The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (58 page)

“I would attribute much of my wife's newfound resolve to your tender guidance,” Edward said softly.

“I would like to think we each had a hand in guiding Georgiana into womanhood; you, Fitzwilliam, and me.” Silence returned as they watched Darcy tease Georgiana's neck with a shaft of wild grass. Finally, Elizabeth spoke her thoughts aloud. “You should trust Mr. Darcy's sister with your confidences.”

“I fear I do not understand.” His voice remained casual, but Elizabeth noted how Edward's shoulder muscles flexed with caution.

“The war. The years away from your family.” Elizabeth touched Edward's arm. “Even in the short time of our acquaintance, you have changed, Edward. The American front affected you more than you care to admit.” She paused. “I have heard men speak of the horrors of Waterloo. Even the mightiest of men would know regret. A man cannot see such devastation without it affecting his outlook—his hopes and dreams.”

Edward's hands fisted, and his posture slumped. “Look at her. My wife is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld. And look at me. I am three and thirty, and I am far from handsome. What do I have to give Georgiana besides the protection of my name? I have known nothing but war.”

“You might give her your respect.” Elizabeth stifled his objection with a flick of her wrist. “Not that type of respect. Men always
think we women wish to be protected from all the evils of the world. In reality, we want to be respected for our intelligence, our nurturing natures, and our empathy. Give Georgiana the part of you that you withhold from everyone. Share with your wife what you have kept secret.”

“She would hate me,” Edward said hoarsely.

“Georgiana could never hate you,” Elizabeth said adamantly. “Some of what you relate shall shock my sister. Some shall distress her, but none of it will make Georgiana turn from you. Mr. Darcy's sister desires to be treated as a woman rather than as a schoolgirl. Trust Georgiana with what haunts you. It will heal your soul and give your wife a different role in your life: You will not only be Georgiana's guardian, but also, she will be yours. You will be her partner in a life that you shall forge together.”

Edward swallowed hard. His Adam's apple worked intensely to clear his throat. “I will consider it.” He paused. “What makes you so intuitive, Mrs. Darcy?”

Elizabeth relaxed. The major general had not taken offense at her intrusion into his private life. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “There are things I do not know.”

Edward's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. “Such as? It seems my cousin's wife is capable of holding her own with some of the Matlock family's most stubborn males.”

She smiled genuinely. “For example, I do not know why the Jackses refer to my husband as ‘Himself.'”

Edward chortled. “That is easy to resolve. When Darcy was ten or so, we made a trip to Alpin. During those days of summer pleasure, the Jackses continually remarked on my cousin's being a near-replica of his respected father, to which Darcy vehemently declared that he did not wish to be George Darcy. ‘I wish to be myself,' he demanded. From that point forward, Mr. and Mrs. Jacks referred
to Darcy as
Himself
. At first, my cousin thought it a disparaging remark, but Rowland convinced Darcy that such a moniker was only given in Scotland from respect.”

Elizabeth attempted to hide her amusement when she said, “Of course it is a signal of respect.”

“Do not fool yourself, Mrs. Darcy,” Edward good-naturedly corrected. “Nowadays, I am certain the Jackses mean it in a respectful manner, but at the time, Mr. Jacks likely felt Darcy's attitude a bit stinging.”

Elizabeth fought hard to keep a straight face. “I cannot imagine anyone thinking Mr. Darcy to bear false pride.”

“It is difficult to consider that any person, say an intelligent female such as yourself, could be that misguided,” he taunted. “Now, if you will excuse me,” he set his glass on a nearby table, “it is time I win one of my wife's playful smiles.”

Elizabeth watched the major general stride across the lawn. He and Darcy congenially tugged at the ropes supporting Georgiana's swing. For a moment, she recognized the two boys they must have been all those years ago. Saw how far they had come and how much they had remained the same. “They are the best of men,” she whispered.

Darcy relinquished the swing's ropes to his cousin. Despite not having acknowledged it to his wife, he had come to a like mind with Elizabeth regarding Georgiana's marriage. Edward was the perfect choice for his sister. His only concern now lay in his cousin's extensive military background. Could Edward actually abandon the blood and the gore and become a country gentleman? Darcy glanced over his shoulder to where Edward whispered something personal in Georgiana's ear.

“They shall be fine, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said softly. “Although his scars run deeper than hers, the Major General knows he must respect Georgiana as his wife. It shall not be uncomplicated, but he will see his way clear to including her in his recovery.”

A knot formed in Darcy's stomach. He took the seat his cousin had recently vacated. “I am not certain I want Georgiana exposed to what the Major General has known on the battlefield,” he said defensively.

A smile tugged at the corners of Elizabeth's lips. “In case you have not noticed, Mr. Darcy, such decisions are no longer in your realm of care for Georgiana. Your sister is a woman of age. A wife. And very soon a mother.”

“That does not mean I will ever abdicate my concerns to another,” he said testily.

Elizabeth heaved a sigh of exasperation. “No one, least of all Edward or Georgiana, expects you to simply step aside, Fitzwilliam, but you must permit your sister and your cousin to find their own way. For the Major General to reclaim his life, he must speak of the time since accepting his commission in the King's service. It is very much a part of the man Edward has become. The man your sister loves. Trust them to see their way through this together. I am certain that if Georgiana needs us—needs you—that she shall not hesitate to seek your counsel. You have been her universe for too long for your sister to desert you completely.”

