by Beth Massey
Darcy laughed at her words, but decided it was wise to return to observations of their children. “Anne is the most like Georgiana, but I think it is my mother they both resemble. Anne looks like the portrait of my mother George Romney painted; and even at eight –she is very diligent about becoming an accomplished young lady.”
Elizabeth laughed. “In one other way she is like Lady Anne. She is uncommonly fond of pink. I hope as she matures she moderates her exuberance for that colour. Luckily, she does not suffer from nightmares. I am unsure I would be able to sleep in her room if I was required to comfort her… all that pink would surely cause me to have bad dreams.”
They knew it would happen someday, but this morning it was the furthest thing from their minds. Ten-year-old George excitedly told his parents at breakfast of a spectacular discovery he had made while out exploring. He had found the mysterious stone cottage his grandmother had painted so many times. It was high up on the wooded ridge behind the house, and there seemed to be a hidden track to allow a horse access. The cottage had been locked, so he had been unable to go inside. However, he had been able to take a dip in the pond beneath the waterfall.
His siblings were excited by the news. Six-year-old Henry wanted to go there with his brother, as soon as they finished breakfast. He asked whether he could ride his pony up the hill. Four-year-old Frances was particularly excited when George described the swing. Eight-year-old Anne was the most fanciful about the meaning of the discovery. She wondered whether there was a princess asleep in the cottage waiting for a prince to awaken her with a kiss.
Darcy cursed under his breath. His parents had only one child to convince. He and Elizabeth had four with which to contend. He started with Franny, “Baby girl, I had young Mr Jenkins build you a swing. The one at the cottage is too high off the ground for your safety.” Next he addressed Henry. “I am sorry son, but the incline would be too steep for your pony.” His eyes appealed to Elizabeth for help in persuading their children to honour the privacy of their refuge. Surely she knew his wayward tongue was bound to say the wrong thing.
Lizzy saw the panic in his eyes and stepped in to help. Luckily she remembered a bit of what Mr Darcy had told Will. “Annie, there is no sleeping beauty in the cottage.” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she thought of the times she had fallen asleep while waiting for him to join her. She forced a serious countenance and forged ahead with her explanation. “The cottage is my retreat; just as it had been your grandmother’s private place. Your father prepared it for me just before we wed. Lady Anne used it as a place to paint, and I use it to read and write letters. On very hot days, I will sometimes swim in the pond; and Franny, I too love to swing. Your father had old Mr Jenkins build a swing for me when I first arrived at Pemberley. Papa is the only one who is allowed to visit me there. Now, I know all four of you will be dutiful children and obey my request to be alone in my sanctuary.”
Henry, the most inquisitive, verbal and impertinent of their four children asked, “Mama, do you wear clothes when you swim in the pond?”
Lizzy tried hard not to laugh. Henry had recently become averse to wearing clothes as part of his interest in the human body. He—like his mother—was very uncomfortable in heat and humidity, and this summer was trying both of their patience. She managed to arrange her face to appear more serious. Elizabeth adopted a stern expression to reply to his impudent query. “I wear a bathing costume I had made in Scarborough, but it would be mortifying if anyone saw me. Henry, I really must insist you stay away from the cottage.”
Will had finally conceived a brilliant idea—or so he believed. “How would you like it if I had Mr Jenkins refurbish my old tree house for you? You have seen that old thing in the huge chestnut in the west woods. I believe it time to make it larger and safer so you can all use it.”
His ploy worked for the time being. All four children began planning for their tree house. George would use it as a post to look for brigands. He asked his father to get him a spyglass like Admirals in the navy used. Anne was going to put up pink curtains. Lizzy suggested that the décor should be suitable for both boys and girls. She had some brown muslin that she thought would be more appropriate to cover the windows. As she contemplated her husband’s scheme she remembered the tree had low spreading limbs—the new structure could be made not so far off the ground as the old one. How would she ever be able to persuade Franny to forgo climbing the ladder until she was at least six
Once again Henry amazed his parents with what he thought would be a good use for the tree house. “Mama, do you think on very hot nights that George and I could sleep in the tree house. Annie and Fran should not be allowed because they are girls. You see, I think George… and maybe when Ed and Tom come to visit they could join us. Well my plan is that we should sleep naked. My sisters seeing us would be a serious breach of propriety and then they would be compromised.”
His words unleashed cries of unfairness from his sisters.
Lizzy ignored the din and stared at her youngest son with incredulity. Their children were growing up so quickly. How did Henry know about propriety and what did he think compromised meant? He was only six. All of a sudden she felt panic at the thought of them reaching adulthood.
Will noticed Lizzy seemed deep in thought. He had thought they handled the situation adequately, so he was unsure what had caused her to withdraw. The children were excitedly making plans for the tree house and seemed oblivious to their mother’s silence.
Elizabeth felt a sudden need to talk with Will… in complete privacy. She knew he planned to bring Edward to Pemberley from Blessing today, but perhaps they could spend some time together this afternoon while Edward was settling in.
She captured his concerned eyes and announced, “I plan to go riding this afternoon.” The children were still chattering away. The topic had expanded—the children were anticipating telling Edward and Tom of the plans for their tree house.
