by Wells, Linda
Fitzwilliam nodded. “Yes.”
“It will be well.”
“Keep telling me that.” He looked up smiled. “Good Lord, we are more emotional than the women!”
“Do not let them know.” Darcy laughed. “We would never hear the end of it!”
“THERE.” De Bourgh presented four journals to Mary. “My formative years for your reading pleasure.”
She smiled and taking them from his hands, clutched them to her chest. “But what of your years as an adult? I want to know all of your adventures.”
Seeing Darcy’s crossed arms and stern expression, he shook his head and smiled before turning back to her. “I think that those are best left for another time, perhaps when I can sit beside you and supervise which passages are acceptable.”
“I do not understand.”
“I do not care to frighten you with some of my experiences.” He said carefully and noticed Darcy’s eyes roll.
“Oh, stories of battles.” Mary nodded seriously. “I am certain that they were terrible.”
“Yes, battles of a sort.” De Bourgh nodded and hearing Darcy’s snort he sighed. “You are no help to me, Darcy.”
“I am not supposed to be.” He smiled. Elizabeth appeared at his side holding Rosalie.
“Well, I think that the house is in order. I have everything on my list.” She looked around the hallway. “I think.”
“We can always send for anything we have left behind, dearest.”
“I know.” She sighed and biting her lip, she handed him the baby. “I will be right back.”
They watched her dash up the stairs. “What is wrong?” Darcy murmured and handing Rosalie to de Bourgh, he followed her.
Bemused, de Bourgh juggled the squirming child and looked at Mary helplessly. She laughed and setting down the journals, held out her arms to accept her niece. “There Rosa, I will take you.” Finding herself in confident arms, she relaxed and babbled while playing with the ribbons on Mary’s bonnet. She laughed and smiled at him. “See, it is not so difficult.”
“I have never held a baby before.” He stared at the girl. “I am amazed at Darcy’s assurance.”
“I think that it just comes with practice.” She bounced and cooed at Rosalie and glanced up the stairs. “I wonder what is wrong.”
“She simply forgot something, I am sure.” He relaxed and gazed at her holding the baby. “You look very comfortable. Do you hope for many children?”
“Oh.” Mary blushed. “I hardly hoped to ever leave Longbourn.”
“Well you have certainly managed that. Now you need a new adventure. Darcy has accepted my invitation to spend Easter at Rosings, something that he did most of his life. Of course you will come with him and Elizabeth, and Miss Darcy.” He touched the baby’s cheek and she grabbed his finger. Laughing he looked to see Mary’s blush. “I look forward to showing off the estate to you.”
“Your home.”
“Yes, I hardly believe it, but after nearly a year, I suppose that it is.” He shook his head. “It is overwhelming.” Glancing up the stairs and around the hall, he touched Mary’s hand. “I have been given permission to write to you.”
“I know.” She watched his fingertips slip under hers and started to tremble.
“I … I hope that by the time we meet again, we will know each other well enough to …” He swallowed, “to be very good friends.”
Mary blushed and stared at their fingers. “Why do you want to be friends with me?”
“Mary …” He smiled and glancing around to see that they were still alone, he took her hand and kissed it. “I am just a man who joined the Navy and fortune smiled on me. I am barely comfortable on land, let alone on my estate. I do not ever want to be part of the social whirl. Do you?”
“No.” She smiled at the warmth in his voice, and watched him tuck her hand back over Rosalie. “I look forward to spring so much.” Hearing footsteps they turned and looked up the stairs. Darcy and Elizabeth were walking together; his arm was around her waist. The expression on their faces was difficult to read, but when they arrived, they both smiled. “Is everything well?” Mary handed Rosalie back over to Elizabeth.
“Yes.” She looked up Darcy. “I think that it is.”
He nodded and smiled while caressing Rosalie’s back. His eyes met Elizabeth’s. “I think so, too.” Clearing his throat, he gestured to the door. “Let us go home.”
