by Kelly Miller
She greeted him with a merry smile. “Is he not beautiful? Mr. Graham brought him home. He recounted a story regarding the puppy. He said it was in desperate need of a new home, but I suspect he bought it for me.”
She could not have accepted a gift from Graham, so the story would have been necessary, but what would possess him to do such a thing? “Do you know why he did this for you?”
Her cheeks darkened in colour. “Yesterday, I mentioned to Mr. Graham that I wished for a cocker spaniel such as this one.”
It seemed harmless enough, and it was obvious Anne was already attached to the puppy. “I see. I do not know if you remember, but my mother used to have a cocker spaniel that was a similar colour. He died of old age a few years before Georgiana was born.”
In a bright tone, she said, “Oh yes, I remember. Hers was a lighter blond.”
The puppy rolled on to its back. As he rubbed its stomach, one hind leg shook in the air. “Yes, it was. I must admit this one has an uncommon amount of charm. Does he have a name?”
“Since I was a young girl, I have wished for a dog of my own. I was always going to name him Jasper, so Jasper it is.”
“Jasper is a fine name for a dog.” Darcy brushed off his trousers and stood. He faced his cousin as a sombre pall encroached upon his mood. “I must apologize for the way I have treated you since my father passed away. My reaction to your mother’s assertion that we were to marry was to avoid you.” His shoulders drooped, and his gaze lowered to the dog, who had moved to sit between them. “It was thoughtless and unkind of me, and I am filled with regret for my past actions. I hope you will be able to forgive me.”
Anne was silent. She crouched to lift the puppy into her arms and held him against her with his head under her chin. “I shall not deny that my feelings were hurt when you avoided me all those years, and I missed the talks we used to have. But my mother was unreasonable and put you in a difficult position. The situation was unfair to both of us. I do accept your apology, and I want you to know I am happy you found a wife so well suited to you. I quite like Elizabeth, and Bennet is a delight.”
He straightened his posture and drew in a deep breath. A lightness entered his limbs and lifted his spirits. He had made a long overdue apology, and whether or not he deserved it, Anne had forgiven him. Her kind words towards his wife and son inspired a smile. “It is generous of you. I thank you.”
Anne’s eyes lingered on him for a moment as she seemed to be lost in thought. At length, she said, “I wish to thank you for writing to our uncle on my behalf.” She set Jasper, who had begun to squirm, back on the ground.
“I was happy to do it. It is wonderful to see you so healthy and strong. I am glad you have taken an interest in the management of Rosings.”
Her lips pressed together. “My acceptance of responsibility for my own estate is long overdue. But I am happy to say I now have reason to hope I shall not need Uncle’s interference.” She paused, and her eyes lit in amusement as Jasper scampered off in a frenzied, but fruitless, pursuit of a mouse. “I had a long discussion with my mother this morning. She has changed her opinion on many subjects. At my suggestion that I start taking over elements of estate management at Rosings, she was in complete agreement.”
This was incredible! Lady Catherine was nothing if not controlling. Her willingness to turn over control of the estate to her daughter without a fight seemed out of character. Of course, her apology to Elizabeth and himself had been unprecedented. Had she changed for the better? With her recent improvement in health and given the proper guidance, Anne could manage her own estate. Nevertheless, a smooth transition of power from his aunt to his cousin could not be expected despite what Lady Catherine may have said this morning. His aunt’s penchant for giving advice was certain to cause conflict at times—mayhap most of the time! “I am pleased to hear it. I imagine your steward and tenants will be well satisfied at the change.”
She gave him a quick glance before gazing at her hands, clasped in front of her. “Darcy, I, well, I know in the past your visits to Rosings were borne out of duty, but now that my health has improved, I should like to have you, Elizabeth, and Bennet come to Rosings for a visit next spring. Mayhap Richard and Georgiana could come at the same time. I should welcome the opportunity to repay your hospitality, and I have several ideas for activities and excursions we could all enjoy together.”
A frown flitted across his face before he banished it. He replaced it with a tight-lipped smile. I should not like to have Anne get the wrong impression. I should hate for her to believe I do not wish to visit her. I must take care not to act in an unexpected manner around others. “I thank you. I shall discuss your offer with Elizabeth, but I have no doubt she will be agreeable.” He moved his gaze from his cousin. His eyes followed Jasper as the puppy sniffed his way through a row of rose bushes.
***
Graham nodded and smiled as he walked among the throng of people strolling the grounds of Pemberley. The local landowners near the small towns of Lambton and Kympton had arrived in full force. As he passed the guests, random thoughts and memories held by the people around him passed into his knowledge, giving him a wealth of information interspersed with a healthy dose of gossip.
Festive events such as these were given once or twice a year by the Darcys. The first party of this kind had been held the summer after Mr. Darcy married Elizabeth, and the local gentry had been keen to attend. They had wished to get a close look at the couple and ascertain how Pemberley was holding up under the new mistress. Most people had come away with a kind regard for the new Mrs. Darcy. Before his marriage, Darcy had had a reputation for being honest and dependable, but also proud and aloof. A general agreement within the neighbourhood deemed that Mr. Darcy’s charming and affable wife had influenced her husband to be, if not amiable, at least less reserved than before.
