by Ola Wegner
“From this moment I require from you to inform me about all your plans, possible or not.”
She swallowed. “Is that all, sir?”
“Yes, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth walked out of the study with her head high, but as she reached the staircase, she allowed a few tears to run down her cheeks. She ran to her room and turned they key in the door. She should not have visited the Gardiners. Seeing them and Lydia made her very emotional.
She was removing her dress when she heard the knock on the door.
“Mrs Darcy, are you well?” Darcy’s voiced carried well through the solid door. Elizabeth could see that the door handle was moving. He tried to enter. Thankfully she had thought to close the door.
Elizabeth swallowed back the tears and answered. “A sudden headache.”
There was silence on the other side of the door.
“Drew shall bring you dinner to your room,” he said.
“I thank you,” she said, listening in relief as he walked out.
Elizabeth finished removing her gown, and only in her petticoats and camisole with a blanket wrapped around her, she sat in front of the buzzing fireplace.
She allowed herself to cry a little more. She had not done it for a long time. She realized that her dear aunt, Mrs Gardiner, would not approve of her behaviour were she to see her now, but she would understand her.
***
Elizabeth woke the next morning at dawn. Something was wrong with her. Her head was pounding and her lower stomach was twisted in familiar cramps. How could she forget? She pushed the duvet away to see a large red stain on the sheets. She sighed. Taking into consideration yesterday’s outburst in front of Darcy, she should have guessed that monthly indisposition was approaching.
She changed her nightgown and removed the stained sheets. She found clean ones in the dresser and changed the bed. Then she climbed under them and closed her eyes, trying to return back to sleep despite the pain in her head, back and stomach.
When Drew came at eight, she rightly guessed her mistress’s dilemma. Elizabeth asked her to send a message to the seamstress that today she would not be able to attend the measurement as well as another message to her sister in Cheapside that she would not be able to take her for the promised shopping trip today.
The breakfast was delicious, but she ate very little. The maid brought some herbal tea which helped with the cramps considerably. Elizabeth was truly thankful for that.
Afterwards, she settled on the chaise longue with a letter from Jane which had come to her yesterday but she had not had the chance to read it yet.
She laughed at the description of her mother’s antics in Purvis Lodge, wishing to be there with her family, when there was a knock on the door.
“Mrs Darcy.” She heard the unmistakable voice of her husband.
She glanced at Drew, who was busy with cleaning after breakfast.
“I told Mr Darcy you had a headache and decided to keep to your room today.”
“Allow him in,” Elizabeth said, smoothing her robe. It was her newest acquisition, made of fine wine-coloured velvet. It did not show a scrap of unnecessary skin. She could tie it up to her neck.
The maid opened the door and Darcy walked in.
“Leave us alone, Drew.”
The maid took a tray and hurriedly walked out of the room. Darcy closed the door after her. He walked closer, looking into her face. “Are you ill?”
She shook her head. “I shall be better tomorrow. For today I would prefer to stay in my room.”
He stood above her undecided. “I can see that you are unwell,” he insisted.
“There is nothing wrong with me. I woke up to a bad headache.”
He looked at the letter in her hand. “It did not prevent you from attending to your correspondence, though.”
“It is a letter from Jane,” she revealed.
Darcy began pacing the room, his hands joined behind his back.
“I have heard of it,” he said.
“What is your meaning?”
“Sudden headaches, a reluctance to keep the husband’s company, closing up in one’s room. Many of my married friends mentioned such things to me in the past.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. He was overly dramatic.
“Fitzwilliam, please, come here.”
He did as she asked him.
“Sit, please.” She pointed to the other end of the chaise longue.
He sat down.
“When I talked with your sister before our wedding, she spoke to me how for many years you were father and mother to her,” she began.
He frowned. “I do not understand why are you mentioning Georgiana,” he said.
“She is a female, the same as I am. Have you ever noticed that she felt unwell at a certain time in the month?”
The understanding dawned upon him. “I see,” he said, looking apparently relieved with his discovery.
His eyes swept over her form, stopping on the hand which she pressed to her midsection.
“I shall be better tomorrow,” she promised him.
“Is there anything I could do to help you?”
She shook her head. “It shall pass. The first day is always the worst.”
Elizabeth expected him to leave her alone, but he said „I will keep your company. ”Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest, wishing to send him away, but then she remembered the conversation with her aunt. She smiled. She noticed that he was not looking at her face but slightly lower. She frowned and followed his gaze. The blush crept onto her face. Her robe was modest, but the nightgown which she wore underneath was as daring as the others. The robe had slipped over her shoulders, while the ribbons which should have kept the nightgown together had loosened up considerably. Quickly she retied the robe. Darcy looked away and cleared his throat.
“My sister is never that ill at such times,” he informed her.
“She is quite fortunate, then,” she said.
Elizabeth wondered why he was still here. He should be gone the moment her realized the reason behind her indisposition.
“I think that we should talk about what happened yesterday,” he announced.
“Truly?”
“I wish to hear from you that you realize your mistake and you shall not repeat it again.”
