by Wells, Linda
“Your walls. Your home.” Darcy nodded.
“Until you take a wife and she is the one who will dictate your decoration.” Hurst noted.
“Not in my study.” Bingley declared and drank in the masculine atmosphere. “Well, I must find a study first.”
Darcy studied him and sat up a little. “Well, I have kept my eyes open for estates in this area, and I am afraid that nothing suitable for your needs has presented itself. There are a few that I am watching, and perhaps in a year or so … well, that does nothing for you now. Netherfield remains available. I understand from Lucas that the judge will not renew his lease. However the owner has at last seen the wisdom of improving his land, so the productivity of the estate should be increasing.”
“Is that so?” Bingley nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps I should write to him and put in my request to lease it now, no hemming and hawing this time.”
“When would you take it?” Hurst asked.
“Well it would be foolish to take it before Michaelmas; I will be in town for the Season.”
“Is there any hesitation about living so close to Lucas Lodge?”
Bingley looked up to a spot in the corner of the room. “No.” He smiled back at Darcy. “None at all. She was not the girl for me.” He sat forward and rubbed his hands together. “Now, you have our company for the next month, whatever will you do with us?”
Darcy sighed and smiled. “Why do I look forward to New Year already?”
“No, no, Darcy, we will be perfect guests. Louisa is looking forward to telling Caroline all about Pemberley.”
He groaned. “Wonderful. How is your sister?”
Hurst smiled at Bingley. “Pregnancy does not sit well with her, but she already has the nursery decorated, undoubtedly by the time we return she will have the appropriate staff in place. She will see this child long enough to show off to visitors and then go back to her affairs. I believe that she has told Robinson that she expects a long holiday afterwards.”
“For performing her services.” Darcy sighed. “I cannot imagine my wife being so cold.”
“Mrs. Fitzwilliam is nearing her moment, is she not?” Bingley smiled. “How is your cousin? The stoic soldier? I wager that he will not even perspire, he has faced so much.”
“They expect the baby sometime in the next few weeks, near Christmas.” Darcy glanced at a letter on his desk from Fitzwilliam that contained an endless list of questions and endless worries. “He will be fine.”
“MMM, SO NICE. Good morning.” Fitzwilliam murmured while rubbing Evangeline’s shoulders. He then firmly massaged his way down her spine and back up again.
She stretched like a cat and sighed. “What has you so pleased?”
“Oh my dear, have I ever told you how much I enjoy bothering you?” He nuzzled his lips to her throat. “I do, you know.”
“I believe that I have noticed.” Eva closed her eyes and melted back into the relief his mammoth hands gave her aching body. “But this is not in any way a bother.”
“No?” Kissing her ear, he slipped his hands around to caress her breasts. “Is it possible that these have grown in the night?”
“Richard …”
“Seriously love, look at them!” He adjusted his position kneeling behind her on the bed, took a breast in each hand, and began to juggle. “They are orbs!”
“They always were.” She opened her eyes and looked at how they spilled out of his palms. “Although they seem rather obscene.”
“Oh, no!” Fitzwilliam said vehemently. “No, no, no!” He smiled when she laughed softly. “How do you feel?”
“I am a mass of emotion. I am tired, anxious, oh Richard, all I can think about is …” She looked up to see his face resting on her shoulder. “You.”
“Me?” Sitting up, his smile expressed his delight. “Really?’’
“Oh yes, please?”
“I am a gentleman, I would not think of leaving a lady in distress.” Happily, he laid her on her side and was just going to settle behind her when she gasped. “Eva? I have not begun yet.”
She clutched her belly and laid her head back on his chest. “Richard you silly idiot, I am not that numb. I know when you have begun! I just felt a pain.”
“A pain?” He said in confusion then the light of dawn flooded his mind. His desire melted as his heart started to pound. “What kind of pain? Your back is sore?”
“Yes, but …” She sighed and felt his hands slip around her protectively. “It was a labour pain.”
“No.” He said flatly.
