Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (75 page)

“No, I like your choice, but will that satisfy the world?”

“I have decided that the world does not deserve further explanation, however, I have invited him to the wedding as a sign that all is well between us.  Does that make you uncomfortable?”

“No, I think he will feel more than I.”  She smiled to see his nod and took both of his hands again.  “Anything else?”

He looked at her steadily.  “Georgiana is asking why our wedding date was moved up.  It occurred to me that she will not be alone in that curiosity, and that it may very well be assumed that we anticipated our vows.” 

“Fitzwilliam!”

“Forgive me, but I am sure that the thought struck Mrs. Gardiner, did it not, madam?”  Darcy turned to assess her reaction.

“I am afraid that it did, but the benefit to you marrying now is far greater than a birth that will not come when anticipated.”  She smiled and shrugged.  “It is certainly not an unknown phenomenon.”  Jane gasped and Mrs. Gardiner patted her hand.  “What have you told your sister?”

“That the fire is driving my desire to return to Pemberley sooner than expected and we thought we would be married a little earlier to enjoy some of the Season as a wedded couple before departing.”  He looked to Elizabeth and smiled, “Which is also not false.”

“I think that you are becoming more creative with your confessions.  I will have to keep that in mind for future reference.”  Her eyes danced and he shrugged a little.  “And?”

“That is all I know of . . . except . . .” He reached into his pocket and handed her a velvet bag.  “Please wear this tomorrow with your gown.” She began to open it and he stopped her.  “I begged Georgiana to give it to you, and she was glad to do so.  I traded her a piece that I found in her jewels at Pemberley.”

“I think that I know what this is.”  Elizabeth opened the bag and into her hand spilled the pearl named Richard.  “Ohhh.”

“Once I saw this on you, I could not imagine any other ever wearing it.”  He touched it, then smiled up to her.  “I know that this means that your locket will have to be abandoned for the day, but . . .”

“I will have the real man by my side.”  She carefully put the pearl back in the bag and smiled up at him.  “Thank you, and Georgiana.”  Darcy leaned forward and kissed her, then drew back. 

“I must go.”  He stood and she rose with him.  “I have to prepare our home for you.”

“Do you not have a staff for that?”

“I have correspondence to answer.”

“I think that you are trying to avoid me.”  Elizabeth laughed.

Darcy bowed to the ladies and taking her hand walked to the door, and set his hat down on the steps.  “Dearest,” he drew her into his arms and kissed her upturned mouth, “it is taking every ounce of my strength not to carry you to some convenient room and teach you the lesson of how dangerous it is to tease a desperate man.”

“What did I say?”  She asked innocently.

He groaned and traced his hands down her back to rest on her bottom,  rubbing his groin against her until her eyes closed, then moved to tenderly suckle her earlobe.  Withdrawing, he was satisfied to note her disappointment.  “A taste my love, a taste.”  Darcy kissed her gently.  “I will see you tomorrow at the altar.”  She nodded mutely and gladly returned the soft kiss.  “I love you.”  In a breath he was gone. 

“I AM SO SORRY, ELIZABETH.”  Darcy took her hands in his and pled with her to understand.  “I had no choice, my family . . .”

“What of
our
family!!”  She cried. 

“Too many people are counting on me.  Anne . . . it was the only way to stop the ruin of our names, I had to stop the rumours, I had to marry her!”

Elizabeth tore away from him and drawing back, struck him forcefully across the face.  A bright red imprint of her small hand glowed from his cheek.  She drew back again, and with tears rolling down his face, he stood still and accepted the strike.  Again and again Elizabeth beat him, her body shook with sobs, and her touch became weaker as she lost strength.  When at last she collapsed to the ground, he fell to his knees.  “Wait for me.  She will not survive for long.  Wait for me.”

“How?”  She sat up and demanded.  “How can I wait?  I am the poor girl jilted by the rich man!  I am already called your mistress! 
You
have ruined
me
!  What of my name?  What of my sisters?  I have no choice but to resolve myself to a life alone.  I will never marry.”

“Please Elizabeth, I will take care of you, I will give you a home, and when it is over . . .”

“You will be in mourning for two years afterwards!  I could be waiting years for you!  And what am I in the meantime?  I
would
be your mistress!  You do not love me, you never loved me!”  She climbed to her feet and stood looking down at the devastated man, then reaching to her neck she tore the locket from her throat and threw it on the ground.  “I want no part of you.”

“Please . . .”

“Give them to me.”  She stood with her palm extended.

