Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (66 page)

“Papa!”  Rosalie wiggled free of Elizabeth and running over to him, raised her arms.

“Hello little love.”  He lifted her up and walked to sit beside Elizabeth, and kissed her.  “Thank you.”

“Oh, the birthday song.”  She blushed.  “I am awful.  We need Georgiana here, I miss her already and it has only been a day.”

“I do, too.”  Rosalie started banging the keys and he gave her a look.  Instantly she started stroking them gently. “Good girl.”

“Fitzwilliam Darcy, how do you do that!”  Elizabeth cried.  “One look from you and the world would come to a standstill!”

He laughed.  “Ah, the power of an arched brow!” 

“I am serious, what it this magic you possess?”

“It is not that magical, it has never worked on you, love.”

“Why would you ever want to silence me?”  She asked with dancing eyes.  “I am full of wisdom, why I could . . .”  Darcy quickly leaned forward and kissed her.  “Oh.”

“If I did not have this baby in my lap . . .”

“Then we would not be here.”  Elizabeth’s she whispered warmly.  “I need to give you your birthday gift.”

“What is it?”  He whispered eagerly.

“Well.”  She smiled and started to laugh when he moved as close to her as possible and lay his head on her shoulder.  “I have a much better use for your lap than a seat for our daughter.” 

Chapter 21

“I
know Darcy said that the society in the country is confined and unvaried, and certainly in comparison to London the neighbourhood we have here in Hertfordshire is just a drop in the ocean, but,” Bingley gave his horse a little nudge, “after greeting the heads of house for four and twenty families, I would say that I might argue otherwise.”

Hurst laughed while he moved his horse up to ride beside his brother.  “The difference is that you generally do not have to receive four and twenty families within the first three days of coming to town.  Regardless, it is good to start returning all of these calls.”  He smiled when Bingley sighed.  “I suggest that we begin with those we met on the first day and work our way back to Mr. King and his most attractive daughter.”

“Is she attractive?  I never would have known!  He only mentioned it with every other breath!”  Bingley’s eyes found the sky.  “It seems that all of these men have daughters or nieces to marry off.  I admit that I am curious if the praise meets the mark.”

“We will be calling at the Long’s address.”  Hurst reminded him.

His voice softened.  “But I cannot call on the ladies of the house.  I was rather hoping that Louisa might have extended an invitation to the ladies to visit her by now.”

“Perhaps she has, what is in that note she gave you for Mrs. Long?  She takes her role seriously, Bingley.  Your anxiousness to come here so soon prevented the staff from fully opening the house.  We should have been arriving next week . . .”

“Quiet Hurst.”  Bingley rubbed his forehead.  “Blame it on me, then.  I was in a hurry to get here, and all it has done is to delay my plans.”

“Well, if you think about it, Miss Martin was of the same bent, she should not have been arriving until Saturday herself.”  He quirked a brow and Bingley’s lips lifted in a smile.  “So, while Louisa supervises, we shall return the calls.”  He looked ahead to see Meryton.  “Do you have any idea where these homes are?” 

“I think that I know where to find Longbourn, and Lucas Lodge is adjacent.  We may as well begin there and ask directions to the rest as we go.”

“Fair bit of activity in those fields.  Something is being prepared and it is not ploughing.”  Hurst observed. 

Bingley nodded.  “I understand the militia will be using them for winter quarters.”  Continuing into Meryton he smiled and touched his hat to whoever looked their way and spotting a group of ladies ahead, his smile grew.  “Look, there is Mrs. Lucas; we can confirm directions with her.”  The two men rode up to the group and he bowed his head.  “Mrs. Lucas, good morning!  We were just on our way to visit your home.”

“Mr. Bingley!”  Jane smiled and turned as they dismounted.  “What a pleasant surprise!  And Mr. Hurst!”

“Good morning Mrs. Lucas.  I hope that you are feeling well?”

“Quite well, sir.  I understand that Mrs. Hurst is in the family way?”

“She is, and is as blooming as yourself.”  He chuckled and bowed, then looked at Bingley, who had become completely silent.  Following his gaze, he saw where his eyes had fixed.  “Miss Martin.”

“Miss Martin.”  Bingley echoed, and watched as she climbed into a carriage.  “Where is she going?”  He swallowed and licked his lips, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart, then startled with the sound of a cough and an oily voice at his elbow.