“OH LOOK, A LETTER!” Kitty saw the envelope on her bed and picking it up, spoke excitedly. “It is from Lydia! I have not heard from her since she went to school. They must be very busy there, I have written to her at least twice a week since we left Longbourn, and I told her all about things here.” Georgiana reserved her opinion and sank down on her bed to watch as she read. The expression of anticipation on Kitty’s face died and soon became one of disappointment.
“Anything interesting?” She asked cautiously.
“She does not seem to miss home at all.” Kitty bit her lip and blushed. “Or any of the family, except for Mama.”
“Not you?”
“She says nothing at all of missing me. She only misses how easy it was at home.” She looked up to Georgiana with tears in her eyes. “I guess that I was just someone to occupy her when she was bored.”
“No, she would not be writing to you if that was the case. She must want to share her new experiences with you.” Thinking hard for something good to say, Georgiana added, “I had the impression that she is not used to expressing feelings of affection for people.”
Kitty sniffed and shook her head. “She is very good at expressing dislike for people, anyone who did not let her have her way. She says she has a friend who likes to have fun as she does, the girl she shares her room with, Jessica Simkins.” Kitty was quiet as she read and turned the page over. “Jessica this, Jessica that, it is all about this girl. She asks nothing of how you and I get on, or anything of our school.”
“Well, I guess that means that she is making friends, at least one.” Georgiana tilted her head. “That is good, is it not? She is occupied with her school.”
“I guess, but it seems like this girl is the only one she likes.” She looked up. “She calls all the other ones dreadfully dull, all listening to Miss Edwards, the headmistress, and afraid of putting a toe out of line. I guess that she is fairly strict. And all of the other ones have been in trouble before. I have a feeling that they are not kind to her. She said they are always shushing her and telling her to pay attention and do her work. Some of them make fun of her manners, but Jessica tells her that they do not need those pompous brats anyway.”
“It sounds like Jessica is the one in charge and Lydia is following her. She is a bad influence.”
“Just like Lydia was to me.” Kitty’s eyes filled with tears and Georgiana stood up to hug her. “Thank you for helping me here. I do not know how I would have gotten along without your friendship.”
“You would have been fine.” Georgiana whispered. “Have we not met many nice girls here? There are many snobby ones, but we only have to be polite to them. Elizabeth taught me that I do not have to imitate anyone whose behaviour I do not like just to fit in.”
“She did?” Kitty wiped her face. “When did she do that?”
“Oh, that was just from living with her and Fitzwilliam. They are wonderful.” Kitty smiled to hear that description. “You will see.”
“I should imitate Lizzy.”
“I can hear her saying now that you should be yourself.”
The girls laughed and Kitty relaxed and looked back at the letter. “Lydia does not like the headmistress at all.”
“Well that is no surprise, she tells her no, after all.” Georgiana sat back down and hugged a pillow. “I bet she is nothing compared to the Misses Stevenson.” The girls rolled their eyes and laughed.
Kitty sat down beside her. “Oh no.”
Georgiana sat up. “What is it?”
“A militia unit has made camp in the village where the sch
ool is located and she and this Jessica are spending their free time walking in to look at them. A few of the officers come over to talk to them whenever they do. They lied and told them they were older.” The girls exchanged worried glances. “She has always been fond of men in uniform. Mama put that in her head. She says it is all good fun but Miss Edwards and the other teachers have seen them at it and warned them off. Oh … They were given extra work to occupy their time, but it has only made them more determined to speak to the men again.”
“Surely Lydia knows not to speak to a strange man in a flirtatious manner!” Georgiana gasped. “Brother would … Oh I cannot imagine the tongue lashing he would give me, oh and Elizabeth!” She shivered.
“Has Lizzy yelled at you?” Kitty put down the letter for a moment.
“Oh.” Georgiana blushed. “Yes.”
“Me, too.” Kitty looked down. “It was frightening, but after I thought about it, well after I stopped glaring at her, I knew that she was correct.”
“Yes, I thought the same.”
“What did you do?”
“What did you do?”
“Something bad enough for Lizzy to yell.” Kitty said with a smile.
