Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (38 page)

“Especially when she is with child.”  Layton agreed and he clinked glasses with his father. 

“Anything else?”  De Bourgh resumed his usual character and stood with his legs spread as if steadying himself on a pitching deck, and crossed his arms over his chest.  “How many pearls of wisdom do you have for me?” 

“Oh, we could go on for hours, but then you would not have the joy of learning them yourself.”  Singleton smiled.  “My advice, go home to her every night.”

“I am not a man given to carousing.”  De Bourgh said tiredly.  “Is there anything useful you have to say or may we return to the ladies?”

“How about, arguing can be very rewarding?”  Fitzwilliam offered and the men all laughed.  “Ah, look, you got a rise out of Darcy with that one!” 

“I am very fond of arguing with my wife.”  He shrugged.  “That is no secret.” 

“Mary and I have not really found anything to disagree about yet.”  De Bourgh rubbed his chin.  “But I am sure that we will find something, although I think we are more inclined to discussion than heated debate, it is just not us.”

“I see that.”  Lord Matlock agreed.  “Now, the wedding night . . .”

“No.  I will not speak of it again.  Do not give me another word of advice.  Any of you.”  He glowered and turned, pointing at each of them.  “Not a word.”

“But . . .” 

“No!”  He started to head for the door and Darcy caught up with him, and laid his hand on his shoulder.  Pulling him back, he spoke softly to him.  The rest of the men watched curiously as de Bourgh’s eyes widened and he nodded.

“Well, what is it?”  Lucas demanded.  “Share the wisdom!”  A chorus of voices demanding the advice grew and at last Darcy let him go.  Without a backward glance they opened the door and strode down the hallway towards the music room. 

“We missed something.”  Fitzwilliam cried.  Downing his drink, he coughed and set off after them.  The rest of the men followed his lead, wiping their mouths and brushing droplets of port from their coats as they followed.  Upon arriving, Darcy was speaking to Georgiana, asking her to play.

“Dancing, gentlemen?”  Elizabeth asked as they entered.

“Not until Darcy tells us . . .” Layton flushed as the women all looked at him enquiringly.  “Nothing.”

Darcy smirked and straightening, held out his hands to Elizabeth.  “Come love, dance with me.” 

“Gladly.”  She took his hands and laughed at his twinkling eyes.  “What have you done?”

“I told de Bourgh the secret to a very happy marriage.”

“Oh?  Do tell?”

“It would not be a secret then, would it?”

“You told
him
.”

“That is different, he is a groom.”

“I told Mary the secret of a happy marriage, too.”  Elizabeth smiled and batted her eyes at him.

“And?”

“Hmm, what was that?  Did you ask a question?  No, it must have been a fly buzzing in my ear.”  She laughed at his glower.  “Two can play this game.”

“That love, is why it is fun.”  He looked around the room.  “Where are Mary and de Bourgh?”  Turning back to Elizabeth, he saw her smiling at him.  “Elizabeth.”

“Hmm?”  She stood up on her toes and kissed his cheek.  “Dance with me?” 

Darcy rolled his eyes and looked to Georgiana.  “Play, dear, please.”  He looked back to Elizabeth.  “One set, I give them one set.” 

“A half hour?”  She smiled as his brow creased, and stood across from him while the others took their places.  “Oh my, think of the possibilities!”

In the library, behind a closed and solidly locked door, de Bourgh at last released Mary’s lips and rested his forehead on hers.  “Two more days.”  He wrapped her up in his arms and Mary listened to his heart.  “Are you as happy as I?”

“I can hardly describe how I feel.”  Mary spoke softly.  “I do not have a name for it . . .I guess that I feel secure, happy, frightened . . .” She looked up at him.  “I trust you with my life.”

“Oh Mary, I could not say I love you any better.  Thank you dear.  I trust you with my life, too.”  De Bourgh caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.  “I wish we were home.”

“Because you are expecting my brother to arrive at any moment?” 

“Well that is certainly a distinct possibility.”  He laughed as his fingers continued to trace the contours of her face.  “Perhaps we should unlock the door and assume an innocent pose, you could be reading to me as I keep watch from the window?”

“I think that you will always be keeping watch over me.”  Mary’s eyes grew moist and he lifted her chin to kiss her softly. 

“None of that, Mary.”  De Bourgh blinked as his vision blurred.  “I brought you here to kiss you soundly and here you have me near tears.  Why do I think that you will forever be correcting my impetuous behaviour?”

