Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (57 page)

“Damn you Fitzwilliam!”

“You should not have come back after seeing Darcy, you fool!”  Fitzwilliam laughed after him.  Creary touched his shoulder. 

“Darcy recognized him here?”

“No, Darcy saw him at Vauxhall, but his engagement has kept him from the club, otherwise I imagine he would have spotted him here and raised the warning.  You have seen his betrothed, have you not?”  Fitzwilliam raised his brow.  “You can see why he would be preoccupied?”

A small smile appeared on Creary’s lips.  “Ah, yes.  Quite well-formed.”  He chuckled and then his face grew serious.  “I will speak to the serjeant-at-arms about Wickham.”

“I leave it to you, sir.”  Fitzwilliam nodded to the rest and joined his brothers.  “Now why is it that I had to identify Wickham?  You knew who he was.” 

Singleton looked down.  “I sponsored him here, if I had said who he was, I would have been a laughingstock.”

Layton looked at him with disgust.  “Come on, we are going to talk about a few more of your failings.”  They moved off to take a private room, usually meant for very high stakes card games, and locked the door. 

“What is this about?”  Singleton straightened his coat when Layton let him go, and noted Fitzwilliam leaning against the door with his arms folded. 

“You Brother; have disappointed the family.”

“What do you mean?”  He demanded.

“I mean, our sister was moved to tears in public over your behaviour.”

“Did Harwick put you up to this?”  Singleton said angrily.  “He said he was giving me friendly advice, I did not realize he was going behind my back.”

Fitzwilliam and Layton exchanged glances and Layton shrugged.  “Obviously his advice fell on deaf ears if we found you here.”

“He warned me to cut my ties with Wickham, and pay attention to my wife, that I might regret my behaviour deeply if she were to die unexpectedly or my actions might lead to my premature death and leave her alone.”  Singleton’s voice dwindled away as he spoke. 

“Spoken as a man who has lost a great deal.  I see that you have repaid his thoughtfulness by continuing as you have?”

“It is a difficult habit to break and besides, I was in my cups and did not really catch all that he said.”

“It sounds to me that you caught a great deal,” Fitzwilliam said softly, “but chose to ignore it.”  Advancing to his brother he looked down at him, and put his hand on the hilt of his sabre.  Singleton swallowed and watched in fascination as the shining metal was caressed, almost lovingly.  “I will say this to you once.  You make some changes to your habits and amends to our sister, or we will have more than just words in a closed room in a private club.”

“You threaten me?”  Singleton’s voice shook.

“I promise you.”  Fitzwilliam spoke softly.  “I am very adept with the art of persuasion . . .Brother.”

“I have the scars to prove that.”  Layton added.

“Scars?”

“Hmm.”  Layton nodded. 

“What gives you the right to question my behaviour?   You are no better!”

“I take great exception to that.  I may play cards, but I have never touched my wife’s dowry.  I may be a social snob, but that is the right of my position.  I have come to see the ways that I have failed myself and my family and have begun to make changes.  I am not perfect, but at least I am not you.  My wife does not cry.”  Fitzwilliam unlocked the door and opened it.  “I believe that you need to read your marriage contract and make sure that Audrey’s assets remain intact.  If you have gambled them away, I suggest that you find a way to replace them, and if I catch you doing anything beyond being a good husband to our sister and learning your role for your estate, I . . . will not hold back the Colonel.”  He smiled and Fitzwilliam nodded.

“We will be watching you, Brother.”  He touched his blade again and glanced at Singleton’s breeches.  “Spill something?”  He smiled and left.  Layton glanced at the fall and laughed, and followed Fitzwilliam out.  Singleton looked at himself and sank down on a chair at the table, and sat alone to contemplate their words while he waited for his breeches to dry.

“I HATE TO SAY THIS, UNCLE, but this year our trip to Epsom is far more comfortable than the last.”  Elizabeth smiled across to where Mr. Gardiner sat with Darcy and Bingley.

“You mean that riding on a stagecoach with a group of merrymakers was not enjoyable?  Why I am insulted!”  He chuckled to see her head shaking.

“You rode a stagecoach?”  Darcy said unhappily.

“We did.”  Elizabeth smiled.  “It was better than trying to find somewhere to leave Uncle’s coach.  We simply paid our fares and agreed to meet at an inn at the appointed time.  Our companions were a friendly, if drunken lot.”

“I am surprised that you noticed them at all, Lizzy.  The ride home you were decidedly in a world of your own.”  He smiled at her then back at Darcy. 

