Arranged to Darcy

by Rebecca Preston

  Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know he was aware of these happenings, as well.”

  “My cousin and I have always had a close relationship. Before I was married, he was a constant companion.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t help feeling a little surprised. As infrequently as she had seen and spoken to Colonel Fitzwilliam, she had no knowledge of a close relationship between the men. “He doesn’t come to Pemberley very often.”

  Darcy shook his head. “No, I go to wherever he is to see him. I have been to London many times to meet him at a gentlemen’s club.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  Darcy smiled at her. “You don’t know many of the places I go or the things I do when we’re not together, my dear but, rest assured, you are often on my mind as I run my daily tasks.”

  “And he speaks of you often,” Lady Catherine added. Elizabeth felt a bit overwhelmed by the new information she was receiving that day.

  “How do you know, my lady?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Elizabeth, I have many friends. They all mention to me how Darcy has changed, and is being a faithful married man devoted to his wife. And this is something I can see with my own eyes.”

  Elizabeth blushed. She couldn’t have been more astounded to learn that her husband had been speaking about her and praising her to his friends and acquaintances. She looked from one to the other, smiling.

  “What a delightful thing to know. I feel loved.”

  Darcy only smiled at her. She wished he would tell her he loved her. She would just have to continue being patient. The words would come eventually. She glanced at Lady Catherine, who looked like she might have been waiting for the words to come out, as well. When they didn’t come, she picked up the conversation.

  “Shall we have tea before lunch? It should be ready quite soon. My cook is always on time every day, and you know, Darcy, that we have the best cook in all of England. You did know that, didn’t you?”

  Darcy chuckled. “I knew it, Aunt Catherine. You tell me nearly every time I come here.”

  “Mr. Collins raves over her skills. He can’t get enough to eat. Perhaps that’s why he is a little paunchy around the waist. He should be getting more exercise. It might be a good idea for him to walk to where he needs to go, in order to work off all of the food he consumes.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t help laughing, picturing stuffy old Mr. Collins inhaling his food and then taking a coach somewhere, complaining about a stomachache. Lady Catherine looked at her.

  “Are you pleased you didn’t have to marry him, Elizabeth? I’m sure that you are.”

  “I… I ought not insult the man when he’s not in my presence.”

  “To be truly genuine, Elizabeth, we shouldn’t insult him when he is in your presence, either. But we’re being open here, and you can be assured I will say nothing to him about it.”

  “I wouldn’t have been happy marrying Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine. He’s… not as pleasant to be around as he would like to be. He gives off the impression of someone who thinks very highly of himself, which shouldn’t be the case when one is a clergyman. He doesn’t give as much credit to the Lord as he does himself. That, in my opinion, makes him a hypocrite.”

  She hoped her words weren’t too harsh. Lady Catherine was known to be bossy and blunt, but there was a thin line that shouldn’t be crossed in some situations. It appeared in this case that the lady agreed with Elizabeth, and was nodding her head.

  “I have thought the same thing.”

  “Then why do you continue to be his patron, Aunt?” Darcy asked curiously.

  “I feel I’m doing God’s will. When I get a sign that it’s not right, I’ll change things. For the time being, I’ll continue to be his patron and he’ll continue to be a clergyman. He’s looking for a bride, as you well know, and has been speaking with your father about Jane or Mary.”

  “Oh dear.” Elizabeth shook her head, resting one hand against her forehead. Lady Catherine patted her other hand in a comforting way.

  “Worry not, my dear, your father will never agree to such a thing. As much as your mother may push the idea, he’s not keen on any of his daughters marrying Mr. Collins.”

  Chapter 29

  The end of summer approached quickly. Elizabeth continued becoming closer to Darcy, admiring him more and more. As the months went by and their first anniversary approached, she found herself desiring him more than she ever had before. The words she longed for still hadn’t passed from his lips, but she knew it was building up to it and she only needed to wait and see.

  One evening after dinner she had taken the opportunity to read in the library, while Darcy spent time in the parlor with Colonel Fitzwilliam. The colonel had been making regular appearances since Elizabeth had seen him at Longbourn. She was curious what their discussion entailed, but was sure Darcy would tell her if there was anything exciting going on. When her curiosity became overwhelming, she set aside the book she wasn’t reading and left the room.

  She entered the parlor just as Darcy was pouring a glass of brandy for himself. He was refilling his glass, Elizabeth realized. He looked up at her and Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to face her.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Darcy,” the colonel said with a smile.

  “Good evening, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth replied. “You’re looking well.”

  “Thank you. You are, as well.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Did you need to speak with me, Lizzie?” Darcy asked, lifting the glass to take a sip as soon as the words were out of his mouth. She shook her head.

  “I believe your wife was feeling a bit lonely, Darcy,” the colonel said before she could speak. He gestured to her. “Please, come and speak with us, Mrs. Darcy. I don’t believe you and I have ever talked at length.”

  “I’m curious about the goings-on at Longbourn, Colonel. Have you been there often?” Elizabeth moved swiftly across the room to sit next to her husband on the settee. She reached forward and poured a cup of tea from the kettle sitting on the table in between herself and the colonel.

