by Wells, Linda
“Harwick.”
He held up his hand. “No, I did not mean to question any violations of propriety by either of you.”
Darcy recovered from his embarrassment and then examined his companion. “Then, may I ask, why are you interested in Miss Bennet for your wife? She is as dissimilar from Miss Elizabeth as night is from day. She is fair, quiet, docile …I am afraid that I do not understand.”
“I hope that you never do. Do you not grasp it, man? I can never replace my Ellen, and to try to do so with her twin would be an insult to her memory. I am purposely choosing someone unlike her.”
Understanding Harwick’s reasoning he nodded. “You have no expectation of love.”
“None. I hope that we get along tolerably. I realized quickly that Miss Bennet does not belong in society and would be better off at home, she is beautiful, she will provide me with pleasant company, and most importantly care for my girls and hopefully give me an heir. It is all that I want. If we become friends, I will be happy, and she will be treated well.” He leaned forward and said slowly. “I had my love, and I am cognizant that my actions will save Miss Bennet from a certain poor fate by marrying her and hopefully solving the disposition of my estate that I cannot ignore. However, her family is a problem. If it is truly as bad as it seems, I may at the least rethink choosing Miss Bennet, and if we marry, I will not allow her relations, aside from Miss Elizabeth and the Gardiners, to come to my home and influence my children. I will not visit their home either. I will not ban my wife from visiting or writing, but I will not allow them my sanction. The remaining sisters, they are …”
“Uneducated and rather frightening in their ignorance of proper behaviour and discourse.”
“Does their father have any plans for them?”
“I was considering offering to school them.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Harwick cried. “Why should you clean up another man’s mistakes?”
“Why should his children suffer for them?” Darcy said angrily. “I witnessed the girls embracing Elizabeth where her mother barely acknowledged her presence. Their behaviour was horrendous, but they showed Elizabeth affection. They were the only people in that household who did, in my opinion.”
“They may be too old, you know.” Harwick sat back and said thoughtfully. “The damage could be too ingrained.”
Darcy sighed and nodded. “Yes, that has occurred to me, but I would feel worse for not attempting to help, at least.”
Harwick looked at him sternly. “I maintain that this is not your business, it is their father’s.”
“He has been wholly indifferent up to now. Our Misses Bennet are the product of attention to a first child and the determination of the second, as well as the intervention of the Gardiners.”
“Mr. Bennet, how did he treat you?”
Darcy’s face expressed his growing irritation. “It was odd, he baited me, seeking to laugh at my discomfort and even tried to deny my request for Miss Elizabeth’s hand. It was ridiculous and perplexing.”
“And you tolerated it because you are in love with her.” Harwick smiled to see Darcy’s assenting nod. “I do not have that salient fact to keep me from walking away. If I were so treated, I would have abandoned the notion and departed, leaving her behind. There is no sentiment blinding me.”
“Will you visit Longbourn?
“I must meet the man eventually.” Harwick rubbed his jaw.
Darcy looked off to stare at the Pemberley landscape as he thought. “Perhaps …You truly do not want to meet Mrs. Bennet or the girls, it would harden you irrevocably from Miss Bennet, I promise you. If Mr. Bennet was brought here to London, off of his own turf, he might be more reasonable. You could conduct your business with him, and ignore the rest if that is your desire.”
Harwick smiled grimly and glanced around. “You mean show him what his behaviour nearly lost Miss Elizabeth? Intimidate the man?”
“Yes. Perhaps show him your home or,” Darcy laughed softly, “introduce him to my uncle the Earl.”
“Ah, that just might do it as well. I like this idea of yours, Darcy. Would he be willing to come?”
“As much as I dislike the thought of spending any time with Mr. Bennet, I will make the invitation and the arrangements, and tender the offer to educate the girls, and pay for it.”
“I will aid you with that if you have determined that he will not pay himself.”
Darcy’s head shook emphatically. “No, no, I will take it on. You have two daughters to educate.”
