by Wells, Linda
“She was trying to walk up the steps.” Lydia explained.
“Rosalie Darcy!” Elizabeth knelt and said sternly. “No! You do not walk on the steps alone!” Her bottom lip appeared and she started to sniff. “Sorry dear, that might work on Papa, but it will not work on me.”
“Mama.” Rosalie lifted her arms to be picked up.
“Come here …” Elizabeth took her hand and closed her eyes. “I am going to regret this.” Hitching her skirt up, she showed Rosalie her foot and put it on the step. Rosalie looked at her boot and up to her mother. “Go on, step up.”
“Up.” Rosalie copied her.
Elizabeth stepped up and stood still. “Come on.”
“Up.”
“Lizzy …”
“She has to learn, Jane. Her falling down tells me that she is ready.” She smiled at Rosalie. “Good girl. Up.”
“UP!” Rosalie crowed and slowly they made their way to the top. When they arrived, Elizabeth kissed her and the sisters applauded. “Whee!”
“Good girl! Now, down. Hold on to the railing, dear.”
“Dow.” Rosalie smiled and joined her on the step. “Dow. Good gril!”
“Yes! Very good girl!” Elizabeth beamed and they slowly descended, reaching the bottom to the applause of her aunts. “Never ever go alone, Rosa.”
“Mama.” Rosalie hugged her leg then grabbed her hand. “Up!”
“Oh dear.” Elizabeth sighed. “What have I done?”
“We will teach her!” Lydia and Kitty offered. “Mary you stay here and catch her if she falls down.”
“Oh I hope not!” She laughed and looked at Jane and Elizabeth. They watched for a while and Jane took Elizabeth’s hand, and they returned to the parlour.
“Lizzy, I …” She looked down. “I know that we probably will not see each other for a long time, now that …”
“The babies make it difficult.” They touched each other’s bellies, each feeling a kick and laughing. Elizabeth took Jane’s hands in hers. “I am going to miss you so much.”
“I feel like we are back to the way we used to be. I am so sorry for not being the elder sister I should have been when you needed me. I am sorry for the lost time …”
“Stop it.” Elizabeth hugged her tightly. “I am sorry for …”
“You never …”
“Shhhh.” They hugged and rocked. “Remember the past only …”
“ …as it gives you pleasure.” Jane whispered through her tears. “I love you, Lizzy.”
“I love you, Jane.”
“Spying?” Lucas laughed when Darcy jumped. “Sorry.”
“Shh.”
Looking through the glass, Lucas saw Elizabeth and Jane embraced. “They are saying goodbye.” He sighed and leaned back against a tree. “Jane is miserable about Elizabeth leaving, we returned from the dance and she spent half the night sobbing. I do not know if it was the emotion or the baby.”
“Both.” Darcy mirrored his stance, leaning against another tree and folding his arms. “Elizabeth said it was the first time that her sisters had all been so close. She cried, too.” He smiled a little and looked back to the cottage. “She cries a great deal when she is with child; I imagine that Jane is the same?”
“Yes.” They exchanged weary smiles and Lucas looked over the house. “I think that we might be able to move in here in another month.”
“So long? This has been a beehive of activity lately.”
“I want everything be finished before we live here. I would still be pulling weeds from the floor if it were not for you and the others coming to help us. Only now are the tenants finishing with the threshing and ploughing for next season. I could not have done this alone. Thank you.”
Darcy nodded and immediately looked back to the house. “I do not know when we will see you again.”
“Will you come to town at all?”
“I suppose that depends on Bingley coming to the point with Miss Martin.” He smiled and looked back at Lucas. “I do not think it will be an extended courtship or engagement, do you?”
“No. They have known each other for some time, and have anticipated this for too long.” Lucas laughed. “I expect I will have them as our neighbours very soon. So if there is a wedding in the future …”
“It depends on how far along Elizabeth is if we will make the journey. Beyond February and we will decline. After that, I do not expect to leave Pemberley again, well there is no reason to leave until the spring when Georgiana comes out, is there?” He smiled. “Safe at home. You are welcome at any time. We will be glad to send you a carriage, just write. Perhaps you could journey with the Gardiners in August.”
