Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (29 page)

Elizabeth choked and started to cry again and he turned her around in his arms.  Darcy rested his cheek in her hair and rubbed her back, closing his eyes and impressing the feel of her body on his memory.  As she calmed, she looked up to see tears in his eyes.  She reached up to wipe his face.  “Why do you cry?”

Darcy kissed her fingers and letting go of the embrace, took her hand and led her to the portrait of his parents.  “This is my mother and father.  They loved each other deeply.”  Again he stood behind her, his arms around her waist, and his hands clasped over hers.  “My father wanted me to have a marriage like his.  He told me twice to be prepared to find my future in an unexpected way, and to allow my heart to make the choice.  I know that you fear my rejection; I know that you fear me meeting all of your family.  I know of the entailment, I know there is no heir; I know that all I gain by an alliance with you is the woman I hold in my arms right now.”  He turned her around to look sincerely into her eyes, and lifting her chin, he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.  “And that, my Elizabeth, is enough.”

Chapter 12

“M
r. Bennet!  You received a letter from my brother, what news is there?”  Mrs. Bennet stood in the doorway of the bookroom, clutching a handkerchief.Mr. Bennet glanced up from the letter and regarded his wife.  “It seems that our daughter has done her duty.  A gentleman has asked Gardiner for permission to court.”

“Oh Mr. Bennet!  We are saved!  I knew our dear Jane would catch a man’s eye in London!  Such a good girl!  But how could it not be?  She is so beautiful!”

“Yes, yes, Mrs. Bennet, Jane is beautiful, but it is not she who is being courted.”

Mrs. Bennet’s fluttering stopped.  “Not Jane?”

“No.  It is Lizzy who will save you.”  He watched as her face fell.

“Oh no, no it cannot be!  Lizzy will fail!  She drove away Mr. Stewart!  Surely this man, whoever he is, will discover quickly how undesirable she is and will run from her as soon as may be!  Oh why does Lizzy always ruin everything for Jane!”

“I hardly believe that Lizzy set out purposely to steal away this gentleman from Jane, and perhaps Mr. Stewart left the area for other reasons.”

“Do not be ridiculous Mr. Bennet!  Of course it was Lizzy’s fault!”  Mrs. Bennet sat down sadly.  “Well, when this ends, perhaps Jane will have her chance at him.  I must go to London and do what I can!”

“You will do nothing of the kind.”  Mr. Bennet looked at her sternly.

Mrs. Bennet sulked.  “Well, what do you know of the man?”

He consulted the letter.  “He is a gentleman of some means.  Our sister knows of his family and confirms that he is all that he claims.”

“His income?”

“It is not mentioned, but he does own an estate in Derbyshire.”

“Derbyshire?  I do not wish to live in Derbyshire!  Why could she not find a man here?”  Mrs. Bennet fretted while her husband stared at her in disbelief.  “Well it will come to nothing I am certain.”  She stood and nodded as she pointed her handkerchief at him. “Mark my words; Lizzy will ruin it for us all.”

“Well that is just as well Mrs. Bennet, then you will not have to worry about living in Derbyshire when I die and you are left to live in the hedgerows.”  He chuckled as his wife screeched and ran from the room.

Mr. Bennet looked back down at the letter and read it again.  “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, ten thousand a year, a house in town . . .why would you want my Lizzy?”  He read on to see Gardiner’s assurances of Darcy’s good intentions and genuine care for Elizabeth, and hinted at the long-standing attraction to her.  “How long have you harboured thoughts of my daughter!”  Mr. Bennet demanded, then sinking back down into complacency he relaxed.  “Mrs. Bennet is probably correct, nothing will come of it.  She will be crossed in love and will enjoy the experience.”  He chuckled to himself.  “And I will tease her about it!”

“BROTHER?”

“Come in Georgiana.”  Darcy looked up from his correspondence and smiled to see her carrying a heavy book.  “Have you finished the family history already or do you have a question?”

“Both.”  She smiled shyly.  “I did not realize how much time I spend playing!”

 “Yes, I admit that I rather miss the house being filled with music, but I think that the punishment was effective.”  He raised his brow and saw her look down and nod.  “Well, two more days, and you may play again.”

“Oh.”

“You thought I would give you a reprieve?”  He shook his head and laughed.   “No.”

Georgiana’s face expressed her disappointment.  “Well, at least you are smiling.  It has been a very long time since I have seen you so happy.”

