Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (15 page)

“Tomorrow.”

“MMMMM.”

Lord Matlock smiled and waved the piece of bacon under his son’s nose again.  “Come on, Son.  You know you are hungry.”

Fitzwilliam’s eyes opened to see his father smiling and blinking back tears.  “Father.”  He sat up and the men embraced. 

“You had us worried, Son.”  He held him tight.  “Forgive me.  Forgive me for making you choose this life.  Forgive me for not providing you an estate.”

Fitzwilliam hugged him back just as hard.  “Stop Father, you are correct, I chose this life.”

“You had romantic ideas of the cavalry.”

“I wanted to serve my country, and I have.  I will not be going back out, Father.  I have been promoted to colonel and will be training men for now on.”  He drew back and wiped his eyes.  “I am safe, sir.”

Lord Matlock nodded.  “Very well.  But if you get the fool notion of fighting again, be assured that your mother will take you down before you mount your horse.” 

Fitzwilliam chuckled and then it grew into a loud laugh.   “Mother would probably succeed.  She was always the disciplinarian.”

“Really?”

“Oh come on Father, you were the soft touch.”  He smiled and saw his father’s sheepish grin. 

“Your brother and sister would beg to disagree, I think.  I was easy only with you, Son.  You were special.”  He hugged him again.  “I love you, Richard.”

“I love you, Father.”  Fitzwilliam blinked back the tears, and his father sat back. 

“Now eat.  Be prepared for your mother to arrive at any moment so I suggest that you at least don a robe.”  He smiled and stood up.  “Darcy will be here in about ten days.”

“How is he?”

“Better in some ways, and worse in others.  Perhaps you can help each other to heal.”  He smiled and paused at the door.  Suddenly it was thrown open.

“Richard!”  Lady Matlock swooped into the room and sat on the bed to embrace her son.

“Mother, I am not clothed!”

“Oh, I have seen you unclothed before!”  She kissed his face and held it in her hands.  “You hold no surprises for me!”

“MOTHER!”  He pushed her off of the bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.  “Father could you do something about her?”

“Come Helen; let the man eat in peace.”  He took his wife’s hand and led her from the room.  “I will give you one hour, Son, then you are on your own.”  He chuckled and closed the door behind him. 

Fitzwilliam lowered the blanket with a sigh.  “It is good to be home.”

Chapter 7

“Y
ou have changed.”  Fitzwilliam said as he took in Darcy’s face.  They were sitting before the fire in leather wingback chairs, each holding a glass of port, and with their feet propped up on hassocks.  “As have you.”  He retorted.

“Ah, but my change is that of experience and wisdom.”  He laughed to see Darcy’s eyes roll.  “Well, alright, my change is due to a hellish experience, but it is also over forever.  I will have to live with the memory, but I also know that it is unlikely that I will have to experience it again; the wounds took care of that.  You however, carry a burden that will never be relieved and it shows.”

“How so?”  Darcy looked down into his glass.

“Your smile does not reach your eyes anymore, Cousin.”  Fitzwilliam set his feet on the floor and leaned forward.  “Georgiana walks around you with caution and seems to cry for attention.  Father worries over your sheltering yourself from living.  Mother is determined to find you a wife to draw you from yourself.”

“I have not been a hermit!”  Darcy insisted.  “And I have made a concerted effort to smile and be pleasant for Georgiana!”

Fitzwilliam laughed and sat back again.  “You cannot force happiness.”

“She is taking Father’s charge to take care of me too seriously.”  Darcy muttered. 

“Perhaps it is you taking your duties too seriously that is the problem.” 

“Oh, and I suppose that your performance on the battlefield would have been so much better if you had been lax in your duties?  Or should I be toasting your short life right now instead of looking at your ugly face?”

“tsk tsk.  I am not the Adonis that you present, but I am hardly homely.”  He smiled and sat back.  “Very well, point taken.  I will not question your dedication to duty and honour and all that.  However, you do need to let go a little.  I can see how tightly wound you are; and I have no doubt that is what Georgiana senses.”

“I have missed you, Richard.”  Darcy said softly and looked up at him.  “There has been nobody to talk to.”

Fitzwilliam nodded to let him know that he was heard, and said quietly, “Father is more than willing to aid you.”

