Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (26 page)

“Come, Lizzy.”  Mrs. Gardiner said softly and put her arm around her waist.  “Come.”  

“OH MR. DARCY, how good to see you!  And Captain!  How very fine you look!  We were just thrilled to receive the news of your proposal to Mary!  I always knew that she would do very well, and here you are!  When I saw you at your brother’s wedding, I could tell by your attention that it was only a matter of time before you and Mary were engaged!  How good of you to find her worthy!  Why, had she found a sea captain alone, I would have been delighted, but you with a grand estate . . .why, I am overwhelmed!”  Mrs. Bennet beamed when they entered Longbourn.  Before de Bourgh could speak, she turned away from him to smile at Bingley.  “And, have we met, sir?” 

“This is Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet; he is going to be leasing Netherfield this autumn.”  Darcy murmured while indicating his friend.

“Mr. Bingley?”  She gasped and raised her hand to her mouth as she looked over the suddenly uncomfortable, handsome young man.  “I do hope that you will take to the neighbourhood, sir!  Netherfield has been empty since the judge and his party departed just after Christmas, and it is much too fine of an estate to remain so, perhaps some lady of the neighbourhood will catch your eye and . . .”  She at last felt Darcy’s sharp gaze upon her and stopped herself before she mentioned Kitty.  Instead she looked at Bingley and thought of how he could have already been her son, and she could be visiting Netherfield . . .and regretfully, turned to Darcy. “How are my dear Jane and her good husband, Mr. Lucas?  Will they be returning soon?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are very well; madam; and I do not believe they have any intention of returning before Miss Bennet’s wedding is accomplished.”

“Accomplished?”  She smiled at de Bourgh and waved her hand.  “Of course you and Mary will have your breakfast here, sir.  It is the right of the bride to have her wedding from her home.  Your mother had her chance with your two sisters!  Although I am sure that your very fine estate was lovely!  We have heard so much of it from Mr. Collins, why I feel as if I have already visited!  I do so look forward to seeing it very soon, and Mr. Darcy, when will we all travel to Pemberley?” 

“Mrs. Bennet.”  Mr. Bennet said quietly before either man was forced to respond, “I believe that I have some business to discuss with Captain de Bourgh before any wedding plans are made?”

“Oh, of course Mr. Bennet, I was simply overcome by the wonderful news.  Three daughters married!  I shall go distracted!  I will just see to some refreshments being prepared, my goodness, a house full of men, who could have ever imagined such a thing here?”  Smiling and shooting a last look at Bingley, she scurried away.

“I really have no business being part of this discussion.”  Bingley murmured to Darcy as they were ushered towards Mr. Bennet’s bookroom.  “But I fear Mrs. Bennet would be browbeating me if I remained outside.”

“Nothing you are not already accustomed to.”  Darcy said with a lift to his brow. 

“No, you should accompany us; you might as well get some experience.  One of these days you
will
be in just such a position with a father.  I have no objection.”  De Bourgh smiled to see his relief.

Mr. Bennet led them into the bookroom and stood behind his desk.  “Captain, Mr. Darcy . . . and Mr. Bingley, well this is quite a contingent!  Welcome gentlemen, please take a seat.”  He waved over the room, bowing to them and receiving de Bourgh’s and Bingley’s greetings.

Darcy found himself feeling strangely detached as he entered this sanctuary of Elizabeth’s father.  This was the first time that he had entered with no agenda of his own to accomplish.  This time, he took in the atmosphere of his wife’s childhood home, and tried to imagine her growing up there.  Without her by his side, he seemed to somehow feel her presence within the walls more keenly, or perhaps he was searching for reminders of her.  Mr. Bennet smiled at him and Darcy looked into his eyes, finding her at last.  Bowing, his gaze swept over to the chair before the desk and focused on it.  “Yes, Mr. Darcy.”  Mr. Bennet smiled.  “That is Lizzy’s favourite.  Go ahead.”  He sat down and watched as Darcy sank into the old chair.  “How is she?”

“Well sir,” Darcy said quietly, and gripped the arms, feeling the small imprints of her hands, and how they fit so well into his large palms.  Something in his heart lurched and he looked at the ring on his finger containing her hair.

Mr. Bennet’s brow creased.  “No news to report?”