“I am afraid so.” She turned back and felt her heart lurch to see fear registering in his eyes. “It was going to happen sometime.”
“No.”
“Richard Fitzwilliam. Stop denying this, I am going to bear this child, and it seems that it will be today.” She felt his increasing tension as his body stiffened behind her, and in some way, she was grateful for it. Being strong for him would force her to push her own worries aside. “I think that we need to notify the accoucher.”
“Oh no.” He clutched her possessively. “No.”
“Do you wish to deliver me?”
“Good God, no!” He stared.
“Then please alert the staff, and … ohhhhhh.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Ohhhh.”
“EVA!”
“Dear, I am well; it could be many, many hours.”
“Elizabeth delivered in no time!” He said as panic rose in his voice.
“So you need to get to your duties! Notify the staff and send a note to your parents.”
“My parents?” He said blankly. “Why?”
“So that your father can keep you sane and your mother will come and fight with me.” She laughed at his absolutely lost expression. “Oh Richard, you resemble a little boy who has dropped his candy in the mud.”
“What?” He blinked and saw her smile. “I am not that lost!”
“How did you ever ride into battle?”
“Oh love. I cared for my boys, but it is nothing to holding my life in my arms.” He sighed and kissed her. “Forgive me.” Carefully, he rose to his feet and stood to pull the bell. He watched her try to sit up and rushed to her side. “Where are you going?”
“I am going to walk.”
“No.”
“That seems to be a favourite word of yours today.” She laughed a little then squeezed her eyes shut when another pain came and went. “Oh my.”
“Is it worse?” He said anxiously.
“No. Now help me to stand.” Eva ordered her hopeless husband.
“Must you? I do not care to see our baby drop from you as you stride about the room.”
“Richard Fitzwilliam, I sincerely doubt that giving birth to your child will inspire such nonchalant behaviour on my part. Besides, if anything, I will waddle.” She grasped his hands and stood, then leaned into his arms. A knock at the door came and he gave the orders to send for the male midwife and to notify Matlock House of the imminent birth.
“Now, what must we do?” He said softly as he slowly walked her around the chambers. “Shall I tell you how much I love you?”
“I have yet to hear you stop telling me. It is in everything you say and do.” Evangeline caressed his worried face. They held each other and kissed until the chamber door opened and their staff began the business of preparing for the baby to arrive. Fitzwilliam felt himself being relegated to the doorway as they took over his wife’s care. “I love you.” Evangeline said softly. Nodding and kissing his fingers, he held up his palm before walking away.
“MRS. DARCY.” Bernard said quietly from the doorway. “Some visitors have arrived and ask for permission to see the house.”
“Oh, I thought that it might be the Henley’s carriage. They have been threatening to visit.” Elizabeth’s brow creased then she smiled when she heard Hurst chuckling. She saw Louisa’s shaking head and addressed her, “We have not had anybody since summer. It is an odd time to be touring.”
“I would not say
that.” Bingley smiled. “Look at us.”
“That is true.” Elizabeth shrugged.
Bernard cleared his throat. “One lady claims some acquaintance with you, Madam. She is the former Miss Long.”
“Sarah!” Elizabeth cried and jumped up. Bingley and the Hursts exchanged curious glances while Mary followed her down the stairs to the foyer where a man and two women stood in utter awe as they gaped at the magnificent hall. “Sarah Long!”
“Oh!” A young woman wearing a simply tailored gown and coat ran forward, “Elizabeth! Oh and Mary! Oh, just look at how beautiful you are!” She stopped her advance suddenly when she took in their fine gowns, and obviously fully realized the difference in their stations. She blushed when she glanced down at her dress.
Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, “I was just about to say the same of you. You are glowing!”
Sarah stood a little taller and turned to the others. “Mrs. Darcy, Miss Mary Bennet, this is my husband, Mr. Andrew Wilcox, we were married three weeks ago, and we are on our wedding trip.”
“I did not know that you had married already! Forgive me; I am due a letter from Jane. I am sure that she will include the wonderful news. Congratulations to you both.” Elizabeth smiled and looked to the other woman. “And … You look so familiar.”
