Our point has been made.”
“Your birthday! Oh will you have fireworks again this year?” Alicia asked.
“Fireworks?” Lucas said softly and saw Jane’s open mouth.
“Yes.” Darcy noticed Elizabeth’s surprise. “I could not resist the temptation.”
“Fitzwilliam, it is not necessary, but thank you.” She looked over to Mary who seemed as stunned as Lucas. “This will be your first time seeing them, will it not Mary? Well your birthday is in three days, so we will share the celebration.”
“Oh.” Mary blushed.
“Oh no, Mary will have her own celebration.” Darcy smiled. “Your day is just as important to us.”
“Oh!” Her eyes welled up with tears, and standing, she put her napkin down and walked over to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam!” She ran down to Elizabeth and hugged her. “Thank you. Excuse me.” Hurriedly, she left the silenced room.
Lord Matlock cleared his throat. “Mary’s birthday did not receive much notice in the past, I presume.”
“No.” Jane and Elizabeth said together.
“She will be out this spring?” Lady Matlock asked casually.
“Yes, and we will not push her.” Elizabeth looked at her pointedly.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
LORD MATLOCK STROLLED into the library after dinner, and clasping his hands behind his back, began perusing the shelves. Hidden away in a corner, Georgiana sat at a table by a window, staring fixedly at a book. He kept one eye on her as he casually went around the room. “So many tomes.” He said, musing out loud. Not expecting any acknowledgement, he continued his wandering, taking down a title, flipping through the pages, pushing it back in place, then moving on. “hmm.” He stopped and bent, then pulled an oddly shaped book from its place. “ahhhh. I knew it was here.” Satisfied, he came over to Georgiana’s table, set down the book, noisily pulled out a chair and sat down with a grunt. “Haven’t looked at this in at least five and twenty years, perhaps longer. Depends on when Anne last made me.” He chuckled and saw Georgiana’s eyes flick over it. “Quite a woman she was.” He moved the book to his lap, sat back and started looking through it, chuckling as he turned the pages.
“What is it?” Georgiana finally said.
“Hmm?” He looked up. “Why Georgiana! I did not know you were there! You are quiet as a mouse!”
“Uncle, you were talking to me.”
“I was talking to myself.” He said pointedly. “You were eavesdropping.” Seeing her blush scarlet, he sat up and put the book back on the table. “Now, tell
me what is on your mind, since your brother and sister are doing their best to understand. Their talks on privacy seem to fall on deaf ears.”
“I did not mean to listen or read the journal.”
“Was someone threatening you with death if you did not? Were the doors sealed? Could you not leave the room?”
“No, Uncle.” Georgiana sighed.
“Then may we establish that you do in fact know better? That your reading the journal and remaining to spy on them in their private rooms was indeed intentional? And that your brother’s punishment is nothing like what you would have received at Matlock?” He looked at her sternly.
“Yes, sir.”
“I am not interested in dissecting what you did or why. I imagine it has something to do with worry and plain curiosity, mixed with opportunity and fearlessness.” He watched her fidget. “I realize that Darcy and Elizabeth have spoken to you about what you saw and heard, but do you know how deeply you have hurt your brother?”
“I hurt him?” She looked up to him with wide eyes.
“They came home to find peace and recover, not to have your astonishing lack of respect weigh them down with more worries about doing well by you. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Heaven knows that I have tried my damndest … Pardon me, I have tried very hard to convince him that he cannot be responsible for everyone and everything. He does not listen, though. He fears that he has failed you.”
“How?”
“He fears that he is not capable of instilling an appreciation for your heritage in you, or for the values that he holds dear. The necklace …”
“I was careless, I know.” She said quickly.
“Tell me something. I walked past your chambers earlier, and on your bed there is a doll, rather old and much repaired. Who gave that to you?”
“Nanny Kate.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “And if you had lost it?”
“I would never lose that!”
“Because she was your mother and you respect her.” His brows rose and he smiled to see her surprise. “In the course of two years, you lost your father, and the woman who had served as your mother. Your brother tried to fill both roles, your aunt and I tried to as well, but none of us quite hit the mark, did we?” She said nothing. “And then Darcy finds Elizabeth, who undoubtedly had his attention. And you found yourself thrown out of the way and in school. Abandoned.” Still she said nothing. “Do you like Elizabeth? Or is it that you like her so much that you do not like sharing her with your brother, much less Mary?”
“I love them both.” She whispered.
Nodding, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the sapphire butterfly, and laid it on the table. She stared at it. “Which means more to you? This necklace or that doll?” Georgiana began to cry, and he ignored it. Instead, he pulled forward the book, and opened it. “This is your mother.” He held out a drawing. “As you can see, the artist was not accomplished. My sister did not practice.” He saw her look up. “Your aunt, Catherine.”
“Oh.”
“Do you notice what she wears?” He pointed.
“A blue butterfly.”
“Yes.” Picking up the necklace, he looked at it sadly. “Father gave this to your mother when she was about your age. Our mother had died, you see, and she was feeling very sad. He was hoping to cheer her with a gift because demonstrating affection was something that he did not do readily. Would you like to hear the history of the necklace?” Georgiana nodded silently. “Anne wore this constantly, and it would have drawn attention if it were not for the fact that she was a girl, and therefore was never seen in company, and when out with the family, was silent and demure. She never called attention to herself, and certainly was never asked for her opinions or desires. Her life was church and the schoolroom. Rather different from yours, eh?”
