Chapter Twenty-Three
And so, each day while young Bennet Darcy napped in the afternoon, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy sat in a chair before a large table in the estate’s library and discussed how the lady and Mr. Darcy had mapped out a plan for their beloved estate’s future. Her parents and Jocelyn had known awe with the woman’s knowledge of a working estate, though Jocelyn admitted, if only to herself, she had felt more than a bit overwhelmed with how easily Mrs. Darcy spoke of ideas once only accepted in a man’s realm.
“I am amazed with how well you acclimated to Mr. Darcy’s world,” her mother had said. “You must have grown up with your mother being a slave to your education.”
“Not at all. Mrs. Bennet simply placed each of her daughters in the way of eligible gentlemen,” Mrs. Darcy said with a chuckle. “Do not misunderstand me, my parents permitted us to enjoy whatever subjects most interested us. My father indulged me more than he did the others, but, you see, I was to be the son to inherit the estate. Instead of knowing disappointment, Mr. Bennet permitted me to study what he loved best: history and architecture and literature. I followed him about the home farm and kept him amused with what I thought were witty quips. When you take his acquaintance, you will understand more clearly. Our Mary was the one whose studies centered upon the scriptures; therefore, she is happily married to a rector in Derbyshire. Our Kitty, named Katherine, loves anything to do with fashion. She has a great eye for the simplest of adjustments that turn an everyday dress to something even Lady Jersey would wear. In fact, Lady Jersey has worn one of our Kitty’s designs, but my younger sister concentrates on her work while preparing to be a baroness in the autumn. My eldest sister Jane is quite the prettiest of us all, as well as being the kindest. Fortunately, she married a man equally as amiable. So, placing us in the way of eligible gentlemen served Mrs. Bennet’s plan all along. She has approved of all her daughters’ choices, except for my dear Mr. Darcy.”
“How could Mrs. Bennet disapprove of Mr. Darcy?” Jocelyn’s mother asked in shock.
Mrs. Darcy said, “In my mother’s defense, my dear husband made an unforgiving remark regarding me at a public assembly.”
“What did he say?” Jocelyn asked.
“It is all forgotten. A giant misunderstanding on both our parts,” Mrs. Darcy said with a large smile. “Yet, someday I shall tell you of Mr. Darcy’s first proposal. It was a true disaster, but he improved with practice.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Mr. Purdy. “A carriage on the lane, Mrs. Darcy. Chad says it is your husband’s, ma’am.”
Mrs. Darcy stood quickly and smoothed the wrinkles from her dress. “Bennet shall be thrilled to view his father. Our son asks for him often.”
“And you do not miss Mr. Darcy when he is away?” Jocelyn teased.
“I am guilty as charged,” Mrs. Darcy admitted with another grin.
They all trailed after the woman to wait for Mr. Darcy’s and Lord Vincent’s return. The gentleman stepped down first and turned to set Vincent on the ground. When he stood again, Mrs. Darcy jumped into his arms. One would have thought the man would know embarrassment, but he simply bent his head and kissed his wife. In some ways, Jocelyn was embarrassed to view their intimacy, but, in truth, she was more envious than anything else.
Mr. Darcy broke the kiss, but did not release his wife. “Pardon our thrusting our reunion upon you. It was poorly done.”
“Nothing to pardon,” her father declared. “Your wife has entertained us for several days by singing your praises. Anything less than her show of adoration would have been a disappointment.”
The sound of another visitor’s arrival drew their attention. It was Vincent who announced the identity of the incoming rider. “Colonel!” The child darted away to greet the man. “Colonel! Uncle!”
Everyone except Jocelyn drew closer to welcome their relation. She could not move. She looked to where Mrs. Darcy still held on to her husband’s hand, but the woman was studying Jocelyn in anticipation.
The colonel dismounted and leaned over to present Vincent a “male embrace,” stopping to ruffle the boy’s hair while accepting the child’s adoration.
