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

by Wells, Linda

  DARCY OFFERED DE BOURGH a glass of port and smiled to see the liquid slosh slightly when he took the glass. “Steady.”

  “I am fine. I have spent too many years standing on a pitching deck not to remain upright in your study.” He glanced around and fixed upon the Pemberley landscape, then startled when he heard the ring of crystal when the stopper was replaced on top of the decanter. “Why are you nervous?”

  “I am fine.” Darcy took a long sip, and de Bourgh raised his brows. “It has been a long day.”

  “Oh? I would think that Mrs. Darcy would have planned every detail.” He turned and studied him. “What duties have you been forced to perform?”

  “None at all.” He smiled to his boots. “She took me shopping.”

  “That sounds like a gift to herself.” De Bourgh laughed.

  “No, no. Her gift was her undivided attention. We visited every bookshop within walking distance of this house. No carriages today. We enjoyed tea, she took me for pastry. We purchased enough books to keep us well-entertained this winter,” he sighed, “it was the most wonderful day.”

  “But …”

  He continued to smile at his boots. “The day contained its pleasures, the evening promises its own.”

  “And you must live through this performance to arrive at another?” Darcy said nothing and de Bourgh smiled, raising his glass to his lips, “A fortunate man indeed.”

  “Are you prepared for the evening?”

  “In what way? I am neither married nor courting.” Darcy’s eyes rolled. “Not until spring.”

  “What is so magic about spring?”

  “It seems proper.” He sighed. “Leave me alone, Darcy. I have enough to do right now.”

  “I will not push you.” He was silent and studied his companion. “You remember Bingley?”

  “Of course.”

  “He played matchmaker between me and Elizabeth.” Seeing de Bourgh’s interest, he continued. “By the greatest of coincidences he met her and realized our mutual attraction. If it were not for him, I might have never had the courage to speak to her when we at last met, and then if it was not for Fitzwilliam’s pushing I still might not have displayed the courage of my convictions and chased her all the way to the Gardiner’s home.” Darcy smiled. “Elizabeth refers to it as Charlotte’s Rule.”

  “My new sister?” De Bourgh asked with a bemused smile.

  “The very woman. She always told Elizabeth that sometimes a woman must display her feelings to the gentleman, to help him along.”

  Laughing, de Bourgh took a sip of his port. “Well she certainly knew what she was about with my brother. He did not know what happened, he was attached before he knew it, not that he isn’t happy beyond anything he has ever known. They began as friends, but I suspect it will be more before long. So, Miss Lucas set her trap and snared him.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you tell me this for what purpose? You had matchmaking friends helping you along …”

  “I did.” Darcy smiled and seeing Foster standing by the doorway, he took a last sip and set down his glass. “Come friend, let us away.” He took de Bourgh’s elbow and pointed him to the door, took the glass out of his hand, and gave him a push.

  “And you are helping me, now?” He said with amusement as Darcy moved him around.

  “Your hand shakes for a reason.” Darcy shrugged. “I am not pushing you, but I do wish to point out the obvious. I needed it, so I do it for you.”

  De Bourgh’s lips lifted in a smile. “I understand. And I appreciate it.” They walked out to the foyer and gazed up the stairs. “Oh my.” De Bourgh murmured.

  “So lovely.” Darcy breathed and watched the sisters descend. He took Elizabeth’s hands and smiled down at her. “You torture me tonight, love.” He bent and kissed her cheek, closed his eyes and breathed in the delicate scent she had applied to her bare shoulders. Speaking in her ear, he whispered, “You do this on purpose.”

  “Of course I do.” She laughed and caressed his cheek. “It is only fair; I am just as taken by you.”

  De Bourgh stood in flustered silence. Mary stared at her slippers, sending desperate glances to Elizabeth and Darcy, and seeing no help coming from that quarter, finally chanced a look up at the blushing man before her. “Sir, are you well?”

  “Mary, Miss Mary, Miss Bennet!” He gulped and breathed. “You, you are … what have you done to yourself?”

  She recoiled. “What is wrong? I thought you would like it!”

