Healing Mr Darcy’s Heart

by Kay Mares

  The Darcys stay for a while longer as Georgiana and Darcy visit with relatives and friends whom they have not seen in a long time. Most longtime acquaintances comment privately about the relaxed manner seen in Darcy, and they rightly credit his lovely bride. Furthermore, these people are pleased to see Georgiana more engaging and open to conversation. The Darcy family gleaned a positive reception during the whole affair. Lizzy is welcomed, and her charm easily won over everyone she comes in contact with. Those few who gave Lady Catherine any heed find themselves to have been sorely misled. Many of these people upon meeting Jane Bingley find a genuine, gentle soul and Miss Kitty a pleasant surprise. The conclusion being the Bennet ladies came from a dignified family, and any unpleasant rumors are the result of jealousy or ignorance.

  Regarding Lady Catherine, even though her absence is glaring, most of the guests breathe a silent sigh of relief. Lady Catherine is trying at the best of times, and she does not hesitate to make her opinions known forcefully. Her need to control everyone and everything made for some uncomfortable situations with most distancing themselves or not calling her out for her brashness for fear of becoming a spectacle themselves. In the end, Lady Catherine’s lack of attendance was discussed, but she is not missed. The evidence of Henry and Anne’s obvious bliss cements this sentiment further.

  Jonesy repeatedly inquires of Darcy to find out if Darcy has some mischief concocted for either the wedding breakfast or the honeymoon. Each time Darcy replies in the negative, Jonesy presses more, convinced by Henry’s paranoia that Darcy will extract some sort of revenge. As the morning progresses, Jonesy indicates his surprise that Darcy has indeed told the truth as no jest nor joke materialized. The most amusing part of this revelation is the fear Henry had of his wedding knowing some frivolous machinations becomes transferred to Jonesy causing him to start to fret about his own nuptials. Jonesy finally confronts Darcy straight on, “So you have no plans for any jokes before, during or immediately after the wedding?” Darcy indicates he does not while Elizabeth listens to the exchange with rising humor. Jonesy goes on, “Do you swear…”

  “No,” Darcy interrupts, “but I know all the words.” Elizabeth cannot stop the bubble of laughter which erupts after Darcy’s flippant retort. Jonesy narrows his eyes into a glare then stalks away. Darcy is quite smug about how he did absolutely nothing while both gentlemen tortured themselves with the age-old fear of the unknown. He laughingly tells Lizzy he could not have come up with a better prank than the one they unwittingly played upon themselves.

  As Darcy unleashes a devastating smile upon Lizzy, further talk is interrupted by Caroline who sashays to their position. “Mr. Darcy, I have to say your aunt and uncle have hosted one of the most pleasing wedding breakfasts I have ever attended. It seems as if your cousins have made a most beneficial match also. You must be very proud of how your family has once again acquitted itself with grace and dignity.” Caroline oozes with false platitude. In reality her whole speech borders on inane.

  Darcy slowly assesses Caroline in his aloof way. When he does thus, people are made acutely aware of his study of them, and it renders them unsure regarding Darcy’s thoughts. At the beginning of their acquaintance, this tendency unnerved Elizabeth as she admitted much later she did not wish to be found lacking by a man of Darcy’s stature. Now she knows he does this to gauge whether or not the person who addressed him is angling for some sort of favor or maneuvering. The astute Mr. Darcy is frankly puzzled by Caroline’s continued solicitous behavior towards him. Being married, he should no longer be the prize she seeks. His manner with her is even more abrupt and cold.

  “I am pleased for my cousins naturally, but since I had little to do with the actual planning and execution of today’s events, I cannot accept any accolades. If you feel the need to express thusly, I would suggest you direct your comments to Lady Matlock. She deserves all the credit.” With that, he curtly bows as he offered Elizabeth his arm to steer her over to where Jonesy is talking with Bingley. “I cannot fathom that woman, Elizabeth. I have confessed to you a haughty pride I mistakenly had regarding my family’s position, but I never did encourage others to pander to my vanity. Jonesy once called it ‘fishing for compliments.’ He picked up the phrase from an American associate a few years back. Coarse, rugged lot they are in the New World. However, the phrase is apropos. I have also noted the increased attention to Caroline by Mr. Cleese. See now how he intercepts her and she is welcoming to him? Also, note Bingley’s deepening frown.”

