'That would be ideal. I didn't see the need for such a havey-cavey business, but Caroline decided we must take matters into our own hands as my parents were about to announce my forthcoming nuptials to Eleanor. Why would be in breach of promise if they did so.''
'If we set out immediately your team is changed, and the weather holds off, it's possible we will complete the journey today.' Darcy saw his friend emerge from the carriage looking far happier than he had when he'd got in.
'My word, Darcy, I never thought to live the day when my sister should risk everything for love. She is overwhelmed by your kind offer and would much prefer to marry with her friends and family present than do it over the anvil.'
'Excellent. I'll pay the shot whilst you send for our fresh mounts. You never know, we might get home this evening.' Before he went inside he thought he'd better pay his respects to Caroline. As he reached the chaise she appeared in the doorway and beckoned him over. He'd never seen her look so pretty – her smile was radiant.
'Darcy, I cannot thank you enough for your generous offer to allow Robert and me to stay with you and marry at Pemberley. To have dearest Georgiana and her new husband present will make my day even more special.'
He took her hand and held it for a moment remembering the many years that he'd known her. At one time he'd thought he might even make her an offer – but then he'd met Lizzy and everything had changed.
'I'm delighted to be able to help. I like young Forsyth and believe that you might be happy with him. I'm not sure if we will reach our destination today – but if not, we’ll overnight and arrive first thing tomorrow. Lizzy is expecting you both. Once you have fulfilled the residency requirements you can arrange for the vicar to call the banns.'
Forsyth bounded up behind him and he stepped aside to allow the young man to rejoin his future wife. By the time he'd settled with the landlord Bingley was mounted and his new horse, a rangy chestnut gelding, was waiting for him.
He would have to delay the departure to London until after the wedding – but leaving a few weeks later would hopefully make no difference to his plans.
*
When Lizzy awoke the rain was rattling against the windowpanes. She hoped Fitzwilliam and Charles had had the good sense to stay overnight and had not attempted to return in such foul weather. Her maid had yet to come in with her morning chocolate and sweet rolls so the hour must be early.
As she was now fully awake she might as well rise and begin her morning ablutions. She was quite happy to use the cold water from last night. After stripping off her nightgown she rubbed a little of the rose-scented soap onto her washcloth.
'Good morning, my darling, I thought I heard you stirring.'
Lizzy dropped both items and spun round to see her husband approaching with a wicked glint in his eye. He too was unclothed.
'I'd no idea you had returned last night. I'm so glad to see you. Is Caroline with you?'
His arms encircled her waist and he lifted her from her feet. 'I'll tell you later – I've more interesting things to do at this moment.'
He carried her into the bedchamber she'd just left and tumbled her between the sheets. After a delightful interlude she finally caught her breath and eased herself away from him so she could see his dear face.
'Is she with you? Have you brought Mr Forsyth as well?'
His smile was tender and he smoothed a damp tendril of hair from her cheek before speaking. 'I can answer in the affirmative to both questions. They are to be married in our chapel as soon as we can legally have the banns read. This means we cannot depart for Town before their nuptials have taken place.'
She relaxed into his arms delighted with his reply then sat up abruptly jabbing her elbow into his chest. 'How did our guests find their rooms? What time did you return? Peterson was already locking up when I retired at ten o'clock last night.'
'There's no need to panic, my love, we were able to rouse him and Reynolds conducted Caroline and Forsyth to their apartments. Fortunately we got here before the heavens opened and so avoided a soaking.'
'I can hardly comprehend that you were able to waylay them and also persuade them to come here. Why did you travel in the dark? Surely it would have been better to stay overnight than risk an accident?'
'That was my intention, sweetheart, but Caroline refused. She insisted that they would be recognised and word sent back to Mr Forsyth's family. If Bingley and I hadn't continued as well, she would have arrived here unannounced and I couldn't allow that.'
Lizzy stretched up and kissed him intending this to be no more than a thank you gesture but he took it as licence to begin another enjoyable episode of bedroom sport. When they eventually emerged it was after eight o'clock.
'The babies will be awake now and I always go up to spend time with them.'
He nodded and smiled. 'I didn't know that, but I intend to make it my business to accompany you every morning in future, my love.'
She couldn't help her tart reply. 'You would have known if you remained at my side all night as you had used to and hadn't started sleeping next door on numerous occasions.' She wished her words unspoken when she saw his eyes narrow.
'Where I choose to sleep is my business, my dear, and I believe that I spend far more time in your bed than most husbands.' He stopped. 'Forgive me, I must send a note to the curate asking him to attend me here. I shall see you downstairs in due course.'
He was gone before she could apologise. How could she have been so foolish as to ruin what had started out as such a wonderful day? She couldn't remember the last time they had made love so passionately and now she had offended him.
Spending time with her babies was as pleasurable as always and when she headed for the breakfast parlour her good humour was restored. She was eager to speak to Caroline and be introduced to her future husband.
The sound of laughter and voices echoed from the room – she was tardy and everyone was there before her. She paused at the door and watched unobserved for a few moments. Caroline was a woman transformed. The habitual sneer and supercilious look had gone to be replaced by a smiling happy countenance.
