Finally Mrs. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Page 7
“He has survived well,” Darcy commented. It was not the first time he had said so since Richard’s arrival.
“I am sure there are shadows,” Elizabeth replied. “There always are.”
Darcy clasped her hand in his. He knew she was not only speaking of shadows formed by the atrocities of war but also of the shadows that hung about any individual after a trying experience — fears, guilt, regrets, or the dreaded expectation of the recurrence of some event.
“They can be vanquished,” he whispered.
Her head rubbed against his shoulder as she nodded. “Most can, but I imagine there are particularly dark ones which cannot.” She squeezed his hand. “I am glad that no such shadows have attached themselves to our family.”
“As am I.” He shifted slightly as his foot began to prickle from sitting in one position for so long. “I fear the shadow over Bingley may never rise.”
Elizabeth smiled and lifted his hand to her lips. “You are a very good man, Mr. Darcy.”
“Thank you,” he turned his head to look down at her, “but I am not entirely certain as to the reason for my goodness.”
“You care for him,” she smiled up at Darcy and tilted her head toward where Bingley and Jane sat listening to Richard’s tale. “A lesser man would not.”
“You give me too much credit, my dear.”
She chuckled. “I do no such thing, sir. I have watched you not only forgive the one who so grievously wronged you, but you have also taken care to ensure he knows that he is forgiven. No mention of his wrong doings has crossed your lips in his presence,” she lifted a brow, “even when he has been particularly trying about something.” She sighed. “I do not know how Jane tolerates his stubbornness at times.”
At that, Darcy chuckled, and Thomas once again whimpered and turned his head, apparently unhappy with the rumbling of the laugh. “I imagine she learned patience from you,” he lowered his voice and a particularly attractive, if somewhat impish, smile played at his mouth, “as well as your other sisters and mother.”
Elizabeth attempted to scowl but could not. He was correct. Jane was the only one who ever responded with patience to any of her sisters or her mother. Nearly all of those trying Bennet women were in attendance at Pemberley. Elizabeth sighed contentedly.
Mrs. Bennet was currently in the nursery reading stories to Jane’s children. Nothing, not even the colonel’s tales of far of places, would dissuade her from what she saw as her responsibilities as a grandmother.
Mary had not journeyed to Derbyshire. Her husband’s business could not be shut up, and she would not leave him to manage alone, especially not at Christmas.
Lydia had attempted to be included in the group, but no invitation had been extended. A parcel of presents and a bit of money had, however, found their way to the Wickhams in Newcastle. Jane had heard of the package being assembled and had made certain a warm pair of woolen socks for each of Lydia’s two daughters, as well as a new cap for Lydia, were included.
Kitty was in attendance, but she was not especially merry, for she had left behind her beau, who, just prior to her leaving, had made an offer for her hand and was accepted. She was finding the separation to be a trial, but an unlikely source ─ Bingley ─ had often come to her aid in diverting her with a game or some small bit of amusement. And so, she was tolerating her sojourn in Derbyshire with a greater sense of equanimity that Elizabeth had foreseen.
Darcy shifted beside her again. “We should see Thomas to his bed,” he suggested. “I do believe Uncle Amberly is about to snore.”
The gentleman’s head was bowed, and his eye closed.
“You know he is waiting to see the child to his bed and kiss his head.”
It had become a tradition of sorts during the Amberly’s short stay at Pemberley. Each night, as Thomas was carried to his bed, Gareth Amberly would follow behind and, after Darcy and Elizabeth had said their good nights, he would whisper a poem to the boy, kiss his head, and place a coin in a jar to pay the maker of dreams for pleasant ones.
Maria Amberly would shake her head and smile as she watched. They had had no children on which to dote, save Jack when he came to them. And so, they doted on Thomas as grandparents would, and neither Darcy nor Elizabeth discouraged it. For without Uncle Amberly’s interference, the wiggly, often demanding child, who was sleeping on Darcy’s shoulder, would not have come to be.
“We should” Elizabeth stood and offered her hand to help Darcy rise from the couch. “We will return,” she assured Lady Matlock, who had turned to look in their direction. The comment was greeted with a tentative smile and a small nod.
Lady Matlock had yet to be completely won over in her opinion of Elizabeth, but she kept her peace and refrained from any disparagement and slowly seemed to be coming around to the position that her husband had already adopted that Elizabeth was quite acceptable and decidedly charming.
After seeing their son to bed, Darcy drew Elizabeth down the hall and to the window in their room to look out at the clear star-filled sky. He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her against his chest and kissing the top of her head. “It is peaceful,” he murmured.
Elizabeth sighed and relaxed against him. “Will you be wishing on a Christmas star, Mr. Darcy?”
“I might.” He kissed the top of her head again. “But it will not be for me.”
She turned to look at him. “It will not? Then, for whom shall it be?”
He brushed a piece of hair from her face. “Thomas, perhaps.”
She smiled at him. “And for what will you wish?”
“That he shall one day be as happy as I am at this very moment with a house filled with family who are safe and well and a wife whom I adore.” He kissed her softly. “And you Mrs. Darcy, for what would you wish?”
She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. “I would wish happiness for our children, but it seems you have already done so if you but change the wording to include more than just Thomas.”
Darcy chuckled. “Very well, I shall include all of our children in my wish.”