“No, please, leave me with at least this.”  He begged.

“No, you have rejected me, you have rejected our future, you have rejected our children.  I want you to think every day for the rest of your life what your pride has given you.  NOTHING!”

Slowly, Darcy removed the box containing her hair from his waistcoat and looking down to his finger, removed the ring, and placed them in her hand.  It remained extended, and he reached inside of his coat to remove his book of sonnets.  “Please . . .”

“This is your decision, Mr. Darcy.”

“Elizabeth . . .”

“Miss Bennet, sir.” 

“Mrs. Stewart.”  They both looked up and Stewart was by her side.  “I will marry you.  I never should have left you.  I love you.”

Elizabeth looked from the man at her feet to the man offering his hand.   She hesitated then nodded.  “Yes, I will marry you.”

“NO!”

“Darcy!  Come!  Anne is asking for you!”  Lady Catherine called. 

“Go Mr. Darcy, your wife wants you.”  Elizabeth said coldly. 

“You are my wife.” He whispered, “You, only you.  I love you, please . . .”

“Darcy!” 

“Please do not marry Stewart, please wait for me, forgive me . . .”

“Darcy, wake up!”  Fitzwilliam shook his shoulder.

“Go ahead, strike me again, I deserve it.” 

Fitzwilliam stood back and considered his cousin, the bed coverings were twisted around his body from thrashing, his face was wet with tears, and he was still very deeply in this obvious nightmare. 

“NO!”  He screamed.  “Get away!”

“Well, we have to put a stop to this now.”  He looked around for a pitcher of water and spotting the ewer, strode across the room, grabbed it, and returned to his suffering cousin.  Judging the best spot, he began pouring water over his face, it filled his nose and open mouth, and instantly Darcy coughed and spluttered, then at last awoke. 

“What . . . What the devil!”  Darcy sat up and wiped his face then stared at Fitzwilliam.  “What . . .why?”

“You are a devil to waken, I sincerely hope that Pemberley does not catch fire while you are asleep or Elizabeth will surely be a widow.” 

“Elizabeth!”  Darcy cried.  “Where is she?”

“I imagine she is in her bedchamber dressing for her wedding.”  Fitzwilliam smiled.  “To you.”

Darcy sighed and rested his head in his hands.  “Thank you, God.” 

Fitzwilliam sat on the bed and watched his cousin try to wipe away the tears without giving his activity away.  “I take it that was a nightmare about Elizabeth marrying Stewart.”

“And me marrying Anne.”

“Definitely a horrifying experience.”  He clapped Darcy’s back.  “What brought that on?”

“I . . . I spent some time reading my journals last night, and I read where I realized that Stewart had been courting her, and then I thought about him storming over here to defend her when he thought I had married Anne . . .and . . .”

“And you had wedding eve fears.  I knew that I should have spent the night here.  Any other man who marries for convenience would be steady as a rock this morning.  You are a lover.  What a lucky man you are to have nightmares on your wedding day.”  He smiled but Darcy was still lost in his memories.

“Layton thought that I would have married her if I had gone to Rosings.”  Darcy looked up to see Fitzwilliam’s expression grow serious.  “You were there, what do you think?”

“I am not you, though we share a penchant for duty and honour.”  Fitzwilliam sighed.  “I could have married her, Aunt Catherine was all for it.  Father even spoke of it.  I just could not do it, and I did not have a beautiful woman waiting for me a carriage ride away.  And I had much more to lose than you.  Come Darcy, what are you beating yourself over for?  Surely you do not regret this decision?”

“No, no not at all.  I suppose that I . . . I realized how unlikely it is that this day has come.  You are correct; I am a very fortunate man.”

“Marrying Elizabeth today
is
protecting the family.  It is continuing the Darcy name, is it not?”

“I hope so.” 

“Well it will if you do not scare the poor girl away by your screams in the night.”  He chuckled and stood.

Darcy shot him a glance and smiled ruefully.  “How loud was I?”

“Your valet was vastly relieved to hear of my arrival.  I do not think that he would have opted for the ewer.”  He crossed his arms while Darcy got to his feet.  “What brings you to the mistress’ chambers?”

“I did not want to sleep in the new bed . . . yet.”  He looked away when Fitzwilliam smiled knowingly.  “What time is it?”

“Seven.  You have plenty of time.  Come on, let us eat and get you bathed and dressed for your bride.”  He eyed him carefully.  “Perhaps a nap?”

“Very funny, Richard.”