Harwick sighed at his stubborn companion. “You have a sister, and future children.”
“I will not give in to this, sir.” Darcy said quietly.
Harwick smiled and reached out to shake his hand. “Fine then, I will do my part by intimidating the fool. I imagine that your Miss Elizabeth will be very grateful for your offer.”
“I do not wish for her gratitude.”
“Spoken like a man in love.” Harwick said approvingly. “Well done.”
DARCY’S CARRIAGE ARRIVED at the Gardiner home and he saw Elizabeth disappear from the front window. By the time he had exited and was approaching the steps, the front door was open and she was waiting, a smile of welcome lit her face and she fairly bounced with anticipation to reach out for him. He laughed when she finally touched his sleeve and hugged his arm to her bosom. “I believe that you missed me!”
“Terribly.” She sighed dramatically. “Where have you been all day?”
He touched the long curls resting on her neck, and whispered affectionately, “I did have some business to address, my impatient love.”
“What could possibly be more important than me?” She raised her brows and he laughed to see her eyes dance. “I am sorely disappointed in you!”
Darcy marvelled at her ease. “You are a woman transformed today; you are brimming with confidence and good humour. It is breathtaking and makes me feel so happy. ”
“It is only that I am finally permitting myself to enjoy the happiness that you bring to me, sir.” She said softly.
“Please do not call me sir.” He whispered against her ear. “Nobody calls me by name, and I love how it sounds on your lips.
“But …it is not proper. I should call you Mr. Darcy, at least in public.”
“When we are private then.” He whispered. “And I hope that we have that opportunity before I depart. I need to kiss you again. I promise to be circumspect.” Elizabeth blushed and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. Darcy brushed his lips over her hair. “You smell so sweet, dearest.”
“I think that you missed me just as much as I missed you.”
“To know that your feelings are as deep as mine is gratifying indeed.” Again his lips brushed her hair. “Dearest, would you gift me with one of your curls?” He bent his head to see her blush deepening. “I wish to carry you with me.”
“If I may have the same from you.” She caught his delighted smile and nestled back against his shoulder.
“Mr. Darcy, may I take your hat?” The housekeeper appeared and he straightened, handing her his things then turned to Elizabeth to find her smiling at him shyly. Claiming his hand, she led him back to the sitting room with the rest of the family. They made their greetings and he took a seat next to Elizabeth and the couple simply sat and smiled at each other until Mrs. Gardiner and Jane could not hold back their amusement. “Oh what a picture you make! If I had my crayons, I would like to capture those smiles for posterity!”
“I make no apologies, Aunt, I feel such elation, and I have no intention of hiding it.” She turned to face Darcy and tilted her head. “Now, tell me what kept you from my side today. What was this so important business of yours?”
“Ah, I can see that I will never be able to keep secrets from you.” He laughed softly to see her nod emphatically and continued. “You know one of the reasons already; I delivered Georgiana to Matlock House and of course informed my aunt and uncle of your father’s blessing. Prior to that Bingley vis
ited; and I told him our news, and he wishes us great joy. I also had important letters to write. One to my solicitor to prepare your settlement,” he noted her looking down and biting her lip. “Then one to the Times to announce our engagement to the world,” he smiled to see her smile to her clasped hands. “Another to Mrs. Reynolds, our housekeeper at Pemberley, to announce our news and orders to begin preparing the house for its new mistress,” here her smile was replaced with her teeth biting hard down on her lip, and he touched her hands to reassure her. “And finally a letter to my Aunt Catherine and Cousin Anne, to announce our happiness.”
“Will they be happy with our happiness?” Elizabeth asked softly.
“No, Miss Elizabeth they will not. My aunt filled my cousin’s head with the delusion that I would one day marry her and join her estate to mine. I informed her quite strongly that it was never to be, and she seemingly accepted that, but it will not prevent her from feeling the disappointment when our engagement is presented as incontrovertible fact.”
“I see.”
