by Wells, Linda
“You sound like all of the other girls at school.” Lydia pouted. “Nobody wants to have fun.”
“It is not a matter of having fun, it is survival.” Jane tried to impress her sister and sighed when nothing seemed to make a dent. There was a soft knock at the door and Lucas was there. Lydia’s eyes grew wide.
“Your aunt looked very upset, is there something wrong?” He spoke to Jane but his eyes were on Lydia. “I hope that I do not need to repeat the admonishment that you heard from our brother Darcy, Sister?”
“No, sir.” Lydia whispered.
“I hope that I do not need to repeat the words from Captain de Bourgh, which I believe you did understand.”
“No, sir, I mean, yes, sir.” She looked down.
“Do we need to have Mr. Collins pay a visit? He is only too happy to expound on the proper behaviour of a young lady.” Lucas folded his arms.
“No, sir.”
“Lydia.” Jane took her hand. “Think. If all of your teachers, and all of the girls at your school are behaving one way, and only Jessica is behaving like you, who do you think is in the right?”
“Please do not waste this opportunity, Lydia.” Kitty said quietly. “I will not.”
“I am not wasting anything. I am going to go see Mama.” Lydia hurried past Lucas and out of the room.
Kitty hung her head and Jane put her arm around her. “We will try again another time when she is calm. But in the meantime, let us get that dress pressed, you are coming to the dance tonight.”
“AHHHH.” LUCAS SMILED. “At last a dance with the most beautiful …”
“Robert, I have begged you not to call me beautiful.” Jane smiled into his happy eyes. “You enjoy teasing me too much.”
“No, I love teasing you.” He clasped her hand and they stepped forward and back. “However, I am not alone in proclaiming your beauty. I believe the men of Netherfield looked at you with entirely too much admiration. I am glad that they are gone.”
“I did not ask for it!” She protested. “And not one of them ever suggested anything to me.”
“No, not to you, but their eyes gave them away.” He passed behind her. “They saw what I do.”
“Robert.” Jane blushed and he laughed softly. “Please stop.”
“Am I not permitted to be possessive of you?” He whispered as they clasped hands again.
“If I may speak of the girls who persist in their admiration of you.” She lifted her chin and he chuckled.
“Well done, dear.” They smiled and danced without speaking until the song ended. Clapping, they looked to the musicians then back to each other, waiting for the next. “I understand that the judge will not renew the lease for the spring.”
“I believe that you are correct. Mama heard …”
“Naturally.” He winked and they began to move again. “She knows all.”
“Well she has found a whole new source of untapped gossip in the tenants.” Jane smiled and they both looked over at Mrs. Bennet talking excitedly with her sister. “Papa will have to buy another horse and gig so that she can visit on her own.”
“I do not see your mother driving a gig by herself.” Lucas laughed. “And woe to the man on foot when she is driving down his lane!”
“Fitzwilliam bought Lizzy a barouche to drive.”
“Of course he did. I cannot believe he gave in to her prodding.” He saw that Jane was biting her lip. “What is it?”
“Well … He does not know that it was purchased for her yet.” Jane saw his brows rise. “She expressed admiration and he …”
“So he will be hoodwinked to teach her, no doubt by some convincing feminine ploy.” Lucas smiled, already knowing the truth that Darcy let Elizabeth think she was charming him.
“I have no idea what you are talking about!” Jane huffed and spun away from him to join hands with another man down the line. When she returned, he was smiling at her. “What are you thinking?”
“I am thinking that I would rather enjoy you trying to convince me of something by using your wiles.” He bent to her ear. “Is there anything you desire?”
“I can tell there is something that you desire.” Jane saw that his eyes had darkened and she felt his hand tighten over hers. “Robert, we have a houseful of guests!”
“My parents do.” He whispered. “And they are all occupied and very noisy.” He looked at her intently. “Come Jane, we have not had a chance in days! With your family arriving for Christmas and all the other engagements,” speaking urgently he whispered, “Nobody would hear …”
“Your brothers are upstairs.”
