Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (30 page)

He shook his head and disregarding the open door pulled her into his embrace.  “Dearest Elizabeth, you are perfect for me.”

“How do you know?”  She whispered into his waistcoat.  Darcy sighed and felt her arms tightening around his back and the fierceness of her hold.  She clearly did not want them to end, she simply needed his reassurance. 

“How do you know that I am the man for you?”

“That is not fair, answering my question with a question.”

“I believe that we have similar answers.”  He smiled and looked down to her teary eyes.  “I need you, and nobody I have ever known has touched me as you do.  Nobody speaks to me as you do, nobody makes me laugh and smile, or pine the way you do.  How do I know?  I just do.”  Darcy leaned down and brushed his lips over hers then moved away to read her expression.

“Was that . . .a kiss?”

“A little kiss, yes.  Have you never been kissed?”

Elizabeth shook her head, and Darcy beamed.  He would be the first and only man to ever kiss her.  “Would you like another?”  She nodded, and this time his lips pressed to hers, lingering then stroking lightly before he moved away, and looked down to see the light of passion kindling in her eyes.  He took a shaking breath.  “I dare not do more, but . . .oh how I wish to kiss you again!”

“There is more?”  Her voice trembled.

“Oh, so much more.”  Darcy rested his cheek in her hair, and forced away the temptation of her soft inviting lips.  “I am a doomed man now.”

Elizabeth laughed softly and nestled into his protective arms.  “How is that?  What crime have you committed?”

“I have tasted forbidden fruit, and now I will be satisfied with nothing else.”  He whispered and held her possessively.  “Are you frightened, Elizabeth?”

“Yes.”

“So am I.”  She looked up to him.  “Not for anything that you may or may not do.  I fear that I will need to kill every man who dares to have a dishonourable thought about you.”

She giggled.  “I find that highly improbable.”

“Me killing or men thinking of you?”

“Both.” 

“Hmm.”  He let go as he felt her relax.  “Georgiana sent you a gift, well a loan.”  He reached into his pocket to draw out the velvet bag.  “She wanted you to wear something special with your gown.  I recently gave her this from the Darcy jewels.”  He placed the pendant around her neck and noted how it just touched the swell of her breasts.  He looked up to find her staring at the diamonds in stunned silence.  “This is Richard.”

“Who?”

“The pearl is named Richard.”  He chuckled and hugged her.  “I will let its namesake explain it to you tomorrow night.”

“Is it a sordid tale?”

“As sordid as a five-year-old boy can be.”  He moved a curl from her brow.  “Are you better now?”

“Yes, thank you for bearing with me.”

“I am counting on you to bear with me tomorrow.  I am terrible in crowds, especially ones that expect me to perform.  I will need you to assure my good humour.” 

“How may I do that?”  He shrugged and smiled while she cocked her head and considered him.  “Fitzwilliam.”  He closed his eyes and sighed.  Elizabeth rose up on her toes and brushed her lips to his.  Darcy’s eyes flew open.  “I think that I found a way.”

Mr. Gardiner’s throat clearing loudly in the hallway forced them apart hurriedly.  “Well, are you ready to join the rest of the household?”  He looked from one flushed face to the other and bit back his laugh.  “Come along children.  Back to propriety.”

LORD MATLOCK WALKED slowly down the steps, fiddling with the emerald stickpin nestled in the folds of his neck cloth, and paused at the bottom to observe the frenzied activity of the servants.  Fitzwilliam appeared from one of the supper rooms, a piece of ham in his fingers.  His father raised his brow and his son shrugged.  “Why wait?  There will be crumbs left by the time the supper dance comes around.”  He finished the morsel and wiped his fingers on his handkerchief.  “Now I am thirsty.”

Walking over to a table, Lord Matlock poured them both glasses of port.  “I can use this.”

“Not looking forward to the evening, Father?”  Fitzwilliam’s eyes moved to watch his mother, brother, and sister-in-law descending the stairs.  “I cannot wait to meet Darcy’s Miss Elizabeth and better yet, see him with her.  It is an exceptionally important night for him.”

“I hope that this love affair of his survives it.  I do not want to see that boy hurt.”

“What of his lady?” 

Lord Matlock shrugged. “I hope that she is what he claims.  I have to meet her first.  My concern is with family, and she is not family.”

“Yet.”  The men exchanged glances and set down their empty glasses. 

“Henry, what are you doing?  That is for our guests!”  Lady Matlock looked over the trays and the punch bowl, then hurried off to check the card rooms and the ballroom. 