“Then, I have nothing left for which to wish, for the desire of my heart, whom I once thought was lost, now holds me in his arms and speaks of our children.” She smiled as Darcy cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
He kissed her while down the hall, past the nursery, Uncle Amberly climbed into his bed where he could snore in peace, and Aunt Amberly prepared to endure it.
He kissed her while beneath them, in a crowded sitting room, as Richard began another tale of far away places, Jane slipped her hand into Bingley’s and smiled, not as she always did, but just for him.
Though Elizabeth reminded him of their guests, Darcy continued to kiss her, even as Lady Matlock glanced at the clock before frowning at the door to the sitting room, and Lord Matlock patted her hand and gave her a wink.
“I said we would return,” Elizabeth attempted a second weak protest as Darcy’s mouth left her lips, turning their attention to her neck just below her ear.
“Mmm hmm,” he murmured, “we will.”
And they did, but not until they had made certain that, next Christmas, there would be more than just Thomas for whom to wish.
Acknowledgements
There are many who have had a part in the creation of this story. Some have read and commented on it. Some have proofread for grammatical errors and plot holes. Others have not even read the story (and a few, I know, will never read it), but their encouragement and belief in my ability, as well as their patience when I became cranky or when supper was late or the groceries ran low, was invaluable.
And so, I would like to say thank you to Zoe, Rose, Betty, Kristine, Ben, and Kyle, as well as the lovely readers at darcyandlizzy.com. Because of some of you, this story is better. It now has an epilogue and a prologue and fewer grammatical errors. Because of all of you, I feel blessed through your help, support, and understanding.
I have not listed my dear husband in the above group because, to me, he deserves
his own special thank you, for without his somewhat pushy insistence that I start sharing my writing, none of my writing goals and dreams would have been met.
Choices Series
Her Father’s Choice
Book 1 in the Choices Series
Sometimes a father knows what is best for his child. At least Mr. Bennet trusts he does. Seeing the potential of a good match for his beloved Lizzy but knowing her ability to hold a grudge, he puts a plan into action that forces a marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth.
No Other Choice
Book 2 in the Choices Series
Mary Bennet has never been the center of attention and rarely the object of any man’s affections, but that is about to change. Shortly after Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding, Mary travels to London to prepare for the season, a season she is determined to finish with either a husband or a glorious tale to tell, even if it means learning to tolerate Lord Rycroft.
His Inconvenient Choice
Book 3 in the Choices Series
Colonel Fitzwilliam has always known his father would try to force him into a marriage of convenience, but after Kitty Bennet captures his heart as she shivered in the cold on the streets of Meryton, he realizes his only chance at happiness lies in making an inconvenient choice. However, it is a choice that will not go unchallenged, and as family secrets are revealed, it is a choice that, in creating happiness for the colonel, could destroy his family.
Her Heart’s Choice
Book 4 in the Choices Series
To Anne, it had seemed simple enough. Place an advertisement in the paper, interview the gentlemen who responded, and select the best husband. But nothing is as easy as it seems. Indeed, many things are quite the opposite of how they appear. How is a lady to find a safe and secure marriage when her ideals are turned on their head ─ especially when her heart yearns for a man who is wholly unsuitable?
Other Books by Leenie Brown
Oxford Cottage
Elizabeth Bennet expects to complete the challenge her father has set before her at Oxford Cottage. What she does not expect is to meet a handsome stranger and fall in love, nor does she expect to find herself in a situation where she will have to keep both herself and her young companion safe.
For Peace of Mind
After refusing Mr. Collins’ offer of marriage, Elizabeth Bennet is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle in London. While there, she finds both love and opposition. Can she keep both her love and her peace of mind?
Listen to Your Heart
When Anne de Bourgh finds some hidden papers, her view of the future changes in light of her father’s wishes.
Her declaration to follow her heart and choose her own future causes discord and forces secrets to be revealed. Sometimes the path to happily ever after can be strewn with danger and intrigue.
Through Every Storm
Wickham is a changed man, but his wife has yet to leave some of her childish ways behind. Can a former wastrel redeem both himself and his wife?
Teatime Tales
A collection of six short and sweet Jane Austen-inspired stories intended to be a light pick-me-up.
And Then Love
A Pride and Prejudice Prequel
and
A Willow Hall Romance
Events from the past combined with threats in the present threaten to tear Lucy and Philip apart unless Darcy can help his friends save their blossoming love and rid Lucy of her uncle once and for all.
About the Author
Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents!
Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents’ basement, she still has an imagination which occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then ─ by reading!
Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! She was that child, under the covers with the flashlight, reading until the wee hours of the morning…and pretending not to be tired the next day so her mother wouldn’t find out.
In addition to feeding her imagination, she also exercises it ─ by writing. While writing has been an activity she has dabbled in over the years, it blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. Leenie had first fallen in love with Jane Austen’s work in her early teens when she was captivated by the tale of a girl, who like her, was the second born of five daughters. Now, as an adult, she spends much time in the regency world, playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and a few that are of her own creation.
When she is not traipsing down a trail in an attempt to keep up with her imagination, Leenie resides in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia with her two sons and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with a healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tilney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
Connect with Leenie Brown
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Table Of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Choices Series
Other Books by Leenie Brown
About the Author
Connect with Leenie Brown