by Lory Lilian
“Even if that is so, even if it is only another of Catherine’s schemes, would it not be better to deal with it there without exposing your wife to such a discussion? It is only a few hours’ trip. We shall see how they are and then decide whether to return them to Rosings or bring them to London. In any case, you will not be away for more than two days at most. Surely, your marriage will survive such a small obstacle,” Lord Matlock said with a trace of irony.
Darcy’s torment grew as he struggled to refute the earl’s reasoning.
“Come, Darcy; the sooner we leave, the quicker we return,” Thomas said.
Darcy was lost for an argument. He knew he had little chance to win such a ridiculous battle. Fate was against him once again, and he wondered how long he would continue to be punished in such a way.
“Very well. I shall join you, but I warn you I shall not delay a minute more than absolutely necessary.”
“Sounds fair enough,” his uncle agreed.
***
When the door opened, Elizabeth rose to embrace her husband tenderly. His face was still severe, but she hoped her kisses would calm him.
He pulled her to his chest and kissed her hair. There was no passion, no desire, no eagerness in his gesture, only tenderness and concern.
He sat on the bed and placed her on his lap. One hand encircled her back while the other gently stroked her face.
“My love, I have bad news. It seems that Lady Catherine and Cousin Anne have suffered an accident. They are at an inn twenty miles from Rosings, and they have sent for us. We do not know for certain how badly injured they are. My uncle and cousin Thomas want me to join them.”
“In Kent?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.
“Yes. I argued with them as much as I could. But I would feel guilty not going. Besides, some decisions can be made with only my uncle’s and my approval. It was so stated in Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s will. We do not know what we shall find there. I have no words to apologise, but I fear I must go.”
“Now?” she continued with the same astonishment.
“Yes.” He kissed her cheeks, and she cupped his face.
“But you must be tired. And…this is…I fear the rain will start again. See how cloudy the sky is.”
She was desperate to keep him in her arms, and his heart melted. He knew it was not only about the consummation of their marriage but genuine concern for his safety. His arms closed more tightly around her.
“I shall return as soon as I can. I shall see in what manner my presence is needed, and I shall delay no longer than required,” he whispered.
“Do not travel in haste, my dear. You must promise me that you will consider your safety and comfort first. I shall wait for you.”
“Are you not upset, Elizabeth?”
“Upset? No…a little sad and disappointed. If you could leave tomorrow… But when such things happen, you cannot abandon your duty. You saved Mrs. Johnson and her children. How can you possibly disregard your aunt’s request?”
“If you knew how painful it is for me to separate from you,” he whispered.
“Do not doubt that I know. But your return will be even sweeter. I shall eagerly wait for you to hold me in your arms again.”
“As mine will be waiting for you,” he said.
Elizabeth put her arms around his neck, and he held her with all the force of his desperate tenderness.
With a turmoil he could not overcome, angry, disappointed, and saddened, Darcy found the strength to separate from his wife an hour later.
A small bag and the memory of Elizabeth’s regretful expression, her eyes moist with tears, were all that he carried.
His uncle and cousin, in the past his pleasant companions, were now annoying. He had little patience and no will to listen to them and even less to enter into conversation.
The rain began again.
Though the horses were galloping, the movement of the carriage seemed to be slower—as though time froze and refused to allow him to return to his wife as quickly as he wished.
The tension in his body—due, no doubt, to another interruption in the consummation of his marriage—and the suspicion that this was all a mischievous attempt by his aunt to have her revenge on Elizabeth had him in a frenzy.
Although he never spoke about it with Elizabeth, the letter Lady Catherine sent him at the news of his engagement was still clear in Darcy’s mind. Yet, she was his mother’s sister, and he thought it only fair to give her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps she was hurt. Perhaps she truly needed him.
His thoughts flew back to Elizabeth, wondering what she was doing alone in a large, strange house, surrounded by people she did not know and sleeping in an empty bed she should have shared with him. He should not have agreed to leave her. But it was too late. It was done, and now all he could do was solve the matter and return as quickly as possible.
Late in the evening, the Fitzwilliam men and Dr. Bowles arrived at the inn that hosted Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter. The innkeeper welcomed them with such enthusiasm that Darcy smiled to himself; the man was apparently as eager as he was to have the situation resolved. Lady Catherine must have everyone beyond the edge of their patience.
“Darcy! So you came!” Lady Catherine was in bed, her left leg in a bandage, her appearance as imperious as ever.
“Yes. How are you feeling, Aunt?”
“I feel betrayed and disappointed in you. You forgot everything you were taught and allowed the shades of Pemberley to be polluted by an inappropriate mistress. I still cannot believe you have been such a fool and allowed yourself to be trapped in such a marriage.”
Darcy breathed deeply to regain some control over his fury and fatigue.
“I am glad to see you are your usual self, Aunt Catherine. Please be so kind as to not debate my marriage with me. You have already made your opinion quite clear, and I have decided to forget it, but I shall accept nothing of the kind again.”
