by Wells, Linda
“Mama was fussing over her dress, Aunt.” Kitty glanced at Elizabeth. “She wanted to look just so.”
“Well if she needs advice on dressing she should just speak to Lizzy!” She reached forward to touch Elizabeth’s gown. “I have never seen the like, my dear. What did it cost?”
“Oh at least twenty pounds,” Mrs. Goulding examined it, “look at the details.”
“I am not sure of the cost.” Elizabeth said with a smile.
“Ah, that is a rich man’s wife right there, no worries over the cost of anything.” Lady Lucas observed. “A lucky woman indeed.”
“I was not bragging, ladies, I simply do not remember.” She looked at Darcy to see if he was offended, but quickly saw that he was focussed on the progress of Mrs. Bennet across the room. “Your gowns are lovely; I wish that I had something in that shade of blue, Mrs. King.”
“Oh.” She preened. “It is a favourite.”
“Sister!” Mrs. Philips snatched Mrs. Bennet’s arm. “Will you not greet your daughter?”
“I have several daughters to greet, Sister.” She glanced at Elizabeth and walked towards Jane who was talking with Mary and Kitty.
Darcy disengaged Elizabeth’s gripping hand from his arm and placed his on her back, curving his fingers around her waist to draw her close to his side. The movement was not lost on Mr. Bennet, who moved forward to greet them.
“Good evening.” He smiled and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “You are stunning, Lizzy, but it seems that the other ladies have already determined that.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“I would say that anyway, but Sir William was dying to tell me of the gasps from the hens when you stepped in the door.” He chuckled. “Your gown, hair and jewels were examined, judged, and priced before you had finished shaking his hand.”
“Brother, I am affronted!” Mrs. Philips lifted her chin.
“Papa means no harm, Aunt; you know his sense of humour by now.” Elizabeth soothed her.
“Well, yes, I do. Quite amusing.” She patted him and the women swept away.
Elizabeth glanced around to see that the three were alone. “Papa, you really have to watch your tongue!”
“Oh my dear, if you deign to speak to any of them you will be declared a queen. Look at how you quieted them down? And if I am not mistaken, were they not in the process of pricing your ensemble when I approached?” Darcy shook his head and Mr. Bennet smiled. “Shall I tell you what their opinion of you is, sir? I understand that you have a breathtaking smile.”
“Good heavens, no.” He let go a deep breath. “We should greet your mother and be done with it.”
“How will it go, Papa?”
“I honestly do not know. She ranges from contrition to anger in the blink of an eye; she is most unsettled by this turn of events.” He shrugged. “So, let us find out which spirit possesses her at present.” They walked to the side of the room where Mrs. Bennet was talking alone with Jane.
“Mama.” Mrs. Bennet startled and turned to see Elizabeth standing behind her. She took in the gown of pale yellow silk, embroidered with silver thread and highlighted with tiny jewels. Her hair was dressed with a comb of pearls, and her neck was adorned by the simple beauty of Richard the pearl, the diamonds sparkled in the blaze of the firelight and dozens of candles. It was simple, it was absolutely gorgeous, and she glowed. Darcy’s hand remained on her back. It was an impressive sight to see them standing together. It was everything that Mrs. Bennet had ever wished to see for a daughter, just not this one. “I hope that you are well?”
“Oh. Mrs. Darcy.” She said flatly and looked up to find Darcy’s serious face regarding her. “Mr. Darcy.”
“Mrs. Bennet.” He said coolly. “My wife asks after your health. I trust you are well?”
“Well enough.” She addressed him. “For one who is considered intolerable.”
Darcy concentrated his strength on Elizabeth, who was stiffening, but kept his eyes on his motherin-law. “Choose your words wisely, Mrs. Bennet, and be mindful of your audience.”
Her voice began to shrill and heads turned. “My audience? A couple who are too afraid to meet me in my home? What do you think I would do to my granddaughter?”
“Lower your voice Mrs. Bennet or return home now.” Mr. Bennet warned.
“You did me no favours.” Elizabeth said softly.
Mrs. Bennet hissed. “I risked my life to give you yours.”
