Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (33 page)

Abbey looked between brother and sister and saw the same care that Bingley had displayed to Elizabeth; it was exactly the same love, expressed as compassion this time instead of laughter, but brotherly nonetheless.  She closed her eyes and internally shook her head, how could she ever have thought that there was anything more between him and Elizabeth? 
Silly fool!

“Louisa, Charles!”  The group startled when Caroline called from the door.  “Come and . . .” At last she noticed just who was at the table and stopped.  “Why, Mrs. Darcy.”

“Mrs. Robinson.”  Elizabeth inclined her head slightly and lifted her hand across the table.  “Do you know my sister, Miss Bennet?  And this is her betrothed’s mother, Mrs. de Bourgh.”

“Oh, no, I . . . Rosings is the estate, I understand, Mrs. de Bourgh?”

“Yes.”  Mrs. de Bourgh studied Caroline and had her pegged in moments.  She and Elizabeth exchanged glances.  “I look forward to Mary becoming its mistress next month.”

“Of course, I heard of the engagement.  Captain de Bourgh was a much-sought suitor.”

“I would not know, he pursued me.”  Mary lifted her chin.  Elizabeth and Mrs. de Bourgh smiled at Mary approvingly and Caroline looked her over curiously, then startled with Elizabeth’s voice.

“May I offer my family’s congratulations on your safe delivery?  How is your son?”

“Oh . . .he is . . .” Her brow furrowed.  “I imagine that he is well.  I have not seen him today, but they will bring him down for a few minutes this afternoon.”  She smiled knowingly at Elizabeth.  “I am sure that you do the same.”

“No, I do not.”  Elizabeth said coldly.

Bingley had risen to his feet and stood next to Abbey.  “Caroline, may I introduce Miss Abbey Martin?  She was at Louisa’s dinner party.  Miss Martin, this is our sister, Mrs. Harris Robinson.” 

Abbey curtseyed.  “It is a pleasure, Mrs. Robinson.”

“Miss Martin.”  She nodded and looked between her brother and Abbey, noting how he moved to take a seat next to her.  Caroline assessed her dress carefully, trying to determine her place.  “I do not recall hearing of you before Miss Martin.”

“I met Miss Martin at Pemberley, we both did.”  Louisa smiled at Bingley.  “She was visiting with the Darcys.”

“You . . .you are acquainted with the Darcys?”  Caroline looked at Elizabeth who was smiling at Abbey. 

Seeing the twinkle in Bingley’s eye and the jealousy in Caroline’s, Abbey caught on to the game very quickly.  “Yes, they are the most gracious hosts; and their home, it is incomparable, do you not agree?”

“Oh, well I have not seen it as yet.”  She shot a look at Elizabeth and noted her lips twitching upwards.

“Incomparable.”  Bingley nodded.  “Truly magnificent, I can only hope to have an estate half so beautiful one day.  You will be returning there, Miss Martin?”

“When I am next in the area, I am sure that we will visit.”  She smiled when he winked at her. 

Elizabeth nodded.  “Well in the meantime, I am sure that you will be satisfied with visiting Darcy House when you have the opportunity to come our way.  You will be welcome.” 

“Oh, well thank you Mrs. Darcy, I did not want to impose myself.”  Abbey smiled and noticed Caroline’s envy.

“Not at all.”  Elizabeth looked over the room and took charge.  “Perhaps we should satisfy the proprietor and order some tea?”

“Will you be holding an engagement ball for your sister, Mrs. Darcy?”  Caroline hinted.

“No.”  Elizabeth smiled at Mary.  “Neither she nor Captain de Bourgh want that sort of attention.  Neither do they want to attend teas nor dinners held in their honour by people they do not know.  We are celebrating the happy news of their engagement within the family party.”

“No dancing at all?”  Caroline gasped.

“Well I would not say that, we will attend a few affairs.  We missed a few that we had hoped to attend, but we will dance before the wedding.”

“Yes, I missed you at the Wycroft’s ball last week.  The Simkins family was there.”  Bingley said with a thoughtful nod.

“Did you dance, Mr. Bingley?”  Elizabeth asked Abbey’s unspoken question.

“Oh yes, you know that I love to dance, I did have lessons at your home after all!”  He grinned at Mary.  “And de Bourgh has certainly improved with his.”

“He no longer steps on my toes.”  Mary smiled and the ladies laughed. 

“You are a most graceful dancer.”  Elizabeth smiled at him. 

“I am not happy seeing a lady sitting at the side if I can do something about it.”  He nodded, and noticed Abbey who was studying her hands.  He looked to Elizabeth worriedly. 