“Perhaps.” They stood in silence and turned when they heard a horse approaching. “Mr. Bennet. Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning.” He dismounted and tied off his horse. “How goes the leave-taking?”
“Well, I hear them laughing now, so it is much improved.” Darcy smiled. “How is Longbourn?”
“My wife has set off for Meryton on foot to see if my news from the assembly is true.” Mr. Bennet shrugged and took off his gloves. “She attempted to remain in her bed this morning and I told her that fits of nerves were no longer tolerated.” He chuckled when his sons smiled at each other. “I thought that you would like that.”
“I certainly do.” De Bourgh called as he and Bingley rode up. “I had to see if your wife killed mine with her driving, Darcy. Mary is a crack driver. She would have taken over if things got out of hand.”
“Elizabeth needs the practice.” Darcy sighed. “I think the problem is that she is so small she just does not have the strength to control the horses and her nervousness is sensed by them.”
“And she does not pay attention.” Bingley added.
“There are just so many things to see!” Darcy smiled as he quoted her and the rest of the men laughed. “In a pinch she would be fine, but she is better off just riding. That she does well.”
“I never would have thought it.” Mr. Bennet said soberly. “Another place of neglect on my part.”
“Sir, you are making improvements now, that is what is important. Catherine remaining here is entirely due to her wish to be with this new man you have become, and has nothing to do with her wanting to be with her mother. I was thinking, when Georgiana finishes at school, perhaps you and Catherine could collect her for us and bring her home? Then you would see Pemberley and meet your new grandchild.”
“I … I would be honoured, Darcy. Thank you!”
The door of the cottage opened and the sisters appeared. “Are you boys coming in or do you intend to spy on us all day?” Elizabeth called.
“Is the boo-hooing through?” De Bourgh called back. “You are acting like a bunch of women waving off a ship!”
“We are a bunch of women!” Lydia sighed. “Honestly Mary, your husband is silly.”
“Papa!” Rosalie squeezed out from between the skirts and ran up to Darcy to be scooped up in his arms. “Papa, up!”
“You are up, little love.” He laughed and looked up at the bare tree. “Do you see something up in the branches?”
“Dow.” She wriggled out of his grasp and back down to the ground, and grabbing his hand, tugged. “Up!”
“Make up your mind, Rosa!”
Looking to the cottage, he saw the sisters laughing. “Come on, Will. Prepare yourself for something very dreadful.”
“That sounds rather foreboding.” Mr. Bennet laughed and followed his son into the cottage where Rosalie happily demonstrated her new skill. All colour drained from Darcy’s face. “It had to happen sometime.”
“Why?” He whispered. “My baby girl …”
“She is growing up.” Elizabeth hugged him while Lydia held Rosalie’s hand and they walked up the steps.
“Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet said softly and indicated the kitchen door to her. She let go of Darcy’s lifeless hand and following him in, closed the door behind her. “I know that you will be leaving at daybre
ak tomorrow so I thought I would say goodbye now.” Taking her hands in his he closed his eyes. “I am so proud of you.”
“Papa.”
“No, let me finish.” He looked up to her. “I know that I am not the best … I know that your mother never … Lizzy, I am so sorry. I gave you sanctuary in my bookroom because that is what worked for me. I am so sorry that it has come to this point with your mother, I …”
“Papa, stop. It is long past time for this. I am a grown woman with my own family now.” She blinked back her tears and watched as his eyes filled up. “Did Fitzwilliam invite you to Pemberley?”
“Yes, he just did.” He sniffed and wiped at his nose. “He is a good man, Lizzy.”
“I know.”
“I thank heaven daily that you found each other. I do not have to worry …” He sighed. “You should take Kitty with you; she should not have to listen to your mother.”
“She will go if she needs to. We have spoken to Mrs. Annesley, and she will alert you to any private misery.” Elizabeth squeezed his hand. “She wants to know her Papa.”