Then the man’s gaze fell upon her parents. “Lady Romfield,” he said as he bowed, though Jocelyn was confident his deference was engrained, for he appeared confused.
“My husband,” her mother said softly, and the colonel bowed a second time. “My lord.” No one moved to break this tableau until Mrs. Darcy suggested, “We should all go within and permit the colonel and Jocelyn to discuss this matter with a bit of privacy.”
Edward Fitzwilliam’s eyes remained on her, and Jocelyn drove back the urge to squirm. Her mother kissed Jocelyn’s cheek as she passed her. Andrew and Vincent jabbered away as they entered the house. Mr. Farrin directed the Darcy coach towards the stables, and Mr. Jessie hustled out of the barn to claim the colonel’s horse, but neither she nor the gentleman moved. She could view the confusion crawling across his expression.
Mr. Darcy moved to his cousin’s side and said something Jocelyn could not hear beyond the words “listen” and “future” and “listen” once again. Meanwhile, Mrs. Darcy came to stand beside Jocelyn. “Speak the truth. Remember the colonel loves you.” Then she and Mr. Darcy followed the others into the house, though Jocelyn suspected more than one set of eyes was watching them from the nearby windows.
“You have recovered,” he said but did not approach her.
“Not completely healed,” she responded, “but well enough to welcome your return.” She paused when he did not respond. “You are well, sir?”
“I am,” he said with a frown and looked to the house. Jocelyn made herself not to turn and look also. “I prayed each day for your recovery.”
“And I prayed each day for your safety,” she countered.
They stood in silence for an elongated minute.
“Lord and Lady Romfield . . .” he stated as confusion crossed his features.
“My parents,” she explained. Her heart beat wildly, but she forced her legs not to buckle.
“You are not Miss Rose Lambert?” he said with a bit of irritation in his tone.
“‘Rose’ is a middle name.”
“You lied to me and the children.” His anger had arrived, as had hers. “I do not appreciate games.”
“I did not wish to marry a stranger any more than you did,” she countered. “I ran off when my mother took my brother Andrew to school.”
“Your mother claimed you had measles,” he accused.
“And you were so worried about your intended that you did not call upon her again. Weeks have passed, Colonel. Did you even consider the fact that you had an intended while you were kissing me?” she charged.
“Of course I considered my betrothed; otherwise, you would have been . . .” he stopped himself before saying the obvious.
“In your bed?” she asked softly, hoping those listening from inside the house could not hear this part of their conversation.
“I would never,” he said equally as soft. “A gentleman would never—”
“Ruin the governess?” she asked with a smile. “Though, in reality, the kisses we shared could be counted as ruination. I could call foul,” she argued.
“Have you not heard,” he said with a slight shrug, “my father is a powerful earl. He can make such charges disappear.”
“I am grieved to hear you say so. Since our Vincent told me his family was a distant relative of the de Bourghs, I have wished to tell my ‘supposed’ betrothed that I can think of nothing grander than to be tied to him.” Tears formed in her eyes, despite her best efforts to hide them.
“Jocelyn,” he said softly as if tasting the word. He moved quickly to take her in his arms, adjusting his embrace so as not to knock against her arm. “Do not cry.”
“You do not love me as I love you,” she whispered. She played with a button on his uniform as she spoke.
“You love me?” he asked as he nuzzled her temple with a soft brush of his lips.
“As much as you love me,” she challenged. “Is there any chance you might truly come to care for me, sir?”
He did not answer with words; instead, he tilted her chin upward and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her tenderly, but passion still simmered beneath their lips.
“Does such mean our marriage is to proceed, sir?” she asked when they parted briefly.
He offered no words. Rather, he nestled her closer and answered with a kiss that left her with no doubts whatsoever. How long they might have remained thus entangled, Jocelyn could not say, for she, most assuredly, wished to sink deeper into his embrace and never come out. However, a round of applause reminded them they were not alone.
