Through the Window 2

by Mary Jane Ballew

  Darcy sat in his study reading over some correspondence when Elizabeth came in and asked, “Are you still working on your accounts?”

  He smiled, “No, not really. Mr. Fletcher suggested I read in detail over this proposal that Lord Ashworth has given me. Apparently, young James Fletcher believes there is some risk involved if I were to invest in Lord Ashworth’s scheme,” he told her.

  “And have you been reading over every detail, my dear?” she asked him.

  He pushed the papers aside, “I will admit to you that I have not,” he told her. “The truth of the matter is some of the finer details are somewhat confusing. I am not sure I understand what it is exactly that Lord Ashworth hopes to gain from adding me to his list of business partners. By all accounts, he has several very wealthy investors already, he does not need me,” he told her.

  “You never did tell me what your thoughts about Lord Ashworth were,” she said as she walked over and sat down. “What was your impression of him?”

  Darcy leaned back in his chair, “Before I answer, may I ask why it is you are asking about Lord Ashworth now?”

  Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, “I have no hidden motives, William,“ she assured him. “I promised I would not interfere in Caroline’s personal affairs and I have not.”

  Darcy took in a small breath, “My impression of him was that he is not a man to be trusted. I do not like to speak ill of another, but honestly, I thought him rude. He was far too much of a snob for my liking.”

  Elizabeth furrowed her brow in confusion. “William, I know your business affairs are your concern; but if you feel this way about Lord Ashworth, would it be wise to do business with him?”

  Darcy sighed, “My first inclination is to reject his business venture and tell him I am not interested; however, Mr. Fletcher has asked me to consider it,” he explained.

  Elizabeth looked at him in confusion. “I thought you said Mr. Fletcher had some doubts about Lord Ashworth?” she asked.

  Darcy smiled, “No, I said young James Fletcher has some concerns, not his father,” he told her. “Mr. Fletcher has said he believes it a very good opportunity for me, however young James has asked that I withhold my decision and allow him some time to look into a few things further.”

  Elizabeth grew quiet for a moment. She thought about how Caroline had reacted to the mention of the man’s name and wondered what she might know of him. “I do not presume to know much about your business affairs, and I am sure Mr. Fletcher would not advise you unless he considered this venture to be a very good prospect…” she began to say.

  “Yet, you do not wish for me to accept his proposal,” Darcy concluded. He could see the doubt in her eyes. “Is this feeling you have concerning Lord Ashworth because of the way Miss Bingley reacted the day his name was first mentioned?” he asked her.

  Elizabeth could not deny that it was, “Yes, it is. I have a very unsettled feeling about the man,” she admitted. “Truly, I have no reason to think ill of Lord Ashworth, and yet I am uneasy about you doing business with him.”

  Darcy sat forward in his chair, “Elizabeth, I do trust your judgment,” he told her. “But it would be wrong of me to dismiss the man based on a first impression or by the way Miss Bingley reacted upon hearing his name,” he told her. “Perhaps we should consider inviting Lord Ashworth to Georgiana’s coming out ball so that we both might have an opportunity to know the man better.”

  Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, “Very well, William,” she said softly. “If you think we should. I would only ask that you allow me to speak with Caroline before doing so.”

  “If you like,” he agreed. He closed his ledger and pulled out his pocket watch, “I very nearly forgot to ask you, how did tea with my aunt go? Have you settled on a guest list?”

  Elizabeth thought for a moment and wondered; should she speak with William about Georgiana, or not? She considered what had happened, but then considered she did not have any real information to tell him. After all, Georgiana still seemed unsure of her own feelings. “It went well,” she told him. “I believe your aunt and I have everything in order. After Mary’s wedding, we will finalize the plans, and she will handle the invitations. Of course, things will go easier with my mother and Lydia returning to Longbourn.”

  “I am very glad to hear my aunt has been of some help to you in all of this,” he said. “I also think your father’s decision to return to Longbourn so soon after the wedding is a wise one. It will have been a full week since your nephew’s birth, and Lydia will be well for travel, I should think,” he concluded in saying just as a knock came to the door. “Come in,” he called out.

  The door opened, and Howard stepped inside, “I am sorry for the interruption, but a letter has just arrived for you, ma’am,” he said as he brought it to her.

  Elizabeth smiled, “Thank you, Howard,” she took the letter and examined the writing. After Howard left the two of them alone, she said, “I do not recognize the handwriting, but if I had to guess, I believe this letter is from Lady Catherine.”

  Darcy furrowed his brow, “How can you be so sure?” he asked her.

  “Because, my darling, the letter is addressed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” she told him. “I can think of no other who would address a letter to me as such, so it must be from her,” she said as she turned it over and opened it. She began reading and sighed, “Yes, it is from her Ladyship.”

