by APRIL FLOYD
Georgiana gave a sardonic smile. “My dear, there is not a soul present this night more exciting than you. Your marriage to Richard is shrouded in mystery and viewed as daringly romantic. To leave family and all its wealth for love is, after all, the ultimate fantasy few will ever be brave enough to realize. Yet you and Richard accomplished such a feat and his untimely death has left you as a legend of sorts, I fear.”
Elizabeth had not considered such a thing, but hearing it spoken aloud lent the ring of truth. There had been no other choice for the Matlocks but to receive her as a long lost, and welcome, member of their family with both sons gone and the gossip mill of London working happily along on the arrival of Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam.
She could use such serendipity to her advantage, especially where young Richard was concerned. When his existence became known, Lady Matlock would be torn between great happiness at having a piece of Richard returned and great anger with Elizabeth for concealing the truth from the beginning.
Pushing away such thoughts, Elizabeth pretended she had been listening closely as Miss Darcy whispered valuable information about each of the two ladies who had seemed most upset by her presence.
“Prudence is spoiled terribly and has turned down two suitors since her season. Her aunt is most desperate to see her matched and had counted upon Richard to propose. He never so much as acknowledged Prudence was alive, come to think of it. Alexandra made a fine match just last year. Heaven knows why she would care you had married Richard after achieving such a catch as Lord Millington.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I suspect it is more to do with the romantic fantasy they have constructed about Richard and myself. The truth is our courtship was the same as any other. We became great friends before Richard asked my father if he might have my hand in marriage. I shall always think of him as my greatest friend.”
Miss Darcy gave a soft smile at this recollection. “Richard was the easiest man to be around. You could speak candidly and he would as well. I never thought of him as I do William, though both were my guardians. He made me feel as though I was his equal though I certainly was not.”
Elizabeth wondered at the somber note that affected Miss Darcy’s speech when she spoke of not being equal to Richard.
She moved closer and tucked her arm into the crook of Miss Darcy’s elbow. “You were his equal, in his mind and heart. Richard spoke of you often, though he never said your name. There was much affection in those tales and I envied the times you shared. Now I hate how he had to hide who you were from me.”
Georgiana led Elizabeth back to the refreshments. “After hearing of your meeting with Aunt Margaret, I understand why he kept that to himself. He likely did not wish to reveal too much before he was sent off to war. I must tell you that he did write to me of his love for you. I swore to him I would never tell a soul and begged him to bring you to Pemberley. He loved it there and would come whenever he could between his assignments.”
“I would have loved that! I am so happy he was at least able to share his news with you. I do hope to see Pemberley one day. Mr. Bingley has often said there is no home in all the country as fine. He would always apologize for the library at Netherfield Park and say it could never compare with the one at Pemberley. I am a great lover of books and I do hope he was honest in his praise.”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Miss Darcy’s countenance grew quite serious as she vouched for Mr. Bingley’s word. “He is quite right, Elizabeth! You could spend a fortnight exploring our library and come away regretful that you had not been able to see everything. So you must come to visit as often as you wish.”
A young gentleman Elizabeth had met at Darcy House a few nights before the ball came to ask Miss Darcy for the next set. She understood that Mr. Darcy hoped the young man might seek Miss Darcy’s hand when her season came in the spring. His father held a title in Scotland and resided in a castle near Darcy lands there.
The young man was tall, attentive to a fault, and ruggedly handsome. His dark features highlighted the fair beauty of Georgiana Darcy to perfection. The young couple left her and Elizabeth glanced about the room.
Mr. Darcy was in conversation with several older gentlemen, Richard’s father amongst them. She turned thinking she might have just a moment to step onto the balcony and gather her courage for the remainder of the ball when a familiar face appeared before her.
“Lieutenant Wickham!” she exclaimed as the young soldier she had met in Meryton years ago took both her hands.