  The colonel nodded. “I’ve been spending more time there than before, to be sure. I’ve been going whenever Georgiana goes to teach Mary to play. Your sister is remarkably quick at learning to play, I must say.” He shook his head. “It’s somewhat astounding to watch. I’ve seen Georgiana instruct others and none of them picked up as quickly as your sister.”

  “That’s nice to know!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I’ll have to listen to her play the next time I visit.”

  “You’ll be amazed, I’m certain.”

  “No one plays like our Georgiana, though,” Darcy said.

  The colonel chuckled. “Yes, I think she has the perfect touch for such an instrument. She is otherwise so shy, so genteel, and quiet. It’s as though her soul comes through her fingers when she plays beautiful melodies.”

  “Have you spoken with my other sisters? With my father and mother?”

  “On occasion. Much of my time, I’m with Georgiana and Mary. The only other person I speak to frequently is Jane. Lydia and Kitty are always off on their adventures. Your father conducts business and your mother has many friends. She doesn’t need a young man standing around, trying to get her attention.”

  Elizabeth laughed, picturing the colonel, hat in hand, waiting patiently to speak to her mother.

  “That might give her pause,” she said through her laughter.

  “Yes, I would say so.”

  “And how are you finding Jane? Has the grip of her depression been loosened?” Darcy asked, knowing Elizabeth wanted further information on her sister. He moved his eyes to meet Elizabeth’s and they gave each other knowing looks, as though their minds were in sync. She knew her look was more grateful than anything else.

  “Jane’s a beautiful woman.” The colonel’s voice changed, dropping to a soft, gentle tone. “She was caught in a bad situation, wasn’t she? It caused her great pain. I must say I didn’t expect that to happen but I clearl
y didn’t know the Bennet sisters well, did I?”

  “It would seem neither of us did,” Darcy said. “My opinion of the family has been drastically changed since marrying this fine woman.”

  Elizabeth smiled at her husband.

  “I have since discovered,” the colonel continued, “that to truly know someone, you must actually spend time with them and talk with them.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “That would the logical way to get to know someone.”

  The colonel smiled at her. “What I mean by that statement is that there are always people who will talk about someone else, but what they’ve heard may be from a source who’s equally ignorant and uninformed. Stories are made up or are changed as they’re passed around. In the end, the only way to settle those rumors is to speak directly to someone and find out what they’re like yourself.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy nodded in agreement. “I doubt I would be the same man I am today if I hadn’t met and married Lizzie,” Darcy said. “I feel it’s made me a better man.”

  “I’m delighted that the two of you have worked through your difficulties,” the colonel said. “You do seem happier now, Darcy. I always thought of you before as slightly angry and bitter nearly all the time. But now it seems you’re more relaxed. You’re happier to be alive.”

  “I’m enjoying my life,” Darcy replied. “And it’s because of this woman and her family.”

  “I’m sure the majority of the credit should be given to Elizabeth,” the colonel said. “If for simply putting up with you, Cousin.”

  Darcy laughed with him. “Yes, and she has probably heard that from many sources.”

  Elizabeth giggled, coloring slightly. She didn’t want Darcy to think she spent a lot of time talking about him, even though she actually did. She often found it difficult to even think about anything else. He had taken over her mind. She didn’t think it would be easy to rid herself of him. Neither did she want to.

  She listened as the men continued heaping praise on her and her family. The colonel mentioned Jane frequently, speaking about her beauty and intelligence. He liked the way she laughed. He said she always smelled like roses or some kind of flower, and he wondered how she managed to do that. Both men looked at her when he said it, and she giggled. “A woman doesn’t give away another woman’s secrets,” was all she said.

  “What do you think of the relationship that’s building between Lydia and Mr. Wickham, Darcy?” the colonel asked.

  Darcy’s mood changed abruptly. Elizabeth almost wished Colonel Fitzwilliam hadn’t brought up the subject. When Darcy spoke, it was clear there was still animosity when it came to George Wickham.

  “I haven’t been privy to much information on that subject.”

  “You must know more about it than we do, Colonel,” Elizabeth said. “Is there anything we should know?”

  “I fear that it will come to a bad end. I can’t be certain, of course, but with his reputation with women, it stands to reason he would choose Lydia.”

  “I don’t understand what would make him do that,” Darcy said. “The Bennets don’t have much money. Money has always driven his behavior in the past.”

  “I don’t know,” the colonel shook his head. “He’s come to take Lydia out in the carriage on several occasions. She’s always delighted to see him.”

  “He’s very charming,” Elizabeth said. “And his behavior with me has always been amiable. I can see Lydia becoming enthralled with that kind of attention.”

  “She doesn’t know him very well,” Darcy said darkly. “She’ll find out, I’m sure.”

  “If she has gone out with him several times, perhaps she’ll get to know his character.”

  Elizabeth looked at Darcy, feeling uncomfortable. She wondered about her youngest sister, who had always been an impulsive girl. Lady Catherine told her that Wickham had nearly eloped with Georgiana, so he was obviously just as impulsive. What could that mean for Lydia?

  “How long has this been going on?” she asked.

