by Linda Wells
Darcy immediately understood her. “My wife makes a good point, sir. It is fortunate that no neighbours are aware of your daughter’s flight. You quickly explained her absence as a trip to town with her brothers.”
“Yes, her come out is this summer, we were to buy her some more gowns.” Mr. Fletcher’s gaze sharpened watching the couple working together, then was overcome with a wave of anger. “Why would she do this now?” He pounded his fists on the table. He sighed. “Forgive me, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth waved it off. “She was undoubtedly charmed by the man and poorly supervised by whoever had her charge, whether it was her parents or her governess. Also, you can not forget that she exercised her own free will.” The men stared at her in surprise of her bluntness. Elizabeth continued, “Could she be with child?” Their eyes grew wider and they looked at Darcy, who flushed, but was nodding with her reasoning. She looked around the room. “Come now gentlemen, that is the crux of the matter and you know it. She can easily be returned home if she is not, but if the possibility exists, that limits your options, at least for now.”
“She claims not.” Mr. Fletcher said quietly, “But she may not be truthful in this. They were gone three days before we found her at an inn.”
“I think that we must prepare for the worst, Father.” Edward said softly.
“Do you have any other relatives she could visit for the summer? Far from your estate?” Darcy asked.
Rhodes nodded. “My parents live several counties away.”
“Send her there, then. You will know within a few months the truth, and she could still have some of her Season if it is well for appearance’s sake. If it is not, then she could remain there for her confinement. Then bring her home, if you wish, or find a man willing to marry her.” Darcy continued in his quiet voice, “I considered these possibilities when I was searching for my sister.”
“What of the child?”
“You would be responsible for finding a suitable home and supporting him until adulthood; that is if you are a gentleman.” Darcy met his eye and held it.
“This is difficult to hear. This would be my grandchild.” Mr. Fletcher said softly.
“Surely you did not come to my husband and expect an easy answer, sir?” Elizabeth scanned the room. “You should be prepared for a long recovery for your daughter. I do not know her temperament, but if she was shy before she could become more withdrawn, if she was bold, this may temper her. In either case, will she realize her error? That I believe is the key to her improvement, and accepting that is the key to yours.” She looked up at Darcy who smiled.
“Yes, it took me a great while to accept that I was not entirely to blame.” He kissed her hand. “I think that we will leave you now to discuss this in privacy.” Darcy stood along with Elizabeth and they left the room.
“What do you think? Will they listen?” She said as they made their way to the library.
He shook his head. “It depends. Her brothers are full of blood lust and speak only of killing the man. Her cousin though, he is not as directly involved and has a clearer head. Hopefully he will be able to cut through her father’s guilt.” They took a seat on a sofa and he drew her to his side. “Why do I have a feeling that this will not be the last time that a family comes to us in search of such advice?”
“I hate to think that it would be needed by anyone again, but if Georgiana is a success, and we are seen as a successful couple, I believe you are correct, it may happen again.” Elizabeth reached up and gently kissed him and he warmly responded.
“That is better. I did not like that angry kiss at all.”
“Then you are wise to avoid inspiring my ire.” She whispered.
“Forgive me.”
“I already have. Trust me.”
“I do, my love. I would have told you, you know I would.”
A servant knocked and they were summoned back to the study. Mr. Fletcher stood. “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, thank you for your time and forbearance. We have decided to take your advice and remove my daughter to her aunt’s home until we can be certain of the outcome. In the meantime, our family will join us here.” He sighed and looked at his hands. “We will wait and see what our next course is. In the meantime, we feel that we have trespassed on your hospitality for far too long and will remove ourselves from your home.”
“Sir, please, you are welcome to stay for dinner!” Elizabeth assured him.
“No, Mrs. Darcy, we will leave you in peace.” He looked at the couple and smiled. “I am very happy for you. The rumours of your marriage were claiming a country upstart had captured Darcy for his fortune. I beg to disagree. I have never seen such a relationship in a marriage, and can not pretend to understand it.”
Rhodes looked them over speculatively. “Perhaps poetry is not drivel. Perhaps it is true that a lady can capture a man’s heart.” Darcy smiled and Elizabeth blushed. He shook Darcy’s hand and bowed to Elizabeth, as the other men did the same. Soon they were gone, and Elizabeth noticed Mrs. Hendricks watching their departure.
“Please tell cook it will just be the two of us tonight; and please apologize again.” Mrs. Hendricks pressed her lips together and disappeared downstairs. Elizabeth took William’s hand and they walked back to her study where he regarded the piles of invitations.
“Lizzy, what do you say to just declining all of the invitations?”
“All of them? Even from friends?”
“We have visited with everyone who are truly our friends, and today’s experience confirms that if there is somebody else who wishes our friendship, they will seek us out. I think that it is very safe to say that these invitations and calling cards are from those who wish to get a look at us, or desire a connection. Let this time be for our benefit, which means not wasting yours by writing letters. We will be here another fortnight, we will spend time with our families and enjoy what else London has to offer.”
