by Linda Wells
Darcy looked at Jane who was smiling at him widely. “I will dance only with my sister. No other woman.”
“I am honoured, sir!” Jane laughed as he took her hand and bowed.
He smiled and they followed Elizabeth and Bingley to the floor. “If I can not have my wife, I will have the next best thing, and that is you, Jane.”
“William.” She smiled and he looked at her enquiringly. “Have you been learning how to speak charmingly from my husband?”
Darcy laughed and grinned. “I suppose it had to rub off sometime!”
The rest of the evening went as Darcy and Elizabeth planned. He steadfastly refused any further attempts by his aunt to introduce the couple. When Elizabeth was occupied dancing with James, Lord and Lady Matlock pulled him aside. “Darcy what has happened? Why are you hiding Elizabeth from the guests?”
“I am hardly hiding her, Uncle. There she is in plain sight.” He gestured to the dance floor, caught her eye and smiled.
Lady Matlock followed his gaze. “You have stopped the introductions. Was someone rude to you? Surely you know that not everyone here will accept you with open arms, but they can not make a decision without first meeting her.”
“Aunt Elaine, Elizabeth and I realized that the people here will observe us no matter what we do. If they want to know us, here we are, they are welcome to approach, but I will not go to them. I have found since Elizabeth’s presentation that I have friends, people whose loyalty I have earned through supporting them when they were in need of my help, and now that I am in need of theirs, they are with me. I will not spend my precious time with Elizabeth asking some haughty peer to lower his nose enough to look me in the eye. I may not be titled, but my ancestry is ancient and great. I am proud of it, and my children will have nothing to feel shame over. I do not need them.” He smiled warmly and kissed his aunt’s cheek. “I appreciate very much what you have done for us tonight. This event will indeed give the important members of the ton the opportunity to see my Elizabeth, but after tonight, we will participate no more.”
“What are you saying?” Lord Matlock demanded.
“I am happy, and I do not need anything more than what I have right now. Those who continue to disparage me are ones who have done so since I was in school. Those who are above me do not need my friendship and I refuse to toady to them. I have never really participated in society, although admittedly that was due to my own feelings of distaste for the proceedings, and likely limited my appeal to many. However, there is no denying that seeing us now putting ourselves out for the pleasure of society’s inspection is behaving in a different manner than I ever have. Seeing me dance happily with my wife should prove novel enough to entertain or enrage whoever is here. On Friday we will go to Rosings for Easter, returning on Monday. For the remainder of our time in town, I intend to enjoy the theatre, take my wife through the parks, indulge in buying her gifts and see only those who share our pleasures. Then we will go home to Pemberley.” He smiled as James approached with Elizabeth. “Did you survive my cousin’s poor dancing?”
Elizabeth laughed and patted James’s arm. “I have no bruised toes.”
“You know, Richard should be here to take some of these barbs!” He looked affronted, then relaxed. “I say Darcy, how am I ever going to find a wife like yours?”
Darcy took her arm to lead her back to the dance and said over his shoulder, “By dancing with someone else!”
“I am not sure if his decision is wise, Henry.” Lady Matlock looked after them worriedly.
“It is his to make, my dear.” Lord Matlock scanned the room. “In all honesty do you truly like most of the people you invited tonight?”
She first looked at him in shock then smiled slowly. “No, in all honesty I do not. But you are in parliament, and we are saddled with them. Darcy does have that freedom to choose his friends.”
They watched as Darcy, smiling warmly to Elizabeth’s glowing face, glided and turned her gracefully around the room. There was no question what their expressions said, the devotion was there for all to see.
THE DARCY CARRIAGE arrived at Rosings late Friday afternoon. They were greeted by Anne, who had replaced her mother as mistress after her horrendous display at Longbourn. Lord Matlock did not back down from his promise to go to the attorneys. They were surprised that Anne allowed her to stay, but not at all surprised that Lady Catherine did not join them for dinner.
“Do you think that your aunt truly was ill?” Elizabeth asked as they retired.