“Lizzy, not everyone is going to accept you, it is to be expected. You will simply have to learn to behave more civilly than they when in their presence, and to avoid the possibility of public confrontation as much as possible.” Mrs. Gardiner turned to Darcy. “Are you in your aunt and cousin’s company often, sir?”
“No, I rarely see them. I visit every Easter. My cousin has a weak constitution and my aunt prefers to keep her at their estate in Kent.” He smiled and gave Elizabeth’s hand a squeeze. “Aunt Catherine’s vitriol will come in letters. I have never known her to rouse herself to actually make an appearance. I wonder though, it could be interesting to see the two of you clash.”
“You are encouraging me to argue with your aunt?” Elizabeth stared.
“No, of course not, but you are both stubborn women. I can see a battle of the titans brewing someday.” He smiled at her surprised expression. “Well, I see how formidable you are, even if you do not.”
“Mr. Darcy, I have been attempting to rein in my tongue and here you are actually encouraging me?”
Darcy cleared his throat to distract himself from the enticing flash of passion that had appeared in her eyes and spotted a pair of tiny scissors lying next to Jane’s embroidery hoop. “Miss Bennet, may I borrow your scissors for a moment? And perhaps a bit of silk?”
“Of course, Mr. Darcy.” She snipped a length of blue silk and handed it to him along with the scissors and gave her aunt a look of confusion. Mrs. Gardiner was smiling at Elizabeth, who was again blushing. Darcy touched her curls, looking for just the one he wanted, and chose a shiny ebony tress that rested on her shoulder, carefully tied the silk around it, then snipped. He tenderly wrapped it in his handkerchief.
“Thank you.” He said softly and smiled when Elizabeth held out her hand expectantly. He gave over the scissors and bent his head to her, closing his eyes as her fingers gently searched for the perfect curl. Elizabeth laughed and he lifted his head to see her happily admiring the sunlight on his hair. “What are your plans for that, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I have a locket upstairs. I think that I should place this within before I lose it. Excuse me.” She left the room and Darcy noticed Mrs. Gardiner watching him.
“What are your plans for your treasure, sir?”
“I will have a ring made from it.” He saw Jane looking at him contemplatively. “I have noticed men wearing such things and I have hoped to have such a token of Miss Elizabeth for some time. Now that we are engaged …”
“It is entirely proper.” Mrs. Gardiner nodded and looked up to see Elizabeth returning with a small locket in her hand. “Does it not fit, dear?”
“No.” She said sadly. “I will have to think of something else.”
“I will purchase you a new locket; perhaps that is something we could do tomorrow?” Darcy offered and smiled to see her surprise. “Well I was chastised for being away from you too much today, was I not? Perhaps Georgiana would like to come along. I know that she wishes for more time with you.”
“That would be wonderful! Thank you!” She looked to see Jane’s attention then back to Darcy.
He noticed it as well and smiled to her. “Mr. Harwick paid me a call this morning; he is looking forward to dinner with you this evening. He has accepted my invitation to the theatre next week, and he made a suggestion for an excursion for us all, one that I have managed to avoid taking for all of my adult life.” He glanced around the room and sighed. “Mr. Harwick suggested that we visit Vauxhall Gardens one evening.”
“OH!!” Elizabeth cried and turned eagerly to Jane. “I always wished to go there!”
“Mr. Harwick suspected that you would enjoy the spectacle, Miss Elizabeth. I see that he was correct.” Darcy shook his head, and looked at Jane. “He thought that you would enjoy the music, Miss Bennet.”
“Mr. Harwick is very thoughtful.” Jane said appreciatively. “May I ask why you have avoided the pleasure gardens?”
“I am not fond of crowds, but I know of no particular entertainment that is scheduled so hopefully we will have a pleasant evening that is not a crush.” He looked to Elizabeth. “And please, do not wear anything that might be attractive to a thief.”
“Really?” She smiled widely and he started to chuckle in disbelief. “What else might we see?”
“I will let you interrogate our host for the evening. Mrs. Gardiner, my cousins Mr. and Mrs. Singleton will be coming with us to serve as our chaperones.” He saw her raised brow and was relieved to see her nod.
