by Ola Wegner
Elizabeth sat up in the bed and began plying with his cufflinks. “I am sorry about last evening, William.”
Darcy shook his head, not meeting her eyes. “That is nothing…”
“No, it is. It is.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “I know that it has been a little over a month since we… were together… last. I must admit I have not felt like making love for the last weeks.” She gave him an apologetic look. “I am not sure why, but I felt so sick to my stomach and so overwhelmed with the news, I could not think about anything other but the baby.”
“Lizzy, you do not have to explain…,” Darcy started, but Elizabeth interrupted him. “But I want to. I have felt much better for the last days, and I thought that perhaps I will go to Lambton today to see Doctor Johnson and to make sure it is safe in my state. There is no woman close enough to me here whom I could ask about such an intimate thing, and it would take at least a week to send a letter to Aunt Madeline in London and receive an answer. And I know how important it is for you.”
Darcy stood up, his eyes smiling at her. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead. “We shall see each other in the afternoon.” He murmured against her temple. “I love you.” He gave her one more quick kiss on the cheek and he was gone.
***
It was almost four o’clock in the afternoon when Darcy entered the great hall. He saw Georgiana walking down the stairs with sheets of music pressed to her chest.
“Brother, you have returned.” She ran to him with a smile.
Darcy leaned over and kissed his sister’s pale cheek. “How are you today, sweetie?”
“I am fine. We went to Lambton earlier today because Elizabeth wanted to see Doctor Johnson.”
“Yes, she mentioned it to me before I left today.” Darcy gave his greatcoat to the servant. “So you did call on Doctor Johnson?”
“Yes, but he was not home. Elizabeth decided to wait for him, whereas I went and bought myself some new music sheets.”
“So Elizabeth saw the doctor, did she not?”
Georgiana nodded. “Yes, I think she did. She was leaving the doctor’s house when I returned to the carriage. She seemed very pleased.”
“She did?” Darcy hoped not to sound too eager.
“Mhhm. Oh, and she has asked me to tell you that she has a surprise for you, in case I met you downstairs.”
Darcy’s face lightened. “She has.”
Georgiana stared at her brother’s grinning countenance suspiciously. “Yes, she has. I am going to the music room now. I will practice until dinner.”
Darcy smirked at her. “I understand; you are not to be disturbed unless the house is on the fire.”
Georgiana made a face at him and walked down the corridor with great dignity.
Darcy waited till she disappeared from his sight before running up the staircase, taking three steps at once.
He was slightly out of breath on reaching the Mistress’ bedroom. He opened the door without knocking and looked around. She was nowhere to be seen.
“I am here.” Her voice was heard from his old bedroom.
Darcy walked to the door connecting the two rooms and pushed at it. There on the middle of the great four poster bed sat his wife. She was naked apart from the thin semi transparent shift, reaching her mid thigh and doing nothing to hide her breasts from his eyes.
“How was your day, my dear husband?” Elizabeth asked at the same time she was slowly loosening the ribbon at her bosom.
‘Fine,’ Darcy wanted to say, but the only sound which he produced was the incomprehensible hoarse croak. He cleared his throat. “Fine.”
“If that is so, I am very glad.” She scrambled out of bed and walked to him slowly, swaying her hips. He stared at her legs when she was walking, his mouth hanging wide open.
“Not too tired?” she murmured, lifting herself on her toes in front of him and placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
Darcy shook his head, still not closing his mouth. Elizabeth smiled and looked down at her already quite revealed décolletage. “Oh, my,” she gasped. “Look at this. There is a knot in this ribbon.” She tugged at the pale pink piece keeping her whole outfit in place. “Will you help me with it, sir?” She raised her eyes at him pleadingly and bit her lower lip.
A quarter hour later, Darcy rolled heavily off his wife. He was still wearing his shirt, breeches and riding boots, as in the great hurry he had not found the opportunity to undress himself completely. Elizabeth lay sprawled on the bed next to him, red raspberry marks all over her body, her shift in tatters, pulled around her middle.