His mouth dropped open when he saw her blushing, then he sat up a little straighter and smiled.  “If I might relieve your discomfort Elizabeth, I will own that I spent the ride home wondering where in the convoy a certain girl’s carriage was located.” 

“Oh.”  She bit her lip and blushed brighter. 

Mrs. Gardiner patted her hand and smiled.  “I will tell you Mr. Darcy, she did not lose that dreamy countenance for days afterwards.” 

“Is this embarrass Elizabeth day?”  She demanded fiercely as her face grew increasingly red, and Darcy’s chest puffed with pride

“May I ask what finally brought you back to earth, Miss Elizabeth?”  Bingley asked with a grin.

“Oh, well it was nothing to be remembered, sir.”  She said quietly and looked down at her hands.  “I . . .I met a man in Hyde Park who did not think much of me and I am afraid that effectively burst my bubble of happiness for quite some time.”  She glanced at Jane who opened her mouth in surprise then at her aunt who nodded with the memory.

“Yes, but he was rather rude, you will recall.”

Elizabeth saw Darcy’s smile had disappeared as he remembered that moment when he had decided to let her go.  “Fitzwilliam?”

“I do not like hearing of anyone who brings you unhappiness, Elizabeth.”  He said softly. 

“Well, I had my revenge, of a sort.  We met him at the theatre, and he found me . . . handsome enough, I think.”  She smiled at him, but saw that the sadness in his eyes remained.  It was not the place to question him, and the company prevented any more conversation on that subject.

“Have you chosen your horse yet, Miss Bennet?”  Bingley asked, noticing how she had fallen into her own thoughts. 

“No sir, I would like to see them first.”  She smiled a little and his eyes lit up. 

“You need to assess their build?”

“No, Mr. Bingley, she likes to look at their eyes.”  Elizabeth teased and saw Jane blush.  “If they have pretty eyes then they will assuredly run well.”

The men laughed.  “Lizzy!”  She said angrily. 

“I go by name, and Aunt looks at their colours, what is the difference?  We are silly, but may I point out, I did win last year.”

“A fluke, I am certain.”  Mr. Gardiner declared.

“So you will not split your purse with me again this year?”  Elizabeth demanded.  “And which will you follow?  Eyes or colour?”

“I had better follow my wife, I think.  Besides, you have Mr. Darcy’s funds to play with this year, do you not?”

“And Fitzwilliam’s.”  He added, slowly regaining his humour.  “So who is our choice, Elizabeth?”

She studied the list of names that Jane held up, and scanning them she picked one.  “Pope.”

“Why?  You are not Catholic.”  His lips twitched. 

“I doubt that his owner is either, but Papa is coming to visit on Tuesday, so I thought it would be good luck.”  She saw Jane’s confusion.  “Pope is from the Latin, Papa.” 

Darcy looked at her in admiration. “You know Latin as well?”

“I know that women should not learn it but I own to knowing a little.”  She said shyly.  “Enough to make terrible errors in translations.”

“We will have to test you sometime.”  Darcy smiled, and she relaxed to see him happy again.

“I would prefer a good game of chess.”

“Oh that would be interesting to watch, Miss Elizabeth.  Darcy is the club champion.”  Bingley grinned to see Darcy shrug.  “He routed me countless times at Pemberley.”

“What is your impression of the estate, Mr. Bingley?”  Mrs. Gardiner asked.

“Oh, it is indescribable.  The house is the finest I have ever seen, but truth be told, it is the scenery and sport that gets me.  Excellent game, fishing, hunting, very well managed.  I rather fancy finding a home in the Peaks someday, but I suppose I will have to settle for whatever estate presents itself to me.”

“There is an estate adjacent to Longbourn that is for sale, Mr. Bingley.  The owner leases it, but he would prefer to sell.  Mr. Stewart’s family took it for a while but they are gone now.”  Jane said quietly.

“Is that so?”  Bingley raised his brows and looked at Darcy.  “Should I look at it?”

“I think you need another year in town first.  And I would like to know why it has not sold.  Land is at a premium.  There must be something that the owner has not addressed that keeps it on the market, whether the house needs to be repaired or the fields are poor producers, there is a reason.  I would look into it before committing and furthermore, take a lease before purchase.”

“I will not make a move without you Darcy.”  Bingley laughed and sat back to smile at them all. 