“Do you have these dreams often?  Nightmares I mean?”

“Why?” 

He shrugged.  “I do.  Just curious.”

Two hours later, Darcy stood in his dressing room with his eyes closed as his valet fussed over his neck cloth.  Fitzwilliam was sprawled unceremoniously in the shaving chair while he watched the proceedings.  “You will amaze her with your beauty.”

“Quiet Richard.”

“Overwhelm her with your scent.”  He picked up a bottle of cologne and sniffed.

“Richard.” 

“Besiege her with your hooded seductive glance.”  His lips twitched.

“Are you through?”

“Ah, and she will faint at the suggestion of the night to come.”  He placed his hand over his breast and sighed.

“I think that I will ask Bingley to stand up with me.  You are mocking me far too much.”

Fitzwilliam chuckled and waved the thought away.  “Oh, you do not want a puppy on this day!  You want someone who will distract you from your nerves!”

“What nerves?”  Darcy felt Adams move away and twisted his neck around to adjust to the knot.  “I am perfectly relaxed.”

“Then why are your nails driving into your palm, and your eyes shadowed from lack of sleep?”  Fitzwilliam asked softly.  Darcy looked down to see that his hands were balled up so tightly that his knuckles were white. 

“Fine, I am nervous.”

“Would you like a drink?” 

“I wish to remember this day, Cousin.”

“I am suggesting a drink, not a bottle.”  A glass was waved under his nose and Darcy grabbed it to take a healthy swallow.  He coughed and Fitzwilliam clucked.  “It is well that you were a first son.  You were not cut out to be a soldier.”

“You were not cut out to be a first son!”  Darcy glared and took another, more moderated swallow, then drained the glass.  Adams held out his new blue coat and he slipped it on, then admired his reflection while the man brushed him off.  “What do you think?”

“Hmm?  Well it is not red, but I suppose it will do.” 

“Where is he?”  A booming voice called, then was immediately followed by Lord Matlock and Layton.  “There you are, Son.”  He came in and looked him over.  “You do look a sight.”

“What?”  Darcy turned to the glass.  “What is amiss?”

“Nothing that a wife cannot cure.”   Layton smiled.  Darcy looked at his cousin’s reflection and raised his brow to see a slight nod.  Darcy smiled and nodded back. 

“Well, the bride is at Matlock so we were unceremoniously removed.”  Lord Matlock announced.  “Georgiana is so excited I was tempted to hand her a glass of wine to calm her down.”

“Uncle!”

“No, I did not!”  He snorted.  “They were all giggles, a gaggle of birds in their pretty feathers.”  The men all turned to regard him.  “What?  I can appreciate the beauty of my ladies, can I not?  Of course the bride outshined them all.”

“Naturally.”  Fitzwilliam nodded.

“She does.”  Layton admitted.  “She is glowing Darcy, much as you are.” 

“Men do not glow.”  He said defensively. “We . . .”

“Smoulder.”  Fitzwilliam suggested.

The collective gaze turned to him.  “I had a long recovery gentlemen, I read many novels.”  He saw the rolling eyes.  “Ah but I know what the ladies expect now, do you?” 

“Darcy, the carriage is in position.”  Singleton announced.  “Mr. Bennet is waiting downstairs.”

Now all eyes looked upon him and he smiled.  “He tells me that he was accompanied by Miss Mary Bennet, but she was left off with the ladies.”

Darcy closed his eyes in relief.  “Thank you.”

Fitzwilliam sat up.  “Ah, Miss Mary?  And tell us of this one?”

“She is sixteen, I believe.  Very fond of Fordyce.”  He smiled to see the faces fall. 

“Well then, shall we be off?”  Lord Matlock cleared his throat.  “Let us see this young man married!” 

“THERE, YOU ARE LOVELY, LIZZY.”  Mrs. Gardiner kissed her cheek, and fixed the lace covering her hair.  “A beautiful bride.” 

“Thank you, Aunt.”  Elizabeth clasped her hands nervously, and Mrs. Gardiner laid hers over top.   “I have felt for so long that you are my mother, I am happy that you are with me today.”

“Oh my dear.”  They embraced and sniffed.  “Thank you.  You will always be my first daughter.”  The carriage came to a halt before the church, and passersby stopped to see who exited the bridal coach.  While waiting for the women from the other coaches to be handed down, Elizabeth looked again to her clenched hands.  Mrs. Gardiner tried to rub some warmth into her icy skin.  “I am sorry that your sleep was so poor, dear.”