The young man who had brought about this change was a veritable Adonis – small wonder she had fallen in love with him. To Lizzy's surprise he appeared as besotted with Caroline as she was with him. The fact that he was somewhat younger than her made not a jot of difference to either of them.
Fitzwilliam became aware of her presence and looked over. She stiffened expecting him to have remained cross with her. Instead he dropped his cutlery with a clatter and bounded to his feet. In two strides he was next to her and pulled her almost roughly into his arms.
'Darling, I apologise most humbly for my bad temper. Put it down to lack of sleep and overexertion…'
'Fitzwilliam – you must not say such things.' Her cheeks were scarlet thinking they might have been overheard.
His laughter did draw the attention of their guests. 'I was referring to having spent almost a day in the saddle. Come and meet Forsyth.'
He kept his arm around her and guided her forward. Both Caroline and her betrothed were also on their feet. After cordial introductions they all resumed their seats. Her husband collected her breakfast for her as he always did and the remainder of the meal was spent in convivial conversation.
'I hope I may come up to the nursery and meet your children, ma'am?'
'Please call me Lizzy, we stand on no ceremony here.'
Fitzwilliam choked into his napkin and his eyebrows disappeared under his hairline. Pemberley was renowned for its formality and he for being the most formidable of hosts.
Caroline smiled. 'Thank you, that is most kind of you. Do you spend much time with your little ones or leave their upbringing to their nanny?'
For some reason her husband chose to answer this question for her. He was no longer smiling. 'My wife spends an inordinate amount of time with our offspring – if I had not refused they would have their cribs in our bedchamber.'
Their guest c
hose to ignore the implied criticism. 'How splendid! If Robert and I are fortunate enough to have children of our own I intend to be the most devoted of mamas.'
'I know it's unfashionable to be so involved, but I believe that the more time spent with one's babies the more they thrive.'
She pushed back her chair and nodded to the gentlemen. 'Pray excuse us, Caroline and I are going to the nursery.'
*
Darcy watched them leave and wished he kept his opinion to himself. When Lizzy had eventually agreed to marry him he had been determined not to be a proud and dictatorial husband. Why was he now behaving like his father?
He had no time to dwell on this thought as Forsyth spoke up from the other end of the table. 'I expect you're wondering how I met Caroline.'
He had absolutely no interest in the subject but could hardly tell the earnest young man this fact. He forced a look of curiosity on his face. 'I am indeed, sir, but there's no need to tell me if you would prefer to keep this matter private.'
Forsyth beamed. 'It's no secret, Darcy. I met her at a musical evening I was attending with my family. The performances were appalling – no professional singer or player had been retained – and halfway through I slipped away. Caroline had done the same and for both of us it was a coup de foudre. Love at first sight and from that moment we were both determined we would be together somehow.'
'I'd not thought of her as having a romantic nature – but love can do strange things to a person. You must remain here for several weeks until your residency can be established.'
'I shall have reached my majority by then. I cannot imagine that my father will think to look here for us. I've no idea where we shall be living once the knot's tied. I have a very small estate in Essex but I hardly think Caroline will desire to live there.'
'I'm sure that you can remain at Bingley's place in Town. He rarely goes to London nowadays.' Surely Forsyth was aware that once he was married to Caroline her fortune would be his own?
'You will be able to buy something more substantial anywhere in the country. Does Caroline intend to live near Mrs Hurst?'
'Absolutely not. She has little time for her older sister or her husband. Derbyshire seems a pleasant place to live and I'm sure she would love to be close to her brother and his wife.'
Caroline might be Bingley's sister, but she could be considered almost as a member of his family, so why did his spirits fall at this news? 'I'm sure that my steward could find you something suitable when he returns if that's what you require. Please excuse me; I have estate business to attend to.' He nodded and strode off, belatedly realising his unfortunate guest would have no notion where to find his future wife or indeed anywhere else in the vast establishment that was Pemberley.
The study was his retreat. He was rarely disturbed when working there although Lizzy had often come to sit with him when they were first married. He missed the closeness they'd once had. He'd only become involved with his cousin's intelligence work because Lizzy had less time for him since the twins were born. He now understood that his being away so much had just compounded the problem.
They would be alone in London, she wouldn't have the distraction of the children, and he was determined to court his beloved Lizzy and persuade her to fall in love with him again.
Chapter Five
Caroline had never been a particular friend of Lizzy's – if she was honest she had never taken to her from the first moment they'd become acquainted at a ball at Meryton so many years ago. Neither of Charles's sisters had been invited to the recent weddings as they were not included in the close family circle.
Therefore Lizzy wasn't sure she wanted Caroline to accompany her to the nursery. No doubt she would sneer and make supercilious comments as was her want. Miss Bingley had expected to be mistress at Pemberley and had made her displeasure clear when she and Fitzwilliam had married.
'How old are the twins? I misremember exactly when they were born last year.'
'They are not quite nine months old. You will see how advanced they are which is unusual for twins. They are both crawling and have been sitting up unaided since November.'
