Chapter Twenty-Four
Though their conversation regarding their future home and the their responsibilities to family and each other continued on and off over the next few days. Though, in truth, they shared more of their childhoods and beliefs regarding religion and science and government than they did about their preferences for when they would marry, where they would live, and how they would raise their children, if they were so blessed. Both appeared not to wish to express an opinion, as if they feared they would disappoint the other.
“You and Miss Romfield appear to be ‘dancing’ about those subjects you should be addressing,” Darcy said as they departed the Jennings’s property. Darcy had wanted to view the damaged portraits for himself so he would know who to contact for the repairs and restoration.
“Jocelyn appears to want a bit of freedom,” Edward admitted. “A freedom I am not in a position to provide her as Matlock’s ‘spare.’ The only means I can conceive for us to build a future together is for me to resign my commission or to postpone the wedding until after the war. Though we appear to have the upper hand at the moment, the British government has been in this position previously without results. The war has dragged on for some twenty years. Even if we waited, we would be required to live with father or Lindale.”
“I have said so previously, but I will again offer you the use of Pemberley’s dower house, which would provide more privacy than you would experience elsewhere,” Darcy said. “Though I cannot guarantee Mrs. Darcy would not have a great influence on your lovely bride.”
“They have become as thick as thieves, have they not? I am glad for Jocelyn in that manner.”
“Though Mary is nearby, Elizabeth misses her sisters, and, of course, she adores you,” Darcy said as he mounted his horse. “Easy for her to want you happy with Miss Romfield.”
Edward mounted also before saying, “Jocelyn has latched onto the idea of our remaining at Babbington and overseeing the estate and Vincent’s official ascension to the earldom. Although such sounds ideal, neither of us has any real concept of running an estate.”
“A good land manager could keep the estate from faltering until you are more settled in the role. Such a man could even hold your hand, as well as Vincent’s, at the same time. I think it would do the boy more harm than good for him to return to William’s Wood. He has gained confidence under your and Miss Romfield’s tutelage, and, despite what you think you lack in the skills to run an estate, you possess other skills, equally as important. You know the benefit of the ‘group’ working together to accomplish a task, and you know how to inspire men to do your bidding. You know enough of fair prices for goods and the idea of living within a budget to survive upon an estate. You possess skills you could not learn from either Lindale or Matlock.
“Meanwhile, Miss Romfield could easily learn her role. Look upon how quickly she became ‘governess’ to the twins and assisted in running William’s Wood to better their education. As we both are aware, I permit Elizabeth more leeway than do many other men of our station. I often hear the whispered jeers of other gentlemen, who think me ‘henpecked’ by some brash female, but I know the depths to which Elizabeth would go to leave the Darcy legacy intact and in good hands. Such is the only validation I require.”
“Yet, Jocelyn and I have no such legacy to defend,” Edward argued.
“You err, Cousin. You will one day be the Earl of Matlock. I honor my uncle for how he has guided the earldom, but, as ‘my’ Pemberley is not my father’s beloved estate, your earldom will not be a copy of his, for, by the time you are named ‘Matlock,’ this land will be changed so dramatically, it will be unrecognizable to those of your father’s generation. My revered father has been gone less than ten years, but, if he could return to life for just one day, he would know wonder to see the growth of cities such as Manchester and Birmingham and York, as well as the amount of traffic on the roads from those centers to London and back again on a regular basis. Your time in America and in Europe in service to the Army has taught you resilience, tolerance, and bravery. You may do anything you set your mind to completing, but you must take the first step. Marry Miss Romfield and walk hand-in-hand into the future together. You will make mistakes, but do not start your life together with this particular ‘mistake.’ Proudly announce your affection for the woman and stand together against those who doubt you.”
* * *
“When did you know you loved Mr. Darcy?” Jocelyn asked as she and Mrs. Darcy sat together in the small sitting room. Earlier, they had sat contentedly together and read several favorite poems to each other, but Jocelyn’s mind was on her betrothed, who, though an obvious leader of men, often appeared indecisive about his own future, as well as ‘their’ future.
