by Wells, Linda
That he had chosen correctly was immediately clear when tears shone from her eyes. “I …truly did not even consider that happening between us, but I cannot deny my relief in hearing it from your lips, Fitzwilliam. Thank you. I love you.”
Looking again to Darcy and Elizabeth, Harwick saw that the conversation had ended and the couple was leaning into each other. If they could find privacy, he had no doubt that passion would quickly arise. Will I ever feel passion for Miss Bennet? Would Ellen want me to live the marriage I would have with her, or would she wish me to be happy at the least? His mind turned over with thoughts and the quiet group finally arrived at the Grove where they secured a supper box and ordered the famous ham and chickens, cakes, cheese and wine. Gradually relaxed conversation as a group was re-established as they took in the sights and sounds of the people passing by.
“The prices are indeed outrageous.” Darcy commented as he tossed Harwick some coins that he swiftly pushed back.
“They are, but the arrack is worth it.” Harwick laughed as he took a sip then turned to Jane. “Would you care for a taste? It is rather potent, be warned.”
“No sir, I will just have this wine.”
Darcy cocked a brow at Elizabeth. “And you?”
“Well, I suppose a little would not hurt me.” She took the offered glass and sipped the rum punch, and gasped. The men laughed and Audrey hurried to hand her a glass of wine. Darcy looked at her apologetically. She found her voice again and glared at him. “You knew what that would do!”
“I also knew that you would not take much. It is just another first experience for you tonight, something to remember and chastise me about for all of our lives.” His eyes twinkled and she leaned against his shoulder, and he whispered huskily in her ear, “Do not fall asleep here, dearest. I might take advantage.”
“Before this crowd?” She lifted her head to see his intense stare.
“I can imagine, can I not?”
“Hmm.”
Below the table their fingers entwined, and he brought her hand to rest on his thigh. Elizabeth looked up to him, and his eyes stayed with hers as he moved her hand higher to rest briefly over his hardened groin, then moved them back to rest on his thigh. He felt her body tense then relax, saw her eyes widen and heard her breathing change. He nodded and whispered softly in her ear. “I love you.”
The night was punctuated by an explosion and suddenly the air was filled with sparks as fireworks burst forth over the Chinese Pavilion. Elizabeth gasped and hid her face against Darcy’s chest. He immediately wrapped his arms around her. “Do not be afraid, have you never seen fireworks? Look, Elizabeth, look!” He turned her around in her chair, keeping his arms around her waist, and softly kissed her ear. “Are they not beautiful?”
“I have read about these.” She whispered and leaned back against his chest while the crowd ooohed and ahhed over the dazzling display. Harwick glanced back at the darkened corner of the box where he could barely make out the embraced couple. They were safe from prying eyes. He noticed Jane looking back at them then jumping with the next burst of noise and light.
“Is this your first time seeing fireworks, Miss Bennet?”
“No, I saw them once before on a visit to London, sir. I am not as disconcerted as my sister. I do not require comfort.”
“Then it is well as only Miss Elizabeth or Mrs. Singleton are able to provide it for you.” He smiled politely and looked up to the sky. His face was illuminated with the next flash and Jane saw none of the longing that was evident in Darcy’s every look at Elizabeth.
In front of Darcy, Singleton sat with Audrey. Their disagreement and his apology were past, he had behaved well since meeting Wickham, so when he took her hand and kissed it, she did not pull away. “May I come to you tonight, Audrey?” He said softly.
“Of course you may.” She said quietly in return, their eyes met and he whispered. “I am doing better, am I not?”
“Yes, you are much improved.” She sighed and closed her eyes. Before long the fireworks ended and the couples decided it was time to begin the journey home, which could take hours. It was good to return to the barges that would transport them across the river to their waiting carriages before the rest of the crowd had the same thoughts. The Singletons departed for their home and the Darcy carriage left for Gracechurch Street. Harwick bid Jane a formal farewell, bowing over her hand and stepping away as she entered the house. Darcy kissed Elizabeth’s hand lingeringly and looked into her eyes. She leaned forward to tenderly brush his mouth with her lips then quickly ducked into the house before either could act on their desire for more. When the door shut, Darcy remained standing still on the stoop. Harwick laughed and called for him to come to the coach and embarrassed, he climbed in.
