Prevailed Upon to Marry

by Isabelle Mayfair

  “If you are not too tired, we might take him outside after dinner? Platt says he can teach you how to train him. He offered to do it himself, but I suspected you would wish to do it.”

  “You suspected correctly.” Before I knew what I was doing, I leaned up on my toes and kissed my husband on the cheek. “Thank you. I was apprehensive about coming here, but already you have made it feel like a home for me. You have been too generous.”

  “When I see you smile like that for the first time in so many weeks, I feel I have not been generous enough,” said Darcy. His eyes held mine. I could not look away. His glance dropped to my lips, and he seemed to stop breathing for a moment. I swayed a little towards him. He leaned closer. The blood rushed in my ears, and my heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

  Udolpho interrupted us with an excited little bark. Darcy seemed to collect himself and turned his attention back to the little animal. My heart sank. Perhaps it was for the best. I did not wish for him to do something like kissing me if it were only to lead him to behave as strangely as he had done when he spent the night in my bed.

  He smiled though I thought there was a sadness in his eyes. “I will leave you to rest for a while. Will you join me for dinner?”

  “I shall.”

  Darcy handed the furry little bundle into my arms and stroked his ears. He raised his eyes to meet mine and hesitated for a moment. Then he cleared his throat, nodded and left the room. I stared at the closed door feeling more confused than ever.

  41

  The first few days in Pemberley passed in a whirlwind. When I was not playing with Udolpho, I was so occupied with learning how to run the estate that it took my mind from my sorrow for my father and my fears of the future with Darcy. Mrs Reynolds was an excellent teacher. We spent many hours holed up in her housekeeper's room while we went over lists and menus. I attempted to learn all the staff by name as well as I could, trying my best not to confuse anyone even though there were so many of them. We also spent time merely getting to know one another.

  "Mr Darcy told me how you two became married, you know," she told me one afternoon as we sat before the fire. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye as she poured tea. Her eyebrow raised mischievously. I felt a chill.

  "Oh, yes?" Surely Darcy would not tell her he had married me out of a misplaced sense of guilt? But if he had, why would she smile at me like that?

  "I am very sorry to hear of your father. The master told me something about him. He said he was a very intelligent man with a quick wit and a dry sense of humour. You were his favourite, I understand?" She glanced down at my lavender gown. I still could not bring myself to come entirely out of mourning.

  "I was. I am the most like him of all my sisters, and he took great pride in it." I smiled. "Though he was not above putting me in my place when he felt I was being silly."

  Mrs Reynolds smiled. "I am sure he was a very good man, and I am sure he would be proud of his girl if he could see you now. I am sure having the master there with you was a great help? How fortunate that you must have fallen in love just before such a great loss and have that to comfort you."

  "I… yes, it was. A great comfort." I bent my lips to the tea and blew on it to avoid meeting her eyes.

  "The master said he had already fallen in love with you and had thought about how he would ask you to marry him. He was afraid you might not agree, but who could refuse such a man? I have never known one finer than him."

  "You think very highly of him," I said.

  "I do, ma’am. And I do not speak so because I am addressing his wife. Though I am partial, having known him since he was four years old. But I have always observed that those who are as good-natured as children will turn out just as good-natured as adults. And he was always the sweetest little boy. He used to come down here to sit with me and steal some of my scones." Mrs Reynolds laughed at the memory. "And he has more than fulfilled his promise. He is the kindest master and employer anyone could have asked for, and I know any son of his will be just the same." She smiled warmly then laughed as I blushed. "Oh, forgive me. I do not mean to embarrass you. You and the master have plenty of time for all that. It is my way of telling you how glad I am that you have come to Pemberley. I see the way Mr Darcy looks at you. I always hoped he would find someone worthy of him and not be taken in by any of those prattling misses in London. There have always been those who set their cap at him and sought to ensnare him, and it filled me with dread to think such a good man would throw himself away on a wife that was not worthy of him. I am glad he has found you, madam."