Darcy's eyes remained on the playful interactions of the newlyweds. “You believe this is so?” he asked flatly.

Elizabeth sounded firm. “You must permit Georgiana her freedom, Mr. Darcy.”

Her eyes flashed in a way that made Darcy feel the comfortable heat of desire. “I will do my best, Mrs. Darcy, but I can promise nothing beyond that.”

Mr. Jacks cleared his throat. “Post, Mr. Darcy.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jacks.” Darcy accepted the folded over pages before examining the direction and seal. It did not bear the familiar scrawl of Charles Bingley as Darcy had expected.

“From whom does it come?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

Darcy's mouth twisted in amusement. “Spare me a moment, my dear, and I will satisfy your inquisitiveness.” He reached for a knife from the serving tray to break the wax seal. He did not look at her, but he suggestively said, “By the way, you are deliciously appealing when you squirm in querying interest.”

“Mr. Darcy, you are incorrigible,” she protested, but she squeezed his arm affectionately.

Darcy winked at her before turning his attention to the letter. “It is from Lord Wotherspoon,” he said as he read the first few lines of the letter.

“Did the gentleman and Lady Margaret escape Scotland's shores?” Edward asked as he placed Georgiana gently in one of the empty chaises. “There, my love,” he said softly as he caressed her cheek.

Georgiana sighed deeply. “I am unaccustomed to being a lady of leisure,” she said shyly.

“Yet, you will follow the physician's orders to please both your husband and your brother,” Edward instructed.

Georgiana blushed at having everyone's notice. “I shall permit my husband his way in this matter,” she said definitively.

Edward kissed the tip of her nose before he sat beside Darcy. “So tell us. What news of Wotherspoon?”

“MacBethan and Lady Margaret married near East Linton. They managed to secure passage to Crete. Wotherspoon writes that they will continue on to Italy from there.”

“I sincerely hope they may find some measure of happiness together. Both Lord Wotherspoon and Lady Margaret have known enough devastation in their lives,” Edward observed. Darcy was well aware of this turn in Edward's opinion of the Scottish earl. Only days earlier, his cousin had thought to skewer the man for Wotherspoon's lack of action.

Darcy continued to recapitulate the earl's letter. “Wotherspoon has sent a statement to the local magistrate in which he presented evidence against his mother and several of the lady's henchmen in behalf of his wife. He has made arrangements for Aulay to live with their brother Islav. He dismissed the Normanna staff and closed the estate until his return, which appears to grieve him. For a man who desired none of his title, the Earl speaks eloquently of his responsibility to the neighborhood.”

“Perhaps we could secure the services of some of Wotherspoon's staff for Alpin Hall. I am certain my father is unaware of the estate's need for repairs,” Edward noted.

Elizabeth added, “It is uncharacteristic of Matlock to neglect a family property, even one at a great distance.”

“I had meant to speak to my uncle upon my return to Derbyshire,” Darcy explained. “I suspect the steward is either incompetent or cagey.”

“What say we offer the position to Weir's cousin Linden? We simply require someone to oversee the annual harvest and the upkeep of the manor house,” Edward proposed.

Darcy smiled easily. “As you need the practice, Cousin, I will leave those details in your very capable hands.”

Edward stretched his long muscular legs before him. “I suppose if Mrs. Fitzwilliam and I are to open Yadkin Hall for the holidays that I might also examine the Alpin books. That is, of course, if my beautiful wife has no objection to my spending some time daily on righting the obvious wrongs circulating about my father's estate.”

“Uncle Matlock would expect as much,” Georgiana agreed.

Darcy handed across a folded sheet to Georgiana. “This one is for you.”

“For me?” Georgiana looked surprised. “Why would there be a message for me among Lord Wotherspoon's words?”

Elizabeth chortled, “None of us shall know, Dearest, until you read it.”

Georgiana tentatively opened the single sheet. She read aloud,

“It sounds as if the lady's memory has returned,” Edward noted. “Thank God Mrs. Darcy found Georgiana when she did. Otherwise, it might have been too late.” A noticeable shiver shook the Major General's shoulders.

Georgiana appeared bewildered. “I had thought the woman who initially came to my assistance was part of my imagination.” She looked closely at Elizabeth. “Remember, I spoke to you of the one who told me that each of you searched for me? Could it have been Lady Margaret, after all?”

Elizabeth tilted her head thoughtfully. “I would imagine parts of what you recall come from your interaction with Lady Margaret, but some of what you have relayed to me would not be of the lady's understanding.”

“What do you suggest, Mrs. Darcy?” Edward's voice sounded a bit strained.

“Only that Georgiana had a special angel looking over her shoulder during this incident,” Elizabeth said confidently.

Edward frowned notably. “I do not believe in guardian angels, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “We each must choose our own way to reason what we cannot explain. You shall not approve, Edward; yet, I cannot conceive how a man with your military history could walk through purgatory's jaws again and again without serious injury. I would like to think that it was God's will. That he saved you for Georgiana and for your family.”

Darcy interrupted, “What was Lady Margaret's second purpose for writing?”

His sister returned to the note.