The Red Chrysanthemum

by Linda Beutler

  Now they sat beside each other in the Netherfield dining room amid a crush of people. Darcy leaned to her ear. “You look beautiful.”

  Recalling Jane’s comment about her lack of grace when complimented, Elizabeth vowed to improve herself. “Thank you,” she whispered. What would she do without Jane nearby to guide her?

  “Oh god,” Darcy murmured. “I believe Mr Collins is attempting to capture my notice.”

  Elizabeth looked up, following Darcy’s eyes. Her cousin William Collins was indeed trying to attract their attention and, having secured it, began an odd nodding and bobbing of his head toward his wife, Charlotte. “His ministrations are on Charlotte’s behalf, my dear,” Elizabeth whispered to Darcy while smiling politely at her cousin. “I am the victim, not you.”

  Darcy snickered. “You had better see to Charlotte before someone assumes your cousin is having a fit.”

  Elizabeth could not suppress a chuckle and turned to give Darcy an amused but scolding look. “You will get me into trouble, making me laugh at such things. Jane would not approve, and my character is in your hands now.” She rose to her feet, but Darcy stayed her a moment with his hand holding hers.

  “Then we are both in trouble, Mrs Darcy.” He smiled up into her eyes with a smouldering look. “My dearest, loveliest Mrs Darcy.” He kissed her hand.

  Elizabeth was utterly breathless as Charlotte approached. “Oh, Lizzy!” Charlotte’s voice dropped so only Elizabeth could hear it. “There is a gift I must put into your hands before you depart.”

  “But we have opened the beautiful bible from you and my cousin, Charlotte. You needn’t give us anything more.”

  “In this case I am merely the bearer, Lizzy. It is from Rosings Park.”

  Darcy could tell from the look on Elizabeth’s face that Charlotte had murmured something sensational, and he rose to his feet. Charlotte led Elizabeth to the small sitting room the female guests were using for refreshing themselves. Darcy awaited them in the hall.

  Charlotte handed Elizabeth a wrapped box with a card attached. Elizabeth read the card:

  To my new cousin, Elizabeth Darcy,

  Please accept this gift with wishes as warm as the gift itself. You have done me a great service by securing the affections of my Cousin Darcy. I am forever in your debt for freeing us both from an obligation neither of us sought. I wish you every joy.

  Your devoted cousin,

  Anne

  Well I’ll be…! Elizabeth thought. She said, “Could you bring Mr Darcy to me, Charlotte?”

  He entered when Charlotte opened the door and, seeing Elizabeth’s astonishment, started to ask, “What on earth…?” She passed him the card.

  Elizabeth opened the wrapping that covered a thin-sided cedar box. Removing its lid, she pulled out an exquisite wool shawl in muted shades of blue, rust and deep green, softer than anything she had ever felt. Elizabeth looked at Charlotte with wonder. “Did you help her? What wool is this? How…?”

  Charlotte started to laugh. “Steady on, Lizzy!”

  Darcy touched the shawl. “Cashmere! I am impressed.”

  Charlotte explained, “As soon as your aunt received your letter, Mr Darcy, Anne came to the parsonage. She was quite transformed. She was ripe for conspiracy, and the parsonage was the centre of it. I do not think your aunt suspects a thing. But Anne wanted me to wait until today, before you leave, so you could wear it on your journey, Lizzy. She always does worry lest anyone suffer from the cold as she does. I think she will always be fragile, but there is a light of defiance in her eyes now that I think quite healthy. Perhaps it will spread.”

  “How will we thank her?” Elizabeth embraced herself with the shawl.

  Darcy looked about the room and seeing no materials for writing, excused himself and went down the hall to Bingley’s study. He returned in a few moments to show Elizabeth the quick note he had penned and signed from them both.

  Dearest Cousin Anne,

  We thank you as much for your kind words as for the glorious shawl. We hope our appreciation of it will warm you from afar. When next we meet, we shall have so much to tell you. Be well.