Darcy climbed into the bed and drew her to his body. “There is no doubt in my mind that she is quite well. She will appear when she has formed whatever vitriol she wishes to deliver.”
“I am proud of you.” Elizabeth gently kissed him and smiled.
“What have I done to deserve that?” He smiled and lifted her up so that she lay on his chest. Elizabeth lovingly kissed him again, and he licked his lips. “Mmmm.”
She laughed and caressed his hair. “Despite your justifiable anger with her, you were still willing to come here.”
“If Anne was not mistress, we would not have come. We are here solely for her. Perhaps Aunt Catherine will do us all a favour and remain in her rooms until we depart.” Elizabeth laughed and he hugged her to him. “I have come to this wretched mansion every Easter for as long as I can remember. For the last, oh, nearly twenty years I was told repeatedly that I would marry my cousin Anne, my fate being pronounced more vehemently every year. I often thought of what it would be to come to this place with a wife of my choosing, and love her.”
“An act of defiance? From you?” She laughed. “I do hope that you would want me for better reasons than that.” She arched her brow and pursed her lips.
“Well of course I do, but I can not deny the glee I will feel knowing that I am here with the woman I wanted to marry; and not one that was forced upon me.” He shrugged and regarded her with a twinkle in his eye. “Call me an adolescent boy, but there it is.”
“I think that there is a great deal of little boy in you, and that I have only begun to meet him.” She grinned and caressed his jaw.
“Just wait until we return to Pemberley my love, then we shall truly get down to the serious business of play.” He smiled brilliantly and kissed her palm as she laughed.
Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder. “Anne has invited Charlotte Collins to visit tomorrow while you are working. They have become friends and I understand that Charlotte has spoken of her family’s interference in our lives.”
“Are you ready to mend your friendship?” His hand ran through her hair, and stroked her back with the other.
“I suppose that I will find out.” She said softly. Darcy watched her conflicted expression, and attempted to bring her relief.
“Shall I anticipate hearing your sobs of regret after seeing her, realizing your mistake of refusing Mr. Collins’ proposal after he so graciously offered to rescue you from ruin?” His lips twitched. “I believe that I did detect a gasp of disappointment when we drove past the parsonage and you viewed all that could have been yours.” Darcy tilted his head and saw her fighting a smile. He laughed loudly and Elizabeth joined him.
“No, Mr. Darcy, although living in such proximity to your aunt may have been rewarding, I do not feel that I would have suited to be a parson’s wife.”
He drew her face to his and began nibbling on her jaw. “Mmmmm. No, my wanton wife is most definitely not formed for such a life.” Pulling away he smiled at her. “I am being silly.” His expression changed. “Do I demand too much of you? I imagine that at times you must think me insatiable, but it is only because I love you so much. If you wish me to leave you alone …”
She placed her fingers over his lips. “No dearest, you are everything wonderful, and you have never asked anything of me that I was unwilling to give.” Elizabeth kissed him and moved back down onto the bed where they fulfilled his dream.
In the morning, Darcy rode out with the steward early and Elizabeth joine
d Anne for breakfast, again without Lady Catherine. The two ladies were beginning to know each other. Anne told her that she felt it would be easier for Elizabeth to meet Charlotte away from Mr. Collins, who apparently expressed frequently his thoughts on her marriage to Darcy, no doubt parroting Lady Catherine’s opinion. Charlotte arrived and Anne stayed for a short while, then murmured an excuse to allow the two friends time alone, leaving to speak to Darcy who had returned to work in the library.
Elizabeth sat next to Charlotte on a sofa and poured some more tea. “How do you find marriage, Charlotte? Are you happy?”
“I am content Eliza. I never wanted or expected a passionate marriage. I only wished for protection. Mr. Collins keeps to his duties and I have mine. We seem well-matched. It is as much as I ever wanted. I look forward to soon becoming with child and fulfilling my duty to him.” Elizabeth accepted the statement, but noticed the flat tone of her voice and her rigid posture. Clearly she was looking forward to ending her duties. Charlotte looked down then smiled slightly. “I suspect that you and Mr. Darcy are content as well, if his smile upon seeing you when he returned is any indication. Is marriage everything that you dreamed it would be?”