“No, sir.”  Darcy murmured as he unconsciously caressed over the leather, and looked out of the window for a moment.  Shaking off his worry, he turned back to Mr. Bennet.  “But I do have a letter for you, as well as letters for the Lucas family that I will leave with you.”  He removed them from his coat and laid them on the desk.  Sitting back, he nodded at de Bourgh to proceed, but Mr. Bennet took the floor.

“So, Captain, you have done as you planned and proposed to my daughter, Mary?”

“Yes, sir, and as I indicated in my letter, I have prepared the settlement.”  He handed forward the documents.  “Darcy was kind enough to show me the preparations he made for Mrs. Darcy, and although my resources are not nearly so extensive, I am very pleased with what I may offer for her and our children’s future care.  Like Darcy, I have no entailment upon the estate to work around, so I have made arrangements . . .”

Mr. Bennet interrupted.  “Mr. Darcy, you helped him with this?”

“Yes sir.”

“Then there is no need for me to do anything more than sign.”  He smiled.  “I do not intend to be an impediment to you.”

“While I appreciate your confidence, sir, please honour the man who is gracious enough to provide for your daughter by reading the papers.  Honour the man who took the trouble to travel here on her behalf.”  Darcy said quietly.  “He did not need to be so generous in what he has chosen to provide.” 

“And neither did you.”  Mr. Bennet acknowledged and without a word picked up the papers and read through every sentence, then picked up his pen and signed his name.  “I am overwhelmed, sir.”  He handed them back to de Bourgh.  “You truly love her.”

“How could I not?”  De Bourgh said simply then tucked the papers away in his coat.  “Thank you.”  He glanced at Darcy.  “Now about the wedding date . . .”

“Sooner rather than later?”  Mr. Bennet laughed.  “Whatever suits your schedule, sir.  I assume that you will wish to honeymoon while the weather is best?”

“Yes, I wish to show her the sea.  We will go to Brighton and work our way down the coast a bit before returning home to Rosings.  Although I would enjoy going to Pemberley,” he smiled at Darcy, “I do want Mary to understand why I sometimes drift into meditation over a stormy sky.” 

“Come for the hunting season.”  Darcy smiled.

“I was hoping you might come to Netherfield then.”  Bingley spoke up.

“Elizabeth is,” Darcy stopped; no announcements were to be made until she felt the child move, “looking forward to visiting when we bring Georgiana to school in the autumn.”  He noted Mr. Bennet’s smile and looked away.

“Excellent!”  Bingley rubbed his hands together.  “I am eager to pay back your hospitality.”

“So back to this wedding date, it is nearly May.  I am sorry that you wish to marry from town, that will be a great disappointment for my wife.”  Mr. Bennet looked at de Bourgh pointedly but only received an unemotional stare in return.  “Very well sir, I understand why, however could you do me the favour of giving my wife a bone?  The wedding breakfast?”

“Jane and Elizabeth will take that on in our home.”  Darcy said softly.  “I hope that you understand, but this is Mary’s wish.”

“Given my wife’s relationship with our third child, I am not surprised.  I am astounded she did not beg you to walk her down the aisle given
my
poor parenting.”  Mr. Bennet’s eyes met Darcy’s and not a word was said. He cleared his throat, realizing the truth.  “I rejoice knowing that your children will never have to weigh that decision.  You and the captain will undoubtedly never give them cause to even have that thought cross their minds.”

“I thank you for your confidence, sir.”  Darcy said softly.

“Mr. Bennet, as my future bride wishes to marry from London and to have the wedding breakfast from the Darcy home, perhaps there is some other way that Mrs. Bennet may participate?”  De Bourgh offered.  “My mother may have an idea for her.  Perhaps she might choose the flowers?”

“Captain, seeing your struggle to accommodate my wife tells me that you and my daughter have spoken of the nonexistence of their relationship.”  He sighed.  “I will speak to her.  She will understand.”

“Yes, sir.  I do not know her well enough . . .”

“And I assume that you never will.”  He stared at his folded hands sadly.  “My wife and I confessed our sins of neglect to Lydia, in the hope that our honesty will spur her to continue her improvement.  I believe that she listened to us.”

“I am very glad to hear that, sir.”  Darcy watched him.  “Do you feel that she will resist the temptation to follow in her friend’s footsteps now that she is back in school?”