He saw her nod and continued. “Well, one day we were holding a ball at Matlock House. I was married to your aunt, Catherine was enjoying her second Season, and your mother was just old enough to attend a private ball but not dance, she would be out the next year. She dressed in her best new gown and of course wore her butterfly.” Lord Matlock noticed that Georgiana’s eyes had moved to focus on some miniatures on a shelf next to a great chair. He stood and walked over. “ahhh.” There was a portrait of Anne Darcy as a girl, and around her neck was the butterfly. He picked it up and set it on the table. “Yes, that is how she appeared then, and how she was that night when George Darcy spied her for the first time. Besotted, he was. He had no idea who she was, either.” He laughed. “All night he danced with the girls who were out, but watched Anne. Catherine was quite intrigued with him, but she wanted a title so focussed on de Bourgh. In any case, your father noticed that Anne’s necklace had disappeared. He put on his best Darcy smile, got up his nerve, and asked Father for an introduction.”
“And they fell in love?”
He smiled. “Love at first sight seems to run in the Darcy blood! Well, at some point, when they were through the preliminary awkward conversation, he managed to remember his excuse for speaking to her, and told her that the butterfly was missing. Anne was distraught, and George, besotted fool that he was, spent the rest of the evening following Anne from room to room, searching for it. By the time that they found it in a corner of the ballroom, I would say that the match was made.” Georgiana’s eyes were shining with tears and she held her mother’s portrait in her hand. “Father made them wait, of course, but he spoke to Mr. Darcy and the arrangement was made. The delay gave them time to know each other, although their hearts were set that first night. Much as your brother’s was when he fell in love with Elizabeth.” Lord Matlock sighed and picked up the necklace, and watched the jewels sparkling in the light of the setting sun. “Do you understand why Darcy chose this piece to give you in exchange for the pearl? Do you understand how angry he felt that you would be so careless with it? This necklace is what inspired your father to speak to your mother.”
“I did not know.” She sobbed. “Papa would be so hurt if it was gone!”
“And your mother, too.” Lord Matlock wiped the tear that was in his eye. “Respect, Georgiana. That is what we are trying to teach you. Respect for your heritage, respect for your family, respect for the people who love you and are doing their very best to help you grow. Every time that you spy on your brother and sister, every time that you do not listen, every time that you behave in a way that you know is wrong, you show disrespect. I realize that you never knew your mother, and that your affection for a servant is stronger, but she lost her life giving you yours. Remember that, and make her proud of you for her sacrifice.” Picking up the necklace, he carefully put it into his pocket. “Perhaps one day you might earn this back.”
“Really?” She wiped her eyes and hugged herself. “But Fitzwilliam said that it would go to Rosalie.”
“He wanted it to go to you. Make him see that you are worthy of it.” Pushing the book to her side of the table, he opened the cover. “This is a sort-of memory book your mother kept. She made me look at it with her from time to time.” He sighed heavily. “Well for a boy it was not the most fascinating thing, but I remember her enthusiasm fondly. It made for good storytelling.” He smiled and caressed it, then wiped his eye when a tear appeared. “Look it over, and get to know your mother.”
“Thank you.” Georgiana whispered.
Lord Matlock stood and pushed his chair in. “Those journals Darcy and Elizabeth keep. Rather intriguing, wouldn’t you say? Every entry is a love letter.” Seeing her startle and stare at him, he nodded. “You know now why they protect them so fiercely.”
“You read them?”
“When I sat waiting for word from the surgeon and physician after Wickham’s attack, I sought to distract myself from my worry. I picked up a book that lay on the writing desk; it opened to that day’s entry. The moment I realized what I was reading I put it down. I picked up the other book to try again, only to find that it was another journal. I was ashamed for reading
it, knowing how private your brother is. But I was glad I had as well, because it helped me to understand a relationship that is nearly unfathomable to me.” He could tell that she understood, and leaned forward to make his point. “I, however, did not know what I was to read. I did not set out to pry. You did.” He watched her blush. “And then you remained.”
“Respect.” She whispered.
“They are going to be well someday, Georgiana, stop worrying over that. Enjoy the incredibly loving home and example they are providing for you. I cannot stress enough how unique they are. If you stop wallowing in what you have not and embrace what you have been given, you might find something similar one day.” He kissed her forehead and touched her hair. “Do not disappoint the family again.”
“I will not, sir.” She whispered.
“Or I will send your aunt to deal with you.” He nodded and raised his brows. “Although, I have a feeling that Elizabeth left to her own devices could be just as effective.” He saw her swallow hard and walked to the doorway. “By the way, your brother has a message. You will be permitted to rejoin the family beginning tomorrow. It is Elizabeth’s birthday. I have no doubt that there will be a grand celebration.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“Thank your brother and sister.” He knocked on the doorframe and clasping his hands behind his back, set off down the hallway.
Georgiana took a long deep breath, then gathering up the book and the miniature of her mother, went upstairs to her chambers. She looked at the doll, and picking it up, moved it to a chair in the corner, and set up the portrait on the table next to her bed. There was a knock on the door and she cautiously approached and opened it. Mary was standing outside.
“Oh.”
“Were you expecting someone else?” She asked.
“I thought that maybe Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth …”
“I just saw them going into the nursery. They will probably just retire for the night, Fitzwilliam’s eyes looked pained.” Mary watched Georgiana’s face fall, and closed the door. “I thought you had only read their journals, but now I know why Fitzwilliam has been so deeply troubled and worried. Elizabeth has fretted, sending him out on the estate, hoping it would distract him from the pain of his headaches, she has spent the last days nearly glued to the window watching for his return, he was never gone from her for long.” Mary asked quietly, “How could you?”