“Believe it or not, I did not initially consider my dear husband as possessing a suitable potential as a husband, and he, upon our first encounter said I was ‘tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt’ him.”
“No!” Jocelyn gasped. “How did you come together? Obviously, you must have forgiven him.”
Mrs. Darcy snorted her laughter. “When Mr. Darcy proposed the first time, he spoke of how, despite disapproving of my family, he would, nevertheless, extend his hand to me, though it was against his better judgement to do so. When I refused and added a few choice remarks regarding his insufferable pride, he did something completely unpredictable: He wrote me a letter admitting his pride, while explaining he had been taught he had a ‘right’ to his familial pride, while expressing how he had come to view my family’s many eccentricities. And, he was correct. There were many inappropriate remarks from my father, mother, and sisters and actions which I had found cringeworthy, but I, instinctively, disagreed when he did likewise. Initially, I despised him more for his lack of an honest apology for, as is typical of my husband, he spoke the truth. Yet, the more often I read his explanation, the more I chose to agree honestly with his observations. We were more alike than either of us initially cared to admit.
“When it appeared we would never encounter each other again, Mr. Darcy secretly stepped in to assist my family with a dire situation. Despite his pride, he did all he could to assist my father, for the man truly loved me. I had already changed my mind about him, but his selflessness won both my heart and my loyalty, for he acted against his principles to save my family from ruin, and he wanted no glory in others knowing of his actions.”
“Amazing,” Jocelyn whispered. “He did it all for you.”
“He restored my belief in human goodness. He broke down the shield I held high to deflect his ‘tolerable’ comment. When you find real love, Jocelyn, it does not demand anything of you. Rather it fills you with everything you never knew you wanted.”
“Do many insist upon saying you married him for his fortune?” Jocelyn asked.
“I know I did not, which is all that is important, and those who care to look upon us when we are together know of our mutual devotion. I often say I would live with Fitzwilliam Darcy in one of his tenant cottages, without complaint. As long as he was there. In my humble opinion, such as it is, one day we should all be another person’s most favorite thing in the world. Being so restores one’s belief in the power of love,” the lady shared.
“Were you ever in love before you met Mr. Darcy?” Jocelyn asked.
“I would like to respond with a ‘yes,’ but now I realize I simply wished for a beau who would prefer me over Jane,” Mrs. Darcy admitted. “It never happened until Mr. Darcy came along. My dear Fitzwilliam once claimed Jane smiled too much.” Mrs. Darcy began to chuckle, but sobered quickly. “Do not hold on to the wrong person, Jocelyn. Do not permit the expectations of others, including mine, to guide your choices. I truly think you and the colonel will know happiness, but do not make your decisions based on my instincts. Neither I nor the others should sway you in that manner. Marriage is forever, but still remember that when the right person finds you, he will never leave, and you will never wish him gone away. Such connections mean the person will always stay and you may always praise God for placing you in his path.”
* * *
“Whose carriage?” Edward asked when he and Darcy spotted the coach on the entrance road.
“I cannot say with any certainty, but it appears the driver in the box is Mr. Robertson.”
“Father? I expected a letter, but not his arrival!” Instinctively, Edward kicked his horse’s sides. For a brief moment, he had forgotten his cousin, but Darcy’s horse quickly caught up to him. Together, they arrived in the circle before the house less than a minute before the earl’s coach rolled to a stop outside the main door. Darcy took control of the horses and handed them off to one of the stable hands. Meanwhile, Edward opened the carriage door to view the worried looks of not only his father but also the children’s mother, Lady Lindale.
“My lord,” Edward said with an incline of his head as he set down the stairs and stepped back to permit his father’s descent.
The earl reached out a hand and patted Edward’s shoulder, which was so characteristic of the man, but it brought tears rushing to Edward’s eyes. “Glad you are here, boy. I know you have addressed our worst fears and made things better.” That was all, but it was enough for Edward to release the worry that had followed him about for days. Darcy had essentially said the same, but the earl’s affirmation held more weight.