  I took a deep sip of my tea though it was still too hot.

  "You are very kind to say so," I said thickly through my slightly burnt tongue. God but this was hard to listen to. How would this good woman respond to me if she knew the truth?

  I did not have time to say more when a knock came on the door. Mrs Reynolds looked at me. I nodded, and she called for them to enter. To my surprise, my husband stood in the doorway, looking uncertain.

  "Mr Darcy," said Mrs Reynolds. "I was just telling the mistress how you used to steal my scones."

  "Do not think to find them now because we have hidden them," I said with a quick smile, trying to lighten the nervous look on his face.

  "I shall have to make sure I am faster next time," said Darcy. "Mrs Reynolds, I wondered if I might steal my wife for a few hours? She has not seen the woods yet, but we have fine weather today, so I would like to take the opportunity of bringing her now. If that is agreeable to you," he said to me.

  Nothing in the world would have given me greater pleasure. It was difficult to keep myself from smiling too broadly at the prospect.

  "Oh, I would love that," I said with such warmth that Darcy smiled.

  "You will need to wrap up, ma’am," said Mrs Reynolds. "It is a cold one today."

  "I will take good care of her, Mrs Reynolds. Have no fear."

  "Be sure you do," she said in a gently scolding tone.

  I took Darcy's arm and gave him a small smile as we walked down the corridor.

  "I have made a conquest already," I said. "Even your most devoted staff now prefer me to you."

  "Oh, I would not allow your pride to swell too greatly," said Darcy lightly. He gave me a surprisingly mischievous look. "They are merely afraid I might bring home a Miss Bingley as the next one."

  I called to Udolpho who came scrambling along the marble floor in a flurry. His too-large paws made him clumsy, and Darcy and I laughed as he tumbled over his own feet to land before us.

  "Perhaps he will need to master walking before he can master his lessons," Darcy suggested with a grin as I attached his lead.

  "I will have you know, he is very clever," I said in a lofty voice.

  "So clever he cannot walk without careening into walls?"

  I tried to give Darcy an indignant look, but his grin was so compelling I could not look convincingly annoyed. I settled for nudging him gently and almost stopped in surprise when he caught me to steady me.

  "Ah. You cannot even stand yourself without colliding with me. Now I see where he gets it from. They say dogs become like their masters — or their mistresses, in this case."

  "Do not listen to him, Udolpho."

  Still smiling, Darcy helped me with my coat and gloves, and we stepped out into the bright, frosty day.

  "You mentioned Miss Bingley just before we left the house. I take it she is well known here?" I asked.

  Darcy took my hand. Of course, he would want to when we were within sight of the house.

  "She has stayed here with her brother many times. The staff remember her well."

  "With great fondness, I should think."

  Darcy gave a bark of laughter. "She was demanding and haughty. Mrs Reynolds even overstepped herself one day to warn me to lock my doors at night. She told me Miss Bingley had designs on me and would compromise me if she could. And Mrs Reynolds said if that happened, she and all the staff would leave Pemberley at once
. I pretended to think about it, but she was not deceived. The only one who had any notion I might marry a Miss Bingley was the lady herself, and that is because she was willing to be fooled by her wishes."

  Yes, he was correct about that. When I stayed at Netherfield, it gave me great amusement to see how Miss Bingley threw herself at Darcy, determined to be his bride. It was clear to everyone she was wasting her time. Darcy treated her with the same disdain and contempt he treated everyone with back then. No, Miss Bingley would never be an Amelia, the kind of woman who could make Fitzwilliam Darcy forget himself. I scolded myself for that thought as soon as I had it. I would not think of her while I was here. She was far away in London and out of our lives. I did not need to concern myself with her.

  "How do you like Pemberley?" Darcy asked. He swung my hand lightly as we walked.

  "Very well." I glanced back at the enormous limestone house and smiled. "I think there are few who would not like it."

  "Yes, well, your opinion is rarely bestowed and more worth the earning," he said.

