Longbourn to London (13 page)

He replied without turning, “No, Elizabeth, there is no need. If you will allow me to speak as much as I can, when I can, this conversation, although disjointed, may yield the information you deserve. If you are brave enough to ask, I must be brave enough to answer as truthfully as words can express.”

Her hand remained on his shoulder, and after a moment, Darcy reached to cover it with his. “You humble me, Elizabeth.”

She stepped closer to him and embraced the arm at his side. Their hands entwined. He was vibrantly aware of her breasts through her thick winter spencer pressed to his arm. It was the same embrace she occasionally bestowed upon him as they walked in the countryside before her dream, before she became distant.
We shall conquer this
.
She has come back to me in spirit, and soon she will be mine in fact.

“I shall keep this secret.” She smiled playfully at him, shaking the arm she held. “No one need know you may be humbled. Is it not also a wifely duty to protect her husband’s weaknesses from discovery?” she teased. “You have so many; I shall be rather constantly on guard for you.”

Darcy looked into her eyes, his darkened with passion. “Loving you is my weakness, Elizabeth. It is also my greatest strength.”

They smiled fondly until Darcy said, “Let us walk. Our destination is close, is it not?”

Elizabeth looked about as they continued forward. “Perhaps when we reach the viewpoint, I shall devise another question to disturb us.”

In a few minutes, Elizabeth and Darcy stood upon the rise, and they were presented with the tranquil prospect of Hertfordshire countryside in tawny autumn colours. Darcy stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. They remained thus, contented with silence until Darcy cleared his throat.

“Are you certain you will not be sorry to leave this prospect, Elizabeth?”

“Indeed, I shall not. I have been on this spot perhaps fifty times in my one and twenty years. I shall not miss it but neither shall I forget it.” Darcy was pleased and kissed the top of her head. “Besides, will we not visit the Bingleys occasionally?”

“Of course we shall, but I do not know how long they will last.”

Elizabeth stiffened. Darcy felt her shock and recognised the implications of what he had said.
That was poorly worded, Darcy,
he cursed himself. He had no doubts about the longevity of Jane and Bingley’s mutual affection. “Would
you
continue long at Netherfield with your mother not three miles away? That is my meaning. Even the placid nature of your sister seems to lose patience with your mother occasionally. Bingley is a difficult man to impose upon, but I believe your mother will apply herself.”

Elizabeth visibly relaxed and even started to chuckle. “Ah, sir. I take your point. Do you think we could convince them to settle nearer to us?”

“I would wager by the end of the coming year, Bingley will approach me for my opinions of estates in Derbyshire.”

“You think it will need so long as that? I shall take that bet, sir! A sixpence says that if they join us in midsummer, the topic will be broached sooner.”

“It is indeed my intention to invite them to spend some weeks with us around the time of the 21st of July, so I agree to your wager. But only a sixpence?”

“I would not wish to bankrupt you, and I am certain I shall win. On the 21st of July? Fitzwilliam, what does that date signify?”

“It is
our
anniversary, the date upon which we met at Pemberley. You have had the effect of my becoming a highly sentimental man where I was never one before.”

She turned in his arms and asked playfully, “Perhaps we should postpone our wedding until then?”

Darcy’s cheeks warmed instantly. “No, indeed not. I have waited for you entirely long enough,
more
than long enough. It is sweet of you to offer, madam, but no, that will not be necessary.”

Elizabeth stepped back as he sought to tighten his embrace. She was laughing. He lunged after her, realising she was teasing him yet again, and he smiled as he caught her. “Elizabeth! You must not test me on this point. You would deny a thirsty man water?”

They stood suspended in time; she was laughing into his eyes, and he was cherishing holding her. After a long moment, Elizabeth reached up to smooth the curls from his forehead, tucking them under his hat, and her fingers lingered on his cheek. Darcy was deeply moved when she continued to hold his gaze and whisper, “No, Fitzwilliam, I would not. If you believe it within my power to make you a felicitous marriage, I shall endeavour to repay your conviction.” She paused as he drew her more securely into his arms. “Please tell me what I must do, other than marrying you on the date we have affixed
already
, to ensure your happiness.”

Darcy threw off his hat. “For now, kiss me.”

It may be assumed the practice of kissing now occupied much of the remainder of their time upon Oakham Mount, and when, at last, they mastered the delicate art of breathing whilst kissing, and how to respond when one’s cheeks and ears were so anointed, Darcy complimented Elizabeth, saying she was in a fair way to becoming proficient. “Indeed, dearest Elizabeth,” he breathed into her hair, “I believe you have it within you to become truly adept.”

“Such praise!” She smiled in a way that reminded him of the disastrous— by his reckoning—Meryton assembly, when she danced with Bingley after he himself had so ridiculously insulted her. She had glanced his way as he watched her with his friend, as if to draw attention to her virtue as a partner, knowing the lively dance flattered her.

“I am not teasing you, Elizabeth. I am serious.”

“Much too serious, Fitzwilliam. Now where is your hat? We should start our return.”

He did not move or allow her to, saying only, “Oh, hang my hat…” He kissed her laughter away until he felt her responding. Her arms crept around his waist and back under his great coat.

All will be well, Darcy. She will let me teach her all I want her to know.

When he ended the kiss, she remained in his arms, her face upturned, eyes closed, and silent.

“Elizabeth?”

“Shh… I am savouring this,” she whispered.

“What pleases you?”

“Being alone with you, being in your arms. The quiet when we do not need to speak.” She laid her head on his chest.

Darcy took her hint, and held her for some minutes, leaning his cheek on her hair, until she sighed.

“We must go,” they both said and laughed. Their walk back to Longbourn was brisk, contented, and mostly silent.