  As Elizabeth and Darcy approach Jonesy and Bingley, Charles addresses Darcy as he inclines his head in the general direction of his sister. “What do you know of Mr. Cleese, Darcy? He has been most attentive to Caroline, and she seems to be encouraging him.” The party watches as Caroline leans her head towards Mr. Cleese as he is speaking then she draws back a bit as she executes a patently false laugh.

  Darcy explains what little he knows about the man. Charles’ sister has pushed him enough so that his normal sunny nature is displaced with a rare peevishness where Caroline is concerned. He was mortified at her maneuvering to come with him and Jane to Pemberley then to finagle an invitation from Anne is beyond the pale. Darcy eases Bingley’s worries but Charles still frets over what he will do with her after Jane and he relocate. He does not wish to have Caroline live with him and Jane. Even though Jane said nothing regarding the possibility, Charles is aware it would be taxing on Jane to deal with his contentious sister. Any more speculation is forestalled as Kitty and Georgiana come to the group.

  “Anne is a positively beautiful bride. I am so gratified to see her elation. Henry looks so regal in his uniform with medals galore. They make a striking couple.” Georgiana breathes. Darcy begins to make his excuses as well, wishing to return home and find some solitude with Lizzy. The carriage ride back home is filled with chatter from Georgiana who was enthralled with the ceremony and cannot contain her bliss. The addition of Elizabeth’s pregnancy brings forth more musings about who Georgiana might meet and when she will make a good match. As she happily prattles on, Elizabeth watches her dear protective husband’s face first start to become sober. This emotion quickly alters into concern and wariness with a definite frown. When the scowl begins to appear, Lizzy gently nudges his knee with hers. Georgiana’s reverie is innocent; she is merely expressing her own hopes for the future.

  Darcy snaps his head around to Elizabeth’s face. When he sees the merriment in her eyes with the slight shake of her head, he relinquishes some of his trepidation. The squeeze and loving smile from Lizzy calms him further, and he even manages a small smile during the rest of Georgiana’s ramblings. Once back at Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth make their way to their chambers to change clothes. Georgiana goes to her own quarters to do the same then plans to practice some of the more romantic love songs on the piano. When she announces her intention to play those songs, Darcy begins to frown again as Lizzy steers him upstairs.

  “Do not fret so, My Love,” Lizzy murmurs to him.

  “You do not understand, Elizabeth. My father charged me with Georgiana’s care and future. I thought her to be making progress in overcoming her near tragedy at Ramsgate but to hear her wax on about such saccharine sentiments tells me perhaps she has not matured as much as I hoped. She will continue to be an easy mark for the wolves of the ton. I must not allow her to know disappointment nor scandal.” Darcy’s voice holds an edge to it, and Lizzy needs to tread lightly, but she also wants to offer him some solace.

  “I admit to limited knowledge of the ton, but I do know the ways of a young lady’s heart. When we are exposed to true love and the accompanying bliss which attends it, we are easily swayed to tender thoughts, perhaps even some mawkishness. I can assure you as the days pass, Georgiana will not be as prone to those musings. She is still feeling the effects of a glorious wedding followed by a delightful visit with family and friends, all of whom she is very comfortable with. It is natural for her to be elated. As to her maturity, when we have had our girl talk, I
can tell you most truthfully she did grow from her experiences, and she will not make the same mistake. In point of fact, I believe she may be even more discerning than you.” Darcy raises one brow as he studies Elizabeth, judging her words.

  Darcy takes a great cleansing breath. The only time he thought he knew what a young lady might be thinking was when he approached Elizabeth with his first terrible proposal. “I suppose you are correct. I will wait and see how the next few weeks play out. I am relieved you and my sister have formed a bond, and she has a female confidant. As you can surmise, it has at times been difficult for me to relate to her, my love for her notwithstanding.” As he is speaking, Lizzy leads him into their bedchamber where she begins to disrobe him. His pensive look is soon replaced with a sensuous one.

  “You see, Fitzwilliam? Weddings bring out the romance in all of us ladies. I am the most fortunate because I can do more than just muse upon those sentiments, I can act upon them with my most magnificent husband.” There is no more talk as these diversions take on an urgency.

