Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (43 page)

“Of course, Mr. Darcy.”  She snipped a length of blue silk and handed it to him along with the scissors and gave her aunt a look of confusion.  Mrs. Gardiner was smiling at Elizabeth, who was again blushing.  Darcy touched her curls, looking for just the one he wanted, and chose a shiny ebony tress that rested on her shoulder, carefully tied the silk around it, then snipped.  He tenderly wrapped it in his handkerchief. 

“Thank you.”  He said softly and smiled when Elizabeth held out her hand expectantly.  He gave over the scissors and bent his head to her, closing his eyes as her fingers gently searched for the perfect curl.  Elizabeth laughed and he lifted his head to see her happily admiring the sunlight on his hair.  “What are your plans for that, Miss Elizabeth?”

“I have a locket upstairs.  I think that I should place this within before I lose it.  Excuse me.”  She left the room and Darcy noticed Mrs. Gardiner watching him.

“What are your plans for your treasure, sir?” 

“I will have a ring made from it.”  He saw Jane looking at him contemplatively.  “I have noticed men wearing such things and I have hoped to have such a token of Miss Elizabeth for some time.  Now that we are engaged . . .”

“It is entirely proper.”  Mrs. Gardiner nodded and looked up to see Elizabeth returning with a small locket in her hand.  “Does it not fit, dear?”

“No.”  She said sadly.  “I will have to think of something else.”

“I will purchase you a new locket; perhaps that is something we could do tomorrow?”  Darcy offered and smiled to see her surprise.  “Well I was chastised for being away from you too much today, was I not?  Perhaps Georgiana would like to come along.  I know that she wishes for more time with you.”

“That would be wonderful!  Thank you!”  She looked to see Jane’s attention then back to Darcy. 

He noticed it as well and smiled to her.  “Mr. Harwick paid me a call this morning; he is looking forward to dinner with you this evening.  He has accepted my invitation to the theatre next week, and he made a suggestion for an excursion for us all, one that I have managed to avoid taking for all of my adult life.”  He glanced around the room and sighed.  “Mr. Harwick suggested that we visit Vauxhall Gardens one evening.”

“OH!!”  Elizabeth cried and turned eagerly to Jane.  “I always wished to go there!”

“Mr. Harwick suspected that you would enjoy the spectacle, Miss Elizabeth.  I see that he was correct.”  Darcy shook his head, and looked at Jane. “He thought that you would enjoy the music, Miss Bennet.”

“Mr. Harwick is very thoughtful.”  Jane said appreciatively.  “May I ask why you have avoided the pleasure gardens?”

“I am not fond of crowds, but I know of no particular entertainment that is scheduled so hopefully we will have a pleasant evening that is not a crush.”  He looked to Elizabeth.  “And please, do not wear anything that might be attractive to a thief.”

“Really?”  She smiled widely and he started to chuckle in disbelief.  “What else might we see?”

“I will let you interrogate our host for the evening.  Mrs. Gardiner, my cousins Mr. and Mrs. Singleton will be coming with us to serve as our chaperones.”  He saw her raised brow and was relieved to see her nod.

“Very well sir, they are married, and more likely to enjoy the experience than Mr. Gardiner and myself.”

“Thank you madam.”  He bowed his head and turned back to see Elizabeth’s dancing eyes.  “May I have a word with you privately, Miss Elizabeth?  I would like to discuss our wedding date, now that the engagement is about to be announced, we should make a choice.”

“Aunt?” 

“You may use Mr. Gardiner’s study; he has a calendar on his desk for you to consult.”  Mrs. Gardiner looked at Darcy pointedly.  “I expect this will not be a protracted decision.”

“We will not be long away, madam.”  He stood and offered Elizabeth his hand to rise.  They walked tranquilly down the hallway and into the study.  Darcy followed her in, closing the door almost completely then turned to find her waiting for him.  “Dearest Elizabeth.”  He slipped his arms around her waist as she did the same to him. She looked up as he bent down to tenderly touch her lips, and drew away to see her eyes closed and her mouth parted, waiting for more.  He closed his eyes, remembering his resolve to behave, then felt Elizabeth’s lips gently caress his.  He drew a shaking breath, and drowned in the pleasure of her tongue tentatively entering his mouth.  With a moan, he took control and deepened the kiss.  Darcy’s arms embraced her waist and shoulders, so that the entire length of her body was bound to his.  Even through the restrictions of their clothing they could imagine and feel what lay beneath.  The ardent kiss gradually slowed, and transformed into passion of a different nature.  Their embrace was not so tight, their hands moved freely to express love through caresses, and their kisses became a soft endless exchange, filled with so much promise for long nights safe within each other’s arms.  Finally they parted, and gazing into each other’s eyes, smiled between kisses.  “I have failed again.”  Darcy whispered huskily.

