by Wells, Linda
“Good evening, sir.” Mr. Kelly bowed.
“Good evening.” Richard smiled and bowed to the room. “Thank you for the invitation. I beg that you excuse me if I make any minor errors in behaviour, I am afraid that lately most of my conversation has been had with young men and old bilious officers.”
“Both are green.” Sophie smiled.
“So they are.” He laughed.
“I do not know if dispensation should be given to you, Mr. Fitzwilliam, after all you were raised by a countess and an earl, and I assume you had the best education that is available.”
“Yes to both of those points, Miss Kelly, however, it is rare that I have had the chance to put those skills into practice amongst people who would not overlook my faux pas.”
“So you have not called upon a woman in her home before?” Mr. Kelly asked.
“I thought that I was invited to dinner with your family.” Robert looked at his father for a reaction and Richard smiled easily. “As a matter of fact, though, I have called upon a lady in her home. Quite recently.”
“Oh?” Mrs. Kelly bristled on behalf of her daughter.
“Yes, I called upon a young woman while I was in Kent for my brother’s wedding. Mrs. Collins.” He looked to Sophie, “Mrs. Darcy’s younger sister.”
Sophie shook her head, “You tease us, Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
“I did no such thing. You chose to rise to the bait.” He winked.
“Should I warn you now about proper behaviour, sir?”
“Sophie!” Mrs. Kelly hissed. “We are all hoping to know you better, sir.” She took him by the arm and led him to a sofa. “Please sit and relax.” Smiling to himself, he took a seat and watched Sophie sit next to him. Silence reigned as the brothers looked between their sister and the man at her side.
“I trust that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are well?” Mrs. Kelly asked, breaking into the thick atmosphere.
“They are very well. I am certain that they are glad to be rid of me.”
“They do not like your company?” Stephen asked with a touch of challenge in his voice.
“I would say that they prefer their own.” Richard laughed. “But then they are newly married and have eyes only for each other.” He noticed Sophie bite her lip.
“What happened to your uniform?” Adam asked.
“And your sword!” Mitchell cried.
“I decided to sell my commission.” He smiled and bent towards the boy, “However I retained my sword.”
“Will you show me how to use it?”
“I would be glad to, in about three years. But if you have a foil about the house, I can show you the ins and outs of fencing. Mr. Darcy can join me, perhaps, and we can put on a show.”
“I think that Robert might show you a thing or two, Colonel.” Mr. Kelly said proudly.
“Father, I have no doubt that the colonel could have me sliced and served on a platter faster than you can say grace.”
Sophie interrupted. “Well, this is pleasant. What shall we discuss next? Gaping wounds? Thank goodness we are not eating.”
“Miss Kelly, I meant no offense; I was only offering my expertise.”
“You were posturing, sir, to match them.” She waved her hand. “I was hoping you were above that.”
“Above?” Richard laughed. “No, I am afraid that I am like any other healthy man. Always measuring himself against the room.”
“Why would you resign your commission?” Robert asked. “When we last met, you seemed quite proud of your achievements.”
“I was, and am.” He glanced at Sophie and plunged into the unspoken questions. “My brother the viscount married our cousin, who happened to have been left heiress to a very sizable estate, significantly larger than the small estate associated with his title, Gladney. Our aunt asked him if he and my cousin Anne would make their home at Rosings, and after discussing the matter with my father, the earl, he agreed. This left Gladney with no master and me with a golden opportunity.”
“How generous of your brother!” Mrs. Kelly cried.
“It is probably part of the entailment, dear. So it is generous of your father.” Mr. Kelly said thoughtfully as Richard inclined his head. “And you have the income from this place.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Papa, please. If you must interrogate Mr. Fitzwilliam on such matters, leave it for after dinner.” Sophie demanded.
“We are only curious about the colonel, dear. For example, I can only wonder what would bring him back to Scotland now that he has an estate to run and undoubtedly much to learn. As the Darcys only have eyes for each other, and Mrs. Darcy is in mourning, it is hardly the ideal time to be paying another call.”
Richard looked to his hands and back up to Mr. Kelly. “If you do not mind sir, I would appreciate leaving this conversation for later, as Miss Kelly asks.”
Surprised, she smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Fitzwilliam!”
“You are welcome, Miss Kelly.” He smiled at her and noticed the men staring. “My cousin Darcy gave me a piece of advice this evening. He said that if a lady changes the topic, then it is because she is embarrassed. He said that it is either from lack of knowledge or from fear of exposing too much of it.”
“A defensive posture.” Mr. Kelly noted. “That should play into your hands, sir.”
“Indeed, although I prefer taking the offense.”
“Mr. Fitzwilliam, while I appreciate your cousin’s lessons to you, I do not think that he asked you to reveal them before me. All you have succeeded in doing now is embarrassing me.”
“Nonsense, I am not a mind reader, so how else may I determine which subjects are taboo?”
“By using common sense!”
“But your family brought them up. Are you claiming they have no sense?” He prodded.
She sighed. “My family I know well. I only hoped that you would not sink to their level.”
“Sophie, that was uncalled for.” Mrs. Kelly clucked.
