Dinner passed quickly. The colonel flirted with her and would laugh when Darcy glared in his direction. Elizabeth had to hide her laughter as well. When the ladies left the gentlemen, Elizabeth felt a moment of trepidation at being in the room with such distinguished ladies.
Lady Sidney led her to a seat and began a conversation about music. Lady Sophia, Lady Halifax, and Georgiana sat in another corner chatting about the arrival of the newest member of the Halifax family, expected in April.
“And you will be next, Mrs. Darcy! They will be so close in age.” Lady Sophia laughed.
Elizabeth blushed but demurred. “I fear Lady Halifax’s babe would be at the least half a year old.”
Lady Sophia continued excitedly, “There’s no need to pretend here. We are all quite close, I assure you.”
Lady Sidney narrowed her eyes before reaching for Elizabeth’s hand. “Not close enough to put forward rumours, I assure you, Sophia.”
“Oh…oh!” Lady Sophia stuttered after staring at Elizabeth’s mid-section. “Good Lord, Mrs. Darcy! He is just a besotted fool; anyone can see you did not need to draw him in!” She clutched her hands to her chest as though afflicted with a nervous flutter. “Please, believe me, I meant no offence.”
“That is quite enough!” Darcy boomed from the hallway.
“Darcy?” Voices of the men behind him filtered into the room.
Darcy came to Elizabeth’s side. “Are you well?”
“Of course,” she said. He was clearly angry, but she was more amused than anything else.
“Aunt Eleanor, Uncle Sidney, I regret that we must leave early, but we must journey to Hertfordshire in the morning for the wedding of Mrs. Darcy’s sister, and then we are to Pemberley immediately. You will excuse us if we leave now. We had a very enjoyable evening.” He held out his hand for Elizabeth to rise, then bowed to the hosts. “I hate to steal my bride away from you ladies, but we do need to assure an early departure. Tiswell, Lady Tiswell, Lady Sophia, it was a pleasure.” He punctuated the final sentence in a clipped tone.
“Do forgive us,” Elizabeth said. “I do desire to leave early in the morning. Jane is my dearest sister, and I am so pleased to be able to attend her wedding even as Mr. Darcy is needed at Pemberley.”
“Of course,” Lady Sidney said. “Safe travels, dears.” She gave them each a kiss on the cheek.
The earl kissed Elizabeth likewise. “Mrs. Darcy! How good it is to have a Mrs. Darcy again!” Elizabeth smiled as he eagerly pumped Darcy’s hand.
Georgiana quietly came to Elizabeth’s side. “May I write you, Elizabeth?”
“I would be very upset if you did not!” Elizabeth said.
“I miss you already!” she exclaimed before squeezing Elizabeth in a tight hug. She quickly pulled back, embarrassed by the display, and turned to Darcy, who gently kissed her on the top of her head.
The others quickly said their goodbyes. Once seated in their carriage returning to Darcy House, Elizabeth sighed contentedly. She had worried about her reception by Darcy’s family and being in his circle for no reason at all.
However, her husband was of a different mind about the course of the evening. Darcy let out a frustrated sigh as he and Elizabeth climbed into their bed.
“I am sorry you heard that, Elizabeth.”
“You are not at fault.”
“If I knew she was to be in attendance, we would not have appeared tonight. What can my aunt and Arlington have been thinking?” Darcy’s frustration was obvious.
“She is very beautiful. I understand she is very wealthy, and her uncle is a cousin to a duke. She seemed very accomplished.”
“And ill-mannered combined with dull! Her wealth is no excuse for such behaviour.”
“William…”
“I can only think she is entirely senseless or bitter. I never gave her any encouragement.”
“I know…”
“I never encouraged any lady, never showed a preference. I only ever wanted you.” He squeezed her tightly as they lay in bed together. Being in the company of the “glamorous” Lady Sophia Tiswell made Darcy all the more thankful he had Elizabeth in his arms.
“I know…”
“It is patently false.”