“They tell me that I bear a striking resemblance to my Aunt Long.” The pretty young woman with auburn hair and green eyes smiled and curtseyed.
“Mrs. Darcy, this is my cousin Miss Abbey Martin, she accompanied us on our trip. Mr. Wilcox is from Derbyshire and we have been visiting his family.” She looked up at him with an adoring smile. “And now we are on our way back home.”
“Mr. Wilcox, I hope that you found your family well?”
“Yes, Mrs. Darcy, very well.” He said softly. “I must say that it is a great pleasure to visit Pemberley, thank you for tolerating us. I have grown up hearing of the estate. My family owns a small estate, Nevillewood, not too far from Matlock.”
“Mr. Wilcox has the living at Langley.” Sarah said proudly.
“Congratulations, sir. That is a wonderful achievement!” Elizabeth smiled. “I suppose that was how you met; Langley is not far at all from Meryton.”
“We met at an assembly.” He smiled at Sarah. “She somehow coaxed me to dance.”
“I believe that she planted herself in front of you until you noticed her.” Abbey laughed and Elizabeth turned to her with a sparkle in her eye. “Forgive me, I could not resist.”
“Not at all, I am very fond of teasing the ones I love, as my sister can attest.” She nudged Mary and raised her brows.
Taking the cue to speak, Mary nervously turned to Abbey. “Are you from Langley, Miss Martin?”
“No, I live in London, but last year I began to spend the autumn in the country, better air, Mama said,” she bit her lip and continued, “my father is in trade.” She glanced at Elizabeth and was relieved to see that she was not in the least disgusted. “He purchases fabric from the mills in Yorkshire, and has several shops around town. He is very successful.”
“Well that is a pleasant coincidence; one of our houseguests owns several mills. Perhaps he will know your father. I will introduce you when your tour is completed.”
“You have friends in trade?” Abbey said with surprise and unconsciously glanced around at the splendour before her.
Elizabeth leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “Miss Martin, I am proud to say that I have family in trade.”
“Oh.” She smiled and laughed. “Forgive me, but I resisted visiting here, despite the slight connection that my cousin can claim, I feared that … well that we would be looked at without favour. Mr. Wilcox has been very verbose in his stories of Pemberley, it has a very long history and great influence in the county, it seems. And he is a student of history.” She smiled at him.
Wilcox blushed. “It was Mr. Lucas who suggested that we might take in the estate when we were in the area. He said it was not to be missed, and that you are most welcoming.”
“Oh yes, and after hearing your mother go on and on about it, we simply had to see if she was, well, you know.” Sarah blushed.
“Oh, I know.” Elizabeth smiled. “Well, here it is. My housekeeper will be glad to show you around, and when you are finished, please join us for tea.” She noted Abbey’s surprise and she smiled at her. “Where are you staying?”
“In Lambton.” Wilcox said quickly. “We depart for home in the morning. We wish to be there to celebrate Christmas.”
“Well then, Mrs. Reynolds?” Elizabeth turned and nodded to her, then looked back at the party. “I will see you in about an hour.”
“You will not join us?” Sarah asked.
“Oh no.” She laughed. “How can you comment on the decoration if I am standing by your side? Come and join us when you are through. As I said, we have some other guests and I will be glad to introduce you to them. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”
Elizabeth and Mary walked back up the stairs and Mrs. Reynolds cleared her throat. “Now then, the master of Pemberley is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, he is …”
“I am surprised that you did not stay with them, Lizzy.” Mary whispered and sent a backwards glance as they disappeared down the hallway towards the dining room. “I do not really know the Long family, but you used to talk to the girls.”