An hour later the carriage arrived in Epsom.  The rendezvous point was agreed upon, and the group of six made their way with the crowd to the stands.  Darcy and Elizabeth led the procession, and they were ushered to their places.  Darcy performed the duty of introducing them to their neighbours and enduring several inane conversations, and the exceptionally calculating examination that Elizabeth received from everyone who learned her identity.  When at last it was over, Elizabeth took her seat beside him and smiled up to meet his admiring gaze.  “This is such a better spot than last year.  I will actually see the race as opposed to a series of backs.” 

“And not be trampled.” 

“Oh, if Uncle had not held my shoulders, I surely would have drowned in the stampede for the rail.”  She laughed as he frowned.  “What is it?” 

Darcy took her hand.  “I should have gone to your side.” 

“You tried, but you made a good friend who needs you instead.” 

“You are a good friend who I hope needs me as well.”  He lifted her hand to his lips and she blushed.  “Is it my imagination, or have you become shy with me, Elizabeth?”

“I . . . I do not know.”  He bent his head to peek up under her new hat.  “I spent several hours watching you sleep Fitzwilliam, and I believe that made me feel closer to you than anything.  I . . . I imagined that we were at home and I thought of how much I wished to . . .” She grew silent.

“Kiss me?”  He whispered.

“Touch you.”  She whispered back and glanced up to see his delight and looked quickly down.  “I . . .I wish to see your neck.”  Elizabeth murmured to her lap.  Darcy laughed softly and she bristled. “What did I say?”

“Oh dearest, you cannot possibly know how much seeing your neck entices me.”  He smiled at her wide eyes and laughed again.  “So you were dreaming of us at home.”  He sighed happily.  “I so like the sound of that.”

“I do too.  I am sorry that Uncle would not allow us to change our wedding date.” 

“I can understand his hesitation, I suppose, but it only tries my patience.”  Darcy saw her renewed blush.  “What has gotten into you, my love?”

“Oh leave me be!”  She whispered and went back to chewing her lip.  “I have to go to Longbourn soon.”

Immediately he stiffened.  “Why?”

“Fitzwilliam, I have a closet full of clothes to sort through!”

“Have you not just spent a scandalous sum on new ones?”  He said with a glint in his eye.

“And who demanded that?”

“My aunt, as I recall.”

“I seem to remember you had some say in the process, sir.”

“Sir?”

“SIR!”

“Lizzy!”  Mrs. Gardiner admonished. 

She glanced at her aunt and was greeted by Darcy’s raised brow.  “I would also like to say goodbye to my sisters, and I imagine that Mama . . .”

“No parties Elizabeth; please.”

“I was not expecting you to come.”  She looked away.

“Pardon me?”  He looked at her in great surprise, then realized she sought to spare him her family.  Instead of embarrassing her further he chose a different subject.  “Do you seriously think that I would allow you to travel alone?”

“Well, I thought you would be busy and we would take the post, and . . .”

“Miss Elizabeth . . .” He said sternly, “MY wife does not take the post!”

“I am not your wife, SIR.”  She said cheekily.

“
Yet
.”  He said huskily and bent back down to whisper.  “And I assure you, my dearest, beautiful, challenging love, that when you are, your neck, and every other part of you will be blushing for quite some time.”  Nodding with satisfaction he watched the colour rising from her breasts to her chin and lost the rest under the brim of her hat.  Hearing his name called, he turned and greeted Stewart and his sister. 

“Miss Elizabeth.”  Laura called over to her.  “Miss Elizabeth?  Are you well?”  She saw the blush when Elizabeth looked up.  “Oh, you must be overly warm!”

“I am fine, Miss Stewart.”  She glanced at Darcy’s little smile and stepped on his boot.  “Mr. Stewart, it is a great pleasure to see you again.”   Darcy’s smile disappeared.

“Thank you Miss Elizabeth.  You are lovely today.”  They took their seats just behind them and Stewart leaned down to Darcy.  “It seems all of London made the trip.  Is your family in attendance?”

“They should be, but I have not spotted them.”  He transferred his frown to Stewart.  “Are you looking for anyone in particular?”

“Hmm?  Oh no, just curious.”  He scanned the crowd and smiled back at him. 

“I am surprised not to see Mr. Harwick with you, Miss Bennet.”  Laura said with a smile. 

Jane startled from her survey of the fashionable crowd.  “Oh, his sister was arriving today, and he could not come.”

“Oh what a shame, he seemed so interested in the horses.”  She looked around with barely hidden disappointment and Jane felt strangely defensive.