by Wells, Linda
“Terrible! And entirely unfair!”
“I can bet that after an hour with my mother you will be volunteering eagerly to hear yours.”
“Why are we speaking of our mothers? Should we not speak of us?”
“Sophie, I promise you, I am not an orator, nor can I read sonnets, let alone compose them.” Richard sighed. “What do you want?”
“I want … I want you to kiss me again.” She watched his face light up. “You are leaving tomorrow and …”
“I will come back, I promise you.” Richard noticed that the judge and Stephen were engaged in an animated conversation. “Sophie, quickly …” He reached over and took her hand. “Come here.” He leaned and kissed her.
“Too fast …” Sophie protested when he drew back “I want a real kiss.”
“I am afraid that will have to wait for July, my dear.” Richard laughed. “If you wish for a breathing bridegroom on your wedding day. But I must admit; I am delighted and intrigued by your curiosity.”
“I would not be so forward if you were remaining here.” She said hopefully.
“I am not sure which holds more allure, your forwardness or my staying?” He leaned towards her again. “You are welcome to try and convince me to stay …”
Sophie sat up in her saddle. “Now you are trying to take advantage, sir.”
Richard sat up and shook his head. “You are going to be a challenge. But I love a challenge.” Their eyes met and they both felt their cheeks redden. He cleared his throat. “Come on, let’s see how far we can race before our guards notice we are gone.”
Gathering her reins, she prepared to begin, “What is the prize?”
Richard turned his head and laughed before he took off. “I guarantee it will not be chocolate for me!”
“CAREFUL LOVE. I do not want you to slip.” Darcy held Elizabeth’s hips and guided her down into the water. She leaned into his arms and settled back against his chest. He kissed her shoulder and nuzzled his nose against her throat. “There now, how is that?”
“Lovely.” She sighed.
“Not too cold?”
“mmm, no, it is just right.” Elizabeth looked behind her. “Now, do not fall asleep.”
“It is tempting.” He whispered. “Every inch of me is so relaxed. Thank you for that.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Mine, too.” His eyes twinkled when she grinned triumphantly. “But as wonderful as this bath is, I am still taking you swimming in the lake.”
Chapter 24
“Here you are, madam.” The maid curtseyed and handed Elizabeth a napkin.
“Thank you, Missy.” Elizabeth smiled and turned with the folded cloth in hand to face her curious husband.
“What have we there?” He reached for the cloth.
“It is not your business!” Elizabeth slapped his hand.
“It is so. It is my napkin and whatever is within is mine as well.”
“You were an only child! What of those vows proclaiming that you would share your worldly goods with me?”
“It is not sharing if you are hiding it behind your back.” Elizabeth squealed when he tried to quickly reach around her. Too fast, she spun away and escaped, but her running was no match to his long stride and he caught up with her in seconds. “Ha!” He laughed and held her waist. “I have you!”
“You think so, do you?” Elizabeth’s eyes were dancing, and she ducked down and under his arms.
“Slippery woman!” He cried and stretching, grabbed her arm and pulled her backwards into his. “I will not hold you so loosely this time, my love.” Darcy firmly wrapped one arm around her waist and biting his lip poked at the handkerchief. “What is it?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Shortbread, you nosy badger!”
“Really?” His eyes lit up.
The sound of a carriage drew their eyes up to the ridge and back to each other. The expression they shared was resigned, “We do not have much time, or we will have to share with your sister and Samuel.”
“I think not.” Spinning her around, he lifted her to sit atop the low brick wall surrounding the courtyard. Behind them the fountain splashed merrily and all around them were stone urns overloaded with colourful flowers. Darcy jumped up to sit by her side. “Come, share with me.”
She looked down at the ground from their perch. “We do have these things we call benches …”
“Too ordinary.” He tugged at the napkin. “Come on!”
