“Oh.” Georgiana appeared torn between the decisions and looked to her brother.
“A quick wash would not take long, and we would be better prepared to enjoy the children,” he offered.
“Splendid,” Bingley motioned toward a footman who turned and entered the home. “Water will be brought to you directly. Darcy, you are in your normal rooms. Miss Darcy, you are beside him.” He led the way into the house and up the stairs. “The Bennets have invited us to Longbourn for dinner this evening, but we declined. Elizabeth feared it would be more than Miss de Bourgh could do after the journey. Since we are hosting a dinner to-morrow evening, Mrs. Bennet has insisted we join them the following evening. I hope it is not too much …”
“Bingley,” Darcy laughed. “We have just come from town and are accustomed to nightly events.”
“But Miss de Bourgh is not.”
Georgiana smiled. “I am certain she will be pleased with the arrangements. She was just saying how much she wished to see Longbourn.”
“Well then,” Bingley beamed, “it is settled.” He patted Darcy on the shoulder once more. “I am pleased you are here.” He turned his attention to Georgiana and blushed. “Both of you. We shall be an amiable party.”
The men saw Georgiana settled into her room and then traversed the short distance to Darcy’s. “Will you come in, Bingley?” Darcy offered as he saw his friend lingering by the door. “It has been a time since we have seen each other. How are you and your lovely wife?”
Bingley sighed as he stepped fully into the room and closed the door. “We are well, but how are you, my friend? When we last saw each other, I fear you were displeased with us.”
Darcy removed his coat and cravat and tossed them over a chair. “I was unhappy with the situation, Bingley, not you or Mrs. Bingley.” He met his friend’s gaze. “How is she?”
“Jane is well. The midwife says everything is normal and there has not been the distress there had been in the past.” He stopped and smiled mischievously. “You were asking after my wife, were you not?”
“Of course.” Darcy laughed. “But now that you have answered me on that subject, …”
“Elizabeth is better than I have seen her in years. You saw her just now?”
Darcy nodded. “The blur of motion when we arrived? Yes, I saw her.” He fell silent as he remembered each detail.
“Well,” Bingley said as he clapped his hands together, “you should refresh yourself so we can return downstairs.”
Darcy laughed again and waved his friend away that he might finish his ablutions. Within fifteen minutes, he was approaching his sister’s door while adjusting his cravat. Nelson would be most disappointed in his master’s poor attempt, but the man had remained in London to spend time with his family while Darcy travelled from Rosings. He was expected that afternoon but had not yet arrived. With any luck, he would remain ignorant of Darcy’s poor turnout upon his arrival at Netherfield.
The door opened as soon as he knocked, and Georgiana clucked her tongue as she looked him over. “Here,” she said as she drew him into her room and forced him to sit before her. She quickly untied the neck cloth and refolded it before wrapping it about his neck and tying a simple, but elegant knot.
“Wherever did you learn such a thing?” Darcy asked as he looked at himself in her mirror.
“Aunt Valerie,” she replied matter-of-factly before lifting her finger and her left brow and pursing her lips in a replica of their aunt when she was giving instruction. “Though a gentleman employs a valet to see to his needs, he is most appreciative when his wife is able to bring him to order.” Her expression turned mischievous, though she did not lose their relative’s imperious tone. “And the action can fuel his devotion.”
Darcy’s cheeks warmed as his sister giggled innocently.
“It was one of my lessons for becoming an accomplished wife.” Georgiana turned away, oblivious to her brother’s unease. “Should I bring a present now?”
He shook himself from the thoughts of his little sister fixing her husband’s cravat. “No. There will be time for that to-morrow. Let us join the others before the ices melt.”
He offered his arm and escorted her down the stairs, following the sounds of laughter to the balcony. A cool breeze lifted his hair as they stepped through the doorway and took in the scene. Anne and Elizabeth sat side by side on a couch while Mrs. Bingley was seated in a chair just to their left holding her niece. William was seated on the top step leading to the garden clutching his horse, and Bingley crouched next to him telling a story which had the boy’s eyes large as saucers.
