Christmas at Pemberley (25 page)

Mr. Joseph stroked his wife's hair. “I'm so proud of you, Mary. You've not complained or fussed through this. I'd have you safe. Earlier, Mrs. Darcy told you to vent your pain. From now on, I expect you to scream your beautiful head off. No more holding it in. I'm capable of loving a woman who sheds a few tears.You don't need to be strong for me.” He rocked her easily.

Mrs. Joseph squeezed his hand. “They'll hear me in Newcastle.” Turning to Elizabeth, who sat relaxed at her feet, Mary said, “Tell me about your Mr. Darcy. What type of man has won your heart, Elizabeth?”

“DID I SEE LADY CATHERINE leaving my brother's study?” Georgiana asked Edward when she cornered him in the upper hall.

Edward's eyes narrowed. “Yes, Her Ladyship sought me out as I used Fitz's desk to write and frank my letter to the Earl and my report to the general.”

Georgiana frowned back. “May I ask Her Ladyship's purpose? I worry our aunt intends some mischief.”

“I cannot speak to Lady Catherine's Pemberley mission. I've spoken to her firmly regarding her family responsibility, but no one can hope to know Her Ladyship's frame of mind.” Edward sighed in exasperation. “That wasn't our aunt's objective today,” he continued. “Today, Lady Catherine expressed her concern regarding your presentation.”

“You've been on English soil for less than six and thirty hours, and our aunt bothers you with such details,” Georgiana said incredulously. “Sometimes…” she groaned.

Edward caressed her cheek. “Sometimes what, Love?”

“Sometimes, I wish people would allow me to choose my own future.” Georgiana resisted the urge to stomp her foot in frustration. “At the moment, I wish Lady Catherine had never come to Derby for the festive days.”

Edward scowled deeply. “I wouldn't have you upset, Georgie. I've informed Her Ladyship that Darcy will address your needs
when the time proves necessary. Either Mrs. Darcy or my mother will serve as your sponsor.”

She knew she should express her gratitude for his advocacy, but Georgiana had never wanted a Season. She wanted the man standing before her. Tears misted her eyes. “I thank you for your attempt to stifle our aunt's maneuverings.”

“Then how have I unhinged your composure?” Edward pressed, his mouth's corners turned down. “Tell me what you truly want, Georgiana. Whatever it is, I'll move the heavens to make it so.”

She gave him a chagrined smile. “If anyone could fulfill my dreams, it would be you; but I'm no longer a little girl. A new doll shan't satisfy me.” She gave herself a good firm shake. Impulsively, Georgiana rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I came to offer my gratitude for your arrangements for the skating party. It'll be a grand entertainment.” With that, Georgiana scurried away, making a point of adding a sway to her hips. After all, Edward was watching.

Elizabeth briefly closed her eyes and brought forth her husband's image. “You may question my intelligence when I tell you that it took Mr. Darcy some six months to make inroads into my prejudice against him.” As she spoke, Elizabeth kept an eye on the mantel's clock. Spotting the curious rise of Mary's eyebrow, Elizabeth nodded. “It's true: I tried desperately to dislike the man.”

“A man of Mr. Darcy's consequence?” Mr. Joseph asked as he adjusted his wife's position.

“Oh, quite so,” Elizabeth said playfully. “My father's a gentleman; I'm a gentleman's daughter; in that respect, Mr. Darcy and I are equals. But where the late Lady Anne Darcy was an Earl's youngest child, my maternal aunts and uncles are country lawyers and clergymen. Our consequence is quite below that of Mr. Darcy's family, and I allowed my own insecurities to blind me to my
husband's goodness. In those early days, with conceit, I thought my judgment impeccable.” Elizabeth paused to observe Mary's reaction to her latest contractions.

“Go on,” the woman gasped and clung tightly to her husband's hand. “Tell us more.”

Elizabeth bit her bottom lip and went through a mental list of what to expect next. She tried to remember all the details of Jane's delivery. “I shan't bore you with the specifics of our coming together,” she began before adjusting Mary's position again. “Let's say there was a great deal of drama, as well as some laughable moments.” Elizabeth continued her recitation to distract Mary from the current situation's dire possibilities. “But you didn't ask how we found each other.You asked how I knew that Mr. Darcy owned my heart. It was my husband's sense of honor that solidified my admiration.”

“I would expect nothing less,” Joseph said breathily as his wife jabbed him in the ribs.

Elizabeth thought this the most bizarre conversation of her memory, but she did not hesitate to keep it going. “Please don't confuse honor with respect. Respect is given because we like a person, and we can withhold it from someone who displeases us, but that's not what the
Bible
teaches us of honor.”

“Honor thy mother and thy father,” Mr. Joseph stated.

