“I love you, too, Georgiana. I always will, for we are family. I am sorry if you felt neglected when I was forced to learn about and then manage Pemberley. Though it was certainly never my intention for my responsibilities to take precedent over time spent with you, I had little say in the matter.”
He paused to look back at his parents again, as though seeking to find the right words. “You ask for forgiveness. Knowing Elizabeth as I do, she will forgive you at once and beg you to stay. I, however, insist that you go.”
Georgiana’s expression fell with this assertion, though she did not show any surprise.
“I forgive you. It is my Christian duty to forgive, but it will take time to come to terms with what almost happened to Elizabeth because you conspired against her. I will find it hard to forget that I could have lost her and our child.”
“I understand. I will prove to you that I can be a better person. I promise.”
“It will please me if you do.”
Georgiana smiled slightly, and then her eyes rested on her cousin. “I love you, too, Richard, and I want to apologise to you as well. You have helped Brother care for me since father died, and I have shown you nothing but disrespect for all your trouble. I am sorry.” Before Richard could reply, she added, “Now, please excuse me. I intend to break my fast and then go to my room and begin organising my things for the move.”
She walked out the door and it closed silently behind her.
“Good lord!” Richard said. “Had I not heard it myself, I would not have believed Georgiana capable of doing such harm to another person. It simply boggles the mind.”
“I had no idea,” William said incredulously. “Am I so blind that I could not see that she was capable of harming Elizabeth? I shiver to think that they lived under the same roof all these weeks.”
“You love Georgiana, as do I, so we did not want to see it.”
William dropped his head. “You are right.” Then he squared his shoulders. “I cannot focus on the past any longer. I have a wife who is going to have my child, and I intend to concentrate on her happiness.”
“Then perhaps you had best return to Elizabeth,” Richard teased, “It has been well over an hour since you came downstairs, and she is most likely starving.”
“I am going now,” William said. He opened the door, but paused. “Later, will you consider accompanying me to the rectory to confer with Mr. Moody? I would like to get the burials over as soon as may be.”
Richard walked beside him. “I promised Bingley that I would ride out this morning. When we return, I shall gladly be of service. ”
William clasped his cousin on the shoulder. “I do not know what I would do without you, Richard.”
“You might survive, but the rest of the world would sorely miss me. I am the only one who can keep the illustrious Master of Pemberley humble.”
For the first time in many weeks both men laughed as though neither had a care in the world.
ON A BALCONY
Joseph Fitzwilliam nuzzled Olivia’s neck, pulling her tighter against his chest, as they stood wrapped in his robe against the morning chill. He had spied Olivia on the balcony earlier, clad only in her nightgown, and had hurried to embrace her, wrapping his robe about them both. Looking down at her feet, he smiled. At least she remembered to don her slippers.
The sun cast streaks of yellow and orange above a line of trees in the distance, causing the sky to change from the pearly grey of dawn to a soft golden hue. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of a door closing somewhere below, signalling that Richard and Charles were leaving for their morning ride.
“Do you think that Fitzwilliam will resume riding with Richard when Mr. Bingley leaves?” Olivia asked, snuggling closer to Joseph.
“I suspect he may at some point in the future,” Joseph said, “but not for a great while. He is too caught up with his bride to think of spending his mornings with his cousin.”
Olivia laughed. “I hope he is always caught up in their love, for Elizabeth is the perfect woman for him. I am so pleased that she is home, the baby is well, and our dear boy has regained his joy.”
“It would all be perfect were it not for Georgiana.”
“Ah, yes, Georgiana. I cannot count the hours I have prayed for our niece since the day we arrived. It may take time, but she is intelligent, and I believe that eventually she will realize who truly loves her and wants what is best for her. When that happens, she will come to appreciate Fitzwilliam again.”
Joseph hugged her tighter. “You are an optimist, so I am not surprised that you have hope for Georgiana. I must confess that I am more pragmatic. If I do not see signs of change right away, I tend to think a person is hopeless and give up.”