“You are a lost soul.”
Darcy smiled and shrugged. “I make no apologies. How was your night, I am afraid that I did not pay much attention …”
“If you had I would have been very disappointed in you.” Harwick smiled and sat back against the cushions. “I do not know. She smiles, she is nice, she occasionally speaks and displays some talent for brief conversations …but I do not know. She seemed jealous of her sister.”
“She is engaged.”
“No, I think it is the attention. If she is hoping for what you have with Miss Elizabeth, she will be disappointed.”
“I wonder Harwick, are you certain that you want such an …emotionless existence? Your first wife died early, but you can potentially have decades with Miss Bennet.”
“It has crossed my mind. Are you discouraging me? This is your sister, well almost.”
“I only want you to be happy with your ultimate choice, and I feel the same for her. She will feel obligated to accept you no matter what her feelings. You will have to decide for both of you. I will be sure that she is cared for if it is needed.”
“Thank you for that, Darcy. You have given me some freedom to be honest with myself. But I have made no decisions yet.”
“There is no hurry, is there?” Darcy smiled and Harwick shrugged.
“Well, since I am not proposing any time soon, tell me the story with this Wickham character.” Darcy groaned, and for the second time that night, he told the tale of his life with George Wickham.
“DID YOU ENJOY YOURSELF, JANE?” Elizabeth asked after they had assured their sleepy uncle that they were well and saw him off to bed. She closed the chamber door and helped Jane with the buttons on her gown.
“Yes, it was pleasant. Mr. Harwick is certainly a perfect gentleman.”
“He is, he seems so sad, though. I hope that you will be able to coax a few more smiles out of him. I did notice him smiling more this evening.” She said encouragingly.
“I believe that his smiles were for reasons other than me.” Jane said quietly.
“What do you mean? The amusements were certainly entertaining enough.”
“On Lizzy, surely you saw that his smiles were for you!”
Elizabeth stared. “Do not be ridiculous!”
“You and Mrs. Singleton were getting along and laughing enough to attract any man’s eye.” She said petulantly.
“Audrey will soon be my cousin, and she needed to laugh after being humiliated by her husband with that man Wickham! I was trying to make her feel better! I would do the same for you; I have done the same for you. Are you jealous that I have made friends with her? I am sorry Jane, but I know enough that I need her help to survive this new world I am entering. Fitzwilliam can teach me much, but I need women to help me. And I like her, she is a lovely girl.” Elizabeth took Jane’s hands. “Truly Jane, what is troubling you? Mr. Harwick is trying to get to know you, but I noticed that you did not speak often. He needs to hear your voice.”
“It is a wonder that you notice anything at all with Mr. Darcy’s behaviour.”
Elizabeth dropped her hands and moved away. “Mr. Darcy behaved with great restraint, as did I. If he occasionally crossed the lines of propriety, it was done in as discreet
a manner as possible, and certainly the darkness of the supper box kept his … I will not discuss this further. My behaviour with the man I will marry has nothing to do with your courtship with Mr. Harwick. He is a fine man, and if you do not give him some encouragement, you might find yourself in the same position I was with Mr. Stewart. Abandoned.” She turned and left for her own room, shutting the door and continuing the argument with her sister in her head as she struggled to unbutton Lady Matlock’s remade gown by herself. She finally managed to remove it and dropped onto the bed. She was too tired to write in her journal, but too wound up to sleep. It would be a night for reliving everything.
RICHARD LAUGHED and propped his feet up on the hassock, took a sip of port, and settled back in the deep leather chair in Darcy’s library when he came to visit the following afternoon. “Tell me a story, Papa.”
“Very amusing, Richard.” Darcy set down his glass and mirrored his cousin’s position.
