Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (78 page)

She blinked and putting her hand to her mouth laughed.  “Richard!” 

He pointed to a window.  “There was my old nursery.  I was quite the expert at climbing out of that window and sliding down the drainpipe in the middle of the night.”

“Why would you do that?”  She demanded.

“Why not?”  Richard grinned.  “The difficulty was returning.  I spent a few nights in the stables, waiting for the servants to rise and unlock the kitchen door so I could sneak back.” 

“This does not bode well for your children, Sophie.”  Mr. Kelly laughed. 

Mrs. Kelly’s hand was at her chest.  “Please, Mr. Fitzwilliam, no more stories of your youth, you have told us far too many hair-raising tales on this trip.”

“I have enjoyed hearing them and would like to hear more.”  Mr. Kelly looked between the two women and cleared his throat.  “Well, perhaps another time.” 

“After dinner over some good port, I can tell you the bloodier ones.  Hopefully Father has purchased some new wine.”  The door to the carriage was opened and he leapt out, greeting the footmen.  Waiting for Mr. Kelly to descend, he glanced up at the windows and spotted the faces at the glass.  He determinedly revived his smile when Sophie appeared at the door and held out his hand.  “You look lovely.” 

She blushed and smiled shyly.  “Thank you.”  Slipping her hand around his solid arm, she gripped his sleeve as she peeked into the open front door.  “What should I do?”

“My dear, I have never found anything in you wanting. Do not let anyone else tell you differently.  It is as simple as that.”   He squeezed her hand and seeing that the rest of the family had disembarked, nodded to Mr. Kelly and led the way inside.  Sophie’s grip on his sleeve tightened as she took in the overwhelming decor.  Nodding at the butler, he glanced up the stairs.  “How is the lay of the land, Mr. Pitt?”

“I think that you know well enough, sir.  Her ladyship has just called for tea, so no dallying.”  He murmured and nodded to the Kelly family as he shut the door behind the boys.  “Shall I take you up, Master Richard?”

Richard stopped his contemplation of the stairs and turned back to the butler, “No, no, I would rather just appear.”

“They know you are here, sir.  Three carriages are difficult to disguise.”

“True, I was not sneaking in the back door this time.”  Richard smiled and looked at the Kelly boys.  “As I told your parents a few moments ago, it is simply an over-furnished old house.  Do not let it or its occupants get the best of you.” 

“I did not realize I was gaping.”  Robert laughed and looking to Stephen, gave him a nudge.  “Close your mouth.”

“There is nothing like this in our neighbourhood.”

“Sommerwald . . .”

“No, Sommerwald is about the size of our estate.”  Stephen looked into what appeared to be a library.  “This is too much.” 

“Look at that!”  Mitchell cried and pointed.  “Armour!” 

“And look at the swords!”  Adam pointed. 

“Not the friendliest atmosphere.”  Sophie said softly.

Richard looked around the dark panelled walls.  “It is an Earldom, dear.  Those instruments of battle were not for show so many centuries ago.  Think of the old castles that dot your neighbourhood.” 

“The Fitzwilliams fought for this land?  It was not given to them by some King?”  Curiously Robert looked up at the displays. 

“Of course it was a gift, but like many gifts, there are those who wish to steal them away.”  He looked down at Sophie and squeezed her hand.

Stephen began walking as he followed Richard and Sophie around a great table holding a spectacular array of flowers arranged in a porcelain vase, “How is Matlock compared to Pemberley?  The judge spoke quite fondly of his family’s estate when he visited us after you had left.  He was very proud of it and how Mr. Darcy has managed it since his father’s death.”

“Was he?”  Richard said thoughtfully, and noticing Stephen again, cleared his throat, “Pemberley has about thirty more rooms, I believe.  And a great deal more land, but you will have to speak to Darcy about it when he comes.  He will gladly wax poetic on the subject, especially if you get a few drinks in him.  It is either Pemberley or Elizabeth.”  He smiled at Sophie.  “I suppose I will be the same one day.”   

“Pemberley or Mrs. Darcy?”  She tilted her head and he laughed.

“I wonder if there was a rivalry between the brothers, Mr. Darcy and Lord Matlock.”  Mr. Kelly looked at his sons.  “Not blood brothers, but still, how could they not resist?  The earl versus the landowner with their large houses?  I can see the two of you keeping something of the sort up.”