“I do not think you will mind.”  She smiled and hugged him.  A soft knock at the door was followed by Darcy’s throat clearing along with Elizabeth’s laughter.  Mary smiled when he groaned.  “But minding Fitzwilliam is another story.”

Chapter 12

“W
ell done!”  Darcy cried and taking Rosalie’s hands he helped her to clap.  She squealed and giggled while he laughed.  The applause died down and he kissed her.  “What do you think, sweetheart?  Mama is very talented.”

“Mama!!”  She cried and reached for Elizabeth.  “Mamamama!”

“Well so much for an encore.”  She left the pianoforte and sat down next to Darcy.  Rosalie remained perched on his thigh, and leaning her head on Elizabeth, talked contentedly to herself while she played with her hands.  Elizabeth smiled at him and without thought; he slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer for a soft kiss. 

“Whoa!”  De Bourgh stared. 

“WHOA!”  Rosalie cried and pointed at him.  “WHOA!” 

Everyone laughed and Darcy chuckled, kissing Rosalie’s mop of curls.  “Yes, little love, he said your name.”

“I did not!  What was that . . .” 

“Hush.”  Elizabeth said pointedly.  “According to your niece, you did.”

“She is not my niece quite yet.”  He looked over to Mary, seated at his side at a respectable distance.  “Tomorrow, though . . .”

“You will be related to the lot of us.”  Lucas laughed. 

Mary smiled, then blushed when he took her hand and looked defiantly at Darcy and Elizabeth.  “You are not going to say anything?”

“About what?  Holding her hand?”  Darcy chuckled and reaching across Rosalie, took Elizabeth’s in his.  “No.” 

“Oh.”  De Bourgh’s brow creased and he watched the baby turn around to play with the string of pearls around Elizabeth’s throat. 

“They kiss in front of the family.”  Georgiana said matter-of-factly. 

“And hold hands.”  Kitty added.

“But not to excess.”  Mary observed.

“Just affectionately.”  Jane agreed.

“You know, like you just saw.”  Kitty giggled.

“It is rather sweet.”  Georgiana sighed.

“Well, you get used to it.”  Mary smiled at her sisters and looked to de Bourgh who was staring at her and blushed.  “Tomorrow.” 

“Tomorrow.” 

“Oh for heaven’s sake.  Kiss her, Peter.”  Elizabeth laughed. 

His eyes lit up and he leaned in to kiss Mary quickly.  “That is better.”   

“Of course it is.”  Darcy said with his tongue firmly in his cheek.  “All you needed.”

“Not quite.”  Lucas winked and leaned over to kiss Jane.

“Quiet.”  De Bourgh glared as his near-brothers laughed at him.  “I should be going home.”  He looked at Mary and did not move.  “It is a momentous day, an early day.  I imagine that Michael and Charlotte have arrived by now.” 

“Probably.”  Mary smiled shyly.  “I guess we will have dinner with them tomorrow.”

“No dear, I . . .” He glanced at Georgiana and Kitty.  “I have made plans.”

“Ah, the joy of a honeymoon with the family.”  Lucas stretched his arms over his head.  “Memories.”

“We will be home soon enough.”  Jane reminded him.

“I know, but we are still here now, and I intend to use that time wisely.” 

“Why do you want to stay here?  I would think that you would go to Rosings.”  Georgiana asked and looked at Kitty.  “Don’t you think?  I mean it is not that far.”

“Far enough.”  De Bourgh said unhappily.  “I do not want to rush through the wedding breakfast to sit in a carriage for hours.”

“Most inconvenient.”  Darcy nodded solemnly.  Elizabeth pinched him and he jumped.  Rosalie, who had been falling asleep against Elizabeth’s shoulder, started with a cry.  “Shhhhhhhh, little one, shhhh.”  He looked at Elizabeth with his brows lifted and she did not look in the least apologetic. 

“Ahem.”  De Bourgh cleared his throat.  “Yes, inconvenient.”  Feeling the eyes of the room upon him he swallowed and looked at Mary.  “I really should go.”

“Oh.”

“Why not go and look at the ballroom on your way out?”  Elizabeth suggested.  “You can show him how it is decorated for the wedding breakfast, Mary.”

“Oh . . .” She smiled and saw de Bourgh was already rushing to his feet.  “Of course.”

“Absolutely, excellent suggestion, Elizabeth.”  He bowed hurriedly and pulled Mary out the door.

“Take your time!”  Elizabeth called after them and squealed when Darcy pinched her.  “Fitzwilliam!”

“Hmm?”  He pursed his lips.  “Shame on you, Rosa, pinching your Mama!”

