Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (21 page)

Closing his eyes, he lifted his arms behind his head and laughed softly.  “Well, at last I am sticking to my normal schedule; I should have been here anyway with poor Darcy.”   

He allowed that thought to swirl around in his mind. Would they have come?  Most likely, Georgiana would have been recovered, she would still have been pregnant, but Richard doubted deeply that Darcy would have gone forward with his scheme to marry if Elizabeth had not been literally by his side when he thought of the idea.

“He would have come here, we would have kept Georgiana hidden at Pemberley or London, he would have stayed away from her to deflect attention from his homes . . . and he would have endured Aunt Catherine performing her annual mating ritual to persuade him to commit to Anne.” 

There was a knock at the door and he watched as Gladney sauntered in.  “I have to say, I can hardly believe that you are still in bed.  You
must
be exhausted.”  The sarcasm in his voice was clear and pulling up a chair, he sat down and crossed his arms.  “I seem to recall a similar meeting between us at Christmas, what is it about the holidays that brings us together?” 

“What time is it?” 

“Approaching noon.”  Gladney looked away from the clock on the mantle.  “Who knew that you would find Rosings such a haven.” 

Rolling his eyes, Richard sat up.  “The travel has caught up with me.  I do not know why I came; it was the spur of the moment.  I should have just waited in London for your return.”

“Mmm, no, then you would have missed the wedding.”  Richard stared.  “After you retired last night Aunt Catherine made the suggestion that we simply get on with it.  Easterly finished the settlement before we left for Rosings, and with your arrival, why not celebrate the nuptials here?  It is
most
appropriate.”  He imitated their Aunt’s shrill voice.

“Since this marriage is all about Rosings, of course it is appropriate.”  He tilted his head and looked over his brother. “I doubt that I have ever seen you so easy here.  Aunt must be doing cartwheels in the gallery.” 

Gladney snorted, “Now that would be a sight to behold!” 

“Are you happy with this, Bertie?” 

“Does it matter?”

Richard got out of the bed and walked across the room, throwing open the curtains and staring out at the sunlit garden.  “Of course it matters.” 

Gladney watched his brother and said softly, “I appreciate that you still care about my well being.”  Richard looked back at him and then to the window again.  “Actually, I do not really mind.  Anne and I have discovered some . . . affinity between us.”  He shook his head.  “Imagine that.” 

“You love her?” 

“No, no more than she loves me, but . . . I never expected to love my wife.  We like each other, we know each other’s faults and . . . I imagine that we do care enough about each other . . .”  Shrugging at Richard’s raised brow, he sighed.  “Please do not ask me to inspect my heart, but I suspect . . . rather strongly . . . that she will get on better with me than she ever would have with Darcy.”

“I do not suspect that, I believe it to be entirely true.”

“How is our wayward cousin?” 

“Very tired, but very happy.”

“Is it the happiness that exhausts him?”  Gladney laughed. 

“No.”  Richard turned to look out of the window again. 

“Do you care to talk about it?”  When his brother said nothing, Gladney nodded and stood.  “Well . . . I know that you are closer to him than I, understandably so.  But believe it or not, I can keep a confidence.” 

“Please do not press me.  Darcy’s burdens make ours seem a pittance.”  Richard turned and crossed his arms.  “I gave notice of my desire to resign my commission, but until it is sold, I remain in the army.”

“Good thing as you seem to have no other wardrobe.”  Gladney nodded to the uniform hanging on a clothes horse.

“I need to sell the commission so I can buy something new.”  Richard looked over his blue coat.  “The point I am getting at is, you look well.”

“Looks are deceiving, Brother.  Not five minutes passes without me thinking of finding euphoria.  The need is my constant companion.”

“But you
look
well.”  Richard repeated.

“You wonder if I will stage a stunning recovery and renege on my promises?”

“Can I trust you?”

“Obviously not if you will not share Darcy’s troubles with me.”  Gladney raised his brows and threw up his hands as Richard’s piercing gaze bore into him.  “Very well.  I have spent the last month going to parties and balls, staying sober and upright solely by Anne’s force of will and constant companionship.”  One side of his mouth lifted when he noticed his surprise.  “You see?  She cares.  In any case, it has proven fruitful.   We have been noticed, the engagement announcement has taken the heat away from the money crisis, since everyone assumes that I marry for Rosings, and . . . it has done Cathy a bit of good, too.” 