“And never once let me forget how much you regretted my birth.” Elizabeth’s hand passed protectively over her baby. Mrs. Bennet watched the movement.
“Lizzy you are not helping.” Mr. Bennet said in her ear and looked to Darcy to take control, but saw only increasing anger.
“You are truly with child.” There was disbelief in Mrs. Bennet’s voice.
“Yes.”
“As you can see, she is neither fat nor lazy.” Darcy growled as he entered the fray. “She is beautiful, as I know I have informed you before.” Mr. Bennet threw his hands in the air. Fearless, Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth to retort when Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide.
“Oh.” She whispered when she felt a movement and Darcy’s hand automatically caressed over the baby, seeking the affirmation for himself. Without hesitation, he bent and kissed her lips.
“Lizzy Bennet!”
Straightening, Darcy focussed on Mrs. Bennet. “Elizabeth Darcy. Do not forget it again.” He stared her down until she shrunk. “She is my wife, I may kiss her when I see fit, and do not ever chastise her before me.”
“Will …”
Charlotte appeared quickly when Jane beckoned her over to help diffuse the situation before it worsened. “Eliza, I am going to open the instrument.”
Elizabeth turned from her husband back to her mother. “What was that saying you used to tell me so often, Mama? Save your breath to cool your porridge?” Mrs. Bennet’s eyes moved from Darcy’s protective glare to meet Elizabeth’s determined face. “I will save mine to swell my song.”
“I certainly do not wish to listen.” Mrs. Bennet said in a low voice to her back.
“Mrs. Bennet, you provoked that entire encounter, this dinner will set our relationship with our daughter for many years, possibly for the remainder of our lives. I suggest that you think hard before you speak to them again.”
“He insults your wife and you support him?”
“He was supporting his wife who has kept her thoughts to herself for far too long.” Mr. Bennet said softy. “Like it or not, Mrs. Bennet, we are nothing to Mr. Darcy and he does not have to tolerate us.” Mrs. Bennet turned away to go to the opposite end of the room, striking up a loud conversation with her sister.
Darcy followed Elizabeth to the pianoforte. “Are you well? We remain here only at your direction, and frankly dear, I am on the precipice of overruling you.”
“I know. Forgive me for losing control.” She said shakily. “I should not have responded, but I will not let her see that she has reached me. Not this time. Not ever again.”
“Why not respond? Why not tell her all of the hurt that she has done to you? Bleed the poison from your memories.” He urged. “I did not allow you to confront her when I broke off our ties, I did not even confront her, well go ahead love, just let it out and we will go. You have tried for so long …”
“No, Fitzwilliam.” She drew a deep breath. “That is not what I need to put this away.” Purposefully she sat down and he sat beside her. She closed her eyes and tried to think of something happy to play, but failed as tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Your stubbornness is my undoing, Lizzy.” Darcy murmured with frustration and slipped his arm around her waist. Hugging her, he concentrated while she leaned into him, and thought of the very first time he saw her. Leaning to her ear, he sang very softly, “When first I saw thee graceful move, ah me, what meant my throbbing breast? Say soft confusion, art thou love? If love thou are, then farewell rest!”16
She looked up to see his mouth ready to embra
ce hers. “Fitzwilliam …”
“Just one kiss …” He urged.
“I am afraid that we will become lost if we give in.”
“Then may we leave, and truly become lost?” He squeezed her hand. “Come love, we are not needed here. There is nothing to prove, she is angry with our decision and she will not let up all night, I know it. This is her opportunity to react to the humiliation. Come, let us go. We can walk home.”
She smiled down to her satin slippers. “In these?”
“I shall carry you.” He smiled. “Like a man.”
“Even you will tire of my weight over three miles.”
“You doubt me?” Darcy sat up and threw out his chest.
Elizabeth laughed softly. “No love, only your stamina.”
“Let me take you home and I will demonstrate my stamina very thoroughly, my love. Over and over again.” His eyes were darkening as he whispered, urging her to give in. “Try me.”
