by Kara Louise
“Your husband has too much integrity to openly criticize someone, even if they have done him wrong. When he heard of the lies she told, he did nothing about them. He refused to come back and defend himself, believing that his character and reputation were all that was required to eventually subdue the lies. He stayed away for quite some time, allowing people to decide for themselves. During that time, he discovered who his true friends were. When he did come into town, he kept company only with those who refused to believe my sister. He kept himself out of the light of society. It has been four years, Mrs. Darcy, and I believe this is the first ball he has attended in town since then.”
“But I do not understand why she would have done such a thing.”
Now it was Mr. Stevens turn to answer. He had remained at Elizabeth's side the entire time. “Part of it was immaturity. She was not yet twenty at the time, and when she and Mr. Darcy were the topic of speculation and conversation, she rather began to enjoy it. She liked being the envy of everyone. When Mr. Darcy came that night to tell her how he truly felt, all that was suddenly taken away from her.” Stevens looked at Elizabeth. “She now realizes how wrong she was, and how much hurt she caused.”
Mrs. Moffey spoke up. “I know she has carried deep feelings of regret and decided she needed to apologize to him. If she had arrived in town earlier, I believe she would have paid you a visit at your residence and done it properly, but as it is, she only arrived a few hours before the party. I talked with my husband, and we decided to arrange a time for them to talk things through tonight. My sister has grown up quite a bit in the past few years. In fact,” she paused and looked directly at Elizabeth, “she and Mr. Stevens are to be married in a few months.”
Elizabeth turned to the gentleman and offered him her sincerest congratulations, thinking to herself that Miss Mandrake must have grown up quite a bit in the last four years for this man to be willing to marry her, knowing full well what she had done.
Mrs. Moffey continued. “Mrs. Darcy, last year at our New Year’s Eve ball, I made a resolution to bring those two together this year so she could apologize and ask for his forgiveness. I had invited your husband last year, but he did not attend. Hopefully, it will finally happen tonight.”
Elizabeth smiled. “It appears that you have just barely made keeping that New Year’s resolution! This year is almost over!”
“Yes, it is, and if you will excuse me, I should go to them and make sure things are going as they should. My sister can still be quite stubborn, can she not, Mr. Stevens?”
“Oh, yes, she can!” He laughed and turned back to Elizabeth. “Now, if you would be so kind, I have an introduction I would like to make.” He pointed in the direction of the older lady who Elizabeth had noticed earlier, and who continued to watch her intently.
“That woman sitting over there in the corner is my mother. I promised her that I would secure her an introduction to you tonight. But first let me tell you something about her. She prides herself on making everyone's business her business. If you want the latest gossip, she knows it!” He laughed at the shocked look on Elizabeth's face. “But, she makes sure her facts are correct. It was actually her perception of the situation four years ago and seeing the lies for what they were that helped bring those rumours to an end. Over the years everyone has come to trust my mother's judgment, and all she desires is to make sure that everyone sees things as they truly are. Would you be so kind as to allow me to introduce her to you?”
“Certainly! I must admit I have noticed her and the ladies she has around her tonight. I suspect that I have been the object of their stares and conversations.”
“Mrs. Darcy, everyone is staring at you tonight because they wonder who this woman is that conquered the man with a heart of stone!”
“A heart of stone?”
“After this incident, word was that he had a heart of stone to be able to resist Joanna’s charm and beauty. She is beautiful, do you not think so?” He did not wait for an answer. “They began to believe he would only consider taking a woman for his wife who met the highest qualifications and had unlimited accomplishments. He would base his choice on a very calculated, rational decision. In other words, everyone began to believe he would never find the right woman and would certainly not marry for love.” He laughed as he glanced at Elizabeth. “Then we heard he had taken a wife. A woman with what many here would consider no connections or wealth. A country lass, is what we heard! It seemed so unlike the Darcy we all knew – the predictable, practical, rational, unfeeling…should I go on?”
“Maybe you did not know him as he really is.”
He took her arm, and they began walking toward his mother. “Ah, but my mother did! She knew he must have married for love. What else could it be? When everyone else was trying to come up with their own reasons why he would marry a woman from such a different class as himself, the most ridiculous stories began circulating. But it was my mother who continually refuted each one with the fact that he must have married you because he was desperately in love with you. I think we can all attest to it tonight, Mrs. Darcy. Come; let me introduce you to my mother.”
Mr. Stevens escorted Elizabeth over to her. Several younger ladies stepped aside as they approached. “Mother, may I present to you Elizabeth Darcy? Mrs. Darcy, this is my mother, Roberta Stevens.”
With a curtsey she replied, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stevens.”
“Ah, but it is my greater pleasure. You had no idea who I was before this evening began, but you are someone I have wanted to meet for some time, and now I finally have the privilege.”
“Your son has told me much about you.”
“Oh, my son probably told you I am the biggest gossip! But look at the attention I get! These ladies swarm around me to find out the latest news, and I have no greater pleasure than to give it to them. But I hope my son also informed you that I only tell what is true. I will not pass on a falsehood!”