***
In the first days of December, the temperature dropped considerably in Derbyshire, and the first snow appeared. The Darcys were preparing themselves for a quiet family Christmas. They expected the Matlocks to visit them, but closer to the New Year.
Elizabeth felt well, the faintness and dizziness from the first months had passed completely. Her appetite had recovered to such a degree that her husband was occasionally awakened in the middle of the night because she suddenly craved dishes varying from blueberry jam to smoked salmon. Her belly started to grow, and though she could feel the slight fluttering inside her stomach, the baby had not yet started to kick. Each evening, Darcy put his hand on the small bulge of their child, but he could not feel any movements yet.
At last, two weeks before Christmas, when they were sitting together in the smaller drawing room as Georgiana played the new song she had learned in the last days, Elizabeth gasped softly.
“It has moved!” she cried excitedly, placing her palm on her slightly protruding tummy, then taking her husband’s hand and placing it where her hand previously had rested. The baby behaved well, because it moved again in a few seconds to his father’s delight. Soon the aunt to be ran from her place at the pianoforte, asking if she could feel the baby too.
Elizabeth took the girl’s hand and placed it on her stomach. The baby behaved this time as well and gave a gentle push on the wall of its mother’s belly.
“Oh, Lizzy, it is so wonderful! It is hard to believe that a real baby is in there.” Georgiana gently palmed her sister’s belly. “It is so hard to the touch. I thought it to be soft.”
“Yes, it is quite hard.” Elizabeth knocked at her belly. “I think it is like this to protect the baby inside from any harm.”
“Perhaps I would play something especially for the baby?” Georgiana’s eyes lightened. “Something cheerful.”
“That is an excellent idea, my dear.” Elizabeth smiled broadly at the younger girl. “I shall take a seat nearer to the pianoforte so the baby can hear better. Who knows: perhaps it will inherit musical talent like its aunt?”
It was past midnight that day when Elizabeth woke up, finding her husband perched at her side, her nightgown crumpled under her bosom, his hand on her bare tummy.
“William what are you doing?” she murmured. “Why are you not sleeping? It must be very late.”
“I am waiting for the baby to move again,” Darcy explained.
Elizabeth gave a weary sigh. “The baby is asleep, and his mother as well,” she pronounced brusquely, closing her eyes and turning to her side away from him. Darcy snuggled up against her back instantly, his arm going over her middle, his hand placed on her tummy, stroking it gently.
***
Elizabeth stood in front of the door to her husband’s study, clenching a small book in her hand. She raised her hand to knock, but then she hesitated and dropped it on her belly.
“We have to tell your Papa about this, you know that, little one, do you not?” She took a deep breath and knocked at the door.
“Enter.”
Elizabeth stepped inside and closed the door quietly after herself.
“William, I know you are busy but…”
Darcy stood up from behind the desk instantly and walked to her. “You know I like when you pay me visits in the study.” He smiled devilishly, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
Elizabeth stepped with a sigh into
his arms. “What is the matter?” he crooned into her ear.
“I received a letter from Kitty,” she murmured into his coat.
Darcy cradled her face, making her look at him. “And?”
“She is very pleased with the school and the other girls. She especially enjoys drawing lessons, but,” Elizabeth paused, lifting her eyes at him; they were full of worry. “It is about Lydia…read for yourself.” She retrieved the folded letter from the book, opened it and pointed to the paragraph at the end of the second page.
Darcy took it from her and started to read.
Oh, Lizzy, I truly do not know how to act with Lydia anymore. She has stopped speaking with me at all lately. She simply ignores me. She attends classes, and even seems to have become very close to some of the girls, but she puts very little or no effort at all to prepare for her lessons. Moreover, she has became very secretive in the last weeks.