“You rescued me once, long ago, Mr. Bingley, you are always a gentleman.  I believe that was the first night we met, the night that I met you, Mrs. Hurst and Mrs. Robinson.  Of course we hardly knew of all the tangled connections we had then.  You were simply a kind stranger, and I was a girl accompanying her relatives to a small ball.  Who knew that so many tradesmen and gentlemen could mix so amicably?”

Abbey turned to Elizabeth and listened.  “My father mixes well with anyone I think, even gentlemen.”

“He is in trade?”  Caroline’s eyes narrowed, finally pinpointing Abbey’s background.

“Yes.”  She lifted her chin.  “And he does very well.  There is no shame in that; is there Mrs. Darcy?” 

“Not at all.”  Elizabeth acknowledged.  “You certainly do not think less of my uncle for his profession.”

“You have family in trade!”  Caroline remembered.

“Yes, just like you.”  She smiled.  “And my husband cared for me despite it.  I imagine that everyone in this room has some taint that would lower them in others’ eyes; I would rather judge an individual on his own merits.”

“That is how I would like to be judged, Mrs. Darcy.”  Mrs. de Bourgh nodded.  “But it seems that we must bear the burden of everyone who touches our lives, no matter our individual accomplishments.”

Abbey spoke up.  “I find that I do well living within the expectations of my society, but I choose the people I call friend for who they are rather than what they have.”

“I have learned that both are necessary since I have married Mr. Darcy.”  Elizabeth looked at Bingley.  “With it comes great responsibility, but also, the pleasure of discretion.”

“What could possibly taint Mr. Darcy?”  Louisa laughed.  “According to some,” she glanced at Caroline, “he is nearly a deity.”

Elizabeth flicked her eyes over Caroline then turned to Louisa with a tired grimace as the others laughed.  “Do not get me started on the fools who wish to fawn over him to gain access to our time and our homes.  We can spot them miles away and avoid them as much as possible.”  She saw Caroline’s face turn crimson as she realized the cut.  “No, my husband’s inadequacies are few, however he has no title.”

“With a name as old as his, what does it matter?”  Mrs. de Bourgh asked.

“It does to the ones
with
titles.”  Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled.

“And what is your husband’s fault, Mrs. Hurst?  He is simply a gentleman.”  Abbey smiled.

“Ah, but not as rich as he should be.”  She laughed.

“There are more important things than riches.” Elizabeth noted.

“I find that incredible, Mrs. Darcy.”  Caroline snapped.  “You have everything.”

“What do I have that you do not?” 

“Touché, Mrs. Darcy.”  Bingley said softly and nudged her.

“I have had enough of this conversation.  Charles, Louisa, it is time to go home.”  Caroline spun and headed out of the door. 

Louisa sighed.  “It is easier to just humour her.  I will see you soon.” 

Charles watched her go and shook his head.  “How you have changed, Mrs. Darcy.”  He chuckled.  “I will just see them home, please tell Darcy that I will soon be along.  Ladies?”  He bowed and rose to smile at Abbey.  “I do hope that my sister has not put you off from my family, Miss Martin.”

“I would still be willing to dance with you should you ask, sir.”  She smiled and delighted in his laugh. 

“I will be honoured to dance with a lady from the fine family of Martin.”  Still chuckling, he went out the door and Abbey watched until he disappeared into the carriage. 

“How do you do that, Lizzy?”  Mary whispered.  “Where did you find this confidence?  Mr. Bingley is right, you are so changed.”

“And like Mr. Bingley I am proud of my family.  It is pride in all that my family represents.  If you care for the name, the respect follows.”  She smiled at Mrs. de Bourgh and gave her sister’s hand a squeeze.  “You will see soon.  Trust in your instincts, and you will be fine.”

“HMM?”  Darcy looked up from the journal he was studying when he felt Elizabeth nudge him.  She lifted a finger and pointed to the blanket where Rosalie was playing.  “What is she doing?”

“Well from this angle, I would say that she is pulling weeds.”

“I think that Alger would disagree with that.  She is destroying his careful gardening.”

“She is gathering leaves and putting them in a bucket.”

“But the leaves are still attached to the plant, love.”  Darcy smiled and raised a brow. 

Elizabeth sighed in exasperation.  “Did you
ever
break the rules?” 

“Never.”  Laughing, he leaned over to kiss her.  “I was a model of good behaviour.”

“I will have to ask Richard and Stephen about that.”

“They will not break my confidence.”

“Then I will ask Mrs. Reynolds!”  Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled.  “She has known you since you were . . .”