“No Father, Stephen works very hard for what he plans to accomplish.  I doubt that I could ever compete with him.”  Robert smiled with his brother’s obvious surprise.  “I will be maintaining our home; Stephen has the opportunity to start afresh.”

“Thank you.”  He glanced at Robert and stood a little straighter.  “I . . . I am sure you are the best suited for taking over for Father.” 

“I will do my best.”  Robert noticed Richard’s approving nod and felt his father’s hand briefly grip his shoulder.  “Well, Master Richard, what is next?” 

“Onward and upward.”  They started up the stairs and Richard felt Sophie’s hand tremble.  “You will be fine.  Just remember, they are going to test your mettle, but underneath it all, they are relieved to have you here.”  He gave her an encouraging smile.  “I realize that you may forget that second part at some point.”

“Just remind me, if you could?”  They exchanged glances and Richard squeezed her hand again,   “Are the Darcys here?” 

“I saw no sign of them.”  Richard called out to the butler. “Darcy has not appeared yet, has he, Mr. Pitt?” 

“No, sir.  They must have been delayed.”

“Odd, he never is late for anything.”  Richard glanced back out at the drive as they passed a window at the head of the stairs.

“Mrs. Darcy is not here?”  Sophie looked to her mother but saw that she was still completely occupied taking in the decor.

“It will be fine.”  Raising her hand to his lips, he smiled.  “Do you know how nice it is to be free to do this?  I am glad that I told your brothers and father to back off.” 

“Richard . . . Is kissing me the only thing that is on your mind right now?”

“No.” He grinned.  “No, I can think of many more delightful things to dwell upon.”  Feeling an elbow in his side he laughed.  “Your blush makes you beautiful.”

“I am not blushing, I am terrified.”

“And you are lovely when you are terrified.”  They entered a large drawing room and were faced by the Fitzwilliam family.  “And here we go.” 

ELIZABETH WHISPERED to Darcy’s shoulder, “Matlock House was gaudy, but this . . .”

“Is worse, yes, I know.  If you ever see Rosings, you will understand that this home deeply influenced my aunt, as well as my uncle.” 

They were holding hands and strolling through the house.  They had arrived about a half hour after Richard and the Kellys and entered a drawing room filled with disparate people attempting to find something in common besides a pending wedding.  To say that the conversation was stilted was an understatement.  The Darcys’ appearance was received with relief; and Elizabeth’s suggestion after a quarter hour of greetings that the travellers retire to their respective rooms to rest until dinner was nearly greeted with cheers by the company.  Now they were slowly making their way back to the blue drawing room for Lady Matlock’s formal procession to dinner.

“There are certainly enough portraits hanging about.”  Elizabeth observed. “I can only imagine how frightening the gallery is.  We shall have to take it in and laugh at the variety of periwigs.  You could use a good laugh, I think.”  She looked up at him and he nodded.  Squeezing his hand, she spoke quietly, “They barely noticed her, Will.  Their attention will be on the Kellys for quite some time, and by the time they look at her, they will put it all down to maturing, just like the butler did when we arrived and exclaimed at how tall she had grown.”

“I am not sure, Lizzy.  You had us in and out of there so quickly they simply had no opportunity to speak what was on their minds.  If we had stayed another five minutes, I am sure that it would have been said.  Did you see the Kelly brothers staring at her?  From the boy Mitchell to Robert, they all were eyeing her with great curiosity.”

“We have planned for the inevitable questions.”

“The Fitzwilliams know that she was in Scotland.”  

“I know, Will.”  Elizabeth squeezed his hand.  “Trust me.” 

He smiled a little and nodded, “I do, love.  I do.  But I worry that Georgiana may not be able to carry off her part under close scrutiny.  She confided in Samuel that she is worried of disappointing me again.  She thinks that she reads tension in me.” 

“Oh yes, silly girl for thinking such a thing.  You are so entirely relaxed.”  Elizabeth laughed. 

He smile became shy, “You seem to be feeling better.”  Their eyes met and he raised her hand to his lips.  Her eyes brightened and he laughed softly and gently brushed his thumb along her jaw. “I spoke too soon.”

She drew a breath.  “What did Samuel tell her?” 

Swinging hands, they continued their walk, “It was really quite insightful.  He said that there are a great many stories swirling about this home, and to never assume that you know what anyone is thinking.”  Elizabeth smiled.  “He told her she could lean on him since he deduced, quite correctly, that you and I will be occupied.  Not that he minds.  He misses talking with her.  He has barely seen any of us since returning from Scotland.”

