by Zoë Burton
The eyes of all four of Elizabeth’s sisters widened and they froze in their seats. Jane handed the note to Lydia before gently rising and retrieving the ceramic bowl from the cabinet in the closet. Lydia was just beginning to read when she returned to the bed.
Upon reaching the end of the message, Lydia huffed. “He has left you alone after promising to allow you to get to know him! I should be very cross if I were you.”
“Shhh!” The other four girls hushed their youngest sister, who in her disgust had forgotten to moderate the volume of her voice.
“I am sorry.” Lydia whispered the words, handing the letter to Kitty when her elder sister stretched her hand out for it and reaching for a fresh cloth to place over Elizabeth’s eyes.
“Do you think Papa will agree to allow him to hire more footmen for our protection?” Kitty’s brows creased as she asked her question, her eyes scanning the words in the note.
Mary shook her head. “I cannot imagine he will. He would not like being indebted to Mr. Darcy.”
“Mary is correct.” Jane held the chamber pot in her lap, her eyes taking in Elizabeth’s pale skin. “Papa will most likely turn down Mr. Darcy’s offer.”
“It would be nice to know we have more than just Mr. Hill to protect us.” Kitty lowered her hand to her knee, which rested on the bed. “Rather like having an elder brother.”
“We have a plan in place. We will have to continue on with it.” Jane lifted her shoulders, dropping them before she spoke again. “As long as we are not alone with him and keep all the doors locked, I think we will be fine.”
“I wonder what he means by ‘covert protection’?” Mary reached out to Kitty, silently asking for the letter and reading the words for herself once the other girl handed it over.
“I suspect he intends to hire men to watch from outside.” Elizabeth’s faint whisper caught the attention of all her sisters
“Yes, that does make the most sense.” Jane patted Elizabeth’s leg. “How do you feel now that we have settled?”
“Slightly better, just please do remain still for now. The cold cloths help.”
“Has anyone called down for willow bark tea?” Jane looked at Kitty and Lydia.
The other girls blushed. “We did not think of it,” Kitty admitted. “I will do it now.” Carefully, she rose and tiptoed across the room to the fireplace, ringing the bell. She stood by the door and when the maid knocked, opened it and made her request. She returned to the bed, this time sitting in the chair.
The girls whispered back and forth while they waited for Elizabeth’s tea to come up. When it arrived, they helped her sit up to drink it, then got her out of her gown and into a nightdress, tucking her under the covers. As she drifted off to sleep, the four of them slipped out of the room and carefully closed the door behind them.
~~~***~~~
Darcy remained in London for a week complete, seeing to his sister’s care and keeping her company. While he was in town, he took a morning to visit his solicitor to have his will revised and Elizabeth’s settlement drawn up. He then stopped in at his club for a quick meal.
“Darcy, what are you doing here? I thought you would be at your sister’s side again.”
Darcy looked up at his grinning cousin and shook his head. Waving to the chair beside him, he invited Colonel Fitzwilliam to join him. “Do you not have troops to train?” He watched carefully as the other man slowly lowered himself into the seat. “Your injury continues to bother you, I see.”
The colonel grimaced. “It does, most often after a long day in the saddle.” He motioned to a hovering footman to come near, requesting an extra glass. He eyed his cousin’s plate. “Bring me some of that, as well.”
“Yes, sir.” With a bow, the footman hurried away.
“I assume that will be charged to my account?” Darcy’s left eyebrow rose as he gazed at the colonel.
With a wink, Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Of course.”
Darcy shook his head and returned to the subject that most interested him at the moment. “Your superiors have not noticed?”
“They have.” The colonel’s mien sobered immediately. “My general remarked on it just this morning.” He paused when the footman approached with his meal. After the servant walked away, Colonel Fitzwilliam picked up the tale again. “He assured me he will do whatever he must to keep me off the battlefield and still in the army, but hinted that I might wish to think about retiring my commission.” He shrugged.