“Oh most definitely.”  Mr. Bennet looked up.  “She may not fully comprehend the devastation that has been wreaked upon the Simkins family, how they have been ruined and may never achieve the respect of their peers again.”  He noticed Bingley sit up and lean forward to listen, and continued slowly, “well unless the daughters make some rather advantageous marriages, but I believe that Lydia does realize that her friend Jessica’s future has been permanently altered from what it might have been.  She is still only a child, nearly fifteen, but I have hope that she will not be quite so silly as she grows older.  Her image of her mother has been battered severely, and I do not know that she ever held me in much esteem.”  Looking back into Darcy’s eyes he shrugged.  “I think that I am best suited to be a grandfather, doting, laughing at their antics, but leaving the raising to the parents.”

“Rosalie responded well to you, sir.  I think that she sensed the same.”  Darcy smiled a little. 

“Surely she responded better to Mr. Bennet than to Lady Catherine.”  De Bourgh noted, and broke the tension.  “Lord, Darcy.  Your child can wail when so moved!”

Bingley chuckled.  “She is a woman.”

“You grew up with Mrs. Robinson; please do not compare my ladies to yours.”  Darcy nodded to Mr. Bennet.  “Mary’s trousseau must be purchased.”

“Yes.”  He straightened and opened his desk, handing him a bank draft.  “You have purchased her clothing and schooling, fed and housed her for far too long.  I hope that this will be sufficient?” 

Darcy studied the draft, knowing that it was probably not enough, but also knowing that Mr. Bennet probably could not afford more.  “Thank you.”  He pocketed it.  “Wedding date?”

De Bourgh had been watching the unspoken communication between the two carefully, imagining his future relationship with this man.  “The fourth of June, a Tuesday.” 

“The Derby is that Saturday, is it not?” Bingley asked.  “Will you take the ladies?” 

Smiling and touching his ring, Darcy nodded.  “Yes, I have an obligation to fulfil there.”

“A bet to place?  I will gladly take whatever horse you choose, you are certainly infallible with your predictions for de Bourgh’s behaviour.”

“Bingley!”  De Bourgh glared at him then quickly looked at Mr. Bennet.

“No, my predictions for the horses are inevitably wrong.  I will rely on Elizabeth, her sense is always spot on, in fact,” Darcy tilted his head thoughtfully and looked at the painting of a horse hanging on the wall.  “I will lay down my winnings from your engagement activities on whatever horse she chooses, and will give the proceeds to Mary as a little wedding gift since you have refused my offer to match her dowry.”

“It is not necessary, Darcy.”

“The horse may lose.”  Bingley pointed out.

“With my wife doing the choosing, I suggest that you follow her lead.”  He looked up to see Mr. Bennet’s smile.  “I have every confidence in her.”

“HOW COULD YOU possibly hold a dinner without me?”  Caroline complained and reached forward to the tray to select a little cake to pop in her mouth.  “I will be free of this house soon, you could not wait that long?”

“I am sorry, Caroline, but there were some guests who I wished to invite, and their schedules are very busy.  It was the best date for everyone.”  Louisa picked up her teacup and held it to her lips.  “The Darcys seemed to have had a very nice time.”

“The
Darcys
!”  She nearly spat out the mouthful she had just taken in.  “You invited them!”

“Of course!  We spent a month at Pemberley; the least I could do is feed them dinner one evening.”  She smiled to see Caroline’s dismay.  “They were, of course, the persons of highest rank there, and they were most gracious.  Mrs. Darcy played twice, and Mr. Darcy turned the pages for her.  I remember hearing him play at Pemberley.  And sing.” 

“He sang?”  She sighed.

“A truly lovely, sonorous voice.”  She smiled then sighed.  “Poor Gerald could not carry a tune if he tried.” 

“Neither could Mr. Robinson.”  Caroline murmured.  “I cannot believe that you invited that maid’s family.”

“She was no more a maid than you ever were.  She is a fool, and a child, and ruined for certain, but I do not like how one child’s misdeed can ruin the rest of the family.  Mrs. Darcy agreed.  The Simkins family is struggling to find its place again, but I have already heard of a few invitations coming their way after Mrs. Darcy made a point of publicly acknowledging the girls.  Miss Simkins seems very nice, subdued, but nice.”

“Subdued?”

“Her suitor abandoned her.”

“What a shame.”  Caroline sniffed disinterestedly and reached for another cake.

“Her sister seemed to like Charles as a replacement.”

“I certainly hope that you discouraged
that
!”
 

“As the young lady in question clearly was not seeking him out, I did not worry about it.”  Louisa shrugged and looked up at the ceiling, she had been trying to ignore the sound of the baby crying, “Is Wallace well?”