Richard stared, “Is she engaged?”

“I suspect it will come.  At least she is no longer considering hiding away at Ramsgate for the summer to find a man.”

“Ramsgate.”  Richard laughed humourlessly and rubbing his face, thought of Wickham.  “Yes, there are plenty of suitors there.” 

“I intend to live out my days here.  Anne has already tired of the parties, I clearly cannot tolerate them.”

“Clearly.” 

Gladney smiled.  “With Anne and Aunt Catherine watching me, Rosings will remain intact.  I will not be ruining another ancestral estate.”

“I blame Father as much as you.” 

“Well, he certainly did nothing to stop me.  Darcy was wise not to put his trust in Father, but rather to rely on the judge.”  Richard said nothing and Gladney studied him.  “
Is
Darcy well?” 

“He has Elizabeth.”  Richard said softly and then a smile lifted his lips.

“Hmm.”  Gladney continued his inspection.  “You have met someone.”  Richard’s eyes widened and his brother nodded.  “That is why you keep asking about my decision.  You are not Darcy with his all encompassing love of family and the estate.  You stepped away from all of that when you chose the army over law or the clergy.  Now . . . for you to walk away from your comfortable home, it must be for a greater reason than Matlock.”  Shaking his finger, he smiled at his brother’s growing dismay.  “You finally found a girl who you want to know beyond the crow of the cock.” 

“You have such a way with words, Bertie.”

“Am I wrong?  Is there a girl?”

“I hope so.  I do not know; it is too soon to know.”  Richard sighed and looked out the window at the garden.  “I want to give her a home and a name that makes her proud that she married me.  If she marries me . . .”  He looked back at his brother.  “She does not mind that I am a soldier.”

“I thought that you were proud of being a soldier.”  Gladney lifted his brow.

“Just answer my question, Bertie.  Do I have a home?”

“I thought that I had answered.  Matlock and Gladney are yours.  If father dies . . . obviously I am earl, but  . . . I will not return there.  I will have no children, so you and your progeny will inherit.  I will put it in writing if you like?”

“If you don’t mind?” 

“You
are
serious about this girl.”  Gladney held up his hand against the glare he received.  “Fine.  So, will you stand up with me in a few days?” 

Richard’s face softened and he held out his hand.  “I would not miss it for the world.”

“POOR SOPHIE, she finally gets a man to look at her and then he runs as far away as possible.”  Stephen nudged Robert and took a card off the pile.

“Leave her alone.”  Robert glanced at her across the room.

“She’s been moping around here for weeks!  If he comes back, it won’t be for a long time.  I don’t know what she is hanging on for.  He’s a soldier, he will probably be sent off to war and get shot.” 

“What a horrible thing to say!”  Mrs. Kelly cried.

“All right, all right, but still, there is no discounting that he’s a soldier and he is not free to come and go as he pleases.  I just do not want her getting her hopes up.”  Stephen watched Sophie sitting at the window.  “I would much rather see her with a gentleman.  A Scot.”

“There it is.”  Robert shook his head.  “Isn’t Fitzwilliam Scottish?”

“He’s an Englishman, isn’t he?  Probably an Anglican, too.”

“We are not going to wage the war for an independent Scotland in my drawing room.”  Mr. Kelly glared between his sons.  “Colonel Fitzwilliam
is
a gentleman, and a highly recommended one, at that.  I am willing to wait him out.”  Mr. Kelly turned the page of his paper, and looked over his glasses at Sophie.  “Do something with the girl, Aggie.”

“And what do you suggest?”  Mrs. Kelly asked worriedly. 

“Go visit the Darcys, and then maybe Mrs. Darcy will tell you more about the colonel.”  Adam spoke to his cards and paid no notice to his family staring at him. 

“What is wrong with you?”  Mitchell demanded.  “Why are you always thinking up all of these . . . solutions?”

“Adam is a peacemaker.”  Mrs. Kelly patted his head fondly.  “I see you being a minister one day, Son.”

Robert, Stephen and Mitchell all rolled their eyes; they had each heard the same thing from their mother at one time or another.

Mr. Kelly looked at Mitchell.  “You would prefer that Adam be as negative as Stephen and suggest only gloom and doom?”

Stephen spoke up, “I do not suggest gloom.  I am a realist.”

