by Ola Wegner
“As it has not been raining for the last several days, I thought that we might go to the woods.”
“That is a long walk,” he said.
“You promised me last autumn that we would go there,” she reminded him.
Darcy looked down at her as she was walking briskly down the path. He noticed that since her belly had begun to visibly grow she had much more energy than in the early months of her confinement. She wanted to walk every day. Darcy had even consulted with Mrs Clarke if so much daily exercise was not dangerous. The midwife assured him that his wife could only benefit from that. According to Mrs Clarke, Elizabeth would need much strength and stamina to deliver the child in just a few months. Lounging at home in her condition, which many of the women of her station did, would not help her to build it.
They walked through the park and before long they walked into the forest which encompassed Pemberley from three sides. He noticed that her moves were slower and her breathing grew laboured.
“Shall we rest?” he proposed, placing his hand on the small of her back.
She did not argue with him. “We should,” she said.
They walked a little farther to a small clearing. Darcy removed his greatcoat and spread it on the ground. He chose a clear grassy spot near the stream.
Elizabeth sat down on it, stretching her legs comfortably. “Clayton shall be angry with you once he sees your overcoat after we return,” she commented.
Darcy kneeled beside her. He put his hand over her belly. “The baby is growing.”
“It is,” she agreed, covering his hand with hers over their child.
He kissed her on the lips. Elizabeth put her arms around him and before they knew it they were removing their clothes, eager to feel each other’s skin.
As they lay breathless next to each other a while later, he asked with concern, “Are you cold?”
“On the contrary,” she said, leaning in for another kiss.
Darcy put his arms tightly around her. Elizabeth stared at the green canopy of the trees above them.
“It is so very peaceful in here,” she noted. “We could stay here forever”
“You would not like it here at night.”
She sighed, closing her eyes. “I am not in a hurry to return home, not yet.”
“A few days ago I wrote to Bingley,” Darcy revealed.
“You did?” she asked, her voice sleepy.
“I wrote to him about Percy’s visit, suggesting to him that the earl was interested in Jane.”
Elizabeth opened her eyes and propped herself up on her elbow. “Why did you do it?”
“To spur him into action, of course.”
She frowned. “Do you truly think that the Earl of Northumberland may be interested in Jane?”
“I cannot give you an answer to that. All I know is that Percy has always been rather unpredictable.”
“I wonder if Mr Bingley would come.”
“He should.”
Elizabeth supported her chin against her hand which rested on his chest. “Has Mr Bingley been introduced to the Earl of Northumberland?” she asked, gazing curiously into Darcy’s dark eyes.
“I do believe they met before. However, what it of most importance is that Bingley is certainly aware of Percy’s reputation.”
Suddenly Elizabeth sat up, looking around.
“What is the matter?” he asked, stroking her back.
“There is someone there,” she whispered, her eyes wide.
“It must be a deer,” he tried to calm her. “Come here to me.”
“No, it is not a deer,” she insisted. “Someone is there.”
Darcy stood to his feet and listened carefully. There was no unusual sound coming to him, just birds chirping and the hum of the water flowing. He gazed down at Elizabeth. She was dressing herself hurriedly.
“There is nowhere there, my love.”
She shook her head. “I know that I heard something,” she insisted.
Darcy could see that she was upset. Not wishing to disturb her even more, he began helping her to close her dress at the back.
“Do you think that someone has seen us?” she asked.
“No, my love.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “I am most certain that it was only an animal.”
“Let us go from here,” she said.
As they were on their way back, Darcy thought that it had been a most gratifying afternoon. He imagined himself revisiting the memories of it often in the future. Perhaps it was for the best that Elizabeth had gotten a little scared, thinking that someone had been there watching them. He doubted that she would like to return to the clearing on her own. The spot was lovely, but not far from there there were some deep gorges. He did not want her wandering there.
Chapter Nineteen
Mary held her boy’s hand in hers as they walked out of the church on Sunday. She talked with several good acquaintances. She could see Mr and Mrs Darcy speaking to the parson and his wife. Everyone’s eyes were on the Mistress of Pemberley, or rather on her growing midsection. Mary could not imagine how it was having people stare at you at all times. It was rather rude in her opinion. Nevertheless, she wondered whether she would not be equally curious of the Darcys had she not lived at the great house where she saw them every day. Even her sister always wanted to hear some news from Pemberley.
She felt Tommy pulling at her hand. “Mommy, come, come,” the boy whined.
She smiled down at him. “We are going, darling.”
They were close to the gate leading to the church when she noticed Mr Harrison. She had not seen him in the church. He must have stood somewhere far in the back. There was a little girl aged about five standing beside him. It must have been his older daughter.
Mary knew that she could not avoid him. He was a good man. He deserved her respect.
“Good morning, Mrs Drew,” he greeted her.
“Good morning,” she replied.
He looked at her son. “Tommy, this is my daughter, Ana.”
“Tommy, will you take Ana to the square?” Mary asked. “Just do not run too fast.”