“I am glad of it.”

Darcy laughed quietly and touched her hair.  “I think that the only solution to this problem is to marry, so that I may kiss you without guilt.”

“Do you still feel guilt, Fitzwilliam?”

“Well, not quite as much as before . . .”

Elizabeth’s laugh filled him with contentment and he could not hold back from kissing her in response.  “When shall we marry?”

“Would seven weeks suit you?  Shall we say the eighteenth of July?  That would be time enough to order your wedding clothes, and then we could leave for Pemberley at the end of July as a married couple.  I do not wish to wait for Michaelmas as your uncle suggested.  I see no reason to wait for anything at all.”

“Neither do I.”  Elizabeth settled her head on his chest and listened to his heart.  “Where?”

“I leave that choice to you, my love.  Do you wish to be married from Longbourn?”

“No.”  She whispered.  “I do not, and I think that I would prefer something very simple and private.  To marry at home would mean my mother putting her stamp on the ceremony, and . . . It would be an incentive for her to crow over you and claim that she was the reason we married. Nothing could be further from the truth.  I . . . I want to be happy on my wedding day, not mortified.”

“I understand.”  He said softly and kissed her hair, deciding that now was not the time to speak of his plans for her father.  “We will marry from London, in my church or your uncle’s church, or even in the parlour at Darcy House.”  She nodded and he whispered in her ear.  “It does not matter as long as we marry.  I want to take you home.” 

“Your home frightens me.”

“Our home, and may I tell you a secret?  It frightens me, too.”  He saw her surprise and he shrugged.  “I have left it all to Mrs. Reynolds and concentrated on the estate.  I was planning to begin learning the ins and outs of the household this winter.”

“How convenient for you to marry and therefore avoid the task altogether.”  She laughed and he kissed her nose.

“You found me out!”  Darcy hugged her to his chest and did not notice the door opening.

“Children, Mr. Harwick has arrived.  Shall we join the party?”  They straightened to see Mr. Gardiner had come home and was watching them expectantly. 

They passed him silently and once again, Darcy and Mr. Gardiner exchanged glances.  This time Darcy did not feel abashed.  He had just set his wedding date; kissing Elizabeth was mandatory.  Entering the sitting room they found Jane sitting next to Harwick, holding a nosegay of purple violets and smiling happily. 

“Oh Jane how lovely!”  Elizabeth exclaimed and beamed at Harwick.  “What a thoughtful gift, sir.  I suppose that Jane has already confessed her love of violets to you?”

Harwick turned to her and smiled.  “No, Miss Bennet did not share her secret.  Will you tell me your other favourites so that I might surprise you with them sometime?”

“I believe that I would be happy with any gift, sir.”  Jane smiled kindly.

“You are forcing me to conspire with your sister, Miss Bennet.”  He looked to Elizabeth to see her nodding.  “And it seems that she will not hesitate to speak.”

“There is no doubt of that.”  Darcy whispered and Elizabeth turned to see his eyes twinkling at her. 

“Mr. Darcy, are you baiting me?”

“I am, I own.”

“And you presume to know me so well as to think that I would . . .”

“Meddle in your sister’s affairs?”  He raised his brow and pursed his lips.  “I do.”

“I am offended!”

“I see you applying your skills to the care of our tenants and their concerns.”  He tilted his head.  “I know them all, but I can believe that they will be delighted to have an interested mistress again.”

“Oh.”

 “Well done, Darcy.”  Harwick turned to Jane and smiled.  “I know that the tenants of Meadowbrook would appreciate a compassionate mistress as well.”

“Is that the name of your estate?”  Jane smiled to him and he nodded.  “It sounds lovely.  I hope that it is a place that brings you peace.”  Harwick’s head tilted as he studied her face.  There was no pretence in her expression, simply kindness.  He had not seen that from a woman in a very long time.

Darcy felt Elizabeth’s hand steal into his and he looked to see her watching her sister and her suitor.  He saw her hope that this might someday be a marriage of some affection.  He squeezed her hand and felt her squeeze in return.  Her hope spurred him to speak.  “Mr. Gardiner, after dinner, I would appreciate hearing your opinion on a matter of some importance.”  Harwick raised his brow and Darcy nodded to him. 