A few times I could not find her when it was time to change for dinner or the start of classes. Later, when I asked her where she had been, she answered rudely that it should be no concern of mine, and that she had her own secrets now. Only yesterday, when we were taking our daily walk with the other girls in the nearby park, she disappeared from my sight again. I walked away from the main path, hoping to meet her. Soon I saw her talking with some gentleman! Well, I am not entirely sure whether she talked to him, but they were looking at each other for certain, as if they knew each other rather well. And Lizzy, I can almost swear it was Mr. Wickham! The man wore a top hat, and I could not see his face, but judging by his height, posture and the way he stood, it could only be Mr. Wickham. On the other hand, he did not wear his regimentals, so I cannot be entirely sure whether it was he. Anyway, he walked away soon and left Lydia alone on the spot. I asked her later, of course, whether it was Mr. Wickham, but she just gave me a disdainful look and said that she will not reveal her secrets to conniving little spies like myself.
Lizzy, I truly do not know what I should think about all of this. I know that Lydia should certainly not keep secret meetings with any man, even if the gentleman is Mr. Wickham, which as I said, I cannot be entirely sure. I am afraid that our principal, Mrs. Lindsey, shall simply remove Lydia, and me as well, from school when she finds about it. Oh, Lizzy what a shame for all us it would be! I want to stay here. The school is far more interesting than walking to Meryton everyday to shop for trinkets. Do you think I should call on Aunt Gardiner and ask her opinion on the matter? I have written to Jane about this as well. I presume that I can expect her answer earlier than yours, so perhaps she will advise me on this…
Elizabeth observed her husband’s expression changing from just curious to dark and sullen as he read. On finishing, he walked to the window and stared out of it, the letter crumpled in his hand.
Elizabeth walked slowly to him. “Do you think it was him?”
“Yes, it was. I have no doubt of it.”
Elizabeth shivered; his voice sounded so cold, with a hard edge to it. She had not heard that tone from him since the evening when they had quarrelled over Colonel Fitzwilliam at Netherfield during their engagement, and even then it had not been so churlish and malevolent.
“But Kitty wrote that he did not wear his regimentals,” she reminded hopefully.
“It was him,” Darcy said without taking his eyes from the window. “He was dismissed from the militia this summer; that is why he did not wear a uniform.”
Elizabeth trembled. “What could he want from her?”
“The same he wanted from Georgiana.”
Elizabeth paled considerably. “No...,”
Darcy looked at her worriedly, and instantly he was beside her. “Are you well?”
“Yes, I am fine.” She lifted her eyes at him. “William, I am so sorry for Lydia’s behaviour.” She shook her head. “Stupid, stupid girl.”
“No, my love.” Darcy stroked her cheek and then hugged her tightly. “Your sister is just a pawn here, nothing more,” he murmured, supporting his chin on the top of her head. “He wants his revenge against ,me. He wants to get even.”
“What now?”
“I must go to London to find him.”
“No, please do not go now.” She clenched his hand in both of hers. “You cannot go now. You will not be able to return for our first Christmas.”
“The last thing I want is to leave you alone now, Elizabeth.” Darcy put his hand on the bulge of their child. “When was the letter sent?”
“Seven days ago.”
“So Jane knows already, as well.” Darcy paced the room. “I think we can safely presume that she has already informed Bingley and your uncle about the whole matter. They have taken some precautions for sure.”
“I think the best thing is to take Lydia from school and keep her under lock and key at Purvis Lodge,” Elizabeth suggested as she walked over to the small sofa, sitting on it.
“I do agree. Elizabeth, were not your sisters to travel back home for Christmas?”
“Yes, together with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. They are to spend Christmas with Mama, so she should not feel alone. They should arrive at Purvis Lodge today.”
“That is very good. She is with the family now, and Wickham would not dare try anything with your Uncle so close. I shall send an express to London and Netherfield today to warn Bingley and Mr. Gardiner.”
Elizabeth clenched her hands tightly together over her belly. Darcy sat beside her and wrapped her into his embrace. “Do not worry yourself, dearest. Everything shall be all right.”