“Come on, you still have a ridiculous grin on your perpetually sour face, I want to know what happened on this unprecedented night of frivolity. I am sorry that I missed it.”
“I am as well; I could have used your sword.” Darcy grimaced. “Well, perhaps you would have been better with it. Your uniform would have saved you from the noose.”
“Good Lord, what happened?”
“Wickham arrived out of the blue. I told you of his demands for more money.”
“Yes, where did he arrive at five thousand?”
“I am sure that he was expecting to have to lower that through negotiation.” Darcy shook his head. “If I had given in to that, I would have found him at my door with his hand out for my lifetime.”
“You were wise to see that, now what happened at the Gardens?”
“He suggested I had vast experience with the ladies and was engaged to Anne. Elizabeth handled it well before him, but demanded an explanation immediately. I found myself walking in the midst of the population of London, speaking of the most intimate details of my life with the innocent woman I prayed would still accept me as my wife when I was through. I tell you, I experienced every level of emotion, from anger to … well, joy.” He glanced at Fitzwilliam and away, but did not miss his raised brows at Darcy’s blush.
“You told Miss Elizabeth that you are experienced?”
“No, I assured her that I am a man who does not dally with mistresses. She fortunately found me credible.”
“Hmm. What happened with Wickham?”
“Did you know that he seems to have a relationship with Singleton?”
“No.” Fitzwilliam sat up, putting his feet on the floor. “He has quite a reputation around town, will lay a bet on anything. My parents had no idea of his behaviour when they arranged Audrey’s marriage.”
“She seems to be quietly resigned to it. I can understand how a married woman might be tempted away from her husband. He apologized and she took him back. I do not remember him being so bad when they married, either.”
“No, he had his interests. I do not know. He is another example of a first son in waiting with nothing better to occupy himself. I think that Audrey’s dowry was just too much of a temptation for him. Before that he was on his father’s leash, suddenly he had money and has used it. This is the reason for entailments, his estate will not be gambled away, and the reason for trusts placed on the dowry.” Fitzwilliam saw Darcy’s nod and continued. “He has his life and Audrey has hers. Perhaps if they have children she will finally be happy. She seems happy with Elizabeth’s friendship.”
“Yes, Elizabeth’s entry into my life has seemed to touch a great many members of this family.” Darcy sighed and smiled.
“It is a great thing to see such contentment on your miserable face, Darcy.” Fitzwilliam smiled and sat back again to raise his glass in toast. “Georgiana is animated in a way I have not seen since Uncle died, although, I think that she is getting a taste of what school will be like with Mother. There is no indulgence in Matlock House.”
Darcy smiled and looked at his feet. “I suppose that I was a little too indulgent, but at times I thought I was too hard. I did not know what I was doing; too many things were occupying my mind in the past two years. Perhaps now, with Elizabeth, Georgiana would be better at home …”
“No, as her other guardian I must step in here. She needs the experience of school and meeting other girls her age. She is sheltered and shy. And Darcy, you really do want this time alone with Miss Elizabeth, do you not?” He laughed to see Darcy’s wistful smile. “No, do not answer.”
“Sir, this express has just arrived.” Foster stood in the doorway and announced. Darcy waved him over and he took the letter from the salver.
“It is from Rosings.” Darcy frowned and sat up straight to open it.
“Congratulations?” Fitzwilliam cocked his head as he watched his cousin read.
“No, she expresses dismay and … good Lord she is coming here to talk to me before it is too late!” Darcy looked up in horror. “She says they plan to stay one night, and as it would be too much trouble to open up her house, they will arrive this afternoon and stay here. Besides the fact that I do not want her, I have plans this evening; I am hosting a large party at the theatre. I cannot, will not, change my plans to satisfy the whims of our aunt!”
“Of course not, she will have to entertain herself and Anne here. She should understand that.” Richard took the letter and read. “She forbids you this marriage? Who does she think she is?”