  “No!” He said desperately and reached out to snatch her hand as she turned to run back up the stairs. Darcy and Elizabeth turned to watch in disbelief. “Mary, no, I … You are … You are … You take my ability to speak.” He blushed and gripped her hand, then gently tugged her forward. “Forgive me, please, I am never tongue-tied, but … You have managed to inspire it quite nicely. Please, let us leave for the theatre; I want all who are there to see me with the loveliest woman I have ever known on my arm.” He beamed at her and she blushed. “Beautiful, so very beautiful.”

  “Oh.” She watched as he bent and kissed her hand. “Oh my!”

  “You must have a coat, a shawl?” He looked around and saw a maid standing nearby and signalled her. Mary’s shawl was slipped over her shoulders, her reticule was placed in her hands, and he had her hand on his arm and was headed for the door before he stopped. “Are you coming?” He demanded of Darcy and Elizabeth.

  They laughed and Darcy helped Elizabeth with her things. “Right behind you.”

  ARRIVING AT COVENT GARDEN, they entered the Theatre Royal and moved up the stairs to the private boxes. Most of London society had moved to the country, but enough remained to make progress slow and conversation necessary. Mary remembered her aunt’s advice. She looked at the women who admired de Bourgh, then looked to see where his attention was focussed, and invariably it was on her. Elizabeth and Darcy were too much of a novelty and important to affect an anonymous entrance, and soon they were surrounded by people, asking after their health and wanting an opportunity to extend invitations that were immediately, and with Elizabeth’s skill, graciously declined. De Bourgh followed the direction of Darcy’s chin indicating a door, and entered the box reserved for them. Showing Mary to a chair, he sat beside her.

  “Well that is an experience I do not care to repeat.” He smiled and made a show of wiping his brow. “Do your sister and brother have to run the gauntlet each time they show their faces?”

  “I do not know; they have not really been out all that much.” She relaxed when she saw that his nervousness had dissipated, and the friendly, confident man had reappeared. “I think that you were drawing your own share of attention.”

  “Me?” He laughed. “Who would want me?”

  “You are too modest, sir. Your value as a suitor is surely well known by now.” She looked down at her hands and back up to his smiling eyes. “What did I say?”

  “What precisely is my value as a suitor? Can you put a price on it?” He crossed his arms.

  “No! I only mean that … The more mercenary would … You have Rosings!”

  “I do. I still can hardly believe it.” He shrugged. “I have Rosings, but it is just a big empty house, well except for Mother. At least my brother is nearby and I have Charlotte now. And then there is Lady Catherine.”

  “Oh, I have heard that she is quite the harridan.” Her hand went to her mouth.

  De Bourgh chuckled. “So she is.”

  “Does she make your life difficult? The stories I heard of her seemed rather frightening.”

  “No, she is no more difficult than an overinflated admiral who expects his boots to be …” He stopped. “She has been reduced to the life she always feared living and therefore she fights it all the more. She is not meek, she is not kind, she will never change.”

  “What a shame.” Mary shook her head and saw that he awaited an explanation. “I just mean that forgiveness may be granted if she tried.”

  “You are very good.” Unable t
o stop himself; he continued, “You are very loyal, that is something that I like about you very much.”

  “Oh.” She blushed. “I like that about you, too.”

  Encouraged, he spoke on, “I … I liked how you cared for Darcy and Elizabeth through their trials and tribulations.”

  “I … I liked how you did, too.” Mary stared down at her tightly entwined fingers.

  He flushed with her assurance, and let his mouth run away. “I … I like how you …are trying so hard to do everything right.” He smiled when she looked up. “Now that I have seen your origins, I am doubly impressed with the woman you have become.”

  Mary frowned and his smile faltered. “That is not my doing.”

  “Whose was it then?”

  “Lizzy, Aunt Gardiner, the school …”

  Shaking his head, he stopped her. “None of that would mean a thing if you were not open to it, Miss Mary.” Their eyes met again and he saw the surprise and pleasure in hers. Lost in the glow, he drew a breath and licked his lips. “I …” Mary felt her heart begin to race. “I …”

  “Yes, Captain de Bourgh?” She whispered.