“Yes, and Fitzwilliam, and Uncle Henry, oh and Mary.”
“Oh my!” Kitty put her hand to her mouth. “I never would have guessed you could …”
“Well, I learned my lesson.” Georgiana looked at the letter. “Lydia seems not to care about people in authority. I wonder if you wrote to her to stop being friends with this girl and listen to her teachers she might pay attention?”
“I doubt it. She only seems to listen to Mr. Darcy and Mr. Lucas. Should we say something to them? It sounds like her teachers know about it, so they would tell Papa if there is a problem, would they not?”
“Yes.” Georgiana shrugged. “I guess that I was thinking that of all the people who yelled at me, it was Mary who really got my attention first. She … she made me realize what a selfish, stupid fool I was. I do not know, but it was hearing it from a friend that made me understand how I hurt everyone else and grow up, I guess.”
“Mary is so different now.” Kitty said softly. “So confident.”
“I do not know if she is confident, but she is no longer a shadow, as she called herself.” She grinned, “And she has a handsome man looking at her!”
“If I could attract a man as handsome as Captain de Bourgh someday, I would feel confident, too!” Kitty giggled along with Georgiana. “Well, if Mary’s talk helped you, I suppose it would not hurt to write to Lydia.” She stood and walked over to the writing desk. “Help me to decide what to say.”
Georgiana read the letter through, and rolling her eyes, put it down. “How about, this? Dear Lydia, stop being such a fool?”
“Act your age?”
“Grow up?”
“Behave yourself or you will be married to Mr. Collins!” They giggled and bent their heads together to write her a sensible letter that was sure to be ignored.
“HANG ON, SON.” Lord Moreland put his hand on Harwick’s shoulder as they walked away from the birthing chamber. Hearing Laura cry out, Harwick stopped and stiffened; then turned to go back to her. Lord Moreland took a firm hold of his arm. “No, you said your farewells, now you will do her no good to stay, come along.”
“She needs me.” He said stubbornly.
“She needs the women who are with her.” Guiding his son-in-law towards the stairs, they both looked up when the sound of running feet caught their ears and suddenly Ella and Margaret appeared at the top of the next landing.
“Papa!” Margaret flew down to hug him, Ella followed, a little slower. “What is wrong with Mama? Why does she cry?”
Harwick looked at Lord Moreland and drew on his resolve to speak calmly. He knelt and wrapped his arms around his little girls. “Mama is well, she is just …” He hugged them tightly and buried his face in their hair.
“Papa, you are holding me too tight!” Margaret cried.
“Forgive me dear.” He blinked hard and kissed her, then kissed Ella who remained silent, but clutched his sleeve. “I love you both very much, and so does Mama.” The governess arrived and he looked up. “Please keep them busy.”
“Yes sir, I am sorry.” Taking their hands, she led them away downstairs to the library, where they might be insulated from Laura’s cries.
Please do not leave me a widower again. He prayed and slowly rose to his feet. Lord Moreland stayed by his side and they made their way to the study where they waited in silence as Harwick paced. The hours ticked slowly by while the shadows moved across the room. Harwick maintained his silent vigil, not drinking, not reading, only staring from time to time at the portraits of each of his wives. Lord Moreland read a book, watched the pacing man, and made no attempt to reassure him. Eventually he sank down into a chair and closed his eyes, waiting. At last the door opened and Lady Moreland appeared.
Both men jumped to their feet. “Congratulations.” She smiled wearily. “You have a beautiful, healthy son.”
“Oh.” He breathed. “And … Laura?”
“She is exhausted, but well.” She smiled and grasped his hands. “She is well, dear. She asks for you. Go to her.”
“Yes.” He wiped his face and kissed her cheek. “Thank you!” Turning, he pumped his father-in-law’s hand then flew out of the room, ran up the stairs, and finally arrived in his wife’s chamber. She lay on the bed, her hair brushed but still damp, her face pale, but graced by a tired smile. In her arms was a tightly wrapped bundle. He stopped in the doorway and just drank in the scene, then with a glance, sent the servants from the room. He slowly entered, and closed the door behind him.
