Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (56 page)

“The dower house.” 

“The dower house!”  Lord Matlock cried.

“It is empty, it is not the mansion, but it is beautiful,” Layton smacked his head, “they could move there immediately!”

“There is still no income, no land . . .”

“No, but they could rent out the townhouse, invest the proceeds, do the same when he sells his commission, keep earning income until he has saved enough to buy a small estate, the one that Darcy found or some other one.  In the meantime he would have his allowance from me to live on, and I was caring for the dower house anyway, that would be no expense for him!”  He grinned.  “This might work!  It would buy him time and save his legs.  And if something does come along, he can sell the townhouse, and I can try and make up the difference wherever he is short.”

“And we can keep him well-occupied teaching him how to operate an estate!”  Layton rubbed his hands together and laughed.  “I look forward to having him as my pupil.”

“Stephen.”  Alicia looked at him pointedly.  “Be kind.”

“Yes, dear.”  He nodded then grinned at Singleton.

“Now the only catch.  Stephen, if your father dies before Richard finds an estate, I will remain in Matlock.”  Lady Matlock smiled at her husband whose mouth dropped open.  “I will move from the master’s chambers, of course.”

“You would be welcome to stay, Lady Helen, outside of the master’s chambers, of course.”  Alicia called.

“Thank you for planning my demise.”  Lord Matlock glared.

“Put it all out in the open, Father.”  Layton laughed.  “I have no objection, Mother.  If you think about it, if I found you both so difficult to live with, I would have been in the dower house myself ages ago.”

“Well that is true enough.”  Lady Matlock smiled and patted his cheek.

“Who will tell them?”  Singleton glanced towards the house.

“Well,” Lord Matlock rubbed his jaw, “I have a feeling that they are occupied.”

“Comforting each other?”  Layton winked.

“Reassuring words.”  Singleton smiled when Audrey rolled her eyes.  “Is that not the best way?” 

“I can think of others but there are children present.”  She called and gasped when she received a hard kick.  “And more on the way!” 

“You put a plug in the hole, Henry, now find a permanent solution.”  Lady Matlock turned and moved back to the ladies. 

He looked after her admiringly.  “She is the one who put the plug in the hole.” 

“A man would never think of the dower house.”  Layton watched the women chatting away.  “But that is probably something that lives in their minds.” 

Singleton nodded.  “I will have to look over the house at Ashcroft when we return.  By the way, how is Lady Catherine doing in her home?” 

“She is not best pleased with the new Mistress of Rosings.”  Lord Matlock chuckled.  “I love it.  Well, I think I will go inside and assess the situation.  If Richard is occupied,” the men laughed, “I will write to Darcy.” 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?”  Bingley asked with a little smile.  Stepping out onto the terrace, he walked towards the bench and stood looking out at the moonlit lawn.  “Admiring the view?”

“I guess.”  Georgiana said softly.  The sound of applause filtered out of the open doors and a new song was begun. 

“No dancing?”

“I am sure that you heard my conversation with Fitzwilliam.”  She looked down at her hands.  “I probably would have been allowed to dance with him if I had not been so . . .”

“
Charming
.”
  Bingley clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the stars.  Georgiana gasped and turned to him, and noticed that his lips were twitching.  “Difficult?”

“I prefer charming if there is to be a choice.”

“So much better than being difficult.”  Bingley looked back down and waved his hand.  “May I?”

“Oh, yes, of course.”  She shifted a little and he sat down next to her.  “I guess that I thought I would be included in everything since it is Pemberley and not some ballroom.”

“I think that the chances of you being in a ballroom other than Pemberley’s are infinitesimal, Miss Darcy.  Not at fifteen; and most certainly not with your brother and sister looking after you.” 

“I know; it is hard to be the youngest.  I guess that you know that.” 

Bingley smiled and nodded.  “Before you know it, you will be the favourite aunt guiding your little niece Rosalie.” 

“I will!”  Georgiana clasped her hands and laid them in her lap.  “I may go inside and watch.  And I know that is a great privilege.”

“So why are you out here?”

“Why are you?”

“I cannot dance.”  He pointed to his black armband.

“I am sorry.”  She gasped and put her hand to her mouth.  “When Papa died, I was too young to do anything so really it was just my clothes that were different, everything else was normal for me.  Fitzwilliam could not go out, but I do not think that he minded, he was so busy.”

