“Now we are truly sisters!” Elizabeth squeezed the younger girl tightly as they were surrounded by her other sisters.
Jane hugged her and kissed her cheek. They had said all their necessary words the other night. Mary fell into Elizabeth’s arms next. Tears trickled down her cheeks. “I will miss you, Lizzy,” she said between sniffs.
“Goodness! Do not think that you are losing a sister. You have gained another one and a brother.”
“Who can take us to all the best balls,” Lydia interjected with a giggle.
“Mama says you will put us in the path of other rich men. It is your duty now as a married woman,” Kitty said.
“Well, not her only duty,” Lydia said in a voice not quiet enough, causing both Elizabeth and Will to blush.
“Come, James will wish to greet you again,” Georgiana said while grabbing their hands. “And you must meet my cousins, Anne and Richard. Oh! And Lady Belinda…” She trailed off as she steered Elizabeth’s youngest sisters away.
Elizabeth smiled. She had not thought before that Georgiana had the makings of a leader, but she had a sweet graciousness that even Lydia found difficult to resist. She only needed confidence and the reassurance that making mistakes was acceptable.
“It is remarkable,” Will said in her ear.
“I agree. I can hardly believe how changed she is.”
“Who?” he asked in obvious confusion.
“Georgie.”
Will searched his sister out in the crowd and, seeing her in animated conversation, nodded. “Indeed, but I meant at how you steal my breath. How in a room as full as this, I see only you.” He squeezed her hands.
She smiled, and it gave way to a laugh.
“What amuses you, my dear?”
Elizabeth turned to meet his eyes. “Had we married in a church, we would have had to wear gloves.”
Will said nothing, but his ardent gaze left Elizabeth breathless.
“William, we must talk,” Lord Matlock interrupted their privacy. “Pardon the intrusion, my dear. Congratulations, and welcome to the family.” He kissed her cheek before leading her husband away.
For a moment, Elizabeth observed the room. Her uncle stood in conference with Lord Matlock, Richard, Mr. Truman, Lord Arlington, Will, and Bingley. She would not have thought it possible only a few months ago, but a peer as influential and powerful as Lord Matlock and related to the man she had found haughtiest in the kingdom now consulted her uncle’s opinion on matters. Nor had she thought it likely that she would see Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst listen to her mother’s effusions without a mocking glint in their eyes. Somehow, they had learned to all come together in harmony for the sake of love.
She could not remain solitary for long, however, and soon was approached by Lady Belinda and Miss de Bourgh.
“William says you are returning to Pemberley for a few weeks,” Miss de Bourgh said. It was the first time the frail-looking young lady had spoken directly to her.
“Yes,” Elizabeth replied.
“I do not know if you have talked much about your plans for the rest of the Season, but William and Richard have taken to visiting Rosings during Easter the last several years. Mother and I would be most pleased to have you continue that tradition,” Miss de Bourgh said.
“I will consult with my husband, but I would enjoy that.”
“You are friends with the rector’s new wife, I believe,” she said.
“Yes, I have known Charlotte all my life.”
“Then you must visit.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said uncertain how to continue.
Miss de Bourgh sighed. “Forgive me, I fear I sound overly authoritative like my mother. I am not used to much company, and it took all my nerves to come and speak with you. I hope my bravado does not sound condescending.”
At last, Elizabeth felt she began to understand the lady. “No, of course not.”
“The truth is, I am jealous of you.”
“Pardon me?” Had she wanted to marry Will?
“You married for love.” She waved her hands in Will’s direction.
“Oh,” Elizabeth said uselessly.
“Fear not, I had no designs upon your husband.” She looked at her feet. “All I ever wanted was to marry anyone and leave Rosings.”
“And yet you are staying,” Elizabeth said.
“You must talk some sense into her, Mrs. Darcy,” Lady Belinda said.
“Please call me Lizzy,” she replied. “We are to be family.” The other women responded in like manner.
“Arlington does not want me in London with him. I believe he wishes to continue his ways…” She trailed off, and Elizabeth understood Anne referenced the viscount’s rakish behaviour of the past. “I can never be her regardless.”
Anne had not met Elizabeth’s eyes, but she heard something of her pain in Anne’s voice. She did not know whom Anne referenced, however.
“I see Mama looking for me. Pray, do come at Easter. Excuse me,” Anne said and left her side.
Belinda sighed next to Elizabeth. “I have attempted to encourage her to stay in London.”
“Would he really send her away and...and…?” Elizabeth did not know how to properly say a man might keep mistresses and without even concern for his wife knowing it.
“It is not so unusual,” Belinda said sadly.
It was to Elizabeth, of course. Her father, however unhappy he was at times with her mother, had never taken lovers.
“And so he is in love with another woman? Is she unacceptable for some reason?” Elizabeth asked. She began to recognise how very fortunate she had been to capture the heart of Will and for him to be brave enough to marry her.
