The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (6 page)

Winkler sighed deeply. “I have waited for our joining for nearly two years. I feel quite foolish when I consider how long I have planned to claim Miss Catherine.”

“We are all fools in love.”

Within the hour, the Bennet traveling coach came to rest in the circle before Pemberley. The Darcy household waited on the entrance steps to greet the travelers. “Although they have only been away since Twelfth Night, I am pleased to see my family again,” Elizabeth whispered as Darcy placed her hand on his arm.

“Let us see if you have the same opinion by this time next week,” he murmured. “Your dear family will all want to hold Bennet. Your private time with our son has just disappeared.”

Elizabeth feigned shock in this revelation. “Then you must send them all away immediately, Mr. Darcy,” she exclaimed. “I refuse to share my child with anyone but his father.”

Darcy caught her free hand to his side. “I knew you to be a sensible creature, my dear.” His smile widened.

“Too late,” Elizabeth shuttered her words. “The footman has let down the step.”

“Do not say I did not warn you,” he murmured into her hair.

“Mrs. Bennet.” Elizabeth's father supported his wife's step on the coach's ladder. “I am pleased you have arrived safely.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bennet. It is good to be at Pemberley again. When I was last in Derbyshire, the grounds were covered in ice and snow. It is pleasant to see it at its best.”

“Later, we will tour Mr. Darcy's gardens, if you did not find your journey too exhausting.”

“That would be enjoyable.” The woman turned to her waiting family. “Ah, Jane,” she gushed. “I have so longed to see Jackson.” She
held her oldest close. “And Mr. Bingley,” she said in welcome. “It is delightful to see you, Sir.”

“You look well, Mother Bennet.” Bingley embraced the woman.

As if overheated, she fanned her face with her handkerchief. “I shall be complete, Mr. Bingley, when our Kitty becomes Mrs. Winkler. A mother's task is to see to her daughters' futures.”

“And you have excelled in your endeavors,” Bingley said good-naturedly.

“Mama.” Elizabeth had waited patiently. She and her mother had rarely found congress, but they had spent an enjoyable Christmastide together, and this had given Elizabeth hope that now that she too was a mother, they would develop a deeper understanding.

“Ah, Lizzy. Your father writes often of your Bennet.” Elizabeth received a lukewarm hug, very different from the one Jane had experienced only moments earlier, and over her mother's shoulder, Elizabeth saw the corners of Darcy's mouth dip downward.

She maneuvered her mother in Mr. Darcy's direction; her husband bowed over her mother's hand. “I am pleased by your return to Pemberley, Mrs. Bennet.” He handed her off to Bingley. “I am certain that Mr. Bingley will show you into the drawing room. Mr. Nathan has arranged for refreshments.” Mrs. Bennet curtsied and then allowed Bingley to escort her to the house. “No words of thanks,” he grumbled under his breath.

“My mother is likely exhausted from the details of first Mary's, and now Kitty's wedding,” Elizabeth said beside him.

“Mrs. Bennet found enough energy to greet your sister with enthusiasm,” Darcy countered. “I will not have you snubbed, Lizzy, even by your mother.”

Elizabeth shrugged in exasperation. “I shall have Papa speak to her.” Then with a renewed smile, she greeted her sisters.
“Mary.” She caught the girl in a hearty embrace. “Permit me to look upon you. How does married life treat you?”

“Mr. Grange is quite kind,” Mary said softly.

“I am pleased to hear it.”

Darcy shook the young lawyer's hand. “Pemberley welcomes you, Mr. Grange.”

“Mrs. Grange and I thank you for receiving us.” He placed Mary on his arm and followed Jane Bingley into the main foyer.

Elizabeth turned to see Winkler lifting Kitty to the ground. His hands rested on her sister's waist for a few extra seconds, and their gaze intensified. Elizabeth diverted her eyes and shared a knowing smile with Darcy.

“Miss Bennet, I have waited for this moment for weeks,” Winkler rasped.

Kitty blushed, but she managed to say, “As have I, Mr. Winkler.”

Darcy cleared his throat. “Then may we take this homecoming inside?”

Winkler laughed self-consciously. “Of course, Mr. Darcy.”

Kitty caught Elizabeth about the waist as they walked toward the open door. “Has Georgiana already departed for Scotland?”

“I am afraid so. Mrs. Fitzwilliam regretted missing your wedding, but the Major General was due a fortnight ago. Georgiana wanted the house open and waiting for her husband. She left a personal note and a wedding gift in your room.”

“I appreciate both, but I shall grieve with Mrs. Fitzwilliam's absence,” Kitty declared.

“As shall we all,” Elizabeth assured.

