Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (48 page)

She squeezed his arm, then cried out when suddenly the pathways were ablaze with light as thousands of lanterns hanging from the trees all lit simultaneously.  “Oh my!”  She turned to see Jane’s mouth open and even Darcy looking around with wonder.  “That was spectacular!” 

“I have never seen the like.”  He laughed.  “I have seen well lit gardens, but this was as if some magician waved his wand over the park and the sun appeared!”  Darcy looked down to see Elizabeth’s face.  “Oh darling, your eyes are sparkling like a thousand stars.”

“And your smile takes my breath away.”  She whispered.   

“Darcy!  Imagine my surprise to see you here.  You hate such places.”  Darcy’s head snapped up and instantly his eyes narrowed.  “Will you not introduce me to your . . .well, this must be your betrothed.  I read the notice in the papers.”  Bowing low he raked his eyes over Elizabeth then back up again to smile with appreciation.  “Just lovely, but of course Darcy, you only prefer the best.”  He leaned close to Elizabeth and whispered loudly and winked.  “I should know; I shared rooms with him for years.”

Elizabeth felt great discomfort with this strange yet familiar man, and confusion with the implications of his words.  She felt the tension in Darcy’s arm and saw that his face was red with anger.  “Wickham, I believe that I told you to stay away from my family.”

“But she is not family yet, is she?”  He bowed again.  “Well clearly Darcy has forgotten his manners.  I am George Wickham, and I presume that you are Miss Bennet?  You do not remember me?  I was visiting Darcy House when you were there recently.  I do hope that you have recovered from your upset?”

Elizabeth nodded coldly.  “I do remember you, sir.  And as I recall, manners were being taught to you at the time.”

“Ouch, feisty!”  He laughed then looked back at Darcy.  “I hope that you have rethought our discussion?”

“Why would I do that?”

Wickham shrugged.  “I do not know, I could let the news slip about your previous engagement to Miss de Bourgh?” He saw Elizabeth’s eyes widen.  “Oh, did I say that?”

“Wickham, whatever your game is, drop it.  Attempting to disconcert Miss Elizabeth is a waste of time.  Leave us alone.”  He growled in a dangerously low voice.  Wickham smiled and bowed as he moved aside. 

“Singleton!”  Wickham held out his hand. “It has been months, how is your play, man?”  

Audrey looked at her husband who was greeting this man like a long-lost brother and back to Darcy whose barely repressed anger was clear.  Harwick stepped forward and spoke in Darcy’s ear.  “You obviously have an unpleasant history with this man.  Why do you not take another path and I will remain to look after Mrs. Singleton.  We can meet up in the Grove?”

“Thank you Harwick, that is tempting, but I will not allow a pandering profligate to ruin my evening.”  Darcy said softly.  Harwick’s brow rose and he looked at Wickham with new eyes.  Darcy cleared his throat.  “Singleton.  I did not know that you had met Wickham.”

“Ah yes, we have played many games together!”  Singleton chortled and Wickham winked knowingly. 

“I am surprised that you made an exception to your rules for him, given your disdain for my friend Bingley.”

“What do you mean?  Bingley is new money from trade.”

“And Wickham is the son of my father’s steward.  Which man is more worthy of your company now?”  Darcy looked at him inquiringly as Singleton startled and turned to Wickham. 

“You are what?” 

“I see other friends, good evening.”  Wickham ran off into the crowd and Singleton gaped first at his cousin then his wife, who looked at him with disgust. 

“What games do you play with this man, Mr. Singleton?  Is this the company you keep instead of coming home?”  She said coldly.

“It is none of your concern.”  He said in a low tone.  “You are making a scene.”

“What has happened to you?  I once respected you . . .and now . . .” 

“Forgive me Audrey; you know that I am trying to do better.”  He said softly, and placed his hand over hers.  Audrey sighed and looked down at the ground.  Jane watched the couple, knowing that there was a disagreement but not hearing the words.  Harwick shook his head.

“What a fool, she is a good woman and he throws it away.”

“Oh, I am sure that all will be well.  He seemed to be good friends with Mr. Wickham.”  Jane smiled and Harwick’s brow creased.  “Mr. Darcy was a friend as well.”

“Did you not hear, or at least see Mr. Darcy’s anger?”