“I cannot pretend to be what I am not, Miss Kelly. I apologize for not intuitively rising to your standards.” Richard met her eye unflinchingly. “I thought that to satisfy their questions would mean leaving us free to enjoy the evening together. The elephant in the room would have been vanquished.”
“But you just agreed to change the subject.” Robert pointed out.
“Until your sister opened it up for further examination.” He looked to Sophie whose mouth was agape. “Well you did. You should not have thanked me. That only encourages a man.”
She studied him and shook her head. “I think that encouragement for you should be doled out sparingly.”
“Why are you back in Scotland?” Stephen asked.
“Because I promised I would be, and I am a man of my word.” He never broke his gaze with Sophie. “May we leave it at that for now? I have no desire to antagonize Miss Kelly further. I prefer to be on her right side, and she wants the subject changed. Correct?”
“Correct.” She pursed her lips.
“I think that will be fine. For now.” Mr. Kelly smiled at his wife who was nodding her head. “Now sir, what shall we speak of? Horses, hunting, war …?”
“All such fascinating subjects.” Sophie sighed.
“Travel?” Richard suggested. “I have been to many places, and can tell many stories. Tasteful ones if it is necessary.”
Sophie smiled and assured him, “It is necessary, sir.”
“Where have you been?” Adam asked.
“Were you at war there? Did you ride into battle?” Mitchell questioned eagerly.
Richard started laughing and the rest of the company joined in. “I cannot win, as much as I try …”
“But you are trying. That is what counts for me.” Sophie said softly and their eyes met. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.” His ruddy complexion reddened a little more. “Shall I interrogate you, now?”
“No. Do not even try.”
“Now that is a challenge worth taking.” He smiled.<
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“Not tonight.” Sophie smiled in return. “Tonight is about you.”
“How can it be about me if you limit my conversation?”
“Mr. Fitzwilliam …” Sophie shook her head. “I think that I liked you better when you were nervous.” His blush deepened and she felt her cheeks warming in response. Their gazes held again for a moment before he looked away to answer a question from Adam. She felt her blush travelling from her cheeks to her toes. I think that I would like you if you said nothing at all.
“WHAT IS THIS?” Elizabeth had returned from her walk and upon learning that her husband had left with Georgiana, walked up to her bedchambers and spotted the flower and the note. Twirling the stem in her fingers, she opened the page.
Dearest Elizabeth,
Thank you for saving me once again. How? It does not matter, just know that you have. You always appear when I need you the most. While you were out, I sat down with Georgiana and after talking for a while, I decided that she could use a little peace, and have taken her for a drive to the sea. I thought that as difficult as I find being alone with her for very long, it is high time that I make the effort. I have a feeling that we will have a largely silent excursion, but at least we are going. Enjoy your quiet, love. Just be prepared, when I return I will assuredly not leave you alone.
I love you, my Elizabeth Rose,
Fitzwilliam
“Dear man.” She looked out of the window towards the distant sea and felt pride welling up in her heart. “I know how hard this is for you.”
“Mrs. Darcy?” There was a soft knock and Jennifer looked in. “Mrs. Darcy, may I speak with you?”
“Of course.” Elizabeth smiled. “I suppose that you are enjoying your respite from looking after Georgiana?”
“Oh, she is no trouble; she sleeps a great deal, after all.” Jennifer bit her lip. “Actually, that is what I would like to speak to you about.”
“Her sleeping? Is that not common?”
“Yes, of course, but … it is her quantity of sleep that concerns me.”
“I am afraid that I do not understand.”
“Mrs. Darcy, I hope that I do not shock you, but … I believe that the child is due to be born much sooner than we expected. I feel that it is only weeks away, not months.”
“Weeks! My husband and I suspected it would be sooner, but not that soon. How could we be so wrong?” Elizabeth sank down onto a chair. “Her aunt had multiple successful pregnancies, surely she could estimate when the baby is due?”
“Yes, madam, but … she was estimating based on the information that Miss Dar … Miss Cargill gave her. I have had my suspicions for some time, even when I first came to be with her, I wondered at her being so large already.”
“Large? But we could see nothing beneath her gown!”
“Not all women show the same way, Mrs. Darcy. I have served several ladies who were with child and they were all unique.”
“I am certain that her aunt asked about her courses. Would that not settle the question?”
“Ordinarily, I would say yes …”
“Ordinarily?” Elizabeth, considered everything she had ever read about conception and childbirth, “I understand that she only just began this past summer. I remember my start was hardly with regularity.”
“Yes, madam.” Jennifer was relieved how Elizabeth understood so quickly. “She did not have the experience to know what was normal.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes as she thought of her own hopes being dashed only days earlier, “I have heard of women bleeding slightly, even in the early weeks or months of their pregnancy? But they go on to deliver healthy children … This might have been the case for Georgiana and she might have mistaken it for her courses?”
“That is precisely what I was thinking, Mrs. Darcy.”
Remembering the defiant, terrified girl she met in December who was in absolute denial of her situation, Elizabeth thought out loud, “But she did not feel the baby? How can that be? She either did not recognize it, or refused to acknowledge what she was feeling.” Looking up to Jennifer she asked helplessly, “Do you have any idea when she might give birth?”