“There you are,” Anne called, bringing everyone’s attention to Darcy and Georgiana’s arrival.
“Unca Da!” William cried as he dropped his horse and ran toward his hero.
Darcy scooped him up and embraced the boy as little arms wrapped about his neck. “Will, I am so pleased to see you again.” Though not entirely proper, he could not keep from showing his affection for the lad.
He set the boy back upon his feet and introduced him to Georgiana who curtseyed when the boy gave a slightly unbalanced bow. Darcy looked up to find Elizabeth and Anne watching him suspiciously.
“Madam,” Darcy said as he bowed over Elizabeth’s hand. “It is good to see you again.”
“You have been missed, Mr. Darcy,” she replied as she smiled at her son who had attached himself to Darcy’s leg.
“As I have missed Netherfield and its inhabitants.”
She was clearly affected by his smile but turned away to address his sister. “Miss Darcy, are you pleased to escape London for a few days?”
“I am, Mrs. Collins. I much prefer the country air.” Georgiana took a seat near her cousin. “Anne, you appear much revived.”
Anne reached out to squeeze Georgiana’s hand and smiled. “Indeed. I am uncertain if it is the fresh air or the company.”
Will pushed against Darcy’s leg. “Come see Anne,” he demanded.
They moved nearer Mrs. Bingley and Darcy bowed to her. Her sweet smile allowed his shoulders to relax.
“Mrs. Bingley, I am happy to see you in such good health,” Darcy said as he bowed to her.
“We are pleased you could join us, Mr. Darcy,” she replied sincerely.
“Look!” Will cried as he leaned against his aunt’s legs and tugged the blanket away from his sister’s face. “I take care a’ her. Jus’ like you say.”
Darcy knelt beside the boy and smiled down at the sleeping child. “You are the best of brothers, Will.”
The boy beamed under his praise and turned to smile at his mother. “I best, Mama. Unca Da say.”
A round of laughter followed as Elizabeth, Bingley, and his wife all joined Will in his last statement. Darcy’s eyes leapt from one to the other rapidly.
“Forgive us, Darcy,” Bingley laughed harder as he clapped a hand upon his friend’s shoulder. “It is a phrase repeated frequently in our home and one we come to anticipate.”
“So, you see, sir, you are always with us, even when you are away.” Elizabeth’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she watched their son’s grin grow even larger. “None of us dare contradict the great Unca Da.”
He laughed as he patted Will’s back. “As it should be.”
Georgiana shook her head. “Is my brother not proud enough? With such praise, we shall never hear the end of his brilliance.”
Darcy’s jaw fell open in shock to hear his sister tease him in such a manner. In her time in society, she had gradually come out of her shell and become more confident, but with her maturity had come a solemnity, as though she feared any see her as blemished. He suddenly realized he rarely saw her laugh so freely, not even with Richard, as she once had. Yet here, in this small family setting, he could see a glimpse of the girl she had been prior to Ramsgate. He closed his mouth and smiled.
“Then it is our responsibility to keep him humble,” Elizabeth replied. She pursed her lips attempting to hide her amusement, which caused
Darcy’s heart to race.
He lowered his head in her direction. “I would never presume to anything greater than I am, madam.”
“Yes,” Anne directed her response toward her friend, “but he is just so wonderful that we mere humans are incapable of comparison.”
“You are beginning to sound like my sister,” Bingley cried. “Come, Darcy, I will show you some improvements we have put in place since you were last here.”
“I come,” Will declared as he moved toward his uncle.
“Of course.” Bingley took the boy’s hand and helped him down the steps. “We would not leave a man alone with the ladies. We must stand firm together.”
Darcy bowed to the ladies and followed the others out into the gardens. He was unable to suppress the foolish grin upon his face. It felt good to be in such company again after his time of exile in London.