Elizabeth thought of their delay in finding sleep the night before, his tender love and concern, their unending mutual support, and their desire to share their lives, and smiled. “Yes, we are very happy.”
Charlotte watched her expression and wondered what it meant, clearly Elizabeth’s marriage was precisely what her own was not. “You truly are happy. I am so sorry on behalf of my family. We all tried to force something upon you that was never wanted.”
“It is over. Please let us move on, Charlotte. There is no need to dwell upon a past that can not be changed. How is your brother?” Elizabeth looked at her with determination.
“Very quiet, but working quite hard on the estate. He has taken over all of Papa’s duties.”
She looked at her with surprise. “Really?” Perhaps he was growing up. Perhaps he had become a man. “He is quiet?”
“Yes, he regrets his behaviour very much. He said that he will not marry for many years, not until he can earn a good woman’s respect.” Charlotte looked at her meaningfully.
Elizabeth smiled, understanding the compliment. “That is quite a change.”
“I believe that you and Mr. Darcy have given him a great deal to think about.” Charlotte said very seriously.
Elizabeth looked at her hands. “I am happy for the woman he will someday marry. She will have a good husband.”
“He is so sorry …” She began, wanting to explain John’s feelings.
She looked at Charlotte sharply. “He does not regret me, does he?”
She met Elizabeth’s gaze and spoke with sincerity. “He regrets hurting you and not listening to you, as do I.”
“Please tell him that Mr. Darcy and I are happy and I think that what he is doing is admirable. Now, tell me about life as a parson’s wife.” She smiled warmly and squeezed her friend’s hand. The subject was forever closed. They spent the next hour in conversation before Charlotte took her leave to return to the parsonage. She had a letter to write.
In the library, Anne knocked on the open door. “May I come in, Darcy?”
He stood. “Of course, it is your home.” Darcy smiled then resumed his seat. “What can I do for you?”
She looked at the papers strewn over the desk. “Is everything in order? Do I have anything to worry over?”
“Your steward is a good man. He did not say directly, but he is very pleased that you are now mistress.”
A small smile crossed her lips. “I am less tight-fisted than my mother, I think.” She studied him.
“I can only agree.” He met her eyes and his brow creased. “What is wrong, Anne?”
She said nothing for a few moments. “I watched you and Elizabeth last evening, the way that you sat together at the pianoforte, and how you simply seemed to fit, completing each other. You and I would not have had such a marriage.”
“No.” He was very uncomfortable. “Anne …”
“I am sorry Cousin. I can see your wariness. I am afraid that I am unable to speak subtly, too much exposure to my mother, I suppose. I no longer regret you, truly.”
“But you did.” He sighed.
“Yes.”
“I suspected it … Anne, why did you ask us here? Clearly your steward is performing his duties well and has everything in hand. You really did not need me to come and look over his work.”
“It was selfish, I know, but I needed to see you.” Darcy closed his eyes, and she quickly continued. “I needed to see that you were truly happy.” He pressed his lips together, and she could see his face reddening in anger. “I did not wish this as a means to interfere with your life, I am not Mama.” His eyes opened and he stared at her. “I could not help but observe you with Elizabeth. Darcy, I am very happy for you.” His gaze softened, seeing her warm smile appear. “She has changed you.”
He relaxed. “For the better, I hope.”
“Very much so.” Darcy smiled and she saw the pleasure that gave him. “Although I never witnessed it in London, I certainly knew of your opinion for society, and obviously understood your taciturn and unsociable behaviour. I was aware of the general unhappiness of the ladies of who threw themselves at you. Mama crowed over each one you rejected as a sign that you would eventually offer for me.”
Darcy looked down. “I remain rather unsociable, but Elizabeth refuses to believe I could ever be so dismissive of others.”
“Why would you wish to convince her of your faults? Whether past or present?”
“I suppose that I fear her being taken by surprise someday.” He smiled. “But it seems that I am so amiable that she would find that to be impossible.”