  Miss Bennet,

  I address you by the name you should still hold to. I cannot bring myself to address you in any other manner. I have heard the shocking news of the birth of your nephew to Mrs. Lydia Wickham. I have been informed that the birth was so wholly unexpected that even her own mother believed the worst was about to take place. Of course, I expected to be told the child was stillborn, for how could it be anything else having come so soon after the marriage of your sister to Mr. George Wickham? However, regretfully that was not the case. If the child had been born prematurely and died at least that would have helped to lessen the grief and humiliation my own nephew, Fitzwilliam, must surely be feeling at this moment. When we last spoke at Longbourn, I said then that you would pollute the shades of Pemberley. I now see that I was right. To think that by marrying you and aligning himself with your family he has disgraced the Darcy name and brought scandal to the very doors of Pemberley. It is all so heartbreaking to me. If my beloved sister had lived to see this day, she surely would have died from the shame and disgrace that has befallen her home and children. You, Miss Bennet, are an appalling excuse for a lady. I shudder to think that you now carry the title my sister once held, that of mistress to Pemberley. The title my own dear Anne should have carried. You must know the degradation you have brought to my niece and nephew. I am sure now Fitzwilliam will see the error of his ways, but it is all too late. You have deprived me of the joy of seeing my daughter married, you have taken the prospect of grandchildren from me, and you have destroyed the futures of a much-beloved nephew and niece. I shall never forgive you!

  Lady Catherine De Bourgh

  Elizabeth folded the letter closed and took in a deep breath, then sighed deeply. She looked over at William who was waiting for her to finish reading. “I do not think I will respond to her.”

  “Well, what did she write?” William asked her.

  Elizabeth smiled, “She wrote to say she had heard the news that Lydia had given birth to my nephew,” she told him. “No doubt my mother has been talking to Lady Lucas and Mr. Collins has heard.”

  “Is that all she said?” he asked somewhat surprised.

  Elizabeth walked over to the fireplace and tossed the letter into the flames, “She had one or two other things to say, but truly nothing worth repeating,” she assured him.

  Darcy felt bad for her, “My darling, I am sorry if she has said anything to upset you.” he said as he moved over to her.

  Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, “I promise you, William, I am fine,” she assured him. “Please do not concern yourself, I am well,” she told
him again. “As I said before, Lady Catherine cannot hurt me. Not as long as I have you,” she said as she reached up and kissed him. Darcy pulled her into his arms and held her closer as their kiss deepened. Elizabeth found her heart beat faster at the intensity of his kiss. As their kiss ended, she pulled back from him and searched his eyes, “William,” she whispered his name somewhat breathless. “What has come over you?”

  He smiled as he gazed into her lovely eyes, “I do not know what my aunt said in that letter to you, but I can well imagine. I just wanted to be sure you know, regardless of whatever she has written, I will never regret, or change my mind about how very deeply I love you.”

  Elizabeth smiled, “Oh William, how is it you always know exactly what to say?” she whispered as her eyes shimmered with tears. His love for her was the one thing Lady Catherine could never control, and that made all the difference to her.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Elizabeth stood just behind her sister Mary as she put the finishing touches on her hair. “Oh Mary, you look beautiful,” she said as she carefully placed the bonnet and veil on her head.

  Mary looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her gown came out beautifully with just enough white and gold lace trim to make it truly lovely. The shade of dark blue set off the color in her cheeks and made her eyes stand out. She would always think very fondly of this particular gown as the one she wore when she became Mrs. Jonathan Godwin. “I feel so pretty,” she whispered softly. “I know a thing like that should not matter so much, but today of all days, it is a very good feeling to have.”

  “I agree with you completely,” Elizabeth told her. “And because this is such a very special day, Jane and I have a gift we bought just for you,” she told her as she walked over to the dressing table and picked up a very beautifully wrapped box. “We chose it especially for you.”

  Mary smiled, “Lizzy, you did not have to do this,” she said as she carefully opened the wrapping and lifted off the lid to the small box. “It is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” she said as her eyes filled with tears. Inside the box was a solid gold cross necklace with a small diamond in the center of it. “Will you help me to put it on?” she asked.

  “Of course I will,” Elizabeth told her as she carefully placed the necklace around her neck and did the clasp.

  Mary looked again at her reflection as tears filled her eyes, “Oh Lizzy,” she began to say when her voice broke with emotion.

  “Mary, what is it?” Elizabeth asked her. “Whatever is the matter?”

  Mary swallowed just a little as she turned and looked at her sister, “I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed, I think,” she admitted. “So much has happened. All the sudden, everything feels so very different to me. In a few short hours I will be Mrs. Jonathan Godwin, and then I will go and live with him at Pembroke,” she said as she sniffled in.

  “Oh, Mary, do not be afraid,” Elizabeth encouraged her. “Mr. Godwin loves you very much. I know you will be very happy. Do not think about Mother and Father’s marriage as one to be modeled after,” she said as delicately as she could. “But rather, look to the Admiral and Mrs. Godwin, and trust your husband. Let him be your guide in matters that you are unsure of. After all, the Holy Scriptures do tell us that is how it should be. Think on what we are instructed to do, to submit and obey…” Elizabeth said softly. “And yet, I have come to realize with William it is so much more than just begrudgingly obeying his commands,” she paused for a moment and asked, “Mary, you do trust that Mr. Godwin loves you, and you believe he is of strong moral character?”

