Through the Window 2

by Mary Jane Ballew

  Dear Lizzy,

  I am writing this note to you to make what might seem like a rather odd request. Miss Anne de Bourgh wishes to accompany me tomorrow at a time of your convenience to see you. She has asked me to write to you and request that you send Mr. Darcy’s carriage to take us to Windham House. Miss de Bourgh has requested that you inform the driver not to come to the door, but instead, have him stop and wait just down the lane so that we might say we are to go for a walk to her Ladyship.

  Please write to me and tell me if this is agreeable to you.

  Regards,

  Charlotte Collins

  Elizabeth folded the letter back up and thought about why Miss Anne de Bourgh would wish to see her. She sighed heavily as she looked around at the lifeless trees and dormant flowers. The weather seemed to match her mood very well. She felt very melancholy, and not at all happy. She did not like arguing with William. She was no longer angry with him now that she had read that letter from Lord Knowles. She knew her husband wanted to spare her the further sorrow of knowing that her sister's past behavior was the cause of troubles for him. She sighed as she considered what they should do. She thought about what Lady Fitzwilliam had said about not running from the battle. A part of her felt as if they would be running away from Lady Catherine if they were to return to Pemberley so soon. And yet, she saw the wisdom in William’s way of thinking as well. Why stay and allow Lady Catherine to cause more strife when they could return to Pemberley and have a very pleasant Christmas time? Elizabeth stood up and began walking back towards the house. She thought about the letter she carried in her hand. It was possible Miss de Bourgh’s request to see her was nothing but another attempt by Lady Catherine to cause more contention. Although, if that were the reason for her visit, she doubted that Charlotte would be a party to it. She was just about to return to the house when she heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up to see William walking in her direction. He had a look of concern on his face, “Elizabeth, is everything all right?” he asked her.

  She nodded her head, “Yes, William I am fine,” she assured him. “Why did you think I was not?”

  “The servant said that you had received an urgent letter from someone and were out here. I thought perhaps…” he began to say. “Oh, I am not sure what I thought. I do not like this unease that has been between us.”

  Elizabeth looked over at him, “I do not like it either,” she said softly.

  “Then you are well, and your family is well?” he asked her.

  Elizabeth smiled, “Yes, darling, we are all well,” she assured him.

  “I am glad to hear it, but why did the servant say you received an urgent letter, then?” he asked her.

  Elizabeth laughed just a little, “I am not sure; the letter is from Charlotte, and she did tell the boy who delivered it that it was important, I think.”

  Darcy breathed a sigh of relief, “I am only glad that you are well,” he said as he took her hand in his. He was surprised by how cold they felt, “Elizabeth, your hands are freezing. You will catch a cold if you remain out here much longer,” he told her.

  “I was actually on my way back inside,” she told him.

  “Come along; I will take you inside where you must warm yourself by the fire. Then you can tell me what this urgent letter from Mrs. Collins is all about,” he told her as he wrapped his arm around her and guided her inside.

  Once Elizabeth was settled by the fire, Darcy walked over and sat across from her. “Now, tell me about your letter?” he said.

  Elizabeth looked down at the letter in her hand, “William, before I tell you about the letter, I must know; does the reason you wish to return to Pemberley now and not remain in London a little longer have to do with Lord Knowles’s letter to you?”

  His mood changed suddenly as he got up and walked over to the fireplace to stand in front of it. “You found the letter?” he said, sounding somewhat agitated.

  “I did not mean to; I hope you are not angry with me,” she told him. “After you left, I found it crumbled up on the floor and went to discard it, but was unsure of what it was. It was not my intention to read your letter, but once I saw it, I wondered if it was the cause of your desire to return to Pemberley and not stay longer in London?”

  Darcy realized that in his anger, he had thrown the letter away, but after speaking with her, he had forgotten to discard it into the fireplace. “I am not angry with you,” he assured her. “Yes, I will not lie to you; when I first got the letter, I thought it best to return to Pemberley and be as far away from my aunt as possible. I was angered that she would attempt to involve herself not only in my personal affairs but it would seem, my business affairs as well.”

  “Oh William, I am so very sorry,” Elizabeth told him. “Will Lord Knowles withdrawing his support for your business ventures cause you great harm?” she asked, feeling guilty. “I am so sorry about this business with Lydia. I never wanted my sister’s conduct to cause you or Georgie any harm.”

  He turned and walked back over to her. “Elizabeth, do not concern yourself, my love,” he told her. “The birth of your nephew should be a joyous occasion, as you have said. I will not allow my aunt or anyone else to cause us to think otherwise. As for Lord Knowles, I am glad to be done with him. Any man who would allow the ramblings of a bitter and angry woman to persuade him to think ill of you because of something you had no control over is not the kind of man I wish to do business with. I will not stand by and allow him or anyone else to speak ill of you.”