“My brothers need to find apprenticeships.” He growled. Jane smiled up at him and his glare softened. “Tonight?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Any night.”
“Any?” He startled and stared. “And I …” He smiled and shaking his head, laughed when their movement ended. “I do not care what you say, Jane Lucas, you do know how to tease.”
“Bennet.”
“Sir William.”
“Care to wager on a grandchild?” He winked and looked towards the couple.
“Most unseemly, gentlemen.” Mr. Gardiner joined in. “This should be done over port.” The men laughed and he looked across the room. “Kitty is a different girl; we had a very pleasant journey with her. She is learning some things at school. Has she shown you her drawings?”
“No.” Mr. Bennet looked over to her standing with Maria and watching the dancers. “She has not mentioned them.”
“Hmm.” Mr. Gardiner clasped his hands behind his back. “Perhaps you should ask. I imagine that she is unsure of your interest and shy of showing her accomplishments.” He noted Mr. Bennet’s brow crease and moved on. “Lydia was put out that Kitty would attend this evening.”
“As you know, Lydia was in high dudgeon before the subject arose.” He saw his brother’s eyes roll and glanced at Sir William, and kept the gossip to himself. Looking over to Kitty, he lifted his chin. “She is sixteen, and Jane spoke to me, telling me that it was entirely proper for a girl to attend a private dance at that age, to get a feel for the situation so that when she is out, she will be comfortable. She is not permitted to dance, but she may observe. Lydia was angry to be left behind, and when she told Kitty that she could not go, Kitty ignored her.”
“Really?” Mr. Gardiner smiled. “Well Kitty is thinking for herself, not following her younger sister’s orders.”
“Yes.” Mr. Bennet smiled with the realization. Kitty saw his approval, and nearly dropped her cup of punch. “I think that for the first time, Kitty has something that Lydia does not.”
“But she does not lord it over her.” Sir William noted. “She is different, come to think of it.” He rubbed his cheek. “Perhaps I should look into a school for Maria. She is so shy.”
“Well Kitty’s school certainly does well by her. I spoke to the headmistress of Lydia’s school when I went to collect her this morning. It seems that there is a militia unit in the village, catching the girls’ eyes.”
“I understand that Meryton may get one next autumn.” Sir William offered. “Mixed opinion on that, good for business but lock up your daughters!” Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet exchanged glances and kept their opinions to themselves.
“WELL?” BINGLEY ASKED WHEN HE APPEARED in Darcy’s study the next morning.
“Well what?” Darcy glanced at Conrad and he gathered his papers and disappeared.
“Miss Martin, man!” He plopped into a chair and sat forward to stare at Darcy with bright eyes.
“You seemed to get along nicely.” Darcy smiled. “Actually I was extremely impressed. You were confident, self-assured, in fact, you were everything that you are not now.”
Bingley sat back and laughed. “Oh. I was doing my best, Darcy. The term “puppy” is very clear in my memory. I like her.”
“She was very nice, and you seem to have a great deal in common.”
“Yes!” Sitting forward again he spoke eagerly. “I
lay abed all last night thinking of that. We share a common appreciation for the work of our fathers; and in many ways come from similar worlds. I cannot tell you how refreshing that is!”
“So the ladies raised in the thick of the Ton did nothing for you?” Darcy smiled and stretched his arms over his head.
“Oh, I would not say that.” Bingley winked at him. “It is just, well they are just so damned, I do not know, full of themselves. I think that I could be rich as Midas and still they would look down on me.” Shrugging, he sat back again. “I suppose that was the attraction to Mrs. Lucas, well and Mrs. Darcy, too.” Seeing Darcy’s face lose expression, he smiled. “Sorry, I just enjoy seeing that scowl.”
“Do you want my help or not?” Darcy glared.
“I would say he does.” Hurst strolled in and took a chair. “I like her, Bingley. Louisa did, too. And that is saying something, she used to hold a great ambition to see you married to royalty, her expectations have dropped a bit.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “That sounds more like Mrs. Robinson than Mrs. Hurst.”