  "You are a flatterer, sir, but if these woods do not live up to your description of them, I shall never forgive you," I replied with a pert smile.

  "If you dislike them, my good opinion of your opinion shall be lost forever," he said. "And I told you before that once lost it can never be recovered."

  "I shall not lie even to save your good opinion. If I am not pleased with them, I shall tell you so at once."

  "I do not doubt it."

  We passed a shimmering lake, its silver waters shining under the December sky. Udolpho pulled us down towards the water's edge where his curious little nose twitched with delight. I held him back to prevent him from plunging in.

  "I like to swim there when the weather is hot," said Darcy. He pulled me up onto a little hillock to stand beside him. "You see the path beyond it leads to Derby so I must pass the lake when I am returning home. If the weather is agreeable, I stop my horse to swim."

  "It does not seem tempting now, but I am sure it is fine in the summer," I said. "I am envious. I wish I could swim. I think my mother was afraid that if I learned, I would spend all my time in the lakes and rivers around Meryton. She already thought me unladylike enough."

  "You cannot swim?" Darcy was astonished. "No one taught you?"

  "Who would have done so? My parents cannot, and I have no brothers who might have shown me how to do it. I had no one who could be my teacher."

  "We shall have to rectify that," said Darcy. "You now have someone willing to teach you."

  "You?" I blinked in surprise.

  "Of course me. I taught Georgiana to swim. She is excellent at it, and she will be more than happy to join you in the summer. You will learn it in no time."

  I felt a thrill of excitement running through me. That Darcy would teach me something so thrilling made me flutter with anticipation.

  "I should like that more than anything," I said. "When shall we start?"

  Darcy laughed and tucked my arm beneath his as though he thought I might run to the lake at once.

  "Not just yet. It is, as you say, rather too cold for it. But once the weather is a little warmer, we shall begin at once."

  I beamed at my husband and pulled at his arm. "Come then. Your promise has softened me as you intended, so I shall not be too insulting towards your woods."

  "You could not if you tried. Come. I shall take you to my favourite place."

  Pemberley Woods was everything Darcy said they were and more. I thrilled when I saw the rich expanse. Udolpho's nose twitched eagerly, and he whined and strained on the lead, almost more excited than I was. Darcy smiled as the two of us almost pulled him with us.

  "You are a well-matched pair," he said. "I have found you a kindred spirit."

  "Udolpho is an extremely intelligent dog with the finest of taste. I recognised that in him at once," I said in an arch tone. "I envy you. If these were mine, I should never leave them."

  "They are yours, though I hope you will indulge me and not spend all your time in them. Though I confess, whenever I am away from you, and I imagine you, it is always surrounded by trees and nature. It is difficult to picture you in a drawing-room holding needlework. You belong in the woods with the sun shining on your hair, with your eyes brightened by the exercise."

  I was aware he was looking down at me, but I could not meet his eyes. I pretended to be occupied with Udolpho, calling to him and making excuses to chide him as he shoved his little head down a rabbit hole. Darcy's view of me was romanticised — the sort of view a man might have of his lover. What did he mean by speaking to me so as he sometimes did? I wish I knew if he meant it, but I could not have endured making a fool of myself if it turned out he did not.

  "I did not know you imagined me at all," I said, trying to sound light and unconcerned.

  "No? Surely you must know I would imagine my wife when I am away from her? Even before you were my wife. I remember one day, not long after I arrived in Hertfordshire, I went out for a ride." Darcy led me on, calling to Udolpho before he could disappear. "You were out walking. I do not believe you saw me, but if you did, you gave no sign of it."

  I felt a guilty blush at his words. I recalled the very day he talked of. I had seen him at a dinner the night before, and once again, he had declined to dance with almost every lady in the room. I kept away from him that time so he would not think I desired him as a partner. But I had been aware his eyes followed me about the room, and he looked at me more than ever. I disliked him heartily then and was convinced he only looked at me so he could find something else in me that gave him offence.

