by Kay Mares
The guests are all gathered in the main salon, and the air is lively. Animated conversation flows, especially between Henry and Jonesy. Caroline is shocked at the levity Darcy displays, she notes Georgiana’s newfound confidence, and she remains jealous of Elizabeth. Henry has just concluded the story about the runaway coach, embellishing it to make it a far more humorous story. His recounting of Darcy’s set down of the Earl astounds the crowd, but it is Darcy’s silent dismissal of the unfortunate and clueless Mr. Trussel which causes the group to twitter.
“There stood Fitz, all cold and stern, fixing the coward with his intimidating scowl. The poor boy could barely stand the scrutiny, standing there with hardly a smudge of dirt on his person while Fitz and I nursed burned hands and Fitz’s torn shirt was fluttering in the breeze. Even so, my cousin managed to exude an air of superiority. The contrast between the two was marked.” Henry exclaims with a grand wave of his hand.
“I doubt it was quite the way you have stated it, Henry,” Darcy says flatly.
“Come now, Fitz, I always tell a story exactly as it transpired.” Darcy raises his chin and pierces Henry with a knowing stare. “See? There it is, the look, Fitz is so well known for.”
“I am curious, how have you come to refer to your formidable cousin as Fitz?” Charles asks with a grin. Darcy swings his stare at Charles who sits looking innocent. Elizabeth hopes the mystery will soon be cleared up but not at the expense of her husband. She looks at Darcy, who is trying to act unconcerned.
“Oh, that is easy to answer,” Jonesy cries. “It is almost as if Fitz’s parents, God rest their souls, knew what his nature would be so they gave him a name which would easily convert into a shortened version highlighting his temperament. Fitz! You know F-I-T-S. Fits. The old boy has always had fits about something. At Cambridge, he had fits about his studies. Would not want to do anything less than stellar. He has fits about his businesses. Cannot leave any stone unturned. He has fits about certain people too.”
Henry chimes in, “He had fits as a child about his clothing becoming soiled or his horse not being saddled just so. He had fits if his routine varied, still does as a matter of fact. He is still having fits over the horse who threw him when we were young as well as fits over who he has been partnered with at certain balls. He also gives fits to others. Only this morning he gave Jonesy a fit, why he has been giving me fits all his life. Probably Georgiana and Elizabeth have been given fits too.”
“Indeed, just because I am fastidious, meticulous, principled, and methodical, that does not make me prone to fits as you state. I am known for my generosity and charity, so I would remind you two where you requested to spend the festive season and with whom you desired to spend the time with. I think you are both attracted to consistency and maturity. Wisdom and guidance. Both of you have been without any anchors in your lives, one bouncing about the globe and the other flitting about London with nary a thought to the future.” Darcy waves his hand airily and nonchalantly. “I offer you something to aspire to, pulling you from your jejune lives. However, I understand your juvenile antics; you are just like children who sometimes mock their superiors to feel better about themselves; I hold no rancor.” Darcy sits back smug.
“We have been bested again, Henry. Fitz’s dry wit is our undoing. Are you sure you will not run for parliament? Quite a speech. Makes me want to throw a juvenile fit.” Jonesy laughingly states.
“Well, Fitz, if you cannot dazzle them with brilliance then baffle them with bull-“ Henry allows himself to be quickly cut off by Darcy.
“Once again you have both caused me to question my wisdom in hosting you two. I see some interesting scenarios playing out in the near future.” Darcy’s mouth still sports the upturn Lizzy loved.
“I fear, Jonesy, we will both suffer in the next few days. He will not forget our telling of his secret.” Henry states with mock solemnness as Jonesy nods his head in agreement.
Darcy turns his gaze on the innocent Charles Bingley as he addresses him. “Charles, even though you are aware of the origin of my nickname, you still felt the need to ask.” Charles now sports a wide-eyed look and is shaking his head in the negative ever so slightly. The others are confused regarding his reaction to Darcy, and soon their curiosity is rewarded. “Because of your query, I will enlighten the rest about your moniker.”
