by Linda Wells
“You are in the family wing, Jane. I will show you your room after we have everyone else settled.”
Bingley looked back at Darcy. “Well?”
Darcy smiled. “Would you be able to stay away from her if she was convenient to your chambers?”
He turned red and started to protest, then smiling slightly he looked down. “No, and I would have no willpower to stop once I arrived. So you are doing this as a favour to me?” He met his friend’s nodding head and laughed at how well Darcy knew him. “How ever did you survive your engagement, Darcy?”
Laughing, he clasped Bingley’s shoulder. “Perseverance, my friend, and a great deal of wishful thinking.”
THE BENNET LADIES were thoroughly intimidated with their introduction to the Fitzwilliams. Richard and Elizabeth managed to start and encourage the conversation. Bingley had no trouble joining in. Darcy, for all of his happiness, remained a quiet man, happier to contribute as needed, but happier still to sit back and watch his wife effortlessly put the disparate group at ease. He sipped his wine and observed her laughing with Jane far away at the opposite end of the table, taking her place for the first time in the mistress’ seat. His thoughts drifted to the coming Season.
Lord Matlock, sitting to his right, leaned over to him. “Where are your thoughts, Darcy? You appear concerned.”
He smiled slightly. “I am worried for Elizabeth. What will society do to her?” He looked at his uncle, and his brow creased. “I could not bear to see her changed to be like them, and I can not bear to see her hurt because she is not. I dread returning to London, but yet I know that we must.” His gaze returned to her and their eyes met. “She is so precious to me.”
Lord Matlock watched as Elizabeth’s brow wrinkled, reading Darcy’s expression. “Smile man, before she starts to worry.”
Darcy managed a little lift to his lips. Elizabeth studied him then nodded, and returned to her conversation. He knew that he would be interrogated later and his smile widened at the thought. He looked at his plate and heard his uncle’s voice again. “Son, your aunt has no intention of making Elizabeth into something neither of you will recognize. She will instruct her on the rules of engagement. I think that it is quite clear to us that neither of you wish to fully participate in the Season, nor is it necessary. With such a marriage as you have made, even without the scandal, Elizabeth would only have been accepted by your best friends, and those who would benefit by association with the Darcy name. Those above you who do not need your connection would have rejected or accepted you on their terms, no matter how you present yourselves. If you had chosen the daughter of a peer, as was always expected, things would be different. No Son, you have disappointed a great many people with your wedding. You will have the curious and the indifferent, the friends and the toadies. I would go to town, complete her presentation, reconnect with those you feel you must, then when you have fulfilled your duty, return home.”
“I would like to take her to the theatre.”
“Well, there is certainly no reason not to go.”
“I would like to dance with her as well, and take her to Gunter’s, and …” He looked down at his plate again. “I want to give her the world.”
Mr. Bennet had been listening in silence on his left side. “Son, from the letters I have received, I can honestly say that I believe you are her world.” He chuckled at Darcy’s puffing chest.
Lord Matlock laughed. “Well, if you can not believe the girl’s father, who can you trust?” He nodded at Mr. Bennet. “Who knows sir, perhaps you will have news of a grandchild on its way by then, and this conversation will be moot!”
“Ah, yes, I look forward to that!”
Darcy, despite the embarrassment he felt over the implications of the conversation, was now sitting with a wide smile on his face, staring down the table at her. Elizabeth stopped in mid-sentence and cocked her head at him, her own smile growing. “What is he up to, I wonder?”
“Who?” Jane asked and leaned to look down the table.
“William, he is … he is being so silly.”
Jane laughed. “From what I understand he is quite accomplished in the art.”
Mrs. Bennet was watching her husband. “When does Sarah arrive?”
“We originally invited them for New Year’s, but we decided to ask them for Christmas instead. I did not wish to disrupt their plans with the Douglass family, but Aunt Sarah said that they are all in Scotland, and her family never makes the journey there in winter. So they will arrive tomorrow afternoon. William and I will deliver baskets to our tenants all day, and hopefully we will be returned in time to change before they come.”