“Hush!”  He leaned forward to gaze at her.  “Unfair.”

“I will make use of the resources that are at hand.”  Elizabeth resisted the pull of his warm eyes and instead looked at the book in his lap.   “How are you coming along with your research?”

“Not well at all.  I have not cracked the mystery yet.”  He smiled and shrugged.  “It is not a terrible occupation.”

“No, I cannot complain, but I would be glad to help if you would ask me.” 

“I think that I would like to solve this on my own.  Do you mind?”  He saw that she was disappointed.  “I just . . .this is my father speaking to me.” 

“I know.” 

“I promise I will happily tell you what I learn.”

“May I have a clue to chew on?”  Darcy shook his head and grinned.  “Selfish.”

“That I am.  Possessive, too.”  Darcy kissed her cheek.

“Will you tell me what Lord Matlock wanted with Peter today?” 

“Oh, yes.”  He laughed.  “He is receiving
the talk
.”
  Seeing her confusion, he whispered in her ear.  “How to be a good and gentle husband.”

“Oh my!”  Elizabeth smiled and blushed, then whispered in his ear, “Not too gentle, I hope.”

“Lizzzzzy.”  Darcy’s mouth found hers and his book fell to the ground while they kissed.  He pulled her close and their arms wrapped around each other as their lips and hands eagerly explored.

“Aha!”  Rosalie cried and they startled.  Breathing unevenly, they looked to their daughter who was clutching an entire plant, roots and all, and waving it in the air.

“Rosa!”  Elizabeth cried.  “No!” 

“Bye!”

“No, not bye.”  She sighed and looked at Darcy.  “Oh well.”

“We really have to stop kissing when she is present.  It is not good for either of us.”  He glanced at his lap.

“But kissing you is . . .” He smiled and waited.  “Irresistable.”

“Hmmm.  Naptime is coming.”  Darcy caressed her cheek with his finger and softly nibbled her lips.

“So is Mr. Bingley.” 

“What of us?”  He murmured softly.

“Mama!”  Rosalie shook the plant, sending soil flying.

Elizabeth sighed while he laughed and turned to Rosalie.  “All right Miss Impertinent, shall we play with your ball?”

“Ball!” 

“Ball.”  Elizabeth rose from her comfortable seat.  Darcy tugged her hand and she turned to give him a smile then ran her hand over the tent in his breeches.  “You will not miss me, you have your journals.”

“It is not the same.”

“You are so absorbed; I doubt that you will notice.”   She watched his brow furrow and walked away. 

Watching her go, he did not relax until he saw her laugh at his worried expression.  “You are teasing me.”  He said as she took a seat on the blanket, and began rolling a leather ball back and forth with the baby.  Contented, he looked up at the sun as it disappeared behind a cloud, then back down to his father’s journal. 
I hope that Anne will be pleased with this gift.  She cannot bear to visit the graves.
  “Just like Georgiana, she could not bear to visit your grave, Father.”  He said softly and stared at the page.  “What is this gift?”  Looking up when Elizabeth cheered and clapped, he smiled and watched for a little while, then noticed the denuded stems of the flowers.  Their gardener, Mr. Alger, would be beside himself when he next came to tend the plot.  Thinking of Pemberley’s head gardener, Mr. Green, he concluded that he would likely be a little more tolerant.  “He certainly put up with me galloping through the lawn and tearing up the grass enough times.”  The thought of the lawn brought back another, and picking up the journal, he paged through eagerly.  “There it is!”

Little Richard and our joke brought this idea to mind.  I will have to tell Fitzwilliam of this all one day.  Those pearls lost in the grass, what a wonderful inspiration they were!  I have yet to see that boy not wander around that patch of earth, searching in vain, but always remembering that they were there.  Just like our little pearls.  Anne is so happy that we can remember them in our special place, our place of peace.

“What is this place?  Is it . . .the graves, the pearls . . . You speak in riddles, Father!  You never told me of this, did you?”  Closing his eyes, he searched his memory but for the life of him, he could not figure it all out. 

“There you are!”  Lucas and Jane walked out of the house.  “We were wondering what became of you.”

“We just wanted to enjoy the pleasure of the garden.”  Darcy smiled and looked to Rosalie.  “She will be sleeping soon, and we did not wish to miss spending time with her.”

“I have to ask, Darcy.  Were your parents so attentive?”  Lucas moved the journals out of the way and sat down beside him while Jane joined Elizabeth on the blanket.  “My parents certainly were not.  Of course at Rosalie’s age, I was probably strapped into a high chair in the back of the shop.  Or maybe a maid had my charge.”