“Miss Elizabeth, I could not believe my eyes from across the room! I had to come and see for myself if it was the beautiful young lady I recall from my days in Hertfordshire. And it is Major Wickham now, the war has seen me climb the ranks.”
Elizabeth felt a lump rise in her throat. The talk of Richard earlier and knowing that Mr. Wickham had gone to war left her with feelings of regret and sadness for all those lost in service to king and country. “It is as seeing a ghost, Major Wickham,” she said, swallowing the lump in her throat and willing her voice not to break.
He moved closer to her. “I imagine it is. So many men did not return.”
“My own husband amongst them,” she said and bit the inside of her cheek. The evening had become much too serious for the swirling dancers and happy music.
“I am sad to hear such a fate befell the man but I did not know you had married. Who was he?”
“Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. He came to Meryton shortly before you were assigned to another regiment. Do you remember him?”
A shadow passed over his countenance and Elizabeth mistook it for distress. “I am not so fragile now as I was the day the news was delivered.”
“I am deeply sorry, Miss Elizabeth, or should I say, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. I did know him briefly in Meryton. Would you care to dance so that we might leave the war here on this spot and enjoy ourselves for a time?”
Elizabeth nodded, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “You always were one for merriment, Major Wickham. I would love to dance with an old friend.”
It was then Mr. Darcy saw the pair as they joined the line for the next set and clenched his jaw. The nerve of Wickham to show his face at Matlock House! He was both bold and foolhardy. The combination worried Darcy and he held his temper in check until the set ended.
Searching the throng of dancers heading for the refreshments, Mr. Darcy was relieved to see his sister in the company of their Aunt Margaret. He did not wish for her to see Wickham.
Watching as Elizabeth and the scoundrel made their way to the balcony, he hurried across the ballroom floor. Her laughter as Wickham talked with her angered Darcy and his heart gave a twinge of jealousy.
It was fully dark as he slipped through the balcony doors. Several couples were gathered in pairs away from the eyes of any chaperones. Elizabeth and Wickham appeared to be approaching the stairs that led to the small garden behind Matlock House.
The sight of the man who had nearly ruined his sister laughing with Elizabeth fed the fury growing in his chest.
In three long strides he caught up the couple and took the major by the arm. "You have no decency showing your face here, Wickham. Leave now or I will throw you out myself."
Elizabeth placed a hand on Mr. Darcy's arm. "William, you know this man?"
Wickham spoke up. "Indeed he does, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. We grew up together at Pemberley."
Mr. Darcy avoided Elizabeth's searching gaze. There was little time left to remove the man before his sister might discover his presence.
“This is a ball for Elizabeth to welcome her to our family, of which you are no part. Will you go or must I remove you?" Mr. Darcy proceeded down the stairs to the garden towing Major Wickham along behind him.
"I will see you again, my friend," he said to Elizabeth as he pulled his arm from Darcy's grasp.
Elizabeth did not wish for him to go, but it was plain to her there was trouble between the two men. “My sisters and I are at Fitzwilliam House, Major Wickham. You are
welcome to visit."
Mr. Darcy gave her a look Elizabeth could only describe as wounded.
Wickham glanced at Mr. Darcy and brushed off the sleeve the man had clutched only moments ago. "I had every right to attend this event, Darcy. Your aunt and uncle issued invitations to the officers of my regiment. I only came when I heard the guest of honor was my old friend. I have not caused any trouble and I expect none from you."
Mr. Darcy returned to the top of the stairs to stand with Elizabeth. “Leave my family alone, Wickham, and you will have no trouble from me."
Elizabeth sensed his warning included herself. He could not dictate who her friends happened to be. When Wickham had left through the back gate of the garden, she turned to Mr. Darcy. “He is known to me only as a friend, William. A familiar face from home. I will not turn him away from Fitzwilliam House. What has he done to anger you so?“
Mr. Darcy did not like to argue with Elizabeth, not when they had so recently been reacquainted. "He is not an honorable man and I will not have him threaten my family again. There is much you do not know about him but trust me, you will come to regret your acquaintance with such a scoundrel.”