“I do not think that I do, either.”  Bingley smiled a little and looked down.

“I would be devastated to lose my brother.”  Georgiana whispered.  “Or Elizabeth, or any of my sisters.  I never met your sister, Mr. Bingley, what was she like?”  When he did not immediately answer, she sighed.  “I said the wrong thing again.  I am so sorry.”

“No.”  He looked up and blinked away the blur in his eyes.  “No, Miss Darcy, you should not apologize.  You are a very sweet and compassionate girl.  I have always thought so.”

“You have?” 

He smiled gently.  “I remember how you tried to take care of your brother before he met Mrs. Darcy.  And over the years, I have seen you growing up, making mistakes as we all do, but making great strides as well.  You have wonderful teachers and examples around you.  Please do not waste them.  One day it will be your seventeenth birthday, just as it is for Miss Bennet today.  And you will be the one who is dancing with all the young men of the neighbourhood.”  They both turned to look in the open door of the ballroom at the small gathering.  Kitty was dancing with a young man in uniform and they were laughing as they hopped through the steps.  “Come.”  He stood and held out his arm.

“Where?”

“You were banned from dancing, not watching.  Come with me and have some punch, and we may make wicked comments about the neighbours.” 

“Mr. Bingley!”

“I know you have it in you, Miss Darcy.”  He winked at her.  “You are a woman, after all.”

“Mr. Bingley, I do not know how to respond to such a statement!  You are a terrible influence!”  She tried to look shocked, but she was smiling.

Bingley laughed and putting her hand on his arm, they moved inside.  “I must tell your brother that!  Or better yet, I will tell your sister.” 

Elizabeth was seated near the door and watching the conversation as it progressed.  Darcy leaned over to her.  “How did you know that would work?”

“That sending Mr. Bingley out on a mission to cheer Georgiana would cheer him as well?”  She turned back to him and shrugged.  “He needs to feel good about himself again.”

“He feels the loss of family, but I know that he blames himself for the turn his sister’s life took.  I wish that I knew what to say.  He had no hand in raising her, and he found her the best husband he could at the time.  Robinson remains torn in his emotions as well.”

“You know something.”  Elizabeth studied him.  “What did Mr. Hurst say in his letter?”

“This is not the place, love.”  He took her hand and raised it to his lips.  “How do you feel?  You look pale.  Did our walk in the rain make you ill?”

“No, I am very well, just tired as always; I loved walking in the rain with you.  I actually was having indecent thoughts looking at you in your wet shirt.  Lawn is a marvellous fabric when wet, did you notice?  Quite transparent.”  Her head tilted and a smile played over her lips.

“It is nothing to white muslin when wet, it clings rather provocatively.”  Darcy’s gaze moved from her mouth down to her toes, and her blush took the same path.  “Next time we walk in the rain, love,” he leaned to her ear, “we do it alone.  I like to see you wet.”  His breath tickled her skin.  “I like to feel it, too.”

“Oh.”  She closed her eyes and shivered.

“Perhaps a swim is in order?” 

“When?” 

“Now?”  He laughed when her eyes reopened.  “Soon.”  Raising her hand to his lips, he smiled.  “I hold you to it.”

“A challenge, Mr. Darcy?” 

“A demand that a promise be kept.”

“What promise?”

“The one that I see in your eyes.” 

“What else do you want?”

“Do not get me started, not here.  Not now.”

“Oh, I think that you are doomed for the rest of the night.”  Elizabeth’s gaze travelled the opposite path his had taken, and when her sparkling eyes met his darkened ones, his nostrils flared.  “What are you thinking?”

“It is crude.”

“Oh?”  Elizabeth glanced around at the crowd and back to him.  “Tell me.”

“No.”

“Please?”

Darcy’s gaze moved around the room and returned to her, and down to her hands clasped demurely in her lap.  He whispered under his breath, “Some were young, quaint, clever, neat, pretty, juicy, tight, brisk, buxom, proper, kind-hearted, and as right as my leg, to any man’s thinking.”
⁷
  Elizabeth drew in her breath.  “I told you love.  But it is you.  How I think of you.”  Hearing the sound of the dance intruding into their private world, he smiled at her blush.  “And to think it took a French monk to think of those words.”  Raising her hand to his lips again, he spoke in his normal voice, “Shall we dance, love?”