“I know your wife only briefly, Darcy, but I have an inkling that she would find that statement laughable.” Anne smiled and laughed and Darcy’s rueful expression.
He tilted his head and regarded her carefully. “Do you wish to marry?”
“And give my husband the income of Rosings?” She laughed and shook her head.
Darcy seemed confused. “He would not own the estate; he could not sell or mortgage it.”
“Oh Darcy, you are such a man!” He looked at her quizzically. “If I do not have control of the income, it may as well be sold. No, I have waited so long to be independent of Mama. I will not give it up now. I said that I no longer regret you, and this is the reason.”
Darcy nodded in understanding; it never was love, but escape for her. That he could appreciate. “It is interesting. She wished to keep Rosings for herself by marrying you to me, but she did not wish the same independence for you by forcing such a union.”
“Of course you would have had control of the income then.” She pointed out.
“But she would have lived here alone, still queen of the manor.” The two cousins smiled at each other, both feeling the success of thwarting Lady Catherine’s plans.
“I plan to leave Rosings to you.” She said matter-of-factly.
His brow creased. “Why? Leave it to Richard. He has an estate, but it is very small.”
“But he has not suffered mother’s machinations as we have. And you suffered even more so with your own parents. No, I wish it to go to you and your children. I will not marry; I doubt I could safely bear a child if I did. I think that both of us have found happiness, though. I like the idea of you receiving Rosings without either of us being forced to accept an arranged marriage.” She watched him thinking. “This is why I wished to be assured of your happiness. I needed to see it for myself.”
Darcy smiled in understanding. “It is your decision, Anne, but if you proceed down this path, I thank you on behalf of my family.”
“May it be a brood; Darcy.” He gave her a brilliant smile. She shook her head at the sight of it and stood. “I will see if the meal is ready, you must be famished.”
“Thank you Anne. Please tell Elizabeth I will join yo
u soon.”
Darcy bent back to his task. The sound of the door opening made him look up quickly, anticipating Elizabeth coming to keep him company. Instead of the welcome arrival of his wife, he was faced with the intensely unwanted appearance of Lady Catherine. He stood. “Aunt Catherine. I hope you are well, we missed seeing you last night.” She took a seat and he returned to his.
The old woman regarded him imperiously. “I am surprised that you are concerned at all, Darcy. You are obviously devoid of all familial feeling. Why would that change now?”
“I fail to understand your implication.” He said steadily.
“You have forsaken your duty to your estate by taking this … person as your wife.” The venom was clear in the tone of her voice.
His jaw set and he spoke in a low voice. “I believe that you have already expressed your opinion, madam. It is not necessary to repeat yourself, particularly so far past the date of our wedding.”
“I once wished you for my son. Now I am grateful for your betrayal. I would not wish such a fool as my daughter’s husband. You deserve the misery you will suffer married to that person.” She sniffed and looked down her nose.
“I asked you not to disparage my wife.” He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists
“I am not. I disparage you. You brought nothing but misery to my sister. You and your sister; and she killed Anne.”
The words spewing from his aunt’s mouth grew more vicious and cruel, never had she spoken to him in such a way. She had fawned over him, complimented him, it was demanding but was always done with her single-minded goal of gaining him as her son in mind. Now that her dream was destroyed, she let him feel the full force of her anger. Darcy barely heard the words; instead he focussed on her eyes, and the tone of her voice. He was transported back, years back. Those familiar eyes, that voice, that sneer on her lips … it was no longer the wrinkled old face of his aunt, he saw, he heard, he felt … his mother. The young boy alternately ignored or berated by the angry woman who bore him stood paralysed before his aunt as a man.
The feel of a hand in his startled him back to the present. He looked down to see Elizabeth gripping him. At some point he must have stood. The buzzing sound of his aunt’s unending diatribe became recognizable speech again, and he understood that her fury was now venting upon Elizabeth. He fell into the eyes that had changed his life and he saw that she was dying to respond, but was waiting for him, this was his fight. He felt her grip tighten and saw her lips form the silent words, “I love you, Will.”
