Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice

by Wells, Linda

  “Good Lord!”

  “Did you show it to Sophie?”

  “Are you insane? And tell her what it was and why I used to wear them?” Richard shook his head and then laughed. “But I have to tell you, it was just what I needed at that moment. How did you know?”

  Considering him, Darcy smiled. “I just did.”

  “Were you … of course, I know that your wedding night was not a real wedding night, but … I was grateful Sophie did not know better, if you know what I mean.”

  “Was there a failure, Cousin?” Darcy’s lips twitched. “A misfire, perhaps?”

  “Misfire? It was as if the fuse was lit and the canon exploded instead of shooting the ball at the target! What a mess, and poor Sophie, all braced for the impact and,” he sighed, “I knew that would amuse you.”

  “Forgive me. Has it improved?”

  “Considerably.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Did you ever …”

  “No.” Richard sighed and Darcy said quietly, “But there are times it is a miracle I have lasted more than a minute.”

  “Are we old? Can we not hold our wads any longer?”

  “I prefer to believe that I am just so bewitched by her that I lose control. Which is likely true.” Darcy smiled and noticed Samuel standing nearby with a grin on his face. “You were listening.”

  “I enjoy the military references.” Strolling away, he claimed Georgiana’s arm and guided her away from Robert and Stephen.

  “He has become very adept at that.” Richard said approvingly. “I am glad that you allow him.”

  “It is practice for both of them, learning how to support another.” Darcy watched them and looked back to Richard. “Questions? We are departing very soon …”

  “Are you a mind-reader?” Richard demanded.

  “Hardly.” He smiled at Elizabeth talking quietly with Sophie and then turned to his cousin. “Well?”

  “WILL YOU BE NEEDING THESE, SIR?” Parker asked quietly while helping Darcy to don his nightshirt. Turning, he indicated the box on the dresser before picking up his master’s discarded clothes. “I am afraid that I could not simply purchase one for the colonel’s wedding gift.”

  “Really? Considering the cost and how they are reused …” Darcy smiled at his man’s obvious disgust. “No, I have no need for them. You may discard them or … find a use for them, it is up to you.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  “Parker, I have been meaning to inquire, has your friendship with Judy progressed?

  “Miss Orchard and I are … hesitant to progress on any level, Mr. Darcy. Your gift of tolerance has cooled the flames for now.”

  “I am sorry to hear that. Or perhaps it is good if you find you are not suited for each other.”

  “No sir, that is not the case at all!” Parker said vehemently.

  “All right then … I will leave you to your own devices.” Darcy walked out to the bedchamber, but was still looking backwards and shaking his head.

  Elizabeth was stretched out on her stomach across the comforter and hugging her pillow. She watched him curiously, “A penny for your thoughts.”

  Climbing onto the bed, he settled onto his side and regarded her with a small smile. “Too many are swirling around to know which to choose.”

  “Then this could prove expensive for me. It is a fine thing that I have a great deal of pin money at my disposal.” Darcy chuckled and played with the hair around her face. “I am so happy to be home. It was only a week, but by the end it felt like a month.”

  “I know. Too many people, with too many dramas.” He held her eyes while he continued his gentle caress. “Your inspired reaction to Mrs. Kelly’s references to Miss Cargill and Mrs. Dickson have, I believe, put a nail in the coffin of speculation, don’t you think?”

  “I hope so.” Her eyes closed under the tender touch of his fingertips over her temples. “My initial affront was purely meant as a distraction away from Georgiana.”

  “And then the lioness appeared.”

  “I do not like anyone questioning your fidelity.”

  “Ahh.” Darcy smiled and then laughed. “Good thing that you qualified that. You question me constantly on one thing or another.” Elizabeth rolled onto her side to face him and his hand moved over her shoulder. “I suppose that we were blindly optimistic that nothing of Georgiana’s condition would be noted …”

  “Enough people on the estate saw her; I am amazed that it did not spread while we were there.”

  “Ferguson is a good man.”