“Well, perhaps.” Hurst tilted his head. “I think though that I do see a bit of the puppy about you this morning, what say you, Darcy?”
“Well …” He sighed and looked directly at Bingley. “At least he did not call her an angel.” Hurst laughed and Bingley blushed. “You do make a habit of having your head turned easily. She is a nice girl, but I do not think that you need to set your agenda around her. Telling her you would take Netherfield … you are too quick, Bingley. Take your time; you have a whole Season ahead of you before you become a landowner, or renter, rather. There is no hurry to fall in love with the first pretty girl who crosses your path.”
“I had not really thought about that. I … I suppose that I was …” Bingley shrugged. “It was nice to actually have a real conversation with a girl instead of just staring at her.”
“That is because you share common experiences. You have learned something with that, have you not?” Darcy smiled when understanding appeared in his friend’s eyes. “She was putting on a brave front in here, when she managed to tear her eyes from yours. It reminds me of you once.” Bingley smiled to his boots then rubbed his nose. “Far be it from me to tell you who to love, but I think that you are seriously jumping the gun.”
“Is this one of those moments when I should take my friends’ advice and follow my gut?”
“Ah, well. No, actually I am being quite serious. I am not hoping to teach you by subterfuge this time.” Darcy leaned forward and spoke seriously, “If you happen to still remember her name when you are back in town and the Season has begun, you have an excellent excuse in re-establishing contact by paying a call to her father. You could mention meeting Miss Martin here and enquire after her health. I suspect a dinner invitation would soon follow.”
“If he remembers her is the salient point here.” Hurst said with a twitch to his lips. “I lay odds that she will be gone from your mind the moment another young lady smiles at you.”
“Am I that fickle?” Bingley cried. His companions said nothing and simply looked at him. “Well, it is time to put a stop to that!”
“Good for you, Bingley.” Darcy laughed and put a sheet of paper and a pen in front of him. “Now, I suggest that you write to the owner of Netherfield before your plans go awry once again.”
“SO THERE YOU WERE, standing in the middle of the lawn, searching everywhere for those pearls.” Lord Matlock chuckled and put the stopper back in the top of the nearly empty decanter of port. “A more pathetic sight I have never witnessed. I must say it took all of me to remain stern.”
“I seem to remember Mother had no problem at all being quite stern.” Richard said in a flat tone as he stared at his clasped hands hanging between his legs. “She meted out punishment most effectively.”
“Ah well, spare the rod, spoil the child.” He resumed his seat opposite his son. “Although I imagine that you thought it was a beating worthy of the criminals in the pillory, I would say that your lashings were no more painful than a quick crack of the hand. I think the lashings of the tongue were more memorable.”
“They both sting, Father.”
He shrugged. “They were meant to, but they did you no harm.”
“You were much kinder to Audrey and Stephen.” He said to his hands.
Laughing, he sipped his drink. “That statement is in direct contrast to how they feel about your supposedly lax punishments.”
“What?” He looked up. “I …”
“All three of you were punished the same way, and might I add, none of you was ever hurt. I think that the anticipation was more effective in curbing you.” He chuckled. “Well that and a few turns at mucking out the stables.”
“But I enjoyed that.” Fitzwilliam managed a smile.
“And Stephen did not.” He sighed. “No for you, the trick was to set you to work writing out your lessons. Audrey … Well, she never really did anything wrong. She would not dare disappoint her mother.”
“I miss her, but it is good to see her so happy with Singleton now.”
“Yes, that was one of the greatest regrets I have ever had, giving her to that beaten boy. Now that is an example of parental discipline gone horribly wrong. I did not know; I had no idea that Singleton was such a terrible mess. He seemed an ideal suitor and they got on so well.” He shook his head. “That bastard of a father of his.”
“I look at all of the examples of fathers and … I worry over how I will be to my child.” Fitzwilliam glanced up at the ceiling then back to his hands. “I admire so many things in you, but I … see the non-traditional behaviour of Darcy and I wish to emulate him.”