“She is in her element here.”  Layton laughed and turned to his wife.  “Did she let you do anything at all?”

Alicia shook her head.  “I was permitted to check the responses to the invitations and review the menu.”

Fitzwilliam grinned.  “Well that is an improvement over last year when all you were allowed to do was show Lord Hancock your wedding ring.”

They all laughed except for Layton, and his wife patted his arm.  “Never mind Stephen, he is not invited this year.”

Lady Matlock bustled up to them.  “Well we are as prepared as we will ever be.”

“It will be a glittering affair and a crush, Mother.”   Fitzwilliam kissed her cheek as the first guests arrived.  The family lined up to receive them, and gradually the house filled with the cream of London society.  Each time the door opened, Fitzwilliam and Lord Matlock looked up expectantly. 

“Hmm, Miss Gannon looks excited.”  Fitzwilliam murmured to his father.  Mrs. Gannon and her husband shook hands and smiled, pausing to exchange whispered words with Lady Matlock.   Miss Gannon looked around the hallway, searching for someone.  Fitzwilliam greeted her.  “Do you seek anyone in particular, Miss Gannon?  Perhaps I can tell you if the person has arrived?”

“Oh yes, Colonel, I was hoping that Mr. Darcy was here?”

“I am sorry, but he has yet to arrive.  I am certain that you will notice him when he enters, he will be the tall man, likely in black.”  He smiled and she nodded eagerly and bent her head with her mother as they moved into the home.  Fitzwilliam met his father’s eye.  “She is on a mission.”

“He danced with her; she thinks she is the one.”

“She is in for a rude awakening.” 

Lord Matlock felt a hand on his arm and looked up to see his friend.  “Moreland!”  The Earls shook hands, and he bowed to his wife.  “I am delighted to see you.  Are any of your brood joining us tonight?”

“Just Stewart.”  Moreland bent down.  “I hope that you invited some interesting girls, he is still moping about someone who got away.”

Lord Matlock looked around to see Stewart standing and quietly listening to Layton tell a story, his expression was neutral.  “Poor bastard.”  He heard Richard whisper.  The family moved on and he turned to his son with raised brows.  “He fell in love but rejected her, felt he could not marry a poor girl.”  Richard looked at his father significantly.  “She left quite an impression.”

“What are you saying, Richard?” 

“Ah, there is Bingley.”  He straightened and said under his breath.  “Here we go.”

“Is it too late for another drink?”  Lord Matlock muttered.

Bingley approached, smiling and greeting his hosts affably.   On his left arm was a beautiful blonde woman, a soft serene smile on her face.  Beside her walked an older woman, dressed very fashionably in a blue gown and speaking to the girl quietly.  Lady Matlock was polite but brushed them along, rolling her eyes at her husband then turning to the door, and did not notice when Bingley stopped and turned to the door as well.  Her mouth dropped open when into her house stepped Darcy, whose focus was entirely on the lovely dark-haired woman holding his left arm.  He was leaning down and speaking softly in her ear.  Lady Matlock saw her smile and look up at him.  Her expression said everything and his matched it exactly.  Darcy approached, stood next to Bingley, and bowed.  “Lady Matlock, Lord Matlock, Viscount Layton, Lady Layton, Colonel Fitzwilliam, may I present Mrs. Edward Gardiner and her nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and,”  He smiled down at Elizabeth, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

The women all curtseyed and looked expectantly at their hosts.  Richard met Darcy’s gaze and stepped forward.  “Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure.  Miss Elizabeth, it is a delight to meet you at last!”  Lady Matlock turned to stare at him.  He took Elizabeth’s hand and bowed.  “May I ask for a dance before the rest of the room steals them all?”

Darcy felt her hand clutch his arm and saw her take a breath before speaking.  “Oh, yes of course Colonel, I look forward to it.  I . . . I believe that I am available for the third set.”

He held her eyes and smiled reassuringly.  “The third?  Who has stolen you already?”

Elizabeth relaxed then looked up to her escort with a smile.  “Well, Mr. Darcy owns the first.” 

“I have anticipated this for a very long time.”  He raised her hand to his lips.  Lady Matlock gasped. 

Elizabeth blushed and turned back to Fitzwilliam.  “And Mr. Bingley asked for the second, so you see sir; you are my only other partner.”

“Hmm, well I suppose that I can wait.”  He paused and tilted his head.  “Miss Elizabeth, is it my imagination, or are you wearing . . .”