  “It has spanned the summer at least,” the colonel replied. “I have had occasion to have dinner at Longbourn and he attended, as well.”

  “Have you spoken to him on these occasions?” Darcy asked.

  “Not at length. He’s cordial, as always. We’re not close.”

  “Perhaps it’s time someone cautioned Lydia and Mr. Bennet about him,” Darcy said.

  The colonel shrugged. “I’ve made it a point to stay out of business that doesn’t pertain to me. He won’t harm her, make no mistake,” he directed the last statement to Elizabeth. “You need not fear that she’ll come to harm. He’s a gentleman, if a bit flawed.”

  “As we all are,” Elizabeth replied.

  He nodded. “Yes, that’s true. There’s not a perfect soul on this earth.”

  “I’ll visit soon,” Elizabeth said. She looked at Darcy. “We should have dinner with my family.”

  “I’ll not be visiting when he’s there,” Darcy stated firmly. “I would like to have dinner at Longbourn, but I don’t want to be there when he’s there. I fear I’ll not hold back from scolding him in front of your family. That would not be appropriate behavior.”

  Chapter 30

  After the colonel left, Elizabeth went up to her room. She was feeling tired and was sure she would be asleep quickly. Instead, her eyes were open an hour later, even though she was lying comfortably in bed. The sheet was pulled up to her chin and she sat staring into the darkness. She felt like making a fire and sitting up for a while, but her frequent yawning told her she would get nowhere sitting up until the early hours of the morning.

  When she could take it no longer she slid out of bed, pulled on her robe, and went to stand in front of the big window, pulling the drapes aside so she could look out at the stars. She missed her family, though she was happy to be with Darcy at Pemberley. She missed hearing her sisters running about the house, Lydia and Kitty laughing about some nonsense and Mary’s quiet rebuke when their younger sisters got too loud for her comfort. She missed her mother’s excited chattering and her father’s teasing.

  She thought about Lydia and Wickham, wondering if she should be worried. She hoped that her father had control of the situation, but with Lydia it was hard to tell what might happen. She had spoken with Wickham enough to know that he could charm any woman. He was good to look at and was very well-spoken. He was intelligent and cunning in both good and bad ways.

  As for her husband, would Darcy take steps to prevent Wickham from courting Lydia? It seemed to her they were already heading down that path. Darcy had stopped Wickham from marrying Georgiana. Would he try the same with Lydia?

  She turned away from the window after marveling at the many stars dotting the night sky. She left the room and went quietly down the stairs. She could feel the warmth and smell the scent of a fire burning, and guessed that Darcy was still in the parlor. She pushed open the door to see him filling his glass with brandy, just as she had seen him doing earlier that evening.

  “Are you all right, Darcy?” she asked.

  He swung his head to look at her. His eyes were narrowed and she could see he was tired. He walked to his chair in front of the fire. “I am,” he replied shortly.

  “Shall I sit with you?”

  “Certainly, Lizzie. This is your home. You don’t need to ask.”

  “I don’t want to bother you if you’re thinking somber thoughts.” Elizabeth walked toward him, taking the seat next to him and settling comfortably there, pulling her legs up to the side and leaning on the arm.

  “You don’t bother me.”

  “What are you thinking about? You look upset and tired.”

  “I’m both,” Darcy responded honestly. He took a long drink from his glass before continuing. “I’m worried about your sister and your family. Wickham’s influence can’t be a good thing.”

  “He can’t use my family for wealth. We have none.”

  “I fear he’s worming his way into the family in order to get his hands o
n my accounts. He needn’t ask me for a dime. I won’t give him anything.”

  “I know you won’t, Darcy. You’re not expected to. My family would never ask in his stead.”

  “If he was to marry your sister, he would be expecting something from us as a gesture of good will.”

  “We don’t need to give them money. We can gift them without giving money.”

  “Do you suppose Lydia will speak on his behalf?”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I don’t think he’s trying to get to your money, Darcy. I don’t believe everything he does is a way to get revenge on you.”

  Darcy didn’t say anything, and she feared she had insulted him. She hoped she hadn’t. She looked at his handsome face in the light of the flickering fire. He still looked upset. He was much more handsome with a smile on his face.

  “Don’t be upset with me, Darcy,” she said softly. He turned his head and looked at her. When their eyes met, she felt a sweeping emotion flood through her. She wanted to kiss him, and longed for him to hold her in his arms.

  “I’m not upset with you, Lizzie. What would give you that impression?”

  “You look very upset. You look angry. I don’t want you to feel that way. I hope I haven’t angered you in any way.”

  He shook his head, looking back at the fire and taking another drink from his glass. “No, Lizzie. It’s not you. I’m not worried about you. You’re a headstrong, stubborn woman, but you’re honest and true. I appreciate that about you.”

  “Thank you, Darcy. I feel much the same about you.”

  She was delighted when he smiled, even if it was small and half-hearted. “I’m a headstrong, stubborn woman, too?”

  Elizabeth chuckled. “Yes, that’s what I meant.” She shook her head.

  “I know what you meant,” Darcy confirmed. “I know you’ve overlooked many flaws and that you only married me to please your father. I hope that your feelings have changed since then.”