“You just think that I cannot escape you from here!” He grinned and she laughed. “I asked Mrs. Duncan to write out her recipe for Cook, and since she was making biscuits for Georgiana, I thought, why not something for us, too?” She opened the cloth and exposed the treasure. “ooooh.”
“Well?” Darcy nudged her.
She broke off a piece and popped it into his mouth. “It is warm!” He closed his eyes and savoured the rich flavour. “Oh, she has it, Lizzy!”
“I am not sure.” Elizabeth chewed thoughtfully. “I think that Mrs. Duncan might have held back on something.”
“No.” He laughed. “She would not.”
“Oh, I think so!” Elizabeth giggled and he broke off another piece. “But it is still lovely.”
“mmmm.” Darcy moved closer and fed her a bit, then leaned down to kiss her. “Lovely.”
“The shortbread?”
“No.” Their eyes met and he kissed her again, this time their lips parted and they tasted the buttery sweetness as their tongues slipped together. Darcy withdrew. “More.”
“More kisses?” She whispered and kissed a crumb from his lips.
“More of everything.” He slipped his hand behind her head and his arm around her waist. Elizabeth melted into him. The carriage slowly rumbled by and they remained embraced. “This time has been too short.” He whispered and looked into her eyes.
“I have no intention of ending it just because we are no longer alone. Do you?” She gently touched his reddened lips and smiled. “I have no intention of ending this, ever. I love the man you have become over these past weeks. I love that we are finally ourselves with each other.” Darcy’s eyes smiled and he nodded. “So I shall have to remind you of this when you become too serious, or drift into dark thoughts.”
“But I promised you that I would not anymore.”
“I know.” She kissed him tenderly. “Just the same …”
“You know me too well, Elizabeth Darcy.”
“I have only begun to scratch the surface.” She withdrew and breaking the shortbread in two popped half into his mouth. “Chew!”
Darcy put his hand over his mouth to stop the crumbs from flying out as he tried to stop laughing. The footmen put down the step and opened the carriage door. Out came Samuel, looking over to the couple with an incredulous smile as Darcy hopped off the wall and lifted her down. Elizabeth was brushing at his neck cloth and he was trying to kiss her while she did. Richard stepped out next and stood with his arms crossed watching them.
“Have we come to the incorrect address? I believe that two children live here.”
“I thought that you were to go to Gladney. You are at the wrong address. Go away.” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and they strolled up as Samuel helped Georgiana down.
“A small change in plans.” He looked behind him as Darcy examined his sister. Jennifer appeared last and quickly hurried into the house.
“Welcome home, dear.” Darcy let go of Elizabeth and kissed Georgiana’s cheek. “I hope that you are feeling well after your journey?”
“A little tired, Brother.” She said softly and looked at Elizabeth. “You are glowing!”
“Thank you!” She laughed and gave her a hug. “And you are looking yourself again.”
“I am a long way from that, but the dresses help.” Seeing the men standing uncomfortably, she smiled a little. “I will just go inside.”
“I will join you shortly.” Elizabeth looked after her and turned to hug Samuel. “Thank you for bringing her.”
/> “It was no trouble at all. She was sad, I suppose.” Withdrawing, he looked at Richard who nodded and shrugged. “But the worst is over.”
She glanced at the footmen busy with the trunks, “We have a very nice dinner ordered. You must be so hungry.”
“Thirsty, actually.” Richard grinned and held open his arms to receive his hug.
“Engagement has not changed you one bit.” She laughed and pecked his cheek. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you. It was … well it is done.” He blushed.
Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and looked over his cousin curiously. “There is a story in that, I think?”
“Oh, and I am just the man to tell it!” Samuel grinned. “The unvarnished truth!”
“Maybe it is not too late to leave for Gladney.” Richard took up the rear and looked back at the carriage. The last of the baggage was removed and the coachman jumped back into place. With a flick of the reins the carriage moved quickly towards the stables, and Richard sighed as the party laughed. “Oh well, have at me.”