The boy appeared unconvinced with the idea of playing with a girl who was younger than him but he listened to his mother. He pulled at little Ana’s sleeve.
Once the children were gone, Mr Harrison looked at Mary.
“Do you have an answer for me?” he asked.
He was direct, but Mary should have expected it, taking into consideration the manner of his proposal. She lifted her chin high in the air. “I thank you for your most generous offer, Mr Harrison, but I cannot accept it.”
His expression was impassive. “Are you certain?”
“I am.”
“Will you not change your mind?”
“Mr Harrison, I wish to be perfectly honest with you. I considered your proposal very seriously. Nevertheless, if Tommy and I were to come to live you on the farm, I know that you would expect Tommy to help you with the chores.”
“I would never overtire the lad if this worries you.”
“I wish something better for my son. I want him to have a good profession.”
He frowned. “I admit that I would prefer for our son to inherit the farm, but I will not neglect Thomas. I will help him in his future ventures.”
“Can you assure him good schooling?”
She could see that Mr Harrison’s confusion was growing. “Do you mean sending him as an apprentice to the blacksmith or the saddler?” he asked. “I have nothing against it. He is still too young to worry about it.”
“I mean something entirely different. Mr Darcy promised to me that if I stay with them he would send Tommy to a school and later to university. My son will be a gentleman.”
“They bought you,” he concluded.
“Mr Harrison, I am certain that you should not have much trouble with finding another candidate to be your wife,” she said, putting a polite smile on her face. “Will you excuse me?” She wanted to move past him but he stopped her, placing a
hand on her elbow.
“You do not wish for a home of your own? For more children? You want to be a servant for the rest of your days?”
“I do not wish for my son to die in a mine like his father did,” she said, her voice hard. “For that only I would be a servant until the end of my days.”
He looked at her for a while, holding her arm. “My proposal stands. Think about it some more.”
She shook her head. “My decision is final, Mr Harrison. I appreciate your honest intentions, but you should forget about me.”
“This is not the end, Mary.”
She took a step back from him. “Goodbye, Mr Harrison.”
As she was walking away from him, she felt more touched with their conversation than she had expected herself to be. When she was on the road, she turned her head. Mr Harrison stood there where she’d left him, still looking at her.
***
Elizabeth was seated in the shade, watching Jane and Georgiana shooting arrows. Georgiana was quite good at archery. The same could not be said about Jane, who was only now learning the sport. Mr Bingley stood right beside her, assisting her at every step.
Elizabeth smiled at the Earl of Northumberland, who came onto the terrace. He took a seat next to her.
“You do not have to feel obliged to keep my company,” she said. “You should join Mr Bingley and my sisters. From what I could observe before, you are a very accomplished bowman.”
“I will join them, but allow me to stay in your company for now.”
Elizabeth nodded her head at him, putting a gracious smile on her face.
The footman served them lemonade. The earl helped himself, but Elizabeth refused.
“Mrs Darcy, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. Those last weeks which I spent here were truly most agreeable.”
“You sound as if you were to abandon us.”
“I cannot postpone my journey to Scotland for much longer. My aunt awaits me there.”
“I hope that Mr Darcy did not say anything which upset you.”
The earl smiled. “I have known your husband for many years, since we were about twelve. He can be straightforward at times, but he cannot offend me. On the contrary, I appreciate his honesty.”
“I hope that Pemberley shall leave you with fond memories.”
“I have no doubt about it. I do hope that once you can travel you all shall visit me in Northumbria. Carham Castle is quite different than Pemberley, but I daresay that you shall like it. You can have a true taste of Scotland there, I assure you.”
“I would dearly like to visit it one day. I have never travelled farther north than Pemberley.”
They did not speak more but watched the company on the lawn taking turns in shooting. It appeared that Mr Bingley was winning over both Georgiana and Elizabeth.
“I think that I will join them,” he said. “I cannot allow Bingley to win.”
The Earl of Northumberland came to stand by Georgiana, talking to her. Elizabeth could see that Mr Bingley was glaring at him. She wondered if the true reason behind the earl’s unexpected departure was the appearance of Mr Bingley. Perhaps Mr Percy truly liked Jane, but on seeing her with Mr Bingley decided to take a step back?
***
Elizabeth and Jane were seated in the dressing room. It had been raining heavily since the early morning. The sisters were looking through Elizabeth’s collections of gowns. Jane was helping to decide which dresses Elizabeth should part ways with.
Jane was taking the dresses from the closet one after another and they were discussing them.
“What about this one?” Jane asked, showing her a pale grey dress. “It is very nice.”
“It is,” Elizabeth agreed. “Too tight at the present, but I hope to wear it in the future.”
Jane put it back into the closet.
“Drew insists that we should order new dresses,” Elizabeth mentioned.
“She is correct,” Jane said, looking at the green dress which her sister was currently wearing. It was draped rather tightly around Elizabeth’s bosom and belly.
“Drew knows a good seamstress in Matlock. I think that she will come here next week to take my measurements.”
Jane took a seat on the sofa next to Elizabeth. She put her hand on her sister’s belly. “Does the baby move?”