They had reached the nursery floor and Fabian and Amanda could be clearly heard banging about and laughing as they did so. Lizzy rushed in and immediately the babies stopped what they were doing and crawled towards her.
She dropped to her knees so she could embrace them forgetting she was accompanied this morning by an unwanted visitor.
'May I hold one of your babies, please? They are quite delightful – Amanda looks just like you and Fabian like Darcy.'
Lizzy was cradling her babies on her lap. 'I'm not sure if either of them will go to you without protest, but we can see.'
Caroline stretched out her arms towards the nearest child which happened to be Amanda. 'Come to your Aunt Caroline, little one. How pretty you are – just like your mama.'
The baby didn't hesitate. She launched herself across the gap and was soon babbling and gurgling happily as if she'd known her new Aunt Caroline for ever.
They stayed for an hour or more and by the end of it Lizzy was a fair way to having changed her mind about their guest. Gone was the unpleasant manipulative young lady and in her place was a charming, happy person who could now be recognised as being a member of the family.
Lizzy had been expecting her husband to join them as he'd promised and was disappointed that he'd changed his mind. Perhaps he thought he would be intruding – but she was beginning to wonder if he found his son and daughter tiresome and that was the reason he didn't visit.
As they were making their way to the ground floor Caroline touched her arm. 'You must be wondering how someone as…as proud as myself has behaved with such a lack of decorum.'
'We were certainly surprised to hear that you had eloped – but love will make the most sensible of people behave out of character.'
'How right you are, my dear Lizzy. I thought I was immune to this emotion but the moment I set eyes on dearest Robert everything changed. I hope you can forgive me for my previous behaviour.'
'It is forgotten. From now on things shall be different between us. Charles will be happy that you're to be back in his life again. Shall we find the gentlemen, or are you going to go next door and become reacquainted with your sister-in-law?'
'I must speak to Robert first, but then I should dearly love to see Jane and my niece. I barely had time to talk to Charles either yesterday. I've so much to tell him.'
There was no need for Caroline to go elsewhere as Charles, Jane and Charlotte were in the drawing room with Mr Forsyth. There was no sign of Fitzwilliam.
It was a merry party indeed and Lizzy immediately sent up for the twins to join them. Rugs had been spread on the priceless carpet so the children could play with their toys. She had arranged for a cold collation to be served on tables halfway down the room as midday approached.
The nursemaids, who had been chatting together on the periphery of the family group, were beckoned forward and took their charges to the nursery where they could eat their own lunch.
'Forgive me, everyone, but I must go and find Fitzwilliam. I cannot think what has been keeping him busy all morning.' Lizzy nodded and headed for the study. He had better have an excellent excuse for his bad manners.
Was he regretting his decision to invite Caroline and Robert to live with them until they were married? She could think of no other explanation that made sense. Then she understood. The couple should be staying with Charles and Jane, not with them. There was ample room in the East Wing for a dozen guests and this didn't prevent the marriage eventually taking place in the chapel.
This she could arrange before searching out her husband. She walked briskly back to the drawing room and beckoned to Jane. Immediately her sister left the group and came to join her. 'What is it, Lizzy? You look most perturbed.'
'Could you take Caroline and Mr Forsyth back with you? They should be staying in your home – after all they are your family not ours.' She regretted the bl
untness of her words when she saw the shock on Jane's face.
'Of course, I cannot think why Charles allowed them to move in here. I know how much Darcy dislikes having strangers around him. I shall send word next door and have rooms prepared immediately. Is that why your husband has been absent all morning?'
'I think it might be – but there is no excuse for his incivility and I intend to have stern words with him. Please don't wait for us to join you but enjoy your luncheon.'
'We shall be gone as soon as we've eaten and leave you to yourselves. Between us we have made a sad mull of things.'
Lizzy took her sister's hands. 'I believe that Charles was protecting you. Caroline treated you disgracefully…'
'Good heavens! That was so long ago I'd quite forgotten. Go and find your errant husband, my love, and tell him the good news.'
*
Darcy looked at his pocket watch and swore under his breath. Lizzy must think him deliberately avoiding their guests. First he'd become caught up in an estate matter which had required him to write to his lawyers and then a missive from his cousin had arrived by express. The information contained therein also required an immediate response. Then the curate had arrived and it had taken an interminable time to arrange things for the wedding.
The colonel wanted them in London immediately but this was now impossible. By the time he'd written this second letter explaining the reasons he couldn't come, two hours had passed. He'd given his wife his word he would spend time with her and the children and he'd broken it.
He hoped he could smooth things over by being at his most charming when he joined them. He was about to head for the drawing room when the door flew open.
'Fitzwilliam, have you been hiding from us?' Lizzy looked less than delighted to see him.
'I beg your pardon, sweetheart, I had letters to write that couldn't wait. I'm coming now.'
'I know why you remained here so long – you don't enjoy having Caroline and Forsyth staying with us. I cannot think why you invited them to come here in the first place. I've arranged for them to move next door. They are not really our family – but my sister's.'
A Spy at Pemberley Page 4