Elizabeth laughed at this spry, older woman’s candour. She liked her and had to admit she was grateful that she seemed to like Elizabeth. “That is very admirable of you.”
“Hmmph! Admirable! I have been the object of some false rumours myself, Mrs. Darcy, and it is certainly not fun. I decided early on, that if I were to gossip, it would have to be verified fact!” She leaned over and whispered to Elizabeth, “To tell you the truth, young lady, it is my way of keeping idle, worthless gossip from spreading. I believe sharing the truth with others does not even qualify as gossip!”
Elizabeth smiled. “Mrs. Stevens, you are very wise.”
“And you, my dear, are very wise in realizing that! Now, Mrs. Darcy, let me introduce you to these fine ladies here.” Elizabeth was then introduced to the ladies who had been listening intently to Mrs. Stevens’s gossip. While she knew some of it most likely had to do with her, she was grateful to know Mrs. Stevens would only speak about what was true.
After a few moments in conversation with the ladies and Mrs. Stevens, Elizabeth saw her husband return with Miss Mandrake and the Moffeys. He quickly came to her side and brought his arm around her. “I see you have met Mrs. Stevens.” He made a slight bow and took the elder lady's hand and brought it up to his lips in a kiss. “It is always good to see you, Mrs. Stevens. Are you and your family well?”
“I have never been better, now that I have met your wife. She is most charming. As for my son, he is faring quite well, especially now that he and Miss Mandrake are to be married. Have you and my future daughter-in-law settled things between the two of you?”
Darcy looked at her and then at Elizabeth, giving her a reassuring smile. “Yes, I believe we have.”
While Darcy began a conversation with a young gentleman who had approached, Miss Mandrake warily came up to Elizabeth. “I apologized to your husband earlier, Mrs. Darcy, for some regrettable things I said about him years ago, and I would like to apologize to you, as well, even though I did not know you at the time. I deeply regret my immature actions and hope that you
and I can be friends. I have enjoyed the friendship of the Darcys for almost all of my life.”
“I would be happy to consider you a friend, Miss Mandrake. And may I offer you congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I had a very enjoyable talk with Mr. Stevens tonight.” Elizabeth then laughed and looked at Mrs. Stevens. “And with his mother!”
Miss Mandrake smiled, and Elizabeth sensed she still felt awkward over her earlier actions, but also could tell she was now feeling a great amount of relief since having the opportunity to apologize.
Elizabeth returned to her husband who was conversing with others who had approached him. He gazed at her beseechingly, and Elizabeth recognized the look that told her he wished to speak with her alone, but at the same time wished to be civil to those he had not seen in a long time. He was also very anxious to introduce his wife to everyone.
As Elizabeth glanced about her, she noticed that the stares and murmurs had now become stares, murmurs, and smiles.
Finally Darcy was able to pull her off to the side. “Elizabeth, may I have a moment with you in the sitting room?”
“My dear, it is almost midnight!”
“I would still like to speak with you alone.”
Elizabeth smiled and wrapped her fingers about her husband’s arm, and they wound their way through the crowd to a small sitting room. They stepped inside and Darcy closed the door.
He was silent for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. Finally, he spoke. “Elizabeth, you must believe me that I was somewhat dumbfounded when, after Mr. Moffey invited me to the sitting room, I realized Miss Mandrake had followed us in there.”
“As was I.”
He reached out and took her hand. “I was not certain of the reason for it, but when we came in here, she immediately told me that there was something she needed to say to me. She told me she had come to regret her behaviour subsequent to the events of that night four years ago.”
Darcy took in a deep breath and cradled her hand in his. “One thing I neglected to tell you was that she began to spread some rather malicious rumours about me. When I was made aware of these falsehoods, I had already returned to Pemberley. I believed, rather than hoped, that they would amount to nothing and so chose to ignore them. Unfortunately they persisted for some time. Each time I came into London, I avoided most of that circle of acquaintances except for my closest friends.”
He took a deep breath. Elizabeth could see in his face that this must have caused him a great deal of inner anguish.
“Gradually the rumours ceased, and somehow most people came to realize them as outright lies. Miss Mandrake has since come to deeply regret her actions and apparently has wanted to reconcile things between us for quite a long time. You know she and Mr. Stevens are to be married?”
“Yes, Mrs. Moffey informed me. He seems very happy.”
“Mrs. Moffey told me that it had been her New Year's resolution from last year to bring about a reconciliation between her sister and myself.”
“Yes, she shared that with me, as well. I am glad it happened, Fitzwilliam, for your sake as well as hers.”
“I also felt the need to apologize to her for my words and actions. If only I had let her know earlier what my true feelings were, or were not, she may not have been so susceptible to the talk that circulated about us. And when I went to her that night, I fear I may not have been as civil as I ought to have been.”
Darcy glanced at the grandfather clock that stood against the wall of the sitting room. “Look, we have just a few minutes left of this year.” He pulled her close to him.
Elizabeth looked up at him. “Do you think we should go out and join the others in welcoming in the New Year?”