15 NOVEMBER 1810
Meadowbrook
Leicester
Dear Darcy,
I have waited one week just to be sure that all is well before I announced our wonderful news. My beautiful Laura has delivered us a son. He has proven himself to be healthy, and by his lusty cries, I know that he is strong. My Laura is doing well, and if it takes a dedicated staff of stern maids, she will stay abed for the duration of her recovery. I will not take the chance of losing her. She protests but it falls on deaf ears. Every recommendation for her will be followed, and when my dear wife recovers, we will celebrate with an appropriate holiday, perhaps to Bath, perhaps to London, if it were summer we would go to the sea. I would have welcomed any child, you know that, Darcy. But a son, I have a son! My family will live on in Stewart Archer Harwick. I know that you understand, I pray that you and Elizabeth will be so blessed one day. Our daughters are delighted with their new brother, I could not be prouder of my family.
Thank you again for your unflagging support and letters of reassurance. I am grateful for your friendship, as I know that Laura is thankful for Mrs. Darcy’s. Please express Laura’s appreciation to her. No, I will not allow her to sit at a desk to write yet, either. She will run away in utter frustration before long, but fortunately, my hunting skills are excellent and I will bring her home.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Harwick, Esq.
Darcy closed his eyes in a silent prayer of thanksgiving. “A son.” He looked up to the landscape of Pemberley that hung across the room and stood to examine it. “An heir.” His chin lifted and he nodded. “Well, now that Lizzy’s body seems to be ready to bear a child again, perhaps we might have another soon.” Thinking of Rosa’s newly acquired crawling skills, he chuckled to himself. They had spent the previous afternoon sitting on the carpet before the fire in the music room, taking turns sending their giggling girl crawling back and forth between them while Mary played every lullaby and children’s song she knew. By the time they had stopped, Rosalie was curled up and asleep on Elizabeth’s lap, and he had scooted over to embrace them both. “Another girl would be wonderful, too.” He sighed. “As long as the child is healthy, and my Elizabeth is too, I do not care.”
A knock came to the door and he turned to see his newly-arrived secretary. “Sir, I have finis
hed going over the accounts and familiarizing myself with the system you have employed here.”
“Yes?” Darcy’s face became that of the master, and he walked back to his desk to sit down. “Do you have any recommendations?”
“To be honest with you sir, no. It is efficient and if followed precisely, there is no chance of missing collecting income or paying your obligations in a timely manner.”
“My father spent some years developing it.” Darcy said quietly and looked at the account book on his desk. “I am glad to know that it passes your scrutiny.”
“Yes sir, I … Sir what role do you wish me to take here? You have made it clear that you wish to maintain your correspondence.”
“I have been debating your role, I …” He looked up when he heard a soft, “oh.”
Elizabeth just stopped at the doorway to the study and the secretary was on his feet and bowing low as Darcy was still rising. He smiled. “Mrs. Darcy.”
“Mr. Darcy, forgive me, I am not used to your having a secretary.” She smiled a little to him and felt herself being assessed by a two pairs of intelligent eyes. The blue pair was reading every detail of her face.
“It is an honour, madam.” Conrad bowed again and looked to Darcy, apparently waiting for him to dismiss his wife.
Darcy studied the older man and understood his posture, then smiled at Elizabeth. “Will you not join us?” He took her hand and led her to the chair immediately to the right of his; then taking his seat again looked up expectantly at Conrad. “Shall we continue?”
Conrad’s open mouth snapped shut and he sat down gracefully. “Certainly, sir.”
“Perhaps I should clarify something from the start, Conrad. Mrs. Darcy is aware of all of my business, she reads much of my correspondence, and while she may not know every detail, she is cognizant of my affairs. I told you before that I value her opinion. Besides that, I wish for her to be prepared for any possibility.” He smiled at her frown. “Even I am susceptible to the occasional cold, Mrs. Darcy.”
“A cold I will accept.” She nodded. “However, I do not care to discuss anything else.”