“If you will see that these letters are placed in the post, I would appreciate it,” Edward said as he handed his temporary aide several personal messages.

The man, Lieutenant Conrad, glanced at the directions on the letters. “Three to Derbyshire?” he remarked curiously.

“My home shire,” Edward's attention had returned to the stacks of paperwork and reports littering the desk. “My parents and my wife. Her brother also. My brother is the one in Lincolnshire.”

Conrad blushed. “I was unaware of your marriage, Sir. The file I received regarding this post contained no notation of your joining,” the man confessed.

Edward paused in his paper shuffle. He could easily imagine Georgiana's countenance. After all, he had known her from her first breath. And with a critical masculine eye, one that had been exposed to some of the most beautiful women in the world, Edward could gladly say that he considered her as the handsomest woman of his acquaintance. “I married only days after receiving my orders to join Wellington's forces. Mrs. Fitzwilliam refused to allow me to leave England a bachelor.” He laughed lightly. “The lady is quite remarkable, and my new wife was correct. Her insistence upon advancing the date of our joining served as an impetus for my surviving Waterloo's nightmare. I refused to make the lady a widow. In many ways, Mrs. Fitzwilliam has saved my life, and I mean to share my gratitude as soon as possible.”

“Then England should celebrate the lady's foresight. I am told that you served the Duke well during the battle,” the lieutenant said.

Edward, uncomfortable with the praise, nodded curtly. “Mrs. Fitzwilliam should be celebrated for her intelligence, her beauty, and her talent. Choosing me as her husband is likely her most calamitous decision.”

“Father, Mother, Rose: Permit me to present my fiancée, Catherine Bennet. Miss Bennet, my parents, Sir James and Lady Winkler, and my sister, Miss Winkler.”

Kitty curtsied before saying, “It is my honor, Sir James, Lady Winkler, Miss Winkler. Your son has told me so much about you that I am pleased to finally claim the acquaintance.”

Camellia Winkler gushed, “She is as beautiful as you led us to believe, Thorne.” Lady Winkler caressed Kitty's cheek.

Winkler's smile widened. “Miss Bennet is certainly that.”

Kitty blushed thoroughly. “Sir James, permit me to extend your acquaintance to our hosts, my sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”

The couples exchanged courtesies; then Elizabeth directed Mr. Winkler's family to the main drawing room. “I fear you are about to be beset with a number of Bennets, Lady Winkler. Kitty is one of five daughters.”

“Yes, my son has written to that effect,” Lady Winkler assured.

Thirty minutes later, Mr. Nathan announced, “Dinner is served, Mr. Darcy.”

Lady Winkler declared as she entered the dining room on Darcy's arm, “My! Such a collation, and prepared with abundance and elegance.”

“Thank you, Ma'am. Mrs. Darcy is known for her hospitality.” He seated the baronet's wife to his right.

When everyone had settled at the table, Mrs. Bennet declared, “This is very pleasant, having family about the table. Do you not concur, Lady Winkler?”

“It is, Mrs. Bennet,” the lady agreed, “although I do so wish Thorne's older brother could have joined us for this momentous occasion. Bram is overseeing renovations on the estate. We had a disastrous spring storm with wind and lightning damage.”

Mrs. Bennet accepted the fish course from Darcy's footman before saying, “I am sorry to hear it, Ma'am. The care never ceases on a working estate, does it? I am certain Mr. Winkler would prefer to have his brother in attendance, just as Kitty would prefer that Mrs. Wickham, our dearest Lydia, could see our Kitty married.”

Kitty grimaced. Her mother had returned to her favorite subject of late: Lydia's absence from the family gatherings. Over the past month, her mother had harangued her daughter as to why Kitty had not insisted that Mr. Darcy send his carriage for the Wickhams. Mrs. Bennet had always preferred her youngest child, to the others' neglect. Kitty did not regret Lydia's absence as her mother did. She felt that she had risen above the insensibility she now recognized in Lydia's actions.

She recalled quite clearly how Lydia had abandoned her for Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of the regiment once stationed at Meryton. When the army transferred the unit to Brighton, both she and Lydia had bemoaned the loss of the men's company, but Mrs. Forster had invited Lydia to accompany her to the resort. Mrs. Forster had become Lydia's invaluable friend. A resemblance in good humor and good spirits had recommended the woman and Lydia to each other, and out of their three months' acquaintance they had been an intimate two—leaving Kitty to amuse herself.

The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster, and the delight of their mother had increased Kitty's mortifications. Wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia had fluttered about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's congratulations, and laughing and talking with more violence than ever, while Kitty had repined her fate without respite.