  “He would be nothing without a good master.” Elizabeth watched his eyes move from her face to his hand. “Someday he will meet Miss Darcy. Do you have an opinion of his admiration for Georgiana?”

  “No.”

  “Stephen Kelly’s?” Darcy’s eyes rolled. “Samuel’s?” Elizabeth laughed, “Now what is that look for?”

  “Talk about something else.”

  “Hmm.” She closed her eyes, his touch felt so nice. “It is such a warm night.”

  “Perhaps tonight you will learn if you mind sleeping next to me in summer. Will you object to my warmth?” She looked up in time to see a slow smile spreading over his face. “Do you wish to go swimming?”

  “Oh no!”

  “Time is wasting, love. The weather will cool before you know it, and then we will be forced inside to love each other.”

  “What a shame, to be private …” Elizabeth sighed when his mouth wandered over her throat and then suckled over the fluttering pulse. “Ohh,” His gentle hands caressed over her breasts and paused.

  “You have grown, dearest.”

  “Have I?” She said sleepily.

  “mmmhmm.” He murmured and kneeling before her, massaged from her shoulders to her hips. With each pass, he felt her relax more, and when he saw her eyes close, he rested his hands over her belly and left them there. Beneath his palms he felt something new, and he was afraid to move lest it disappear. “Oh, Lizzy …” He looked down, carefully lifting his hands away to stare at the thin fabric of her shift. It was not his imagination, the swelling truly was there. “My Elizabeth Rose …” He felt emotion welling up in his chest as he bent down to kiss the precious spot. Elizabeth’s eyes opened. Darcy smiled and laying down, kissed her. “Sleep, love.”

  “But … we were going to love each other …”

  “I think that we do already.”

  “That is not what I meant, it has been so long. Will.” Elizabeth touched his face and studied his eyes. “Happiness radiates from you. What has happened? How long have I been asleep?”

  Laughing, he hugged her to him. “I am sorry dear, but I have no pockets for my watch. I cannot tell you.”

  “Then can you share with me your joy?” Kissing him she sighed with the passion in his response.

  “Tomorrow. It can wait for tomorrow.” Watching her eyes close again, he settled protectively around her and whispered, “I can wait for tomorrow. But for now, I will believe for both of us.”

  Chapter 32

  I regret that we did not have the opportunity to speak of this in person at Gladney, but I wanted you to know of it before Mrs. Kelly had the opportunity to inform Sophie of the encounter. Elizabeth is sure that there was no malicious intent, and she did her best to restore the equilibrium of the ladies afterwards, but there is no question that she had to react quickly to even the slightest hint of impropriety. You and I both know how fast a rumour can be declared positive truth. Remember how Mr. Gardiner heard the story of you and Wickham in the tobacco shop. That story in the hands of someone else could have been catastrophic for us all. Lord knows what was gossiped about us in Scotland. This story had to be well-worn for Mrs. Kelly to speak of it before our family.

  I believe that Elizabeth’s vehement reaction was absolutely correct. She first moved to protect Georgiana, and then she defended me. Be prepared to hear about the incident when you next visit Matlock, Aunt Susan’s description of Elizabeth’s anger and hurt
was as heartbreaking as it was gratifying. But in the end, it served a purpose. Mrs. Kelly will hopefully go home and spread a new tale, correcting the views of everyone she encounters. It is unlikely that anyone there will ever meet up with anyone from our circle; however I prefer to have the story squelched rather than pretend it does not exist.

  Does Sophie know anything of this? I realize that you have other matters on your mind as you honeymoon, but I believe that the subject must be raised. Sophie knows nothing of Georgiana, so it leaves you in a sticky situation. Do you defend Elizabeth or support your new mother? Do you expose Georgiana, and what will Sophie’s behaviour towards her be in future? It is up to you; however I do not want the Kellys to know of Georgiana’s ruin. Once away from our control, the story would take on a life of its own.