Elizabeth blinked her eyes at him. He treated her like a child. No, he treated her liked his much younger sister.
“I can say that I shall be more considerate and attempt to inform you about my whereabouts so you will not be concerned over me.”
She suspected that it was not what he wanted to hear, but he nodded his head.
“Should you not wish to read something?” he asked. “The library here is quite small in comparison to Pemberley, but I should certainly be able to find something interesting for you.”
“I think that I would prefer to rest.” She saw disappointment on his face, thus she added, “But you can read to me.”
He was visibly pleased with her proposal. “What is your preference?”
“Robinson Crusoe.” She had always liked the book.
“I shall be back soon,” he said, and left the room.
***
Darcy lowered his voice as he was reading. He saw Elizabeth closing her eyes, dozing off. He put the book away and gazed upon his wife.
He still could not believe that she was here with him. How easy it was. He knew well that his father would not be pleased with him. George Darcy would have condemned his behaviour. He did something exactly opposite to what his parents had taught him. He had used his social position and wealth for his own personal gain. Even worse, he did it to force this young woman into his arms and his bed. Still, he could not regret his decision.
His only true regret was that he had not learned of Elizabeth’s changed life situation earlier. How much she had to have suffered, not knowing what her future would be, being forced to move to that closet-sized house in Meryton.
It was his very own fault.
After her initial rejection of his suit he had travelled directly to Pemberley, where he had spent a few weeks. He closed himself in the library, mourning unrequited love. He neglected the estate, refusing to see his steward. He could not focus on the correspondence, leaving heaps of unopened letters strewing his desk. He even stopped riding, which by far was one of his favourite pastimes. His unusual behaviour earned him concerned looks and enquiries from his housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds, and his sister, Georgiana.
He thought that the change of scenery should help him. He sent Georgiana to visit their family in Matlock and himself travelled to Ireland with the intention of overseeing his lands there. Irish rain did not improve his mood, but on the contrary worsened it. The steward, Mr O’Callaghan, who was responsible for running the Irish estate, had a young and handsome wife with vivid dark eyes. She was heavy with child, with another little one being constantly attached to her skirts. After two weeks of being a reluctant witness to their marital fidelity, Darcy returned to Pemberley.
There were many letters awaiting him, several of them from Rosings Park. He waited several weeks before opening them. He knew it was rude of him to neglect correspondence with the only living sister of his mother, but he could not help it. Every thought of Kent brought such a surge of pain in him, tightening his chest and brimming his eyes with tears. Finally he forced himself to read Lady Catherine’s letters. The oldest one contained an extremely interesting piece of intelligence. His aunt was forced to look for a new parson, as Mr Collins was to leave his station before the end of the summer. The reason for that was that Mr Thomas Bennet had died tragically in a carriage accident on his return from London in the first days of June.
The same day Darcy wrote a letter to the agent who participated in the lease of Netherfield. He asked for the details concerning the Bennet family and their situation. In three days’ time he had a detailed replay.
It had not taken him long to act. He saw hope for himself, a chance he had to take. He decided to use the opportunity. He was selfish, but the thought of having Elizabeth to himself was too strong to resist.
His thoughts returned to the present moment. He gazed at his wife. She looked so peaceful, young and innocent. He could imagine what she was feeling after the death of her father. For a long time, a year perhaps, he suffered severely when his own dear father had passed away. Thankfully there had been many responsibilities at the time which had drawn his attention away from the pain. He worked hard and took care of Georgiana, who was barely ten at the time and very attached to him. She insisted on following him everywhere, like a little puppy. She wanted to sleep with him as if she was afraid that he would be gone one day as their parents had been.
Gently, so as not to disturb her, he picked her in his arms and carried her to bed, putting her gently on top of the coverlet. Elizabeth turned on her side and sighed sweetly. He pulled a light blanket over her. He added to the fire and left the room.
Chapter Seven
When Mr and Mrs Darcy were leaving London early in the morning, it was a warm, sunny day. A few hours later it was raining so heavily that they had to stop twice to push the carriage from mud pits.
Due to the dreadful weather conditions, Darcy decided that they would make an impromptu night stay somewhere in Bedfordshire.
Amid the pouring rain, their carriage stopped in front of the poorly looking inn. Darcy stepped out first before reaching to her. Elizabeth looked at the muddy road, then she remembered her new soft leather boots. She knew they would be utterly ruined after dipping in what covered the street.
“Allow me,” Darcy said, and picked her up in his arms.
Before long they entered the inn and he put her down.
“I thank you,” she said, smoothing down her skirts.
He put his hand on the small of her back. “Always my pleasure,” he spoke quietly into her ear.
The man who had to be the owner nearly ran to them upon seeing such a very affluent couple.
“We would like the very best rooms you have,” Darcy announced in a voice which allowed no room for disagreement.
“Our best apartment on the first floor is taken at the moment. Our only available rooms are on the second floor.”
Darcy’s expression spoke volumes. He did not like the idea. “Who is there?” he asked.
The man stared at him incomprehensibly.
“Who is in your best rooms?”
“The Earl of Northumberland,” the owner revealed proudly.