Jonesy puts a huge smile on his face, and Henry is smirking as Darcy continues. “We decided one night when we were at our favorite little pub near Cambridge that Bingley there is a very good fellow. Indeed he is. It was natural his name would be shortened to Bing. Each time I addressed him as Bing, Henry there would ring the servant’s bell. It was Jonesy’s jest to ask what sound a bell makes.”
“Oh yes,” Jonesy declares, “bing bong, bing bong.” The rest chuckle as the Charles levels a glare at the other gents.
“Bing is a ridiculous shortening of my name. Jonesy only suffers the addition of a Y to his name, while the good Colonel does not suffer at all. Darcy’s name is fitting because he is indeed giving someone fits at some point or another but Bing is just inane.” Charles huffs. Charles is more vexed about his nickname than Darcy is about his own. Charles rarely calls Darcy Fitz because he does not wish for others to start referring to him as Bing.
During the meal, Caroline notes that a lighter, untroubled man has replaced the brooding Mr. Darcy. He is still serious, but he smiles readily, especially when Elizabeth speaks. He joins in with the laughter around the table but is not loud nor crass. After the meal, the ladies take turns at the pianoforte. Kitty plays first, and she selects a piece she has been practicing under Jane’s tutelage. The song is simplistic, but Kitty played it with feeling and no errors. She blushes from the smiles and compliments then contents herself with turning the pages for the others. Georgiana accompanies Elizabeth while Elizabeth sings. Darcy often imagined these domestic scenes before Elizabeth became his bride and his utter peace at having his Lizzy here and singing for him is transparent for all to see. Later as the gents start to leave to repair to the game room, Darcy informs Elizabeth not to wait up for him. “I have a plan,” is the only thing he says with a devilish gleam in his eyes.
The next morning Elizabeth is surprised to have Darcy curled up next to her in their bed. He told her all the gentlemen were partaking of an early morning ride through the snow in the hopes of finding some game. She pokes at Darcy, inquiring of him to make sure he is well.
“Indeed I am,” he snickers evilly. “I will pay somehow for this most recent joke, but even the dear Mr. Bingley deserved this after last night.”
“What did you do?” Elizabeth asks him suspiciously.
“I allowed Henry to talk me into opening a bottle of some of the best scotch I own. I partook but not as much as the others. So easy - I began toasting them, their horses, their houses, their parents - anything I could think of. They quickly were half in their cups and agreed to an early morning hunt. As you know, I am punctual, so this morning I instructed the staff to awaken each man starting with Henry at half-hour intervals with the news the others left already and were agitated with the delay.” Elizabeth has round wide eyes as he wears a huge self-satisfied grin. “Also, each man was given a different direction the hunt supposedly rode. East, west, north. I gave the stable hands some extra coin to create tracks in all directions and about the woods. Moved Tempest to the other barn, so it appeared, I had left. They will be hours trying to find each other. All the while, I have been warm and cozy here with you.” Darcy has tears coming out of his eyes as he laughs picturing Jonesy, Henry, and Charles flustered and frantic.
“Your cousin once warned me you were diabolical and I did not believe him, thought it was too strong of a word for a beloved relative. You, Mr. Darcy, are exactly that. To think I once thought you without a sense of humor. You are wicked. You realize they will retaliate?” Elizabeth is laughing with him, but she knows the other gentlemen will even this score.
“Absolutely! Then I will have to come up with another br
illiant strategy. You think me wicked, Mrs. Darcy? Indeed, I will show you.” He quickly kisses her and begins moving his hands on her body. Elizabeth responds in kind, and they enjoy their lovemaking session without worry for the wayward men. They then go to the dining room for breakfast and to greet their guests. Jane shoots a questioning look at Darcy but says nothing. Kitty and Georgiana are unaware of Darcy’s ploy.
Just before luncheon, the three men return with red cheeks and no game. They express surprise that none of them had been able to catch up with Darcy and they are perplexed about why each one of them was awoken at different times. Elizabeth watches as Darcy puts on his serious and grave face as he regards them closely.