“THIS IS SO NICE, all of us sisters together.”  Georgiana said as she watched Jane expertly fold a gown and tried to imitate her.

Kitty put her hand to her mouth to cover a giggle.  “I thought that you were going to have to ask Foster to push Fitzwilliam out the door this morning.”

“The thought occurred to me.”  Elizabeth laughed.  “Oh, he is just being his overprotective self, but I told him Mama was coming, not Napoleon.”

“I believe that he would have been more comfortable if it was Napoleon.”  Georgiana said softly and blushed when the Bennet sisters turned to her.  “Forgive me.”

“No, that is quite all right.”  Elizabeth assured her.  “Fitzwilliam left before Papa’s note arrived, so he did not know that they were going to Gracechurch Street and then on to the church.”

“Why, do you think?”  Jane asked and put Mary’s last gown in the trunk.

“Because he did not wish anything to upset Mary.”  Elizabeth sat down and took her hand.  “You did not need another talk on wifely duties.”

“I have had five of them.”  Mary said with a nervous smile, and the girls laughed.  “And each was different.”

“I think that Mama’s would be very different.”  Elizabeth said with a sigh.  “Her letters on the subject were enough, I think.”

“What did you talk about?”  Kitty asked curiously.  “Was it about running a house?”

“Not quite.”  Jane glanced at Elizabeth and Mary blushed.  “Now, we have an hour, all of your packing is finished so your things can be sent over to the townhouse.  I think that you should get dressed, Mary.”

“I wonder what Peter is doing.”  Mary stared out of the window until Kitty hit her with a pillow.  “Ow!”

“Ohhhh Peter!  Where are you?”  She put her hand over her heart and giggled.  “I loooooooove you!” 

“Kitty that is enough.”  Elizabeth said only a little sternly.  “Keep it up and we will treat you the same when you marry.”

“We have long memories.”  Jane added.

“Oh you two are no fun.”  Kitty sat down, and looked at Mary apologetically.  “I am sorry, you just looked so dreamy, I could not resist.” 

“I do not mind.  I feel like I am sleepwalking through today and can use the prodding.”  She smiled at Elizabeth.  “I remember you were so quiet, and so tired.”

“She fell asleep at the altar!”  Jane laughed.  “And Fitzwilliam did, too!”

“No!”  Kitty cried.

“Yes, they did!”  Georgiana’s hands went to her mouth.  “I forgot about that!”

Elizabeth blushed.  “That is enough, ladies.”

“Oh no, how often do we get to tease you?”  Jane nudged her as she shook out Mary’s wedding gown.

“She can dish it out but she cannot take it.”  Kitty accused her. 

“Leave her alone.”  Mary stood up and hugged her.  “If it was not for her wedding, Papa would not have brought me to London, and I would not have met Peter that day.  I will always treasure your wedding day.”

“Thank you, Mary.”  Elizabeth kissed her.  “I hope that you might tell Papa that same story, maybe when you are waiting to walk down the aisle.  He would like to hear it and think that he did manage to do one thing that helped you.”

“I will.”  Mary said quietly.  “When do they arrive?”

“I expect they are probably on their way to the church.”  Jane looked at the clock.  “I can imagine that Mama was up at dawn in her excitement to come to town.”  They exchanged glances.  “And to see us, of course.”

“What do you think Lydia will be like?”  Kitty looked around at her sisters.  “She seems different in her letters; do you think that is just because she was at school?  I wonder if being with Mama will make her like her old self again.”

“I hope not.  I hope that the girl we are seeing in her letters is here to stay.”  Elizabeth helped Jane to lift Mary’s gown over her head.  They tugged and pulled, then Jane started the buttoning while Kitty handed over her gloves.  Elizabeth picked up the diamond and pearl choker that Peter had presented to her the evening before, and placed it around her neck.  Georgiana was standing nearby holding the veil, and carefully, they pinned it into her hair.  At last they all stepped back and let Mary see herself in the mirror.

“Oh.”  She whispered.   “Who is that?”

Elizabeth put her hands on Mary’s shoulders and peered at the reflection.  “I do believe that is Mrs. Peter de Bourgh.”

“Not yet.”

“Well dear,” Elizabeth kissed her cheek and handed her a handkerchief to dab her eyes.  “Let’s go to the church and make it so.”

PETER PACED AND STOPPED before the mirror, starting at his reflection.  “Who are you?”  He demanded and pointed at the man with the wide eyes and pale skin.  “What have you done with Captain de Bourgh?”

“Talking to himself; bad sign, that.”  Michael de Bourgh chuckled and nudged Darcy.  “What do you think?”