  Elizabeth stood up and wrapped her arms around his waist. She laid her head on his shoulder and whispered. “William, as I told you before, there is only one way in which Lady Catherine can hurt me, and that is by upsetting you,” she assured him. “I do not care what she might think of me.”

  He kissed the top of her head, “I think I should tell you now, I will not be doing business with Lord Ashworth. I have informed Mr. James Fletcher of my decision, and he informed me that Lord Ashworth is not an honorable man. In fact, he has made several faulty and questionable business dealings in the past that have led to his desperate attempts at taking on new business partners. When young James told me that Lord Ashworth had aligned himself with Lord Knowles, I knew at once you were right in your discernment of his character. So you see, contrary to what my aunt has said, you have not caused me troubles or harm. In fact, I believe you have saved me a great deal.”

  Elizabeth smiled, “Then you are no longer angry with me for not telling you about how I came to know of Lord Ashworth’s character?” she asked as she looked up into his eyes.

  Darcy wrapped his arms around her. “I will not lie, I was upset at first,” he told her. “However, now I see that you must have your reasons for not telling me. I suspect this all somehow has to do with Miss Bingley, and for now, will leave it at that.”

  Elizabeth reached up and brushed his cheek, “Thank you, William,” she said softly.

  He kissed her lips tenderly, then released her. He walked over to the window and looked out at the sky, “As for my writing a letter to Mr. Wickham, I hope you understand why I cannot do so.”

  Elizabeth moved over to him and stood near him. “I do understand, William. It was thoughtless of me to ask you. Lydia is my sister, and I will deal with her.”

  Darcy smiled as he turned and pulled Elizabeth into his arms, “Now, as to the matter of your letter?” he said as he gazed into her eyes. “What did Mrs. Collins have to say that was so pressing?”

  Elizabeth arched her brow and chewed her bottom lip, “I am not sure,” she told him. “It was a rather odd letter.”

  “In what way?” he asked her.

  “Well, Charlotte wrote to say that she would like to call on me tomorrow with your cousin, Anne,” she told him.

  “That is rather odd,” he agreed.

  “Yes, and once more, Anne requests that you send your carriage for her and that we ask the driver to wait down the lane and not come to the house directly,” she told him. />
  Darcy furrowed his brow, “That truly is odd,” he told her. “What will you do?”

  Elizabeth smiled mischievously, “I think I must see her,” she told him. “Unless you have some objection to the visit?”

  Darcy shook his head, “I have none,” he told her. “I do wonder what it could be about, though?”

  “I suppose we shall have to wait until tomorrow to find out,” Elizabeth told him. “Oh William, do you still wish for us to leave before Caroline and Mr. Fitzwilliam are to be married?”

  He shook his head, “No, my darling; if you wish to stay, then we shall. I only ask that we return to Pemberley in time for Christmas?”

  “Oh William, thank you,” she said as she kissed his cheek and then turned to leave.

  Darcy did not let her go, “Where are you going?” he asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.

  “Why, to write to Charlotte, of course,” she laughed.

  He shook his head, “Not just yet, Mrs. Darcy,” he said as he leaned down very near her lips, “First, I think I would like a proper kiss to make up for the one I missed last night,” he suggested.

  Elizabeth reached up and gently caressed his cheek, “Oh no, not just one kiss, Mr. Darcy, for I believe you owe me two proper kisses; one for last night, and another for this morning,” she whispered softly.

  Darcy pulled her closer into his arms and kissed her properly as the skies darkened and the first signs of winter snow drifted slowly down to the ground. Thoughts of weddings, business ventures, visits, aunts, cousins, and sisters vanished from Elizabeth’s mind as she leaned in close and enjoyed the pleasure she found at being in her husband's strong arms. For now, all she wanted to do was enjoy this moment with her beloved William.

  Until Next time

  Epilogue

  Greetings,

  When we next meet and look Through the Window, we will join Darcy and Elizabeth as they spend their first Christmas together. Elizabeth will receive a mysterious visit from Miss Anne de Bourgh that is sure to cause more strife with Lady Catherine. Both Lizzy and Jane will be busy helping Caroline prepare for her Christmas wedding to her beloved Owen, while Georgiana and Richard will come ever closer to declaring their feelings for one another. As with life, not all will be blissful and jolly. Trouble will ensue as Lydia continues to make mischief for Mr. Bennet, causing Elizabeth to meddle and attempt to help her father by giving her younger sister the perfect Christmas gift.

  Hope to meet with you again.

  Kindest Regards