by Linda Wells
He turned to his aunt and roared. “ENOUGH!”
Lady Catherine’s mouth snapped shut. “My mother is dead, and I will not allow you to drag her back to the world of the living to haunt my life again. Your demands are as selfish and arrogant as hers were, and your delivery is no different, you have only lived long enough to see them crushed, as they should have been at their inception.” He watched her narrowed eyes and again felt the reassurance of Elizabeth’s hand in his. His eyes dropped to hers. “Fortunately I am old enough now to protect myself where others failed me before. Nobody can hurt me again. I am loved.” His mouth turned up slightly and his chest swelled, seeing the unmistakable pride for him that Elizabeth’s intense gaze communicated. “I am free.” He turned to his aunt. “You are as significant to me as the mud on my boots. Go ahead and make your noise, I will dismiss it as the braying of the donkeys I purchased my dearest wife.”
Elizabeth relaxed and smiled at him. “Shall we rename the female donkey Catherine, my love?”
Nodding, he met her gaze. “Indeed, what an excellent idea. I will enjoy watching her work pulling the wagon that hauls manure from the stables each day.” He looked again to his aunt. “It will remind me of your words, and what they mean to me.”
“Darcy!” She snarled.
Darcy turned back to Elizabeth and wrinkled his brow. “Do you hear something, Lizzy?”
“I think that it is the sound of birds singing, Will.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled and her smile grew.
“Ah yes, well then, shall we go take a stroll in the park and enjoy them? I would like to show you the groves, they should not be missed.” They walked from the room, past Lady Catherine, ignoring the revival of her speech completely.
“Do you wish to remain at Rosings?” Elizabeth said quietly as they made their way outside into the sunshine.
He took a deep breath of the fresh air and lifted her hand for a kiss. “I wish to finish the work that I began, although I know that all is well. Tomorrow is Easter, a day of hope and renewal. Perhaps the sermon will do Lady de Bourgh some good. In any case, we can not travel tomorrow, and it is too late to leave today.”
“But if she begins berating us again …”
“We will retire to far more productive conversation in our rooms.” He saw Elizabeth’s eyes demanding a serious response and said softly, “I have no desire to spend my time arguing with a woman who is clearly implacable. My tolerance for poor behaviour is gone, Elizabeth. I have borne it for all of my life, and have no intention of doing so ever again. I would prefer to spend time loving my wife who has rescued me more times than I can count. When did you enter the room?”
“Not long before you noticed me, you awakened from your stunned state as soon as I touched your hand; I could hear her speech begin when I was coming to keep you company.” They walked in silence down through the precisely manicured hedges and entered the natural beauty of the groves.
Darcy stopped and leaning against a tree, drew her into his arms to kiss her. “I would likely still be there if you had not arrived.”
“No dear, I am sure you would have strangled her eventually.” Elizabeth laughed. He chuckled and began nibbling her neck. “What are your plans, Mr. Darcy?” He just smiled and continued his kisses up to her ear. She sighed and melted into him. Darcy rested his cheek on top of her head, and ran his hands lovingly over her body.
“Mine.”
Elizabeth gave him a squeeze. “Perhaps we should spend the rest of our visit out here.”
“What an excellent idea.” He smiled. “Thank you, Lizzy. You helped me to confront my father at Pemberley, and my mother here. I hope so much that it is truly in the past now. My future is in my arms.”
Back in the study, Anne stood before Lady Catherine. “I should have had you removed to the dower house months ago, Mama.” Anne said softly.
The old woman looked at her daughter with alarm. “You said that I did not have to go there!”
“That was before you insulted my cousins.” Anne felt the power of her position, and finally decided to apply it.
“Very well, I will keep my thoughts to myself.” She said with some pleading in her tone.
Anne shook her head slowly. “No Mama, you made this decision for me. I will have the house opened for you, and then bid you farewell.”
Lady Catherine did not join the family for any other meals, and did not sit with them at Easter services. Anne gladly spent time alone with Elizabeth while Darcy finished looking over the estate papers. The two new cousins came away from their brief visit with a new appreciation for each other. Elizabeth no longer feared Anne’s feelings for William, and Anne was able to feel happiness for herself and him. Although William was now full of positive thoughts for a future free of memories, speaking to Anne gave Elizabeth greater insight into her husband’s past lapses into brooding silence. It had been a trip worth taking.
“DO YOU MISS the army yet, Richard?” Mary asked. They were strolling around the flower beds, admiring the early daffodils while Georgiana was busy with Mrs. Annesley.
Richard smiled and picking a bloom, handed it to her. She blushed and looked down.
“I miss certain friends, and perhaps the power of command, and I suppose the soldier’s routine will always remain with me, but in truth I am glad to leave it behind. I needed to leave it behind.” He hesitated and decided to chance opening to her. “It was not all glory and honour.”
Mary lifted her eyes back to his. “I am certain it was not.” She searched for something to say. “You did see the world, though.”
Richard was relieved that she was not scared away, but realized she was still very young. “Hmm. Yes, and not always the pretty parts.” He closed his eyes for a moment and felt gentle pressure on his arm. He looked down in surprise and met her gaze.
