by Maria Grace
Below, Lady Matlock screeched orders at the scrambling staff. Her own maid and Lord Matlock’s valet stood with her, issuing their own instructions to their juniors. They turned to look at the odd parade down the stairs and the screeching stopped.
The footmen set her down ever so gently, holding her arms until she arranged the walking stick to bear her weight.
“You! You! This is your fault. You are a disgrace to this noble home and a disgrace to your family. You do not deserve to bear the name of Darcy. He should have set you up under his protection, if he had to have you, and established a proper mistress in this house.” She pointed, her hands shaking.
“Mrs. Reynolds, direct the staff to their duties. We will be in the parlor.”
“I am going nowhere with you! You are an affront … a … an embarrassment …”
“Elizabeth!” Darcy rushed to her side. “What are you doing here? How did you get downstairs?”
“I heard the commotion. Pray come, Lady Matlock. We might discuss—”
“I have no desire to have any kind of a discussion with any of you.”
Aunt Gardiner glided down the steps and stopped beside Lady Matlock. “Not all discussions are calm or comfortable, but no doubt a woman of your station comprehends the need for a family to settle the inevitable little disagreements in a private, civilized fashion. Elizabeth?”
“Indeed, pray join us. Mrs. Reynolds, send a tea tray.”
“Yes, madam.” Mrs. Reynolds clearly fought back a smile.
Several young maids hung close to the walls, straining to hear the conversation. No doubt they would be the center of much conversation below stairs tonight.
Aunt Gardiner stood close, ready to catch her if she lost her balance. Darcy took up the other side. They slowly paraded to the parlor, Lady Matlock quietly fuming behind them.
Darcy shut the door.
Lady Matlock strutted around the room, as if surveying her territory. But the room was designed to suit Lady Anne, not her, and she did not settle easily. She peeked at the shelf of bric-a-brac, surveyed the bookcase, and finally came to rest on the soft couch near the middle of room. Perhaps she intended to hold court.
“Now that we have a modicum of privacy, perhaps the discussion may continue in a more polite fashion.” Aunt Gardiner sat near Lady Matlock.
“I will not stay here to watch my nephew make a fool of himself and his family as he revels in his low connections.”
Elizabeth’s hand shook so hard, she almost lost grip on her walking sticks, but Aunt Gardiner did not even blink. How did she do it?
“And I will not harbor a woman with such clear designs against those under my protection.” Darcy stomped toward them.
“Designs? Stop speaking nonsense!”
“You are the one threatening to promise my sister to the son of a Scottish lord and send my wife—”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped.
So did Lady Matlock’s. “What nonsense are you blathering about?”
“Georgiana said your last letter—”
“My last letter made mention that a Miss Milken of our acquaintance has been engaged to a Scottish lord. I merely noted Georgiana should be so lucky as to secure such a marriage.”
Darcy’s brow knotted and he leaned back. “You were not contriving to send my wife to Scotland?”
“I may not approve of your choice, Darcy, but that is below me. Entirely disgraceful.”
“Pray Aunt, would you fetch Georgiana to us?” Elizabeth fought to keep her voice soft and even.
“Indeed, I would hear it from her own mouth.” Lady Matlock crossed her arms and glowered.
Aunt slipped out. If anyone could manage a sullen girl, it was her.
Darcy edged a little closer to Elizabeth. “Pray, would it not be better for you to sit down? It would not be profitable for you to overtax yourself.”
Darcy brought a chair toward her and helped her sit. He placed the walking sticks just out of reach.
She raised an eyebrow toward him.
“I will assist you when you wish to rise again.”
He had that look of determination in his eye, the one there was little point in arguing with.
Aunt Gardiner returned, holding an ashen Georgiana’s elbow, and presented her to Darcy.
Darcy stood just behind Elizabeth and cleared his throat.
“Georgiana, there are some things which we must discuss.” Elizabeth cut him off. “Tell us of your Aunt Matlock’s most recent letter.”
She covered her mouth and stammered something clearly not intended to be understood.
“What did you tell him I wrote?” Lady Matlock stomped to stand nose to nose with Georgiana.
“I … I … that is …”
“That I would marry you off to some Scot, sight unseen? That I was willing to send her away with you? Falsehoods? That is entirely below you. It is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful!”
“But, I, that is not what I said, not what I meant.”
Darcy stood beside Lady Matlock. “It is precisely what you told me, Georgiana. Precisely.”
“But that is not what I meant!”
“What else could you have meant? No, you intentionally misled me, but I cannot understand to what purpose.”
“Pray, do not be angry with me. I did not mean that you should believe—”
“Stop it.” Elizabeth said sharply. “This is not the behavior we expect of a girl nearly grown. Certainly not one of your standing. If your word cannot be trusted, then we have failed—”
“I have failed.” Darcy glowered, a truly frightening expression. “I have failed in raising you. When did you learn to lie? How long have you been lying to me?”
“All you do is criticize me!” Georgiana pumped her fists at her sides. “And remind me of every mistake I have made. I am so tired of being told I have disappointed all of you, of how I am unworthy and do not deserve the kindness I have been shown.”