Darcy noticed her words were not delivered with the sly smile of an invitation to play, but he was acutely aware of her urgent need for something. He replied quietly just to her, “Edward and I should arrive by four. We will have several hours before we eat.”
Elizabeth nodded her head in the certainty of his understanding of her request.
As he rode into the clearing in front of the cottage, he saw her in the swing. Her legs pumped energetically as she attempted to force the swing higher and higher. She did not notice his arrival. Her deep concentration, signalled by the protrusion of the tip of her tongue, seemed to be focused elsewhere. The swing was a metaphor for her attempt to resolve some problem. Despite her protestations, it was akin to her mother’s bouts of nerves. Like her father, she had enjoyed ridiculing her mother’s silly antics; but since they wed, he had observed on several occasions, Lizzy becoming agitated by something and be unable to acquit herself of the concern. This morning when he had raised the similarity with Mrs Bennet, she had reacted as she had all the other times he had made the comparison. She always countered with, “Unlike my mother I only worry about substantial issues.” Of course, as he came to know his mother-in-law better, it seemed the anxiety Elizabeth had thought annoying when she was younger, had its origin in her fears for her children.
As he watched his wife exorcising and exercising some demon, he remembered an August day twelve years before… when they spent time in the cottage. Her agony a few days later over anticipating their vows was the first time he had seen this trait in his Lizzy.
Elizabeth heard the sound of his dismounting. She smiled and slowed. He returned her look of love and waited for her to reach him. As she flung herself into his arms, he hugged her tightly. “Oh Will, I am so pleased you came. I was unsure you would know what I wanted. We usually plan our assignations before we leave our chambers, and I just hoped you would remember your parents’ exchange.”
“Lizzy, my love, what are you worried about. I thought we handled the children quite well this morning. We will have to be more cautious and observant in
the future, but we knew this day would come.”
Elizabeth’s cheek was against his chest… listening to the beat of his heart… as it had been that day when they confessed their mutual affection. “I am not concerned about them finding us in the cottage. As you say, we will just have to be more careful. Henry’s talking of a breach of propriety and the girls being compromised—though very silly coming from a six-year-old—made me realize they will soon be grown. How do we protect them from youthful indiscretions? We will not have a Teasewell House on which to rely to give the boys an education.”
Will squeezed her tighter and whispered in her ear, “Elizabeth we have years before we have to worry about what to do in that regard.”
Just as he was about to kiss her, she pulled out of his arms. Seeming lost in her memories of the past, she moved to the stone bench and sat down. “This is where I sat and soaked my dress, just before I fainted. What if our sons are like I was… and my mother and father? Their legacy is two generations of wanton behaviour. What if they are unable to control their curiosity and urges? What if they compromise some young lady? How will we be able to ensure they marry for love? Oh Will, I want them to be as happy as we are.”
Will shook his head in disbelief at her agony. He unlocked and opened the cottage door, and did precisely as he had that day. He picked her up and carried her inside. Just as then, he sat with her in his lap in one of the chairs before the fireplace. He took her hands in his before he began to speak. “First let us talk about marrying for love. When I was coming of age, I only had my parents and my Uncle Henry and Aunt Cassandra as examples of happy couples. Everyone else among our neighbours and friends seemed to have married for some acquisitive or status consideration. To my observation, they rarely spent time with each other. Theirs were separate lives that only came together to produce an heir and parade through social obligations. The example of Lady Catherine and Sir Lewis horrified me as an eventual outcome for my life. My parents were gone before I had time to question them about how to go about finding a wife.”
With those words, he picked up her hands and brought them to his lips. “Richard’s parents have affection for each other, and they are content. But the example my aunt and uncle gave to me was of two people who moved in the same social circle. I thought I should be like them and became frustrated when there was no one within the ton who seemed to have what I desired. When I met you, the pull was instant. The more I learned of you the more I knew you were the one, and yet I allowed the difference in our circumstances to keep us apart. This cottage changed my life. It allowed me to see the truth about my parents’ marriage and my love for you.”
Will seemed to be reflective as he continued with his attempt to reassure her. “Our children have many examples of happy marriages, and each one of them is different. Even the ones that are more in keeping with societal norms are about love and not just about money and connections. Richard and Eleanor are a perfect example. You know they are happy. It was not only her fifty thousand pounds that brought them together. Even Richard’s brother, James and his Maria are more like my aunt and uncle than a marriage of convenience. Trust in our children to observe and determine what is important.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to their entwined hands before she spoke, “Will, what about my parents. Though they thought they married for love, their passion for each other caused them to marry in haste… and then they grew apart for so many years.”
“There is not much we can do when life deals us a difficult hand. My parents were very happy, but then my mother was taken from my father. The same was true for Lord and Lady Blessing. It was not fair, but it happened. Your parents lost sight of what was important when confronted with disappointed hopes. However, they have found the love they had in the beginning. We must tell our children of the legacy all of their grandparents gave them.”
Lizzy knew he was correct on this issue, but her fears were not yet answered. “I concede the point about marrying for love. But what about controlling their urges? What if they are like me?”