Darcy chewed his mouthful of food, eyeing his cousin thoughtfully. He swallowed and took a sip of port before he spoke. “I still have that estate in Dorset. If you do not wish to live in the manor house, it has a very nice cottage set aside for a steward.” He saw his cousin’s jaw clench and rushed to speak again, his voice urgent. “Richard, think! If your supervisors are suggesting, no matter how obliquely, that you retire, there must be a reason. You need a new position, one that will not require hours in a saddle.”
Richard hung his head. “I know, I know.” He swallowed, clenching his jaw, and when he finally looked up, Darcy could see the anguish in his eyes. “The army is all I know. What would I do on an estate, even as just a steward?”
“You are an excellent leader of men. I have heard you praised by every officer I have met. That is all you really need to manage an estate. You could move into the manor house and hire a steward to run it, if you are that uncomfortable with the idea.”
Richard focused on his plate once more, choosing not to reply. For a few minutes, the cousins fed themselves and left conversation for later. Finally, both were full, their plates cleaned of food, and they leaned back in their seats.
“I do not want you to think I am not grateful. I am.” Richard brought them back to the topic they had last spoken about.
“I know you are. I would not have brought it up, except I do not want you to find yourself suddenly pushed out of the army with nowhere to go, no plan to keep yourself occupied, and without an income.”
“I appreciate your care, truly I do.” Richard leaned his head back against the seat. “I will consider it, I promise. Only because I fear they will toss me out.” He was quiet for a moment, examining his cousin over the top of his glass. “Tell me about this girl you are marrying. Mother is livid.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “Yes, I know. So is the earl.” He shook his head. “It does not matter; I have compromised the lady, however innocently, and I will do the right thing.”
“Mother has never heard of her is the problem.” Richard tilted his head as he watched Darcy. “What is she like?”
“From what I have learned of her so far, she is witty and intelligent.” Darcy shrugged. “She was injured when I rescued her. She hit her head. She spent a few days abed and we had only begun to get to know each other when I was called away.”
“Hmm.” Richard took another sip of his drink. “I suspect there is more to her than you are telling me.”
Darcy shook his head, shrugging once more. “No.” He paused. “Not to her, but … my reaction to her. I felt an overwhelming desire to protect her, from the moment the crisis was over and I got a good look at her. I have never felt the like, at least not with someone who was not my sister.”
The colonel nodded, moving his gaze from his cousin’s face to his glass. “Do you think you are in love with her?”
Darcy shook his head, a frown pulling the corners of his lips down. “I do not know her. Is it even possible to be in love with her already?”
Richard shrugged. “I do not know, as I have never experienced it, but I have friends who swear it is.” He looked at Darcy. “You remember Sebastian Walker?”
Darcy drew his brows together. “From Essex?” At Richard’s nod, he continued. “I think I do remember him. What about him?”
“He fell instantly in love last winter, with a girl from Yorkshire. They married over the summer. He has had his head in the clouds ever since. He described to me a similar feeling to yours, when he first met the lady.�
�� Richard paused. “I am not saying that is what you are feeling, but it could very well be.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” Darcy scowled at his cousin. “Not that it will help me convince your parents to accept her, if it is.”
“Good point. Do you see anything wrong with her?”
“Not with her, and not with her older sister. However, her mother is loud and brash, her father is indolent to the point of ignoring his family’s safety, and her youngest sisters are wild and unrestrained, according to Bingley’s sisters.” Darcy sighed. “I must admit, however, that what I saw of the youngest sisters was positive. They were eager to care for Elizabeth from the start.”
“We all have family members who can be an embarrassment, despite their status.” Richard raised his brows as he stared intently at his cousin.
“You speak of Lady Catherine.” At Richard’s nod, Darcy frowned. “She will be angry that I am marrying anyone but Anne.”
“She will. I would have advised you not to tell her, but I would guess my father already has.”
Darcy shook his head. “I doubt it. He thinks he can sway me away from Elizabeth while I am in town. He will not write to his sister until he is certain all hope is lost.”