Elizabeth arched her brow. “That you are besotted with me?”
Darcy chuckled despite himself and raised her hand to his lips. “Certainly you know that part is true by now.”
“I do.”
“You did not draw me in…”
“William!” He finally ceased talking long enough to look at his wife. She did not look distressed.
“I have no desire to speak of that woman, or any woman, while in our bed. Her words did not wound me, nor was I without protection.”
“Oh, really?”
“Your family trusts your decision, but your behaviour towards me counts for far more, I think, and the whole world will soon see it.”
“So you got along well with Aunt Eleanor and Laura? Not every woman in my family is like Aunt Catherine. Did Georgiana speak more to you?”
Elizabeth smiled at Darcy’s endearing nervousness and decided to ease his nerves, however much she would rather have his attention on other matters. “Your sister was very agreeable, only a little quiet. I believe I will soon love her as much as my own sisters. I do like your aunt and cousin very much. They are such clever and kind ladies. I would say Lady Sophia may disagree, but I think she did not quite understand their remarks on the matter. I truly do not believe she meant malicious intent with her remark.”
“Elizabeth…”
“It is true! Did you not notice how much she sounded like Lydia?”
Darcy stared at her in disbelief. He was simply too used to being preyed upon.
Elizabeth spoke in a tone that sounded eerily similar to Lady Sophia Tiswell and indeed sounded like Lydia. “Good Lord, Mrs. Darcy! He is just a besotted fool; anyone can see you did not need to draw him in!’
Darcy cringed at Elizabeth’s performance. “Shall you take to the stage now, madam?”
“Certainly not!”
“When next we are in Town, we shall have to go to several performances.”
“That sounds lovely!”
Darcy smiled broadly at her enthusiasm and pulled her a little closer. After kissing her cheeks, nose, forehead, eyes, and finally bestowing a tender kiss on her lips, he repeated her word, “Lovely.”
Elizabeth smiled and sighed. “Happy again, Mrs. Darcy?”
Smirking, she nodded. “Very.”
Her face took on a look that foretold teasing. Darcy quirked an eyebrow. “Out with it.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“I know that look. That delightfully, teasing look that…”
“That drew you in?”
Kissing just below her ear, Darcy huskily replied, “That always tempts me.”
“That made you a besotted fool?”
Drawing his lips down Elizabeth’s neck, Darcy spoke between kisses. “I am no match for your wit tonight but will gladly be victim to your teasing. I am almost certain it is my obligation. However, I can hardly read your mind.”
Elizabeth replied with a languid half-smile, “I was only thinking how very much I would like to make you happy again, Will…”
Elizabeth’s words died on her mouth as Darcy was only too willing to prove how besotted he truly was.
Chapter Seventeen
Soon after Darcy and Elizabeth arrived at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet scurried Jane away for last minute wedding details. Darcy followed Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner to the library.
Kitty and Lydia had eagerly acquainted Elizabeth with the news of Miss Bingley’s engagement to Mr. Collins, including her call on Longbourn and her letter to Jane. Once Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth were left alone for a few minutes, she turned to her aunt.
“I can hardly believe it! Miss Bingley trapped into marriage with Mr. Collins! I heard nothing of it from the earl the other night.”
Mrs. Gardiner shook her hea
d. “It is exactly what her letter said, but Jane told me Mr. Bingley had told her she must marry this Season or find her own establishment.”
Elizabeth began laughing. “I suppose she found my cousin tempting enough, then!”
Mrs. Gardiner joined her laughter. “You are wicked, Lizzy!”
Finally sobering, Elizabeth turned the conversation. “We will be returning to London after Twelfth Night and wish to host you properly then.”
“Of course, Lizzy!” Mrs. Gardiner reassured her niece before changing the subject. “How do you like Darcy House?”
“It is not ostentatious, but it is fine and elegantly furnished. There is something about it that feels comfortable,” Elizabeth mused to her aunt, feeling an unaccountable pride in the Darcy legacy.