Sighing, she let herself become lost in his gaze. “I never resist temptation, because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.”17
Nodding, he encouraged her, “Tempt not a desperate man.18 Taking her hand, he lifted it to his lips. “Your every look tempts me, and I assure you, I am desperate to go. Come…Come away…”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, if you will follow me to the dining room?” Lady Lucas called. The soft look of surrender in Elizabeth’s eyes dissolved.
“Damn.” He cursed as the spell was broken. “You did not hear her. We are leaving.”
“We cannot, Will. Tempting as it is.” She whispered. “We must stay. This is for my sisters who remain behind, this is for my father. It is not for me anymore. Soon we will be at Pemberley, but they must live in this neighbourhood, we cannot go, I cannot shame them.”
“Elizabeth …” He knew it was useless to argue. “We will stay only if you allow me to soothe you when we return home.”
“Oh Fitzwilliam, when have I ever said no?” Elizabeth laughed, and he smiled. “It will not be so bad.”
“Your unending confidence amazes me.” Darcy stood and offering his hand, looked to the dining room. “I wonder what the seating will be? I want you near me, not at the other end of the table.”
“You know that if you are by Lady Lucas, I am destined for Sir William.” Seeing his unhappiness, she smiled, “Knowing Lady Lucas, it will be something that suits her desires rather than strict protocol; hopefully Jane and Charlotte were able to influence her.” Elizabeth held his arm, and found to their embarrassment that everyone was waiting for them to lead off the parade. “The privilege of rank, I suppose.” She noticed that de Bourgh and Mary were just behind them, followed by Bingley escorting Maria. “Oh dear, Lady Lucas has indeed struck.”
Darcy noticed Bingley’s amusement and smiled. “You cannot blame her for trying.”
Arriving at the dining room, they found that Lady Lucas’ arrangements had prevailed, and that she had forgotten the size of her table. The room was long enough, but the dining area itself was clearly made of two tables, unfortunately of unequal heights, and even this was not sufficient to accommodate her ambitious guest list, as a secondary table, tucked alongside the main one was prepared. “Come in everyone.” She began arranging them as they entered.
Hurst saw the small table and murmured to Louisa, “They can play Whist while they eat.”
“Hush!” She hissed.
“At least they will be comfortable; we will barely be able to lift our forks to our mouths! Look how tightly we will be packed! I will be wearing the soup down my waistcoat!”
“Mr. Hurst!”
“It seems to be a table for unruly children.” Mrs. King smirked until she realized that her daughter was stationed there, as were Abbey and Miss Goulding. Her eyes narrowed when she looked back to Lady Lucas, who smiled sweetly as she directed Bingley to take his seat at Sir William’s left, and seated Maria by his side. “Calculating witch!” Mrs. King hissed, then noted that the only single man to be with the girls was Mr. Collins. “Well at least that Miss Martin is not near Mr. Bingley! Let Mr. Collins have her!”
Mrs. Goulding was just as angry. “Well he certainly is not going to be courting my daughter! Why the very idea, a curate wanting to marry! He can have Miss Martin!”
“What are you saying of my niece?” Mrs. Long demanded.
Bingley sat down and turning his head to the left, he spotted Abbey trying to look at him. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate, and discovered that if he adjusted his chair a little, he could manage to politely converse with Maria and attempt to keep Abbey in view. It was a small victory, but he gladly took it.
Lucas, on his father’s right, looked at Bingley’s predicament and chuckled at his mother’s devilish plotting, and wondered why he was seated where Elizabeth belonged. Robinson, on Maria’s left, joined his amusement and helped along by her elder brother, engaged Maria in conversation.
Darcy saw Elizabeth to her seat and while holding her chair, looked down the table. She felt him stiffen and followed his stare. “Oh no.”
He leaned down. “We will exchange seats, love.”
“No.” She watched as Lady Lucas pointed her mother to the chair on her left. “I will be fine. You are too large to sit here; you need to be on the end. Besides, you are the guest of honour.”
“No, I will not have you suffer, at the least exchange seats with Lucas …”
“She would not dare cause a scene here.”
“She did in the drawing room.” His voice had become tight and dangerously low.