Richard tilted his head, looking off into the distance. “You could be correct. Let us hope he does not, eh?”
Darcy chuckled. “Yes, indeed.” He emptied his glass and set it on the table, then pushed his chair back. “Will you come visit Georgiana before you return to the barracks?”
Richard mimicked his cousin’s actions, though he was slower to rise and was unable to hide the grimace that came with the action. “I will. I think I might stay with my parents tonight, rather than sleep in the barracks. I could use a hot bath and a soft bed.”
Darcy clapped him on the back. “I do not blame you a bit.”
Richard paused at the door to the club, turning to face his cousin. “I want you to know you face no objections from me as to your bride. I am well enough acquainted with you to be assured that had she been totally unsuitable, you would have walked away.”
Darcy bowed his head for a moment, then lifted his gaze once more to his cousin, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “Thank you.”
Chapter 12
“Lizzy! Lizzy!” Lydia raced into her sister’s room, bursting with excitement. “He is here! Come, you must hurry!” She grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and pulled.
“Lydia, stop. Lizzy needs a quiet environment, not a house filled with screaming and pounding.” Mary held Elizabeth’s arm as she admonished their youngest sibling.
Lydia rolled her eyes, but then looked carefully at Elizabeth’s features. “I am sorry, Lizzy. It is only that Mr. Darcy has come. He and Mr. Bingley just now dismounted and walked up the steps. I am certain Hill has admitted them by now.”
“All is well.” Elizabeth tried to soothe her youngest sister while calming her own nerves. “I can do without the frantic pulling of my arm but I understand your excitement.” She pressed a hand to her middle. “I have enough of my own to deal with.” She lifted her lips in a quick smile.
“Will you come down? Does your head hurt?” Lydia looked anxiously into Elizabeth’s eyes.
“It does not hurt at the moment. I will come down and speak to him now. I do not know how long I will feel well, and it is best to do as much as I can, while I can.”
“Good.” Lydia glanced at Mary, who still eyed her rather severely, before moving her gaze back to Elizabeth. “You will not do too much? I will not allow Mr. Darcy to see you if you are not going to rest when you need to.”
Elizabeth bit off a grin. “I promise I will not do too much. If I begin to feel pain in my head, I will send Mr. Darcy away and come upstairs.”
“Very well, then.” Lydia grinned, her smile widening when she heard Mary say the same thing. She positioned herself on one side of Elizabeth while Mary did the same on the other side. The three together descended the stairs.
In the drawing room, Darcy and Bingley rose when the girls entered. After greeting each other, everyone settled again into comfortable positions. A few minutes of general conversation filled the time until tea was served. More guests arrived, as it was Mrs. Bennet’s day At Home, and with cups and saucers in hand, the occupants of the room divided themselves up into small groups of two or three.
“How is Miss Darcy?” Elizabeth smiled at her betrothed, settling herself deeper into the sofa on which they sat. “I hope her injuries were not severe.”
Darcy shook his head, following Elizabeth’s lead in arranging himself for greater comfort and ease of conversation. “My sister is well. She dislocated her shoulder when her horse shied and threw her. She retained her grip on the reins instead of letting them go. She is more embarrassed than injured, I suspect.”
“My father did that once, several years ago. He hated to wear the sling, but the apothecary insisted.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled at the memory.
Darcy laughed. “Georgiana resisted, as well, until her maid came up with a piece of cloth that matched her gown. She seems to be of an age where how she looks is far more important than how she feels.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I fear all females reach that point at some time or other.”
“Indeed.” Darcy grinned. “And, yourself? How are you feeling?”
“Much better.” Elizabeth sipped her tea. “I am still prone to headaches, but time has allowed more memories back into my mind.”
“Excellent!” Darcy winked. “No more lists cluttering up your reticule?”
