I Met Mr Darcy Via Luton

by Fredrica Edward

  Sinking down into the warm water was almost sensual, and again, thoughts of her husband filled her mind. The ladies of Longbourn had bathed exactly once a month, kneeling in a shallow tub in the laundry. Immersing herself like this was a new experience–the water seemed to warm her to the marrow. She had not long been luxuriating with her head rested against a folded towel Judy had placed over the end of the tub, when she heard the distinctive tread of Darcy's boots coming up the stairs.

  Arriving at his dressing room whence he had been directed by following a footman carrying a large pail of boiling water upstairs, Darcy divested the servant of his load, and entered to find his wife charmingly arrayed to welcome him home while her maid hovered nearby.

  "Leave us," he demanded peremptorily.

  Setting down the can of hot water she had in her hand, Judy prepared to flee.

  "Wait!" said Darcy, placing the pail next to the tub and sitting down on a chair, "My boots, please, before you go."

  Judy dutifully helped the master remove these and then effaced herself.

  Elizabeth was a little embarrassed by her husband making his intentions so clear in front of the servants. It was as if for him, they didn't exist. No, that wasn't right. He had addressed Judy politely, and she was Elizabeth's personal maid. No doubt he placed great confidence in the discretion of his own valet, Finn. She supposed he considered the personal servants there to do his bidding with discretion; and if that involved his getting into the bath with his wife, then so be it.

  She watched with interest as Darcy stripped off his clothes without ceremony and lowered himself into the tub. His bulk raised the level of the water to her shoulders. The bath had instantly changed from seeming very commodious to being quite crowded.

  Leaning forward, Darcy grabbed Elizabeth under her shoulders, as if he were lifting a child, and pulled her along the length of his body until she was lying atop him. Elizabeth relaxed against him, aided by her buoyancy in the water. She didn't need to look down to know that his erection was pressing into her leg, but besides cupping one cheek of her bottom in his palm, he made no further move to caress her.

  "How was your day?" he asked.

  She related the details of the presents she had opened whereupon Darcy expressed interest in seeing the painting. During this conversation he occasionally added hot water to the bath.

  Afterwards, he had risen from the bath like some great kraken, with water pouring off him everywhere, and helped his wife alight, before they rubbed each other down with towels.

  It was a very agreeable interlude in a memorable honeymoon, but they could not remain in solitude forever. They had taken the knocker off the door for the first week of their marriage, but it was restored at the beginning of the second week so they could receive morning visitors.

  Elizabeth had ordered a croquembouche from Gunter's to serve at tea on the first day. Their visitors, who were a combination of well-wishers and gawkers, proved to be quite a trial and made Elizabeth wish she had the benefit of Georgiana's company. It was Darcy's habit to retreat to the side of the room once he had made the introductions and leave the bulk of the socialising to Elizabeth. She found this very strange, considering they were his friends and acquaintances. Moreover, there were times when Darcy refused to participate at all, watching silently from the periphery instead, as had been his habit in Hertfordshire. After questioning him about the visitors once they left, she soon began to discern that Darcy behaved this way whenever someone he disliked was among the group. Nevertheless she played her role as hostess admirably.

  On Wednesday, the last of the morning callers had been shown out when Richard arrived unexpectedly in time for a late lunch.

  "Wish me happy, Darcy," he announced when the room had drained of the last casual callers.

  "You're engaged?" asked Darcy.

  "Married," he announced with a grin, "to Cousin Anne."

  Richard could see Darcy was flabbergasted–an expected reaction which simultaneously annoyed and amused him.

  Elizabeth was the first to recover. "Congratulations! When did you tie the knot?"

  "Two days ago. Aunt's silly parson married us by special license."

  "Well, what are you doing here?" asked Darcy incredulously.

  "Had my wedding night. Now I'm back to the barracks."

  Darcy stared at his cousin. "You're not going to resign your commission?"

  "No, Darcy. Do you think for a moment Aunt Catherine wants me hanging around Rosings treading on her hem?"