“Sometimes it may take years, but prayers can change hearts. I have learned not to worry and to leave the outcome to God.”
“You are a good woman, Olivia Angelina Fitzwilliam, and I am proud to have called you my wife these two and thirty years.”
“If I have any good qualities, it is because of the Lord. He has blessed me richly. After all, He arranged for me to meet you, did He not?”
“That He did, Love! As I recall, it was at the parish of Kympton, after Sunday services, one beautiful, sunny day in April. A day I was supposed to be at Matlock with my family, not at Pemberley with Anne. Little did I know that in that small gathering was the woman with whom I was meant to spend my life.”
Olivia laughed. “God works in mysterious ways.”
“Yes, He does.”
They kissed, tenderly at first, and then with a growing desire. This led to a return to their bedroom, where they affirmed their good fortune in marriage. By the time they went downstairs to break their fast, they were the only ones who had not done so.
Chapter 49
Meryton
Three months later
As they got closer to Meryton, William wished for the hundredth time that he had convinced Elizabeth not to make the journey. But Bingley had gotten his wish—the wedding being set for tomorrow—and Elizabeth was determined to stand up with Jane. Due to heavy rains, the route from Derbyshire had been fraught with teeth-jarring ruts, washed out roads, and swollen creeks. Thus, the trip had been painstakingly slow and much more difficult than he ever imagined. And, since Elizabeth was nearing her fifth month of pregnancy, he worried constantly for her health—so much so, that even Aunt Olivia had begun teasing him about being too watchful. If his aunt was hoping to ease his anxiety, she had not succeeded.
After all, he reasoned, Elizabeth is my life—she and our child—and I am duty-bound to protect them in every possible way.
One example of his increased vigilance was that this trip included four footmen, two drivers, and Mr. Coleridge and Mr. Harahan, who acted simultaneously as postillions and guards. All were expert shots, fully armed, with weapons in plain view. The display, something usual for the times, was meant to dissuade any prospective thieves or seasoned highwaymen from targeting this particular coach.
As another problem came to mind, William’s expression darkened. What lay ahead of him at Longbourn, preventing Mrs. Bennet from belittling Elizabeth, would not be as simple as deterring a few blackguards. In his estimation though, a confrontation was long overdue. Not a week past he had stumbled upon Elizabeth on her balcony, clutching one of her mother’s letters and sobbing. At his insistence, she had reluctantly handed it to him. It was full of demands that she tell Jane that she would not be her attendant at the wedding, though Jane expressly wanted Elizabeth.
In any case, Mrs. Bennet had written, you are too far along to look presentable in whatever you wear. Besides, your condition will draw everyone’s eyes away from Jane. It is not acceptable to take the attention away from your dear sister on her wedding day.
Seeing his wife so distraught made up his mind. Mr. Bennet would hear from him once they reached Longbourn, and if that did not solve the problem, William would deal with Mrs. Bennet directly. He had a strategy planned. He wou
ld warn her that any future belittling of Elizabeth, as well as letting word slip of his intervention, would directly affect Mrs. Bennet to her detriment, should she ever be widowed. It was the perfect solution, he believed, and thinking of it now made him smile. At long last, Mrs. Bennet would realise her future security, at least on his part, depended upon how she treated Elizabeth.
As all of this swirled in his head, William almost missed the sign that signified they were about to cross the bridge that led into the village of Meryton. In his opinion, of all the bridges in Hertfordshire, perhaps in all of England, this was the most unpleasant, for the majority of its boards were uneven or misshapen. Whether they had been so from the beginning, or if the weather had caused them to twist, he could not say. However, any vehicle unlucky enough to cross that bridge, even one as comfortable and well-sprung as his, would shake as though it was about to disintegrate into a thousand pieces. In addition, the noise created by the thumping of the wheels was sufficient to wake the dead.