“Neither your brother nor I say those things to you. I am coming to doubt that your Aunt is as apt repeat those things either.”
“But … but …” she turned in a little circle, as though trying to see all of them at once.
“It is painful to be reminded of our failings, to be sure. But there has been no shortage of grace offered you. It would seem either you do not believe you have been forgiven or do not believe that what you have done is so overwhelmingly bad as to have earned you such censure. Or perhaps you do not wish to change. In any case, humility is necessary for all of us, especially for a lady.”
“I said I am sorry. What do you want of me?” She stamped softly.
“To stop behaving like a petulant little girl,” Aunt Matlock said.
“I am not.”
“Yes you are. I had first thought Lady Matlock too harsh when she said that of you, but I confess I was wrong and she was right. And Lady Matlock, I apologize to you for disbelieving you on the matter.”
Lady Matlock blinked several times.
“You see, you are criticizing me.” Georgiana sniffled and dragged the back of her hand across her eyes.
“Stop it right now. I have three younger sisters and I well recognize what you are doing. We will have no more of it. I shall inform Mrs. Annesley to correct such behavior in the future.”
“You are not going to let her speak to me like this, are you brother?”
Darcy raised his hands and extended them to Elizabeth. “She is mistress of this house and I defer to her regarding the children of the household.”
“I am not a child.”
“You are acting like one and will be treated like one until you prove to us otherwise.” From the corner of her eye, Elizabeth caught Darcy’s nod. “To do so, you must stop hiding in your room and fulfill your duties and responsibilities. I will not have you continuing to shirk what is required of you.”
“You will begin immediately.” Darcy cut Georgiana off before she could protest. “No more meals in your room. If you do not wish to join us, y
ou will not have a tray sent to you.”
Elizabeth pushed up on the arms of the chair. Darcy handed her the walking sticks.
“Your brother is quite correct. Be sure we will deal with the issue of your falsehoods later, and you will face punishment for those as well. Go to your room and think about what you have done and what would be an appropriate penance for you to offer for your behavior. You are dismissed, Georgiana.”
“No, that is not fair.”
“I quite agree. That is entirely fitting.” Lady Matlock moved to Elizabeth’s side.
“Come with me,” Aunt Gardiner took Georgiana’s elbow and half-led, half-dragged her away.
Lady Matlock sniffed. “I must say, Mrs. Darcy, growing up with four sisters seems to have given you a way with dealing with young ladies. Perhaps you will be to Georgiana’s benefit after all.”
“Thank you, Lady Matlock.”
“I hardly know what to make of her right now.” Darcy raked his fingers through his hair.
“I fear we have not discovered the end of her falsehoods. I must ask you, sir,” Elizabeth looked up at Darcy. “Did you give Georgiana permission to leave off planning the picnic or that she could keep to her room entirely?”
“Not at all. She was extremely unsettled by,” he turned to his aunt, “your very unexpected arrival. I gave her leave to keep to her room on that day but no more. ”
Lady Matlock huffed and ruffled her feathers.
“When she took to keeping to her rooms after that, I knew not what to do.”
“I see.” Elizabeth looked at her hands. “I have been operating under a number of misunderstandings.”
Darcy looked at her, eyes wide. “I believe we need a moment, Aunt, if you please.”
Lady Matlock muttered under her breath, but left.
Chapter 7
Darcy and Elizabeth stared at each other. He helped her to the couch and sat with her.
She sat very straight and stared at her hands. He reached for her hand.
Pray, let her not pull it away.
“Elizabeth, I fear that there are a great many misunderstandings between us right now.”
“I … I believe you are quite correct.”
“Fitzwilliam brought it to my attention, that mayhap I offended you with the orders I gave the staff regarding my aunt and uncle’s visit.”
“It is your house and your family. It is your right to do here as you see fit.”
“I failed to consider your decisions and your efforts, taking charge of what was your responsibility.”
She shrugged and turned away.
“Pray, look at me.”
“I cannot.”
“I have hurt you.”
“I am sorry I have disappointed you. I will improve. I have been studying, and I will make you proud as a proper mistress of your estate. I am sorry that I have … have failed in my early attempts, but pray, do not lose faith in me. I will …” Her voice cracked.
He gripped her hand tightly. “How could you think such a thing of me?”
“You say so little, I understand you by your actions. What else was I to believe when you ordered menus changed and rooms rearranged, and it seemed you disregarded my instructions to Georgiana?”
“You might have believed my aunt’s arrival sent me into a panic.”
“I have never known you to panic, much less at something so trivial as the arrival of guests.”
“Uncle and Aunt Matlock are hardly typical or trivial guests.”
She snickered. Was he trying to be humorous? The sincerity in his eyes suggested not.
“I have never had a proper mistress in my home until now. The staff has always turned to me in such situations. I began handing out instructions without recalling that there was another, far better qualified than myself to deal with the matter.”
“But I am not.”
“Yes, you are. I might know my family’s preferences, but you are far better equipped to manage the household and my sister. I should have considered that, and consulted with you on the matters.”