Lady Lindale was barely standing before the manor house when Vincent came barreling out the door. “Mama! Mama!” he called as he rushed into his mother’s embrace. The boy was quickly followed by Lady Victoria. Edward looked to the house, but Lady Annabelle was not with her siblings, which was another telling moment, in his opinion.
His father turned to shake Darcy’s hand and to kiss Elizabeth’s cheek. “Hope my grandnephew is within,” he told Darcy.
“He is, my lord,” Elizabeth answered for her husband as Darcy was giving orders for the coach. “Our Bennet is up on his legs and walking everywhere.”
“Grand,” the earl declared. “I will make her ladyship extremely jealous when I report that the lad walked into my open arms. The countess just said the other day that it would be time for Bennet to be taking those first steps.”
Then his lordship crossed to where Lady Romfield waited with her husband and Jocelyn so they might greet him. “Celine,” his father said with a bow, “I would have known you anywhere,” he declared, as Edward came to stand beside Miss Romfield. “You are the image of your dear mother.”
“Happy to be in company with you, at last,” Lady Romfield declared. “It has been too long. You recall my husband, Lord Romfield.”
“Absolutely,” Matlock declared while he shook the baron’s hand.
Lord Romfield directed the earl’s attention to Jocelyn. “Permit me to give you the acquaintance of my daughter and your future daughter in marriage, Miss Jocelyn Romfield.”
His father looked to Edward. “It is settled between you two?” he asked.
“It is, sir.” Edward lifted Jocelyn’s hand for his father to view the ring upon her finger, now that her sling was no longer required.
The earl bent to kiss Jocelyn’s cheek. “I understand you gave my son a good set down. Well done, my girl. Welcome to the family. I pray I may count on you to keep this one closer to home. His mother worries so when he is considering returning to the war.”
Jocelyn squeezed Edward’s fingers to warn him of her response. “Though I would not wish the colonel to leave us behind, it is not in my nature to stand against such a monumental decision, for your son would never choose to face danger unless he thought his presence would make a difference in the war’s outcome. He is a man built to protect both his country and his family.”
If everyone was not watching them, Edward would drag Jocelyn into his embrace and kiss her soundly; instead, he brought the back of her hand to his lips and whispered, “Later.”
Lady Lindale finally realized she should be performing as hostess, but Elizabeth cleared her throat and tilted her head towards the still open door. Vincent looked to the door and back. The child swallowed hard, but he said, “My mother is home . . .” He glanced to Mrs. Darcy, who nodded her approval. “Let us go inside . . . we must celebrate.”
Lady Lindale appeared surprised, but pleased, nevertheless. “Lead the way, my lord. My son.”
* * *
For the next two days, there were a number of conversations—some among all involved and some among only a handful of those in the household party. Lady Lindale spent a great deal of time chronicling the outcomes prompted by the girls’ foolish choices. “If Mr. Marksham had succeeded in killing your brother, you could have been prosecuted for assisting him. I do not know how you could prove to be so foolish. If such is what I may expect from your education, you will not be returning to school. I will hire a tutor and a companion for you, and you will remain with me and Lindale.”
“Of course, you would choose to remain with Lord Lindale. You always choose him over us and our father!” Lady Annabelle accused.
It was then that Lady Lindale slapped the girl. “I am your mother, and I will make decisions for you until you are of age. As much as I adored him, your father did not secure our futures in a proper manner. We had no choice but to leave Babbington Hall. Your Uncle Philip wished to displace Vincent, declaring your brother to be little more than a mute. I required a strong ally to protect Vincent so he might one day be the earl, but also to protect you and Victoria and see that you had a proper education and a Season and all such entails when the time was right. I found allies in Lord Lindale and the Fitzwilliam family. Without them, Philip Jennings would have driven us from the estate and taken everything your father left for us. Without their care and manipulations, there would be nothing left of the earldom and we would have been cast off. You acted irresponsibly and without knowledge, and I shan’t have it again.”
