Trapped in Scandal

Chapter Twenty

Elizabeth

11th August 1813

M r Darcy showed a remarkable change in the following days. Not only was he speaking to Elizabeth with much more regularity, but he was also being almost tender. In front of Georgiana, he still acted with the utmost decorum and grace, but behind closed doors, he would speak in softer tones. Elizabeth was practically enraptured.

That morning she awoke to a small box on the writing desk in her chamber. Yawning and stretching as she walked over to the desk, she could see a note attached to it, the familiar curves of Mr Darcy’s handwriting indicating it was likely another gift for her. She picked up the note, her eyes carefully tracing the letters even as her eyes adjusted to the light of the morning.

Dearest Lizzy,

Whilst it may seem premature, autumn will soon be upon us and then the dark nights of winter, and I wish you to still be able to embroider and do all the things you should love.

For more than civility.

Fitzwilliam.

Elizabeth smiled at the letter, his words feeling much warmer than the last time he had sent her such a letter. She opened the box to find a pair of warm fingerless mitts. They were cream-coloured, with soft blue flowers embroidered into them. She picked them out and tried them on—they were, of course, a perfect fit.

Whilst she had been able to embroider in her usual gloves in the winter, this would allow a great deal more dexterity. It was a thoughtful and practical gift, one she would need to thank Mr Darcy for later. Mr Darcy… she realised that after so many months of marriage, and the growing cordiality between them, she should be thinking of her husband by his Christian name—Fitzwilliam. Indeed he called her Lizzy now and she loved hearing her name on his lips. Yet she found that in her thoughts he was Mr Darcy, as if there were still an invisible barrier preventing her from fully embracing her new status.

She took off the gloves and placed them in the appropriate drawer, ready for use when the weather turned. She was already daydreaming of wearing them when they went to Longbourn in the colder months. She knew her mother and father would be pleased to see the marriage with Mr Darcy had, despite its fraught beginnings, turned into a positive one.

It would be lovely to be reunited with her sisters and parents. She and Jane saw one another several times a week but it wasn’t the same without the others. Without her mother’s voice, always a few octaves too loud as she complained about her nerves. Without their father, quietly chuckling at something he’d read in a book. It would be good to be back home. And with Mr Darcy as not just the man she’d been forced to wed, but her husband, the man she admired—and who admired him.

They would tell her parents the truth about what he’d done for Lydia, and she was certain that would go a long way to make them think more kindly of him. Especially once they heard the full truth behind the scandal. That is if they were ever able to uncover it.

Elizabeth walked down the stairs towards the dining room for breakfast, finding Mr Darcy at the bottom, speaking to one of the servants. He looked up at her and smiled warmly, a sight that Elizabeth was becoming more and more accustomed to.

“Good morning Elizabeth. Did you sleep well?” Mr Darcy asked warmly.

“I did indeed, thank you,” she said softly to him, so others would not hear the tenderness between them. “And I awoke to find the gift that you left me. It was very thoughtful and I am most grateful.”

“It is but a trifle, I just wish you to be happy,” he murmured to her, leaning closer to her so she was looking up at him. As much as her heart fluttered being so close to him, she was aware that outward displays of affection between husband and wife were most improper, and she fought to regain control of her emotions. However, the flush that rose to her cheeks at his presence was impossible to hide. Despite both their efforts to act as if nothing had changed between them, she was aware that Georgiana had noticed her brother’s change in character.

***

“I see my brother has at last spoken to you,” Georgiana said later that morning over tea.

“He has indeed,” Elizabeth replied with a nod.

“And it has had a positive effect on your marriage, I take it?” Georgiana asked, with a shy smile.

“Indeed, it has,” Elizabeth chuckled, sipping her drink.

“I am pleased he has come to such understanding. There was never any doubt in my mind that it would happen, but the length of time it would take was my only concern,” Georgiana said.

“We can both be grateful that he is not so stubborn as we both believed,” Elizabeth added. In truth, when she entered into this marriage she had assumed that it was to be a loveless match. While it might not be a conventional marriage, she found herself hoping that in time they would come to love one another.

“I do believe he is, in fact, as stubborn as we both believed,” Georgiana replied. “However, I venture to say he has a tenderness for you, Lizzy that very few people are allowed to see.”

“I am not so convinced to that notion as you are, but I am pleased you think highly enough of me that I could soften your brother,” Elizabeth said with a smile as she sipped more of her tea.

“Time will tell, dearest Lizzy,” Georgiana chuckled.

The pair continued to drink tea for a few more quiet moments, before Mrs Reynolds walked into the room.

“I do apologise for disturbing you both,” the housekeeper said courteously. “However, a young woman has arrived and is requesting the attention of Mrs Darcy.”

“Did the caller state her name?” Elizabeth asked. Whilst it was not unusual for people to visit Pemberley, it was rather early in the day. Also, given the number of times her sister Jane called upon them, Mrs Reynolds would have informed her immediately if it was Mrs Bingley.