  Mary nodded her head, “Yes, Lizzy, I do,” she told her. “I know Jonathan’s heart; he loves our Lord, and his desire to be of service to others is a sincere and genuine one. In that, I have felt his love for me most dearly. I have no doubts in him. I suppose, if I am honest, my doubts are in myself.”

  Elizabeth was not surprised that Mary should question what would be required of her in becoming a wife. Their entire lives their mother set such a dreadful example for them as they grew from children to women; it would be more shocking if Mary did not have doubts. Elizabeth smiled and gently patted her sister’s hand. “As a wife, I believe you want to love your husband, respect him, and trust that position to which God has given him over you. If you allow Mr. Godwin to love you, to guide you, and to care for you, he will do so. I am sure of it. I do not say you should blindly follow Mr. Godwin. It is also your duty as his helpmate to love him enough to always speak truthfully with him those things that you feel God placing on your heart. I believe if you can do that, you will have a very good marriage; one where both you and Mr. Godwin can love and respect each other, and grow together in all that is meant for you.”

  Mary trembled just a little as she was overcome with emotion, “Oh Lizzy, thank you,” she said as tears shimmered in her eyes. “That is exactly what I needed to hear,” she told her. “Mama tried to speak with me last night,” she began to say. “And I know in her limited understanding, she was trying to be helpful, but what you have shared was just what I have always thought a marriage should be.”

  Elizabeth hugged her sister, “Now, I think we should be on our way; we do not want to make Mr. Godwin wait for you at the church,” she told her.

  Mary smiled, “Now, I truly am ready,” she said as she wiped her eyes and regained her composure. “I can hardly believe this day has come!”

  “Well my dear boy, are you ready to go to the church?” Bishop Winthrop asked him.

  Jonathan turned and saw his uncle in the doorway, “I am more than ready,” he told him. “In fact, I find that I am eager to see Mary and take her for my wife.”

  “I believe that is how most young men feel on the day of their wedding,” he said. “If they are marrying for the right reasons.”

  Jonathan furrowed his brow, “Do you doubt that I am marrying for the right reasons, Uncle?” he asked him.

  Bishop Winthrop shook his head, “No, my dear boy,” he assured him. “I believe you love Mary, and I can see that she loves you,” he told him. “I know you both have hearts that are dedicated to the Lord and I believe if two people were ever meant to be together, surely the two of you must be it.”

  “And yet something troubles you?” Jonathan said, “I can hear it in your voice. Tell me, Uncle, what is it? What is the matter?”

  Bishop Winthrop took in a deep breath and sighed, “News of Miss Bennet’s younger sister’s marriage and the unexpected birth of her son has reached me, and I find I must speak to you concerning the matter.”

  Jonathan knew this would come to pass, “I am sorry for not bringing this to your attention, Uncle Winthrop. I was not trying to keep it from you; however, as I told my father, I did not want to give an ear to idle gossip. Those who have talked about this matter have repeated things that they know very little about.”

  Bishop Winthrop walked over and sat down near the fire, “I can well imagine there is truth in what you have said. Gossip is a vile thing,” he told him. “And yet, it is my understanding from your mother that there is truth in it as well.”

  Jonathan let out a heavy sigh, “There is some truth in what has been related to you. Mr. Wickham and Miss Lydia Bennet did elope. They ran off together from Brighton sometime last summer. They made it as far as London before they were discovered. Mary’s uncle found them together in London. They had been there for several days and were sharing a room together. Unfortunately, it was discovered that they still were not married. Some pressure was applied to Mr. Wickham that he should do right by the girl. After the terms of Lydia Bennet’s inheritance were established, and it was determined by her father what could be reasonably settled on her, the two were married from Cheapside. Of course, I will not insult you by ignoring the fact that still does not explain the birth of her child so soon after her elopement. All I can say is that Mr. Wickham is the father to her child, and they are now married before God and the Church, so perhaps throwing stones at them is not the best way to proceed.�
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  Bishop Winthrop shook his head sadly and sighed heavily, “Such a wicked temptation this is to have befallen one so young as Mrs. Wickham. It is all so very shocking and can only be attributed to the work of the devil, I think,” he lectured him. “While I do understand the sentiment you have shared concerning the couple in question, we cannot ignore the fact that none of this would have transpired had Mr. Bennet been watching over his daughters as he should. The failings of the father, in this case, have brought about much harm.”

  Jonathan nodded his head, “I will agree with you on that score, Uncle. And you should know, Miss Bennet has related to me that Mr. Bennet has felt his failing to his daughter most keenly. He has great remorse over what has transpired, and I believe he has changed. His actions with Miss Bennet as well as Miss Catherine Bennet show this to be true.”

  “Have you spoken to him directly about any of this since the child was born?” the Bishop asked him. “I have heard that Mr. Wickham has only seen his child for a brief time, and is now returned to the north while his wife and son remain here with her family.”