“Unbelievable.” He laughed softly and touched her hair. “Poor Darcy, crying for his little girl growing up too fast. I know the feeling all too well.”
“I will just have to give him another one.” Elizabeth laughed and patted her belly. “We will see before too long.” Mr. Bennet touched the baby and felt a kick. He drew in a breath and looked up at her with wide eyes. “Come and say goodbye to Rosa.” She took his hand and led him out to the parlour where Darcy held his daughter firmly in both arms. She grinned. “Well, if you can get past her papa.”
“DEAREST?” Darcy leaned over the bed and studied Elizabeth, then sighing; he went to add wood to the fire before removing his robe and climbing in. It creaked ominously and sighing resignedly, he closed his eyes. “It is for the best.” He took a deep breath and let it out, laying on his back with his arm over his forehead and staring up at the ceiling, trying to relax before spooning against her. Elizabeth rolled over and settled her head on his shoulder and her hand on his stomach. “You are not helping, Lizzy.” He whispered as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her hair, still fragrant with the scent of the orange blossom perfume Robinson had given her before they departed. It had driven him mad for the past two days in the confines of the carriage, reminding him constantly of the afternoon spent at Oakham Mount and the orange wine they had drunk between those hours of kisses. She sighed and embraced his waist, and her hand lowered to his groin. Darcy willed her to touch him; her fingers were tantalizingly close. “Love … please …” He placed his free hand over hers and waited, she did not move. Breathing unsteadily, he lifted her hand and placed it over his erection and rubbed, hoping that … “ahhhhh, thank you …” Her hand curled around him. He sank back into the pillow and sighed. From his shoulder he heard a giggle. Darcy peeked at her. “You are awake.”
“How could I not be with a mountain of a man rocking this bed like a rowboat in the ocean?”
“You have never seen the ocean, how do you know what that is like?”
“I have heard enough seafaring stories from our brother to have a very good idea.” Opening her eyes she saw him smiling at her. “I seem to have found something.”
“Mmmhmmm.” He caressed back the hair from her face. “I did not want to wake you.”
“Yes you did.”
“Yes I did.”
“Three nights is too long for you? You do not wish to wait for …” She was silenced with a fervent kiss. “That answers my question.” Elizabeth pulled up his nightshirt and soon they were facing and stroking each other between slow kisses. “I am afraid that we will not be able to lie like this much longer.”
“Yes we will, we have learned a few things, and we can always experiment.” He protested when her teeth nipped his lip and sighed when she suckled the hurt away. “You are growing rapidly.” He caressed over the baby and smiled at her. “I predict twins.”
“Oh Will, no!” She cried. “Not two!”
“No, not two. Perhaps a boy?”
“A sizable one.”
“That is the only kind of Darcy there is.” He explained and rolled to hover above and kiss. Smiling, he drew away and kissed below her ear before joining with her. “We are men of great proportions.”
Elizabeth purred. “Ohhhh, you certainly are.” The bed was soon steadily creaking. Someone banged on the door to shout drunken words of encouragement and Darcy laughed, sending the headboard to knock against the wall. “Will! This bed is too loud!” Elizabeth cried and started laughing too.
“Silence is hopeless, love. In for a penny, in for a pound.”
“As long as you are in.” Elizabeth laughed when his eyes widened, and he grinned as they moved together. The bed groaned and rocked, the drunken reveller whooped, the headboard banged the wall and Darcy felt the deeply anticipated rush of relief, and bellowed out the news to one and all. Panting, he tried to catch his breath and saw that she was blushing just as deeply. “All better?” He nodded weakly and collapsed beside her. “Fitzwilliam?”
“Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?” One arm rested over his eyes and his other hand clasped hers. Raising it to his lips, he kissed her fingers. “mmmmmmmm. Thank you …”
“Do you remember how worried we were the first time we slept in an inn?” She snuggled back against him and resumed her position with her head on his shoulder and her hand lightly stroking his stomach. Darcy sighed and laughed softly. “How silly we were.”