Glancing to Elizabeth, who had thankfully fallen asleep earlier with her head resting on his chest, he longed for her to stay undisturbed. Thus, as they approached the familiar landmark, he laid a protective hand over the side of her face, covering her ear in an attempt to muffle the clatter. His efforts proved futile, however, for immediately upon taking the bridge, she sat up, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Are we here already?” she murmured sleepily, peering out a window. “I cannot believe it.”
“Yes, dearest. We are almost in Meryton.”
Suddenly she exclaimed, “Oh, no!”
Ever vigilant, William reacted by scanning her for signs of anything that might have caused her distress. “What it is, darling?”
Her hands flew to her hair. “I must look a fright! I cannot let Mama see me like this!” She looked about the coach. “Where is my bonnet?”
“Now, Elizabeth,” William said soothingly as he reached for the offending item which was lying on his right side. “I laid it over here after we stopped to change horses. You know how I detest bonnets. I had rather see your beautiful locks.”
“Beautiful?” Elizabeth cried, her lips forming a pout. “You know how easily my hair slips out of the pins. It is entirely too curly! Mama thinks me unladylike as it is.”
Unable to resist, William leaned down to kiss her pout. “You forget that I requested Mrs. O’Reilly to fashion your hair in a French braid the day we left. In that style, it always stays beautiful for days on end. And, without the aid of any pins, I might add.”
Elizabeth sighed, smiling crookedly. “I am still so sleepy that it completely slipped my mind.” Then her expression grew concerned again. “Still, if I am not wearing a bonnet when—”
William stopped her protest with another quick kiss. “Do not upset yourself. I shall remind you to put it on once we enter the drive to Longbourn, but not a moment sooner.”
Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. “One would think that you admire my hair more than me, Mr. Darcy.”
William pulled her closer, laying his head atop hers. Then taking a deep breath to smell her lavender scented tresses, he said, “One would be wrong, sweetheart. Though, I do think every woman’s hair should be her crowning glory.” Lifting her face so that he could look into her eyes, he smiled roguishly. “Your hair is more, Elizabeth—so much more. Its beauty far surpasses that of any woman I have ever seen. The mere sight of those silky, ebony curls spilling over your soft shoulders makes my blood run hot.”
“Goodness! Then I had better not let my hair down whilst we are here. Need I remind you that the walls of Longbourn are very thin, and we both know what happens when your blood runs hot?” Elizabeth replied mischievously.
William pulled her onto his lap, growling, “Suppose you remind me!”
One kiss led to another, each deeper and more urgent than the last, their tongues duelling in a quest to be satisfied. Even several townspeople who happened to peer in the coach windows as they passed through Meryton were shocked at the spectacle of the Darcys’ amorous display. Still, they were nearly to Longbourn before William broke away, saying breathlessly, “If we do not quit now, my love, your family will be more than shocked when the coach door opens.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard. Since she became pregnant, William’s kisses could effortlessly prod her desire into a raging fire. “Would that we could drive to Netherfield first, as though it was planned. Then we would have the time to finish what we have started.”
A deep, rumbling laugh emerged, and William broke into one of his devastating smiles. “You are truly insatiable, my love! Never would I have dreamt that being with child could create so passionate a lover.” He nuzzled her neck. “Though I am not complaining. Never think that I do not want you just as ardently, but the driver was told to go to Longbourn, not Netherfield. I fear he and the others will surmise the reason for the change of plans, especially since Bingley is likely at Longbourn already.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks before blowing the breath out slowly. “I apologise. It is just that Mama makes me so nervous, and being in your arms calms my nerves.” As Longbourn came into view, she scowled, “Will you hand me my bonnet, please?”
Handing it to her, William lowered his voice seductively. “I will love you as often as you desire tonight, my love.”
She fanned herself with the bonnet. “Oh, Will! When you say such things, it only makes matters worse!”
