Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (17 page)

“She has accepted you.”  Elizabeth smiled up at him.

“Yes.”  He made pretence of rubbing his nose and looked across the garden.  Mary and de Bourgh were talking quietly next to the blooming peach tree growing against the brick wall that separated their garden from the neighbours.  “Mary is unrecognizable.  If I passed her in the street I would not know her.”  He watched as de Bourgh smiled and his daughter blushed.  “What have you done with her?”

“I taught her how to be confident in a home, I praised her success . . .” Elizabeth shrugged.  “Fitzwilliam and I gave her purpose and direction.”

“You and your husband showed her an example of felicity she never knew could exist.”  He noted de Bourgh glancing his way.  “That gentleman wishes to speak to me, I think.”

“He is a wonderful man, Papa.  He is perfect for her.”  He nodded and she heard him sigh.  “She loves him.”

“That is clear.”  Shaking his head, he looked back to her.  “My daughters are finding their paths with excellent men; and all with no trouble for me.”

“We have always needed you, Papa.”

He patted her shoulder.  “Do not placate me, Lizzy.”  He looked up at the house looming above them.  “Well perhaps I can do some good for Lydia.  I think that Kitty will be better off in your sphere.  She is doing well?”

“She is still following, but she is following good examples.”  Elizabeth saw him wiping his eyes again and staring away from her.  He focussed on a decorative trellis that supported a wisteria vine, and spotted a hole straight through the wood of the post, a hole that had no purpose.  Closing his eyes, he imagined Elizabeth standing there, holding Rosalie, then falling to the ground.  “Mr. Darcy’s headaches, are they improved?”

“Yes, but when he experiences stress, they are terrible.  He prefers not to take laudanum for them.”

He turned back to see her worry.  “That is why he needed to lie down when we returned from the Hursts’ home.”

“Yes.” 

“You joined him.”

“Yes, Papa.” 

Mr. Bennet shook his head and smiled at her.  “Can you imagine your mother and I being so close?”

“Are things improved?”  She asked cautiously.

“Oh . . . yes.  She has taken to visiting the tenants and is excited about her garden.  She has focussed her single-minded obsession from marrying off her daughters to instead, occupying herself.” He shrugged and smiled.  “I am glad to know that Jane and Lucas will come here. Perhaps a grandchild will result.  That will undoubtedly keep her busy, and give her something new to fuss over with Lady Lucas.”  Seeing her blush he laughed. 

“Papa!”  Rosalie cried and laughed when Darcy appeared and scooped her up into his arms.  “bye!”

“Hello.”  He said softly.  “Not goodbye!” 

“Papa.”  Rosalie snuggled against him and rested her head on his chest. 

Darcy walked over to them and sat down next to Mr. Bennet.  “I just received a package with a dozen new pieces for Georgiana to learn.”

“She will love that!”  Elizabeth smiled and looked to her father.  “Her birthday is approaching.”

“Oh, what should I bring back for Lydia?  You know that she will ask.”   He saw her shaking head. 

“She does not need gifts, Papa.  Show her some affection.  Write her letters when she returns to school.”

“I tried to buy Georgiana when my father died.  It was a mistake.  She just wanted some attention.”  Darcy explained and smiled when Rosalie turned in his arms to wrap hers around his neck.  He kissed her cheek and she settled her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.  “I think it is time for this lady to take a nap.” 

“I will take her, dear.”  Elizabeth got to her feet and held out her arms. 

“Are you sure?   She is heavy.”  He glanced first at Elizabeth’s shoulder, and then her waist.  “I will be glad to carry her.  We are due for a talk.”  Elizabeth laughed and kissed him.  “Thank you, love.”  Rising to his feet, he walked back into the house, talking to Rosalie as they walked.

“They talk?” 

“About me.”  She smiled and shrugged.  “I cause trouble, it seems.” 

“Pardon me, sir, may I have a word?”  de Bourgh bowed and looked at Mr. Bennet seriously. 

“Of course.” 

“I will just go and talk with Mary.”  Elizabeth walked away to her sister, and hooking her hand over her arm, led her into the house. 

De Bourgh waited for them to disappear, then stood at rest, his hands clasped behind his back.  “Sir, I am very fond of Miss Bennet.”

“It looked to me that you are more than fond, Captain.”