“Well, I did not say that.” Elizabeth giggled. “However, I have whittled the number of lists down considerably.” She sobered. “I still do not recall what happened ‘that’ day, nor have I been allowed out to walk alone. I had thought perhaps seeing the area might help me remember.” She shrugged. “With the recurring headaches, it is not wise for me to walk that far.”
“I am sorry. I know how frustrating restrictions can be.” Darcy paused and, seeing Elizabeth did not appear distraught, changed the subject. “I took the notes your father and I made about your settlement to my attorney in town. I will have to return when it is complete and bring it here for Mr. Bennet to sign.”
Elizabeth sighed, a small smile lifting her lips. “That is good news.” She was quiet for a heartbeat. “It makes it all seem so much more real, does it not?”
“It does.” Darcy examined Elizabeth’s features. “I brought a gift for you that will undoubtedly do the same. When we have finished our tea, I will give it to you. If you feel able, perhaps we could walk in the garden and I could present it to you there.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “A gift?” She shook her head. “I need no gifts, sir.” She spoke softly, a blush rising from her neckline.
“I know. I wish to give it to you. As my wife, you should expect many gifts. It is my duty to make you happy. I recall my father bringing them to my mother every time he came home from travelling without her.” Darcy’s voice softened, a tender note infusing it that brought Elizabeth’s eyes up to search his.
“Then, I thank you. I still insist I do not require gifts to make me happy, but I can see it is important to you.” Suddenly, Elizabeth smirked. “I shall remind myself of your generosity when the times come, as they no doubt will, that you test my patience.”
Darcy chuckled. “I am quite certain my mother did the same.”
From across the room, the couple heard Bingley exclaim on the fine weather. They turned their heads when he suggested a walk in the garden.
“It seems your friend has the same thought you did.” Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from smiling as she looked at Darcy.
“Indeed.” Darcy set his tea things on the table beside him, reaching for Elizabeth’s and placing them next to his. He stood, holding his hands out to her. “Come, let us enjoy the sunshine.”
Elizabeth placed her hands in Darcy’s, accepting his help to rise. The pair followed Jane and Bingley out to the entry hall, where the group accepted their ou
terwear from a maid. They proceeded out the door and along the house, entering the now-dormant gardens.
Darcy steered Elizabeth away from Jane and Bingley. He could hear Kitty and Lydia behind him somewhere, and by glancing over his shoulder, could see Mary settle on a bench, a book in her hand. When they had walked far enough away that no one would hear what they said, he stopped. He pulled a small box out of a pocket and opened it. “I want you to have this. It was my mother’s. It is not your wedding ring. I have another set aside for that. This is simply a token intended to tell you how serious I am about treating you well, and being faithful to you alone.” Darcy’s words ground to a stop and he sighed. “I fear I am not expressing myself well. Forgive me.” He looked into Elizabeth’s eyes and found words to say. “I find myself pleased to be marrying you. We hardly know one another and yet, I find I have no cause to repine. I cannot explain my feelings; I simply know that you and I are meant to be and always have been. I wish for you to wear this ring to remind you of the esteem in which I already hold you, and of the hope that we grow closer together every day.”
Elizabeth stood, mouth gaping open and eyes wide. She swallowed. “That was beautiful, Mr. Darcy.” She looked down at the ring her betrothed held out to her. “Oh, my.” Lifting her hand, she allowed him to slide the beautiful amethyst and diamond ring over her finger. “Thank you. I will treasure it.” She looked into Darcy’s eyes. “I will do my utmost to deserve it.”
Darcy smiled softly, squeezing her fingers. “You already do.”
~~~***~~~
Darcy spent the following days in Elizabeth’s company as much as possible. Knowing he would have to leave again, he was determined they should learn as much about each other as they could. To that end, he told her every story he could think of about his childhood and his home in the Peak District.
Elizabeth soaked up the stories Darcy shared with her, finding to her delight that he was not always the severe and stoic gentleman he appeared to be in public. In her turn, she told him of her childhood exploits, assisted by her sisters, all four of whom appeared to take great delight in embarrassing her at the most inopportune times.