  Your loving cousins,

  Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy

  Charlotte folded the letter into her reticule. “It is killing Mr Collins to keep this from Lady Catherine. He expects thunderbolts at any moment, but he is truly on your side, Lizzy, however it may appear.”

  “Oh, Charlotte!” Elizabeth gave Charlotte a long embrace.

  “Now might be a good time to sneak away, Elizabeth,” Darcy said as they left the sitting room behind Charlotte. He was carrying the shawl in its box and handed it to a footman to place in their carriage.

  Elizabeth waited for him in the entry but knew their leave-taking could not be as stealthy as Darcy hoped. Jane suspected such subterfuge, and soon the portico of Netherfield was teaming with friends and family. It took another half hour before they were truly away.

  Scarlet Lychnis

  “Sunbeaming eyes”

  Chapter 15

  Longbourn to Coventry

  Fitzwilliam Darcy stayed on the gentlemen’s side of the carriage, sitting across from Elizabeth, as the smallest Darcy barouche rolled away from the environs of Meryton. He gazed at his bride fondly as she watched familiar terrain recede. She had removed her wedding bonnet, and it sat on the seat next to Darcy. The colours Anne chose for the shawl accented the russet highlights of Elizabeth’s hair. Even in the dark coach, she seemed illuminated by the late autumn sunshine. She was still as radiant as she had been in the church.

  Elizabeth smiled as she finally settled her eyes upon her husband. “If you would not be too scandalized, Fitzwilliam, I would have you join me when we get beyond the Meryton neighbourhood. We will be taking a different route to Derbyshire than I have been before, I think?”

  “You now present me with a quandary, Elizabeth.” His voice was low and gentle. “Do I stay here where I can admire how lovely you are, or do I take you in my arms as we ride along and tell you what we are seeing? I own I cannot decide which I prefer more.”

  “How can you form an opinion when you have never ridden with me in your arms?”

  He laughed. “You are quite right. And I have a well-witnessed history of gazing upon you.” With a quick lithe movement, Darcy sat next to Elizabeth. “How capacious is that lap robe?”

  She chuckled. “Ample enough.”

  Darcy opened his great coat and extended his arm so Elizabeth could lean next to him inside it. She covered his legs with the lap robe, tucking it under his thigh as if she were ministering to one of the Gardiner children. She settled under the shawl, and Darcy’s other arm soon snuggled under it, on top of her arms. The scent of lavender wafting from her hair tickled his nose.

  “Mrs Darcy, this is, in every way, better than sitting by myself.” He kissed her temple.

  She turned her head away with a smile, giving his lips access to her ear and neck. Darcy leaned to kiss the little earring perched upon her earlobe, then the smooth bare skin of her neck. Elizabeth shivered in his arms. “Are you chilled?” he whispered, although he knew from the temperature of her skin against his lips that she was enticingly warm.

  “No, sir, I am…” Elizabeth started to reply. His kisses upon her neck were causing her heart to pound and produced the frisson of pleasure that inspired Darcy’s question.

  “You are…” he coaxed.

  “I believe, sir, I am happy.”

  Darcy’s chest swelled and he embraced her more tightly. “Elizabeth,” he murmured. She turned her head and leaned against his shoulder. He rested his cheek upon her coiffed hair.

  “We do not go into Oxfordshire, sir?”

  “We will make for Coventry and spend the night, although it will be well after dark before we arrive. The inn there is comfortable. In the morning, we will enter the main road to Derby, and you will start to remember the country. Coventry to Derby to Bakewell, through Kympton to home. It will be a long day tomorrow.”<
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  Elizabeth blushed to think just how very long the day would be, and what was in store at the end of it. She was glad Darcy could not see her face. She swallowed. “So at last I shall see Kympton!”

