Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (3 page)

Darcy set down his pen and read over the entry.  He wiped his eyes as they blurred over and felt the familiar ache in his heart that he had known for ten years, ever since his mother had died, and now he was to lose his beloved father as well.  His hand clenched and the quill broke in half. Closing his eyes again he concentrated, and heard Lizzy’s laugh, and remembering her smile, felt better.

Chapter 2

    
“D
arcy, welcome back!”  Captain Richard Fitzwilliam declared upon entering the front door of Darcy House and shook his cousin’s hand happily.  “So, how was it?  Did you enjoy the adventure?  You were away far longer than I expected with the war on.”

“It was quite a memorable trip, Richard.  I understand now your enthusiasm for travel.”  The two men entered Mr. Darcy’s study and sat down, waiting for their fathers’ arrival.

“Ah, but my experience with the army was likely not nearly as comfortable as yours, eh?”  He winked.  “Were you sleeping in a tent with a group of filthy men?”

“Admittedly not.”  Darcy smiled.  “But I did have to hike over the Alps.”

“Poor suffering bastard.”  Fitzwilliam chuckled.  “You were not carrying the luggage were you?”  He burst out in laughter to see the look of horror on his cousin’s face.  “Soft man!  You are soft!”

Darcy flushed with embarrassment.  As the second son, Fitzwilliam had few choices but to find a career; and the army is what he chose.  Darcy, by fortune of his birth, would always live a life of luxury and his cousin’s comments were not lost on him.   “I imagine you are off to war soon.”  He said softly.

Fitzwilliam sobered.  “I imagine I am.  There is an ill-wind blowing from the direction of France, but who knows what that miniature despot will move our generals to do.  I have heard rumours of Sweden and Portugal.  I could be anywhere in a few months’ time.”  He sighed.  “Well, it is a soldier’s lot.”

“I do not understand why you could not simply buy a commission that would assure your stay here.  A militia officer would remain . . .”

“That is not honourable, Darcy.  Would you shirk your duty if it were you?  It would be like you abandoning Pemberley and Georgiana to run off with an actress.  She would be attractive for awhile, but the guilt would get to you eventually.”  Fitzwilliam raised his brows to smile at his younger cousin and saw him smile and nod.  Duty and honour were his bywords. “I choose to do this properly, which is why I began with the captain’s commission.  I want to earn the rest.”

“I expect to see you are a major at least upon your return.”  Darcy clapped his back.

“And I expect you to raise Pemberley’s profits to an all-time high.”  Fitzwilliam laughed.

Darcy shook his head.  “What if I fail?” 

“You will not.”  Fitzwilliam met his eye and tried to encourage him.  “You feel overwhelmed now, but what is it Aunt Catherine is fond of saying?  Oh yes,
breeding will win out
.  That Darcy blood will prevail and you will be outstanding.  I know that Uncle George wants me to share this guardianship of Georgiana with you, but truly Darcy, the job is yours.  You cannot count on me being with you, not as long as the little devil is free to spread his poison.  I will support you as much as I am able, but it is truly on you.  This is the making of you.”

“So it is.”  Darcy looked up to the landscape of Pemberley and resolved to do just as his cousin demanded.   He would do his duty.

The sound of footsteps and low voices were heard and into the study stepped Mr. Darcy and Lord Matlock.  His uncle smiled and offered his hand.  “It is good to see you home safely, Darcy.  Your aunt was worried over you.”

“She had nothing to fear.  My guides knew their business, and kept our group well away from any danger.  We had to go a little out of our way a few times, but for the most part it was the normal route.  Probably the same as you took yourself.”  Darcy smiled a little and resumed his seat.  “How is Aunt Helen?  Well, I hope?”

“Of course, fully in the thick of the Season, you know her, she never stops.  The Derby and Ascot are over, so she will be happy to enjoy the cricket matches and a few more dinners and balls before we head home to Matlock.  She was all set to introduce you to a number of young ladies, but it seems you are off to Pemberley in a day or so.”  He dropped the jovial attitude and looked at him soberly.  “Whatever you need, you know that you can turn to me.”

Darcy nodded.  “Thank you, sir.  I cannot say that I am sorry to be missing out on Aunt Helen’s plans.”