Elizabeth could not believe the censure Mr. Darcy so easily gave her. He had been kind, delightful company ever since her arrival in London."I understand you may know him better than I do, but I will not abandon his friendship because of your prejudice."
Mr. Darcy offered his arm but Elizabeth only glanced at it before turning and leaving him.
Sighing into the night air, Mr. Darcy followed behind wondering how he might persuade Wickham to leave Elizabeth Fitzwilliam and her sisters alone. He knew it certainly would involve a large sum of money.
Chapter 12
A fortnight later, Elizabeth sat in her salon sipping tea. She relished the quiet as her days after the ball had been filled with parading before Lady Matlock's friends. The woman seemed to resent her less but Elizabeth could not be certain.
Putting thoughts of the Matlocks aside, she happily turned the pages of a book which had arrived that morning from a bookseller whose shop was full of books she wished to own.
The smell of leather that permeated his shop returned to her as she closed the book and lifted it to her nose. It was a habit that often caused her father to tease her.
Mr. Darcy had taken her to the shop the day after the ball. Elizabeth thought this act to be one of penance for his behavior with Mr. Wickham. When they had wandered the aisles, she pointed out many of her favorite titles. She would not agree to purchase even one, though she wished she might have them all.
Mr. Darcy must have committed her list to memory, for every book she had exclaimed over was packed with care and placed inside the large crate. There was a note included that revealed her friend had been unable to stop himself from doing such a kind deed.
She recalled Mr. Harley's countenance as she pulled each book from the box and hugged it to her breast in glee. His thoughtful suggestion of where her new books should live had pleased her.
"Would you rather these books be placed in your sitting room upstairs, Mrs. Fitzwilliam? It is such a cozy room for reading and I have noticed your preference for its chairs over those in the library."
His words had strengthened her feelings for the kind butIer. Because of Mr. Harley, her place at Fitzwilliam House had seemed a natural thing.
Mr. Harley appeared as if called by her thoughts and Elizabeth smiled and stood when she saw the man he led into the room.
"Major Wickham, how nice of you to come today! My sisters are out with Miss Darcy at the moment. I know they will be sorry to have missed you."
Elizabeth held out both hands as he approached. Major Wickham took them and squeezed gently.
As they sat and Elizabeth poured another cup of tea, she sensed regret in his eyes. She had not seen him since the night of the ball and wondered whether Mr. Darcy's warning had kept him away.
"I cannot stay long, but I wanted to come and tell you that I must leave London for a time, but I will return soon. A soldier's life is unpredictable." Major Wickham placed his teacup on the table and smiled at Elizabeth with not a little affection.
"Indeed it is, my friend. Please say you will come again when you have returned to town. I worried that Mr. Darcy's words the night of the ball had persuaded you to avoid Fitzwilliam House." Elizabeth saw no reason to hide her thoughts on the matter.
Major Wickham shrugged his shoulders. "Darcy will never change his opinion of me. I expect my rise in the ranks displeases him, but I will never forsake our friendship.”
"It gives me great peace to know it. My time in London has not been easy. I fear Richard's family would rather I did not exist."
Wickham frowned, his forehead creasing in dismay."I would like to say I am surprised, but the Fitzwilliams and Darcys are quite proud. That they have given you this townhome shocks me still. It was not so many years ago Mr. Darcy denied me the living his father meant me to have."
Elizabeth could not speak for several moments. Mr. Darcy had stood against the Matlocks and secured her future.
"Why would he do such a thing? He is a wealthy man with many holdings. Why defy his father's wishes?”
Major Wickham stood abruptly and gave a bow. "Forgive, me, I really must go. But I believe he was incensed that his father did not hate me as he did.”
Elizabeth stood and walked her friend to the front door. “Must you go so soon? My sisters would love to see you again.”