“I imagine that Mr. Darcy was just playacting with him, after all, his friend interrupted his behaviour with my sister.”  She looked at Elizabeth who was holding Darcy’s hand and listening intently as he spoke earnestly to her. “I notice that you were watching them.”

Harwick took a good look at Jane, and saw what could only be described as envy.  He wondered if she would be satisfied with the marriage he might offer.  He felt no stirrings of passion for her, if anything, walking with her was pleasant but no more pleasant than walking with his sister’s hand on his arm.  Returning his attention to the Singletons, he noticed that he was paying her closer attention now, and she seemed to be resigned to accept it as his apology. 
Is this the cold marriage that I will have with Miss Bennet?  I would not be out at night like Singleton, but there will certainly not be love.

“Fitzwilliam please tell me who that man is.” 

“This is not where I wished to have this conversation, Elizabeth.”

“I assure you that I have no wish to conduct it here either, but I will not be put off any longer.  I cannot bear to allow my imagination to wander any farther than it already has.  Who is this man?  What does the son of your steward hold over you?  And what of this engagement and . . .”

“His other implications?”  Darcy sighed and recognized so many conflicting emotions registering in her eyes.  “You are so young to hear of these things.”

Her eyes flashed at him.  “If I am old enough to marry, I am old enough to . . . oh Fitzwilliam, please relieve my fears!”

“Dearest . . .”  He looked around and bent his head as close to her as he could, placed his hand over hers and held it tightly.  “First . . .Wickham was a favourite of my father’s, he is charming, very charming, and my father after Mother’s death was very susceptible to it.  He also felt an obligation to . . .educate a good servant’s child.  He sent him to university with me and we roomed together.  He was a drunk, a gambler and often I found . . .visitors of questionable worth in our rooms.”  Darcy looked at her intently to see if she understood.

Elizabeth studied his eyes, trying to appreciate his implicit explanation, and she gasped when she took his meaning.  “Women?”  He nodded.  “Did . . .did you?”

“No dearest, never.”  He sighed and closed his eyes.  “He was disciplined on campus, but it did not stop him from roaming the countryside.  I . . .often paid his debts of honour because he was considered my father’s ward.  It was an error, I should have exposed him.  Well, when my father died, he left him a bequest and a living, he agreed to accept four thousand pounds immediately in its stead.”

“But . . .that is nearly half of your yearly income!”  She cried.

Darcy could not help but smile at her reaction, and lifted her hand to his lips.  “It upset me as well, but it was significantly less than what he demanded.  When you saw him in our home, he came to request more, saying I had cheated him.  I refused.”

“I should hope so!”  Elizabeth said angrily. “The nerve of that man!  Why, four thousand pounds!  A man could live for ten years on that if he is prudent!”

“That is the crux of it, my love, this man is not.  You saw how he approached Singleton, he is a gambler.”

“As is Mr. Singleton.  Oh poor Audrey.”  She whispered and felt Darcy’s hand squeeze hers.  “Did nobody know when they married?”  He shook his head sadly, and Elizabeth looked down.  “And . . . this engagement?”

“My aunt spoke loudly and frequently of her desire that I marry my cousin.  My father assured me that it was my decision, and I made my feelings clear to her this Easter when I visited, even before I at last found you.”  Darcy tried to understand what she was feeling and decided that the most upsetting subject was the most intimate.  “I have never and will never take a mistress, Elizabeth.  The only woman I wish to love is you.”

That he had chosen correctly was immediately clear when tears shone from her eyes.  “I . . .truly did not even consider that happening between us, but I cannot deny my relief in hearing it from your lips, Fitzwilliam.  Thank you.  I love you.”

Looking again to Darcy and Elizabeth, Harwick saw that the conversation had ended and the couple was leaning into each other.  If they could find privacy, he had no doubt that passion would quickly arise. 
Will I ever feel passion for Miss Bennet?  Would Ellen want me to live the marriage I would have with her, or would she wish me to be happy at the least?
  His mind turned over with thoughts and the quiet group finally arrived at the Grove where they secured a supper box and ordered the famous ham and chickens, cakes, cheese and wine.  Gradually relaxed conversation as a group was re-established as they took in the sights and sounds of the people passing by.

“The prices are indeed outrageous.”  Darcy commented as he tossed Harwick some coins that he swiftly pushed back.  

“They are, but the arrack is worth it.”  Harwick laughed as he took a sip then turned to Jane.  “Would you care for a taste?  It is rather potent, be warned.”