“It is not the same.”  Darcy shrugged and smiled a little. 

“I hear that you have adopted a puppy.”  A crooked smile crossed his lips.  “Named Bingley.”

Darcy laughed with genuine happiness.  “So I have.  He is a good man, and I am enjoying teaching him how to be a gentleman and how to move in society.  I admit that he frustrates me at times and he is entirely too easy with those below him, but he is learning.”

“He is from trade, I understand.”

“Yes, it is unfortunate.”  Darcy took a sip of his drink.  “However he graduates from Cambridge soon, and I will sponsor him at his levee, and that will get him accepted into the higher circles.  Your father has graciously offered him invitations to events at Matlock House.”

“Your offer of sponsorship is exceptional, and my father’s offer, well you are correct, it is gracious and very unusual.  I wonder what my brother thinks of that.”

“He is not pleased, and your father likely only offered because he saw me in need of a friend.” Darcy shrugged. “You see, it is all your fault. If you had been home. . .”

“Do not blame your poor choices of companionship on me, Cousin.”  Richard laughed.  “You were struck by some flash of altruism.  I sincerely doubt though that it will be extended to every level of society.  Or am I incorrect, will you next invite your valet to the theatre or perhaps offer for a milk maid?”

“Now you are being ridiculous.”

“Ah, but it is time for you to consider marriage, and me as well, I suppose.”  He mused and took a sip of his drink.  “Well, if you are to charm the ladies when the Season begins, we must lift this dour visage of yours.  I propose that we spend the next few weeks kicking up our heels about town.  We will take in the theatre, meet a few actresses, visit the clubs, see a fight, all of the activities of men with time and deep pockets . . .”

“I assume that I am paying.”  Darcy said with a small smile.

“Of course!”  Fitzwilliam laughed.  “Then we will go to Rosings, have a good dose of cold water thrown over our boyish high spirits, and return for the Season and the serious business of choosing our mates.  What say you?”

“I will try Richard, but I doubt very much that I will be the companion you desire.”

“As long as you give it a try, Darcy, I will be satisfied.” 

“PLEASE PAPA.”  Elizabeth sat in her customary chair and leaned forward.  “Please let me go.”

Mr. Bennet set down the letter from Mr. Gardiner, inviting Elizabeth once again to visit London, and suggesting that she stay for the entire Season.  “Is it really so terrible here that you must appeal to your relatives for relief?”

“Papa, you live here, Mama has not let up from her wailings over Mr. Stewart for four months!  I can bear it no longer.”

He studied her before answering.  “I apologize for letting her go on so long, Lizzy.  I was selfishly sparing myself from hearing her speeches by letting her focus on you.”

“Why could you not simply tell her to stop?”  Elizabeth tried to control her tears.  “I cannot stand to hear the constant complaints anymore.  I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I had felt anything beyond liking him.  I would have been dealing with my heartbreak along with her criticism of him for leaving, and me for being a bad daughter.”

“It seems that I have allowed my desire for peace to supersede my duties as father.”  He looked at Elizabeth’s pleading eyes.  “Very well, you may go and stay as long as you feel is necessary, or until they grow weary of you.”

“Thank you, Papa!”  She cried and jumped up to hug him.

Mr. Bennet embraced her lightly and pushed her away.  “I shall miss you, Daughter, you are my one joy in this house.”

Elizabeth took his hands and stared into his eyes.  “You have a houseful of daughters; please give them your attention.  It is not too late to educate them as you have me.  I worry for my younger sisters, what will become of them?”

“They are too silly to teach.”  He shook his head.  “Mary cares only of sermons.”

“But she reads, Papa!  She is thirsting for direction, take away her sermons and thrust a history in her hands!”  Elizabeth urged.  “Kitty is not a reader, but she loves to draw.  It is only Mama’s criticism that prevents her from trying.  Ask her to sketch Longbourn for you and hang it in here.  Make her feel that you care for her!”

“And Lydia?  How shall I parent her?”  He asked with a little twitch to his lips. 

Elizabeth sighed.  “I fear that she is in need of a strong hand.  Perhaps less indulgence would help.”

“Less of your mother.”  He smiled.  “And what of sweet Jane?”