“I would not disagree, sir.  I care very much for her, and while I know that both Darcy and Mr. Gardiner have been given your permission to act as her guardians, I am a man accustomed to honouring rank.”  He drew a breath and plunged on.  “I do not know when we will again have this opportunity, sir.  I intend to propose marriage to your daughter.  I cannot say when, but I shall.  You know my circumstances, and I believe that I can make her very happy.” 

“You are asking for a . . . peremptory blessing?”  Mr. Bennet smiled.

“I would like to say that I will have been given my orders and I am free to implement them as I see fit.  Darcy will surely act as you adjutant.”

“I see.”

“Sir?”

“I will not leave you hanging, sir.  I trust my brother and my son, and my daughters.  You have no quarrel with me.  Whenever you feel the time has come, do what you must.”  He held out his hand.  “I will be proud to call you Son, one day.”

“I will love her, sir.” 

“I have no doubt.”  Mr. Bennet smiled and they shook.  “And I have no doubt of her feelings for you.”  De Bourgh coloured and he laughed softly.  “All in good time, sir.”

23 APRIL 1811

Papa left for Longbourn yesterday morning.  I have never seen such regret on his face as was displayed when he left the library for the last time.  I believe that he even slept there one night; he was so loathe walking away from the treasure within.  If he ever visits Pemberley, he will likely chain himself to a bookshelf to prevent his removal.  He is different from this experience, better for rising to the occasion and trying to come to the aid of a stranger.  That he could feel compassion for another rather than make sport of their folly was, I believe, a spectacular achievement for him.  It was good to feel pride for my parent.  I would wish it to continue.  He has made strides, slow, some glaringly ineffective, but he has tried to improve.  As has Mama, she at least has developed a few interests and has learned to occupy herself with her home and the estate.  He gave no hints as to their relationship, but after being apart for so many years, it is unrealistic to expect a sudden love affair to blossom.  That they live companionably as Jane reports is good enough. 

Fitzwilliam asked me as we waved off the carriage if my feelings for him had improved.  Without a doubt they have.  It will do me no good to dwell on feelings of disappointment that this newly responsible man was not present in my childhood.  And I prefer not to hold onto unreasonable grudges against him and Mama. I have hopes that one day should we visit Mr. Bingley at Netherfield, we will be able to visit Longbourn amicably.  I take great hope from Rosalie’s response to Papa.  That she did not immediately reject him as she did Lady Catherine was a joy to behold.  His response to her was nearly heartbreaking in his gratitude.  I pray that he can extend this expression of care to Lydia when he speaks to her.  They have a long carriage ride ahead of them when he takes her back to school.  I hope that they spend the time in honest conversation.

“Mrs. Darcy?”  Millie asked from the doorway.  “I have finished with Mrs. Lucas’ hair, are you ready to dress?”

“Oh, yes.”  Elizabeth stood quickly and just as quickly sat down.  “Oh my.”

“Madam?”  Millie hurried in to stand nearby.  “Are you well?”

“A little dizzy.”  Elizabeth closed her eyes and drew a few deep breaths.  “Now, let us try this again.”  Slowly she rose to her feet and sighed.  “So many little things that I had forgotten are returning to me.”

“Do you feel well enough to attend tonight?”  Millie asked worriedly.  “It will not do for you to be faint, madam.  You have not eaten at all today.  It is good that the master was not at home to witness that, he would be worried sick.”

“I am afraid that the master will be worried for many months to come, regardless of how I eat.”  Elizabeth caressed the ribbons of his lover’s knot, then turned back to her maid.  “You know that ladies never eat before a ball.”  She laughed lightly and started to walk towards the dressing room.  “I will be no dizzier than all the other ones present.”  Millie shook her head and followed her mistress.  “I can guess the expression on your face, Millie.  Mr. Darcy will catch me if I fall.”

“RELAX.”  Darcy smiled and offered de Bourgh a glass of port.  He eyed it then sighed and downed the drink with one gulp, and coughed.  Lucas and Darcy laughed and he stalked off to put the glass down and stare pensively at Pemberley’s landscape.  “Not speaking to us will not help you.”

“Where is she?”  He demanded and stared at the house.  “How blasted long can it take to put on a blasted dress?”

“Much longer than it takes to remove one.”  Lucas murmured as he took a measured sip of his port and glanced at Darcy.  “May I thank you again for this invitation?”

“I think that eight times is enough.”  Darcy smiled.  “Have you thought of building a little hideaway for yourself?”

“Such as?”

“A cabin, for hunting purposes.”  He suggested.