  "I would have thought cohabitation was the normal state for married couples. You have no need to earn your bread any more."

  "Well, besides the fact I actually enjoy playing soldiers, Aunt is more than happy for me to continue in my military career while she rules her domain."

  "Richard, you own Rosings now," said Darcy.

  "Indeed, and I will be drawing on the income from now on, but Aunt Catherine and I have come to an arrangement. I will hie down to Kent once a month to do my husbandly duty and keep out of the way the rest of the time."

  "It seems a strange way to conduct a marriage," said Darcy.

  "Yet one that is amenable to all parties," replied Richard cheerfully. "Why do you think that you were considered such an eligible catch for Anne?"

  Darcy was bemused by this question.

  "Let me give you a hint–it wasn't because she wanted a tall, dark and handsome husband for her daughter," said Richard with a smirk.

  "It wasn't because we were destined for each other from the cradle?" added Darcy with a smile.

  Richard snorted at the shared joke. "You were a known quantity with your own estate. Aunt knew she could trundle on in her usual fashion at Rosings once you were hitched to Anne. No need for her to move into the scrubby dowager house. So I offered her a similar arrangement. This way she even gets to keep Anne!"

  Darcy nodded his understanding.

  "Sorry I couldn't ask you to stand up with me," said Richard. "You are, for the moment, persona non grata; but don't worry, Aunt will come round before next Easter."

  "Well," interposed Elizabeth, pouring a fresh cup of tea and handing it to Richard. "I guess we should be glad Charles gave up Netherfield, else you would be running three estates, dear husband."

  Darcy flashed a smile at her.

  "Don't worry, Darce," said Richard. "I'll put my nose to the grindstone now and be a good student."

  Chapter 67: Bliss

  Following lunch, Elizabeth returned to opening presents, sensing the men wished to have some time alone. Darcy took Richard off to the library for a celebratory drink.

  After they had closed the library door, Darcy poured the brandy. "So how did it all happen?" he asked Richard.

  "I suggested the match to my father at your wedding, and he arranged it. I have never seen him looking so happy with me. Suddenly I'm no longer a waste of space."

  "Did you and Anne plan this?"

  "Well, let's just say that it occurred to me when you met Miss Bennet–I mean Elizabeth, again at Pemberley, that I might be a potential second choice for Aunt Catherine, once you were hitched. Well, things didn't work out for you then, but later, after Aunt harangued Elizabeth in Hertfordshire, causing you to scurry off to propose, I thought of it again. Remember when Georgie invited me over so you could tell me the good news?"

  "I remember," said Darcy.

  "So, it occurred to me again while we were having a drink."

  "Yes, we had a glass of brandy."

  "Or two," agreed Richard. "You probably thought Aunt had gone back to Kent after being forced to apologise about accusing Elizabeth of being your mistress…"

  "I gather she didn't."

  "No, after I left here, I went across the square to have another celebratory glass or two with my father."

  "Of course," said Darcy.

  "And Aunt was over there at my father's townhouse haranguing him."

  "I suppose she was rather unhappy about the donation to the Netherfield hospital. Obv
iously, she didn't make any inroads there."

  "No, but it occurred to me, before Creevey announced me, that I wasn't going to get a drink with Aunt present; and as you were engaged to Elizabeth, and Aunt was in town, that I could take the opportunity to ride down to Kent to talk to Anne. So I went back out and got on my horse."

  "So, I gather that when you asked Anne, she was amenable."

  "Well, it was a bit of a farce trying to arrange talking to her without Mrs Jenkinson's presence, but I greased Aunt's butler, Farley, in the fist, and we managed it. I proposed to her in the room under the stairs."

  "What? Next to the chamber pot?" asked Darcy, incredulously.

  "Of course! Where else were we going to be private? I'd love to know how old Farley suggested she needed to take a tinkle. She sat down on the commode and I leant against the washstand."

  "How romantic," said Darcy rolling his eyes.

  "Anne thought it was rather funny."

  Darcy had not realised his cousin Anne possessed a sense of humour.

  "You're lucky you didn't run into Aunt on your way back to town," said Darcy.