“I think I would prefer to usher it in with just you by my side in the solitude of this room.” She leaned her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Speaking of resolutions, have you made any New Year's resolutions this year?” Elizabeth teasingly asked.
“I made most of my resolutions last spring when I set a course to change those regrettable things you saw in me. I had quite a few of them to address, and I was not going to wait until the New Year to begin.”
“And were you able to keep all those resolutions?”
“Only you can answer that. Not knowing then that we would once again be thrown into each other’s company and I would have another chance with you, I still maintained that somehow I would become on the outside what I thought I was on the inside. I had no idea how difficult it would be, as the more I tried, the more I realized I was not at all who I thought I was. I saw myself more and more as you saw me, and it took that much more effort to bring about a change in me, a change that was wrought for you.”
“I am most happy with you just the way you are, and you know that my perception of you at that time was ill grounded, based solely on misunderstanding.”
“And what about you, Elizabeth? Have you made any resolutions?”
Elizabeth thought about it a moment. “I think perhaps I would prefer to look back at this past year and count all my blessings. I believe that would be much easier, and I could count many, starting with you!”
“Ah, yes, our blessings. You would definitely be at the top of my list. Last year at this time I was drowning my sorrows, literally. I cannot even remember when the midnight hour struck, as I was not eager for another year to begin. As it approached, I tried desperately to wipe the slate clean regarding my feelings toward you, but I did not meet with any success.”
“Let us not talk of that now. Let us just be thankful for how everything turned out.”
They stood together listening to the steady ticking of the clock.
With his arms about Elizabeth, Darcy leaned down to kiss the top of her head. She leaned her head against him, and then looked up into his face with eyes full of desire. As the sound of the first chime of the midnight hour rang out, Darcy lowered his head to join his lips with hers. He pulled away from her to whisper, “Happy New Year, my dear. May this be the first of many to come!”
“And to you, my love! I can think of no better way to welcome a New Year than in your arms!”
Darcy and his wife were quite oblivious to the New Year that had crept upon them. They were beginning a journey that would own many joys and surprises for them. But at that moment they would not take the time to contemplate what those might be, as they were lost in the joy of an ardent kiss and being in each other’s arms.
Valentine’s Day
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year, especially if you are spending it with your beloved. In this case, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy.
This truth is very well fixed in the minds of most women; however, it may not be so very prevalent in the minds of men. Sometimes a woman may be inclined to toss out subtle hints to help stir the remembrance of the upcoming day. But for a woman, hints take away from the hope she has that her loved one will make romantic plans himself. She would prefer him to remember on his own and will often take the chance and not say anything, with all the expectancy that he will indeed remember and surprise her on this most romantic of all days.
As the date approached, Elizabeth made very careful and precise plans for a day that she hoped and believed her husband would thoroughly enjoy. But she did not let him know that she had these designs, as she wanted… no, yearned… for him to remember on his own and dream up something just as wonderful for her.
Being newlyweds, they were still very much in love and, despite the tendency for misunderstandings they experienced before they were married, they had now principally conquered that predisposition and had had several months of perfect bliss. (Well, perhaps not completely perfect, but we can assume always blissful.)
A few days before Valentine’s Day, Elizabeth was going through some old boxes that had been stored away in a closet in one of the large upstairs guest rooms. She found a box belonging to the late Mrs. Darcy in which she found
a collection of items that she carefully and curiously sorted through. The one that caught her attention, however, was a large jewel box.
This ornately decorated jewel box had a lid that opened on top and three drawers that opened in front. It had been cleared of all the jewellery that had once filled it. Elizabeth presumed that Georgiana had come into the possession of most of the jewellery, with Darcy most likely receiving some pieces, and she was sure Lady Catherine claimed some of it for herself.
When she carefully opened the bottom drawer, something caught her attention. She realized that it had a false bottom, and upon lifting it up, discovered a folded piece of paper and a small frame with the likeness of a young man within it. She at once lifted the frame to examine it. It was definitely not the late Mr. Darcy as she had seen his likeness many times in the portrait gallery. The man in this miniature frame was attractive, but was bestowed with fairer features than the late Mr. Darcy.
Curiosity gave way and she opened the folded piece of paper. It was a letter. Instantly her imagination was unleashed and she wondered about the identity of this unknown man and secret letter. Who was he and what did it mean? She quickly scanned the short missive.
June 23, 17__
My dearest Lady Anne,
How long it has been since I have seen you and I fear I shall not be content until I can behold you once more. My military duties will take me out to sea longer than I anticipated and so I shall not be returning for another three months, at least. Please be assured that you are in my every thought, each waking moment of the day. It is only those thoughts of you that encourage me on to fulfil my obligations and service to our king. I am counting the days until my return. I am yours forever.
With much regard,
A.H.
Elizabeth read the letter with a good deal of wonderment. Who could this man have been that he was so bold as to write Lady Anne a letter? And such an intimate one? Why did she keep his likeness and the letter from him hidden away in this jewel box? Her mind was exhausting all possibilities of this dilemma when Darcy walked in on her, and being as absorbed as she was in her musings, she did not hear him.