“Well, you cannot prevent me from saying what I think! I am not a woman to be silenced!”
“I know you are not, Aunt. But you must learn to accept that I am the happiest man ever, and anyone who says a word against my wife will lose my friendship forever—that is, if you wish to maintain a relationship in the future.”
“Our relationship? You are my sister’s son! Nothing can change that. But you have been a fool! Do you know that your precious wife was on friendly terms with that scoundrel Wickham? Mr. Collins told me as much. If that wretch had a decent income or a way to ensure her a comfortable living, I am sure she would have secured him. But, being the fortune hunter she is, she quickly found another victim. Why marry the servant when she could have the master?”
“Aunt! Do not say another word!” Darcy yelled. “You talk nonsense and undeservingly offend the most worthy of women. I shall leave and never see you again!”
“You are angry because you know I am right!”
“No, I am angry because you are always wrong and I accepted your bad manners for many years! But this is enough! As I said, I am in no mood for a debate. I am pleased you are not badly injured. I shall see Anne now.”
“Yes, go. Not that you care about her. She might have died from her injuries, knowing she had waited five and twenty years only to be abandoned for the sake of an impertinent country girl.”
“Catherine, you are being ridiculous,” the earl interjected severely. “Have you lost your mind completely? Enough of this childish drama. Darcy was kind enough to come at your request. Do not make me regret that I insisted he join us.”
“So you insisted? Of course, you did; otherwise, he would not have left that obstinate, headstrong wife of his. My sister Anne would be so disappointed and hurt. Thank God she did not live to see her son’s failure.”
“You have lost your mind,” the e
arl concluded.
Darcy ceased any attempt at reasonable conversation and quickly left. He asked for Anne’s room and found her with Mrs. Jenkinson, who had come from Rosings as soon as she heard of the accident. Anne lay in bed, her left arm and right leg bandaged.
At his entrance, she smiled with delight. He took her free hand and kissed it.
“Anne, how are you?”
“Oh, I am well enough, do not worry. You should not have come over such a small annoyance.”
“But why were you travelling to London in such weather?”
“Mama insisted. She said she had urgent matters in Town and asked me to join her. I do not know what they could be, but I did not want to leave her alone. Besides, I wanted to take the opportunity to visit Georgiana and our other relatives. I have not seen them in two years.”
“Are you in pain?”
“Oh no, it is only a slight injury. Tell me how you are.”“I am fine. Happy.” He smiled.
“I am glad, Cousin. Please convey to Mrs. Darcy my congratulations and best regards,” Anne whispered, and Darcy kissed her hand again.
“I shall. She will be pleased to hear it, I am sure. Now tell me, what do you desire, Anne? Would you prefer to return to Rosings or continue on to Town? We shall do as you wish.”
“Mama still insists on going to London, and I am not opposed to it.”
“Very well then. We shall see what Dr. Bowles says. Perhaps it is best for you to spend some time with people other than Aunt Catherine. Georgiana and our aunt will be excited to see you.”
“Then it is settled. Cousin, thank you for coming. And please be patient with Mama. You know how she is. But she does care for you deeply.”
“Try to get some rest, Anne dear. I shall take care of everything.”
Two hours later, the doctor declared the patients in no real danger and able to travel. Arrangements were made for the journey to begin next morning after breakfast.
Lady Catherine asked the gentlemen to keep her company as she still had much to discuss with them.
Darcy politely apologised and retired to his chamber. He was in a mood for no one’s company except the one person he could not have.
Lying in bed, his thoughts were filled with Elizabeth’s image while his body yearned for her warmth. The longing for her was painful. He needed her in every way and in every sense.
She was his love, his pride and joy, the missing part that would make him feel complete. But she was not his wife entirely—yet.
***
The beautiful house situated just across from Hyde Park with spectacular views and beautiful furniture was not Elizabeth’s home—not yet. Not without him.
The fire burned steadily, but the room felt cold. Servants attended to her every declared or undeclared need, but she felt alone. And lonely.
Her body and her heart were accustomed to the protection and tenderness provided by his embrace. Without him, nothing mattered. She knew he had to leave, and she was aware that such a situation might often occur in the future. He was not a man to neglect his duties. Responsibility and honour were part of him.
Would she ever learn to be content without him now that she had discovered the joy of living with him?
Mrs. Talbot offered to take her on a tour of the house, but Elizabeth kindly refused. Her husband was the one who should show her their home. She would wait for him.
With great effort, Elizabeth gathered herself enough to write to her father and to Jane, but she had no desire to leave her apartment.
She lay in bed, listening to the rain and recollecting every day, every moment of her acquaintance with the last man in the world she believed she could love—from the first moment she saw him enter the Meryton Assembly Room until he became the centre of her world and from the moment she thought she hated and despised him until the present when she was ashamed to admit, even to herself, how much she yearned for him.