“My closest relative, apparently.” Darcy rubbed his hand over his face. “Well, the announcement is published; she can do nothing to prevent it. I thought that Wickham trying to upset Elizabeth with the presumption of my marrying Anne was the worst of this, but now …”
“Darcy, your announcement to her at Easter was clear; she has nothing to claim against you. Perhaps she is merely upset about the connection with Elizabeth’s family.”
“I have no doubt of that,” Darcy grimaced, “However, she mentions Anne’s feelings. No, she is not through with me and her plans.” He glanced at the clock. “I must begin to prepare for the evening soon, and she should be arriving within the hour.”
“I will stay with you, Darcy. I am certain that my Father will be interested in this.”
“Thank you.” He pulled the bell cord and gave Mrs. Mercer orders to prepare two guest rooms and places for the servants. “What am I to say to her?”
“See what she says to you first.” He looked up, hearing the sound of the knocker on the front door. “It seems that she left immediately behind her rider. Well, twenty minutes notice, how considerate of her.” He stood along with Darcy and the men straightened their clothes, and walked to the front door where the grande dame was already sweeping through.
“Aunt Catherine, I just received your letter, this is a surprise.”
“I apologize for the short notice, but I felt that I could not delay.” She looked at Fitzwilliam. “You are not needed here.”
He smiled. “Oh, but I am! Darcy has invited me to stay, and I will be happy to entertain you and my cousin when he departs in an hour’s time.”
“Where are you going? We have business to discuss!”
“I have long arranged plans Aunt, and as I am the host of the evening at the theatre and you have just arrived, I am afraid that our business will have to wait until the morning. Please let me see that you are comfortably settled. I hope that you will understand that no meal was ordered tonight, so the kitchen will have to do their best to accommodate you.” He turned to smile at Anne. “Forgive me Anne for not greeting you sooner.”
“I am willing to wait for you, Darcy. I know that you would not forget me. I am patient.” She held out her hand to him and he bowed, but did not kiss the thin fingers. Richard bent and did the same, but Anne only had eyes for Darcy. Her possessive glance encouraged him to step quickly away.
“Will you come with me to the blue sitting room? I am afraid that your chambers are being prepared as we speak.”
“I thought that your staff was more efficient, Darcy.” Lady Catherine sniffed as they moved along.
“They are very efficient; however a half-hour is hardly enough time to accomplish all that you ask.” He bowed to them and led the way into the sitting room. “If you can give me some idea as to your concerns?”
Lady Catherine glanced at Anne and Fitzwilliam. “I prefer to do this privately.”
“Do this?” Darcy’s brow rose. Fitzwilliam shrugged and glanced at the door. “Very well, please come with me to my study.” They entered the room and he closed the door, looking at his parents’ portrait for strength before turning to face his aunt. “You have your wish.”
She did not hesitate. “This marriage cannot happen! Do you know who this girl is?”
“Of course, she is Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, daughter of a gentleman.”
“She has nothing, Darcy! Her father is a gentleman but one of such little consequence that his estate is laughable, and he has no sons!”
“You have researched the family?” Darcy asked incredulously.
“My pastor’s intended successor, Mr. Collins, came to me four days ago, telling me that his father has been identified as the future heir of this Longbourn. The entailment gives it to the cousin of this Mr. Bennet, and it will devolve to my pastor. My pastor Darcy! My nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley will marry the cousin of my pastor! It cannot be borne, Darcy. You are bound for far better things! You must marry Anne!”
“First of all Aunt, I see no correlation between your future pastor eventually inheriting Longbourn, other than incredible coincidence, and my marrying Miss Elizabeth. He is seeking this situation, I presume, because he is the younger son of a gentleman and must earn a living. What is so different between him and Richard? Secondly, I already clearly told you this Easter that I would not marry Anne.”
“She will accept no other but you.”
“That is perhaps gratifying Aunt, but I do not accept that. There are undoubtedly hundreds of suitors who would gladly accept her hand. Her dowry and Rosings are extremely attractive. You have held her back. I sincerely hope that it was not in the hope that I would agree to marry her.”