“Aunt Catherine will be insufferable!” Mr. Darcy said as he tugged his cousin free of their embrace, but her betrothed kept hold of her free hand.
“You defied her,” the colonel declared with a laugh, “and she will remind you constantly, but I will again be her favorite, though I must spend my days presenting her ladyship my gratitude.”
“Come,” Mrs. Darcy announced. “We have much to celebrate and much to clarify. Mr. Purdy, tea, brandy, and whatever Cook has for a celebration.” She turned back to the colonel and grinned. “I bet Mr. Darcy you would adore Jocelyn once you were not being ‘forced’ to marry her. My husband must now find Bennet a pup to be the boy’s ‘friend.’”
“Darcy would have spoiled his son, even if you did not bet him regarding my felicity,” the colonel declared as he turned Jocelyn so they might walk into the house together.
“Yes,” Elizabeth Darcy grinned, “but, this way, Mr. Darcy will be the one to clean up after both the boy and the dog without arguments.”
* * *
Edward had thought once he had proposed and been accepted that he would be permitted more time with Jocelyn; however, on the third day of his return, when Lord Romfield suggested Edward ride out across the estate with the baron and Darcy, he said, “No offense, my lord, but I have arranged a small meal that Miss Romfield and I might share. We must be permitted some time to learn more of each other or we are back to being strangers before we begin.”
“I do not wish Jocelyn to exhaust herself,” her father protested.
“I have arranged for one of the servants to sweep out the folly on the side lawn and place several blankets inside so Miss Romfield will not know a chill.”
“I will ask . . .” Romfield began.
“My cousin will practice honor with your daughter, as he does every day and in every facet of his life,” Darcy argued on Edward’s behalf. “Can you honestly say when you were courting her ladyship that you never snuck off just to be alone for a few minutes. God only knows, as Elizabeth possesses four sisters, we often were required to keep company with either Miss Mary or Miss Katherine sitting in the same room with us. Like my cousin and your daughter, Elizabeth and I were already betrothed, but we were permitted no time to converse on a variety of subjects, except when we walked out together with Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet. By silent assent, on those days, we kept each other in sight, but we had the privacy actually to ‘converse.’ We did not necessarily discuss our future together, but, rather, we learned something of each other so we might survive those first few days of married life.
“I learned Elizabeth adores poetry, but she prefers a historical tome rather than a novel. She learned I am fascinated by science and horticulture. We spoke of previous generations and from whom our features came, and we attempted to guess the look of our children.
“More importantly, just as my wife performed with you and Lady Romfield, we discussed how we would treat my cottagers, what we saw as our roles as the master and mistress of Pemberley and much more. In that manner, we each knew something of how the other would respond to everyday situations and discussed our joined hopes for our children.
“Fitzwilliam and Miss Romfield have not even discussed when they will marry or where they will live. How long should they wait to marry? My cousin has duties to the military and to the Fitzwilliam family. It is not whether he holds the opportunity to be the eventual Earl of Matlock, but when will he become the head of the Matlock family. How will such affect your grandchildren? Miss Romfield and Fitzwilliam require time to become a ‘couple.’”
Lord Romfield held up his hands in surrender. “For a man of few words, you could argue the most hopeless of cases before a jury and win.”
* * *
“This is delightful,” Jocelyn said with a smile. “It makes me feel almost human again.”
He braced her to the stack of pillows and blankets. “I asked Cook not to add food which required cutting or the use of a spoon, such as soup. I did not think you could manage either, and I imagined you would find it embarrassing if I was to feed you.” She blushed prettily. “In truth,” he admitted, “I am simply glad to have a few moments with you without an audience.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small jewel box and opened it. “I had planned to present this to you when I proposed, but then . . .” He sighed heavily. “I have not done this properly. Not in the manner I had expected. I most assuredly did not wish an ‘audience.’”