“I helped that along, Will.” Elizabeth took his hands that rested protectively on her shoulders. “I can bear her for one meal.”
“Lizzy!” Jane whispered. “I told Mama to calm herself. Are you well? You were supposed to be in Robert’s place.”
“I will be fine.” Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s hands and stone-faced, walked around the table to take his seat on Lady Lucas’ right. He watched as Mrs. Bennet discovered that she had been seated between Elizabeth and Mary. She paused for a long moment, and noticed Mr. Bennet seated across the table between Robinson and Jane, staring at her intently. With a loud sigh, she flounced into her chair.
De Bourgh turned to Jane and whispered, “Nobody knows of the situation between the Darcys and your mother do they?”
“No, I do not believe they told anyone other than we sisters and Mr. Bingley.”
“Well, let us hope that the menu contains some meat that requires much chewing!” Mr. Bennet said sedately as he leaned back in his chair and looked around Jane to de Bourgh. “That will keep the conversation to a minimum.”
“Your optimism is admirable, sir, but I fear that it is misplaced.” He looked up as footmen, some clearly grooms cleaned up and pressed into service, began ladling out the soup, which was consumed fairly quickly and quietly. Next the meats arrived and as was the custom, the gentlemen carved, serving themselves and helping the ladies to fill their plates.
“Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth said with a smile. “May I have some of the potatoes?”
He looked around for a footman to carry her the bowl, and seeing nobody about, covered for Lady Lucas’ embarrassment. “If I might have your plate, Mrs. Darcy.”
She handed it to Hurst who passed it to Darcy. “I cannot remember the last time you served me, Mr. Darcy.”
He smiled to see her spirit rising. “Well that is a situation that must be corrected, and soon.”
“I would have had bowls on both sides of the table, or at the least have enough servants that the guests do not have to perform their duties.” Mrs. Bennet observed.
“You have always set a fine table, Mrs. Bennet.” Mrs. King agreed.
Lady Lucas lifted her chin. “I prefer to offer variety rather than quantity.”
“And you have certainly achieved a beautiful display of the season’s best, Lady Lucas.” Elizabeth said with a smile. “I am happily impressed. Charlotte and Jane told me how you have been planning this
evening.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Darcy. I must apologize for serving pork.” She turned to Darcy. “I know how it is not popular in the highest circles. Perhaps you would prefer the mutton further down?”
He paused from carving the meat before him. “My cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam convinced me long ago of the worthiness of the animal, and has even managed to persuade his parents, Lord and Lady Matlock, to enjoy its flavour.”
“My goodness Mr. Darcy, you labour as a servant, you eat as one, tell me, do you have haunches hanging about in your parlour?” Mrs. Bennet asked. Mrs. King and Mrs. Goulding gasped. Jane started. “Mama!”
Darcy’s eyes fixed on her. “Do you remember our earlier conversation, madam? I am exercising great restraint.”
De Bourgh and Hurst hurried to diffuse the insult but Mr. Bennet spoke first. “Mrs. Bennet, do we have haunches hanging from our rafters? Perhaps we should leave now and look.”
“I have not been invited to Pemberley, how could I know what was there?” She turned to Elizabeth. “How strange it is that after over two years of marriage, I have yet to see this place and must rely on the descriptions given by others.”
“I supposed that you have had no opportunity to come, Mama.” Elizabeth said evenly.
De Bourgh spoke up. “I have not seen it either, Mrs. Bennet, do not feel left out. It is a long and arduous journey, and one that I doubt we will undertake soon.”
Mr. Bennet nodded. “It is an expensive journey as well. My funds are earmarked for more concrete projects, the dower house for one. I am afraid that we must be satisfied with our daughter coming to the neighbourhood when she can.”
“And we are glad that the Darcys have joined us at Netherfield.” Hurst smiled at Elizabeth.
“I have not seen Rosings, either.” Mrs. Bennet said to de Bourgh.
“And you never will.” Mary said under her breath. Mrs. Bennet turned to look at her but found that Mary was placidly eating and took no notice of her stare.
“How long is the journey to Pemberley?” Lady Lucas asked.