Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (67 page)

“I imagine it may have something to do with Jane.”  Elizabeth picked up the page and reading it, shook her head.  “I wish he had said something of this idea in his first letter, not that I want to be anywhere else but here . . .” She smiled when Darcy’s brow creased.  “We can go some other year.  I would love to see the places you travelled when you were becoming an independent man.” 

Darcy took her hand and squeezed, “We shall, dear.  Although, I suppose that I would prefer to see them with you alone.” 

“Selfish.”

“With certain things, yes.”  He smiled.  “And if I am to be ill at sea, I would prefer that you were the soul witness.” 

“I may be just as ill as you.”  Elizabeth laughed, “But if we travelled together, you and Charles could go off and do manly things.”

“Manly things?”  Darcy snorted, “We would not be fighting water-beasts, or whatever lurks in the lochs.  Perhaps a spirited trout, though.”

“Oh, you can do that here.  Which by the way, you promised to teach me to do.” 

“You will teach Elizabeth to go fishing, Brother?”  Georgiana stared.

“I will teach her most anything she is willing to try, but then again, your sister Elizabeth claims to know how to do anything I suggest already.”  He winked and returned to his meal.

“Oh, Will.  That was so long ago.”

“Were you just trying to impress me, love?”  He held her eyes.

“Is he teasing you?”  Georgiana looked at Elizabeth curiously.  “What will he not teach you?”

“I do not know.”  Considering her husband and his amused expression thoughtfully, she nodded, “But I look forward to finding out.” 

“Of course you are, so that you may attempt to change my mind.”  Darcy cleared his throat while she feigned shock.  “So, in any case, the Bingleys will be spending the next weeks estate hunting.

“They can certainly come to Pemberley . . .”

“The hunting will be accomplished from London, apparently Miss Bingley’s unsuccessful Season makes Netherfield seem appealing.”

“I wonder what went wrong.”

“She was always so complimentary to me.”  Georgiana offered.  “It made me a little uncomfortable, though.”

“Why do you think she was so attentive, Georgiana?” 

“I do not know, but she was the same with Fitzwilliam.”  She looked at him and saw his eyes close.  “Oh!  She was trying to win your favour by complimenting me?” 

“Very good.”  Elizabeth smiled.  “Very good.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you recognize someone who was trying to use you.  That is very good, indeed.” 

“Your eyes are wide open, dear.”  Darcy nodded.  “Nobody will fool you again.”

“OH, SHE IS SO FUSSY.  I cannot understand why.  Debbie fed her and she was changed when we arrived.  I hate to call the poor girl in, she is eating now and that is so important.”  Susan put down her fork and rubbed the baby’s belly.

“Could it be a touch of colic, Mrs. Darcy?”  Mrs. Annesley suggested.  “Shall I take her?”

“Finish your meal; I will take her for a walk.  That always seemed to work for the children.”  Harding stood and walked around the table to the basket holding Hope.  “You and the servants have earned a few moments of peace.” 

“Mr. Darcy, you should eat as well.”  Susan looked at him worriedly.

“Pah, we will be at our destination in a few hours.”  Bending, he lifted up the squirming, miserable baby.  “I will eat then.  If it makes you happy, save a slice of bread in your handkerchief for me.”  He cuddled Hope into the crook of his arm with ease and smiled at his wife.  “If you could see your face . . .”

“You have changed, Harding Darcy.”  She marvelled. 

“When we were young and our babies came, I was foolish and did not spend time like this.  I listened to your mother.” 

“Unfortunately, I did, too.”  She adjusted Hope’s blanket.  “This is the first time you have spoken of the children when they lived, instead of only speaking of Samuel.”

“Hope reminds me of little things that each one did.  In some ways, she is bringing them back to life for me.  I have spent so many years only thinking of their absence and their final moments, instead of remembering the joy they brought during their brief time with us.”  His eyes were moist and he felt Susan squeeze his hand.  Glancing at Mrs. Annesley, he cleared his throat, “Perhaps being a father at my advanced age is not such a terrible thing.”  Hope squawked and screwed up her face to cry.  “No, no, young lady.  Come along now; let your mother have some peace.”  He smiled at Susan and left the private dining area. 

Spotting him from the tavern, Hope’s nurse jumped to her feet and hurried to his side.  “Mr. Darcy, is anything wrong?” 

“No, I am just taking Miss Hope for a walk.  Finish your meal, we will be departing soon.” 