  I had seen him in the woods that day. On his large black hunter, how could I not? But I pretended I had not. There was a stream nearby, and I had been sitting on the edge, kicking my legs in the water. My back was against a tree, and I threw sticks in the river, relishing in the sun on my face and the rich fragrance of autumn in the air. I had been dismayed to realise Darcy was there. I could only imagine what he must have thought of me sitting like a peasant girl in the grass. I was sure he returned to Netherfield that night to laugh at me. But I did not care what he thought of me back then, and I was determined to avoid him, so I pretended I did not see him.

  "What of it?" I asked carefully.

  Darcy did not answer at first. I looked up at him to see a soft smile on his face. There was a distant look in his eyes.

  "I do not know how to phrase it," he said. "But when I saw you sitting beside the stream with the sun in your hair — you had loosened your hair from its pins, and it fell about your shoulders, you know."

  I winced at that but nodded.

  "I confess, I had seen nothing more bewitching in all my life."

  I stopped in surprise.

  "Bewitching?"

  "Absolutely enchanting. I could not look away from you. I do not know how long I stood there drunk from the sight, but I came to my senses and decided I had better leave at once, or I would alarm you. But the vision has been with me ever since. Whenever I think of you, it is like that — a beautiful maiden sitting in the grass, surrounded by flowers and sun. I have not been in a room with other ladies since without thinking how stale they all appear in comparison."

  I shook my head. "No, that will not do. You will not praise me by criticising the rest of my sex."

  Darcy laughed. "I do not mean to criticise. I only mean that I am extremely biased when it comes to you, and my preference is such that no one else can measure up to it. I have been spoilt by a sight few men have the privilege of seeing and it changed something in me from that day."

  He had slowed his steps until he almost brought us to a stop. He glanced down at me. I could hardly look at him in confusion. Did he mean what he said? He would not be performing now. Udolpho was the only other being here and judging by the way he was bravely trying to climb a rock and falling over with a look of surprise, he was an indifferent audience.

  The breeze blew a strand of my hair free from under my bonnet. I felt it
tickle my cheek. Darcy's eyes followed it, and he reached out to tuck it back behind my ear. I shivered at the contact. He stared at me as though he were deciding something. My hands clutched Udolpho's lead even tighter.

  "What is it?" I murmured. Darcy drew a deep breath.

  "Come. I have not shown you what I brought you here to see. We have a little further to walk."

  His warm fingers wrapped around mine. We moved off the main trail. I did not care where he was taking me.

  Even in the winter, the air was fresh, and the ground crisp. Darcy took my hand to help me over the uneven ground and held onto it even when the ground became easier to manage. We climbed upwards, our breaths making little puffs on the cold air. As the trail became a little steeper, Darcy had to carry Udolpho in his arms. He made a muttered comment about the puppy's clumsy paws being sure to send him tumbling to the bottom of the hill, a mutter I was quick to instruct the little dog to ignore lest it wound him.

  "Where are we going?" I asked. I was a little out of breath much as I tried to hide it. Those weeks of being mistress of Pemberley meant I had not enjoyed as much exercise as I usually did. Darcy still held my hand with his free one.

  "You shall see. We are almost there, and I promise it is worth it."

  42

  I had to be content with no other answer. Darcy assisted me when my long skirts made the climb difficult, pulling me behind him and then catching me in his arms to steady me. I was not sure it was necessary, but I did not intend to stop him.

  “Not too much further to go.”

  We climbed a little higher, then walked around a stony outcrop where stood the ruins of a castle. I gasped when I saw it.

  “It is beautiful,” I said. “What is it called?”

  “It was built by one of my ancestors, Gerald D’Arcy, when he first came to England. It gave him views of the whole countryside. Look.”

  Darcy gently turned me. I blinked when I saw it. Derbyshire spread before me, the peaks laid out like jewels. I could see for miles and miles, hills, trees and forests, and little towns in the distance like children’s toys.