Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (39 page)

“I am happy to meet you all.”  He said quietly and bowed.

They curtseyed and swarmed Elizabeth.  Mary kissed her cheek and Kitty hugged her.  Lydia naturally asked for any presents and Elizabeth hugged them all, assuring them that she and Jane were well, and promising that the next time she saw them she would definitely come bearing gifts.  When the noise of the greetings died back she peeked at Darcy, who was standing silently by Mr. Gardiner and watching the reunion with a slight smile.  The girls broke apart and his attention was taken by Mrs. Bennet’s cloying voice.

“I am certain that you would like some refreshment after that long ride!  Please, sit here next to Lydia.”  She urged him to a love seat where Lydia sat perched and studying him.  He swallowed and saw that Elizabeth had taken a seat across the room on another sofa, and he quickly moved to her side.  Mrs. Bennet frowned for a moment and then brightened.  “Some tea, Mr. Darcy?” 

“No thank you, madam.”  Darcy smiled slightly and watched as the teapot was replaced on the table then leaned away when a plate of biscuits was thrust forward.  “I will await the meal, madam, I am certain it will be delicious.”

“Well, I had no idea of your favourite dishes, but it is two courses, I am sure that for a fine man such as yourself it will be simple fare.  You must have four French chefs at your disposal!”

“No madam, I have a cook in town, and another at Pemberley.  I do not entertain often.”

“Well that is something that will certainly change with marriage, will it not, sir?  Have you met Jane?”

Darcy glanced to where Elizabeth sat silently looking down to her clasped hands.  “I have met Miss Bennet.  She is a very pleasant young woman.”

“Do you not agree that she is beautiful?  I wonder why she has not been snapped up by now.  I fear that my brother has kept her quite hidden away.  Of course you managed to meet Lizzy; no doubt she was running about somewhere when you did.  I never could keep her in the house, she was always outside behaving as a boy, wandering the fields and forests like some wild creature.  Were the girls together when you met?”

He lifted his chin.  “As a matter of fact, Mrs. Bennet, they were.  I noticed Miss Bennet, but once I glimpsed Miss Elizabeth, I could not look away.”  He looked directly at Elizabeth and she lifted her eyes to meet his steady gaze.  “I find her to be everything lovely.”

“Oh.”  Mrs. Bennet noticed him staring at her blushing daughter.  “Well, I understand that you live in Derbyshire, sir?”

“Yes madam.”

“I have heard no mention of your income . . .”

“I do very well, madam.”  He said stiffly. 

“Well of course you do.  Why you must have four carriages at least!”  She looked at him hopefully and he closed his eyes then reopened them to see that she was still staring at him eagerly.  “I have several.”

“Mr. Darcy, do you have any siblings?”  He turned gratefully to see Mary looking his way. 

“Yes, I have a sister.  She is thirteen.”

“I am almost thirteen.”  Lydia declared.  “Do you know any soldiers?”

“My cousin is a colonel.” 

“ohhhhhh.  Does he wear a red coat?”

“Yes he does.  He will soon be returning to duty.”

“Why did he stop?”

“He was wounded in battle in Portugal.”

“Where is that?”  Lydia asked.  “That is near Paris is it not?”
“Portugal is a country, Miss Lydia.  It is located adjacent to Spain.”  He frowned.

“Oh.”  She turned to Kitty and they started giggling and whispering.  Darcy had no doubt that it was about him and looked back to Elizabeth.  She was making no attempt to chastise or interfere; he realized very quickly that she had made a conscious decision to let him see her family in their full glory.  He glanced at Mr. Gardiner and he lifted his shoulders slightly. 

“I am certain that my brother will return soon, Mr. Darcy.” He looked to Mrs. Bennet.  “He told you this morning that we were coming?”

“Oh, yes, and he said that he was looking forward to seeing what Lizzy’s suitor was made of!”

Mr. Gardiner shook his head.  “Perhaps Sister, we could take this opportunity to refresh ourselves from our journey before he arrives.”

“Certainly, you know the way.”  She turned to Elizabeth.  “Show Mr. Darcy where to go, Lizzy.  If you are to be a wife you must know how to behave to your guests!”

“Yes, Mama.”  She stood and he followed.  “This way, sir.”  Darcy waited until they left the room to speak, but just as he was about to he heard Mrs. Bennet in the background directing her other daughters.  He waited for the shrill voice to quiet and bent to her. 

“Are you well, Elizabeth?  I expected your mother to be happy to see you attached.”