They shared one last bittersweet kiss as the coach slowed. It had not stopped completely when the door was flung open, and Mary peered inside to see them still kissing. Instantly, she jerked her head back.
“Reverend Fordyce,” Mary declared primly, “writes that people ought never to show affection in public.”
Kitty, who had been looking over Mary’s shoulder, giggled. “They were not in public until you opened the door, Mary!”
Lydia clawed her way through both sisters. “What did you bring us, Lizzy? I hope it is something expensive. After all, you can afford anything in the world.”
Looking back at William, Elizabeth shook her head wordlessly. Her pained expression spoke volumes about her inability to curb her sisters’ bad manners. Also clear was a reluctance to face her mother again.
He squeezed her hand as he prepared to exit first, whispering, “Remember what we said, darling? We shall face your family as one.”
Elizabeth broke into a relieved smile. “Yes, as one.”
LONGBOURN
The parlour
Sitting on a settee next to Elizabeth, William was adrift in a sea of female conversation. To his way of thinking, it was remarkable that so few women could manage to produce such a sheer volume of noise. That was, he supposed, due in part to the fact that the Bennet women had help. Not only were all of them present, but also Mrs. Phillips had heard that the Darcys’ coach had passed through Meryton and decided to call, bringing with her several neighbourhood ladies, many of whom he had never met. William had suffered through all the introductions, hoping he appeared to be appropriately interested, though he could not recall any of their names.
As he assessed the situation now, he knew why Mr. Bennet, shrewd man that he was, had slipped off to his study upon their arrival. If that was not bad enough, Bingley, who had been at Longbourn all day, looked as if he was about to desert him, too.
Sure enough, Charles stood and began to voice his remorse at having to leave so lively a group. William’s heart sank, and he was totally unprepared for what Charles said next.
“Darcy, why do you not accompany me to Netherfield?” he asked innocently. “After I meet with my steward, we can play a few games of billiards. We will have plenty of time to return before dinner.”
Not wishing to tell all those present why he could not, William walked over to his friend, placing an arm around his shoulder as he guided Charles out of the parlour door. “Since Elizabeth and I have only just arrived... ”
Once in the hall, he went silent and did not speak aga
in until only they stood on the portico. Then he quietly explained why he felt he had to stay.
“It is a shame that you must resort to guarding your wife from being insulted,” Charles said sombrely. “Plainly, Mrs. Bennet is harder on Elizabeth than any of her other daughters. Nonetheless, what can you do or say that will not make her even more insufferable?”
William described his plan, and once he was finished, Charles mused, “It certainly sounds as though it might work. After all, she speaks often of how before you and Lizzy married, she feared being left a widow, living in the hedgerows.”
“If it does not work, then I shall limit our contact with her. I think Mr. Bennet will understand, once he hears how it affects Elizabeth and how furious it makes me.”
“Let us hope.” Then Charles sheepishly confessed. “By the way, it is just as well that you are not accompanying me. Caroline has returned with the Hursts to attend the wedding. And, while I will try to keep her in check, I cannot say wholeheartedly that she has learned her lesson.”
“You should have told me earlier. I cannot deal with your sister as well as Mrs. Bennet during this visit.”
“I am sorry I could not say anything. Jane wanted to break the news to Elizabeth privately. Louisa has been writing Jane, and apparently, Caroline is still quite enraged about your marriage, not to mention my wedding.”
“I can only imagine.”
“Well, Darcy,” Charles said, donning his hat and patting the top. “Mrs. Bennet has been driving me mad all day, and this is my chance to escape. I am not going to waste it.”
“Lucky you!”
They both chuckled. “See you at dinner,” Charles exclaimed before entering his carriage.
William only nodded. Then he watched the carriage until it was out of sight. From somewhere inside the house, he heard Mrs. Bennet’s cackling laugh. Shaking his head, he headed back to Elizabeth.
Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple Page 80