Another day and night would pass in painful expectation. She belonged to him just as he belonged to her, but they still had not become one yet. She could only wait and hope that her heart would eventually stop aching.
Chapter 8
Darcy was awake at dawn and ready to leave the inn, but it was still dark, and all his relatives slept. He asked for coffee and took a stroll about the inn, but time passed slowly. His cousin Thomas was the first to join him, followed by the earl.
The sun was up and shining when Lady Catherine eventually asked for breakfast. And she needed another two hours to be ready to travel. Darcy and Thomas carefully arranged things in the carriage so the ladies could travel safely. Mrs. Jenkinson and Dr. Bowles were in one carriage; Lady Catherine, Anne, the earl, and Thomas were in another.
“I shall return to London on horseback,” Darcy declared as he enjoyed a last sip of coffee.
His statement startled the party.
“On horseback? What kind of nonsense is this? You cannot ride such a distance,” Lady Catherine uttered.
“Darcy, the weather is not appropriate for riding,” the earl intervened.
“I thank you for your concern, but my decision is made. I hope you arrive in Town safely. Please send me a note, and I shall answer you as soon as possible.”
He delayed only a few minutes, made his farewells, and left, much to the others’ puzzlement.
“Well, he would rather ride than spend his time with us. That is how much respect he has for his own relatives,” Lady Catherine growled.
“I think it is not disrespect for us but rather impatience to be with his wife as quickly as possible. That must happen when one marries for love,” the viscount said with a grin.
“Thomas, sometimes you speak such nonsense.” Lady Catherine then began a long tirade about young men who forget their duties and their place in society. Neither of her companions actually listened though they nodded from time to time.
***
Although she was reluctant to visit the house without Darcy, Elizabeth decided to see the library. She knew it to be a place they equally enjoyed, and he would be happy to know she was there. The moment she entered, she fell in love a second time. The richness of the room and the books enchanted her so that she was lost for a couple of hours: in his armchair, at his desk, searching through his books. His scent was still there.
Around noon, Sarah informed her that she had visitors: Miss Darcy and Lady Matlock. Excited and slightly nervous about her first guests as mistress of the house, Elizabeth met the ladies in the drawing room.
Greetings and embraces were exchanged, refreshments were ordered, and a pleasant conversation was begun.
“How are you, my dear? I imagine it must be very unpleasant to have Darcy leave on the first day of your marriage,” Lady Matlock said.
“It is.” Elizabeth blushed. “But I am aware that Mr. Darcy has many responsibilities.”
“Yes, and I am glad you are wise enough to understand that. Now, as soon as you are settled, we must schedule a visit to the modiste. You will need several new gowns, and it will take time for them to be made properly. Oh, and next week is the reopening of the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. It will be a fabulous event! We have purchased a box; nobody of consequence can miss that spectacle. It will be a production of Hamlet with the great Robert Elliston! I am all anticipation!”
“As am I, Lady Matlock. I am certain it will be a thrilling evening. I have not discussed it with Mr. Darcy yet, but I am certain we shall be happy to attend,” Elizabeth replied.
“Discuss? There is nothing to discuss,” Lady Matlock said. “Of course you will attend.”
“I am excited about it too,” Georgiana intervened. “I am so happy that you will be with us, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth smiled and squeezed her hand; then Lady Matlock unexpectedly said, “You should invite the Gardiners too. The box is large
enough, and they are lovely company.”
“Thank you. Your ladyship is very generous. They would be honoured and enchanted, I am sure,” Elizabeth responded with genuine gratitude.
“Now, about the gowns; you will need four or five for the parties and opera and theatre and at least as many for balls. The Season has just started, and…”
Lady Matlock continued to speak animatedly and make plans that an amused Elizabeth readily accepted. She appreciated the lady’s obvious intention to support her in her new position. As time passed, Elizabeth became more relaxed and easily engaged in the conversation. They chatted, Georgiana played for them, and then Elizabeth joined her singing, much to Lady Matlock’s enjoyment. She praised their talent, asked for more, and then inquired about Elizabeth’s first official dinner.
Late in the afternoon, their little party was suddenly interrupted by Darcy’s arrival.
The ladies were first startled by his appearance as it was in great disorder: tangled hair and a dirty, sweat-streaked face. Elizabeth hurried to greet him, rather more warmly than was proper in company.
When finally still gazed “I am glad to see you all. I hope you are in good health?”
“Yes, we are,” Lady Matlock answered. “And you? Already home? So soon? Is everything well?”
“Yes. Aunt Catherine and Anne were but slightly injured. They will all travel to town in carriages. Uncle and Thomas are with them. I arrived sooner as I rode.”
“You rode? In this weather? That is madness,” Lady Matlock declared.
“It was fine; the rain has stopped, and the journey was rather short.”
“You look tired, brother,” Georgiana said affectionately. Darcy kissed her forehead.
“I confess I am very tired, dearest. I wish only to take a hot bath and rest for at least two days.”