“I confess it surprises me that it is not larger. Pemberley is exquisite.”
“When Darcy’s mother lived, they leased a larger house.”
“Yes, it would be difficult to host the ton’s greatest fetes in something as you described.”
Elizabeth desired to correct her aunt’s impressions. Elizabeth’s theories might be partially unsubstantiated, but she could not imagine her husband growing into the man he was if he had been raised to value the elevation of pride and conceit just for the cause of rank.
“Oh, but Mrs. Darcy did not entertain much. She was frequently ill. My husband’s grandfather took the lease on the larger house when they had several children, although this one came with his wife’s dowry. When my husband’s parents married, they took the larger house. His aunts had married, and sadly, no uncles survived.
“I think...I think they stayed in the larger house because they hoped for more children. Mrs. Darcy was also a gifted musician and the older Mr. Darcy an avid reader. Those rooms would have been larger. They spent a good deal of time in Town and tutored their son at home. London gave them greater access to the masters.
“I think it was also to have better access to the physicians for Mrs. Darcy and provide her with more comforts.” When Elizabeth looked at the account books of Darcy’s mother’s era, she noticed the frequent physician visits and wondered if they were related to the large age difference between her husband and his sister.
“Have you talked with your husband about this?”
“No, I do not think he would recall very well; he has a child’s memories of his parents together. However, if old Mr. Darcy was anything like his son, then he would dote on his wife.”
Elizabeth already knew her husband preferred his country estate to London and suspected his father shared the trait. She likewise believed the Darcy men would do anything for their ladies. Her husband certainly did for her and Georgiana.
Mrs. Gardiner smiled broadly. “So you are happy, then, dear?”
Elizabeth beamed. “Supremely happy!”
Easing in closer to her aunt, she dropped her voice. Elizabeth discreetly asked her aunt, “Why was the wedding date moved? Jane never spoke a word to me about it. She has been very sly.”
Mrs. Gardiner took a lengthy pause. “You had confessed to allowing Mr. Darcy some liberties before your marriage that made you feel obligated to him.” Elizabeth blushed, but her aunt continued, “Let me just say that Jane’s choices on the wedding date are decidedly less flexible than yours were.”
Elizabeth gasped. “No, I cannot believe it! She would have to be entirely out of her senses!”
Mrs. Gardiner gave a little smile. “My dear, when you are in love, it can be very difficult to be on your guard and very easy to lose your sense. In the end, it is not the desire or accepting of the actions that is inappropriate, only the timing. Do not be too harsh on her. We all know Jane feels things fervently, even if she does not display it well. That works for both love and shame.”
Elizabeth had no time to reply, for Mrs. Bennet soon directed them upstairs to Jane. As Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner spoke with the housekeeper on a last minute concern, Elizabeth fussed over Jane’s hair and gown in sisterly concern.
She quietly asked her sister, “Jane will you speak to me about why the wedding date was moved?”
Blushing furiously, Jane slowly nodded.
“I cannot say I understand how you allowed this to happen, but I do not wish to condemn you.” Jane looked at her sister in disbelief, so Elizabeth felt compelled to continue. “Truly, I only mean to ask how you feel about…everything.”
Jane shook her head. “You say you cannot understand? I do not believe it! I shall not defend myself. We ought not to have given in to our temptation, and I am ashamed of my actions, but it is difficult to think rationally when so violently in love. I confess at the moment, I only felt trust and affection for the man I would soon marry and not a hint of hesitancy or shame.
“We all know Mr. Darcy loves you very much, and you admitted to accepting his proposal because you enjoyed his attentions. I am uncertain I understood how you could allow his liberties at the time, but I truly believe neither you nor I would forsake our good upbringing if we were not in love and knew the gentleman to be honourable. Surely you must feel the truth of it now after all you have shared.”
Elizabeth blinked back her surprise at her sister’s words. “We have...we did not...” She blushed. “My courses finally came just before we reached London.”
“Oh!” Jane said in surprise.
“You and Bingley have shared more than us.”
