by Wells, Linda
“Thank you.”
He lifted his chin. “Castle Douglas.”
“Where?”
“Right before you, love, the village? Many coaches go through there. It is quite a hub in the area.” He smiled. “What did you think it was?”
“I was expecting a castle!” Elizabeth laughed and he chuckled. “Well, they are all over here!”
He glanced around, remembering the location of several ruins, “True. Would you care to see one? Or shall we go into the village?”
“Oh, the village, please. It is a little chilly, perhaps some warm cider by the fire in one of the inns?” Elizabeth’s head tilted and Darcy reached out for her hand. “A good idea?”
“An excellent one, love.” He gave her hand a squeeze and letting go, cleared his throat. “Now, lessons.”
“I had hoped you forgot …”
“Never.” His eyes twinkled. “Now then, my dear, back straight, eyes forward …”
“You are one to talk about that …”
“I am giving the lesson …”
“I think that I am better off not having had a governess or schooling, I never would have paid any heed …”
“If you do not stop talking you will not learn anything.”
“My mind would be wandering down more pleasant paths …” She giggled at his glare. “Would you care to know where my mind is wandering now?”
“No.”
“Yes, you would.” She teased and gasped when her horse startled a little with a gust of wind. “Will!”
“Always, always pay attention, never let go of the reins. Now, how do you slow your mount or regain control when it is startled?” He spoke sternly but his lips were twitching. “Mrs. Darcy?”
“You are not to be distracted.” She murmured while grasping her reins tightly and staring straight ahead.
Darcy’s smile grew as he watched his now determined student. “Not when it comes to protecting you.”
SAMUEL RODE UP the drive and as expected, found his father seated on his horse, staring out over the estate. Judge Darcy did not even look away this time. Father and Son sat together in companionable silence for several minutes until Samuel spoke.
“I saw Richard this morning. He rode with me into Lambton. I was disappointed that he did not stay longer.”
Judge Darcy nodded. “Yes, he said that his time is short and he had to get on if he is to return to his post on the appointed date.”
“That is what he said, but he rode north, not south.”
“Did he?” The judge nodded. “I wonder if he has made a decision.”
“To give up his commission? Do you think that is the right decision?”
“I am not the best judge of that.” He looked to his son who smiled. “He is a very good man who carries a heavy burden.”
“I think that he is going to see William.”
“I do, too.” Judge Darcy drew in a breath and blew it out. “And then we will see.”
“HOW ARE YOU COMING ALONG, Georgiana?” Elizabeth joined her in the parlour, finding her sister surrounded by work baskets full of baby clothes in various stages of completion and decoration.
She looked up and sighed. “How did everything become so muddled?”
Laughing, Elizabeth sat down and looked at the mess. “I think that it was because we were stuck in that carriage and you could not spread things out.”
“I have too many projects started.”
“You will certainly have time to finish them.” Elizabeth picked up one little gown. “I like this.”
Georgiana looked up. “Oh, you can see the difference between my first flowers and the last.”
“You certainly can, you are improving all of the time.” Rooting in the basket, Elizabeth found the gown that she was decorating and quickly set to work. “This will be the best dressed baby that was ever born, and we will certainly have many gowns to give to the poor house.” She looked out at the drive when the crunch of wheels on the gravel was heard. “Oh dear, another one. Poor Fitzwilliam!”
“Another neighbour?” Georgiana peeked out of the window and drew back when the three men exiting looked up.
“When we stopped in at The King’s Arms for the cider, we were largely regarded as strangers passing through on a post coach, but then when the coaches all departed and we remained, I am afraid that we drew curiosity, and outright questioning.” She smiled. “They do not hesitate to ask your business here.”
“But it is a busy town!”
“Oh they do not mind the strangers, but if one is actually living here, now that it s a different story! Oh my, everyone certainly knows that Fitzwilliam is the absent landowner of Sommerwald now. I suppose that it was bound to happen, first Mrs. Duncan orders meat and then we dared to stick our noses into the village.”