“I am.  I am very, very, happy.”  He sighed and reached forward to touch the book.  “What have you learned from our history?”

“I believe that I have learned that our family has worked very hard to become what it is now, and that when some members failed to perform their duties, the succeeding generations had to work twice as hard to regain what was lost.  It is important for the younger generation to understand its history and to maintain and grow what has been left for them.”

“And what of our status?”

“It seems to be a happy consequence of our longevity, but it is more important to see what good we do with it as opposed to flaunting it carelessly.”  She looked up and was pleased to see his approving nod.

“I am glad that you have learned this lesson now, Georgiana.  I only understood it properly a week ago, and if I had not, I am certain that I would not be smiling as I am today.”

“Father did not teach this to you?”

“He did, but I was not listening well enough, and after he died, too many others were whispering in my ear, and drowned out the memory of his lessons.”  He smiled and tapped the book.  “Someday you will marry, and it is your husband’s history that you must carry forward, but you will take the principals of the Darcys with you.”

Georgiana nodded and said softly, “Miss Elizabeth will not be well-received, will she?”

Darcy’s smile faded and a look of determination replaced it.  “I will do my best to see that she is.” 

“Does she have a proper gown for the ball?”  She saw his brow crease and added hurriedly.  “Forgive me Brother, but I could not help but notice on the two occasions we have met that her dresses are not . . . not like mine.”

“It is so obvious?”  He mused softly.

“No, not that bad, really, I . . . I have visited the modiste with Aunt Helen and Cousin Audrey, and I have seen . . .”

“Yes, I suppose that I was just surprised that you would care about fashion at your age.”

“I
am
thirteen, Fitzwilliam.”  Georgiana huffed.

He chuckled.  “Of course you are, how silly of me to forget.  Well, I did have her go to Madame Dupree and have a ball gown made.  I do not know what to do beyond that, though.  It was rather presumptuous of me to suggest that purchase.”  He rubbed his jaw and thought of speaking to Mr. Gardiner. 

“What of her jewellery?”

“Um.”

“She cannot go to the ball without some sort of jewels.”  Georgiana said positively.  “May I lend her some of mine?”

“Oh, well, certainly.  I would lend her the mistresses’ jewels but they are at Pemberley.”  He watched her jump up and run from the room, and heard her ascending the stairs.  Five minutes later she flew back in and handed him a velvet bag.  

She gasped for breath.  “She may wear this, it is my prettiest necklace.”

Darcy opened the bag and peeked in, and began to laugh.  “Very well then, I will present it to her today, unless you would like to do the honours and come with me?”

“Oh no, Fitzwilliam, after I interrupted you two in here when she visited, I know that you do not wish for my company!”  His mouth dropped open and she giggled.  “Maybe you will get to kiss her this time!”  She ran from the room again before he could chastise her. 

“It seems that I have to have a talk with my sister about proper behaviour.”  He sighed with the prospect and shaking his head he picked up the necklace, looking at the single pearl surrounded by diamonds. “However, the next time I have an opportunity to kiss you, Elizabeth, I am locking the door.”

“IT IS BEAUTIFUL.”  Elizabeth said softly as she looked at herself in the mirror.  The fine fabric in a rich shade of emerald green draped over her body, exposing a shape she hardly knew she possessed.  The modiste walked around her, tugging here and there, then dipped her hand down the front of the gown to lift Elizabeth’s breasts.  Jane stared at her and gasped.  Madame Dupree took no notice and nodded.  “You have the perfect figure for a man, Miss Elizabeth.”  She ran her hands down her flat stomach and over her hips.  “A man likes curves.”  She tugged again at the neckline.  “And such plump breasts.  You will have every eye on you.”

Elizabeth was blushing furiously.  “I think that you must be mistaken, I have a very unfortunate figure.  All of the magazines . . .”

“The magazines prefer a figure like Miss Bennet’s.”  She turned to her.  “Tall, willowy, fabric drapes well without fuss.  Men like this.”  She turned back to Elizabeth.  “But you have the figure that appeals to a certain man, a passionate man.”  She nodded and stood back.  “Yes, I will enjoy dressing you.”

“I . . . I hope that I will be able to come again sometime.”  An assistant had jumped when the modiste nodded and began to remove the gown from Elizabeth. 