Sarah was seated at a table with her back towards him. It was just as well. He had no time to spare for her or anyone else. It was now an hour into the festivities. Elizabeth and Darcy, their arms linked, ambled around the estate grounds, greeting and conversing with their guests as they made their way through the crowd. The guests’ happy chatter created a soft symphony of sound in the crisp, autumn air. Many people surrounded them—too many people!
With his gaze darting around him, Graham followed the Darcys at a discreet distance. He had spent the past thirty minutes taking glances at his watch with increasing frequency. It was now less than ten minutes from the time Darcy would die.
He leaned against a small tree and took several deep breaths. With furtive movements, he attempted to keep Elizabeth’s sisters, Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, in his sights. They would be of most comfort to her when it happened. His chest tightened. Why did this blasted party have to be today of all days? It was a wretched circumstance for Darcy’s death to occur with the grounds full of guests, but nothing he could do would delay it any longer.
He reached again for his watch. He flinched. A hand had grabbed his arm.
“Hello, Brother.”
Graham expelled a harsh breath. Damn! His brother could not have picked a worse time to appear! He gave Clive a ferocious glare. “I have no time for you now. I shall be available in a couple of hours.”
Clive tightened his grip on Graham’s arm. “As a matter of fact, what I have to tell you cannot wait.”
His heart raced. Where were the Darcys? A brief perusal of the grounds through the crowd of party guests revealed they were no longer visible. He hissed, “But you do not understand!”
His brother stood firm. With a rough pull on his arm, he spoke in a low but authoritative voice. “We need to talk alone now. I am afraid I must insist upon it, so do not make a scene.”
He jerked his head around them. Blast! Several guests looked their way with curious expressions. Once again, his gaze darted towards the watch in his hand. “Very well
, but we must make haste.” He gestured for his brother to follow him and strode to the house. He entered the front sitting room and shut the set of double doors after Clive had followed him in. The face of his watch filled him with dread. A mere five minutes remained! “You have two minutes, and then I must go.”
Clive took a seat on a sofa. “You will be pleased at what I have to say, at least I hope you will. I was watching you earlier, and you appeared to be distressed. I must say I was relieved to see it. I had begun to think you were glad to have Mr. Darcy die so you could step into his life.”
Graham shook his head as he paced in front of his brother. His hands formed fists. This was maddening. He did not have time for a lecture! “What is so important that cannot wait? Why were you watching me?”
Clive spoke in a calm, clear voice. “You made an error. Seven days ago, when you interfered with Mr. Darcy’s fall from his horse, you believed you saved his life. It was an understandable mistake. Afterward, you were so concerned with finding the perfect body in which to arrive here and invade the man’s life, you did not bother to determine the outcome had you not interfered.”
Graham halted his movement. Could Darcy have saved himself without his assistance? Surely not! Graham landed with a jounce in an armchair facing his brother. “It is true. I did not take the step of reviewing what would have occurred. I had no wish to see the man’s body broken and bloodied. I have more than enough images in my head of the victims of violent death. But what you said does not seem possible. I can recall the scene well enough. The trail was barren. There was nothing on the edge of the precipice to seize, no rocks or shrubs he could have grabbed. Nothing below could have broken his fall, and it was a long drop to rocky, hard ground. If I had stood by, he would have died!”
Clive gestured with his arms around the room. “All of Pemberley, this home, and everything that encompasses the estate is quite impressive. You have witnessed for yourself that Mr. Darcy is a man who has inspired an uncommon measure of respect and loyalty in his servants and his tenants. It should not be a surprise to learn that a man such as this had formed an extraordinary bond with his horse.”
Graham rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Extraordinary bond? What are you rambling about?”
Displaying a broad smile, Clive leaned forward. “It was his horse. Mr. Darcy’s black stallion would have saved him. The steed would have grabbed Mr. Darcy’s greatcoat by his teeth and stopped his master from falling off the edge of the trail.”
“That black beast of his? It does not seem possible. Darcy is a tall, robust man. He is too heavy for a horse to have done anything of the sort!”
Clive shrugged. “Horses have been known to lift heavier objects with their teeth. When Darcy fell, the horse would have grabbed him, moved him over the trail, and allowed him to fall onto the ground. It would have been quick, requiring a minimum of effort. At any rate, you are missing the relevant point: what is amazing is not the physical strength or even the dexterity exhibited by the horse but that he was roused to action because of his amazing attachment to his master.
He gaped at his brother for a time. At length, he burst forth with a hearty laugh. He continued laughing as a mountain of tension left his back until his eyes were saturated with tears of mirth. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this! As much as I have come to care for Elizabeth, I was plagued with doubt that I could ever take Darcy’s place. She may not have ever considered me as anything more than a friend.” He glanced at his watch. “It is one minute past the time now. If Darcy had died, I have no doubt there would be pandemonium outside that could be heard from here.”
Clive rubbed his hands together. “Well, I suppose you will return home soon. I must say I am relieved. As you can imagine, Father was not happy with the idea of your remaining here.”