“It seems a lifetime ago, but it was no time at all.” He looked at her contentedly. “You need to use that perfume sparingly, dearest.”
“I see, only when I want to entice you into my arms.”
“Well, I need no prodding for that.”
“So true.” She looked up to him. “How can you be so shy in a roomful of strangers but here in this strange room you could not give a care who hears?”
“I do not know.” He smiled and shrugged. “I am a conundrum.”
“That I know; I am trying to make you out.”
“And what is your success?”
She shook her head. “I do not get on at all. I experience such different aspects of you as puzzle me exceedingly.”24
“Good.” He rolled over and kissed her nose. “I hope I always keep you guessing, love.”
“I have no doubt that you will.” She brushed back his fine dark hair. “Tomorrow we will be home.”
“Alone.”
“You have had enough of friends and family?” Elizabeth laughed when he screwed up his face. “I have my answer.”
“I … do not take this the wrong way, but … I am quite happy to spend the remainder of my days in the comfort of Pemberley.” He chuckled when she smiled knowingly. “What are you thinking?”
“I am thinking that you do not like being in a bed that is not your own.”
“This one is not so bad …” he patted the mattress, “ … a little noisy …”
“I am being serious.”
“I know.” Deliberately her rolled her over and spooned against her back. “That is better.” Kissing her shoulder, he rested his head on the pillow. “I am a terrible guest. I like my things about me, I like being master. And you are the same.”
“I want to be the master?”
“You like to be the mistress. It was driving you to distraction not to be running Netherfield, admit it.”
“Maybe.”
“hmm. We are very much the same, Elizabeth.” He closed his eyes. “Bingley is a different man.”
“He found who he needed. His farewell embrace was different this time.”
“Yes, he kissed you.” Darcy squeezed her possessively.
“He kissed my cheek.” She pushed back against him and he grunted. “No, it was relaxed. He was not holding on desperately, I guess. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. He seemed more assured; I think that he is happy.” Darcy was quiet for a moment. “I will miss him. I will miss all of them.
It may be a year or more before we meet again.”
“I know.” Elizabeth sighed and he held her tighter.
“The Fitzwilliams are probably waiting on our doorstep.” Darcy whispered.
“Betting on what time we arrive.” She laughed and he hugged her. “But we will be home.”
“What shall we do first? I suggest anything that involves us in close quarters for hours at a time.”
“You have just described the last two days in the carriage.” Elizabeth hugged his arm when he snorted. “Not quite the romantic location you had in mind?”
“What do you suggest?”
“mmmm, library, fire, blanket, a book or two …”
“Some wine?” He nuzzled her throat. “A great deal of wine?”
“It seems to me that you wish to conclude our little courtship with a honeymoon.”
“How very appropriate that we are here in an inn on our way to Pemberley … I cannot wait to take you home.”
“ARE YOU QUITE CERTAIN that you wish to return to town? The air is at its worst now, Wallace is surely better off here, your first ship will not arrive for weeks!”
“I want to be on the spot when it does come in.” Robinson smiled. “Truly Bingley, I have been away long enough, I have a business to run. You will not miss me; you are only interested in one person.” He laughed to see his eyes travel to the carriage window and look longingly towards Netherfield. “And with good reason, she is a delight.”
“Yes, and she is busy being delightful with my sister while I was stuck with a bunch of officers.” Bingley waved back towards Meryton. “Why did Louisa invite her for dinner when I was away?”
“To entertain herself?” Hurst offered.
“To torture me.” Bingley complained.
“You do have it bad.” Robinson laughed. “Well you found it out and you are wasting no time getting back.” He saw Bingley’s smile and laughed louder. “And what do you expect to happen? You have only been courting a few weeks, although you do seem to see each other almost daily, one way or another.”
“Is it too soon to propose?”
“That would get the tongues wagging.” Hurst smiled. “Mr. Bennet might appreciate it, then his wife would not be the main topic of conversation. From what I understand, she has been snubbed and laughed at quite frequently over the past weeks. Louisa said that the opening of her mouth is in general the inspiration for a collective eye-roll by the company.”