“Are there a great many baskets to distribute, Lizzy?” Kitty asked.
“Yes, but our steward and his staff take them around as well; it will not be just the two of us. We will take the tenants closest to the house so that we will return as soon as possible. Unfortunately it means that you will all have to entertain yourselves for most of the day.” She smiled.
“I think we will manage.” Jane looked at Georgiana. “Perhaps you might lead a tour for us?”
“Oh, yes, I could do that, Aunt Ellen, will you help me?”
“Of course, my dear.” She returned her gaze to Richard who was oddly silent and sending little glances down the table towards Mary.
Mary was blushing and looking everywhere but at him. Lydia poked her. “Are you ill? Your face is red.”
“It is not. Eat your dinner.”
Lydia began glancing around the room, and caught Richard’s eyes resting upon Mary then flick away again. She grinned and whispered loudly. “He is looking at you!”
“Nobody is looking at me. Now mind your business.” She hissed.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Lydia sang. “Will you be returning to your regiment soon?”
Startled he looked at her. “Well, yes, in a way. I will return in January to resign my commission.”
“Oh, how terrible!”
Richard laughed. “And why is that, Miss Lydia?”
“Why then you will not be in a red coat. I simply adore a man in a red coat!”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth admonished.
“Oh as if that was a secret, Lizzy!” Kitty giggled. “A red coat does make the man, sir. You should really reconsider your decision.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Forgive them Richard, they are being silly. I am afraid that the travel has made them overtired.”
“No, I understand the attraction. However, I have the opportunity to be a gentleman with an estate, and I am preparing to settle down to be a dull old man like my cousin Darcy.”
James lifted his brow. “And here I was thinking you wished to emulate your wiser elder brother.”
Darcy coughed, and Richard laughed. “Why on earth would I want to resemble you?” James rolled his eyes. “Besides Brother, I have yet to see you settle down.”
“Oh, I am preparing for it.”
“But it seems that I shall be master of the estate first!” Richard declared triumphantly.
“Ahem, Son, I find that preferable, otherwise I would be dead.” Lord Matlock reminded him. Richard flushed as the rest of the table laughed.
“So you must marry.” Lydia bobbed her head at Richard and glanced at Mary.
“I suppose I should.” Richard grinned and then met his mother’s raised brow. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he saw that he was being speared by the entire table. “I have no announcement to make, if that is what you are asking. Now Darcy, I saw a fine bottle of port in the library, when shall we sample it?”
Laughing, Darcy stood. “Gentlemen, if you will join me? I believe the ladies have some plotting to accomplish.”
“WILLIAM, will you please teach me to drive?” Elizabeth had curled as close to him as possible, her arms wrapped around his left, as he drove the open sleigh through the snow. They had just finished delivering the last of the baskets to their tenants, and ate, yet again, a piece of gingerbread and sampled th
eir cider.
Darcy looked down at his wife, her eyes were bright, her cheeks red with the cold, and leaned down to kiss her pink nose. “No.”
“Why not?” She demanded. “I see many women driving. And here at Pemberley, I would be able to perfect my technique before arriving in London.”
Darcy pulled up the horse and looked at her incredulously. “You do not seriously think that I would allow you to drive in London?”
“No?”
“NO!”
“Then may I drive here?” She bit her lip and looked up at him through her long lashes. Darcy groaned and took her face in his gloved hands and kissed her lips.
“You are quite cruel, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Is that a yes?” She laughed.
“No, it is not.” He smiled at her disappointment. “Darling, you have yet to manage controlling a horse well. You have made wonderful progress with your riding, but until I am satisfied that you have mastered the reins of your mount, I will not risk you losing control of a horse pulling a gig. To see you injured … please do not ask this of me.”