“So did I.  I thought that she would be ecstatic, but I suppose that she remembers that I failed before.”  She indicated that he follow her uncle.  “I should remain here.  My uncle can show you where to go.”  She looked up to him and met his eye before turning away.  Darcy looked after her then proceeded upstairs, finally taking in the decor of the old house.  It was clean, certainly not of the most fashionable style, but seemed adequate.  Mr. Gardiner took the opportunity of their privacy to apologize for his sister’s display and his brother’s absence, which was certainly intentional.  When they descended, Elizabeth was standing at the foot of the stairs. 

“My father is home, please come with me.”  She led them to the bookroom.  “Papa.”  He glanced up from his book and stood.  “Mr. Darcy, this is my father, Mr. Thomas Bennet.”  Mr. Bennet raised his brows and bowed slightly. 

“Sir, it is an honour to meet Miss Elizabeth’s father.”  Darcy bowed in return.

“It is an honour to meet someone of such eminence.”  He nodded to the door.  “Please leave us, Lizzy.”  She looked at Darcy, holding his gaze for a moment and left the room, the click of the latch startlingly loud against the strained silence within.  “Well, take a seat.”  Mr. Bennet sat down.  “Forgive me for not being home when you arrived. I expected you to come later.”

“I told you of our plans, Brother.” 

“Yes.”  He turned to Darcy.  “So you are courting my Lizzy.  What could draw such a man as you to my daughter?”

He raised his brow at such an abrupt beginning.  “Do you find her wanting in some way, sir?  I find her appeal to be obvious.  She is as fascinating as she is beautiful.”

Seeing that he would not rise to the bait, Mr. Bennet tried a different provocation.  “I suppose that you are used to getting whatever you want.”

“I am accustomed to having my way, yes.  However, that applies to my estate and my amusements, not to my family.  I am certain that you are aware sir, one cannot control free will, only direct it to be expressed properly.”

Mr. Bennet heard the criticism of his household, but moved on.  “Your intentions for my Lizzy?”

“I hope to make her my wife.”

“And she would live . . .”

“At my estate, Pemberley in Derbyshire, and of course in town.  I would hope to travel with her as well.  I notice that she has great curiosity for the world.  I would like to show her as much as I can.”  He saw Mr. Bennet’s attention drifting to his own thoughts.  “I would make a very generous settlement upon her.  She would never have any worries for her or our children’s future.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyes narrowed.  “Is that directed at me, sir?”

“It is a simple statement of fact.” 

“My wife feels that you should have chosen my eldest daughter, Jane.  I cannot help but agree that she should have the honour of marrying first, it is her right.  Lizzy may have to wait for that to take place.”  Mr. Bennet watched for Darcy to anger and make demands, but was disappointed to see him remain calm. 

“Regardless of Miss Bennet’s prospects, which are through no fault of her own admittedly poor, why would you risk the chance to secure the future of Miss Elizabeth, and potentially the rest of your family?  You have acknowledged my wealth; surely you know that unlike some other suitor, I am capable of assuring your family a home following your demise.  I have enquired of Mr. Gardiner what sort of income your wife would receive and it is unfortunate indeed.  You would wish to see your family struggle by the loss of such a promising suitor out of some misguided sense of . . . fairness for the order of marriage?  I find that irresponsible, sir.”

Mr. Gardiner cleared his throat and Darcy ignored him, sat back, folded his hands in his lap, and stared at Mr. Bennet steadily.

“I believe that I shall reserve my blessing of this proposed union until Jane is clearly attached.”

“So you say that Jane must find a suitor before Elizabeth may marry?” Mr. Gardiner said quickly.

“Yes.”  Mr. Bennet smiled.  “That should teach this haughty man that he cannot have everything that he wants.”

“I am happy to report then that Jane does indeed have a suitor, a very serious one.”  Mr. Gardiner contained the smirk that was attempting to appear.  Darcy’s face remained blank but he stood and bowed. 

“I thank you for your blessing, sir.  I will go immediately and inform Miss Elizabeth. She will be very pleased.  I proposed just three days ago, and she has accepted me.  I am sure that her mother will want to begin to plan for the wedding immediately.”  He nodded to Mr. Gardiner.  “I know that you have a great deal to discuss with Mr. Bennet regarding Miss Bennet, so I will leave you to your privacy.”  He turned and left the room quickly. 

Mr. Bennet stared at the closing door then at Mr. Gardiner.  “He hoodwinked me!”

