Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (87 page)

“They are very good to both of you.”  Mr. Bennet said and startled them.  “Ladies, the four of us will depart within the hour.  Your mother will remain here.”  He looked to Mrs. Annesley to see her interest.  “After speaking with her, I thought it was the best decision, and I do not think that anyone will regret it.”  He started to turn and stopped.  “I hope that each of my daughters will grant me a dance?  And forgive me when it is through?”  Smiling, he looked them over and left.

“Papa asked us to dance?”  Kitty whispered.

“Does he know how?”  Lydia stared after him.

“Does it matter, ladies?”  Mrs. Annesley smiled and nodded thoughtfully when he disappeared.  “Come now, you have an hour.”

 
18 OCTOBER 1811

Ashcroft

Dear Darcy,

I am pleased and proud to announce the birth of my second grandson, Geoffrey Fitzwilliam Singleton.  There is a mouthful for a young lad!  He entered the world early this morning; the squall took both me and Helen by surprise!  She ran into my room to beat me about the face with a pillow and demanded that I listen.  We hardly knew that Audrey had begun to labour, but sometime after we retired, she got down to business and let the staff know what was about.  Robert stayed with her, and by the time the midwife arrived, she was ready.  Glorious thing for my little girl, after two losses, she had an easy birth.  Little fellow, a trifle young they think but if he is anything like his elder sister, he will grow like a weed, he certainly has a man’s yowl!  Reminds me a bit of Richard, he was a runt, but he grew.  He is a Fitzwilliam after all, and we grow them big! 

We learned that Audrey was hoping to keep Singleton’s mother away while she delivered, so that is why it was kept as quiet as it was all night.  Bit of a clinging vine that woman is, I can well understand their reluctance to include her.  Helen was put out, missing the handholding and all, but she understands.  She will keep the Dower in check and leave Audrey to recover in peace.  Lucky man you are, no in-laws to pester you at that time, but I suspect you will probably wind up under a tree again! 

None of us picked the date, so we have decided to place the wagers back in the kitty and let it ride for Elizabeth’s turn.  Any inside information would be appreciated, Son.  You can give your uncle a hint? 

Give your dear Elizabeth and Rosa a kiss for us, and greet the rest of the lot you have around you.  Richard is thrilled to hear of your blisters.  Are they healed yet, does your fair wife object?  Enjoy your dancing Son, and get yourself home, we will be at your door before you know it, braying like the hounds!

Take great care,

Uncle Henry

Darcy started chuckling softly and it grew to a full-out guffaw.  He was wiping his eyes when Elizabeth found him.  “What is it?”

“Audrey has safely delivered the heir to Ashcroft.”  He grinned and started laughing again.  “And I think our uncle was three sheets to the wind when he wrote this foolish letter of elation.”  Handing it to her he watched her read, his smile growing tender as her eyes filled with tears.  “What is this love?”  He brushed them with his thumb and then pulled her into his arms to hug her tight.  “Joy?”

“Oh yes.”  She sniffed and laughed.  “A boy!” 

“Come here.”  Darcy whispered against her mouth and kissed her.  Then smiling into her eyes, closed his and kissed her again.  She sighed and he deepened the caress, drawing her body to rest against him.

“Will, we must stop.”  Her fingers pressed to his lips and were nibbled.  “Fitzwilliam, you are forgetting yourself!”

“Not at all, I know precisely what I do, and it is most engrossing.”  Darcy murmured against Elizabeth’s fingers and bending to kiss her cheek, he whispered in her ear.  “And pleasurable.”

“You say the loveliest things.”  She smiled and looked down, ending his kisses, but not the embrace.  They remained entwined and Darcy rested his cheek on her head; and one hand over their baby. 

“Oh!”  Mary cried when she and de Bourgh entered the library.  “I am sorry, we did not know . . .”

Darcy smiled contentedly at the other couple.  “We are celebrating wonderful news.”

“Oh?  Ah, a letter.”  De Bourgh picked it up from where it had fallen to the floor.  “Well look at this.  An heir for Singleton, and all is well.” 

He smiled and gave the letter to Mary, who read it and started to laugh.  “He seems a little tipsy.”

“I suggest we drink a toast to this new man!”

“Save it for later, while we dress.”  Elizabeth ordered from her comfortable position.  “I am not moving.”  Darcy’s laugh rumbled through his chest.  “I am not.”