“Exactly,” Elizabeth declared. “That's how I knew Mr. Darcy would be a wonderful husband and father. I witnessed how my dear Fitzwilliam has devoted his life to honoring his own parents.” She shot a quick glance toward the room's door. She had no doubt that Darcy remained outside in the darkened hallway. He considered it his province to protect those he loved. “And Mr. Darcy has served as his sister's guardian for the last eight years. Miss Darcy blossoms under her brother's administrations.You should hear him praise Georgiana's potential.”

Mary grimaced, but she managed to say, “Honor has a…a language all its own.”

They all paused to allow Mary to work her way through another spasm. “That's good, Mary,” Elizabeth encouraged. She handed Mr. Joseph a damp cloth to wipe his wife's face. With everything settled again, Elizabeth returned to her story. Everything was coming together. From the beginning, she had found Mary to be a woman who loved a good tale. That's why Elizabeth had asked her husband to read to the woman earlier. During that time, Mrs. Joseph had progressed through the stages of her delivery in a relaxed atmosphere. Now, this discussion on honor served the same purpose. Instead of fighting the pain, Mary embraced it. Elizabeth actually began to believe that together they would see this child to a healthy entrance.

“When Mr. Darcy speaks, my husband speaks honorably. His servants and his tenants accept the honor he freely gives them, and they respond with a sincere desire to help Mr. Darcy achieve his vision. My husband is the type of man who speaks
with
a person rather than
to
him, and when he speaks of someone of his acquaintance, he does so to the person's face. Therefore, those who know him serve Mr. Darcy with passion.”

“Honor is God's greatest gift,” Mr. Joseph observed.

“Honor elevates,” Elizabeth whispered as she turned her gaze toward the door. “It speaks with affection.”

“Lieutenant, do you have a moment?” The colonel had found his aide in the billiards room playing a solitary game.

The officer had come to attention. “I'm at your service, Sir.”

“No need for military protocol, Southland.” Edward chose a cue stick from those displayed. “How about a game?”

“Of course, Sir.” The lieutenant gathered the balls and placed them in the rack. “Have I done something to displease you, Sir? Your expression says you're troubled.”

Edward laughed uncomfortably. “I'm not a man who easily expresses his chagrin.” He chalked his stick. Taking a deep breath to
steady his strike and his resolve, he said, “I came to apologize for my earlier remarks.” The balls scattered to the table's four corners, and Edward moved to line up his second shot.

“There's no need, Colonel.” Southland waited patiently for his commanding officer to miss. “You spoke from regard for your family. I cannot fault that notion. I should've practiced more restraint. Call it my overwhelming joy at being home again. There was nothing about America that I found comfortable: not the society, and not the conflict. I've thought of England and Lewes every day for over a year; then we arrived in Liverpool, and within hours I was speaking to someone who held similar experiences. It's a poor excuse, Colonel, and I'll refrain from anything beyond polite conversation with Miss De Bourgh.”

Edward finished his third shot. “So you don't find my cousin attractive?” he asked tentatively.

The lieutenant leaned against the wall. “That's a loaded question, Colonel.” His voice held his suspicion. “If I say that Miss De Bourgh offers no allure, you'll wonder how a man could fail to see your cousin's merits. And if I speak openly of Miss De Bourgh's appeal, then you'll choose another reprimand.”

Edward straightened and took a close look at his subordinate. “You have good reason to be cautious, Southland. I'm unsure of my own motives.” The colonel paused to gather his thoughts. “I'd take it as a personal offense if someone trifled with Anne's affections, but a part of me would like to see my cousin know a flirtation's pleasure. However, a person participating in such a dalliance must be aware that my aunt has denied Anne many of the events in which my cousin could develop into a sophisticated young woman. Does any of this make sense, Lieutenant?”

Southland stepped away from the wall. “Admittedly, Sir, your message is garbled. It appears you're extending your permission for me to further a relationship with Miss De Bourgh.”

“But I'm not encouraging you to give Anne false hopes,” Edward clarified. “I'll be brutally honest, Southland. Anne is of a
gentle nature, and I suspect she'll take the slightest of attentions as a serious plight, which means my cousin is very susceptible to heartbreak. Therefore, although I truly believe Anne needs to know a man's regard, I wouldn't wish her to suffer. My feelings in this matter are mixed.”

The lieutenant placed his stick on the table. “I'd enjoy the opportunity to know Miss De Bourgh better.” His gaze met Edward's. “You do realize, Sir, that I've no title and no profession beyond my service to my country.”

“I understand perfectly, Southland.” Edward squeezed the man's shoulder. “You must decide whether to pursue the connection. It'll not affect our relationship unless you purposely hurt Anne.”