“How can you be so certain?” she whispered, a single tear running down her cheek.
Darcy wiped the tear tenderly with his thumb. “The most important thing is that Kitty informed us about what is happening. Now we know what to do. Leave it to me, sweetheart. Lydia will stay at Purvis Lodge. Kitty will return to school after the New Year alone.”
“Oh, William, but I cannot imagine what we will do with Lydia later. We cannot keep constant watch over for the rest of her life. What if he tries again in a few months?”
“Lizzy, I shall deal with him. My uncle, the earl, has powerful friends, and I have a few influential acquaintances from Cambridge as well. They will not refuse me help. Some of them know Wickham's ways very well. Perhaps we will manage to put him on a ship to the West Indies under some pretext so he will never return to England. I promise you, I shall deal with him, and we will not hear about him ever again.”
Elizabeth did not answer this but snuggled closer to him.
“You must promise me one thing, you will not worry yourself about this. You must remember your health and about the baby. Your worrying is certainly not good for him. You have said yourself that he can feel everything you feel.”
Elizabeth nodded her head into his chest and then looked up at him with a smile. “You said he. You think the baby is a boy?”
“I do not know it, but for certain I would not mind a girl. She would wrap me around her little finger in no time, the same as you did.”
“And Georgiana.”
“Yes, and Georgiana.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now, you will go to your room and have a rest, perhaps take a nap.”
“Shall you come to me?”
“Yes, but first I shall write the letters to your Uncle and Bingley.” Darcy gently lifted her up to her feet, kissing her hands. “Everything is under control, dearest. Trust me.”
Elizabeth smiled weakly at him and left the room slowly. Only then did Darcy murmur to himself. “I shall destroy him.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was one of the quiet evenings at Pemberley, a week before Christmas. The Darcys were sitting in the smaller, informal parlour, enjoying Georgiana’s music. Elizabeth, with her back supported comfortably against her husband’s chest, listened to the melancholic melody the girl played. Darcy’s hand alternated between stroking his wife’s arm and rubbing her belly.
Georgiana knew the composition by heart, her big blue eyes most often gazing dreamily into the spac
e in front of her.
On lifting her eyes from the keys another time, she stopped her fingers’ movements and cried. “Cousin Richard!” She stood up abruptly and ran towards the tall blonde man standing by the door, throwing herself into his arms more in the manner of a small child, rather than an almost grown up young lady.
Colonel Fitzwilliam caught her into his embrace, lifted her off the floor, and let a dramatic sigh when doing so. “How are you, sweetling? A bit heavier, are you not?”
“Oh, Cousin Richard, you are always jesting with me.” Georgiana stepped from him, huffing, her hands enfolded in front of her body, but her eyes still smiling at him. “You have come to spend Christmas with us?”
“I have a month’s leave from my regiment,” Colonel explained, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth, who rose from her place, and with a smile on her face, walked into his direction. “I am on my way to Matlock; I plan to spend Christmas with my parents. I thought I could stay here for a day or two, if I am not imposing.”
“Certainly not. You are always almost most welcome, Colonel Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth spoke warmly while he bent over her hand, kissing it gently. “It is only a shame you cannot stay longer than a few days,” Elizabeth continued with a friendly smile. “We expect Lord and Lady Matlock around New Year.”
Georgiana attached herself to Fitzwilliam’s arm. “Oh, yes, Cousin Richard, you simply must stay longer.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam did not manage to respond to the young girl’s plea because Darcy moved towards them, standing firmly behind his wife, his hands on her shoulders.
“It is good to see you, Cousin,” he said in a polite, neutral tone, holding his right hand in the direction of Colonel, with his other arm wrapped safely around his wife’s middle.
“Thank you, Darcy.” Colonel bowed his head and shook the proffered hand. A small amused smile crossed his face when he eyed Darcy, who was barely noticeably, but still steadily, pulling Elizabeth closer to himself.