“Yes, sir.”  Debbie said a little doubtfully and watched his back as he continued on to the front door. 

A man standing near the entrance looked at him with surprise, and then moved to open the door for him.  “The wee one needs a breath of air?”

“That she does.”  Harding nodded his thanks and stepped out into the street.  As soon as they left the stuffy atmosphere of the tavern, Hope stopped her fussing.  “Ah, there, it is as I suspected.  You are a baby who likes her weather cool.”  Hope looked at him with her wide blue eyes and visibly relaxed.  “Well then, my dear, we will be sure to open a window for you on the rest of the ride.  We are coming to Pemberley, and the air is always sweet there.  Not like London.  You are proving yourself to be a Darcy who loves Derbyshire.  So am I.  Perhaps I should give up the townhouse.”  He said thoughtfully.  Strolling around a corner and towards the small garden in the back of the inn, he heard a voice.

“Give her to me!”  Harding stopped dead and felt his heart begin to race.  He clutched Hope to his chest, hiding her face.

“Give her over!”  The man’s voice demanded.  “Do you really think that I would let you keep her?  You’re going to kill her!  Just like you almost did with him!”

Wickham!
  Harding spun around.

“You can’t just take her away!  You gave her to me!”

“I gave you a second chance, but it’s clear that I can’t trust you.”  A stocky man with a weathered face standing in the street took a hold of a donkey’s bridle and pulled.  “Look at her, she is skin and bones.”  He gestured to another animal standing nearby.  “You did the same thing with him, you never fed him.  What good is a donkey that is too weak to do any work?”  Disgusted, the man led the animals away and ignored the protesting of his companion. 

Shaking, Harding sank down upon a wooden bench against the side of the inn.  “Good Lord.”  He breathed and stared around, looking for a particular face.  Other than a few men waiting outside of the privy door, the garden was quiet.  Passing his hand over his clammy forehead, he tried to ignore the pain in his side and the panic raging through his body.  “Calm yourself.”  He whispered urgently.  “Calm yourself.  It was not Wickham.” 

Hope cooed.  He looked down at her innocent face and took another long breath.  “Good Lord.” 

“WHAT DO YOU THNK?”  Elizabeth held up the earrings and looked in the mirror.  “I do not want to appear as if I am flaunting myself, but it is difficult to appear any other way with all of these beautiful jewels to choose from.”

“That is exactly what you should be doing, Mrs. Darcy.”  Judy stood behind her, dressing her hair.  “You are the mistress of the greatest estate for twenty miles or better.  From what I have heard from the other servants, the neighbourhood has been very anxious to meet you at last.”

“I am surprised that more of them are not in London, there are still a few weeks left in the Season.”

“I imagine that they grow tired of it at some point, and after all, the Derby is over now.” 

“How do you know so much of the Season?”  Elizabeth laughed at her maid’s reflection. 

“I did serve a few other ladies before you, madam.  And Mr. Parker told me of the activities Mr. Darcy used to enjoy.  Sometimes he was asked along to keep him company.”  She concentrated on her work while Elizabeth studied the pinking of her cheeks.

“Perhaps next year I will accompany Mr. Darcy to some of his old haunts.  I will have to ask him about his time in London.” 

“He was quite refrained from what I understand.”  Judy pushed another pin into place and stepped back to admire her creation.  “It is just lovely, Mrs. Darcy.  I love your hair; it has such life to it.”

“It will have a life of its own when the weather turns humid, which it should before too long.  Then you will be cursing all of these curls!”  Elizabeth laughed as Judy smiled and went to fetch her gown.  She opened up her bottle of Milk of Roses and peered inside.  “We need to order some more lotion.”

“I understand that the apothecary in Lambton carries a few of your favourites, shall I go in tomorrow and have a look?”

“Yes, and I believe that Mr. Darcy is in short supply of some of his cologne.  Perhaps Parker might accompany you and see if there is anything suitable there for him.”  Elizabeth smiled when Judy’s mouth opened.  “I am sure that you miss your time to talk like you had at Sommerwald.”

“We do, madam.”  Judy said quietly.  “Thank you.”

“I heard some maids whispering of a romance between you, and spoke to Mrs. Reynolds.  Whatever your feelings for each other, you do need to take control of what the staff thinks.  If you care to meet each other, you must not be seen.  I do not wish to promote an atmosphere of gossip about the house.”  Elizabeth saw that Judy was becoming increasingly embarrassed.  “What I witnessed at Sommerwald was everything proper, and truly a relief for me to see, given the tension during our visit.  Do you have any plans?”