  “I …” He closed his eyes and thought of Darcy and his nudging. “Miss Mary, I … Want you to know that I …” He swallowed. “I like you.”

  “oh.” She breathed, and gazing into his eyes, saw the slight hopeful smile, and said softly. “I like you.” Instantly his eyes lit up and he smiled widely. “Oh, I said the right thing!”

  “Yes.” He let out a relieved breath. “Yes, you certainly did.”

  Just then Darcy and Elizabeth entered the box. Instantly both Mary and de Bourgh straightened, they had been leaning closer and closer with each declaration. “I thought that we would never get away from them.” Elizabeth noted their blushes and smiled at Darcy, who winked at her. “Did we miss anything?”

  “No.” They said in unison.

  “Oh, well, that is good to know.” Darcy helped Elizabeth to her chair and sat down. “By your flushed faces, I would have thought it was warmer. Here love, you should keep your shawl, I have no desire to see you ill.”

  He carefully wrapped her up and as the lights fell, he leaned to her ear. “Were we too soon?”

  “Something happened.” Elizabeth whispered. He chuckled and kissed her cheek. “We must behave.”

  “I think not.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and drew her to his side. “I must warm you.”

  “I am already warm.”

  “So am I.” Darcy whispered.

  “Shhhh, later.”

  “Teasing woman!” Darcy kissed her ear and drew her to rest against his shoulder, occasionally kissing her hair, and entwining his fingers with hers as they lay against her waist.

  De Bourgh could just barely make out the shape of Darcy’s shoulders in the dark, his black suit made him nearly disappear, but he knew that they were embraced. He smiled and looked over to Mary, who seemed engrossed in the music of the orchestra. She likes me! Now what do I do? She is to return to Pemberley in days. I will not see her for months, how many? April, good Lord, six months! His heart sank. It is your own fault, you said spring. Why, why did I speak? Is she as affected as I? She seems so serene! The music stopped and he realized that the intermission had come. The Darcys were unmoving and he noticed that the lamps were being lit. He nudged Darcy with his boot, and startled, his head popped up.

  “Oh!” Elizabeth said softly when he moved. “I must have fallen asleep!”

  “I joined you.” Darcy chuckled. “All that walking you made me do today.”

  “Oh, it was such a trial!” She laughed and sat up to look around at Mary. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, it is beautiful; I wish that we could be at home and listen to such music.” She saw de Bourgh’s head tilt. “I am happiest at home.”

  “Is that so? I thought that I detected a woman who enjoyed learning about the world?” He smiled.

  “I do, I want to learn about places and I enjoy seeing the sights, I suppose though that I … I am not a girl who likes balls. I am fonder of conversation than dancing.” She bit her lip. “I suppose that is unfashionable.”

  “Perhaps, but to be honest with you, I never had a chance to learn the dances, so I would most likely stand in a corner observing rather than participating. I suppose that I will have to learn one or two. I will need to if I am to beg your brother to escort you this spring.” His smile grew when she blushed again, and reassured of her reception, he looked over to Darcy. “Could I have a word with you?”

  “Certainly.” Darcy stood and smiled at Elizabeth before following de Bourgh out into the hallway.

  Elizabeth scooted over to Mary’s side. “What happened?”

  “We talked a little.” She bit her lip and stared at her hands then back up to see her sister’s encouraging smile. “He told me that he likes me! Oh Lizzy!” The sisters hugged. “And I told him that I like him, too!”

  “Oh how wonderful!” Elizabeth laughed. “Do you know how long it takes some people to just say something as simple as that? Why, it took Fitzwilliam years to tell me!”

  “But Fitzwilliam did not know where you were!” Mary protested.

  Elizabeth pushed a curl back over Mary’s shoulder and smiled. “Oh, he could have found me.” She looked back to her face. “I am so glad that you and Peter are friends, and admit it. Now, what happens next?”

  “Next?”

  Elizabeth took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “hmm. I wonder what he is speaking to Fitzwilliam about.”

  “Darcy.” De Bourgh took him to stand by the windows and stared out at the busy street below. He watched as Darcy nodded at an acquaintance and impatiently waited for another to shake his hand and enquire after his health. At last he had his attention. “I have made a tremendous error. I told Mary my feelings.”