“I was simply thinking that I should be able to pay calls on the tenants when they need medicine or just an opportunity to tell their needs to me. I thought it would be less intimidating for the women to speak with me than you.”
“Do you think they are afraid of me?” Darcy’s brow wrinkled in concern.
Elizabeth stroked the crease. “You are rather imposing, my love. And you are the master of the estate.”
“I never meant to …” He sighed. “I am so glad that you wish to take on this role. It has been needed for so long. I am afraid that I have left a great deal of the communication between the tenants and myself to my steward.”
“I do believe that you have done quite well with the myriad of duties you have assumed. I am simply relieving you of one.” She smiled. “But it would be easier if I could drive.”
“No.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Well, I tried.” She looked ahead and folded her hands in her lap.
Darcy sat staring at her, and did not set the sleigh back in motion. “Are you angry?”
“No.”
“Yes you are.”
“Let us go home, it is cold, and my aunt should arrive soon.”
“Lizzy.”
“Please William, you have made your wishes clear, and I promised to obey.” Darcy closed his eyes and groaned to himself. She was obstinate, he knew it. But he was, too. And he would not give in to this request. In silence he flicked the reins, and they began to move. Elizabeth sat quietly, no longer holding his arm. There was not one sign of anger or upset, but the absence of her voice and touch was unsettling him. He kept his eyes on the path, but shot glances at her. It was at times like this that he cursed his terrible powers of speech. About a mile from the stable, they came upon an open field. Darcy stopped the sleigh.
“Come here.” He held the reins out for her.
Elizabeth looked up at him. “I thought that you said no.”
“I want you to feel what it is like, then you can decide for yourself if you are ready for this demand you have placed upon me.”
She studied his face, it was unreadable. She could see the deep worry in his eyes and decided to accept his offer without petulance, but address it with the seriousness that he obviously felt it deserved. She sat up straight and watched how he wrapped the straps in her grip. He put his arms around her, poised to take hold at the instant it was required, and told her to slap the reins to urge the horse forward. The sleigh lurched and she cried out. Very quickly Elizabeth felt overwhelmed, and just as quickly, Darcy took charge and stopped the sleigh before it tipped over. He did not say a word, but unwrapped the reins from her grip and resumed his place. Soon they were back underway and moving smoothly along.
“You were correct.”
“I know.”
“You do not need to be smug about it!”
Darcy gave her his little smile. “Do you understand my reasoning now? Will you accept being driven until I am sure that you can handle this safely?”
“Yes William, but first I must master my horse.”
“Perhaps we should master the donkeys first?” He grinned and she slapped his arm, and snuggled back up to him.
“MR. BENNET, please stop pacing.” Mrs. Bennet watched her husband walking in circles in the sitting room with windows that directly overlooked the courtyard in front of the house.
“What am I going to say to her?” He sighed and stopped to look at his wife. “I have apologized in my letters, but that does not make up for the continued separation after our parents died. I should have welcomed her back then, or at least soon after. I should have told the girls about her long ago, they should have known their cousins …” He shook his head. “Darcy truly has my great admiration and respect for keeping his sister at home.”
“She seems to have accepted your parents’ decision to send her away. I imagine that she had no choice but to go, did she?”
“No.” He looked at her. “None at all. I remember helplessly watching her leave, her face …”
A movement caught his eye and he watched Elizabeth and Darcy walking up to the front door, arm in arm and laughing. He was grateful for the distraction. “They are happy.”
A footman met Darcy at the door. “Sir, a carriage has just turned in at the lodge.”
“Thank you. Please inform Mr. Bennet that the Douglass’ will likely arrive within the hour.” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand. “Well, we have no time for a warm bath, I am afraid.”
She smiled at him and they began walking up the stairs. “Hmm. Well, we will have to find another way to warm.”
His eyes grew wide. “Lizzy, what are you suggesting?”
“Hot tea, of course, what did you have in mind?” She arched her brow and twinkled at him.