  Chapter 32

  The weeks following sees the departure of Kitty and Jonesy. Elizabeth is anxious for Kitty to write to let her know when Kitty’s wedding will take place. Jane and Charles had taken a trip back to Netherfield to oversee closing up of the manor house while the last few items are packed up for the journey back to their new home. Strangely Caroline opted to go to London even though few of her friends are there and she will be alone at Bingley’s townhouse. Not wishing to entice her to stay with him, Charles makes arrangements for her to depart but he is puzzled over her behavior.

  Darcy and Elizabeth savor their time without guests. Georgiana and Lizzy develop a deeper friendship as they talk all things female while Darcy attends his work. For Lizzy, this time allotted her greater opportunities to learn more about her role as Mistress, maintain tenant visits and to fall deeper in love with her husband. Their love and devotion to each other strengthen even further, and as before, Elizabeth feels herself to be in love with him even more. Not that the love she had for him prior was shallow or weak, she just cannot fathom how he is so vital to her very existence.

  For Darcy, he has felt this way for a long time, telling Lizzy over and again without her in his life, he would cease to live. They are as one, body and soul. They accept they have to be with each other as much as possible. Georgiana will witness this connection on many occasions, but it still astounds her. One incident took place when Elizabeth returned to the unused portion of the mansion where she and Georgiana admired the view while watching the deer. Like Georgiana, Lizzy is fond of the scene, and there are usually no servants about so it is peaceful. Darcy knows of the girls’ trips there and he did not fret much about them being in that part of the house except for the absence of staff should a need arise. So when he burst into the music room to ask Georgiana if Elizabeth is with him, Georgiana is not alarmed but he surprises her when he states Elizabeth needed him and called him. Georgiana at first is puzzled as she did not hear Elizabeth’s voice but her brother’s certainty convinces her. As Darcy dashes about the manor, questioning staff regarding Lizzy’s whereabouts, Georgiana catches up to him and reminds him of their visits to the spare rooms.

  Darcy whirls about and almost breaks into a run. He finds Elizabeth sitting on the last step, house shoe off of her left foot and massaging a slightly swollen ankle. Darcy falls to his knees before her as he gently assesses her ankle. “I was coming back down the stairs, and I really cannot account for it, but it seems I miss-stepped. I stopped myself from falling but not before I turned my ankle most painfully.” Darcy notes a few unshed tears in her eyes telling him she suffered a bit. As he picks her up in his arms to carry her to their bed, she puts her head on his chest whispering, “You heard me, and you came for me.”

  Darcy still sports a tight look about his features, but as she speaks, he glances down at her and smiles slightly, “I heard you call out to me as sure as if you were in the same room as me. I knew you needed me, that something befell you. I will always protect you, my Lizzy.” He lies her down on their bed as he requests for Georgiana call for Mrs. Reynolds. Once Mrs. Reynolds assesses the ankle and assures Darcy it is no more than a sprain which will respond to rest and elevation, Darcy is placated. He leaves to wrap up the last few issues he was working on, then he returns to attend Lizzy, and they dine together on trays in the room.

  In his absence, Georgiana sits with Elizabeth. “How did my brother know you had an accident? He came to the music room, agitated, saying you cried out for him. He could not have heard you as the distance between you both was too great, yet he responded.”

  “Your brother says without me; he ceases to be. I feel the same about him. Only together are we complete. I cannot explain it, but I seem to know when Fitzwilliam is thinking of me or if he is about to send for me. I feel compelled to go to him. I have sensed when he is distressed or hurting so I try to alleviate the pain for him. I do not know how to explain it, except to say he is part of me and I feel him as much as I feel my own self. It is difficult to put into words.” Georgiana does not say more as her brother comes into the room. He removed his cravat and sat to undo his boots. As Georgiana prepares to leave after a hug to both Lizzy and Darcy, she pauses at the doorway watching as they calm each other without a word spoken.

  Elizabeth quickly mended and always lets Darcy or Georgiana know her whereabouts in the large mansion. The next incident some weeks later is more serious with greater consequences. Darcy had been making his rounds with Mr. Scovell. Word reached him one of the tenant farmers, Mr. Dixon had been drinking heavily, and he had taken a hand to his wife when he was under the influence. Darcy is disgusted by this behavior even though English law states a wife is her husband’s property. Women, to his way of thinking, are to be treated gently and with respect. He strongly suggested Mr. Dixon desist with his heavy-handed ways with his wife and furthermore, he requires the man to meet with the reverend to try to resolve his issues at home. Darcy was satisfied with Mr. Dixon’s apparent remorse, hoping he would be able to return to respectability.