“YOU COULD HAVE KNOCKED me over with a feather! Mr. Parker, you said that she had blossomed, but I had no idea to expect Miss Darcy to be quite so …” Mrs. Reynolds struggled for words.
“Fully bloomed.” Evans suggested and looked at the housekeeper pointedly as a maid went around the table. “That will do, Missy.”
“Yes, sir.” She bobbed and disappeared from the servants’ dining room.
“She seemed exhausted, was it a difficult trip, Jennifer?” Mrs. Reynolds asked worriedly.
“No, it was quite smooth, but of course over three days on the road was quite tiring. The colonel had us all in stitches several times, telling stories of his army days to pass the time. Young Mr. Darcy was ever curious and asked him all sorts of questions. I am afraid that I know more now than I care to about sleeping out of doors.”
“Hopefully it will not be something you ever experience.” Judy smiled.
“The colonel said he woke once in a field with a cow grazing by his side. He nearly shot the poor thing, he was so taken aback!” The table laughed and Jennifer exchanged looks with her sister.
“I think it is a shame that she had to come home when she did.” Mrs. Johns said as she cut up her meat. “The master and Mrs. Darcy were having a grand time all on their own. I have never heard of a grown man so playful. The maids were giggling about doors suddenly being shut and the locks turned followed by a great deal of laughter. I daresay we should be expecting that baby to be along soon.”
“We certainly would welcome it.” Mr. Evans cleared his throat. “I watched them at dinner tonight. I would say that the master and mistress were subdued, but I believe it is like a pot kept at a simmer.”
“A low boil.” Parker murmured and noticing Judy reach, handed her the bread basket.
“Thank you, Mr. Parker.” Her cheeks pinked.
“It is my pleasure, Miss Orchard.”
Silence ruled the table for two seconds as eyes moved from one servant to another. Suddenly everyone burst out into conversation and Parker lowered his head and laughed. Evans nudged him beneath the table and looked at him pointedly.
“What exactly did I do wrong?”
“Not a thing, but watch yourself.”
Parker caught Judy looking his way briefly and bent towards the butler. “I do that all day long.”
“WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT? I knew that I did not have a great deal, but it was sobering to see it there in print.” Richard sat back in his chair opposite Darcy’s desk and watched him concentrating on the settlement papers. “That little agreement that Bertie signed was nothing, a gentleman’s agreement, a … hope that he would behave honourably, which, thus far, he has to a remarkable degree.” Biting his lip he waited for his cousin to say something. “The judge read it over and said it looked fine, but he was a criminal judge.” Laughing derisively Richard saw Darcy’s eyes rest upon him. Quickly, he waved his hand. “Well, he knows nothing of this sort of thing.” Darcy’s eyes eventually dropped and Richard rose to his feet to pace the room. “Samuel drew it up, he has prepared dozens, but as he is just a clerk at this point, he insisted that Mayfield put his stamp on it this morning. Otherwise I would have simply gone on to Gladney after we left the last inn.” He paused before the bottles of port and then moved to the snuff horn, fingered the cap, he let go and went to the window then spun around. “Damn it, Darcy!”
“If you would stop babbling maybe I could read?” He said pointedly with a sharp glare.
Richard shot him a look and drawing a breath, clasped his hands behind his back and stared out at the drive. He managed five minutes of silence and turning, watched as Darcy picked up a pen. “What is wrong?”
Darcy started and looked from him to the pen in his hands. “Nothing.” He laughed and dropped it back into the tray. “I always seem to have a pen in hand while I read.” Setting down the papers he leaned back in the chair. “It is fine, Richard. Relax. As you say, you have little to fuss over. But your savings are nothing to sneeze at, and you continue to enjoy a substantial allowance from your father …”
“It only became substantial after Bertie married.”
“Nonetheless you have it. And as I am certain Samuel and Uncle pointed out, you cannot make any mention of any potential property or income you may receive if you become heir or eventually earl as two lives are very much in the way.”