“No sir, I will just have this wine.” 

Darcy cocked a brow at Elizabeth.  “And you?”

“Well, I suppose a little would not hurt me.”  She took the offered glass and sipped the rum punch, and gasped.  The men laughed and Audrey hurried to hand her a glass of wine.  Darcy looked at her apologetically.  She found her voice again and glared at him.  “You knew what that would do!”

“I also knew that you would not take much.  It is just another first experience for you tonight, something to remember and chastise me about for all of our lives.”  His eyes twinkled and she leaned against his shoulder, and he whispered huskily in her ear, “Do not fall asleep here, dearest.  I might take advantage.”

“Before this crowd?”  She lifted her head to see his intense stare.

“I can imagine, can I not?”  

“Hmm.” 

Below the table their fingers entwined, and he brought her hand to rest on his thigh.  Elizabeth looked up to him, and his eyes stayed with hers as he moved her hand higher to rest briefly over his hardened groin, then moved them back to rest on his thigh.  He felt her body tense then relax, saw her eyes widen and heard her breathing change.  He nodded and whispered softly in her ear.  “I love you.”

The night was punctuated by an explosion and suddenly the air was filled with sparks as fireworks burst forth over the Chinese Pavilion.  Elizabeth gasped and hid her face against Darcy’s chest.  He immediately wrapped his arms around her.  “Do not be afraid, have you never seen fireworks?  Look, Elizabeth, look!”  He turned her around in her chair, keeping his arms around her waist, and softly kissed her ear.  “Are they not beautiful?”

“I have read about these.”  She whispered and leaned back against his chest while the crowd
ooohed
and
ahhed
over the dazzling display.  Harwick glanced back at the darkened corner of the box where he could barely make out the embraced couple.  They were safe from prying eyes.  He noticed Jane looking back at them then jumping with the next burst of noise and light. 

“Is this your first time seeing fireworks, Miss Bennet?”

“No, I saw them once before on a visit to London, sir.  I am not as disconcerted as my sister.  I do not require comfort.” 

“Then it is well as only Miss Elizabeth or Mrs. Singleton are able to provide it for you.”  He smiled politely and looked up to the sky.  His face was illuminated with the next flash and Jane saw none of the longing that was evident in Darcy’s every look at Elizabeth. 

In front of Darcy, Singleton sat with Audrey.  Their disagreement and his apology were past, he had behaved well since meeting Wickham, so when he took her hand and kissed it, she did not pull away.  “May I come to you tonight, Audrey?”  He said softly.

“Of course you may.”  She said quietly in return, their eyes met and he whispered.  “I am doing better, am I not?”

“Yes, you are much improved.”  She sighed and closed her eyes.  Before long the fireworks ended and the couples decided it was time to begin the journey home, which could take hours.  It was good to return to the barges that would transport them across the river to their waiting carriages before the rest of the crowd had the same thoughts.  The Singletons departed for their home and the Darcy carriage left for Gracechurch Street.  Harwick bid Jane a formal farewell, bowing over her hand and stepping away as she entered the house.  Darcy kissed Elizabeth’s hand lingeringly and looked into her eyes.  She leaned forward to tenderly brush his mouth with her lips then quickly ducked into the house before either could act on their desire for more.  When the door shut, Darcy remained standing still on the stoop.  Harwick laughed and called for him to come to the coach and embarrassed, he climbed in. 

“You are a lost soul.” 

Darcy smiled and shrugged.  “I make no apologies.  How was your night, I am afraid that I did not pay much attention . . .”

“If you had I would have been very disappointed in you.”  Harwick smiled and sat back against the cushions.  “I do not know.  She smiles, she is nice, she occasionally speaks and displays some talent for brief conversations . . .but I do not know.  She seemed jealous of her sister.”

“She is engaged.”

“No, I think it is the attention.  If she is hoping for what you have with Miss Elizabeth, she will be disappointed.”

“I wonder Harwick, are you certain that you want such an . . .emotionless existence?  Your first wife died early, but you can potentially have decades with Miss Bennet.”

“It has crossed my mind.  Are you discouraging me?  This is your sister, well almost.”

“I only want you to be happy with your ultimate choice, and I feel the same for her.  She will feel obligated to accept you no matter what her feelings.  You will have to decide for both of you.  I will be sure that she is cared for if it is needed.”