“He did, and very neatly, too.  He is not a fool; your provocation was not effective.”

“Apparently not.”  He let out a long breath and sat back in his chair.  “What on earth does Lizzy see in him?”

“He is a very good man, Bennet.  She is exceptionally fortunate to love him.”

“Love?  It is a love affair?”  Mr. Gardiner nodded and Mr. Bennet shook his head.  “And this arrogant man loves her?”

“He does, deeply, and for years, as has she.”

“Years?” 

“Yes.”

“But what of Stewart?”

“Friendship, not love.”  Mr. Gardiner shook his head.  “If you had stopped teasing Lizzy and listened to her, you would have known that.”

“I suppose I would.”  He sighed.  “Well, the family is saved and with no trouble to me.  What of this love affair of Jane’s?”

“Not love, security.  May I add Brother, that her suitor is not a young man passionately in love?  He is a man of experience, has loved and lost his first wife, has two children, and is willing to save Jane from a sad fate caused by your indolence and my sister’s poor decision to promote her beauty over her ability.  Mr. Harwick will not tolerate this game you are playing with Mr. Darcy today, and may very well choose to remove his wife from her family’s influence to protect his own.”  Mr. Bennet stared at his brother in disbelief and Mr. Gardiner leaned forward and began to go over the details of Jane’s potential future.

DARCY WALKED INTO THE HALLWAY to find Elizabeth seated on a small chair with her head down and hands folded.  He knelt beside her and encasing them in his warm grasp whispered, “We are to be married, my love.”

Her head flew up.  “He said yes?”

He smiled, “Well, he did not know that he was; he thought that he was saying no, but it worked in our favour.”  He stood and pulled her with him.  “Come, show me your garden.  I feel a need to celebrate our future before your mother hears the news.”

“What happened?”  She demanded as they walked outside, arm in arm.

“He insisted that Jane be attached before you could accept me.”

“What?”

“I felt that he was toying with me, so I let him go on.  Your uncle delivered the coup de grace and I departed before he knew what had happened.”  He chuckled to see her incredulous stare and looked around.  “Is there somewhere secluded we could go?”

“Why?”

He leaned down and whispered.  “Because, my love, I at last see the sparkle back in your eyes, and I must admit that I want to take advantage.”

“Mr. Darcy, what are you implying?”

“I intend to . . .”  He drew her into a stand of trees, then pressing her against a tall oak, ran his hands down her shoulders and arms to rest on her hips.  He looked up slowly, taking in her form, pausing to watch her bosom rise and fall as she breathed unsteadily, then up to look into her eyes and finally, focussed on her mouth.  He spoke to her lips, leaning closer with each word until his body weight pressed her tight against the tree.  “I love you, my dearest, beautiful, Elizabeth.”  His mouth brushed hers, and in a moment Elizabeth’s arms were around his neck and his were wound around her body.  They began slowly, with soft open caresses.  Darcy tried to hold back, but the strokes rapidly escalated as he gave over to his hunger for her kiss and the emotion of the moment, possessing her mouth as never before.  His eyes flicked open to see hers closed, and he watched her face as he ran his hand firmly up her waist to pass over the side of her breast.  Her eyes flew open to stare into his.  Darcy slowed his kisses, now using his hips to press her against the tree, and he watched as slowly both of his hands travelled upwards from her waist to cup and caress her bosom.   Elizabeth’s eyes closed again and she gasped, then moaned.  He kissed her vulnerable open mouth then moved his lips to her throat, breathing in her ear as his fingers continued the slow torture.  “Fitzwilliam.”  She whispered with a catch in her voice as he gently suckled.  “Ohhhhhhhhh.”  She swallowed and her hands moved to clutch his lapels.  As he pressed against her, an ache of mysterious longing spread from where he slowly rubbed her body.  His mouth returned to love hers again, his arms wound once again around her back, and his movement ceased.  All that remained was the kiss, slow, gentle, and intensely loving.  Darcy stopped, and drawing her to his chest, he moved them away from the tree, intentionally leaving them both at the brink of discovery.

“Why did you stop?”  She whispered as her heart pounded.

Darcy kissed her forehead, and whispered in her hair.  “Do you think there should be more, my love?”

“There must be more, you said there was so much more than just a kiss, I remember.”

“There is dearest, there is.  And there is much more than what we have done together now.”  He drew away and smiled.  “I want you to anticipate our marriage, not fear it.  Did you like what you felt?”