“I would have given way to your preferences. It all would have turned out the same. What difference how we get to that place?”
“You would not have spent these weeks avoiding me and not speaking to me. Worse, I fear your injury is the result of—”
“Of my foolishness, sir. My own foolishness.”
“You are no fool, Elizabeth.” He caressed the crest of her cheek with his fingertips.
She leaned into his touch. How long had it been since she had done so?
“Yes, I am. I should have come to you with my grievances. I allowed my pride to govern my reactions. You are no ogre. I was far too ready to believe I knew your thoughts and feelings on the matter. It all seemed so obvious—and so wrong.”
“I am sorry it is easy to believe so badly of me.” He cradled her cheek in his palm and caught a hot trickle with his thumb.
“I am ashamed I thought as I did. You have proven yourself a better man than that.” She laid her hand over his. “I suppose Georgiana is not the only one who needs to learn a bit of humility.”
“I did little better. I was so entrenched in my own habits. I never stopped to think about how things are different now, how they must be different. I overstepped myself, and I am most heartily sorry.”
“I, too.”
“Do you have any idea how I missed you those days you locked yourself in your room? Pray, do not ever do that to me again.”
“I did not enjoy it either. I have been so very lonely.”
“As have I.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I fear, I do not do very well on my own any more. Do not leave me to myself, Elizabeth, I need you.”
“I was miserable, thinking I had disappointed you, when all I desire is to make you proud, and happy that you married as you did.”
“I am and always will be.”
She closed her eyes and leaned into him, warm and soft, lips so close to his. Her warmth suffused through him.
What was a man to do with that?
He leaned nearer still, and she closed the gap, meeting in a kiss that began as chaste.
She responded with hunger and longing, deep as his own, drawing from him yearnings almost too powerful to contain.
She did not withdraw, caressing the back of his neck with her fingertips, knotting her hand into his hair.
Had she any idea of what she did to him?
He pulled closer, wrapping his arms around her back, pressing her to him. Her intoxicating scent filled his senses, calming and inflaming him at the same time.
Sharp voices carried from some distant part of the house.
Blast it all! There were guests in the house, and this room was hardly private.
He pulled back just enough to catch his breath and pressed his cheek to hers. “Do not think we are by any means finished. You wish to understand me by my actions. I have every intention of making myself very clearly understood.”
She purred against him.
Great heavens! That sound alone might entirely undo him!
“I shall anticipate understanding you much better, soon.” Her fingers trailed behind his ear and along the side of his face.
That was not making self-control any easier. Far from it.
He took her hand and kissed each finger. “Now things are as they should be.”
“At least some things.” She leaned her head into his shoulder.
“The most important one.” He kissed the top of her head. “But you are right. What are we to do with Georgiana?”
“She needs a firm hand and guidance. She has become spoilt, the only child between two guardians who frankly dote on her too much. Yes, she is naturally shy and reticent, but it has now gone too far. She is becoming selfish and lazy. Those traits must be nipped immediately before they are become entrenched.”
“But she does not deserve to be continually punished—”
“This has nothing to do with Ramsgate. She is using it as an
excuse to avoid whatever is inconvenient to her. It must stop. She is, for now, a sweet girl, and I wish to see her continue to be so. She is not so far gone that we cannot help her recover. Perhaps we should invite my sister Kitty to join us for some months. The two of them might benefit one another.”
“Indeed?”
“Kitty will have little tolerance for the games Georgiana is playing and will help us curb them. While Georgiana’s manners and refinement will demonstrate to Kitty what she is lacking. She will begin to ape a better example than Lydia.”
Darcy nodded. “A very good notion to consider for the new year. For now though, what do you think about the picnic? Are you comfortable with your aunt’s offer to help us carry it off?”
“I do see the wisdom in not attempting the ball at this time, but I hated to call off everything. Something for the children would make me very happy.”
“I, too. Then we shall go forward with it, with or preferably without my aunt’s blessings. It will be best to establish now that she does not rule our family, much as you did with Aunt Catherine.”
“Must you remind me? I was so rude that day.”
“The majority of the rudeness must be credited to her. You will note, though, she has not attempted to manage our lives since that point. I hope that the same shall be true of Aunt Matlock.”
Elizabeth sighed. “This was not how I envisioned our first Christmastide together.”
“Nor I. But it is hardly over; in fact, it is barely begun.”
She cuddled into him.
Oh, yes, it was hardly begun at all.
Several minutes later, Fitzwilliam sauntered in. He looked at them, smiled a suggestive smile and waggled his eyebrows.
“Much better,” he murmured as he dragged another chair close to them and fell into it.
“I imagine you came for a reason?”
Subtlety had never been Fitzwilliam’s strong suit.
“I thought it would be amusing to watch the two of you. You know the estate is utterly lacking in any other form of entertainment.”
“Had I known, I would have brought riddles for charades.” Elizabeth cocked her head, her eyebrow lifting just so.
Fitzwilliam snickered. “I am also sent to inform you my mother intends to depart immediately. She cannot not conscience the picnic you are planning and will not offer an honorable surrender on the matter.”