“We could not remain your servants if we married, madam, and we would surely not risk being accused of loose morals by . . . pursuing anything else.  We are satisfied with what we have, and will be careful not to promote talk.  We have barely spoken of anything unrelated to our work since returning to Pemberley in any case.  We are very happy with you and Mr. Darcy.”  Judy said softly when Elizabeth stood, and bravely, she gathered the gown to slip over her mistress’s head. 

As she buttoned it up, Elizabeth regarded her in the mirror and tried to think of something she could do.  “If you have decided that you are satisfied with simply being friends, I will not say another word.  I would hate to lose you, and Parker has been with Mr. Darcy for ten years, I know that he would not wish to lose him, either.  But please know that I would not think of accusing either you or Parker of improper behaviour.  So if the whispers continue, please tell me and I will address the offenders personally.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Darcy, I am sure that it will not come to that.” 

“Then I am happy.”  She turned back to the jewel box as Judy wiped her eyes.  “Now, what shall I wear to this inquisition?  I just love these emeralds Mr. Darcy gave me.  Let me see.”  She dug around busily, watching Judy in the mirror from time to time. 

Georgiana appeared at the door, “Oh, Elizabeth, you look lovely!”

“Excuse me.”  Judy fled the room and down the servants’ stairs. 

“Is something wrong?”  Georgiana asked curiously.

“No, not a thing.”  She said softly. 
I must speak to Will about them.

“Oh.”  Georgiana twisted her hands together and tilted her head.  “Are you nervous?”

“No.  I have met the Monroes before.  This is just a small dinner.”  She stood and smoothed her gown with her palms.

“Lizzy, you are not nervous are you?”  Darcy’s deep voice asked.  She sighed as he held out his hand. 

“Come, love.  You are breathtaking.” 

“Thank you.” 

“If only there was dancing tonight . . . Perhaps when we come home?”  He looked her over appreciatively.  “Perhaps we will be the first to leave?” 

“It sounds as if you have a second evening planned, Mr. Darcy.”  Elizabeth reached up to fix his perfectly tied neck cloth.

“I think that I will retire early . . .”  Georgiana offered. 

“That is lovely, dear.”  Darcy murmured and took Elizabeth’s hand.

“Have a wonderful time.”  Elizabeth said softly as she smiled up at her husband.

“I will read a book . . .”

“Hmmm, improving the mind by extensive reading.  Well done, most attractive.  It is an excellent accomplishment.”  Darcy tore his eyes away from Elizabeth’s long enough to see Georgiana hiding a smile behind her hand.  “Goodnight, Sister.” 

“WELL, WHERE DID you find my waistcoat?”  Darcy demanded as he knelt and looked beneath the bed. 

“In the fireplace, sir.”  Parker said flatly.

“Oh.”  Darcy’s cheeks took on a pink tinge and he straightened.  “Good thing it is nearly July, then.” 

“Quite, sir.” 

“Yes.”  Clearing his throat, Darcy darted a look at the grate.

“It was cleaned a month ago, and has not been lit since.” 

“Did I ask?”

“It was on the tip of your tongue.”

“I believe that you and Judy are far too quick to tidy up in the morning.  Mrs. Darcy was quite fatigued and she needed her sleep.”

“We will remember to knock three times, sir.” 

“You knocked twice?”

“Per your orders, sir.”

“hmm.”  Darcy stood and still searching the corners of the room, glanced at Parker, “Please ask Evans to ascertain that the vintage we enjoyed last night is kept in good supply?” 

“I will take care of it immediately, sir.” 

“Your amusement at my expense is less than appealing, Parker.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy blew out his cheeks and ran his hand through his hair.  “It did not simply walk away.  It is in this room somewhere.  I want it found.”  He looked towards the mistress’s chambers.  “Perhaps Mrs. Darcy remembers hearing something fall . . .”

“Yes, sir.” 

Darcy regarded his man once more and saw that amusement remained in his eyes.  “How goes your friendship with Judy?”  Instantly Parker’s eyes dropped and it was
his
cheeks that coloured.

“Cordially, sir.”

“Good.”  Darcy nodded, satisfied, and went to the door, tossing over his shoulder, “There is a fair in Kympton next week.  I have no objection to your escorting Judy, if you wish.”