“But you are safe now.” She removed her hand. “Tell me of your brother.”
“James?” He smiled. “Are you attracted to him?”
She stared. “Certainly not! I … you are teasing me!”
He laughed. “I am, but truly I can not think of any other reason for anyone to express interest in him.”
“He is not so terrible! He seemed very pleasant when we met at Christmas.” She admonished.
“Oh, I suppose not, but he is rather full of self-importance, the curse of his status, why do you ask of him?” Richard’s head tilted and he studied her.
“Lizzy told me he was to find a bride this Season. I wondered if he … well how can you approach such an important decision unemotionally?” Her expression of confusion made him smile.
“Most people do, Mary.” He said gently.
“I suppose that I have been spoiled watching Lizzy and Jane.” She sighed then laughed. “Your aunt sent my cousin to Longbourn to find his bride and gave him an entire fortnight to do so.”
“How generous of her! It only proves how foolish your cousin is, and how domineering is my aunt. Do you admire your sisters’ methods?”
“Well Jane and Charles followed a traditional courtship, and Lizzy and William …”
He laughed. “Were an enormous exception to every rule.” She remained quiet and he watched her. “What I admire most of Darcy and Elizabeth is that they were friends, good friends before it became love.”
“Yes, I admit I was very confused at the assembly when they danced the first time, they seemed so close, and it was only after they were married that Lizzy told me about their letters …” She blushed.
“What do you think of their letters?”
She shot him a quick glance and looked down. “I would have been shocked if I had known at the time, but now … they are the happiest people despite everything.”
“Indeed, of course they are both very unusual, but it only makes me admire them more.” They walked along in silence for several minutes. He finally made a decision. “I return to my estate in a few days.”
“Yes, Georgiana will miss her cousin, I think.” She spoke softly and kept her
gaze on the ground.
“And I will miss her …” He hesitated then plunged forward. “I will miss our conversations as well.” Their eyes met. “Would you consider writing to me? I would like to continue our friendship, if you can bear the impropriety.”
“I … I do not …” She saw his resigned acceptance of her refusal. “Why?”
His face brightened. “A fair question. I like you, and I would enjoy hearing from you, instead of waiting until our paths crossed again.”
“I … I like you too, Richard.” She bit her lip. “Well, I will be here at Pemberley all summer, so my parents would not know.”
“And certainly your sister and Georgiana would not mind.” He smiled and tilted his head at her.
“No.” Mary thought of Elizabeth and the closeness she had always observed between her and Darcy. She looked up to him, and saw the hopeful expression that was directed solely at her, and decided to take the risk. “Yes Richard, I would welcome your letters.”
Richard grinned. “Excellent! I will look forward to my post for a change, so much better than receiving the demands of my aunt!”
Mary smiled. “What does she ask of you?’
“Nothing of sense, I assure you!”
TWO WEEKS after their return from Rosings, Elizabeth stood in her study with her hands on her hips, staring at her husband in barely contained exasperation. “Are these men at least friends of yours?”
Darcy regarded her and said carefully, “Of course, I would not ask them to dinner otherwise. We need to discuss a very sensitive subject and could not do so at the club.”
“What is so sensitive?”
“I am not at liberty to say.”
She stared at him and he met her with a steady eye. “Will their wives be coming?”
“No.” He bit his lip and spoke quickly. “I am used to inviting friends for dinner without thought.” This time he could not meet her eye.
“Without thought is precisely how you have acted.” He was behaving oddly and it was upsetting her. It was very unlike him to be deceitful with her; in fact, she had no memory of it happening before.
He closed his eyes then lifted his chin, twisting his neck, a sure sign of agitation and she saw it. “We are attempting to re-establish our place, these men are very influential, and seeing you …”
“Behaving charmingly?” His continued evasion raised her ire. They had decided weeks ago that they would not perform for the benefit of the ton. She waved her hand over the enormous pile of invitations and calling cards on her desk. “And am I to accommodate the rest of these people as well? I have spent hours answering letters to strangers today William, while you were away for an unexpectedly extended period. I was left alone to attempt to evaluate who is a friend and who is curious, I … Go. Just go, William. Go to your friends. I will take care of dinner.” She closed her eyes and bent her head, holding back the thoughts that were bursting to spill out.
He did not move; his eyes showed his distress. “Lizzy …”
“Please go, William. We both have work to do.”
Darcy took her stiff hand and kissed it, then pressed a kiss on her unwelcoming mouth. He did not like that feeling at all. “I am sorry, Lizzy.” She nodded without looking at him, and he slowly turned to leave. He felt horrible; he had never lied to her before.
Elizabeth was already overwhelmed with the invitations which were pouring in, particularly since they had stopped attending events that put them on display, but now he was asking her to suddenly entertain strangers, charm them, and do it with no idea as to why. It was so unlike William to keep anything from her. She realized that made her angrier than the sudden guests. She felt as if he did not trust her, and it hurt, and she could not help but wonder if he was becoming like every other man, now that they had been married for almost five months.