“For now we take the second floor,” Darcy said.
The man bowed in front of him. “Very well.”
“You must be hungry,” Darcy said to Elizabeth. “I know that I am.”
“I am as well.”
The common room was filled with local villagers who drank ale and talked loudly. At one of the tables there was even a group of men who sang a merry but entirely improper song.
“Is there a private room?” Darcy asked when the owner returned to them.
“It is taken, sir,” the man answered.
“By whom?”
“The Earl of Northumberland himself.”
“Ask him if we can join him there,” Darcy ordered. “Mr and Mrs Darcy of Pemberley.”
As they waited, Elizabeth looked around curiously. She had never been to such an establishment. Whenever she had travelled with her family, it had been usually to London or Brighton. They had always stayed at reputable inns.
The owner reappeared and led them into a room in the back of the building.
The room was small but clean, contrary to the common room. Elizabeth’s attention was instantly drawn to the man who stood up instantly upon seeing them.
“Darcy, I could not believe that it was you when the man said that you asked to join me here!” he exclaimed. “Where have you been hiding in all these years?”
Darcy greeted his old acquaintance while his wife stared at the man with rapt attention. On hearing the name of the Earl of Northumberland, she had imagined some older gentleman. She could not be more wrong. Never in her life she had seen a more handsome man. He was tall, not as tall as Darcy perhaps, but well-built with jet-black straight hair. He had grey eyes with sparkles of blue, and his complexion was dark, which gave him an exotic air. His features were shaped in such an attractive manner that Elizabeth could only admire him for a long while. He was beautiful. His face was manly but also had a boyish charm to it. Only her husband’s hand on the small of her back, pressing there gently, made her realize that she was ogling the poor man shamelessly.
“You do not mind that we intruded on your privacy, Percy?” Darcy said. “We were forced to stop at this dump. The coachman refused to ride any longer in that rain.”
“Naturally I do not mind, Darcy. Good to see you. Had it not been for you I would have been expelled before the end of the first year despite my title. Are you on your way to London?” he asked, his eyes resting curiously on Elizabeth. A scarlet blush crept on her cheeks as he looked directly on her. She felt hot all over. She smiled at him. She could not help herself.
She felt her husband’s hand going under her cape to settle on the side of her waist, pinching her lightly on the side.
Elizabeth blinked a few times, her eyelashes fluttering before she settled her eyes on Darcy. He caught her gaze, an amused smile twisting his lips.
“We are returning to Pemberley,” Darcy said. “May I introduce my wife to you?”
The Earl of Northumberland, or “Percy,” as Darcy referred to him, took her hand in his and kissed the top of her glove. Elizabeth blushed fiercely, attempting to keep her composure.
“It is a great honour to make your acquaintance, Mrs Darcy,” the earl said.
Perhaps for the first time in her life Elizabeth lacked words. Her smile turned into a silly giggle. She realized that she had just behaved just like her youngest sister would have while meeting a handsome officer.
“Elizabeth, my dear, this is George Percy, Earl of Northumberland,” Darcy said. “We were in
Eaton together.”
“It is a pleasure, sir,” she said at last.
Darcy removed the cape from Elizabeth while she took off her hat and gloves. They all sat down at the round table. She could see that her new acquaintance was apprising her rather rudely with his vivid eyes. His gaze stopped on her face, on the glossy hair which Drew had arranged into soft waves early in the morning but they still held the curl well. For a moment he looked at her small hands with long fingers only to move his gaze onto her shapely bosom encompassed in an elegant grey dress finished with black lace.
“I had not heard of your wedding, Darcy. I would have expected you to invite me,” he said after he had had his share of examining her person.
“Mrs Darcy is in mourning,” Darcy explained. “Her father had passed away unexpectedly only a few months ago, thus the wedding was very quiet. We wed in Hertfordshire in a private ceremony.”
“I see.” Percy’s attention returned to Elizabeth. “My deepest condolences, Mrs Darcy. Hertfordshire, you say? May I ask of your family name?”
“It is Bennet, sir. My father was Mr Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.”
“Bennet… Bennet…” Percy frowned. “There was a Bennet in Eaton, I believe. Your brother, perhaps?”
“I do not have a brother, but four sisters.”
“Four. You had variety to choose from, Darcy. That is for sure. What did you do to catch his eyes, Mrs Darcy?”
Elizabeth opened her mouth then closed it before she said anything. She did not wish to be rude to her husband’s friend even though she thought that the last remark of Mr Percy was utterly unnecessary.
“I can assure you that I was decided from the very beginning.”
Percy looked over at Elizabeth. “Yes, it is understandable. I cannot blame you. Pray tell me, Mrs Darcy, are your sisters as handsome as you are?”
“They are all very handsome, Percy, but it is none of your business,” Darcy barked.
“Do not be so stern, Darcy. I must marry eventually to ensure heirs to the estate and the title.”
“Do you mind if we eat with you, Percy?” Darcy asked, turning the conversation in another direction.
“Excellent idea. You must be starving. That bloody weather stopped us all at this dingy place.”