Belinda shook her head. “Oh, much worse. She died nigh on ten years ago. They never wed because the earl and countess disapproved and they would have had no money to live on.” She paused. “I think Anne is wrong. He would not have agreed to marry her if he was not ready to leave his bitterness and anger behind. My pain did not last near as long. I am so thankful to have met the colonel, but then ladies are not permitted the freedom in behaviour that men have. I simply refused to marry any man my parents threw before me; Arlington chose to cavort with actresses.”
“She ought to speak up for her own desires. Even if he never loves her, he would not wish her to be unhappy. She speaks of separate establishments.”
“Indeed.” She played with the bracelet on her arm, belying her own feelings. “She has lived in her mother’s shadow too long; it has made her unnaturally timid.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Something you are not.”
“No,” Belinda said before a lengthy exhale. “I do weary of being brave, though. You have heard that my wedding must wait?”
“No!” Elizabeth cried.
“Yes. The general has called for him. So I will await his return in London. He leaves tomorrow.”
Elizabeth squeezed Belinda’s hand in sympathy. She had heard from Georgiana the sad story of Lady Belinda’s first love. She hated to think that her new friend awaited the return of yet another officer to see action.
“I wish I would have been bolder like you and demanded an earlier wedding,” Belinda said with tears gathering in her eyes.
“He will return,” Elizabeth said. “I know it.”
“I hope you are correct,” Belinda said. Then she looked out over the crowd. “Ah, he has finally talked with her.” Belinda nodded towards Mr. Truman and Caroline.
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked. Belinda explained what little she knew of the matter between Caroline Bingley and Mr. Truman. “How sad!” she exclaimed when the lady finished her tale.
“Mr. Bingley and Richard have been plotting for a way for them to meet again. Mr. Truman’s contract is almost up, and he is to take over his father’s shop. The timing is perfect, as Richard will be resigning after we wed. He would not resign otherwise, I think.”
Elizabeth nodded. Others, however, might treat Mr. Truman cruelly.
“Your husband approaches.” Belinda’s words returned Elizabeth’s attention to the present. “And he clearly wishes me gone. Congratulations again!” she said and left Elizabeth’s side.
“I believe it is nearly time for us to depart,” Will said with a soft smile.
“Allow me to say farewell,” she said and wrapped her hand around his arm as he escorted her from group to group.
Upon reaching Caroline and Mr. Truman, they both looked embarrassed at being interrupted. Will performed introductions, as Elizabeth and Mr. Truman had not formally met before.
“We must leave, but I only wish to say that I thank you for your bravery and valour, Mr. Truman.”
“Thank you, ma’am, but it is no different than what many others have done. I would always be glad to give my life for my country.”
Elizabeth heartily approved of his patriotism but saw Caroline’s bottom lip quiver. She pulled her former nemesis into an embrace. “Thank you for your kindness. I wish you every happiness.”
Caroline pulled back, surprised at the sincerity in Elizabeth’s voice. “I am unsure I deserve it,” she said in what was clearly meant to be an apology.
“Of course, you do. We all make mistakes.” Elizabeth leaned in to whisper for Caroline’s ears alone. “Be bold!”
Will tugged her along to others, thanking them for coming and for their support. She felt she particularly owed the Gardiners a debt she could not repay in allowing her to stay after her flight from Longbourn. Finally, she was before her mother.
“Oh! Mrs. Darcy!” Mrs. Bennet cried. “How grand you are!”
“Thank you, Mama.”
“I...I am proud of you Lizzy. You and Jane to marry such great men. I shall go distracted.”
Elizabeth smiled. She and her mother had never been very close. She often loathed her mother’s vulgar and untempered outbursts but realised life at Longbourn had not been easy for her. She naturally feared for her daughters’ welfare in the face of the estate’s entail, and Elizabeth could not blame her for the relief and enthusiasm she felt with having one daughter so well settled.
“I love you, Mama,” she said while embracing her.
Then she and Will were waved off to start their married life. She knew the festivities of this day would be a cold contrast to the soberness of their journey on the morrow but pushed the worries from her mind. For now, she was newly married and desired to spend the evening in her husband’s arms. Will’s silent stroking of her hand in the carriage on the way to his townhouse confirmed he was of like mind.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Darcy winced as his carriage lurched over yet another rut in the road. Elizabeth stirred beside him, and he pulled the blanket closer around her and held her tighter in his arms. She had insisted she needed little rest to brave the two hundred mile journey, but Darcy had planned more stops than the others were taking. His uncle arranged for them to stay at a friend’s home, for which Darcy was grateful. He despised inns and the thought of having his wife in one even more so.
He ran a hand over his face and mentally ticked off their list of tasks. His uncle would speak with the gentlemen of the area while Arlington remained in London hoping to keep MPs and lords alike from working themselves up into a frenzy over the increased attacks. Mr. Truman had been given special leave to assist them in speaking with the shopkeepers. His father was a successful shopkeeper in Leeds, and he had known the Bingleys since he was a child. Bingley would talk with his uncle regarding the mill.
Darcy had been selected to meet with the militia platoons set to arrive. He knew Colonel Forster’s regiment had been sent to West Riding, but Darcy was ignorant as to who led the specific platoons meant for Huddersfield. He had to admit, he would not be surprised if it was Wickham. They had released Denny to rejoin the regiment near Manchester, but he did not know any more details than Darcy did. Of course, meeting him in such an errand would mean he could not give Wickham the thrashing he deserved.