“You never were one to enjoy a good party were you, Darcy?  Next Season she will demand your attendance, you know.  She is determined to marry you off young since she has failed so terribly with Richard, and it took Stephen until he was thirty to find Alicia.  After Audrey’s wedding last year, she is itching to begin the hunt again.  You will be very popular and quite the catch.”  He smiled and looked to Mr. Darcy; obviously the two men had discussed getting Darcy out in society.  “Well, I suppose all we need is the solicitor.”

“Yes, before he comes, I want to say a few things.”  Mr. Darcy moved uncomfortably, and grimaced for a moment, then immediately hid the pain behind a slight smile.  “I realize that you have had little time to digest this news Son, but as your uncle said, he will gladly lend you his expertise to help you manage the estate.  We have a very capable steward in Mr. Nichols, and our staff is well-trained and loyal.  It is perfectly reasonable for you to leave the work to him and simply supervise from afar, as most landowners do.”

“That is not what I was raised to do, Father.” 

Mr. Darcy smiled at him proudly.  “No, it is not.  However, at the beginning it will not be shameful for you to accept that perhaps you may rely on them more heavily than you would wish.”

“I . . .will keep that in mind, sir.”  Darcy swallowed and looked at his hands.  A knock at the door made the men look up and Foster announced the solicitor’s arrival.  They gathered around a large round table and studied the will and the documents giving over Pemberley to Darcy, as well as the details of Georgiana’s guardianship and dowry.  With the discussion and questions, it took hours. When at last the meeting ended, and a meal was consumed, Darcy found himself alone again with his father.

“Do you have any private questions?”  Mr. Darcy asked him quietly.

Darcy hesitated then spoke just as softly.  “Wickham.”

“You disapprove of the living and bequest I leave him?”  Mr. Darcy said with a raised brow.  “It is a very generous gift I know, but it does come with the stipulation that he take holy orders.”

“Sir, it is not my place to question your decisions . . .” He saw his father’s unrelenting stare.  “However, I wonder if this is . . . not wise.  You do not know him as I do.”

“I thought that you were great friends.”  Darcy’s face flushed with anger.  “No?  Well, you have hidden your disdain well.  Why is that?”

“You seemed to take pleasure in his company, and I was pleased to see that you took pleasure in anything after Mother . . . well, you know that I was not the most entertaining boy after . . .”  He sighed.  “I did not wish to get in the way of your happiness.”

Mr. Darcy smiled.  “I appreciate your care Son, and yes, I understand why my shy boy became even more reticent after his mother died.”  Darcy looked away.  “What has Wickham done that has disappointed you?  I was sure that you were friends.”

Darcy’s head snapped up.  “Sir, he is a profligate, a gambler, a brawler and drunk.  He stole from me in school, he cheated on exams.  He did no work and slid through.  I could go on but it would be more of the same.”  His face was flushed.  “I never understood the favour he received from you, sir.”

“You sound jealous.”

“This goes beyond jealousy of a son for a father’s attention.  I see Wickham as a dangerous man who has no business leading any congregation.  Would you wish such a man as your pastor?  Now?  At this time in your life?”  Darcy stood up and paced.  “Was not the gift of a gentleman’s education enough?  I cannot stress enough my objections, sir!”

“Enough Fitzwilliam.” 

Darcy stopped his movement and turned to face his father.  “Wickham’s father was my steward for fifteen years before his death.  He took me in hand when my father died, and I was grateful for his loyalty and hard work.  When his son was born, I vowed to pay back my steward’s loyalty by giving his son the benefit of my favour.  Certainly I know that he is a charmer and that he used his wiles upon me, but I did not give him anything that I felt would not return him a real benefit.  I wish that I had been aware of his true nature from your perspective, I would have made my displeasure known.”  Mr. Darcy watched his son’s angry visage.  “He was a thorn in your side?”

“To say the least, Father.”

“When did this change occur?”

“When you sent him to Cambridge with me.”  Darcy chose not to mention the instances of baiting that Wickham inflicted upon him as they grew up.  He had ignored the events then in favour of keeping a friend.

“And he was assumed to be more than he was and drafted off of your success.”  Mr. Darcy mulled and saw his son nod.  “He pretended he was the heir?”

“He used my name on occasion and I cleaned up his . . . errors to save my reputation and . . .yours as he was your ward.”  Darcy looked down but his father saw his disgust.

“Do you think that he will accept the living?”