“I will remain out of sight.” Georgiana said quietly.
“We will do our best to keep your identity at least a secret, but your condition … I am afraid that is just a matter of time. I am sorry.”
“I understand, thank you for trying.”
They looked out at the carriage. “We must be running out of the local gentry by now. Poor, dear man. He was not happy to have our peace disturbed at the inn, we were having such a lovely time.” Elizabeth sighed. “But he has no choice, does he? They are paying their respects to the house. I suppose that we would have had the same at Pemberley if we had been there any longer. When we return we will have to host a ball or something to meet them all and be done with it.”
“This is not entirely unfamiliar, Elizabeth. He is used to the tenants coming to him with their problems.”
“Oh, it is not that I think him incapable of meeting people, I just know that he is very shy.” Seeing Georgiana’s brow crease, she laughed. “You did not know?”
They heard Parker greeting the visitors at the door and the sound of their footfalls trouping across the wooden floor. The deep rumble of male voices en masse was a different note in the house. Elizabeth cocked her head as she tried to catch the conversation and noticing Georgiana watching her, shrugged a little. “I keep expecting to hear girls giggling when there is a great deal of noise downstairs.” Glancing at the clock, she sighed and returned to her sewing.
“The wedding should be underway now?” Georgiana asked softly.
“I believe so, if Mama has not gone faint or Mr. Bingley has not lost his new determination.” She smiled a little and sitting straighter, tried to ignore the tears that pricked her eyes. “I am sure that Jane is lovely.”
“If she is wearing the lace you bought for her, I am certain that she is.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth smiled a little. “Do not mind me.”
“I would be missing my family, too.” She stopped her work. “I am ashamed that I did not think of them when I ran away.”
“Well …” Considering her words carefully, Elizabeth studied her sister. “While I am not excusing your behaviour in any way, I can understand some of the emotion you felt. You fancied yourself in love, and when one is that way, one tends to think only of that person, and how to spend every moment with him. It does not mean that you love your family less, only that you would prefer someone else’s company more. Someday when you are truly in love, you will feel that again.”
“Oh, I hope so!” She whispered, “I was mad that I had to take time to eat!”
Elizabeth put her hand to her chest. “My goodness! And how long did this obsession carry on before you woke up to your surroundings?”
“I guess that if we had not been sightseeing so much it would not have taken so long … but when I did start missing Fitzwilliam, I was too ashamed to contact him.”
“That is the first time I have heard you admit to shame while you were away.” Elizabeth took her hand. “You have been fighting accepting the truth of everything for so long. Was it Mr. Wickham’s letters that finally lifted the veil from your eyes?”
“Yes, and those people staring at me and talking behind their hands while
we travelled, and seeing you and Fitzwilliam working so hard to distract them from me just …” She shook her head. “I have known for a long time that I was wrong and … looking back to last summer … even when George first started calling on me, I knew then that I should rebuff him. But I … Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong?”
“Certainly.”
“Nothing to compare with what I did.”
“I am sure that there are those who would say that allowing your brother’s kiss was terrible.” Georgiana shook her head and Elizabeth smiled. “I am curious. Was it Mr. Wickham who was successful, or would any handsome man have won your attention? Were you more receptive to him because you believed him to be a friend and therefore safe?”
“I have thought about that, too.” Georgiana bit her lip. “He knew me by name and he surely knew things to ask that made me comfortable … but really, I am not so different from any other girl of our circle. What do we do? We play music, and paint and sew … I am too young to be out, but he could talk of dancing lessons or riding … any gentleman could have done it, I think. I just wanted the attention. But I want you to know that he was kind.” She touched her belly and sighed.
“I am relieved to know that, and I am so glad to hear you thinking things through. Your description of how you were reminds me of my sister, Lydia.” Elizabeth looked at the clock again. “And she is probably sneaking cups of punch by now.”