Darcy ground his teeth to stave off more recriminations and violent desires. With any luck, they could avoid violence in Huddersfield or the other Bingley mills and perhaps even find a way to remove the gravest concerns of the dissatisfied croppers.
Then he could get on with his life. He would meet with Wickham and present his evidence of blackmail and extortion. Then, as an alternative to prosecution, he would offer Wickham a respectable life…perhaps in Canada. Anywhere, as long as it was far, far away from his loved ones.
He frowned. Of course, that was only part of the problem facing him and Elizabeth. He had agreed to marry her without her father’s presence because he agreed with Mr. Gardiner that she needed some time and distance from Mr. Bennet. They could not avoid him forever, though. Even at his most pretentious times, he would never have suggested Elizabeth give up her connection to any of her family, let alone her father. Now she suggested perhaps missing Jane and Bingley’s wedding, but he knew that ultimately she would regret that choice. She only needed some encouragement to forgive Mr. Bennet.
The carriage rattled as it went over another muddy rut. Elizabeth roused but nestled closer to him. Her beautiful eyes looked up at him with love, and he knew he would never grow tired of the sight. “Did you rest well? Do you require a stop?”
“No, I am quite content for now.”
“Oh, only for now? Growing tired of your dour husband already?” he teased. There were so few with whom he felt entirely comfortable.
“Never will I tire of you or being held in your arms.” She wrapped an arm around his waist and squeezed him. “I feel so safe with you.”
He tried to smile, as she undoubtedly had intended with her words, but in truth, his heart broke for her again. In the two nights since they wed, she had been as bold and brave as he would have ever guessed she could be in their chambers. Only now did she give any hint that the effects of Wickham’s actions still lingered. He ought to have been there for her, and he vowed to never fail her again.
“Do not think that,” she said. Her hand left his side and instead rubbed at the wrinkles on his brow caused by his thoughts.
“You can read my mind now?”
“Only on this, I think,” she said. “You are not to blame for Wickham’s actions.”
“I ought to have told you about his hatred of me long before. I had intended to say something, anything, to your father but lost my nerve. I failed you both.”
“Wickham is responsible for his own choices and actions. You are not responsible for it any more than your father for favouring him all those years. I do not care what Wickham expected from life; it is our actions and decisions that define us, even in the face of perceived injustice.”
Darcy slowly nodded. “It took me a very long time to absolve my father from any blame. It is difficult to be so generous with myself, however.”
Elizabeth gently kissed him. “You are the best man I have ever known or could ever hope to know. You have raised a beautiful, strong, and caring sister. Your opinion is well respected by powerful lords and landowners—if not by ignorant country misses.” She gave a rueful smile. “How can you be all this and in any way bear the responsibility for Wickham’s actions? I am sure your every interaction with him was likely out of care for him, even if he could not accept that at the time.”
He allowed her words to wash over him. It was true. He had continually hoped Wickham could rise above his natural instincts and take the advantages he had been given. At one time, he loved him as a brother, as much as he now cared for Bingley. Realising that one cannot force good decisions on a person was a hard lesson to learn. They turned off the main road and passed by a lodge.
“I believe we are coming up on Lundell Castle,” he said. Elizabeth straightened and made her way to the seat across from him. He frowned and reached for her hand so he might have some contact with her still. “I hate having to be formal and proper with you.”
She squeezed his hand before releasing it, placed her bonnet on her head, and slid gloves on her hands. He ey
ed her graceful movements, jealous of the gloves when it ought to have been him that felt the touch of her skin.
“Will,” she said softly, and he looked at her face, pleased to see her blushing. Perhaps she could read his mind on those feelings as well.
The carriage pulled up before the building. It retained the name castle, but the old fortress was not inhabited and not even in view of the current manor house. They were shown to a large drawing room and greeted by Sir John and Lady Lundell as well as his uncle. After a few minutes of conversation, they were invited to refresh themselves in their chambers. As previously arranged, Darcy would leave as soon as possible to meet with the lieutenants of the militia platoons. Elizabeth insisted she would be well with Lady Lundell as company, and so after quickly washing the grime of travel off him and changing his clothes, Darcy returned downstairs to meet the other gentlemen in the library.
“Ah, William. You made better time than I had anticipated,” his uncle said.
“I suspect Elizabeth will wish to rest for a while, but she tolerated our pace very well. Now, has there been any progress made?”
“Not nearly enough.” Lord Matlock sighed.
“There are several gentlemen who support Lord Peters and Mr. Morris’s campaign to punish the frame breakers.” Sir John sighed. “It should be no surprise that they do not understand responsibility. They were all in trade before buying their estates—even if it was a few generations back—and they lack breeding. Your uncle assures me, however, that you are not like them,” he finished with a tone of condescension that could rival Darcy’s Aunt Catherine.
Sufficient Encouragement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (When Love Blooms Book 1) Page 28