“Unca Da,” Will called as he ran back, reaching for the man’s hand. “Come on.”
Stretching his legs to join the others, Darcy bent over to scoop the boy up in his arms once more.
“I walk,” Will declared as he wiggled away.
“It is nothing against you, Darcy,” Bingley said. “Will has reached the age of wanting to do everything himself. He will accept your assistance when he is tired.”
Darcy shook his head as he watched the child run ahead of them and then return, much like his beloved Springer Spaniels. “I am missing so much.”
“But you will be there for him soon, when he needs it most and can remember.” Bingley pointed toward a distant wall and began explaining the reasons for its presence while Darcy numbly listened and nodded.
***********
By the time the gentlemen returned to the house, the ladies had retired to their rooms to rest and prepare for dinner. Darcy carried a sleeping Will to the nursery and placed him in Betsy’s care, then made his way back downstairs. He paused in the area which divided the family suites from the guest rooms and looked longingly toward Elizabeth’s door. A glance proved no one was about and he moved quickly before he might be seen.
“Enter,” she called in response to his knock and he opened the door a fraction to see if she was alone.
No one was in sight, not even Elizabeth, so he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“Jane?” her voice drifted toward him, but still he could not find her.
“Elizabeth?” His voice was barely above a whisper, still fearful she might not be alone.
Suddenly, her head appeared on the far side of the bed. “William.” Her cheeks reddened and she remained where she was. “What are you doing here?”
“I …” He wanted to tell her how badly he wanted to see her, to hold her again, but now doubted his reception. “Forgive me.” He bowed and backed toward the door. “I did not mean to impose …”
“You are not imposing,” Elizabeth began, but then fell silent. Still she remained behind the bed. “Perhaps we might speak … later?”
“Elizabeth.” Darcy took a step closer as his curiosity grew. “What are you doing?”
Her blush deepened and she pulled herself up onto the bed. She had removed her morning dress and wore only her chemise and a dressing gown. “It is silly.”
Darcy stepped closer, the desire to join her and draw her into his embrace conflicted with her discomposure. “I will not laugh.”
Her brow quirked upward as her lips twitched. “Yes, you will.”
“I promise,” he said as he bowed with a hand over his heart to pledge his sincerity.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and turned away from him. “After Anne’s birth my back continued to ache. Aunt Phillips showed me an advertisement for a posture couch where one changes position to relieve discomfort. I thought it silly to purchase something when one could easily create a substitution.”
This time, Darcy did move so that he could see the far side of her bed. A board and several cylindrical objects lay on the floor. He frowned, not quite understanding the intent. “How does it work?”
Her embarrassment fled as she leapt up to demonstrate her creation. “You lie upon it, adjusting the rollers to where the discomfort is centred. Shall I show you?”
Darcy nodded and watched with fascination as she lowered herself to the floor, placed the rollers a hands width apart, and then lay down upon them. A satisfied sigh escaped her after she made a final adjustment to the lowest roller. The vision of her, lying with her hair spread out about her, her dressing gown twisted enough to show a glimpse of fair skin, was more than he could withstand. Darcy knelt beside her and caressed her cheek.
“I look ridiculous.” She began to sit up, but Darcy stopped her.
“You look beautiful.” He leaned forward and captured her lips with his. Uncertain if the rollers would hurt her should he lay on top of her, he spread out beside her and drew her into his embrace. The kiss was deepening when she laid a hand upon his chest and gently pushed away from him.
“We cannot.” Her voice was hoarse, but resolute. She stood and crossed toward the sitting area near the hearth. “You received my letter?” she asked in a more normal tone.
“Yes.” Darcy sat up, silently cursing himself for taking advantage of the situation. “Forgive me …”
She turned back to him and smiled. Not the impish smile from when they first met or the sensual smile of their times in bed, but a smile which spoke of peace, love, and contentment. “There is nothing to forgive. I should not have tempted you.” She took a seat in an armchair and nodded toward the sofa to her right.