“Mr. Bingley!  Well this is an honour, sir!  My cousin, Mrs. Lucas, is sister to Mrs. Darcy, and I understand from Mrs. Bennet that Mr. Darcy is your very great friend!”  Bingley glanced away from Abbey in genuine confusion.

“I am sorry, sir, I did not catch your name?”

“Collins, William Collins, I am curate at this fine church,” he waved his hand down the street.  “I was most anxious to pay my respects to you at Netherfield, but I was waiting for my Cousin Darcy’s arrival.”

“Cousin to Darcy?”  Bingley’s brow furrowed.  “By marriage?  I imagine that they will be . . .”  He looked to Jane who was shaking her head with wide eyes.  “They will be happy to greet you on Sunday at church.”  Seeing her smile, he smiled in return and turned back to speak to Collins only to see the carriage rolling away.  “Damn.”  He whispered.

“Mr. Bingley?”  Jane’s soft voice entered his ear.  “Is something amiss?” 

Bingley sighed and looked back into Jane’s blue eyes.  “My brother was correct, Mrs. Lucas, you are blooming.”

“Thank you.”  She smiled and followed his gaze.  “I think that is the Long’s carriage.”

“I thought as much.”

“If you just go straight down that road for a half mile, you will see a little lane on the left, their home is just there.”  Jane tilted her head and watched him.  “Perhaps what you seek is there as well?”

Staring after it, he spoke quietly, “Do you ever wonder what might have been?”

“Do you?”

He smiled and looked at his boots, and back up to her.  “Not fair.  Very well then, no, I do not.”

“Neither do I.”  She smiled and looked around.  “Now, you are attracting the attention of the matrons, and my cousin seems to be preparing for a new conversation, I suggest that you get on your way before you are interrogated until dusk.” 

“Excellent idea.”  Bingley bowed to her and nudged Hurst.  “Come on, I know where we are going.”

“Well I am glad that at least you do.”  He climbed up on his horse and waited for Bingley to mount his.  “Where?”

Bingley pointed in the direction of the Long’s home.  “That way.”

LADY CATHERINE SNIFFED and set down her cup.  “Lord Matlock tells me that my niece has returned to school.”

Mary nodded.  “Yes, she should have started this week.  Mr. and Mrs. Darcy delivered her, but will be leaving any day now.”

“I am surprised that he would not employ a companion for her.  She has been in school quite long enough.  I suppose that she is in Mrs. Darcy’s way and she does not want her underfoot.”

Mary bristled.  “I do not believe that at all, Lady Catherine.  My sister was very glad to have Georgiana at home, but since my sister Kit . . . Catherine has decided to return to our parents’ home, Georgiana thought that she would be happier with girls her own age.”

“Girls of her circle are educated at home.  Mrs. Darcy does not want to spend time with her husband’s sister.  I thought as much.  Selfish girl.”  She reached forward to pick up a piece of cake and rejecting it, set it down.

“I did not say that, madam.”

“Mary, she will twist your words to suit her notions, do not give her the pleasure of arguing with you.”  Mrs. de Bourgh’s sharp eye met Lady Catherine’s.  “Was not Mrs. Jenkinson in your employ to keep Miss de Bourgh out of your way?”

“What have you done with her?”  She snapped.

“Done?”  Mrs. de Bourgh laughed.  “Nothing.  She has found a comfortable situation with a new family.”

“When will you begin your family Mrs. de Bourgh?”  Lady Catherine turned to Mary.  “Rosings should be secured by an heir and not left to be inherited by some distant relative.”

Mary blushed.  “We have only been married a short time, madam.  I am sure that one day we will be blessed . . .”

“It will not happen unless you work at it, Mrs. de Bourgh.  I know many a young wife who left it to the blessings of heaven but that is not what makes babies.  I have told Mrs. Michael de Bourgh this.”  She looked at Mrs. de Bourgh.  “I have told her that as in anything, practice is the key.”

“Which explains why you were so successful!”  Mary said angrily.  “I understand that it is not unusual for married women to speak of such subjects, but I will not share the most intimate details of my marriage with you, madam.  Please choose another topic.”

Lady Catherine kept prodding.  “Securing an heir for your husband is your most important duty.”

Mary stood and Mrs. de Bourgh joined her.  “I see that you are implacable.”

“Where are you going?”  Lady Catherine demanded.  “Sit down!”

“I will not discuss this subject with a woman who so clearly disliked her own daughter.”  She curtsied.  “Good morning, Lady Catherine.” 