  “Indeed, but there is no great charm in it. It serves as the market town for Pemberley. Lambton is the prettier village, for it has cultivated its character to appeal to visitors of the Peaks. It is something of a gateway to and fro for the tourists — well, of course, this you know. My family has had more occasion to come and go through Kympton, but we encourage our guests to approach Pemberley from Lambton as you did.”

  Their conversation continued for some miles until there was a silence, and Darcy realized Elizabeth was napping. Elizabeth Bennet is asleep in my arms, he mused, smiling to himself. And we are married. Soon he was asleep, too.

  * * *

  Darcy returned to awareness; he noticed the darkening, cloudy sky. He could not consult his pocket watch without disturbing the still-dozing Elizabeth but thought he had not been asleep for too long and sensed the loss of light was the result of travelling into a storm. He straightened his neck, which had a crick, and suddenly realized the hand under Elizabeth’s cosy shawl was reposing upon her breast, albeit over her pelisse. Darcy! What a rake you are when you sleep! Slowly and carefully, he lifted his hand and returned it to lie on her arms, which were crossed at her waist.

  Within moments of his movement, Elizabeth startled awake. She shook her head and sat more upright. “I was dreaming,” she said, smiling to herself. “We were in the Netherfield library, together upon the settee in front of the fire.” She looked at Darcy, who was entranced by her sleepy countenance.

  “Are you always this pretty when you awaken?”

  “Good gracious, no, sir! I should warn you, I look a fright in the morning.”

  Darcy chuckled. “Madam, I do not believe you. I expect you judge yourself too harshly.”

  “That is exactly the proper response for a new husband. I am proud of you!” She laughed at him.

  Darcy leaned his face down, kissing her smiling lips, and followed his inclination to pull her into his lap.

  “Are you happy, Fitzwilliam?” she asked shyly.

  “Indeed, Elizabeth.” He squeezed her a little. “I am happy. I plan to hold you all the way to Coventry.”

  “Even when we stop to change the horses?”

  “We have a picnic hamper from Netherfield under the other seat. I was advised it would be prudent as we would have little appetite at the breakfast, although I observed we both ate more than Bingley and Jane.”

  Elizabeth blushed to think Jane and Bingley would be having a normal wedding night at Netherfield in a few hours. Her eyes searched Darcy’s countenance. He seemed mirthful. She asked, “You have not changed your mind?”

  “About what, my love?”

  “Tonight. Our wedding night…” Her blushes continued, and she looked away. “I am sure that is why Jane was nervous.”

  Darcy smiled mischievously. “Has napping with me so filled you with desire that you would rather we not wait to be at home?”

  “Mr Darcy…” She turned, shaking her head at him. “I am well aware of the liberties you attempted whilst I slept. But as we are married, it was not really a liberty, I suppose. It is you, I fear, who may not be able to wait.”

  “I will have you know that I, like you, was asleep when my hand moved.”

  She nodded exaggeratedly with an arch look. “Oh, I am sure it was all most innocently done. The chill when you moved your hand away awakened me.”

  “I can easily warm you again…” Darcy looked hopeful and started to move his hands to her bosom.

  Elizabeth squirmed and giggled, sliding herself off his lap, back onto the padded bench seat, blocking his hands with the shawl. “Now you have made me giggle, and I do pride myself on not giggling like other girls. Unforgivable, sir!”

  “If you would not resist me, you would not giggle. But if I may say, Elizabeth, you have a pleasing giggle. It does not alter my opinion of you.”

  “My concern is my opinion of myself, sir. I am quite certain I have your good opinion,” she teased.

  He laughed. “You are very sure of yourself, Mrs Darcy.”

  “That is because I am Mrs Darcy. Mrs Darcy must be sure of herself on every occasion.” She looked at him, and he was smiling at her. He is so handsome when he smiles. She turned her face up and closed her eyes.

  “You look as if you are sure I would like to kiss you, Mrs Darcy.”

  “What I would like you to know is that I would like to be kissed, sir.”