“How am I to dance, let alone stand after such a confession?”

“Confess something wicked to me, and I will gladly remain seated.”  Darcy chuckled.  “Ah, it is good to see that you are the one who is doomed for a change!”

“Fitzwilliam.”  Elizabeth leaned towards him and whispered huskily, “Husband.”  Darcy groaned.  “I want to kiss you.”  She smiled at his sharp intake of breath.  “Touché.” 

“Touché?”  Evans walked over to the couple and bowed.  “Do not tell me you are going to fence with your bride, Mr. Darcy?”

“I have no need of a foil for that, sir.”  Darcy looked at Elizabeth and stiffly, he rose to his feet.  Gracefully, she stepped so that she stood just before him, and he smiled gratefully at her.  “My wife’s conversation presents a great challenge.”

“I know, I have heard it.”  Evans bowed.  “May I ask Miss Bennet for a dance?”

“For heaven’s sake Mr. Evans, you have danced with her before, why are you so formal tonight?”

“She is out now.”  He shrugged and looked over to her dancing with her latest partner.  “I just thought it would be good form to ask her guardians.”

Elizabeth smiled.  “Which etiquette book have you been studying, Mr. Evans?”

He laughed.  “I am too obvious.”

“I find it wonderful that you would take such care.” She looked up at Darcy who was observing him sharply.  “Dear?”

“Of course.”  He startled when he felt her nudge.  “Of course you may dance with her.” 

“Good.”  Evans smiled and bounced a little, then clasping his hands behind his back, looked over the crowd.  “I cannot tell you the excitement that I heard, you holding this little gala.”

“It is fortunate that she is not interested in the Season, since we will miss most of it.” Elizabeth said softly and Darcy looked at her with widened eyes.  “Oh.”

“No?”  Evans turned back to her.  “You do not intend to return to town?”

“No.”  Darcy said quickly.  “My sister is not very comfortable in town, she has discovered.  Perhaps as she grows older, but she seems most happy to be in the country.”

“Really?”  He smiled and nodded.  “That is refreshing to hear.”

“Yes it is.”  Elizabeth glanced at her husband gratefully, and he shrugged.  “Well, the song is nearly ended, I suggest that you step lively or you will miss your opportunity.”

“Ah indeed.”  He bowed.  “Excuse me.”  The young minister stood at the edge and watching Kitty resume her place, waited patiently for her partner to escort her off.  “Miss Bennet.  May I be next?”  He bowed.

“Oh, Mr. Evans.”  Kitty beamed.  “Of course, but hurry, they are going to start soon!” 

“Miss Bennet!”  He laughed and led her to the floor.  “I think that we have time.”

“Forgive me, sir.  I am just having such a wonderful time; this is the happiest birthday I have ever had.”  They stood across from each other and he drank in her sincere joy.  “I am so glad that you could come.”

“Really?”  He stepped forward to take her hand as the music began.  “Why is that?”

“Because I know you, and I know that you are a friend.”  Kitty swung around him and moved on to take another man’s arm.  Evans mirrored her move with another woman, and all the while a small smile played on his lips.  When at last he came back to Kitty, she smiled happily. 

“I am glad that you think of me as a friend, Miss Bennet.”  Evans smiled.  “I think the same of you.”

“What do you think?”  Darcy watched them suspiciously.

“Relax, she is in no hurry.”  Elizabeth laughed and gave him a little push.  “We have been neglecting our duties.  Go dance with Georgiana.”  Darcy saw his sister standing with Bingley and looking wistfully at the dancers.  He caught his friend’s pointed stare and nodded with a smile.

“Her ball will not be this easy.”

“One at a time.”  

“A COMING OUT BALL!”  Mrs. Bennet read the letter and sighed.  “Oh why were we not invited?”

“It was not so much a ball as it was a very elaborate dinner and dance.”  Lydia took the letter from Kitty back and studied it.  “She danced with ten different men of the neighbourhood, and once with Fitzwilliam.  I can just imagine how happy she was.  At last all of those dancing lessons were put to use.  She had a wonderful time.”

“I remember trying to learn the dances from books.”  Jane laughed.  “You are lucky to have masters.  Lizzy and I were tripping over each other trying to follow the directions and move all at once, all without music!”  She shook her head.  “It was like the school lessons we tried to learn from those books Aunt Gardiner sent to us.”

“You had lessons from books?”