“Very well sir, they are married, and more likely to enjoy the experience than Mr. Gardiner and myself.”
“Thank you madam.” He bowed his head and turned back to see Elizabeth’s dancing eyes. “May I have a word with you privately, Miss Elizabeth? I would like to discuss our wedding date, now that the engagement is about to be announced, we should make a choice.”
“Aunt?”
“You may use Mr. Gardiner’s study; he has a calendar on his desk for you to consult.” Mrs. Gardiner looked at Darcy pointedly. “I expect this will not be a protracted decision.”
“We will not be long away, madam.” He stood and offered Elizabeth his hand to rise. They walked tranquilly down the hallway and into the study. Darcy followed her in, closing the door almost completely then turned to find her waiting for him. “Dearest Elizabeth.” He slipped his arms around her waist as she did the same to him. She looked up as he bent down to tenderly touch her lips, and drew away to see her eyes closed and her mouth parted, waiting for more. He closed his eyes, remembering his resolve to behave, then felt Elizabeth’s lips gently caress his. He drew a shaking breath, and drowned in the pleasure of her tongue tentatively entering his mouth. With a moan, he took control and deepened the kiss. Darcy’s arms embraced her waist and shoulders, so that the entire length of her body was bound to his. Even through the restrictions of their clothing they could imagine and feel what lay beneath. The ardent kiss gradually slowed, and transformed into passion of a different nature. Their embrace was not so tight, their hands moved freely to express love through caresses, and their kisses became a soft endless exchange, filled with so much promise for long nights safe within each other’s arms. Finally they parted, and gazing into each other’s eyes, smiled between kisses. “I have failed again.” Darcy whispered huskily.
“I am glad of it.”
Darcy laughed quietly and touched her hair. “I think that the only solution to this problem is to marry, so that I may kiss you without guilt.”
“Do you still feel guilt, Fitzwilliam?”
“Well, not quite as much as before …”
Elizabeth’s laugh filled him with contentment and he could not hold back from kissing her in response. “When shall we marry?”
“Would seven weeks suit you? Shall we say the eighteenth of July? That would be time enough to order your wedding clothes, and then we could leave for Pemberley at the end of July as a married couple. I do not wish to wait for Mi
chaelmas as your uncle suggested. I see no reason to wait for anything at all.”
“Neither do I.” Elizabeth settled her head on his chest and listened to his heart. “Where?”
“I leave that choice to you, my love. Do you wish to be married from Longbourn?”
“No.” She whispered. “I do not, and I think that I would prefer something very simple and private. To marry at home would mean my mother putting her stamp on the ceremony, and … It would be an incentive for her to crow over you and claim that she was the reason we married. Nothing could be further from the truth. I … I want to be happy on my wedding day, not mortified.”
“I understand.” He said softly and kissed her hair, deciding that now was not the time to speak of his plans for her father. “We will marry from London, in my church or your uncle’s church, or even in the parlour at Darcy House.” She nodded and he whispered in her ear. “It does not matter as long as we marry. I want to take you home.”
“Your home frightens me.”
“Our home, and may I tell you a secret? It frightens me, too.” He saw her surprise and he shrugged. “I have left it all to Mrs. Reynolds and concentrated on the estate. I was planning to begin learning the ins and outs of the household this winter.”
“How convenient for you to marry and therefore avoid the task altogether.” She laughed and he kissed her nose.
“You found me out!” Darcy hugged her to his chest and did not notice the door opening.
“Children, Mr. Harwick has arrived. Shall we join the party?” They straightened to see Mr. Gardiner had come home and was watching them expectantly.
They passed him silently and once again, Darcy and Mr. Gardiner exchanged glances. This time Darcy did not feel abashed. He had just set his wedding date; kissing Elizabeth was mandatory. Entering the sitting room they found Jane sitting next to Harwick, holding a nosegay of purple violets and smiling happily.