De Bourgh snorted but did not look away from the painting.  “Nicely equipped.”

“I imagine that you have such a thing.”  Lucas sighed.

Turning to glance at him, de Bourgh gestured to the painting.  “Do you really think that he has trouble finding places of privacy?”

Lucas saw Darcy blush and smiling, looked at de Bourgh.  “So, Jane tells me that Darcy proposed to Elizabeth at this ball, do you intend to repeat that performance?”

Colouring, de Bourgh stepped to the doorway to look towards the stairs.  “No.” 

“I am frankly amazed.”  Darcy leaned on the desk and crossed his arms.  “You ask for Mr. Bennet’s blessing, Elizabeth and I have given you ample opportunities for moments alone, you are besotted, my sister’s eyes are full of admiration, what stops you?”  

Glancing again at the stairs, he walked back into the room.  “Perhaps it is the discipline of my upbringing.”

“I believe that we all have had disciplined upbringings.”  Darcy looked to Lucas, who nodded.

“Yes, but I had to earn everything, take the proper steps, fight for my advancement where for others it was bought or given.  Not that I disparage your birthrights, gentlemen, I can certainly include myself in your class now that I have Rosings.  I just . . . I want to earn her hand.”

“I think that she would be glad to take it.”  Darcy smiled.  “Why make it hard?”

“You yourself told me why, Darcy.”  De Bourgh smiled.  “Before the Gardiners chastised you for being a hypocrite in your chaperoning duties, you told me that Mary deserved to know for certain that I am the one.” 

“So you will happily stand by as she is asked to dance by others?”  Lucas laughed.  “No engagement means no more than two dances tonight.” 

“I know.”  He said softly, then started when he heard the sound of laughter floating down the stairs. 

Darcy strode past him and clapped his back on his way.  “Come then, let us test your willpower.”  He smiled at Lucas and led the way to meet the ladies.

FITZWILLIAM STOOD in the line of dancers and nudging his brother, winked. “What say we lay some wagers on de Bourgh proposing?”

“I say not.”  Layton shook his head.  “He will choose a private location, he is not impulsive.”

“Oh and Darcy is?” 

“Darcy was caught up in the urgency of the moment.  He felt threatened.”  Layton grinned when he noticed his cousin glaring at a man who was admiring Elizabeth’s enticing décolletage.  “Of course, we could arrange to have some of our friends make de Bourgh feel threatened.”

“Boys.”  Lord Matlock said sternly from Layton’s side.  “Behave.”

“But Father, it would just be to make sure that Miss Mary’s dances are all taken.”  The music began and the men stepped forward to take the hands of their wives.

“What are you discussing?”  Alicia demanded.  “If your darting eyes are any clue, I do hope that you leave them alone.”

“Poor Mary is nervous enough, look at how she blushes anew every time he smiles at her.”  Eva agreed and took her husband’s arm.  “You would do well not to raise Peter’s ire.”

“I am still armed.”  Fitzwilliam patted his sword.

“Yes, and I would prefer not to have my ballroom splattered with blood.”  Lady Matlock took her turn with him and glared.  “How old are you?”

“Old enough to know better.”  Fitzwilliam said tonelessly. 

The family laughed and Lady Matlock nodded.  “And it will do you well to remember that!”  She switched back to her husband and he leaned back to his brother. 

“So, shall we?”

“Richard!”  Eva pinched him. 

“I was going to send you flowers in the morning.”  He lifted his chin.  “No longer.”

“Hmm, pity.”  Eva turned.  “I was going to give
you
something in the morning.”  Fitzwilliam’s eyes widened and he waited impatiently for her steps to bring her back to him.  “Well?”

“Yes, my love.”  He kissed her hand and smiled.

“Puppy.”  Layton snorted and immediately wiped the smirk from his face when he saw his wife’s raised brow.   “Yes, dear.” 

Lord Matlock chuckled and smiled at his wife.  “They have learned what I did long ago.  Just who is in charge.”

“I am so happy that you acknowledge that, Henry.”  Lady Matlock smiled and looked down to Mary and de Bourgh.  “He is besotted.”

“Which excuses every misstep.”  Lord Matlock smiled.  “Not that she notices.”

“Have I told you how lovely you are tonight?”  De Bourgh said as he took Mary’s hand.  “May I tell you again?”

“Oh please, you embarrass me.”  She looked down and laughed a little as his feet took him one way and hers another.  “Careful!”