The Darcys had argued that the earldom would suffer if Vincent departed Babbington Hall again. “I have viewed the estate books,” Darcy explained. “The situation is not ideal, but the estate is not in as much distress as we first feared. Philip Jennings apparently only overrode the Babbington staff and the land steward, starting some six weeks back. About the same time as Mr. Marksham made contact with Lady Annabelle. Jennings stole jewels and money from the estate, as well as several documented antiques, which he meant to sell for personal profit. The colonel prevented much of this loss, though it will be several months before all will be returned to the estate.”
Vincent said, “Thank you for saving us all, Colonel. For saving me, as well as my father’s land. And, of course, Miss Lam . . . Miss Romfield.”
Edward’s heart and his hand reached out for the boy. As he embraced the child, he could not help but to wonder on the look of his own children. “We both did what was necessary to save Miss Romfield,” he told the child. “Your oversight of her recovery saved her, and my betrothed has spoken privately of the first night when you snuck back into her room. Of how her soul was plummeting into a dark and breath-stealing cold, but your hand, and, later, your head resting upon her kept her with us.” Tears were in Edward’s eyes when he cleared his throat to address Lady Lindale. Decision made, he said, “Lady Lindale, Miss Romfield and I place our names for your consideration to serve as Lord Babcock’s guardians and to reside with him at Babbington Hall. Naturally, as Lindale’s brother, I will serve as a guardian to all your children, but soon Vincent will be required to attend school. The Jennings family cannot leave this estate unattended during the boy’s long absences. Babcock must be part of the community for the estate to survive. For the village and the people and all about it to survive. Otherwise, your son will inherit an empty shell.”
“I am thankful for what you, Colonel, and you, Miss Romfield, did to save Vincent’s life and his legacy. I am also most appreciative of your influence, Mr. Darcy. You all have proven to be those my son can trust and those to whom he may present his honor and receive honor in return. Yet, what occurs, Colonel, when you must be away from Babbington? In her own estimation, Miss Romfield knows little of maintaining an estate.”
Before Edward could respond, Darcy interjected, “It is my opinion Miss Romfield knows more than she gives herself credit. She knows how to oversee a household, though she has not taken on those responsibilities alone; yet, she has assisted Lady Romfield, who along with his lordship have represented our great country as an ambassador and his wife on foreign shores. As their daughter, Miss Romfield has dined with rulers of multiple nations, as well as their executors. Surely, if the lady can hold her own with those in such exalted positions, speaking with authority to villagers and estate staff will come naturally. What better training could we ask? As to her ability to tend to Vincent’s needs, she has proven herself over and over again. She has taught the young lord to stretch his knowledge, while teaching him responsibility by privately demanding his best in all situations.
“All that being said,” Darcy continued, “I have a suggestion. Actually, my valet, Mr. Sheffield offered a suggestion that might benefit Lord Vincent. As many at this table know, my revered mother employed Alfred Sheffield to be my tutor when I was a bit younger than is Lord Babcock now. Later, when I left for Harrow and then Cambridge, Sheffield traveled with me to school. It was he to whom I turned when I was summoned home after my mother’s passing. He guided me through my most awkward years. Later, when I left university, I employed him as my valet.” Darcy smiled. “Sheffield is quite the reader, and he always claimed he has yet to read all the books in Pemberley’s library. However, I digress. Sheffield has a nephew who just finished at university and is seeking employment. What think you of hiring Mr. Marcus Sheffield to fill a similar role with Lord Babcock? Tutor for particular subjects required for school when he enters and a valet and, I suppose, sometimes counselor, to aid Lord Vincent’s transition to academic life.”
“Could I speak to Mr. Sheffield about his nephew before I make such a decision? Allow Lord Vincent to ask his questions, if necessary?” Lady Lindale asked.