  "Not luck, good management," replied Richard. "You can hear Aunt coming a mile away with that huge old coach and six horses. I hid behind a hay cart. You know, I did learn a thing or two in the Peninsula."

  "Yes, well I imagine that Aunt is far easier to evade that French troops."

  "Exactly," agreed Richard, refilling his snifter.

  "So then, you just waited 'til Elizabeth and I were wed."

  "Correct, and since my father was right there at the wedding, it seemed the ideal opportunity to broach the topic. Had a talk to him right after you two newlyweds took off in your carriage."

  "So, did you approach Aunt Catherine, or did Uncle go down to Kent on your behalf?"

  "Father handled it. Delicate affair, you understand. Better to let him hammer it out with his sister. When he came back, he got his solicitor to draw up the settlements with Aunt Catherine's man and told me to hie down to Kent and make my proposal to Anne before Aunt changed her mind. By the time I'd done that and procured the special license, the settlements had been signed. In all, it took just over a week before Anne and I were at the altar."

  "So I gather the official proposal was in a more salubrious location than under the stairs?"

  "Of course. Staged to perfection by Aunt. Got down on my knee and proposed in the parlour with an audience that included her greasy parson."

  "Incredible. Do you think you'll be happy?"

  "Don't see why not."

  "But you'll only be spending one or two days down there every month?"

  "When I can. Anyway I guessed right–once Aunt discovered I wasn't going to be underfoot, that I wasn't going to resign my commission, she was happy to have me as a son-in-law. The agreement we've made allows Aunt to live at Rosings for the rest of her life, while I live in London."

  "But you need to take charge of the management of the estate!" fretted Darcy. "Despite Aunt's belief in her own abilities, she is incredibly extravagant and a woeful mistress to her tenants. Have you spoken to your steward yet?"

  "Of course, he knows I'm in the saddle now! Told him nothing major was to be done or not done without my permission, and that you would continue in your advisory role. I hope I didn't presume too much there?"

  "Of course not. I'm happy to assist. If you're going down to Kent once a month, make sure you talk to your steward each time, and get him to write or message you if anything comes up in-between times. Are you going to reclaim Louis de Bourgh's townhouse in Brook Street?"

  "Well, I wanted to talk you about that… The rental of that property is a major source of income for the estate. I'm loath to reclaim it when only I will be knocking about in it. It would be different if Annie were going to live with me, but she don't like London."

  "You know you're welcome to continue staying here when you're not at the barracks."

  "That's very good of you, Darcy, but your wife might have something to say about that."

  "We've already spoken of it. She's happy for you to stay here."

  "Well, that's jolly good of you, Darcy, and jolly good of Mrs Darcy too," said Richard.

  "Richard, you are like a brother to me," said Darcy, giving his cousin a rough one-armed hug.

  Richard was touched but determined not to show it. "So where are you going to stash me?"

  "You can keep your current room. The plan is to redecorate the green room for Elizabeth, so our rooms will be connected by the internal stair.

  "So Elizabeth's going to become a pirate too, is she?" Richard suggested slyly.

  "It seems that a bloody nose doesn't teach you much, Richard," retorted Darcy.

  "Well, how do you expect the secret stair to remain secret if it's the basis of your domestic arrangements?"

  "I'll get a contractor to open up the stair so its not hidden in the closet anymore. For the sake of appearances, we will be "installing" a stair, rather than "renovating" one. I certainly don't want Georgie to know I was sneaking into my betrothed's bedchamber before we were wed. I wouldn't want her to think that's acceptable behaviour when she becomes engaged…"

  "Eh, one rule for the goose…" said Richard.

  "Returning to home renovations…" interrupted Darcy, "you and Bingley can keep your old rooms, which gives your wives accommodation when they come to town. Elizabeth and Georgie will take the second floor, and any unmarried Bennet sisters can stay in their shared sitting room when they visit."

  "Sounds good to me. Where is Aunt going to bunk when she's in town?"

  "Across the square," stated Darcy without remorse.