“It shall be a grand story to share with our children and grandchildren,” she declared with a nervous laugh, which indicated she must feel as awkward as did he. All of which eased his own bit of angst.
“I suppose it will,” he said. A smile claimed his lips, for when he looked upon her, Edward could not believe a woman of such a fine countenance would be accepting his attentions and be planning to spend her life with him. When he had become so fortunate, he could not say, but he was more than thankful for God’s blessings. “As your right arm is still bandaged, I will simply show you this for the moment. I feared your hand might still be swollen.” He opened the box’s lid so she might see the ring. “If it is not to your liking, there are more jewels from which you may choose in the safe at Maitland Manor. I made a quick stop at the manor before I traveled on here. This was my maternal grandmother’s. You remind me of her with your hair color and the shape and color of your eyes.”
“Was she a favorite of yours?” she asked, as she fingered the stone. “It is quite lovely. I have never seen anything like it.”
“She always chose to play with me first. Before Lindale.” He closed the box and set it before her on the blanket.
“Being a second son must be difficult,” she said as she laced their fingers.
“It is customarily, like a sermon, cut and dried. The oldest son is the heir, the second joins the military, the third is a clergyman, and so forth. For us, my brother Roland is the heir, but we have all suspected he might pass before my father. Therefore, eventually, I will be called upon to assume the earldom, but I have been presented no knowledge of how to proceed and where to begin.”
“Mrs. Darcy suggested you and I could start with Babbington Hall, while we assist Vincent as a young earl,” she said softly. “Do you have an opinion on our doing so?”
“I only know the basics of land management,” Edward admitted. “In truth, I had hoped for another promotion before leaving the military and before the war ends.”
“Then where would we live?” she implored.
“It was always the plan for me and mine to reside with either Lindale or the earl until I was required,” he explained.
“Is such what you desire?” she asked. However, her brow furrowed with concern. “How would such permit you to learn more of being the master of an estate? In truth, I am frightened to take on the responsibilities of Babbington Hall, but it would permit us to develop our own rhythm rather than to stand always in waiting. If we fail or stumble, we could learn from ‘our’ mistakes. When I became the children’s governess, one of my fears was I would be subjecting them to school room lessons, rather than real-life lessons. Mrs. Darcy gave me permission to take the children exploring and learning from both their experiences and their mistakes. Doing so suited me better.”
Edward shrugged his uncertainty. “I had not much thought on it: I should have. I realize it now, but I accepted what my father had crafted for me as the only way forward. I despise admitting it, but expectations are simply expectations. My life has always been very regimented, and I was busy elsewhere, so I have never resisted my father’s ideas.”
His betrothed appeared not best pleased with his response, but she said, “My mother expects me to know how to be the mistress of an estate, though we never lived on one in all the years of my father’s public service to England. The idea is quite daunting to me, as well.”
“We do not know whether Lady Lindale would grant her permission for the boy to remain with us,” he argued, though he was warming to the idea, nevertheless.
“True,” she said, “and, quite honestly, I do not believe I am the right person to address Lady Annabelle’s assumption she may do as she pleases because she is an earl’s daughter. I have no patience in that manner. As to Victoria, if I were Lady Lindale, I would not leave my child with someone I do not know. Yet, we would be asking her ladyship to do just that by leaving Vincent with us. Should we separate the twins?”
“I agree,” he said in a thoughtful tone, “but, in the past, her ladyship left the twins with Mrs. Peyton. We do not know, with any confidence, that Lady Lindale would part with any of her children, though it is quite obvious Vincent requires a steady hand on his shoulder, which he has not received from my brother. Lindale has been too ill of late to worry on the boy’s progress, though, I know for a fact, Roland initially took great interest in the twins. My brother always wanted children of his own, and it was a great price he paid so as not to inflict his condition on others.”