Will rolled his eyes and sighed. “Elizabeth, we have been married for almost twelve years and have four children. When are you going to abandon your guilt? You gave yourself to me… no one else.”
Lizzy, looked a bit defensive at his exasperation. “But what if you had not been an honourable man?”
Once again, he kissed her fingers. “But I was; and me thinks you protest too much.” He gave her a mock glare belied by a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “I am certain, deep down, you knew at the time that I was. I trust our sons to be just as honourable, as I am giving them the same principles my father gave me.”
Elizabeth looked a bit sheepish at her persistent anxiety, but continued to express her doubt. “George is going to school next year. What if he falls in with disreputable young men?”
“Lizzy, he will be at Eton with Edward and Tom. They will look out for each other, and if one of them strays a bit… the other two will be responsible enough to tell their parents. That way the behaviour can be corrected early.”
She absentmindedly nodded her head in agreement. “How will our boys learn to please a wife without Teasewell House?”
“I was sixteen years old, and quite gullible. I think my father developed that reasoning as an excuse to take me there. He knew not how to protect me; and my mother was no longer there to reassure him. As I have grown older and experienced making love with you, it is my belief that even without an ‘education’ you and I would have figured out how to enjoy each other.” Will gave her another impish smile as he said, “It is true our first time probably would not have been quite so delightful for you, but knowing the two of us… we would have practiced until we achieved perfection.”
Elizabeth chuckled at his use of Lady Catherine’s theory. “Yes, my Stallion, I believe you are correct.”
Despite their lascivious banter, Will’s face seemed thoughtful as he continued. “I will give George and Henry some tips and explain how much more enjoyable love making is if they give as well as receive. I will encourage them to notice what seems to please their wives… and when in doubt to ask. As I reflect back on my father’s words, I believe him to have been much more worried about me marrying in haste than your father is for Tom and his grandsons.”
Lizzy looked a little startled by his words. “You have talked of this with Papa?”
Will was still formulating what he would tell his sons and failed to notice this disclosure annoyed his wife. “Yes, several times. He asked me to relate my father’s explanation for taking me to Mrs T’s. As you know, he had no such education.”
“What was his reasoning for understanding your father’s motives?”
Will continued to tell her of his conversation with Mr Bennet. “Shortly after Tom’s birth, he decided to develop a detailed strategy to enlighten him in these matters. As he was formulating his plan, he concluded that Lord Blessing—upon passing the mantle of patriarch to him—would believe it his duty to communicate his ideas on education. All his sons have been informed of what we should do for his grandchildren.”
Lizzy’s eyes had become fiery as she listened to his words. “My father, developed a plan to educate his grandsons? My father! What was the impetus for his diligence? Pray tell.”
Will finally perceived Elizabeth’s ire. He wished he had told her about Mr Bennet’s program for all his boys before. He was unsure how to get back in her good graces, but the last twelve years of experience with her had taught him to always tell the truth. “Your mother had a case of her nerves. She was afraid Tom would be undone by his urges and wed in haste. She too wants your brother to marry for love.”
Elizabeth could not remain angry when she heard the explanation. The absurdity of her mother’s new obsession… now that Longbourn had an heir… and her own similar current anxiety caused her to laugh with abandon. “What does Papa have in store for my brother and my sons?”
Will thought it prudent not to laugh with her. “Actually Lizz
y his ideas are very sound. In time, I was going to tell you, and explain that I think his plan makes sense.”
As he had before, she picked up his hand and kissed his fingers to reassure him her anger had dissipated. “Dearest, just tell me.”
Will drew a deep breath and began to outline Mr Bennet’s strategy. “He thinks their education should focus on allowing them to look beyond themselves and embrace the needs of others. His belief is such a strategy would prepare George to be both a good landlord and a good husband. You must agree, it is sound advice for raising all children, and we have already planted those notions. Only George will be a landlord, but Henry and the girls will marry. Your father only presented ideas that encourage communication and considering the wishes of the other… you and I know they are necessary components of a good marriage.”
He looked at her, tilted his head the way she often did and smiled in such a way that she knew he was remorseful for never telling her of his discussion with her father. “That is what we have already been doing as parents. In addition, your father thinks we must impart good principles… again we have done that. George, Henry, Anne and Franny should be taught not to indulge in pleasure to the detriment of another. Tom was to be told of Mr Wickham’s calumny toward Lydia. On this I differed with your father. If Tom knows, he may tell Edward. That information should only come from his parents, and personally I see no need for that disclosure. Why mortify Lydia or Georgiana by informing anyone of their poor judgement at fifteen? I believe I convinced your father of his error in judgement. However, we should ensure our children know how easy it is for a life to be ruined. Lydia and Georgiana were saved, but all must understand the consequences of their actions both for themselves and for others.”
Will saw that she had softened… perhaps it was the wisdom of her father’s plan… or perhaps it was his ability to reject some aspects… whichever was the case; he seemed to have won her respect with his words. “Your father is also going to have young Dr Parton explain to Tom the danger of disease. I think that an excellent idea. There are too many of my acquaintances who are dying because of indiscretions in their youth.” After a pause, he asked, “Have you thought of what you will tell the girls?”