  Elizabeth’s talk with the women made it clear that we were absolutely correct not to share the truth with your parents and Aunt Catherine. They would have called for Georgiana’s head, they would not have protected her, or it is possible that if we had told them when she disappeared, they might have pressed an undue advantage upon me to remain quiet. I would not have put it past your father to use me. At the time, his desperation was obvious. He might even have demanded that she marry you or Albert as Uncle Harding hoped she would marry Samuel.

  Lady Catherine’s actions would have been more difficult to predict. She is an admiring supporter of my dear wife now, but again, when we were first engaged, she was our greatest source of pain. With the information of Georgiana’s absolute ruin in hand, she could have threatened to expose her if I had not married Anne. After my encounter with our cousin in the drawing room and the discussion Elizabeth had with her afterwards, I promise you, I might very well be mirroring Albert in the search for eternal peace had she been my fate.

  It comes to this, if we had told our family, I would not be so very happily married now, nor Cousin, would you. It is your decision what you choose to say to Sophie. Welcome to married life.

  Your brother,

  Darcy

  “Thank you, Brother.” Richard blew out his cheeks and closed his eyes. “Once again you remind me that it is not all about lolling in bed. You continue to bring me down to earth, but must it be so soon?” He let his cousin’s words filter through his mind until he felt a hand tapping his boots. Smiling, he opened his eyes to find Sophie pointedly looking at his feet. “Not on the furniture?”

  “You just purchased this desk; do you want to mar the finish already?”

  Swinging his feet down, he hooked his hand around her waist and pulled her onto his lap for a kiss. “My dear wife, the marks I leave will be famous one day. I can imagine our great grandchildren telling stories of me, and how I always had my feet up on the desktop as I made fantastic decisions about our glorious home.” He laughed as her eyes rolled. “You are not impressed?”

  “No.”

  “Very well, I shall strike a bargain with you. I will keep my feet off your desk and leave them on mine.”

  “That is no bargain!” She laughed.

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “I have no choice, do I?”

  “No. But I gave you the semblance of one, did I not?” Smiling, he kissed her again. “What shall we do today, our fifth day of married bliss?”

  “Why do you not tell me, since my desires will be ignored …” Sophie crossed her arms.

  “I see that your shyness is gone and as I am not in the least interested in ignoring your desires, or mine for that matter, shall we unfold these arms and put them to good use?” Richard took her hands and remembering the letter, reluctantly stopped. “Perhaps we should talk first.”

  “You look so serious.” Sophie stood up to his vehement protests and took a chair next to his. “What is wrong?”

  He did not answer for some moments as he thought of what he wanted to say. “What is your opinion of unmarried girls who fall with child? Girls of good family.” Taking in her stunned expression, he smiled, “No, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, I have no bastard born or unborn out in the world.”

  “Natural child …” She corrected with obvious relief. “Well … I …” Seeing that his face gave away no trace of his opinion, she had no choice but to state hers, “I think that the girl is a fool.”

  “And what should become of her? Should she be tossed away, married off, kept at home …?”

  “I …” Helplessly, she played with her hands, “I … it depends, does it not? Would her life be worse at home or better with some … man who is found to marry her? Does she have sisters to be protected? What is the state of her family and will she be harmed with their anger or disappointment?”

  “Fair enough, there are always complications and each case is different, but tossing her on her ear to fend for herself …”

  “Is cruel.”

  “And the baby?”

  “I know what happens to babies.” She said quietly.

  “So attempting to save him, and the girl by some acceptable means, is your choice?”

  “Yes.” She watched him. “What is yours?”

  “The same.” He smiled at the relief in her eyes. “Were you waiting for me to start chastising you?”

  “This conversation is so unexpected; I do not know what to think. Why would you ask me such things?”

  Richard simply continued, “What did you hear about Sommerwald, about the Darcys when they were in residence? Specifically, what did you hear of Miss Cargill?”