“We would be assuming the roles of both the boy’s guardians and the running of an earldom,” she said. “Is it too much? I do not want a marriage where we tire of each other before the first year together knows an end. That is one thing I can say of my parents: They always made time for each other. I would not wish all the responsibilities to swallow us up to where we cannot know a bit of our own happiness. I would wish to have a marriage like the Darcys.”
“As would I,” he assured. “We must weigh all our options. There would be an advantage for our learning our roles as the viscount and viscountess and then, later, as the earl and countess if we remained at Babbington. I would be happy if my brother survives another twenty years or more, but only Fate knows when Lindale will take his last breath. As to living with my father and mother, both would be excellent models of how to proceed in our roles, but then, I, too, look on the Darcys, and I know my cousin is a much better man and master of Pemberley, than was his father. George Darcy taught his son everything he knew, but my late uncle’s tenure as Pemberley’s master did not address how his son would conduct himself in a changing world. Many of the problems Darcy and Elizabeth faced before acknowledging their affection for each other came at my cousin’s hands, for he performed in a prideful manner while in public—just as my Aunt Anne and George Darcy had taught him. Miss Elizabeth Bennet did not respond to Darcy’s initial overtures in the manner all other women did. He was a fish out of water when speaking to her, for she was more well educated in history and science and philosophy than she was in painting tables and her needlework. Permitting himself to love such a woman was freeing for my cousin, for Elizabeth shook up Darcy’s world enough to let him know the ‘old way’ of doing things was dying away fast. Elizabeth was not cut from the same mold as other women of the gentry. She has aspirations, which cannot be filled by a society that has women out of sight and out of mind. England is transforming before our eyes. This long war has changed the hierarchy once held in place by the aristocracy. When a man of common roots sits side-by-side with a titled gentleman on the battlefield, he no longer wishes to return to the shadows.”
“It sounds as if we require more answers before we can make our decision,” she observed.
“I would not wish all the responsibilities to be placed upon your shoulders,” he admitted. “Yet, I must be away from you for long periods of time. At least, as long as I remain in the military, meaning much of the responsibility would fall on you for the day-to-day duties and decisions.”
“Is that not what Elizabeth Darcy does in her husband’s absence?” she asked.
“Yes, my cousin Elizabeth is remarkable in that manner, but she assisted her father often on his estate, and we cannot forget that Pemberley’s staff have been well trained over the years, whereas, Babbington has been without a ‘master’ for nearly four years.”
“You are thinking of us residing elsewhere?” she ventured.
“I am thinking I have had enough of this subject today,” he said as he leaned forward to brush his lips across her cheek. “I am thinking I would prefer to spend an hour or so with my intended. To steal a few kisses. To hear stories of a precocious Miss Romfield. And an accounting of the young lady who dared Lady Jersey’s censure to dance with a rogue of Lord Sizemore’s reputation,” he said with a smile.
“You heard of that, did you?” she teased.
“Most assuredly,” he said with a slight shrug. “I naturally wondered why you would accept a man of my rough features when you could attract a man of Sizemore’s countenance.”
“I am not so shallow, Edward Fitzwilliam,” she reprimanded teasingly. Yet, the air rushed from his lungs. “Did I say something which caused you consternation?” A worried expression crossed her features.
He sighed heavily. “My response will sound foolish,” he prefaced. “No one calls me ‘Edward,’” he admitted with another shrug of embarrassment. “I have been ‘captain’ and ‘colonel’ longer than I care to recall.”
“No major or lieutenant colonel?” she asked.
“My father purchased the colonel position, for he did not want ‘his’ son to be a mere captain.”
She smiled easily. “I see ‘Edward.’ It appears I have learned something of my future father-in-marriage’s temperament and something private about my betrothed in one fell sweep. We must alter one of those bit of information immediately. Come closer, Edward,” she ordered in a soft loving tone, which suited him well, for his heart had been lonely too long.
“Woman, you will be the death of me,” he groaned as he rose up on his knees to kiss her soundly.
“But what a lovely way to die, sir,” she murmured when they again came up for air.