“I missed my brother’s wedding … and … well although I really was not terribly happy for him on his wedding day …” Georgiana found Elizabeth’s gaze fixed on her, “ … I think that what is important is knowing my sister now, and how happy he is.”
“Thank you, Georgiana.” Elizabeth hugged her. “I think so, too. I am just a little sad today.”
“I know.” She sat up and listened. “Oh … did you hear something? Is there another visitor?”
Elizabeth went to the window and looked. “There is no carriage. I think that I will just go down and see how he is doing.”
“I thought that I remember him complaining about you not letting him sit with you when all of the ladies were visiting at Darcy House?” Georgiana smiled and Elizabeth stopped smoothing her dress to look at her thoughtfully.
“He did.” Elizabeth looked into the mirror and patted her hair. “But the rules are different for me.”
DARCY HEARD THE FAMILIAR pattern of the knock on the study door and inwardly sighed with relief. It is about time, Lizzy! Clearing his throat, he called, “Come in.”
“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy, I do not mean to interrupt …” Elizabeth stepped inside and immediately the men all stood and bowed. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Good morning,” Was uttered en masse with a decided Scottish burr. Darcy’s Derbyshire drawl would have been lost if his voice was not so deep.
“Dearest, these are gentlemen from the Kelly family, who own the estate just beyond our west gate. Mr. Robert Kelly, Senior, Mr. Robert Kelly, Junior, and Mr. Stephen Kelly. Gentlemen, my dear wife Elizabeth.”
“It is a pleasure; I did not wish to interrupt. It is so nice to be meeting all of the neighbours …”
“Now then Mrs. Darcy, do not put on a pleased face with us, we know now that we are interrupting a honeymoon.” Mr. Kelly smiled. “If we had known that, we would have stayed well away from your doorstep, but my wife was curious and when she gets a bee in her bonnet, it is best to satisfy her.”
Elizabeth laughed and taking the chair that Darcy drew forward for her, the three guests took their seats. Darcy remained standing with his hand on her shoulder. “And what made her curious? Was it our trip into Castle Douglas, perhaps?”
“Did you go into town?” Stephen said with a grin. “I knew nothing of it!”
“I am proud to say that my mother had a theory about the activity here with the news of the joint being ordered, so she is well ahead of the others.” Robert laughed. “She was concerned to know what sort of women were here. She is always looking out for wives for us.” He winked at his father.
“She sounds like my mother.” Elizabeth looked up at Darcy. “Too bad that my eldest sister is marrying today, even as we speak, I believe.” He took her hand and squeezed. She looked back to the men. “I have two younger sisters, but I am afraid that they are too young for you.”
“How young?” Stephen asked.
“Too young.” Darcy said quietly.
“Ahhh, good for you, delicate things they must be for you to be so protective. I daresay your sister can take care of all comers.” Mr. Kelly addressed his eldest.
“With her tongue nobody is coming to court her. And she will be a spinster if she doesn’t stop being so picky.”
Elizabeth refrained from rolling her eyes. “It seems to me, gentlemen, your mother would be more interested in seeing if there were any men in want of a wife in our midst.”
“One of good fortune and breeding.” Darcy smiled.
“Naturally.” Elizabeth laughed.
“Well …” Mr. Kelly rubbed his chin and watched Darcy’s fingertips caressing over Elizabeth’s ring. “I suppose she was hoping to find a friend for herself and Sophie. We only have about four and twenty families to dine with around here, lonely country it is.”
Darcy laughed softly and Elizabeth just knew without looking that there was a twinkle in his eye. “I will be glad to meet them both.”
“Good because that is why we came! We are inviting you to dinner tonight.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth looked up to Darcy.
“It was a previously planned evening, so might I add that a number of the neighbours will be present. You can finish meeting them all off in one evening?” Mr. Kelly winked.
“We aren’t so bad.” Robert promised.