  “Oh. I see …” Sophie looked back down at her hands. “It was only after the Harding Darcys left that we learned her name. It was people who would make deliveries to the estate who spotted her … besides Robert, I mean.” Sophie bit her lip and glanced up at him. “The Darcys were such objects of curiosity. They did not attend our church, but were seen with the reverend. They clearly enjoyed exploring the countryside and were so obviously … attached.”

  “They drew the eye even though they avoided socializing? Darcy will love to hear that.” He smiled and then chuckled. “It is fascinating how a couple so private can be so interesting when publicly all they do is gaze lovingly at each other and laugh. Is it so unusual?”

  “Yes, we both know that, Richard.” Sophie held his gaze.

  “Then may we be as interesting as they.” He touched her cheek and nodded. “So they drew attention and people were curious, and any tidbit was dissected. What did they say of the girl?”

  “I did not listen, Mama spoke of it sometimes, but I … I am afraid that I was quite preoccupied for the past few months.” A smile spread over his face. “Well, that pleased you. What is wrong?” Richard’s smile faded and he looked down. “I am starting to know you.” She touched his great scarred hands and he looked up to her. “You can trust me.”

  “Ironic, that.” He said softly as a memory washed over him. Darcy’s voice, defensive, pleading, angry … hopeful … came to him, I begged her to trust me, and she … hesitantly agreed, and demands honesty sooner than later, but she did accept me. Richard shook his head. “Trust, it is all based on trust with them. From the first moments … Her loyalty was to him.”

  “Richard?”

  Straightening, he spoke seriously, “A great many more people than I will have to trust you with this, my dear. This is between you, me, and the Darcys. Absolutely nobody else. Not my family, not yours. Do you understand?” Sophie squeezed his hand and nodded. He entwined their fingers and thought while images of the last year flew through his mind. At last he made a decision, and kissing the ring on her finger he held her eyes. “There is no Miss Cargill. But there is Hope.”

  LOST IN THOUGHT, Darcy considered the conversation at the breakfast table as he walked out to the stables. He had been speaking of his plans to observe the new harvesting machine at work, and while Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley politely listened, Elizabeth’s interest was absolute. That sort of attention was gratifying to him in a way that he could hardly explain, but he found that he craved it nearly as much as he did the touch of her hand upon his skin
. How can her obvious interest in my concerns be as arousing to me as … the sound of her voice, or the sight of her blushing cheek?

  “She is planning something.” He said softly as he remembered the look in her eyes. “She has been so tired, too tired for weeks and this morning she clearly wants me, and where am I going?” He shook his head and looked back at the house. “I want you, too. But I must go.” He thought of what he expected to face that day as he mounted Bruin and his reluctance to share with her his concerns. Would she want to know?

  “Mr. Darcy?”

  Hearing the voice of his stable master, he wrenched his thoughts from his wife and back to his estate, then after answering the man’s questions, set out for the home farm. Passing through a gate, he was rendered speechless to find Elizabeth seated on her new pony, Daisy. With a laugh, she kicked her mount and took off down the drive.

  Darcy’s brow creased and he found his voice as the memory of Anne’s fall flashed through his mind, “Elizabeth!” Immediately he sent his horse into a gallop.

  “Oh my, that is not a happy face.” She observed when he came up alongside her. “Surprise?”

  “Surprise!” He stared. “What the devil are you doing riding?”

  Stung, she instantly became defensive, “I thought that you wanted me to ride, is it not part of my duties as mistress? If my company is unwanted, then say so and I shall go off on my own!” When he did not respond, she gave the pony a little kick.

  The horse started and Darcy was immediately after them, coming alongside and grabbing the bridle. “Whoa …” They came to a halt and the couple stared at each other. “You will not ride alone.”

  “I did not intend to!” Elizabeth glared at him and slid out of the saddle. Landing with a thud on the ground she immediately started walking. “And I will not now. Good day, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “As I am forbidden to ride, I shall walk. And since I will have my own company, I will take my time at it. If you return before me, do not bother to meet me at the door, as I will not be speaking to you.”