Calling for Mrs. Hendricks, together they worked out a suitable menu, using the fare they had planned and expanding upon it as best as they could on short notice. Elizabeth apologized to her and asked her to speak the same to the cook. With time passing, she was able to put aside her ire and think about the situation. William had not really made an unreasonable demand of her, just unexpected and unusual, and she thought with a resigned sigh, poorly delivered. She decided that she needed to take a look at these so-called friends, and now fearing that something was very wrong, became worried for him. Determinedly she walked to his study door, and could hear the low rumble of men’s voices within. She knocked and suddenly there was silence, followed by William’s voice calling to enter.
She walked in and was taken aback by the scene. An older man sat with his head in his hands, two young men by his side, a fourth at the window. William stood near his desk, an expression of deep disgust and sorrow warring on his face, and his ribbon was twisted through the fingers of his left hand. Elizabeth’s anger dissolved instantly seeing his obvious distress, this was not a meeting of a boy’s club; it was a support group.
“Excuse me for interrupting, gentlemen.” Elizabeth met her husband’s intense gaze, and smiled at him. The relief her smile gave him was instantly expressed, and he strode to her side, claimed her hand and gratefully felt her squeeze.
“May I introduce you all to my wife, Elizabeth? Dearest, this is Edward, Howard, and Philip Fletcher, and their cousin Gregory Rhodes.” The men all stood and bowed, murmuring their greetings.
“Please forgive our intrusion, Mrs. Darcy.” Rhodes, the man at the window, said.
“Only if you forgive my interruption, I came to offer you refreshments before dinner, I am afraid it will be delayed a short while this evening.” She smiled and tilted her head, reading the pained and anguished expressions on their faces, and felt William’s hand still squeezing hers hard.
“No thank you, madam, I believe we will simply wait for what will certainly be a delicious repast.” Said Rhodes; obviously acting as the spokesman for the family.
“Very well then, I will leave you all to your work.” She looked up to William who had not stopped watching her.
“I will return in a moment, gentlemen.” He led her out into the hallway and closed the door behind him. They stepped into the empty dining room and he immediately wrapped his arms around her. “Lizzy, I apologize, I do not know why you seem to have forgiven me, but I am grateful for it.”
“I was angry because you would not tell me what was wrong. I could see you were not being truthful and darling, it does not sit well with you. It hurt me to be so treated, but then I realized that you would never behave that way without reason. And now seeing those men … William, what has happened, are they demanding something of you?”
“I did not mean to hurt you, believe me; I have no desire to be a man who orders around his wife. They wished to keep this as quiet as possible and when I asked to bring you into the room, they were incapable of understanding our marriage.” He watched her eyes soften and they both relaxed. “Their sister ran away with a man, a militia soldier, and they have only just located her. Howard Fletcher is her father.”
She gasped. “Oh dear heaven! What can be done?”
Darcy’s cheek pressed against hers and he spoke softly in her ear. “They had wished to make them marry as they have not already.”
“Has the soldier refused?”
“He has disappeared, much like Wickham did with every woman he defiled.” He sighed and was silent for a moment. “They are asking me for advice, what I did for Georgiana. They would prefer to bring her home instead of finding someone to accept her. But she has three unmarried sisters at home, and their reputations would be destroyed if this all comes out. Honestly Lizzy, they should be talking to you. You had a greater hand in restoring Georgiana than me.”
“No, my love, it was your decision to bring her home that gave her any chance at all, everything else we did together.” She caressed his cheek and he kissed her palm. “I would be glad to speak with them if they are willing. I understand now why you could not tell me what was really wrong. Please forgive
me for doubting you.”
“They asked for silence, but I knew I would have to tell you. You read me too well.” He kissed her hair, and held her tight. “I feel so much better telling you the truth. How do men keep secrets from their wives?” He looked down at her.
Elizabeth smiled and brushed the hair from his eyes. “The difference is that we both love and respect each other, Will.”
His lips curved up. “Come, let us return to the room and offer your advice. It cannot hurt.”
Hand in hand they walked down the hall. “I cannot imagine what our family would have done had this happened with one of my sisters.”
“Thank heaven we will never have to find out. Your father is keeping a close eye on all of his girls.” She smiled and he let them in. Once again conversation stopped.
“Darcy, we do have much to discuss …” Rhodes looked at Elizabeth.
“Indeed, and my wife was instrumental in my sister’s recovery. I believe that you will find her opinion to be invaluable, as I do.” He smiled and still holding hands, they sat down together.
Howard Fletcher raised his head and regarded Elizabeth through his bleary gaze. “Mrs. Darcy, no woman should have to hear of such depravity, Darcy tried to convince us earlier to allow you entry. I assume that your husband has told you of our misfortune?”
Elizabeth decided that these men needed decisiveness, not coddling, and immediately set to work. “He has, sir, and I am sorry for your pain. I understand that your daughter is recovered?”
“Yes, she is in our London home. The rest of the family has remained in the country.”
Her brow creased as she thought. “Is that normal? Would it cause more conjecture if the family strayed from their usual routine?”