Darcy leaned down. “Not tea!” Elizabeth laughed and started running up the steps with Darcy chasing after her. They flew down the hallway and into her chambers, closing the door firmly behind them. Mary stared in awe and smiled at their playful antics. A warm chuckle from behind caught her attention and she turned.
“Colonel, I did not see you there.”
“I came to see the commotion, Miss Mary. I would guess by the smile on your face that you do not disapprove of their behaviour?”
“I wonder at their hurry, I suppose that they wish to prepare for the Douglass’ arrival. But no, I do not disapprove, they seem very happy.” She blushed. “I have always wished to be more like my sister.”
“Well, that is a very admirable goal. There is nothing about her wanting. She is a fine example of a happy woman. There are things about you she would probably like to copy as well.” He smiled and left to join the men in the billiards room, leaving Mary staring after him and wondering what about her he could possibly like.
“Come on, Mary, I heard that the Douglass’ carriage is on its way!” Lydia and Kitty grabbed her arms and dragged her to the sitting room where their parents and Jane stood staring out into the distance.
A short time later, Georgiana and Lady Matlock walked past the room and observed the gathered family. “I think that we should retire to the music room. This is a reunion that should be amongst the Bennets and the Douglass’.” She hooked her hand in her niece’s arm and they walked off down the hall, meeting Darcy and Elizabeth about to descend the stairs.
“How were the deliveries? It must have been terribly cold, you are both still flushed!” Georgiana observed. Lady Matlock regarded her nephew and niece with amusement and watched him try to explain their appearance, and was rescued by his wife.
“It was wonderful to meet so many of the tenants, Georgiana. I hope that you help us in the future.” Elizabeth took his arm and guided him down the stairs to the foyer. “I suppose that we did not fool your aunt.”
“No, and I am certain that it will not be long before we do not fool my sister either.” He smiled and stood with her by the door and watched the carriage stop. Trun
ks were unloaded and Mr. Douglass handed down his wife and daughter, then Marshall and a young boy climbed out.
“Welcome to Pemberley! Happy Christmas!” Elizabeth declared as their coats were removed. She smiled warmly at the new visitors and enjoyed the expressions of wonder at the house. She embraced her aunt. “Everyone is waiting for you upstairs. Would you like to relax first or complete the introduction?”
“I believe that for the sake of all of our nerves, we should meet first.” Sarah said.
Darcy was busy greeting Mr. Douglass and Marshall. “And may I know the names of our other guests?”
Mr. Douglass smiled with pride. “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, this is my daughter Bonnie, and my son Errol.”
Elizabeth smiled and immediately hugged them both. “I am so happy to meet you at last!” Darcy bowed and solemnly shook the young boy’s hand. “Come upstairs and meet your other cousins!” Elizabeth took Bonnie’s hand. “I understand that you are my age?”
“I am just twenty.” She smiled nervously.
“Good, then you will fit right in with the rest of your cousins. I am afraid that Errol will be the odd man out, though. Perhaps the more boyish of our male guests will find ways to entertain him.” She looked back and winked at William, who flushed a little. He had behaved as a little boy more since he married than he had during his entire childhood.
They arrived at the sitting room and for a few moments the family stood staring at each other in silence. Finally, Elizabeth saw that her father was overcome with emotion and made the first move. “Aunt Sarah, Uncle Angus, Marshall, Bonnie and Errol, may I present my family, Fanny Bennet, Jane, Mary, Catherine, Lydia, and my father, Thomas Bennet.” Mrs. Bennet gave her husband a little push on his back and swallowing hard, he stepped forward.
“Sarah … you have barely changed … you have a beautiful family.” He looked down at his nervously twisting hands.
Sarah took a deep breath and Angus whispered in her ear. She nodded and moved to take his hands in hers. “We can not change what has happened between us, but I hope that we can now … begin again.” Mr. Bennet nodded.