“Absolutely,” Darcy declared. “Sheffield’s nephew lives in Yorkshire on the Derbyshire border in where else, but the town of Sheffield. If you approve of what you hear from my valet, we could send a message to the young man so you and Vincent might speak to the man personally.”
“All this sounds wonderful for the boy, but what of your hopes for a new commission, Edward?” Miss Romfield asked him in concern.
“What commission?” his father demanded.
“Your son hoped for a major general promotion,” his betrothed responded before Edward could silence her. “It is his desire, and I will not deny him the opportunity.”
His father studied Edward seriously for an elongated moment before he asked, “Major general? Skipping over brigadier?”
“There is a position available now, but it shan’t be for long,” Edward admitted.
“Could you not recruit men from Yorkshire as easily as from Derbyshire and Lincolnshire? Are you not already in parts of Yorkshire and the surrounding towns and boroughs as part of your recruiting? Living in Yorkshire would provide you more credibility. Would it not be possible, Fitzwilliam? Those in the Lords believe this war will soon know an end. Perhaps another year at most. You should act before the opportunity disappears and all of the soldiers again become private citizens.”
Edward fought back his emotions. He was on the brink of knowing all his wishes at once. “The recruiting aspect of my position would be possible. Captain Carlson could carry on in Derbyshire, and I could concentrate on the many areas of Yorkshire. A bit of paperwork would be required in London.”
“I can expedite the necessary forms for your overseeing Yorkshire,” his father said in firm tones, which meant it would be done quickly.
“And the promotion?” Darcy asked. “I have offered to finance the commission. Can you speak to someone in your son’s behalf?”
“You did not ask me,” his father accused.
“I only confided in Darcy because, at the time, I wondered if my ‘unknown’ betrothed, who was doing a magnificent job of avoiding me, would do so if I was a major general,” Edward explained. “You were away with Lindale at the time, and I required someone to whom to express my frustration.”
“Is this idea of a promotion only to impress my daughter?” Lord Romfield asked.
“Trust me,” Darcy responded before Edward could provide another excuse, “my cousin has been hoping and saving for the commission for more than a year. I offered to finance the purchase as a wedding gift.”
“Then why not accept either my offer, which is now on the table, or Darcy’s, boy?” his father asked with an arched eyebrow, meaning he wanted an answer quickly.
“If I accept the promotion, I will likely be sent back to the war,” he said grudgingly. “How many major generals exist on half pay? Moreover, the army requires men with experience. I have lived through the terror, twice. Doing so is my choice, but I could not thrust it upon Miss Romfield or you and mother. If I do not survive, what happens to my marriage? What happens to the earldom?”
His father flinched as if Edward had struck him. “You have listened too often of your mother’s fears. I would be devastated to lose you, my son, but the earldom should not be part of equation. It would go to my Cousin Frederick. Nice enough fellow. Not even close to your caliber, but he will not harm the earldom.”
“He will not advance it either,” Darcy stated firmly.
It was his betrothed who put an end to such talk. “Edward Fitzwilliam, you will accept either your father’s or your cousin’s offer to purchase the commission. Secondly, you will cease thinking on the possibility of dying. I shan’t hear it nor will I tolerate such thoughts ever again. Do you understand me?”
“I told you Miss Romfield and Elizabeth are cut from the same cloth,” Darcy said with a smirk.
Jocelyn turned a hard stare on Darcy. “I adore your wife, and I expect no more insinuations that either of us are some type of ‘shrew.’”
“I did not mean . . .” Darcy began, but Elizabeth said, “Shush, love, permit our Jocelyn to speak to the colonel in frank terms.”
“Do you understand me, sir?” Jocelyn asked again.
“I understand, my dear,” Edward said with a smile.
“A bit ungovernable for a former former governess,” his father observed with a chuckle.
“The very best type of governess,” the boy declared, though Edward was confident the child did not quite understand his father’s insinuations.
Edward smiled easily. “I have heard it often said, even from the lips of an ungovernable governess, that they make the best wives.”