“I did, but I cannot be expected to drop everything to be a guide to people who essentially arrived uninvited and unannounced. Like it or not, I have a position to maintain, and Fitzwilliam expects me to do so. I am not being superior; I am simply being the mistress of Pemberley. Sarah is a very nice girl and she is clearly very proud of her new husband, and wanted to please him by showing her connection to an estate he admired. Undoubtedly she also has the desire to satisfy her curiosity courtesy of our mother’s imagination. Now Sarah can tell the gossips the truth of our home, and hopefully Mama will be silenced as she has never seen it.” She saw Mary’s eyes widen in admiration and said quietly. “However, I invited them for tea because of our acquaintance. That is a significant honour, and I believe that Miss Martin recognized it; she seems to be educated, and certainly well-off. I wonder if her father has invested in her future as Mrs. Hurst’s father did.”
“I can hardly believe how many things you took into consideration in that short interview, Lizzy! I was just trying to think of something sensible to say. Is being so conscious of behaviour and position the way of all mistresses when people come to the home?” Mary asked as they made their way back to the sitting room.
“I cannot speak for everyone, but this was a topic that Lady Matlock discussed with me when we were all together here, and Fitzwilliam and I were newly married. It seemed there was almost a daily influx of visitors, and I felt compelled to meet them. She corrected me. If I am available I will speak to them, but I do not interrupt my work if I am busy, and Fitzwilliam never has. I am not sure if Rosings has ever accepted visitors. You will have to ask Captain de Bourgh in your next letter.” Elizabeth smiled when Mary blushed. “It will not be long before his next comes.”
“I miss him.”
“Good.” Elizabeth laughed. “Oh Mary, can you imagine how much I missed my Fitzwilliam? And I did not even know if he cared for me.”
“Lizzy.” Mary stopped and looked at her hands. “May I write a private letter to him?”
“What would you want to say that is so private? You are not courting, Mary.” Elizabeth studied her. “And if you do write him a private letter, how could he respond? You know that his letters are read by us all.”
“I do not wish for a response.” Mary said softly. “I only wish to express my impressions of his journals, so that he knows that I understand why he gave them to me.” She looked up and spoke pleadingly. “I promise it will be just this once, and I will beg him not to respond, but I want him to know, to really know that I … care.”
“Oh Mary.”
“Please.
“I will ask Fitzwilliam.”
/> “He will say no.” She said sadly.
“You could ask him.” Elizabeth said with a smile. “He is especially easy to persuade if you give him a hug.”
“I could not just hug him!” Mary gasped. “I could not!”
“Then play his favourite songs.”
Mary shook her head and Elizabeth took her hand and squeezed. “I am sorry, Mary. I know that you might want to express something that would be embarrassing for us, especially for Fitzwilliam to read. I propose that you write your letter, and I will read it. Fitzwilliam will accept my judgement on this. We simply do not want either of you to be expressing inappropriate thoughts. Would that be acceptable?”
“I only want him to know that I understand so much of him. We are so much alike.” Mary saw Elizabeth’s head nodding. “You really do understand.”
“Yes, I truly do. Fitzwilliam and I are very similar.”
Relaxing, Mary decided it was time for her to tease. “I think that he wishes for you to play for him.” She said and saw Elizabeth’s surprise. “He looks at the pianoforte and back to you often.”
“He does?” Elizabeth blushed. “Oh, since you and Georgiana took over the music room, I am afraid that I have not felt accomplished enough to compare with you, and have shirked my playing. He has not played for me either, I should point out.”
“Then practice for him. I think that he would enjoy it very much.” Mary giggled. “And you must sing!”
She laughed. “I do that all of the time.”
“Yes, and he looks so lost!” Mary sighed. “I want to see Peter … Captain de Bourgh look lost.”
“He does, Mary. You just have to stop looking at your hands and into his eyes, he will love it.” She squeezed her hand and smiled.
“Are you two going to join us?” Bingley appeared at the doorway and grinned. “Or will you continue this fascinating discussion of love in the hallway where any and all can listen?”
“You cannot hear us unless you do it on purpose, Mr. Bingley.” Elizabeth said with her hands on her hips. “What are you about?”
Chuckling, he stepped back into the room and waited for the sisters to pass. “Your husband has abandoned me for the estate, what do you expect?”