Mr. Gardiner caught the exchange and nodded.  “Of course Mr. Darcy, whatever I can do to help.”

“I WONDER WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.”  Elizabeth mused while the ladies waited in the sitting room for the men to return after dinner.  “I noticed that Mr. Harwick seemed to know the topic.”

“You did?”  Jane asked.  “When did you notice Mr. Harwick?”

“Why when Mr. Darcy spoke to Uncle, they seemed to exchange glances.”  She shrugged and took a sip of tea.  “I suppose I would have missed it but I was looking Mr. Darcy’s way.”

Mrs. Gardiner laughed softly.  “Yes, I think that staring is the proper description.”  Elizabeth blushed.  “However I notice that he spends quite enough time doing the same in your direction.” 

“He is rather sweet.”  She bit her lip and touched the tiny locket that barely contained his lock of hair.  Noticing Jane’s eyes on her fingers she smiled.  “Mr. Harwick seems to be very kind, Jane.  I am so glad to see that.  He is obviously a devoted father from the way he speaks of his girls.”

“Did he speak of them?  I could not hear; his head seemed to be turned away from me.” 

Mrs. Gardiner’s heard the hint of jealousy in her voice.  “I believe that he was addressing the entire table, Jane.  It would be impolite to limit his conversation to just one person.” 

Jane blushed.  “I suppose that is so.” 

“You are only just beginning to know him.  Keep in mind that Lizzy and Mr. Darcy have years between them, you have barely a week.  They are also just engaged, they have every right to be particularly pleased to gaze upon each other.”  She raised her brows to her niece and Jane nodded. 

Elizabeth tried to encourage her.  “Mr. Harwick seems to be very gentlemanly, Jane.  He reminds me in some ways of Mr. Stewart in his manner.”

Lifting her shoulders, Jane smiled happily.  “That is true; he does behave differently than Mr. Darcy, does he not?  He is anxious to follow the proper rules of courtship and will not give away any indication of fondness before it is time.  Mama told me never to express my feelings before the gentleman does himself, and of course I never have done that with any gentleman.”

Elizabeth’s brow furrowed. 
Did Jane just insult Fitzwilliam?  Did she call him ungentlemanly?  Because he had kissed her and spoken to her, because they danced and sat alone together?
 Elizabeth’s affront on his behalf began to rise, but unsure of Jane’s meaning she chose a different target and spoke incredulously, “Mama taught you to behave demurely?”

“Yes, you know that, I am sure that she must have said the same to you.  I remember her telling me that someone with my beauty did not need to put on a show for a gentleman.  All I needed to do is smile and they would come to me.  As you see, she was correct.”  She turned to Mrs. Gardiner.  “Do you agree, Aunt?”

Mrs. Gardiner spoke slowly, thinking of the months, and even years where Jane had not a single suitor.  “Your mother certainly had formed great expectations for your beauty to capture a man’s attention, but it certainly was a risk to place all of her hopes on your looks alone.  You are fortunate to have gained Mr. Harwick’s court without ever having to exhibit.”

“But that just proves that Mama was correct.”  Jane lifted her chin.  “I have succeeded without compromising myself.”

“Are you implying that I have?”  Elizabeth said in disbelief.

“Have I said something wrong, Lizzy?”  Jane looked at her in surprise.  “I did not mean to.  Of course I do not mean to imply anything of you compromising yourself.  Please forgive me if I have offended you!  I was just speaking of Mama’s teaching.”

“I am sorry if I misunderstood you.  We received very different educations from our mother.  I was told that I had no hope of attracting a man, especially with my beauty.” 

“I am sorry, Lizzy.”  Jane said softly.

Elizabeth sighed and nodded, then embraced Jane. “It is well.  Regardless of how we found them, it is good to know that we both have a chance for secure and hopefully happy futures now.”

The sound of boots in the hallway ended the ladies’ conversation and soon the gentlemen arrived.  Darcy instantly sought out Elizabeth’s presence after the tense conversation with Mr. Gardiner.  He kissed her fingers and studied her face as she worked to regain her good humour.  Without thinking he caressed his fingers along her brow, and saw her tension melt away with his touch.  She smiled at him.   “Did you complete your mission?”

Darcy relaxed and smiled back.  “You make it sound so mysterious.”