  “Ah, I see. That makes me even happier. But you now have leave to kiss me; you needn’t wait for me to read your thoughts.” Darcy kissed Elizabeth gently, teasing her lips with his tongue.

  They rode for another hour, kissing and laughing, before the coach slowed to a stop in a little village. “Never have I enjoyed such a pleasant carriage ride, Mrs Darcy,” her husband murmured in her ear as he handed her down, and Elizabeth was lead to a presentable little inn to stretch her legs and refresh her person whilst the horses were changed. Once the coach was on the road again, they ate from the picnic hamper. Elizabeth was surprised to find she was ravenous once presented with food. Darcy sat opposite her as they ate, but as soon as the hamper was stowed away, sat next to her again.

  “Did you bring a book to read?” he asked.

  “You know how I love to read, and I feel the flaw in my constitution very keenly that I am not able to read much in a moving carriage. I can look at a map or pictures, but to read to pass the time, I become quite ill. It is vexing, but it cannot be helped.”

  “This is not so very great a flaw, dearest. I shall happily converse with you instead.”

  Just after they left the village, the clouds made good their threat of rain, but this did not last long and proved the air was warmer as they travelled north, away from the clear, freezing weather in Hertfordshire. The area had not had a recent rain, so the road was not much muddied by the current shower.

  They talked of matters great and small: their discussion of the situation in France lead Darcy to reveal something of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s history, which in turn lead to a discussion of Georgiana’s childhood. Darcy mentioned some details about his parents, which steered the talk to Pemberley, and Elizabeth asked Darcy many questions about the history of the house.

  As Darcy expected, Elizabeth had a reasonable grasp of foreign affairs — they interested her — and her questions about his family showed a perceptive awareness of him, which he found pleasing, for it gives any man in love pleasure to know his beloved has been observant of his person and character. She asked him about the grand tour he had taken at the end of his days at Cambridge — where he had gone, what he had seen — although Darcy suspected there was some unspoken, underlying question, which she seemed occasionally poised to ask.

  In truth, Elizabeth overheard a conversation between Bingley and Darcy as she passed outside the Pemberley billiard room the day before Jane arrived. She had dirtied her hands in the conservatory and sought a washroom. She was returning to Georgiana when she heard the male voices. What she heard caused her to pause outside the doors, which she knew was very wrong, but acknowledging her inappropriate curiosity about a private conversation did not stop her from listening.

  Bingley was concerned that his tour of Europe, just three years prior, had not yielded the sort of lessons for a gentleman’s intimate conduct, as he put it, as Darcy’s had. Bingley worried he would not strike the proper tone once alone with Jane; he wished to be confident. When Bingley asked Darcy to recommend a brothel in London where he might gain some knowledge quickly, Elizabeth was appalled. Darcy suggested a book instead, saying, “I know of nowhere in London to send you. When I came back from the Continent, there was an establishment recommended to me, but you know my nature, Bingley. I had a horror of meeting men of my acquaintance there. I have no current knowledge.”

  “Are you saying the gossip in the
society pages has been entirely fabricated? That you have no particular penchant for blonde-haired, blue-eyed actresses?”

  “Indeed, I am. I do not care for the temperament of actresses. If I marry properly to a lady with a nature capable of feeling passionate affection, I shall never have want of a mistress.”

  Elizabeth blushed furiously, willing her feet to withdraw, but her ears told her feet to stay exactly where they were.

  “Darcy!” Bingley sounded scandalized. “You have changed what you require in a wife from when last we spoke of it at Netherfield?”

  “I did not understand myself then as well as I do now. I have learnt lessons of which I was sorely in need. I have come to believe a felicitous marriage and a socially advantageous marriage may likely be mutually exclusive.”

  “Because you have fallen in love with the daughter of a mere country squire, as have I, but now you must reconcile your ideals to what your heart desires. My inclinations suffer no such qualms.” Bingley said this as a statement of fact.

  “My hope, Bingley, is that a lady who has despised me with such justified determination may come to love me with the same degree of vehemence.”