“May she come to London with me?”  Elizabeth said hopefully.  “Truly Papa, we would both benefit from the experience; and Aunt promises to take me to dances and dinners in their circle.  Perhaps if she comes, we might both find husbands there?”  She tilted her head and he chuckled.  “That argument would work for Mama.”

“It would.”  He smiled.  “Well, perhaps she might come later in the Season.  She has not been invited yet.  You may go and we can always send her to town later.”

“Would it not be more economical to send us both now?”  Elizabeth suggested.

“You are wearing me down!” Mr. Bennet closed his eyes.  “You are determined to remove all sense from this house.”

“Then perhaps you will be inspired to replace it with my other sisters.”  Elizabeth looked down at her hands and he opened his eyes to study her. He could not chastise her for insubordination when he was the one who had encouraged it.

“Very well, Lizzy.  Go tell Jane that she may travel with you, and I will write to your uncle and inform him of the plans.”  She jumped up and smiled happily for seemingly the first time in months, and he saw the difference.  “Go on.”

“Thank you, Papa!” 

Mr. Bennet watched her go and sadly pulled forward a sheet of paper and sharpened his pen. 

14 March 1809

Longbourn

Dear Gardiner,

I hereby entrust you with my daughters.  I am not a fool.  I realize that it is you and your good wife who truly own the prestige of having made them into the ladies they are.  I have just now received a gentle but pointed remonstration from Lizzy as to my poor parenting.  I will endeavour to correct my failings with my younger girls, however, I trust you to care for the eldest.  As much as I will regret them marrying and leaving home, I can no longer ignore the seriousness of their situation, and I will trust you to act as their guardians.  I will accept your decisions should any gentlemen come to call.  Yes Gardiner, I know what you are thinking, once again I am abdicating my role of parent.  We will send them to you as proposed.

Sincerely,

Bennet

Mr. Gardiner read the letter and walked into the drawing room where his wife was reading to their son.  He handed her the letter while the little boy clambered up into his lap and he hugged him tightly.  Mrs. Gardiner read and shook her head.

“Abdicate his parenting.   Well who did not know that!”

“Are you getting your dander up, Marianne?”  Mr. Gardiner chuckled.  “Well, it seems that our brother has charged us with finding husbands for our nieces.  Are you up for the challenge, my dear?”

“Of course I am!”  She tilted her head.  “You know this is what we have been hoping for.”

“I do.”  He kissed his son and set him down.  “I will go and consult my bank balance so that you ladies can go shopping.”  He winked. “Before you use your feminine wiles to convince me.”

She shrugged and picked up the book.  “Well if you do not want to be convinced . . .” Her statement was stopped with a sound kiss on her lips.  “Edward!”  He chuckled and winked and walked out of the door.  Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her son.  “Did you see that?  Your Papa will have to teach you how to do that!”

FITZWILLIAM GROANED.  “WE HAVE ARRIVED.”

Darcy smiled grimly.  “So we have.”  The carriage began the turn onto the drive for Rosings and was just about to roll through the gates when he nudged his cousin with his foot.  “Look, the Reverend Mousely is at his post.”

“It seems he has a new companion to bow and scrape at us.”  They noticed a small wide-eyed man eagerly bobbing at the reverend’s side.  “Who could that be?”

“I understand that he is studying to take Holy Orders with Mousely, the man is practically blind and his hands so gnarled he cannot turn the pages of his bible.  This man will assist as curate and get the living when he retires.”

“Retires?”

“Well, Aunt Catherine cannot dismiss him.”

“She might urge him out of the door, though.”  Fitzwilliam chuckled and sighed as the carriage pulled to a stop.  “Are you prepared for this?  Have you your shield and armour at hand?”

“I suppose.” 

“Well, just use that damned mask you have been wearing for the past month and you will be fine.”

“Forgive me for not being the most entertaining companion, Richard.”  Darcy’s lips lifted a little.

“You had a few moments.”  Fitzwilliam winked.  “I got you loosened up quite admirably a few times.”  Darcy groaned with the memories.  “Well, escape this visit unmarried and we will really have some fun this Season!”

They descended onto the drive and Darcy looked back at him. “Should you not be returning to duty or something?”

“In another month or so.  I seem to recall some mention of you missing me.”  He chortled at Darcy’s closing eyes.  “I will enjoy seeing you dance.”