“And I hope that it remains so.”
“Yes, I know.” Darcy smiled as Richard frowned down at his boots. “And it would be unwise to count those chickens before they are hatched.” Richard nodded and Darcy picked up the papers. “It is simple, straightforward, and fine. No, you have no property and if you do begin having children right away, the dowries for the girls will be small and the support for the boys will be more of good will and a good education, but you will be far better off than most.”
“I wish I had more to leave Sophie secure should I die.”
“She will not be left without a home. If you have a son, he will be the next earl and she will remain at Gladney. If you have a daughter … well, I do not see Albert leaving Rosings. If you are both gone, then the new heir could have her removed, but you know that we would never let her be without a home.”
Richard nodded and murmured. “Thank you for that, Darcy. I knew that I could depend upon you to ease my fears. Death was not something I really concerned myself about before. It is odd having to include someone else in my thoughts now. This settlement preparation is sobering.”
“Which helps to explain why marriages to soldiers are generally frowned upon, at least in these days of war.”
“It cannot last forever.” Richard sighed and dropped back down into the chair. “But those days are behind me now.”
“Let them be.” Darcy said softly.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Part of the joy and challenge of marriage is being forced to think beyond yourself.”
“You have been doing that for years.” Richard smiled.
“If you think about your men, so have you.” Darcy saw his cousin’s surprise and folding the pages, handed them over. “It is fine. And of course when and if the situation changes with Albert, you may always revisit this; in fact, I am certain that you will.”
“Hmmph.”
“How are your parents taking the news that you are to marry a girl in their home in five weeks without ever having met her or her family?” Darcy’s eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face.
“Do you remember that letter Mother sent to you, the one you read at Netherfield before the ball?”
“The one you read before the ball, I read it the next day.”
Richard waved his hand. “In any case, she was offering her guidance and support …”
“She thought that Elizabeth was someone other than she was and wished to use her. I have not forgotten that, nor has Elizabeth forgotten your interrogation at the ball.”
“I will pay for that all of my days
.” He smiled at Darcy’s serious nod. “Well, there is no doubt that Sophie is an educated gentlewoman. She has never mixed with peers before, but she is precisely the sort of woman they hoped I would marry. Mother has apparently been burning the midnight oil sending off notes to Elizabeth …”
Darcy snorted. “Yes, Elizabeth had a collection of them that she answered in one letter a few days ago. It is nice to know that Aunt values her opinion.”
“I hope so, but the fact of the matter is that Elizabeth is the only woman of her acquaintance who has met Sophie and can therefore provide information. Mother obviously can do nothing to dissuade me, and sight unseen, she really cannot object to Sophie, but … Oh Lord, Darcy, she is planning to help her adjust.”
“She is not a shy flower.”
“She is a great deal more vulnerable than she lets on.” Richard smiled softly. Darcy tilted his head and said nothing. “She is older and obviously more experienced than Elizabeth. But she is far more comfortable with men than women. And the world she is entering will definitely be one with women, especially if I rise in rank.” He sighed.
“You are starting to know her.”
“Yes.” He looked down to his hands. “You knew Elizabeth just weeks before you married.”
“Yes. You are essentially in the same boat, given the time you have spent apart. Of course, you have no great misery between you, nothing to hide, nothing in your way …”
“That is true. There is no strange force around us.” Richard fiddled with his buttons.
“What bothers you?” Darcy asked quietly.
Somewhat relieved at the opportunity to change the subject, he jumped on the chance. “I have watched you and Elizabeth together, you are forever lovemaking.”
“We are not!” Darcy laughed. “Granted, you caught us when you arrived, and I probably touch her too intimately before others, but that is unconsciously done. What we share as a married couple is decidedly behind closed doors, and sadly, it involves sleep as much as anything.”
“That is not what I meant. Forget I mentioned it.”