“Mrs Lydia Wickham, ma’am, I asked her to wait in the drawing room, I hope you don’t mind, but she seemed awfully upset,” Mrs Reynolds explained looking apologetic. Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise as she realised her younger sister was here. Georgiana was equally surprised, her mouth dropping open for a moment before quickly closing it.

“Of course I don’t mind. I wonder what has brought her here? As far as I was aware Lydia was to remain in Newcastle for her confinement and my mother was to join her, do excuse me for a moment Georgiana, dear,” Elizabeth rose from her chair and walked towards the formal drawing room. Her mind was in a tumult with questions as she tried to pre-empt why her youngest sister would have travelled all this way, especially in her condition. Lydia would be due in no more than two and a half months if Elizabeth was correct in her thinking, and this was no time for Lydia to be taking chances with her health. Neither was it proper for her to undertake the journey from Newcastle to Derbyshire unattended.

As she approached the drawing room, she could already hear Lydia speaking with one of the servants and her feet quickened so she could get there before Lydia did anything more to raise eyebrows.

She loved her sister, but not her silliness or impropriety. One could never know what Lydia might say or do. Besides, she also worried about Lydia’s husband. George Wickham hadn’t been announced but she worried that he might be lurking somewhere in the shadows, and she did not want to subject Georgiana to having to be in his presence.

As Elizabeth stepped into the drawing room, she was greeted with the sight of Lydia, a despondent expression on her face. The footman who’d taken her coat had stepped away to leave the two sisters to speak without interruption..

“It is good to see you sister,” Lydia said, although it was without her usual buoyancy but with a fatigue that did not suit her.

“Whatever are you doing here, Lydia? And in such a state, why are you not at home resting?” Elizabeth asked.

“Do not fret, I am not so far in my condition that I would require bed rest just yet,” Lydia sighed.

“Even still, I expected you to be resting at home with your husband, not halfway across the country,” Elizabeth said, concerned for her sister.

“I appreciate your concern, dear sister, however, I am feeling quite well.,” Lydia explained although Elizabeth could detect that something was bothering her sister by the manner in which she stood with her arms firmly folded across her chest.

“I am grateful you felt well enough to come all this way, but you are not the only one you must consider in these times,” Elizabeth replied, her own annoyance coming through.

“Oh, you are quite correct, I am to think about the people asking my husband for repayment for the posting inns, or the coachman who did not know where Pemberley was,” Lydia huffed, clearly vexed.

“Lydia, you know very well that is not what I meant,” Elizabeth replied becoming more exasperated by the minute with her flighty sister.

“I am aware of your meaning but I have barely been in your home for five minutes, before you have begun chastising me!” Lydia whined.

“Lydia you are welcome to visit at any time, as are any members of my family. However, I am just concerned for your well-being when you have appeared at my home so suddenly,” Elizabeth replied, her concern becoming increasingly overshadowed by her sister’s lack of common decency. “Pray, where is your husband?”

“He is not here. I am quite alone. Please do not lecture me so, I already have enough to contend with between my husband and my condition and I should not wish to have anything else said to me on the matter!” Lydia exclaimed. Elizabeth frowned at her sister’s display of impropriety.

“What is the meaning of this?” Mr Darcy’s voice came from the hallway. Elizabeth looked up to see him peering through the drawing room door, looking at the two of them with confusion. Lydia scowled at him and Elizabeth could already feel that the tension was great enough that any wrong word from her husband or Lydia could turn this conversation into a raging argument.

“Lydia has arrived rather unexpectedly. I was about to ask her for more information,” Elizabeth explained to Mr Darcy, trying to diffuse the situation.

“She is here alone?” Mr Darcy asked in surprise. Clearly his first concern was Mr Wickham was present. He looked between the two women, clearly having the same thoughts that Elizabeth had been having earlier about how this could affect their already tattered reputation.

“I am. You do not need to worry about my husband acting as my shadow or following me here. I daresay he hardly realises I have left,” Lydia said bitterly. Elizabeth grimaced and looked at Mr Darcy in such a way to silently plead with him for his calm in this moment. He caught Elizabeth’s gaze and he nodded.

“Very well. I will have the maid bring you both refreshments,” Mr Darcy said tersely. Elizabeth knew he was deeply unhappy with this situation but she was grateful that he was allowing her to contend with her sister.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said with a grateful smile.

Once they were alone, Lydia scowled at Elizabeth and muttered, “Elizabeth, please, I am not a child, I can handle my own health and my own disagreements.”

“Lydia, do not try my patience right now, I will not have you arrive here only to squabble with my husband,” Elizabeth said, her patience slowly drawing thin with her sister.

A moment later, a maid entered with tea and Elizabeth sat across from her sister, already frustrated and fatigued by Lydia’s actions. Elizabeth watched the maid leave, and just as the door was shutting, she was sure she could see Mr Darcy standing outside. For a moment she wondered if he intended on listening in to their conversation, but rather than annoyance, she felt that if he was listening, then she would have to trust that it was for a good reason.

“So, tell me Lydia, what brings you here so unexpectedly and all on your own?” Elizabeth asked calmly.