  Darcy’s face did not mask his surprise. “You told her you love her?”

  “NO!” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “I like her.”

  “Oh.” Darcy relaxed. “And?”

  “I … I realized that I will not see her again until you return to town.” He looked miserable. “Why did I speak my feelings?”

  “Because you would burst if you did not.” Darcy smiled and crossed his arms. “Easter is in mid-April, we will be coming for the Season probably at the end of March. I seem to recall you stating mere hours ago that you wished to wait for spring to court her?”

  “I am an idiot.”

  “Well that goes without saying, so what are you going to do about it now?”

  “What do you suggest?” He sighed. “Six months!”

  “No longer than a little journey to America and back?”

  “You are laughing at me.”

  “You are not a man to be laughed at. Although I find it amusing that a man who can take a battleship against Napoleon without flinching is so flustered by telling a seventeen-year-old girl that he likes her.” Darcy chuckled as de Bourgh glared. “What do you want me to do? Ask the Gardiners to put her up for the winter? Then you could come and court her?” Seeing his eyes light up, Darcy shook his head. “No.”

  “What the devil do you mean; no? YOU pushed me!”

  “Maybe. I just told you a story and encouraged you to realize your feelings. I did not tell you to pour out your deep professions of like for Mary.” He tilted his head. “I think that waiting would be good for you. Make your heart grow fonder and all that.” Darcy laughed. “Come, it cannot be so easy, the path to true love is never easy. Then you will not appreciate it when you finally achieve your heart’s desire. I was an idiot, pining over Elizabeth for years. You will be an idiot pining for a girl who knows you like her and are waiting for her.”

  “Please Darcy, let her stay in London.” He begged. “I promise I will …”

  “What?” Darcy looked at him sternly.

  “God alone knows.” He sighed. “I know nothing of this world of courtship. I have no desire to be part of the whirl of society or
be prey to the mamas. I found the girl for me; can I not leave it at that?”

  “Say no more tonight.” Darcy said quietly. “We will speak to Mary and see what she desires, then we will speak to Mr. Gardiner. I make no promises.”

  “But …”

  He sighed and nodded. “Very well. I accept that. I have held these feelings for months, I only realized what they were at the wedding, when she … she was no longer a girl in my eyes.”

  “Yes.” Darcy said softly. “I remember each time I saw Lizzy over the years. Each time I had to imprint a new vision of her in my mind, she was changing, growing lovelier.” He saw de Bourgh’s nod and clapped his back. “And yes, I married her at the tender age that Mary is now, so I am not the one to make this decision. I leave it to Mr. Gardiner. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” The gong sounded and de Bourgh smiled. “What do you think the sisters were talking about?”

  Chuckling, Darcy led the way to the box. “I am sure that I will find out soon enough.”

  DE BOURGH AWKWARDLY SAID HIS GOODBYES to Mary and she ran up the stairs to be alone in her room. “He wants her to stay.” Elizabeth said thoughtfully when they reached their rooms at last after eating the cold supper the staff had left for them.

  “Yes. He has finally let his mind listen to his heart.” Darcy closed the door behind him and taking off his coat, deftly removed the knot from his neck cloth. He hopped and struggled, but managed to remove his boots with some semblance of grace. Hearing her giggle, he whispered, “Shoes, yes, love, I know.”

  Elizabeth kissed his frown. “How can we help them along?” Still frowning, he turned her around and lifting her hair out of the way, caressed the silky skin of her shoulders, and gently kissed her throat. Slowly, he eased out each button on the back of her gown. Adams appeared in the doorway of the dressing room, and seeing his master’s activity, did an about-face and disappeared for the night. The gown gave way and shifted, slipping into a puddle of silver, glimmering in the firelight. Immediately Darcy’s hands went to work on her stays, and he sighed when they came loose and fell, and his hands were free to trace over the nearly transparent chemise. The fullness of her breasts and the tight buds beneath his fingertips made the aching of his desire almost painful to endure. “Oh love.” He whispered. “No more talk of anyone but us tonight. It is still my birthday.”