“It does. At first those were only flutters, but now I can feel him.”
“Him?”
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “Fitzwilliam is convinced that the child is a boy.”
“Do you worry that it may be a girl?”
“I do not think about it. Fitzwilliam will love this child no matter its sex. He adores his sister.”
“He certainly does,” Jane agreed, and returned to the closet. She took out another dress. It was yellow silk with golden threads.
“You wore it to many balls,” Jane remarked.
“It is decidedly too tight now. You should keep it, Jane, if you like it. The colour is perhaps better suited for brunettes than blondes, but you look well in every colour.”
Jane put the dress aside and reached for the next one. As she was looking at it, she said, “It is a shame that the earl left. He was good company.”
“Indeed, he was,” Elizabeth agreed, watching her sister carefully. “Jane?” she asked.
“Yes?”
“Do you like him?”
“Who?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Mr George Percy, the Earl of Northumberland, of course.”
“He was pleasant company,” Jane admitted. She reached for another dress. “You should really give this dress away. It looks old and unfashionable.” She threw the item on the floor.
“What about Mr Bingley?” Elizabeth wished to know.
Jane hesitated. “I still do like him, but it is rather complicated.”
“Why?”
“He has never spoken to me about his feelings.”
“Sometimes actions speak louder than words. After all, Mr Bingley came to Pemberley for you,” Elizabeth reminded her.
“I thought that he came to visit Mr Darcy.”
“He came here to see you.”
“How can you be so assured of that, Lizzy? Did Mr Bingley tell you that?”
“I know it from Fitzwilliam. They talked about you,” Elizabeth spoke with authority.
Jane smiled, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. Watching her sister’s reaction, Elizabeth thought that there was still hope for Mr Bingley and her sister.
“Where is Drew?” Jane asked, returning her attention to the closet.
“She asked to have her free day today instead of on Sunday. I do believe that her son has a birthday today.”
“He is such a good boy,” Jane praised.
Elizabeth smiled. “He is,” she said, reminding herself the scene which she had witnessed last Sunday after the service.
She had not questioned Drew about it, but judging by Mr Harrison’s displeased expression, Drew had rejected his proposal. Elizabeth was pleased that Drew was staying with her. She was not particularly taken aback that Drew had refused the farmer. Mr Harrison had taken for granted that Drew would marry him if only he asked her. He was not buying sheep, after all. Every woman deserved at least a short courtship. Men could be so very insensitive and tactless. She still cringed remembering Darcy’s first proposal.
Chapter Twenty
Darcy dismounted his horse and left it to the servant. He entered the house through the courtyard as was his usual custom. He had spent most of the day inspecting the fields together with his steward. He was pleased with what he had seen. He expected decent crops this year.
He walked through the house, enjoying the silence. Their guests were gone. A few days after Percy’s departure, Jane received a letter from Purvis Lodge with most alarming news. Mrs Bennet had developed a sudden illness of a serious nature, being nearly on her death bed. Jane and Bingley travelled to the south the following day. A week later the letter arrived from Jane, informing them th
at the mysterious illness was in truth only a bad case of indigestion. Darcy was secretly furious with his mother-in-law. He thought it had been highly irresponsible of her to send such a dramatic letter to her pregnant daughter, who should not have worries in her condition.
Darcy was rather fatigued, but there were still some letters which he should answer and post today. He went straight to the family wing. It was a hot day, and he wished to refresh himself and change his clothing. He also hoped to see Elizabeth and enjoy some time with her.
As he had expected, he found his wife resting peacefully. She occupied his bedroom, curled in the middle of the four-poster bed. She napped in the afternoon because she’d had a restless night. She complained that the child bothered her usually from eleven o’clock at night onwards.
Darcy removed his coat, vest and shirt and washed himself quickly. Then he put on a fresh shirt and went back to the bedroom. He climbed on the bed, careful not to jostle her. He spooned behind her. She was covered with a light woollen blanket. As his arm sneaked beneath it and wrapped around her, he discovered that she was wearing only her chemise. She must have felt hot on such a balmy day. She murmured something but did not wake up. He placed his hand on the hard bump and closed his eyes as well.
His intention was to stay with her only for a short while, but he was woken about an hour later with the sounds of some commotion coming from the corridor. Elizabeth was resting on her back now, her hands resting on her belly.
Darcy sat up. He rearranged the blanket carefully over her. He was shifting off the bed when he heard her voice.
“What time is it?” she asked, her voice sleepy.
He looked at the large clock on the mantelpiece. “Five.”
“So late,” she said, sitting up. She moaned loudly into her hand. “I cannot believe I slept so very long.”
There was a knock on the door. Darcy looked over at her to check if she was covered, then said, “Enter.”
It was his valet, Clayton. “Mr Darcy, I wish to inform you that Colonel Fitzwilliam has just arrived. I do believe that Mrs Reynolds showed him to his usual bedchamber.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy. Their eyes met.
“Please, ask Miss Georgiana to have tea with him in the drawing room. We shall join them shortly.”