Mrs. de Bourgh smiled as she watched Mary leave.  “Lady Catherine, you have met three of the Bennet girls, they grew up with a terrible mother.  None of them will tolerate you, least of all the mistress of Rosings.”  She picked up her reticule.  “Good day.”

“Will you return?”  Lady Catherine asked.  “Alone?”

“Perhaps.”  Mrs. de Bourgh smiled.

“I understand that you have two grandsons, congratulations.”  She added grudgingly. 

“Thank you; it is a great joy to see my daughters happy.”  Nodding, she left the room and went to join Mary in the barouche. 

Dabbing her eyes, Mary glanced at her mother-in-law.  “I am sorry; I just could not remain with her.”

“I understand, but you will have to learn how to tolerate her.  She was working to see you react, and you played right into her hands, until you ended her game and left, of course.  That quieted her.  Unfortunately, she is your responsibility for the rest of her life.”

“I know.”  Mary sighed.  “Lizzy would have remained and argued with her.”

“I think that is what she was hoping you would do.”  Mrs. de Bourgh smiled and patted her arm.  “You are young, yet dear.  She is lonely.”

“Oh.”

 “Peter was telling me how happy he is.”

“He did?”  Mary blushed.  “That . . . he does not speak so plainly.  I am surprised.”

“Oh, he did not come out and say it with so many words.  But a mother knows her child, at least a mother who takes the time to know her child does.  I can tell just by looking at him that he is happy, but he does leave clues.”

“Clues?” 

“Yes.”  Mrs. de Bourgh laughed.  “Oh I cannot begin to describe it, in time you will learn his secrets, too.”   Tilting her head, she studied Mary, clearly lost in thought.  “Are you thinking of Lady Catherine?  You did not fail dear, the time had come to face the dragon, and as she is fond of saying, you will improve with practice.”

“I have seen her.”  Mary admitted.  “I have not gone out of my way to encounter her, but we did stop at the house if we happened to be passing, but she never really received us properly.  She does not frighten me, why should she?”

“No reason at all.  I am pleased that you did try to visit her on your own.  I cannot get over her behaviour today.”  Mrs. de Bourgh sighed and slapping the reins on the barouche, they set off at a fast trot.  “I missed this little conveyance in Portsmouth.”

“Will you teach me to drive?”  Mary watched her with admiration.  “Peter would not be a good teacher, I think.”

“Really?”  She smiled and looked over to her.  “Why do you think that?”

“Oh, his captain tendencies come out.”  She laughed.  “He was trying to teach me to tie some horribly complicated knot and in the end he wound up doing it himself.”

“Knots are a particular favourite of his; do not give up on him as a teacher so quickly.  He taught many a young lad how to survive on a ship.  It is a terribly frightening place when you first join up.” 

“Yes, Charlotte was telling me how happy she was that her younger brothers were able to be apprenticed to businessmen instead of having to join the navy.  She was so afraid for them, especially after knowing Peter.  She questioned him very thoroughly and talked to her parents.”

“I do like my daughters-in-law.”  Mrs. de Bourgh said proudly.  “Neither of you is shy to take care of those you love.” 

Mary blushed at her hands.  “Thank you.”

“My dear, you must stop looking down when you are praised!”

“Oh, you can tell that you are Peter’s mother.”  She smiled and looked up to Mrs. de Bourgh who laughed. 

“Are your daughters like you?”

“You have met them.” 

“But we were all on our best behaviour.”  Mary smiled again when she laughed and looked ahead.  “They seemed different.”

“They are their father’s girls.”  She sighed.  “I look at them and I see and hear him.  It is fascinating since he saw so little of them.  They were a comfort when he was gone.  Someday you will understand when you have your own.”  Looking over to Mary she squeezed her hand and returned to holding the reins.  “Lady Catherine is very unhappy with your marriage to my son.”

“Why?  She seemed to accept Peter and you.”

“I was not mistress of Rosings; I was just looking after the house in her absence. Your taking the role has effectively put the nail in the coffin of everything she ever dreamed about.  And no, her daughter’s death did not change her wishes.”

“She is so bitter.  And now she feels the loneliness she created.”  They pulled up to the house and Peter appeared. 

“You survived!”  He grinned and came to help his mother and Mary down.  “How was it?” 

“She expressed surprise that you have pursuits beyond your wife.”  Mrs. de Bourgh laughed.