Jane blushed but squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “That was not always the case. You felt a great deal of affection for Mr. Darcy at Netherfield, and I am certain it will only grow after...after you arrive at Pemberley.”
Elizabeth was unable to respond. They were soon called forward to leave for the church. The wedding was not out of the ordinary in any way, and Darcy and Elizabeth could not stay at the breakfast long before needing to leave for Pemberley.
Jane hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, “You worry too much with your head sometimes, Lizzy. Love is not a logic game; you feel it with your heart.”
“I know,” she weakly agreed. Elizabeth knew Jane worried she had not felt enough for Darcy upon their wedding and now must worry she did not feel enough in their marriage. It astonished her. She sometimes thought she felt too much.
They journeyed for a few hours before stopping at an inn for the night. It was one where Darcy frequently stayed. They were given the largest suite of rooms, complete with a small sitting room in between, a luxury their London house did not have.
“When we return in January, we ought to refresh your rooms,” Darcy proposed. “They do not need much.” Darcy levelled Elizabeth a look, and she gave a conciliatory sigh.
“Very well.”
“I may have a suggestion or two.”
“Is that so?” She pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the image of Darcy being a man of fashion.
“Would you like a private sitting room?”
“How could we ever manage that? William, it is senseless to expand the house or lease a larger one for the sake of one room. We have a sofa in there and a bookcase. It is quite sufficient.”
“I disagree. I am a large man, and we have not the space for a more substantial sofa in this room. If we used my chamber, we could have a writing desk for your use and take our morning tea and coffee there together.”
Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip. “I suppose no one need ever know. We would never give visitors a tour of our private rooms.”
Darcy chuckled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, I only thought that, if somehow they did, perhaps I could redeem myself and not be the only ‘besotted fool’ in our marriage.”
Elizabeth scoffed. “I am far too sensible to ever be mistaken for a fool, William.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Darcy grinned at her silly obstinacy. “But I am not?”
“That is not for me to say. If you are a fool for being besotted with me, I would certainly be the last to confess it.”
“
And how might we measure what makes one a besotted fool?”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled. “First we must consider the besotted quality.”
“Well, only a besotted man would do this.” He leaned in as if to kiss her, as she expected, but instead, he tickled her.
“William!” she squealed, but he was relentless for several more minutes. He finally ceased, and she recovered her breath. “I cannot think how that undignified display was a measure of your devotion!” she said with feigned indignation.
“Only a besotted man would risk your ire to see your eyes sparkle and hear your laughter.”
She pursed her lips to quell her smile. “Perhaps. You may also be proving to be a fool to risk my anger.”
“I am not afraid of you.”
“Hmm...yet more proof of your foolish ways.”
“What will it take to convince you of my sense, madam?”
“Consider why you married me, sir, and you will see I am correct.”
“Never.” He took her hands and kissed them. “It was only sensible to marry the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance.”
He turned her hands over and slowly kissed one palm, then the other. His brow furrowed as though noticing the small and clearly recent scar on her left hand for the first time. “Surely it was clever of me to marry the kindest and most intelligent woman I know.”
He kissed her wrist. “And I was as wise as Solomon to marry the only woman to drive me to distraction and beyond the brink of temptation.” He punctuated this line with a kiss to her collarbone.
Despite her quickening pulse, Elizabeth continued to argue. “Very well, sir. You have demonstrated you are a besotted and sensible man, but you claimed I was besotted as well.”
Kissing up her throat, he whispered in her ear, “Are you happy, Elizabeth?” When his warm breath brushed over her ears, she could only let out a whimper. He kissed her face and whispered in the other ear, “Do I make you happy, Elizabeth?”
Struggling for coherent thought, Elizabeth pulled back to look him in the eye. “You make me very happy, William.”
Elizabeth fell asleep with the words she had explained to Darcy mere days ago resounding in her head. I am happiest when I am with those whom I love and who love me. I am falling in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Compromising Mr. Darcy Page 48