“Our brothers are, though.” Stephen nodded.
“There are more of you?” Elizabeth laughed
“Four boys; and one girl.” Mr. Kelly said proudly. “My wife has done well!”
“Congratulations, sir. I look forward to our first.” Darcy felt his hand being squeezed. Inwardly sighing, he nodded his head. “We will be honoured to join your party, Mr. Kelly, thank you.”
All three men stood and Mr. Kelly beamed. “Excellent, well our work is finished here, I think, boys. Mr. Darcy you seem to be dressed for riding, perhaps it has something to do with those sheep I saw by the river?”
Smiling, Darcy nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Ahh, it is good to see the man in charge looking after his flock.” Winking, he bowed to Elizabeth. “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Darcy.” He hesitated for a moment and then looking at the couple standing closely together nearly holding hands, thought better of inquiring after a girl he noticed in the window upstairs. “Five o’clock?”
There was a knock and Parker opened the door. “Forgive me, sir, but Mr. Ferguson said that he will meet you by the river.”
“There you go.” Mr. Kelly indicated the door. “Shall we accompany you, sir?”
“I … will be along, sir.” Darcy felt Elizabeth squeeze his hand and together, they showed the Kelly family to the door.
“JUST LOOK AT THEM, SIR!” Ferguson laughed as another group of sheep was driven back across the shallow river running through the property. “They are becoming whiter and whiter with each pass.”
“It is a handsome sight, indeed.” Darcy looked on with a sharp eye. “We will not be washing the sheep at Pemberley for weeks. It makes me feel less lonely for home to see this here.”
“Well if it takes a week to get through all of the sheep here, I can imagine what it is for Pemberley.” Ferguson noted. “Or do you not keep all of the animals for the winter?”
“We keep the breeding stock but sell off most of them in autumn. Feeding so many is a problem, although I have been studying using crop rotation to increase our fodder production.”
“Increasing your herds and doubling your profit.” The steward looked at him admiringly. “I was going to suggest something of the sort for S
ommerwald.”
“Go ahead.” Darcy smiled. “If it is a success here, then we will implement it at Pemberley.”
“How many estates do you own, sir?” Ferguson tilted his head.
“Estates? Just two, but I own a great many farms. That is what Pemberley is, the park and the home farm are surrounded by other farms that I own and the tenants run for me.”
“And Mr. Barnes keeps an eye on everything.” Ferguson said with respect.
“He has a staff.” Darcy looked his man over curiously, “Would you like the opportunity to work on Pemberley? I must tell you that Barnes and I have kept a close eye on your progress here.”
“Sir?”
“Surely you have been recruited to take on a farm in England? Scottish stewards are quite the rage these days.” Darcy smiled to see his surprise. “But I own that I would prefer to keep you here. Your work is appreciated.”
“Sir … I … Thank you Mr. Darcy!”
“Ho!”
Darcy’s head turned. “Richard!”
Galloping across the fields, Richard nudged his mount and they leapt over the stone wall. He grinned and rode up to them. “I had nearly lost hope that I would find this place. It is a suspicious lot of people in this neighbourhood.” Coming to a stop, his grin widened. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Fancy you not breaking your neck, how did you get that old horse to jump?”
“You know her?” He patted the mare’s neck and she snorted. “My girl heard that I was going out looking for you and gave me the evil eye. I would not have dared taken her out, so I asked this pretty lady to come along.” Darcy’s chin dropped towards his chest and his shoulders shook as he laughed. “That’s it sweetheart; do not let anyone tell you that you are not the very best.”
“You are a cavalryman through and through, whispering sweet nothings to your lady.” Darcy stopped laughing and held out his hand. He nearly yelped with the crushing strength of the grip. His brow furrowed when he saw a reflection of … something in his cousin’s searching eyes. “Richard?”
“It is exceptionally good to see you, Darcy.” He said with no humour whatsoever.