He lowered his head and grew solemn. It was true. It seemed he had little reason to stay much longer. Elizabeth would not need him after all. A strange sort of melancholy took root in him at the thought of his holiday coming to an end. And yet…it could be that he was leaving just in time. He had become too comfortable in this world in which he did not belong. “I shall return home soon. This visit been a rewarding experience. I have a new understanding and respect for mortals, at least for certain individuals. It is essential that I speak to Darcy right away. I suspect he believes his death is imminent.”
An image of Sarah came to Graham’s mind. He pressed his hand against his chest as a discomfiting tension beset him. “I have said goodbye to Sarah Mead, but I cannot reflect back on my behaviour with satisfaction. Despite being honest with regard to my intentions, I believe I took advantage of her vulnerability. She was left devastated by her husband’s death five years ago.” His hands were clenched on his lap. “I have a plan in mind. It will be an arduous task, but I am determined to accomplish it. Nevertheless, I cannot do it alone; I need you to use your influence with Father to achieve it. I believe you could convince him to cooperate. After all, he should be pleased to learn I shall not be staying on here.” Graham outlined to his brother the details of his plan and how it could best be achieved.
Employing several pensive rubs to his chin, Clive sat in silence for a full minute before he uttered a word. “Very well, Graham. What you request is irregular, to be sure, but it could be done. I shall see to it.”
His face burst into a grand smile. Leaping from his chair, he shook his brother’s hand. “Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation!”
Clive patted his shoulder. “Nonsense. What are brothers for?”
***
Darcy was in the midst of a game of lawn bowling with Elizabeth and several of their neighbours when Graham came forward through the crowd of onlookers. After Darcy completed his turn, Graham raised a hand to get his attention. His stomach twisted. Seven days had passed since the fall from his horse that should have taken his life. Was Graham here now because his time was up? He walked to Graham’s side.
Graham leaned close to his ear and used an undertone. “I need to speak to you alone right away.”
It seemed his fear was confirmed. His throat closed up, but with an effort, he managed to call out for Bingley to take his place.
His friend agreed. Graham had already set out in the direction of the house.
Darcy was expected to follow, but he lingered. It was Elizabeth’s turn to bowl. Was this to be his last glimpse of her? She swung her head in his direction and caught his gaze. Her smile dazzled him. He presented his wife with an expression meant to reflect his love for her. It took a great force of will for him to turn from her and walk towards Graham’s retreating figure.
Graham led him to the front sitting room where they sat in armchairs facing each other.
In the silence before Graham spoke, Darcy braced every muscle. A constriction in his chest forced him to take shallow breaths. At this moment, Bennet, who had played outside during the earlier festivities, was upstairs in the nursery. Miss Hunter had taken him for his nap twenty minutes earlier. If he asked, would Graham allow him to see his son one last time?
Graham employed a quiet vocal tone. “I can imagine what you must be thinking at this moment, and I am awed by your bravery. But more to the point, I owe you an apology.”
His eyes raked over Graham’s countenance, and the tightness in his chest abated. This was unexpected. Was Graham sorry to be taking his life? Was this not a matter of fate?
Graham’s crooked smile, lowered gaze, and reddened cheeks revealed his chagrin. “When I first appeared to you, I told you I had saved your life. At the time, I understood it to be true, and I had believed it until today. Although I did not share this with you, I also believed you had but seven days to live from the time your death had been diverted by me. An incontrovertible rule applies in these situations: if I intercede with a mortal’s fate, I can give them no more than an additional seven days. The individual’s fate can
be delayed no longer. Less than an hour ago, I learned the truth.”
Darcy swallowed hard; he repeated, “The truth?”
“In my defence, anyone watching things unfold as I did would have assumed you were certain to fall off the cliff and die without my taking action. I decided to step in and save you. What I discovered today was that I did not save you at all.”
The desire to believe Graham overwhelmed his senses, yet what he said did not seem possible. He rubbed his eyes. “My memory of that incident is distinct in my mind. I recall that strange moment when time seemed to stand still. I had never experienced anything similar before; it must have been your doing. It occurred at the moment I realized I had no hope of preventing my fall. If not for the delay in time, I would have gone over the edge of the trail and fallen to my death.”
“In reality, if I had done nothing, you still would have been saved. Your horse would have latched on to your greatcoat with his teeth and prevented you from falling over the ledge.” Graham grinned at him. “It is apparent that black steed of yours did not wish to lose you.”
Darcy muttered to himself, “Regal would have saved me? Is that even possible? I always knew he was clever, but this is incredible.” He took a ragged breath. “Does this mean I am not going to die?”
Graham’s eyes crinkled with mirth. “No, you are not. In fact, I am delighted to now be able to affirm that you, Elizabeth, Bennet, and the two children that follow will have long and contented lives. I believe you will be pleased to know that in addition to the girl you are already aware of, there will be another boy in a few years.”
He moved a hand to his chest, which heaved with each drawn breath. He was inundated with a host of emotions; chief among them were joy, shock, and relief. He had a lifetime with Elizabeth and their children—three children—to look forward to! Tears fell on his coat while he fumbled in his pocket for his handkerchief.