“I am well.” Jane smiled at her. “I seem to remember that you found last summer very trying.”
“Oh, yes!” Elizabeth laughed out loud and Georgiana looked up just as Will’s legs wouldn’t hold him up any longer. He sat down hard and stared at Georgiana reproachfully before he opened his mouth to howl.
“Oh, no, you don’t, young man!” William’s laughing voice preceded him by only an instant as he scooped up his son and swung him high into the air. The baby’s howl turned to a shriek of delight.
“Your son, I think.” William deposited the baby into Elizabeth’s arms and he wrapped his arms round both of them as the baby chuckled with delight.
Behind her husband Elizabeth saw Mr. Bingley, his normal amiable, slightly puzzled air now overlaid with anxiety, a permanent look at the moment. She glanced back to Jane. Until their baby was born, Mr. Bingley would worry. But it was not long now.
She smiled to herself. Now that the Bingleys had purchased Birchover Hall, they lived close enough that Jane could travel the hour it took, even this close to her confinement. And once Jane could no longer travel, Elizabeth knew that she would be able to travel there at any time.
But William, beside her, reached over. “I think he’s getting too big and heavy for you, Elizabeth.” He plucked his son from her arms, tickling the child so that the squawk of dismay turned into a full-throated giggle.
“Go to your Aunt Georgiana, young Will.” He handed the baby over. “It’s nearly time for his sleep, anyway, Georgiana.”
“Yes, William. I think I’ll take him over to the trees. He can sit in the shade there.” Georgiana took the chuckling baby off, followed by Mrs. Annesley and the nursery maid.
Elizabeth watched them fondly and then looked at William. Relaxed and smiling, he was almost unrecognisable as the silent, stern man of her wedding day.
She reached for his hand, the informality only possible at home and among those they counted close to them. “Have you news of Richard?”
He glanced at her. “Nothing new. He should arrive here tomorrow or on Wednesday.” His cousin had been in France, but was now released from duty for a month before being due for recall.
Elizabeth wondered whether she should speak to William of her conviction that Georgiana was quite happy to stay at Pemberley and not take in the season in London because of a growing affection for her cousin.
William, of course, was quite oblivious to it, as he was to a certain other matter, but Elizabeth could think of no better for both of them.
He lifted her hand to his lips. “Would you care to take a turn with me, Elizabeth?” he looked out to the grounds. “You will need your parasol.”
Behind her, Jane laughed. “Elizabeth has been sitting in the sun with no parasol for nigh on half an hour, Mr. Darcy. She has always loved the sun.”
William bowed at her. “Indeed, I’m sure you’re right. But Elizabeth might wish to protect my delicate skin from the sun.”
As Jane and Mr. Bingley laughed, Elizabeth took her parasol from her maid.
“Thank you, Emilie.”
Then she tucked her hand into the crook of her husband’s arm. “I am ready.”
He smiled at her. “Good. The phaeton awaits.”
Elizabeth was startled. “Oh, are we going far?”
“Not at all. But I think you’re tired, Elizabeth, so I have decided that we will drive.”
“Of course.” Elizabeth did not demur, but she began to wonder if he was quite as oblivious of things as she had thought.
The imperturbable steward was waiting by the groom holding the ponies.
“Mr. Reed!” Elizabeth acknowledged. The steward bowed.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Darcy.”
William assisted her into the phaeton, then spoke briefly to the steward before climbing up beside her. He took up the reins and the groom stepped back, touching his cap.
It was only a few minutes before he drew up on the bridge over the stream at the bottom of the lake.
“Ah!” She knew where they were going now. “Thank you, it seems a long time since I was here.”
He smiled. “I know. I miss it, too. But it will give us shade and uninterrupted time to ourselves.”
He jumped down and looked round. The groom was just panting up to hold the ponies. William nodded at him and lifted his hand to assist her out of the phaeton.
Down in the tiny cove, she sighed. The dappled sunlight rippled in the breeze through the leaves. The tiny stream trickled quietly over the pebbles.
The bench was still there, waiting for them and he led her to it. “Would you care to sit down, Elizabeth?”
He sat beside her, so close this time and she smiled.
“Do you remember the first time you found me here?” She paused, thinking back. “You were over there, and I was here …”
He nodded. “I seem to remember I confessed how I felt and my anguish that I thought there was something you feared about me.”
Elizabeth leaned against him. “I could not believe you could possibly love someone who was the cause of the most dreadful thing that could have happened.”
William put his arm round her. This was one of the very few places where they could be certain of their privacy.
“And yet, Elizabeth. I cannot imagine my life could ever have been so rich, so full, as it is now.”
She laughed. “And yet, I think it cannot be considered full quite yet, William.”
“Aha! I thought you might be concealing something from me!” His tone was triumphant. “I have been trying very hard …”
“Yes?”
Perhaps he realised he was on dangerous ground, Elizabeth thought, for he didn’t finish the sentence, just looked innocently at the stream.
She decided to talk about something he might not expecting. “I wanted to talk to you about Georgiana.” She was amused when his head jerked round.
“Georgiana?”
Elizabeth leaned her head on his shoulder. She found she didn’t really want to play tricks on him. Perhaps she ought to wait until this war was over and Richard was safely home for good.
She stared at the stream, too. But this was a good place to think. If she could persuade William of their suitability for each other, then he might assist Richard to buy out his commission from the army and make him safe.
William sat quietly beside her. He seemed to be thinking, too. His sister would soon be eighteen, he must have thought that he should be making plans to ensure she was happily settled.
Elizabeth wondered for a moment whether to delay talking about the topic, but she had delayed too long already.