“Your namesake?  Yes, Colonel, I am.  Miss Darcy insisted that I borrow it, and Mr. Darcy promised me you would tell the tale behind its creation.”  Her eyes danced and he grinned in delight to see the woman Darcy described come to life. 

“I promise to give it to you in excruciating detail.”  He bowed lingeringly over her hand, only to rise and see Darcy’s glare.  He laughed.  “Ah, I believe this will be a fascinating evening.”  He turned to Jane.  “Miss Bennet, has your first dance been requested?”

“No, sir.” 

“Well then, I must claim it if Mr. Bingley has no objections?”

“Not at all, sir.  It was my error not to ask before. I would like to request the third, however.”  He smiled and Jane nodded.  “Excellent!” 

Richard held out his arm to Jane.  “Shall we go into the ballroom now?  I believe the arrivals are petering out, and I hear the musicians preparing to play.  We can be in place immediately.”

“Thank you, sir.  I look forward to our dance.”  The couple moved away and Mrs. Gardiner looked speculatively between them and Darcy, and deciding that Elizabeth needed her presence more than Jane, stood off to the side to watch her reception.  As soon as Richard departed, Lady Matlock spoke quietly. 

“Darcy, I should like to speak to you privately.” 

“I have no doubt of the topic Aunt; however, this is no time for discussion.  I intend to dance this evening.”  He bowed and smiled slightly; and looking back down to Elizabeth, placed his free hand over hers.  “Shall we, Miss Elizabeth?”

“I am in your hands, sir.”  She laughed when he lifted his chin proudly.  They began to walk off when Layton awoke from his stupor. 

“Ah, Miss Elizabeth, may I have your fourth set?”  She glanced at Darcy who nodded slightly and smiled. 

“Of course sir, I look forward to knowing another of Mr. Darcy’s cousins.”  They moved away and into the ballroom, and instantly Lady Matlock rounded on her silent husband. 

“Who is she?”  Lady Matlock demanded.  “Why have I heard nothing of her?  And this sister of hers?  Who are they?  How did she meet Darcy?  What has happened?”

“Dear, we are neglecting our duties.”  He nodded to people waiting in line to greet them, and whispered.  “Finish here and we will speak.”  He caught her glare and he looked over to his heir. 

“She is stunning, Father, as is her sister.  I have no memory of either of them this Season,” He turned to his wife, “Do you?”

“No, I would have remembered them, particularly Miss Bennet, she is beautiful.  Miss Elizabeth has clearly captured Darcy’s attention.” 

Lord Matlock held his tongue and greeted the final arrivals.  “Come, we must begin the dancing.”  He took Lady Matlock’s arm and guided her into the ballroom.  As they walked he whispered to his wife.  “Darcy has cared for Miss Elizabeth for two years but knew that she was too young to pursue. They just recently met again, and their . . .attraction was mutual and re-established all of their previous feelings.”

“He has longed for this girl?”  Lady Matlock watched as the couple took their places for the opening quadrille. 

“From what he told me, he has thought of her steadily, and thrilled with each glimpse over the years.”  Lord Matlock saw his wife’s eyes softening at the thought of this delayed romance.  “Now I understand why he was so resistant to our efforts.”

They took their places and the music began.  Lady Matlock came to meet him in the centre of the floor.  “How long have you known of this, Henry?”

“One week.”

“And why did you not tell me?”

“I wished for you to be surprised.”  Lord Matlock smiled weakly and his wife of five and thirty years read him instantly. 

“What are you hiding, Henry?”

“Look Helen, see how Darcy smiles!”  He distracted her and they looked to see that indeed, Darcy was smiling. 

“How are you; Elizabeth?”  He whispered as they passed each other, then came around to link arms.

“Frightened out of my mind.  And you?”

“Shaking in my boots.”  He smiled to hear her laugh.  “You are so beautiful.”  Elizabeth blushed and he bent down as they let go and moved apart again.  “I can think of what will relieve my fear.”

Elizabeth considered him as they stood still, waiting for their turn to move again.  When at last it arrived she held out her hands to him.  “Perhaps a reassuring sermon?”

Darcy chuckled.  “No, I believe that my thoughts do not belong in a church.”

“Oh, then a calming game of Whist, I saw the card rooms set up as we walked to the ballroom.”  Elizabeth lifted her brow and he shook his head emphatically.  “You do not like cards?  Oh Mr. Darcy, that is a problem, I cannot abide a man who does not play.  I find him wanting.”