“I am sorry, madam. I have come to the limit of my knowledge.”
“Have you been present at a birth?”
“Yes, I was just standing at the side …”
“I know; you are not a midwife.” Elizabeth drew a breath and let it go. “Thank you for telling me your suspicions. And I … will see what we can do for her.” The maid left, closing the door behind her.
Elizabeth fingered the ruby encrusted watch pinned to her gown, and then coming to a decision, jumped up to call for the carriage to be prepared, but stopped before she reached the doorway. She returned to the bed and picked up the note, and read Darcy’s words of love. “The day that you asked me to love you, you asked that we do everything together. We have not always done that, have we?” She smiled and looked down at the flower. “So much has changed since that day, and yet so much is the same. But this time, I will wait for you. We will face everything together.” Elizabeth looked out in the direction of the sea, “Hurry home, Will. I need you.”
Chapter 14
Richard sat atop his snorting horse and rubbed her throat, “That’s a good girl. Take a rest; you deserve it after that mad dash.” He drew in a deep breath of the clean air and smiled at the fine view of the rolling green hills. “A man could grow used to this. If only it was just a touch warmer.” He shivered a little and reached into his waistcoat. “I suppose you would grow used to that as well.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, good morning!”
Turning in his saddle, Richard beamed. Approaching from behind he saw Sophie and Robert. “Good morning, Miss Kelly, Mr. Kelly. This is quite a surprise!”
“We ride out every morning in fine weather, sir.” Sophie smiled widely. “I see that you do as well?”
“It is too ingrained in me not to go. Besides, it gets me out of my cousins’ hair for an hour or so.” He laughed. “I am glad to have your company.”
“I do not know, Sophie. I do not know if I can trust you in such close quarters to a man who is holding such an offensive article in his palm. By the way, well done, sir.” They looked at the snuff box and Sophie blushed as Richard hurriedly put it away.
“Is that always in your hand?” She demanded.
“Seemingly it is, at least when you are about.” He paused and tilted his head, “I could have it melted down and the jewels made into something else.”
“Why would you do that? It was a gift, was it not? It would ruin the memory and offend the one who gave it to you.”
“I would not wish to offend you, Miss Kelly.” Her head shook and she laughed. Marry the girl who laughs at your fancy.
“Did I say that I was offended?”
“She will tell you if she is, trust me.” Robert laughed and held up his hand before walking his horse away. “I am not here, you do not see me.”
“Why would you go?” Richard asked curiously.
“My sister has a bee in her bonnet, and I think that she should let it go now that she has the chance.” Both men looked to Sophie who was blushing furiously.
“A bee in your bonnet, Miss Kelly? I am intrigued.” Richard clasped his hands over his reins and smiled. “What could it be?”
She looked to her brother and turning to Richard, spoke in a low whisper. “I was ashamed of the inquisition you faced last night and I wished to apologize, and assure you that this is not the normal behaviour of my family. They took undue amusement in my …” Her eyes closed.
“You are unfamiliar with this situation, having to present yourself and your family at your very best? Miss Kelly, may I tell you that it would give me the greatest relief in the world to simply feel at ease with you and your family. I am not eloquent; I am rather too plainspoken for my own good.”
“It sounds as if you need someone to help you with that sort of thing.”
“I do. More than I can say.” H
e smiled and she laughed softly. “Miss Kelly, I promise you, I did not feel in the least upset by your brothers and father, it was a very familiar situation. While another man might have been offended, I promise you, I felt quite comfortable by the end.”
“But it was rude. You were a guest.”
“I am an interloper who is hoping to steal away a precious jewel from the Kelly home.”
“Mr. Fitzwilliam!” Her blush heightened even more.
“Your father asked me to come and meet him tomorrow morning. We are to speak privately, away from the male posturing that tires you.”
Her head shot up and she stared, “You are? Why did he not tell me?”
“Perhaps because he felt you did not need to know.” Smiling at her frown, he shrugged. “I do not know.”
“No brothers?”
“Just your father and me.”
“And what will you speak about?”
Richard smiled. “Guess.”
“It is a little too quiet over there.” Robert called.
“Just wait until he is courting someone.” Sophie hissed.
“Perhaps you will not be present then.” Richard suggested and looked out over the view.
Sophie considered his weathered face and smiling eyes as Robert joined them again. “Perhaps not.”
“THAT IS ALL OF THEM, Mrs. Darcy.” Mrs. Shaw took the four hot water bottles out of the basket she was carrying. “I will have Amy bring up a kettle to keep warm in the fire.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Shaw.” Elizabeth took the bottles and laid them on the bed.
“Jennifer should be up soon with the chamomile tea.”
“We look forward to it.” She followed her gaze to Georgiana. “Is there anything else?”
Starting, the housekeeper straightened. “No, madam.” She turned and was stopped by Elizabeth’s voice.
“I would like to speak to you when I am finished here, Mrs. Shaw.”
“Yes, madam.” She nodded and quickly departed.
Picking up a bottle, she slipped it behind Georgiana’s back. “I will get to the bottom of this.”
“Fitzwilliam told you what I said.”