  A few days later, word comes to Darcy and Mr. Scovell as they are making their rounds that a fire erupted at Mr. Dixon’s home, so the men urge their mounts into a fast gallop. Neighbors already are hauling buckets of water to throw onto the flames and have formed a chain of people to pass the buckets. As Darcy and Mr. Scovell ride up, they are informed Mr. Dixon is still in the cabin. Darcy peers into the smoke and spies the farmer’s leg. Without thinking of his own safety, Darcy dives into the open door of the cabin, grabbing the man’s legs and hauls back with all his might. Mr. Scovell jumps in to help, and they pull the farmer to safety. A cracking sound warns of some falling debris, and a piece of wood strikes Darcy on the leg. He easily pushes it from himself, but he suffers a small burn to his right arm.

  Mr. Scovell also suffers a few small burns to his forearms but no other injuries. The farmer coughs and sputters but is not injured. The house appears to be a total loss, and Darcy’s temper is incited to extreme anger when he learns Mr. Dixon has been drinking again and tipped a candle which ignited the curtain and bedcovers. Luckily Mrs. Dixon and their young son were visiting friends nearby. Darcy makes arrangements for the family to have shelter for the next few weeks but he will have to consider their future with Pemberley after this debacle. The ride back home is cold and uncomfortable with Darcy in an extreme temper.

  For Lizzy, she did not have any worries when Darcy rode out earlier, but as the afternoon wore on, she began to feel some unease. With the passage of time, Elizabeth’s unease turns to agitation then dread. After tea with Georgiana, Lizzy expresses her anxieties to Georgiana who tries to alleviate Lizzy’s trepidation by reminding her Darcy often is late returning from these visits. “I am sorry, Georgiana, I do not mean to alarm you, but I feel Fitzwilliam is in pain. Something has happened, and I am powerless to help him.” Elizabeth cannot halt the tears which flow.

  When a sooty, weary and perturbed Darcy comes
into the house, Elizabeth is in his arms before the door shut. “Where are you hurt? What has happened?” she cries. Georgiana’s eyes are huge when she sees her brother suffered some sort of mishap. Tears are beginning to well up in her eyes as Darcy tries to comfort them both.

  “Please Dears; I am well. Mr. Dixon upended a candle in his sleeping area, and he was overcome by smoke as the curtains and bedclothes erupted into flames. He had fallen just inside of the doorway, but fortunately, Mr. Scovell and I were able to pull him to safety. Mr. Scovell suffered a few burns to his arms, and I have one of my own. There is no permanent damage to either of us. Georgiana, I would be most grateful if you could have Mrs. Reynolds tend to Mr. Scovell then send her above. I will have a bath then join you for a late supper.” Georgiana scurries off to do her brother’s requests. Elizabeth reads in his eyes that he disassembled to Georgiana to protect her, but he cannot hide the truth from Elizabeth. As he makes his way to the staircase, Lizzy notices his slight limp.

  “You are injured worse than you let on to your sister. Please Fitzwilliam, let me assist you. I knew you to be suffering, and it distressed me not to be able to come to you.” Elizabeth presses herself to his side to steady him. Upstairs as his bath is filled, Darcy allows Elizabeth to see the burn on his arm. “Oh, Fitzwilliam. How dreadful.” The next injury revealed is a darkening bruise on his shin where the wooden piece struck him. “I admire your bravery, but please, you must remember our child. Fitzwilliam I would not survive without you. Please, I beg you, be more heedful.” Elizabeth is helping him remove his soiled clothing as she gently admonishes him. Darcy’s first instinct is to snap at her, reminding her of his duty to Pemberley but one look into her tear stained face and creased brow with frightened eyes and he feels a wave of guilt.

  As he hobbles over to his tub, Barnabas having been dismissed, Elizabeth helps him in and begins to scrub his back. Darcy tells her of the fire and Mr. Dixon’s continued drinking which caused the accidental blaze. Lizzy chokes back a sob as he recounts diving into the flames to save the man and the resulting injuries as the cabin began to fall in. After the soothing bath, Elizabeth applies the salve given to her by Mrs. Reynolds and she gives Darcy a massage while he stretches out on their bed. His eyes slide shut, and he is fast asleep, dinner was forgotten. Elizabeth slips away to reassure Georgiana her brother is just tired and he will have a late supper when he wakes up.