“The five miles between home and Lambton is becoming burdensome?”

“Not so much now, but I can imagine that when winter sets in, he will not look forward to the travel.”  Darcy looked thoughtfully out of a window as they passed, “But he hates the idea of leaving Pemberley to take rooms in Lambton.  He does love it there.” 

“Of course he does.  It is in his blood.  Just like yours.”   She leaned on Darcy’s shoulder and his arm encircled her waist.  “You will speak to him about it?”  He kissed her temple and she smiled.  “I was remembering today how I mistook him for you at Netherfield.” 

“I think that probably delighted him, or it would more so now that he knows you.”  Elizabeth heard and his soft deep voice in her ear.  “But I know you so much better.”   Kissing the warmth rising on her cheek, he drew away and smiled as they continued along. 

Spotting a maid quickly darting into a room, Elizabeth moved the conversation to a neutral subject.  “Did your mother decorate Pemberley?”  Hearing a soft laugh, she nudged him.  “What did I say?”

Searching for a diplomatic response, he finally just waved his hand.  “Pemberley’s style is set in stone, Mrs. Darcy.  Father would not budge when Mother had some more creative suggestions for the public rooms; and in the rooms that she did decorate, I believe that he, over time after her death, reclaimed them from the . . . realm of ostentation.”

“Except for my bedchambers and sitting room.” 

“They only await your orders to redecorate, love.  I have given up on encouraging you, but I assure you once again that they are no shrine to Mother.”  Darcy hugged her to his hip and his eyes twinkled.  “Unless of course you enjoy that rather colourful wallpaper.”

“No.”  She said emphatically.

“I did not believe you did, and it only took you how many months to admit to it?”  His lips returned to tickle her ear, “Stubborn woman.  It is a good thing you live in my much more pleasant rooms.” 

“It is certainly convenient to you.”  Their eyes met and he nodded slowly.  Elizabeth poked him with her elbow and his smile only grew.  Turning into the gallery, he came to a stop before the portrait of a young woman.

“You see, there are your rubies.  This is the portrait I told you about, the one that Cathy would look upon.”  Darcy stood behind Elizabeth and slipping his arms around her waist, kissed her throat.  “That was Mother when she was presented to court.”

“It is like looking at Georgiana, is it not?” 

“Yes.”  He hugged her tighter. 

“Did you think of giving her these jewels?  And changed your mind?”  She looked at the painting and was surprised with his lips wandering over her throat as his hands caressed down her arms to rest over hers.  She felt the rubies gracing her neck nudged aside and his hair brushing over her cheek as his mouth found her pulse.  Elizabeth breathed in his intoxicating cologne and turning, melted into his arms as his insistent, adoring kisses returned to her lips and answered her question. 

“Oh.”  Sophie stopped at the end of the gallery when she saw the Darcys completely lost in their embrace. 

“What is . . .?”  Richard stopped and watched with her.  

“We should go . . .”  Sophie whispered but did not move. 

“Yes.”  Richard nodded and after a few moments of fascination, finally woke from his trance.  Taking Sophie by the hand, he gently pulled her backwards and out into the hallway.  “Well . . .”

Sophie’s hands went to her brightly blushing cheeks, “I am so embarrassed. I was staring.”

“I have imagined what happens when they are alone.”  Richard’s cheeks were just as pink, but his eyes were fixed on her mouth.  “Sophie . . .”  Pulling her into his arms, Richard finally exposed all of the desire he felt for her, and was nearly sent to the floor with the emotion that jolted through him as their mouths met.  Sophie’s response was everything he hoped to receive, and for the first time he felt a woman want
him
.  “Oh Lord . . .”  Shakily he forced himself away, but did not let go.  Passion flared in her eyes.  “Sophie . . .” 

Suddenly she realized what they were doing and turned her head away, “What must you think of me?” 

“Please do not ask that now, dear . . . I would shock you with my sentiments.”

She looked up to him and touched his face, “Then shock me!”

Richard smiled and took her hand in his.  “Not here, not now.  In private.”  He looked down and shook his head.  “I am shocking myself, I do not know which way is up . . . I feel like a young boy and his first discovery that . . . girls are quite nice.” 

Sophie laughed.  “So I am quite nice?”