Chapter 9

His Daughter’s Worth

“When you depart from me, sorrow abides
and happiness takes his leave.”
William Shakespeare
Much Ado about Nothing

The Bennets and Gardiners were invited to Netherfield for another musical evening and supper. After his late morning walk with Elizabeth, Darcy sent a note to Mr. Bennet asking for Elizabeth and him to arrive earlier to finalise the marriage settlement and explain it to Elizabeth.

Mr. Bennet was surprised to receive the note. He was of the opinion that Darcy and he were agreed on all of its generous terms, and he assumed Darcy had already acquainted Elizabeth with the knowledge that she was about to become a woman of substance. There was nothing more than for the documents to be drawn and signed.

Once they were settled in Bingley’s study, Mr. Bennet asked, “Has my Lizzy given you reason to over set the marriage settlement already, Mr. Darcy?” He smiled at his future son-in-law, but behind the smile was some concern.

“Indeed not, sir, but I believe you and I will benefit from informing her together.” He looked at Elizabeth with a broad smile.

Mr. Bennet glanced at his daughter, interested in her reception of the particulars. She seemed curious and oddly, he thought, embarrassed.

“Eliz… Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy corrected upon seeing Mr. Bennet’s raised brow, “I have not yet made you aware of the terms of the settlement between myself and your parents. Has your father mentioned any part?”

“No, Mr. Darcy, and you may well imagine my curiosity. I assumed I would have a chance to read the document before being required to sign it.” Her tone was slightly playful.

“I think you may gather after our conversation this morning, that I have decided to acquaint you with the particulars sooner rather than later. I hope you will find everything to your liking. I hope…I hope you will see reflected here the faith I have in you.”

Mr. Bennet suppressed a chuckle. He knew very well what his daughter’s reaction to Darcy’s largesse was likely to be.

“I am honoured, Mr. Darcy. My father will be pleased at this further proof of your confidence in me.”

Mr. Bennet watched the young people exchange a significant look of pride in each other. He leaned forward in his chair as Darcy explained the terms. This was likely to be a spectacle.

“Miss Elizabeth, the agreement states that I will settle twenty thousand pounds upon you at the time of our wedding”—Elizabeth gasped, and drew a hand to her bosom in surprise— “to which will be added five thousand pounds every year for the rest of your life. You see, I have a bit more than ten thousand a year.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide, and she gave her head a little shake of disbelief. Mr. Bennet chuckled, having already been apprised of how much over ten thousand a year Darcy was worth.

“It is your money; you should think of it as yours. It is separate from your personal allowance and the household funds.” Darcy took a breath. “At the time of my death, as the agreement states, you will become the legal owner of Pemberley in trust until our oldest male child should come of age. If we have no male children, then the oldest female child inherits. Pemberley is not entailed away from the female line but each generation
has
managed to produce a boy.”

She was aghast but managed to stammer, “I–I will do my best.”

“Now she will tell you she does not deserve it.” Mr. Bennet could no longer restrain his amusement at the turn of Elizabeth’s countenance. He took his daughter’s hand. “But you and I know better.” He nodded at Darcy.

“Indeed, sir. Your daughter has consented to become my partner in managing the estate. She has agreed to let me teach her. I am delighted she is willing to assume a role that is similar to my mother’s place with my father.

“And once I am gone, Eliz…Miss Elizabeth will direct the future of Pemberley as she and I will have planned, assuming our heir is not old enough and has not completed his schooling.”

Elizabeth leapt to her feet and began pacing behind her father. “First, sir, we
must
cease speaking of your being dead. We simply must.” She looked beseechingly at Darcy. “And secondly, I did not apprehend so much as this.” She continued to pace.

Mr. Bennet chuckled at the forlorn look on Darcy’s face as he watched Elizabeth pace the room.

“Mr. Darcy…” Elizabeth seemed to cast about for the proper expression of her astonishment and alarm. “Is there any circumstance that would allow me to ask, without appearing avaricious, just how much beyond ten thousand a year you are worth?”

“You have every right to know. I am…
we
will be, worth a little over twenty thousand a year.” Darcy’s voice had quieted. “There are investments, other smaller holdings…you will know all of it as soon as may be, after the wedding and our honeymoon. Unless you wish me to enumerate now…”

Her pacing grew more pronounced, and Mr. Bennet was glad of the thick carpet that deadened a sound with which he was quite familiar: the stomping of his daughter’s feet when she was most agitated.

“Surely, Lizzy, you understand the even greater honour Mr. Darcy is prepared to bestow upon you. It is not like you to shrink before a challenge.”

Darcy caught Mr. Bennet’s eye with a brief nod, and the men watched Elizabeth carefully.

“Papa…Mr. Darcy… What will people say when they learn of this arrangement? Of what mercenary motives will I be accused? What will people assume I have done to
earn
this? Fitzwilliam…” At her father’s censorious look, she amended, “…Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth took a deep breath, enquiring into his eyes. “You know what your aunt has said of me already. Oh…” Her pacing was rapid but her gaze remained fixed upon Darcy.

Mr. Bennet turned in his seat to follow her, and with the increased velocity of her steps, he realised he and Darcy might appear to a disinterested observer as if they were watching lawn tennis. Elizabeth and her betrothed remained with fixed gazes upon each other, Darcy’s head moving rhythmically from side to side.

“Elizabeth, you know I abhor disguise of any sort. I know you love me, and I know you love Pemberley. Let my aunt say what she will. Let her invite such folly upon herself. My cousin Richard and my sister agree with my wishes. They are all the family I need consult. They approve of everything about you.”

“But my mother, Fitzwilliam… what of her? She will trumpet this all over Hertfordshire. Every shopkeeper, blacksmith and labourer will know your worth. Every stranger she meets will be told. She will announce it to our servants when she visits. I have no doubt of her insufferable, interminable bragging.”