“I know not of what you speak. I had no difficulty finding game; in fact, the kitchen staff has been preparing the birds I brought them. The staff carried out my orders for this morning correctly so I can only surmise you three must have misheard or misunderstood. I cannot account for it.” Elizabeth flits with her napkin on her lap to keep from giggling. Her husband tells the truth. He procured birds and was out hunting, only he did it another day. His staff did follow his directions impeccably this morning, and the gentlemen in question were out of sorts at that early hour, so they did not challenge Darcy’s assertions. However, it does not stop them from shooting him suspicious glances across the table during lunch.
“I have to say, Darcy; I forgot how vast the Pemberley woods are. It seems I was unable to locate you. The odd thing I did see, however, was the inordinate amount of hoof tracks all about. They lacked direction or sense almost as if the riders were circling about.” Jonesy helps himself to a plate stacked with bread. He surveys the table. Henry nods while Bingley seems content with the food and the warmth of the dining room.
“What is of interest to me is Bingley, Jonesy and I never found you even though we all rode in several different directions. Surely one of us would have come upon you at some point.” Henry waves his fork about. “Why poor Bingley there was becoming alarmed some sort of accident befell you. He spent an inordinate amount of time looking for you even after it was suggested we head to the manor.”
Darcy has his most reserved haughty countenance plastered on his face complete with a long look down his nose at his friends and cousin. Elizabeth enjoys his performance, but Caroline is quickly becoming perplexed with the others’ continual questioning of Darcy. Caroline is beginning to wonder if the other gentlemen are about to cross a line. “Indeed,” Darcy gravely intones with all the aristocratic hauteur at his command, “I thank you, Mr. Bingley, for your deep concern for my well-being and the extra pains you took to ensure my safety. To Mr. Jones and Colonel Fitzwilliam, I express my humble gratitude that you both were concerned about my whereabouts. I can assure all of you I was in no trouble but instead was safe, warm and secure.” After he finishes his little, contrived speech, he glances at Elizabeth with the upturn to the corner of his mouth. Georgiana knows he has been jesting with the men, but she is unaware of his duplicity that morning.
“No problem Darcy, as aware as I am of your horsemanship, I truly was not horribly concerned, especially when I marked Tempest in the other barn without any saddle marks on him indicating he was not ridden this morning,” Bingley states blandly.
“What!?” sputters Henry.
“You jest! Has his horse not been out? The hoof prints and the ungodly hour to awaken us were all a ruse? Darcy…” Jonesy does not finish his sentence; for now, Darcy can no longer hold in his mirth.
“Last night you seemed to indicate to the others I gave everyone fits. So I only thought it fitting to give you three something to have a fit over really. Furthermore, you must take note; I did not mislead you. I did hunt, the other day, and the loyal servants carried out my orders this morning perfectly. Last night when you were toasting willy-nilly, and the idea of a hunt came up, all of you neglected to notice I indicated I would arrange a hunt for this morning yet I never said I would be partaking in said hunt. You all drew your own erroneous conclusions, and for that, I am not responsible. It fits you know the error of your ways at least as far as Bingley and Jonesy are concerned, why they have referred to me as Darcy during this whole interchange.”
“Basically you threw a fit about us revealing the origin of your nickname, Darcy. I once told your lovely bride you were diabolical and now the rest of the party can see this for themselves.” Henry declares. “You may have won this battle, but the war is far from over, my dear cousin.”
Darcy grins broadly. Jane, Kitty, and Caroline are surprised to see all the emotion Darcy displays. Jane viewed him softening with Lizzy on occasion but to see him at ease and given over to mirth is novel. Jane smiles and says to Lizzy, “I see what you meant when you told me I only smiled, but you laughed.” Lizzy and Jane share a chuckle and Georgiana joins in. She figured out her brother had been up to some mischief and the three poor gentlemen are the targets. Louisa and Caroline are speechless at this transformation of the reserved and brooding Mr. Darcy. Caroline cannot recall ever seeing him smile let alone enjoy levity.