“I do not doubt you.”  He sighed.  “She is safe, they are both safe.”  He kissed Elizabeth’s hair, and rubbed his hands over her back.  It was clear that unspoken fear was being relieved by both.

Mary looked to her husband.   “I suppose that we may not understand quite as well as they.”

“Well, we understand, but it is not personal yet.”  Glancing at the embraced couple, he nodded his head towards the door.  “Shall we leave them in peace?” 

“Darcy, I . . .”  Bingley entered the room.  “Am I interrupting?”

“No.”  Elizabeth sighed and reluctantly pulled away from her husband.  “Come on Mary, we should dress.”

“I am sorry, I . . .”  Elizabeth patted his arm with a smile and the two sisters set off to prepare for the assembly.  Bingley looked back to his friend, who had gone to lean on the desk and cross his arms.  “I am sorry.”

“We were hardly alone, Bingley.”  He nodded at de Bourgh.  “Any plans I had were thwarted before you arrived.”

“Sorry about that.”  De Bourgh shrugged.  “But knowing you two, you will pick up right where you left off with no trouble.  Tell me, are you still playing that courting game of yours?”

“It has been difficult considering all that has happened over the past few days.  I am afraid that our fantasy has been replaced by reality.  Although, that note we received from Mr. Bennet yesterday, assuring us that Mrs. Bennet would remain at Longbourn for the assembly, just might give us the opportunity to play in peace again.”  He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  “Hmm, perhaps a little courting on the dance floor is in order . . .”

“Do you think you two will ever settle into complacency?”  De Bourgh asked curiously.  “You seem just as happy as newlyweds.”

Darcy tilted his head to study him.  “We have grown far beyond those naive days, but that only deepens our relationship.  Beyond that, I hope to still be as happy to hear her laugh forty years from now.  And hopefully my white hair and wrinkles will not make her ill.” 

“Well that is something to strive for.”  He laughed and raised his brow.  “And perhaps you will still be dancing.”

Darcy looked at him steadily.  “As long as my wife will have me, we will dance.”

“How many sets may I have?”  Bingley broke in. “I want at least three.”

“Three and there had best be an offer of marriage forthcoming, I think that is a little ambitious for your first evening of courting.”  Darcy relaxed and smiled when he saw his friend’s colour rise.  “Two should be sufficient, and the first definitely.”

“Absolutely.”  De Bourgh smiled and clapped Bingley’s shoulder.  “And with luck in forty years, she will still want you, too.”

“COME ON, JANE!”  Lucas took her hand and pulled her up the steps to the assembly hall.  “You must dance with me!”

“Must I, Mr. Lucas?  The music will not start for at least a half hour; I think that we have time.”  Jane laughed and he looked back at her with a grin.  “Robert, slow down!  I am not as steady as you!”

“I do not mean to have you steady.”  Reaching the hall, he looked over the nearly empty room.  “We are quite early.”

“That is your father’s fault, ever the host.”  She put her hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath.  “Oh my.” 

“Are you well?”  Lucas turned and looked at her worriedly.  “Is this too much for you?  We will go home.”

“No.”  Taking his hands in hers, she smiled.  “I am fine, but I beg you, only a few dances.  I will not feel neglected if you take up with your friends tonight; I know that you will miss them when they depart.” 

“Only Darcy and de Bourgh will be gone.”  He reminded her.

“Yes, but they are the instigators in this band of merry men.” 

“Instigators?”  Lucas laughed.  “I do not think there is a ringleader, dear.  We each play our part, but I will miss some more than others.”  He looked at her sideways, “Just as you will miss some ladies more than others.”

They walked to a window and looked out at the moonlit street, carriages were arriving and the growing sound of the crowd below was heard as tickets were collected and coats were taken.  “Let me steal a last kiss.”  He bent and brushed her mouth.

“Enough of that, Robert.”  Charlotte exclaimed.  “Do you mean to embarrass poor Jane to death?”

“Quiet Cherry Blossom.”  He grinned.   

She rounded on her husband.  “Michael de Bourgh, why, why did you tell my brother that?” 

“It just slipped out, dear.”  He laughed and taking her hand, he bowed.  “Forgive me.”

“I will consider it.”  She looked down at the arriving carriages.  “Oh, there are the Hursts, and Mr. Robinson.  That is a surprise.”