“You are a killjoy.”  Robert threw a card on the table.  “Leave the Darcys to their honeymoon and leave her alone.”

Mitchell turned to him.  “Why are you so nice all of a sudden?  You always called her a spinster . . .”

“Shh.”  Robert kicked his leg. 

“Mother!”  Mitchell whined.

“You are too old to cry for Mama.”  Mr. Kelly admonished.  “And no, I will not defend you, either.” 

Sophie’s sharp voice came across the room.  “Could you not hold your fascinating discussion when I was absent?  I hear every word.  Twenty feet does not make an effective barrier from your chattering.” 

“We are sorry, Sophie.”

“You are the worst of all, Stephen.”  She turned to them.  “I am sorry that I am pensive and cannot entertain you as the object of your jokes and pranks.  I would think that you grown men would have better things to do with your time.  Why doesn’t anyone go after Robert for not marrying?  Why hasn’t Stephen found a position as a clerk somewhere?  Why is it always about me?  I am tired of it!”  Sophie turned and left the room.

“Poor thing, she is frustrated.  She looks at you boys who are free to do anything you wish while she must wait to be married to have any status at all.”  Mrs. Kelly sighed.  “A woman’s lot is not easy.”  An uncomfortable silence fell over the five males in the room. 

“She has it bad.”  Stephen finally whispered. 

“You did not hear a word she said.”  Robert sighed. 

“Yes I did, I just don’t like seeing her hurting over someone who probably won’t return.”

“Why don’t you just wait and see.   The man must have only just arrived in London.  His cousin seems to be confident in his return.”  Mr. Kelly admonished his sons.  

“I spent a bit of time with the colonel and the Darcys and I would not mind being related to them.”  Robert said thoughtfully.

“Ohhhh, so they can put you in the way of rich girls.”  Stephen winked at his father, who shook his head and watched his eldest son’s face colour. 

“I am
not
thinking of myself!”

“Ask me no secrets and I will tell you no lies . . .” Stephen sniggered. 

“Speaking of secrets . . .”  Mr. Kelly looked at his wife, “Do you know if Mrs. Darcy is Mr. Darcy’s second wife?”

“His second?”  Astonished, she shook her head.  “If she is, then he certainly behaves as a man who has fallen in love for the first time.  Why would you ask such a thing?” 

“We were speaking of children and protecting them.  I had the oddest feeling that when he spoke, it was as if he was protecting a child of his own, a daughter.”

“He could certainly have fathered bastards, couldn’t he?”  Robert looked at his Father.

Immediately, Mrs. Kelly objected.  “I do
not
want to hear this conversation.  A gentleman such as Mr. Darcy would not have natural children.”

“Any man could, why I . . .” Stephen received a furious glare from his father and cheeks colouring, he looked at his mother.  “I know of classmates who have them.”

“Do they care for them?”   Mrs. Kelly demanded.

“I . . . I do not know.”

“That is a no.” Robert appreciated his brother’s increasing embarrassment. 

Mrs. Kelly looked to her husband, “Mr. Darcy is a young man to be master of his estate.  His father is surely passed.  I wonder if he has younger siblings to look after and was just speaking of his responsibility for them.” 

“I had not thought of that.”  Mr. Kelly nodded and returned to his paper, “Of course, that makes perfect sense.” 

“Father, please live for a very long time so that Robert does not have to look after me.”  Stephen winked.

“You are full-grown.  You would be the first person I kicked out of here.”  Robert promised.

“May I have his room?”  Mitchell asked.

“Would you mind burying me first before you move in?”  Mr. Kelly asked with a smile to his embarrassed son. 

“Could we please talk about something else?”  Mrs. Kelly said with no little distress, and then setting down her sewing, left the room.

“There you’ve gone and done it, Stephen.”

“Me?  I didn’t talk about Father dying!”

“But you started it all by talking about Sophie.”  Robert pointed out.  

“Then that settles it, no more talking about Sophie.”  Stephen agreed and then a mischievous grin crossed his face.  “For today, anyway.” 

“YOU HAVE BEEN STUDYING that letter for twenty minutes, is something wrong, Harding?”  Susan watched her husband from her chair by the fire.  “Who is it from?” 

“Fitzwilliam.” 

“Oh?” Placing a ribbon in her book, she set it aside.  “How are they?  We have not heard from them in weeks . . . not that I expected a daily letter, but you would think that they had plenty of time to write a short note.”