“Mr. Darcy, really, sending men gallivanting about the countryside…”
“…is none of your concern, Miss Bingley.” Darcy cuts her and her censure off. He will not allow Caroline with her insults to damper the light spirits around his table. Louisa comprehends that Caroline has irritated Darcy with her comments and she seeks to draw attention away from her sister.
“Mrs. Darcy, I must thank you for your hospitality and say what lovely tables you have set for us each meal. I can say my husband, and I have been most pleased with our stay at Pemberley. I anticipate your Christmas feast.” Louisa hurriedly states. Darcy’s stiffness with Caroline is replaced with a small closed-lipped smile as he inclines his head in Louisa’s direction.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hurst, for your kindness. I have worked with the staff to present what I hoped to be satisfying fare with good company. It is to my delight your stay here has been pleasant.” Even though Elizabeth will not forget the slights both sisters gave her and Jane, Elizabeth understands how it feels to try to turn the conversation away from a topic with a difficult relative. Many was the time she had to redirect her own mother.
“I too must compliment you, Mrs. Darcy for not only the wonderful dinners but in such a short time as you have been at Pemberley, you have managed to have houseguests, see to the decorating of the manor and have orchestrated some very lively entertainments. You do Mr. Darcy and Pemberley proud.” Jonesy declares.
“I knew Elizabeth would make a magnificent Mistress of Pemberley but what means more to me than her intellect in action overseeing my ancestral home is the unwavering love she has for me.” Jane and Elizabeth make both of their husbands content, and frankly, Louisa wishes her own husband would show her a little of the affection Darcy and Charles bestow on their wives.
The rest of the day is spent indoors with reading, sewing, and gossip for the ladies while the men played chess, billiards, and darts. The men do not overly imbibe either lest Darcy have sport with them again. Henry and Jonesy will wait then come up with something to catch Darcy on. Among themselves, they admit that Darcy masterfully constructed the fated outing. They acknowledged too, had it not been for Bingley deciding on the spur of the moment to check the other horse barn for Tempest, they may not have put any suspicion on Darcy.
Chapter 24
After a hearty breakfast, the guests go their separate ways for the rest of the morning. Bingley attends to some letters he has neglected. Henry also is in his quarters writing to Anne and reading the latest letter from her. Georgiana is practicing on the pianoforte. Caroline and her sister are in Caroline’s room where Louisa is trying to reason with Caroline regarding her poor behavior. Interestingly Kitty and Jonesy opt for a tour of the conservatory. Elizabeth raised her brow when Kitty remarks to her Jonesy that requested her company. Lizzy sent a maid to escort Kitty then went in search of her husband.
Lizzy is informed that Darcy headed to the stables to take a ride on
Tempest. The footman believed the Master made his way to the family cemetery. Elizabeth bundles up and has Zephyr saddled. As she crests the hill where the Darcy family has been buried for many generations upon their deaths, she sees Darcy standing before his parents’ gravesite as the wind whips his long coat about his legs. After securing her horse with a pat on her neck, Lizzy slowly approaches Darcy. He senses her presence, reaching his arm out to the side and Lizzy snuggles in next to him as he lays his cheek on her head. Lizzy feels a shuddering sigh go through his body.
“I miss them, Lizzy. My mother and I were close. I have fond memories of her singing to me, playing the piano and reading aloud to me. Memories Georgiana will never have. You would have loved her. She was witty like you with a big generous heart. She would have adored you as well. She loved my father, and he loved her. Theirs was a unique marriage for their time, based on mutual love and respect. I tried to emulate my father, to do as he would have done when running Pemberley. I listened and absorbed all he taught me about becoming Master, but I thought I had time. Never did I consider at two and twenty all of this,” he sweeps his hand around, “would fall to me. My relationship with my father was transitioning from one of father and son to one of partners and friends. He was the best of men and a wonderful father and example of what a gentleman should be.”