“She will soon be eighteen, William. I think she has grown up a great deal in the last year, and she is very lovely.” She smiled. “And she loves Will dearly. I think she will be a wonderful mother.”
His arm tightened around her shoulder. “I find it difficult to think about, Elizabeth.”
She nodded. “I know you do, William. I do, too, and yet I have not known her very long. I will miss her so very much when the time comes.”
“You think we should do the next season?” he asked. “But, you will …” and he stopped again.
She laughed, ignoring his unspoken objection. “I cannot imagine you will be happy at the thought of enduring a season watching every hopeful youth seeing a fortune in a pretty gown, William!”
“Then what are we to do?” He sounded quite hopeless.
She spoke carefully. “I think that it is possible to discern that the matter may be solved without exposing Georgiana to the rigours of a season.” She smiled. “She might have grown up, but I think her gentle nature and fear of being taken advantage of will always make such large occasions unpleasant to her.”
He looked at her, puzzled. “So what have you discerned?”
She lifted her hand to his face. “Dear William. I have been reluctant to mention anything. I don’t want you to be angry and overprotective. The person concerned has been most proper — most discree
t and gentlemanly.” She sighed. “I think he possibly feels that you would dismiss his suit out of hand. He has no expectations.”
He was frowning, quite obviously wondering who she could mean. They lived a quiet life here at Pemberley and callers were few.
“Georgiana feels very safe with him, and I believe she would be much happier with him than any other.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. She would not say anything more, he must come to his own conclusions.
It was many minutes before he stirred. “If she would be happy and he is suitable — and you approve of him — then I will not dismiss it out of hand.” He moved round so he could face her. “But I must know who you are speaking of.”
She met his eyes. “I must remind you that I think he is a true gentleman. He is not taking advantage of his position.” She smiled. “Although I think it makes his stays here difficult for him — and Georgiana.” She reached out her hand. “Dear William, it seems obvious to me that Georgiana and Richard share a deep affection.”
“Richard!” He got to his feet and went and stared at the stream at his feet.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth rose too and went to stand beside him. He stirred and looked at her.
“Why did I not see it?”
She slipped her hand into his. “Because he is your friend and she is your little sister.”
There was another long silence before he sighed and turned to her. “Now that you have pointed it out, it is obvious to me, too.” He ran a hand through his hair. “What should I do?”
She smiled. “Be ready for him when he summons the courage to speak to you, perhaps. Although, I have wondered if you might be able to suggest and perhaps assist him to buy out his commission. Active service is dangerous and I know Georgiana has been more anxious than I, and she dared not show it to you.”
“I cannot have that!” he exclaimed. Then he sighed. “Let us sit down, Elizabeth. My concerns about them should not stop me from taking care of you.”
She smiled. “Do you wish me to formally announce my condition, William, so that you no longer have to pretend not to notice?”
He chuckled. “It might help me somewhat. But you have surprised me enough this morning.” He shook his head. “I will find it hard to behave towards her as I always have.”
“You must,” she said, firmly. “I would not have her think she has been indiscreet.”
“Oh. I can see I will have to manage somehow until Richard arrives.” He glanced at her. “Do you think they have declared their affections to each other?”
“No, they have not.” Elizabeth was certain of it. “Georgiana would not be so unhappy about it if he had declared.” She made a face. “And he would not raise her hopes if he thinks you would not permit it.”
She leaned against him. “He must feel very concerned that you would think he is abusing his trust as a joint guardian.”
He drew her closer, and sighed. “I have been blind to it all. Thank you for telling me.”
“We share all things, William. Troubles and joys. I would wish it no other way.”
“I know, and yet I feel sometimes I am selfish, for I have everything I want, having you here at Pemberley. But you are a sociable person, from a large family. I do not do enough to ensure you do things you enjoy, balls and excursions and the like.”
“Oh, William, I have everything I wish for here. I would not like to go away while Will is so young, and I do not think I will be free to dance energetically for some months now.” She smiled.
“And I have those members of my family I choose around me, too. You assisted and encouraged Mr. Bingley to buy Birchover Hall, and Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will be here in a few weeks, with all their family.” She rubbed her head against his shoulder, the fabric rough against her cheek.
“Even Mama and Papa are likely to call on Jane when the baby has been born and I can see them when we call there. That is definitely close enough for me.”
“If you are sure,” he said doubtfully.
“Oh, I am sure, although I would think that we need, perhaps, to see more of your family.” She gave him a sly look. “I definitely think you need to reconcile with Lady Catherine. I know you are concerned for your Cousin Anne.”
He frowned. “I understand the Earl has been closely involved with the family.”
He looked at Elizabeth. “I cannot forgive them for what they wished to do to you.”
“And yet, for my sake, you encouraged a reconciliation for my family, despite what they did to you.” She lifted her face, inviting closeness. “I remember you saying that you were not resentful.”
His lips descended on hers and she was glad they were seated on the bench. Her legs would otherwise have threatened to fail her. The light summer breeze explored her bare arm and she shivered with the deliciousness of being out in the open, and their closeness.
“Elizabeth,” he groaned. “I love you so very much.” He kissed her again. “I thought our wedding day was the worst day of my life, and yet, I have so much happiness I can hardly bear it.”
He lifted his head, his eyes, dark with desire, on hers. “Tell me you are happy, too.”
“Indeed, there is nothing I desire, except what I already have, William.” She let a slight frown cross her brow. “Although there is one thing …”
“What? What is it, Elizabeth? I will ensure …”
She lifted a finger to his lips. “I want you to kiss me again.”
Harriet Knowles
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A Life Apart
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A Life Apart: A Darcy and Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 29