“And your brother?” Lord Matlock asked softly.
“He walks a tightrope, I think. He wishes to be as free as Darcy, but enjoys the comfort of convention. I would say that he holds Margaret much more than you ever held us, and they spend more time with her, but they both feel the burden of their position and do not feel comfortable straying too far from what is expected. I am no Viscount, and that gives me freedom of a sort.”
“Yes, and Darcy is the same in a way, although once he realized what his father had tried to teach him about his expectations, he also felt that freedom you speak of to follow his own path.” Lord Matlock smiled. “Your brother, however, does have that title, and he will always bear scrutiny, so he must be more careful. Therefore, Margaret is neither coddled nor neglected. They have set their rules and your mother and I endeavour to stay out of it. They are very happy, and soon there will be another.” He sighed contentedly. “Hopefully the heir.”
“I hope that you do not make them feel that they have failed if it is not.” Richard said pointedly.
“No, no, but it is to be expected.” He shrugged. “Then again, if there is not one, the estate would go to you and yours.”
“I am hardly counting on that.” Fitzwilliam sighed and looked at the clock. “Twenty hours since this began! Why is it taking so long?”
“I imagine your wife is expressing the same sentiment.” He smiled and leaned forward to grasp his shoulder. “She will be well.”
“Yes. I keep telling myself that.” He sighed again and searched for a distraction. Rubbing his temples he murmured, “What ever happened to those pearls?”
Lord Matlock smiled. “Ah, odd you should ask, since apparently two of them have turned up.”
“What?” Fitzwilliam’s head lifted. “Where? Did Darcy find them? After all of these years? I admit to searching every time I am at Pemberley.”
Chuckling, Lord Matlock sat back in his chair. “Let me tell you the story of your evil cousin …”
“Richard.” Both men were on their feet and in front of Lady Matlock. She looked very weary. “No news yet, dear. Evangeline was worried about you, and asked me to come and see how you are.” She caressed his face. “You look exhausted.”
“I am sure that it is nothing to my wife.” He took his mother’s hand. “How is she, really?”
“She is doing fine.”
Fitzwilliam searched her eyes and dropped her hand. “No, she is not. You are here for a reason; you are preparing to tell me something horrible.” He drew himself up and looked to the door. “Excuse me.”
“Richard, no, remain here!” Lady Matlock ordered and he shook his head.
“I am going where I should have been all along. What kind of a man am I?” He strode from the room and Lord Matlock touched his wife’s hand. She turned and fell into his open arms.
“Is anything wrong?” Lord Matlock asked urgently.
“No, Evangeline and I have been arguing for the last few hours. She wants Richard, and finally threatened to keep the baby from me if I did not go and find him.” She smiled and leaned on his chest. “I truly love that young woman.”
Lord Matlock squeezed her and kissed her forehead. “But you told him to stay.”
“Well I wanted to make sure that he would go.” Lady Matlock sighed and her husband laughed softly and held her. “I know my stubborn boy.”
Without stopping to consider his actions, Fitzwilliam followed the sound of his wife’s voice, and opened the door to the bedchamber. She lay on her side, her back to the man sitting next to the bed. His eyes widened at the sight of another man seeing his wife so indecently dressed, but continued in. “Sir …” the midwife stood and Fitzwilliam glared at him.
“Stand down and do your job.”
“Richard.” Evangeline whispered and he came around to see her face, kneeling on the floor to hold her hands. “You came … ohhhhhhhh.”
“This is where I belong.” He picked up a cloth and wiped her brow. “You are a magnificent soldier.”
She smiled a little, gasped again, clutched his hands, then screamed. He resisted every desire he was feeling, wanting to run away, wanting to strangle the midwife, wanting to curse nature for making her suffer, but instead he said how much he loved her, and stared into her eyes.
“I am so tired.” She said as her voice cracked.
“Your grip belies that statement.” He smiled and flexed his fingers before giving his hands back over to her. “Come love, you can do this.”