“Oh Will, I love that idea!” Elizabeth threw her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. Darcy chuckled and picked up the stack of calling cards and gleefully dropped them in the fire. He began to do the same with the invitations and she stopped him. “Wait, I will answer those properly.” He was disappointed but set them down. “It is wise not to burn bridges, Will. A simple note of refusal is no trouble.”
“As you wish, my love.”
Chapter 39
John rode beside the fence that separated Netherfield and Longbourn, unconsciously moving towards the stile. It took him by surprise to see the man sitting on the steps, staring off towards the hills that hid Netherfield. “Mr. Bennet, good morning.” John said and brought his horse to a halt.
“Lucas.” Mr. Bennet blinked and smiled. “Not watching the planting this morning? I am surprised.”
“I could say the same to you, sir.” John smiled and dismounted, and holding the reins he moved forward, glancing at the initials carved into the wood as he walked.
Mr. Bennet noticed. “I leave it to my steward; I have never really been a very hands-on landowner, which has been to my and my family’s detriment. Do not follow my example.” John nodded. “But I believe that you have made enormous strides in that direction. You are already a much more accomplished gentleman than I or your father have been.”
“My father was not born to this, I was.” He said softly, glancing again at the stile.
“You do not regret her still, do you?” Mr. Bennet asked, tilting his head. John’s surprised expression made him smile. “Let me tell you a story. I was very much in love with a young lady. She said that she loved me, but when my sister was ruined … you know that story now, I suppose?” John nodded and looked down. “Well, I lost her.” He grew silent for a moment. “Maria, her name was Maria, just like your sister. My Mary was named for her, not that my wife knows.” He sighed. “I spent all of my marriage, until these last few months, comparing my wife to her. It was a waste of a potential felicity. I have fortunately recognized my error and we have begun to repair the damage that years of neglect
have wrought upon us. It is not easy.” Looking back at John he met his gaze. “Do not make my mistake, Lucas. When you find the woman you will marry, put all others from your mind. Do not compare your wife to another.” He glanced at the initials then back at his companion.
“That is an important lesson, and one that I am grateful to hear second hand and not have to experience myself. I do not know that I regret Mrs. Darcy now so much as I regret my behaviour that ruined what might have been. I know that I can not spend my life dwelling on what will never be.” He drew a breath. “She made a man of me.”
Mr. Bennet laughed, and John’s brow creased. “Forgive me, but it seems that she made a boy of Darcy.” He glanced again at the carving and John smiled, both knowing that Darcy was more of a man than either one of them ever would be.
“And what has he done for her?”
“Ah, he gave her the respect and love that she deserves.” Mr. Bennet smiled. John nodded and looked down. “My son Bingley is giving up the lease on Netherfield. He will search for a home near Pemberley.”
John shook his head. “I once told Mrs. Darcy that she would be better with me because she would remain near to her sister. It seems that argument is proving wrong as well.” He smiled to see Mr. Bennet’s amusement. “Well, perhaps the next lease holder will have a lovely daughter for me to court.”
Nodding, Mr. Bennet stood up. “Perhaps that will be so. I am glad to see your willingness to move on; you have made great strides in the neighbourhood. I think that you will be a fixture in the area, just as your father has been.”
Rolling his eyes, he laughed. “Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, sir.” He turned and mounting his horse, looked again at the stile, then to Mr. Bennet. “I have to get back to my fields; I have an estate to run. I enjoyed our conversation, thank you.”
Mr. Bennet watched him gallop off and looked at the stile once again. “Well done, Darcy and Lizzy.”
“THERE YOU ARE.” Darcy rose from his crouched position in front of the lake. He had been wiping his sweaty face with a dampened handkerchief and upon hearing the familiar voice, turned and saw Richard galloping towards him. “You have been working hard at your duties, I see.” Dismounting, he strode forward and clasped Darcy’s hand.
“I believe that you should be doing the same, what brings you here? Have you forgotten your new position?” Darcy grinned and clapped his back.
“My estate takes a fraction of the time to prepare that yours does, being a fraction of the size.” Richard’s face was glowing with good humour and he looked around him. “I am overwhelmed Darcy, how do you do it?”
“I have a great deal of help, and have hired excellent people to aid me. I am not afraid to delegate duties, either.”
“Delegate? You?” Richard looked at him askance. “I know you, Darcy; you have an iron grip on every aspect of this operation. I doubt that even your enticing bride can pull you away from your duties.”
Darcy’s brow rose at his description of Elizabeth, but let it pass. “I am firmly in charge, I assure you. However, yes, my Elizabeth is most capable of making me change my ways. I no longer want to be lost in the work, it is time to live.” He smiled and tilted his head. “I have help from my wife as well.”
“What does she do, rub your temples and bring you libations?” He laughed, then saw Darcy shake his head.
“You truly do not understand our love, do you? Well, I will attempt to explain a bit of it. A fortnight after we returned from London, I came into the house after spending a morning out with my steward, and anticipating a long afternoon with my paperwork. I walked into the study to find Elizabeth sitting behind my desk, opening the business letters and sorting them into categories of importance. She was organizing the correspondence for me, saving me the time it would take to read and do so myself, and even pointing out the ones that seemed especially urgent.”
“She was acting as your secretary?” Richard stared at him in amazement. “But what of your personal letters?”