“Why must it be in the will at all?”

“I promised his father that I would provide for his future.  If he chooses to refuse the living, then offer him a cash equivalent along with the other bequest, and I will deem my promise discharged.  You are unhappy with this decision, and I am unhappy to learn of his behaviour, but . . . I will not back out of my promise.”  Mr. Darcy regarded his son.  “I am sorry.”

“It is your decision, sir, and I respect your will.”  Darcy said stiffly.

“Is there anything else?  Any other questions?”

“Too many.”  Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose to hold off the headache that was blooming.  “However I believe that actually doing the work will be far more beneficial than simply discussing it incessantly.”  He looked up to meet his father’s eyes.  “When do we depart?”

“Early tomorrow.  I have already directed Mrs. Mercer to have our luggage packed, the carriages are inspected, and arrangements for exchanging horses and the inns have been made.  I will go over how to accomplish those tasks with you as we ride tomorrow; there is no need to discuss that now.  I suggest that you spend the rest of the day addressing any other business you have in town, if you would like, visit with friends or shops . . .”

“Because I will not be back for some time.”  He nodded.  “I . . . I think that I will not be home for dinner tonight.” 

“Of course.”  Mr. Darcy smiled, and thought to admonish his son to be prudent and thought better of it.  “Enjoy your evening.”  Darcy stood and left for his rooms, dressed for the evening, then went out.  When he returned near dawn of the new day he was exhausted, barely sober, stank of cigars and perfume, and felt no better.

“AH, SENSE HAS RETURNED to Longbourn.”  Mr. Bennet embraced Elizabeth and Jane, and happily received their hugs.  “You were away far too long.”

“Papa, it was only six weeks!”  Elizabeth laughed. 

“Weeks of misery for your old father.”  He complained.  “You have no compassion for my poor nerves!”

“Oh, where have we heard that before?”  She looked at Jane.

“Well you know where I have heard it!”  He smiled.  “And what did you learn from your trip to town?  Are you pleased or disappointed to return to the country?”

“I am happy to come home, Papa.”  Jane said softly.  “I missed my family.”

“Well said, and you Lizzy, did you miss us?”

“I missed a great many things in Hertfordshire.”  She said with a grin.

“Ah, a diplomat, my child, well done!”  He laughed and shooed them from the bookroom.  “Go and entertain your sisters, they are awaiting their gifts.”

The two girls looked at each other with wide eyes.  “Did you?”

“No, did you?”

“Oh dear.”  Elizabeth giggled and led the way out the door.  “Well, have you any wool to stuff in your ears?” 

The front door banged open.  “There you are, girls!  Well tell me all about town!  Did you meet any gentlemen?”  Mrs. Bennet arrived in the hallway, out of breath and fresh from visiting her sister Philips in Meryton.  A maid hurried forward to take her shawl and packages.  “Where did my sister Gardiner take you?  Did you attend many parties?”

“Mama, you know that Aunt and Uncle Gardiner do not go out to parties!”

“Surely they must have taken you somewhere!  You did not go to London to visit, you went to meet gentlemen!  Oh, I knew that I should have gone with you!  I told your father this!  But did he listen?”  She huffed and followed them up the stairs.  “Now, stop teasing me, what did you do?”

Elizabeth began, “We wrote to you . . .”

“You know I have no time to read letters!”  Mrs. Bennet admonished her.

“We . . .did attend the theatre one night, Mama.”  Jane said softly.  “We went to Covent Garden.”

“You
DID
?”  She cried in delight.  “AND?”

“We saw
As You Like It
.”  Elizabeth saw the blank look on her mother’s face and sighed.  “Shakespeare?”  Nothing.  She sighed again and chose a subject her mother would like.  “We bought new dresses for the evening.”

“Oh, let me see them!”  Mrs. Bennet brightened and the girls opened their trunks to pull out their new frocks and showed them off to their mother.  Mary looked around the corner and saw the fuss over the brightly coloured dresses.

“Come in Mary, would you like to see our gowns?  Soon it will be your turn to be out, and you will receive new clothes.”  Jane smiled at her.

“No, oh no, it is not right to think of such things.  A girl must be modest.”  She blushed and disappeared.

Mrs. Bennet sighed in frustration.  “I do not know what put these ideas in her head!  How is she to catch a man if she is dressed in mourning all the time!”