Michael nodded.  “So he gave in.  Bingley told his brother that he would not have him hanging about Netherfield alone, and that he must attend even if he does not dance.  Robinson put up a good fight, pointing out how Bingley resisted courting during his mourning.”

“Will any disapprove?”  Jane said worriedly.  “I would hate to have anyone criticize him.”

“The man has an infant son; he is in want of a wife.  He has an estate and a business.  Do you seriously think any of the mothers here will say a word?”  Charlotte looked at Jane pointedly.  “If your mother were attending, you know she would push Kitty his way.”

“I think that Kitty knows enough to resist.”  She looked out again.  “Oh there is the Darcy carriage; I see the crest on the door.  I wonder why they were so far behind the Hursts?”

“Perhaps Bingley was suffering a fit of nerves?”  Lucas laughed. 

Bingley looked at the assembly hall and closed his eyes.  “I am going to be ill.” 

Darcy quickly shot a look at Elizabeth, then to his friend.  “Do you want to return?”

“No, no.”  He drew a deep breath.  “Ohhhhh.  Kill me.”

“Miss Martin surely will if you do not appear.”  De Bourgh grinned.  “Come now, what have you to fear?  This is
only
the beginning of finding your place in this neighbourhood, and might I add, the night where every young unmarried miss will be leaping to bat her eyes at you.  Oh, and the first night of your courtship . . .”

“Fat lot of help you are.”  Bingley moaned.

“I do what I can.”  Sighing, de Bourgh gave him a kick.  “What has come over you?  You were all eagerness a matter of minutes ago; surely you are not giving in to a woman’s nerves?”

“I object to that!”  Bingley cried.

“So do we.”  Elizabeth glared.  De Bourgh smiled and held out his hands in supplication. 

“I think that you forget your own uneasiness not so long ago, Peter.”  Mary said softly and his smile faded.

“I have heard that the greatest performers are often ill before they step onto the stage.”  Darcy said encouragingly. 

“Performer?”  Bingley started.

“You are performing for strangers tonight, Charles.”  Elizabeth leaned across the carriage to take his hand.   Bingley found her warm eyes smiling at him.   “Just as I am, just as Fitzwilliam is.”

Darcy cleared his throat and regained her attention.  “Neither of us perform for strangers, love.  We are simply ourselves.” 

“I see, and why are we going to walk into that assembly hall with our heads held high, tolerating attention and whispers, demonstrating that we are not the least affected by the behaviour of my mother, when in truth we would be much happier sharing the company of our friends at home?”  She challenged him with an arched brow.

“Because, my dearest Elizabeth,” Darcy retrieved her hand from Bingley’s grasp and held it in his own.  “I want to dance with you.”

“Oh.”  She smiled.

“And it was part of the promise that lured so many of our friends here to help our brother Lucas, and of course, Bingley.”  His smile grew.  “I think that we must return to the reasons why we came to Hertfordshire, rather than dwell on what has occurred since we arrived.  Do you agree?”

“I do, Mr. Darcy.”  Elizabeth withdrew her hand from his and turned back to Bingley, “What was your purpose in coming to Hertfordshire, Mr. Bingley?”

“No more Charles?”  He smiled, “Darcy does call me a brother, after all.” 

“Very well, Charles.”  Elizabeth laughed and saw Darcy’s eyes narrow.   “Why did you come here, beyond taking the lease?”

“To court Miss Martin.”  He closed his eyes.  “To keep the promise that I made to her, if she decided to wait for me.  I asked her to wait and she did.”

“You are afraid of doing something wrong, Mr. Bingley?”  Mary asked.  “I promise you, so is she.”

“She is terribly nervous.  This is a much more frightening night for her than you.”  Elizabeth assured him and looked out at the crowd.  “Mary, why do we not go on up first?  Our husbands can . . .”

“Without us?”  De Bourgh looked at Darcy.  “Why?  I have no desire to step into that hall by myself.  I am a married man, and I will be damned if I will appear at a dance as a bachelor again!”  Seeing Darcy’s clear agreement, he turned to Bingley and jabbed his finger into his chest.  “You are doing this to yourself, you know.  You are thinking too much, just go, be your charming self to one and all, and focus on one, not all.”  The carriage door opened and he jumped down first, muttering to himself, “Ridiculous.  Mary!”  His hand appeared through the doorway.

“I think I had better go before he starts belting out orders.”  Mary smiled and taking the hand, was quickly led out.