“Those were unopened. She knows well-enough who my friends are, and she has spent enough time watching me answer correspondence, and well, listening to me tell her all of my business that she knew who everyone was. Any return that she did not recognize she left unopened. It was truly gratifying.” He smiled at his cousin’s confused expression. “I had always hoped, even back to last summer when I was just dreaming of marrying her, that she would wish to be my partner, and here it has come true. I admit that I thought she was simply humouring me at first, listening with seeming interest to my ramblings and rages, but once again she has proven me wrong in my assumptions. She does care, and she has a great talent for it. She told me that she hoped to help me in this way, only she needed to learn her duties as mistress first.”
“You heap praise upon her, but do you recognize the unusual behaviour in yourself? I know of no man who would include his wife in such things, regardless of whether she were interested or capable of understanding. My mother certainly knows nothing of Matlock, it would be unthinkable of my father to speak of such to her, just as she would not share the household accounts with him.”
“I did it all alone. It does not intimidate me in the least to share the burden with Elizabeth, and frankly, it is what I wished for all along. By helping me, we have more time for each other.” Darcy laughed and taking the reins of his horse the cousins began walking to the stables. “Do not follow our example Richard, we have rejected so many conventions of our peers, I imagine we will continue to amaze and intrigue, and doubtless inspire wagging tongues forever, but we are happy, and that is what matters. You must find your own path to happiness.”
“That is what brings me here today.” Darcy raised his brows, and Richard cleared his throat. “I understand that Mr. Bennet has given you leave to look after Mary’s interests while she remains in your care.”
“He has.”
“Ahem, well, I … I have decided that … I have decided that I wish to ask for a courtship.” He glanced at Darcy who was smiling slightly and staring at him. “Well SAY something!”
“What would you like to hear?”
“Your blessing would be a welcome beginning.” Richard said in frustration.
“Have you spoken to her? You have only been corresponding for three months, after all …” Darcy was fighting his smile.
“Yes, I spoke to her when I arrived, and she said yes, and I seem to recall that you PROPOSED to Elizabeth MOMENTS after seeing her in person after only THREE MONTHS of clandestine correspondence, and furthermore, I have at least KNOWN Mary since last autumn; and …”
Darcy held up his hand and stopped walking. “You do have it bad, Cousin! I am simply toying with you. Of course you have my blessing. I will be proud to someday call you brother.” He laughed seeing Richard’s fighting stance relax.
“That was bad form, Darcy.”
“I said very little, you jumped to the defence rather quickly.” Darcy tilted his head and they began walking again. “How is that temper coming along? It will not do to frighten your tenants too often, nor may I add, your wife. If you do anything to upset my sister …”
Richard blew out a long breath and smiled at his cousin’s willingness to fight him. “I find that reading one of Mary’s letters instantly restores my good humour. I imagine that actually living with her will do wonders for my temperament.”
“Well, she does know a great many sermons…” Darcy relaxed with a grin and Richard laughed. They gave over the horses to the stable hands and walked to the house. Elizabeth met them at the door and gave William an enquiring look. He kissed her hand and smiled. “It seems we must begin chaperoning duties, my love.”
Elizabeth looked over to Richard whose face fell. “I think that you and I benefited from our lax chaperones William, perhaps we can extend the favour to Mary and Richard.”
“Hmmmm.” Darcy considered him.
“Darcy …” Richard growled.
“I will think it over.” He gave Elizabeth a w
ink and walked up the stairs to change clothes with Richard hard on his heels and arguing steadily his case. She laughed and returned to the sitting room where her two sisters sat together.
“Well?” Mary asked nervously.
“Of course William said yes Mary, he is just torturing Richard now.” Mary sighed in relief and Georgiana gripped her hand, bouncing excitedly.
“When will you marry?”
“For heaven’s sake, Georgiana, they have only begun the courtship!” Elizabeth admonished.
“Oh, you and William skipped all of that, why not Mary? Besides, she is to return to Longbourn in two months, would it not make sense to have the wedding before then and she could simply move to Onnoroil from here?”
“Mama would not be pleased to miss hosting a wedding.” Mary said, blushing and looking down at her hands. “Listen to me, he has not even proposed and we are making these plans!” She looked up at Elizabeth, “I must go and lie down; I am so flustered!” She quickly left the room.
“I am happy for her; she would be so excited when a letter would come. I am glad to be able to see them together now; she stopped telling me what he said. Now I can watch!” Georgiana said with a sparkle of mischief in her eye.
“I did show Jane all of mine, well, until your brother’s thoughts became much more … personal.” Georgiana giggled. “He is a very romantic man.” Elizabeth added with a soft smile.
“You do not have to convince me of that! I can not help but see you two!” Georgiana laughed at her blush. “Do you hope for children soon?” She saw her sister’s look of surprise and laughed again. “I am not so naïve; I was taught what would bring a child.” Elizabeth wondered how much she really understood, and thought she would have to explore the subject sometime.
“We hope to be blessed with many children, but they will come in their own time.”
“I think that William will be happy to be a father, he is so changed from how he was only a year ago.” Georgiana’s excited expression clouded over.