Mr. Wickham smiled at this information. “I would love to see them again as well but I must not stay, my dear. I shouldn’t have come for I have not the time to spare but I did not want you to think I was afraid to come.”
Elizabeth frowned. "I would not like to lose your friendship, nor that of Mr. Darcy and his sister. They have been most kind in spite of the Matlock's anger with me.”
Major Wickham winked at Elizabeth before quitting Fitzwilliam House. "I promise never to make you choose between us, Elizabeth. In the future, I will only come to visit when I know the Darcys are not about."
Elizabeth did not wish for there to be an issue between Mr. Darcy and Major Wickham. "He will come to accept that we are friends eventually. I will not compromise my own feelings to soothe his."
Major Wickham surprised her when he lifted her hand and moved to place a kiss up on it.
Elizabeth pulled away from him, her eyes searching his. When he was but a lieutenant in Meryton, before Richard arrived in Hertfordshire, he had flirted shamelessly with her and her sisters.
There had been a few weeks when he favored only her with his compliments. Elizabeth thought he might be a good match. But he had turned his attentions to Miss King, their neighbor, and not long after Richard arrived and began their friendship.
"I am sorry, Elizabeth. Seeing you again has brought back so many happy memories of our first meeting. I hope I have not made you uncomfortable."
Elizabeth smiled at the handsome soldier. "You have not, sir. I wish to remain friends and only friends. Is it too much to ask?"
Major Wickham glanced about the entryway, a ready smile playing on his lips. "You may ask of me what you will and it shall never be a burden."
He left her then and Elizabeth stood in the door waving until his horse was out of sight. Winter had truly descended on London and she stepped quickly inside.
The voice of her son rang down the stairs to her and she took them by twos to reach his side. "Mama, will you read to us by the fire?"
She knelt and placed her arms about her son and his cousin Rose. "Yes, my love. Let us go up to my sitting room for Mr. Darcy has sent us many books today."
Following the children as they capered upstairs, Elizabeth smiled at the life she now led. Her son's future was secure, she was surrounded by friends and family, and the secret of young Richard's existence remained secret.
Mr. Darcy had smoothed the way with the Matlocks and thoughtfully sent her books. She found herself able to forgive his rancor with Major Wickham.
Elizabeth did not like to think badly of the major, he was all a gentleman ought to be, but his fickle romantic nature had always given her pause. The attempted kiss in the entryway bothered her. Even her Aunt Madeline had remarked upon his forward way with women in the past.
Chapter 13
As the week of Christmas approached, Elizabeth decided she would bring her family to Fitzwilliam House to meet the Matlocks.
She had spent the morning with Cook planning a dinner and explaining to Mr. Harley about the greenery she required to decorate the home. "We must have holly and ivy and a yule log. I trust you to choose the best specimens."
Mr. Harley was pleased to be useful to his new mistress. Since fresh snow had fallen that very morning, he wished to treat the children to an outing.
"I know just the place where I might find the perfect greenery. 'Tis not far inside the park and the children would so enjoy a day in the snow."
Elizabeth was delighted at this suggestion. "I am certain Jane would appreciate the offer. Shall I accompany you? Nanny would enjoy the afternoon alone."
Mr. Harley could not contain his excitement at the idea of Mrs. Fitzwilliam coming along on the impromptu outing.
"There is a small sled in the mews for the children. It is not so cold now as it was this morning. Allow me half an hour to prepare and we shall be on our way."
The butler rushed off in high spirits and Elizabeth returned to the kitchens to have a basket of warm refreshment made ready for their jaunt.
When they were finally on the street, Elizabeth was happy to walk through the winter beauty of the city. It was quite a change from the countryside of Hertfordshire. Walking the short distance to her sister's townhome awakened the part of her that loved to ramble.
Bingley House bustled with activity as they were admitted and young Richard ran for the nursery before Jane could call for Nanny. "He is happy to see his Rose today. Do you think she might stay the night with us after our trip to the park?"