Darcy stood, dusted off his trousers, and joined her.
“Have you read the fifteenth chapter of Luke?” she asked as she adjusted her dressing gown, not meeting his gaze.
“I intended to do so after receiving your letter but was ordered to Rosings to retrieve Anne.”
Her actions stilled as she folded her hands in her lap. “But you did read my letter.”
“Yes.” Darcy’s hand rose to his breast pocket and the rustling of paper filled the silence.
“So, you understand how important this is to me.”
Darcy reached toward her, but she leaned away. “I believe so.”
Her head lifted revealing her glistening eyes. “When I was young, my father taught Jane and me from the Bible, later Mary. It was our first schoolbook. Before we could move forward to other worldly things, we were required to know God’s Word.” She paused as a single tear slipped down her cheek. “When I found, or rather lost myself in your arms, I turned away from those early teachings.”
Unable to maintain her gaze, Darcy’s head tipped forward and away from her. “Forgive …”
“No.” Elizabeth laid a hand upon his arm. “There is nothing for me to forgive. I am attempting to explain my conditions for our future.”
“Conditions?” Darcy turned to study her expression. Her eyes were filled with tears, but also hope.
“Yes. Papa insisted that when we marry, we be equally yoked.”
She paused as they both saw the hypocrisy in his actions of insisting she marry her cousin. Elizabeth recovered first and shook her head before continuing.
“I want to marry you, William, with the intent to spend not only this life, but eternity at your side.”
“I can think of nothing I want more.”
Her smile grew. “I am pleased to hear it.”
Her eyes fell to a small black leather book lying upon the table between them. The cover was worn, and the spine cracked. Darcy knew immediately what it was and picked it up. He placed it in his pocket as he stood, bowed over her hand, and then left her room.
*CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE*
Darcy entered his room to find his sister sitting in a chair by the fire. She stood as he closed the door behind him.
“William, may we speak?” She clasped her hands before her and held her head high. Whatever was on her mind seemed to require all her fortitude.
With a nod, Darcy motioned toward the chair she had just vacated and, once
she was seated, took the one across from it. Uncertain what she might say, but having some suspicions, he waited for her to begin.
The silence drew out until Georgiana finally took a deep breath and introduced the topic in a rapid flow of words. “We have already spoken of your intent to marry Mrs. Collins.”
Darcy followed her example and took a calming breath, but his words were more measured when he spoke. “Yes, I love Elizabeth, and it is my belief that she returns my affections. When the time is right, I will ask her to be my wife.”
“And her son?” Georgiana met his gaze, her eyes wide and searching.
“I …” Darcy swallowed, emotions closing his throat. “I look upon him as my own. He is a part of her, and I love him dearly.”
His sister’s gaze fell back to her lap and her voice grew softer. “Is he yours?” She lifted her head once more, tears glistening in her eyes as she awaited his response.
Darcy was unable to reply, shocked that she had seen through him so easily.
“I suspected this once, long ago.” Georgiana stood and paced to the hearth. “I even requested Mrs. Collins urge you to marry.”
“I remember,” Darcy whispered.
“I am glad now that you did not do as I wished.”
Darcy’s breath caught in his chest. “What are you saying?”
His sister turned to meet his gaze. “Had you married and then …” She took a deep breath. “I am glad you will be happy, William.”
“I thank you, Georgie.” Darcy stood and opened his arms to embrace her.
She wrapped her arms about his waist and laid her head upon his chest. “What if Will begins to look like you as he grows?”
Darcy shrugged. “We shall address that when it occurs.” He kissed her hair. “I am pleased that you do not judge us, or Will, for our shortcomings.”
“How could I?” Georgiana asked as she pulled away to meet his eye. “What a hypocrite I would be after Ramsgate.”
“You were young …”
“And you were in love. Our choices were flawed, but we meant well.” She raised up on tip toe and kissed his cheek. “I must prepare for dinner.”
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