  Richard guffawed. "Father will be thrilled about that!"

  They sat down in front of the fireplace and stared at the flames for several minutes.

  "Well, I guess your marriage solves one problem," mused Darcy, getting up and plucking a letter from his desk.

  "What problem is that?" asked Richard.

  "I just received this letter from Madame Amelie. Your current contract with Sarah is near its end, so there's no need to renew that."

  "I'll take care of that, Darcy," said Richard, reaching to take the paper.

  "Have you spoken to Sarah about terminating the contract?" asked Darcy.

  "Certainly. We've agreed to renew, but I'm capable of paying my own way now."

  "You can't renew the contract!" spluttered Darcy. "You're married!"

  Richard raised his eyebrows. "You don't think I can get by on one f…"

  Darcy raised his hand. "Language, please! I suppose that might be difficult for you, but it doesn't seem right."

  "I've already discussed it with Anne. Given the constraints on our marriage, she understands; and she's all right with it, provided I'm discreet and not profligate. So there won't be any high-flyers set up in their own townhouse like father does, just Sarah at Madame's."

  Darcy shook his head. It didn't seem like anything approximating a marriage to him. Perhaps Richard was more like the earl than he had previously appreciated.

  "So," said Richard, determined to change the subject before Darcy launched into a lecture; "now that I've spilled… how is your honeymoon going?"

  "You know I can't say anything," said Darcy with a smile that flashed both his dimples.

  "That good, eh?" said Richard.

  "I could not dream of anything more in a wife," said Darcy.

  Richard playfully punched his cousin's bicep.

  "You lucky dog!"

  After finishing his third glass of brandy, Richard apologised for interrupting Darcy's honeymoon and called for his horse, citing a need to return to the barracks. He took his leave of Elizabeth, received her thanks for his wedding gift, and departed, promising to return for dinner before they left for Derbyshire.

  After the front door had closed to the sound of Richard's spurs clanking down the front steps, Darcy turned to embrace Elizabeth.

  "We'll have to think of a good wedding gift for Richard and An
ne. What did he give us?"

  Elizabeth smiled. "A very thoughtful gift," she said as she inhaled her husband's slightly spiritous breath, "– a case of brandy."

  A week after their wedding Elizabeth hadn't yet disturbed the sheets of her bed in the green room, having merely used her bedchamber as a combined sitting and dressing room. Preparing for bed one night, she finally had the courage to put on Jane's hanky creation. However, her bravado didn't extend to asking her maid to assist her. After Judy had brushed out her hair and disappeared, Elizabeth withdrew Jane's present from its hiding place and quickly replaced the more conventional nightgown she had originally donned.

  Taking a nervous glance in the pier glass, she tiptoed up the stairs to her husband's bedchamber. Darcy, wearing a banyan, was sitting on the counterpane of his bed, propped against pillows, reading a book.

  "Oh, my God!" he said, eyes popping, when she appeared in the room. The forgotten book fell to the floor.

  Elizabeth stopped halfway to the bed and crossed her arms over chest. "It's a bit much, isn't it?"

  "I would say it's a bit less! Lord, I think I will expire!" he said collapsing back on the bed and staring at the ceiling to regain his composure. "But at least I will die rigid!"

  "Fitzwilliam!" she said, slapping him playfully as she climbed onto the counterpane. His bawdy jest had relieved her worries that he might find her behaviour wanton.

  He wondered briefly how it was that a woman could look even more enticing in a skimpy garment than completely nude. He supposed it had something to do with a male need to take things off.

  After stilling his thumping heart, he propped himself up on one elbow.

  "Where did you get this?" he asked, reaching to stroke the material over a nipple that was peeking from behind a daisy.

  "Jane made it–as a wedding present."

  Darcy raised his eyebrows at this. Jane had always seemed so insipid. Elizabeth had said she was not demonstrative, being shy in public. Obviously, there was a bit more to the lady than met the eye. Lucky Bingley!

  "She modelled it after Charles' descriptions of some garments worn by ladies in educational establishments he visited," said Elizabeth.