“I am the best, and for Mr. Darcy, there is nothing but the best.”  She raised her chin and looked over the simple gown that Elizabeth was slipping on and eyed it unhappily.  “Perhaps we could make you a few other things now?”

Mrs. Gardiner interjected, “We will return soon.  I must thank you for performing this miracle for us.”

“It is nothing madam, but I thank you for the kindness.”

 Madame Dupree left the room and Elizabeth’s gown was packed in a box.  The three ladies followed a man out to the carriage, where their dresses were stored on a seat, and began the journey back to Cheapside.  Elizabeth was silent as they travelled.  Their carriage passed near fashionable neighbourhoods, containing homes similar in size to Darcy House.  She observed the people in their fine clothes strolling by and glanced at the boxes across from her.  Gradually the neighbourhoods changed.  The streets were still crowded, but it was a different population.  Not the enormous crested carriages of Mayfair, but the carts of the peddlers hawking their wares. People were dressed simpler as well, and the sight of a woman in a fine gown meant that it was bought from a ragman or given as a cast-off from the mistress. 
What does he want with a girl like me?  I am going to an Earl’s home, dressed like a doll, and pretending to be something I am not.  And when the evening is over, I will return to this world, put away my pretty gown, and will have nothing suitable to wear anywhere that he belongs.  They will hate me!

“Lizzy?”  Mrs. Gardiner touched her hand.  “Are you well?”

“No.”

“Tell me what is wrong.”

She said nothing, and only stared at her hands.  Mrs. Gardiner exchanged worried looks with Jane and rubbed her shoulders until they arrived home.  Outside of the house, Darcy’s carriage waited.  Elizabeth saw it and choked back a cry, then ran into the house and up the stairs.  Ten minutes later, a soft knock on her door went unnoticed, and slowly it opened.  Mr. Gardiner looked in to see her sobbing on the bed.  “Lizzy?”

“Is he still here?”

“Yes, he is very worried about you.  I had to use threats to keep him from tearing up the stairs after you.”

She sniffed.  “What did you say?”

“I said that I would never allow you two a second alone again.”  He smiled to see her shake her head.  “I know how frustrated you both are.  You have so much to say to each other.  I think that this difference in your circles is something that is troubling you both.”

“He regrets me?  Well . . .fine, let him end it now.  I am used to being rejected! 

“Hush, Lizzy enough of that!  He does not think anything of the sort!  He wants to help you into his world and has no intention of leaving you.  We just had a long talk about this.  After this ball, he will be escorting you all over town.  He wishes to take you to the theatre, to other balls, even to the Derby.”

Elizabeth looked up to see his smile.  “That is a special place for you, I gather.”

“I can go nowhere, Uncle.  Our Father cannot afford the dresses.”

“Mr. Darcy has offered to purchase whatever you need.  Your father did send some funds for purchases in town, but I will write to him for more.  This is his duty to you.”

“Mr. Darcy is buying me.”  She said dully.

“Mr. Darcy is showing you his feelings.”  He hugged her.  “Do you think that Mr. Darcy would offer all of this to someone he did not care for?  He has no doubt whatsoever that you will shine in his world.  It will not be easy for either of you, but he is positive that it will be well.  Just remember, he is a very young man who is barely confident in the role he has as master of an estate, guardian of his sister, and, he hopes, husband.”  Elizabeth looked up to her uncle’s kind eyes.  “He desperately needs you, nobody else will do.”

“Why has he not said this to me?”

Mr. Gardiner laughed.  “Because your aunt and I have not let him.”  He hugged her again.  “I think that we will loosen our restrictions a bit.  We will allow you to occupy an empty room, with the door open, so that you may visit in some privacy.”  He stood and held out his hands.  “Beginning now.”

“I must look horrible!”

“You look lovely.”  Elizabeth followed him down the stairs; and into the parlour where Darcy was staring out of the window pensively.  “Mr. Darcy.”

He spun around.  “Elizabeth!  I . . .Miss Elizabeth, are you well?”

Mr. Gardiner left the room and Darcy took her hands.  “What is wrong?  Did I do anything . . .?”

“No, no.  Forgive me, I . . . I left the modiste and she made me feel . . .so terrible.”

“What did she do?”  Darcy said sharply.

“Nothing . . . I realized that in her eyes I was unsuitable for you; she hinted rather baldly that my clothes were poor.  And then I began to think of your family.  Your uncle is an Earl!  What are you doing with me?”