Chapter Eighteen #2
She stroked his cheek. “It is unfortunate I have presented my heart to a man with such an excellent memory.” Darcy kissed her hand and then returned to his chair.
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana. “Your brother is correct. I am being foolish. You do not observe my sister worrying over being the mistress of this estate.” Everyone knew the situation was not the same, but no one voiced his opinion.
“Georgiana, if it is your pleasure, we will dine at Netherfield this evening. Tomorrow we will dine with my parents at Longbourn,” Elizabeth explained.
“I look forward to earning the acquaintance of your and Miss Bennet’s parents.”
“How did Georgiana take this news?” His sister’s comfort remained Darcy’s chief interest. Elizabeth chose to speak privately to Georgiana before she came to supper at Longbourn. Like it or not, Mr. Wickham would be mentioned, and Elizabeth insisted on forewarning Georgiana.
“Miss Darcy’s apprehensions regarding Mr. Wickham rest in what she sees as your disappointment in her behavior.”
Darcy protested, “But I love Georgiana with all my heart!”
“Your sister knows your love, William. What she does not allow herself is knowledge of your forgiveness.”
“What should I do? I know how to manage her wealth and arrange her studies, but how do I demonstrate to my sister that she has no reason to question how much I value her?”
“It is simple. Show her, as you have shown me, the value of your love. Share your thoughts. Your aspirations. Show Georgiana that you respect and value her opinions. That is what you did for me. It should be easier, my dear, because Georgiana’s heart was never set against you.”
Darcy studied Elizabeth carefully. Each day he found something more to love in her.
“You and Georgiana know a bond. This has been my hope for her for many years. I will practice your suggestions, for when I was most vulnerable, it was she to whom I turned. Thank you for caring for my sister as you do.”
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders as if to say her actions were nothing of consequence.
As was typical, she teased him to change his mood.
“I believe,” she said looking around the room, “the last time we were together in this room, you showed me very little attention. William the Conqueror was more to your taste.”
“That is where you are sadly mistaken. You have no idea what effect you have on me, Elizabeth.”
“Then why did you not speak to me?”
“The previous evening you berated me for judging others. By that time, although I did not acknowledge it to myself, I was ardently in love with you, but you showed me no encouragement. I swore to remove you from my thoughts. Prior to entering the library, I went for a long ride on Cerberus, wrote letters of business and pleasure, and avoided your presence. I was determined to be rid of the control you held over me.” By this time, Darcy was on his knee before her, holding her hand.
“I came to the library to hide until you and your sister quit the house. Because of you, I had so little sleep the previous night that I was exhausted and fell asleep in the chair in which you now sit.”
The realization of what Darcy confessed played across her features, and Elizabeth’s enigmatic smile returned. “If you were asleep, then how came you to call out my name, sir?”
“Must I say it, Elizabeth?”
“Say what, William?” Her smile now spread freely. “I am but a woman. What would I know of anything?”
Darcy dropped his eyes momentarily, understanding she would demand he tell her what she already knew. “Why is it, Elizabeth, you force a man who prefers silence to entertain you with conversation?”
“You avoid the question, William,” she taunted.
“I dreamed of you, Elizabeth. There! I said what you already knew.”
“Oh, William, please do not be terse with me. I am still in awe of your loving me so dearly. It fascinates me.” She cupped his face and warmly kissed his mouth.
His response to such an innocent act was pure passion.
He had waited so long to know this type of intimacy with her.
The kiss deepened, and Darcy held her to him.
His fingers traced the back of her neck.
However, a sound in the hallway warned them they were not alone.
Reluctantly, he rose to return to his chair.
“Elizabeth, we should rejoin the others,” he warned.
“Must we, William? There are so many demands on our time. I could stay with you forever and never be wanting. Please, may we remain for a few minutes more?”
Darcy agreed. He would remain by her side as long as he drew breath.
Thirty minutes later, at length, she sighed with resignation and stood. “Let us join the others,” she said without much enthusiasm.
Quitting the room after enjoying a bit of peace and solitude together, they held a new resolve to meet the requirements of a recently engaged couple.
Darcy’s arm slid around her waist as they entered the main hallway.
“Did you, Elizabeth, realize how beautiful you looked standing at the top of those stairs the Sunday morning we attended services together? You took my breath away.” As he said so, he pulled her towards him.
“That was an uncharacteristic act of impropriety. What made you agree with Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth loved to tease him about his earliest attempts at winning her, and Darcy accepted her desire to marvel at their mistaken impressions.
“In reality, my emotions were still so disheveled from seeing you in the library the day before, I could think of nothing but to put distance between us.”
“So, your way of placing distance between us was to greet me on the staircase and lead me to a private coach? That is an interesting approach, do you not think?” she teased.
“In retrospect, the plan was not foolproof.” His smile widened.
“I do so love you, William.” Her gaze met his.
“We have only a week before the wedding. We will have a long life to love each other. Let us join the others for now.” He tapped her chin with his index finger.
In more of a question than a statement, she added, “I noted you make the same gesture with Georgiana.”
“I have done so since she was a babe. It is an endearment between us two.”
“You have my permission to do so with me as often as you like.”
The supper at Longbourn had gone better than either Darcy or Elizabeth expected.
Mrs. Bennet, nearly in as much awe of Georgiana as she had been of her brother, refrained from her usual familiarity.
The lady did ask Miss Darcy several questions regarding the number of rooms at Pemberley and how many servants, but Darcy and Elizabeth deflected the majority of those questions.
Georgiana consented to a duet with Mary, earning the girl’s loyalty for the favor of the attention.
Miss Darcy also shared the pianoforte with Elizabeth.
Georgiana played the harder sections, but Darcy enjoyed the blessing of hearing Elizabeth sing.
Mr. Bennet spent time discussing several books with Georgiana before retiring to his study for the evening.
At length, to Darcy’s alarm, Kitty cornered his sister to discuss fashion and balls.
Surprisingly, although Darcy noted how often Georgiana blushed, the girls appeared to enjoy each other’s company.
“Lizzy?” Kitty joined Darcy and Elizabeth in the drawing room. “Miss Darcy says you wish for me to join you at Pemberley. Is this true?” The girl was bubbling with anticipation.
Elizabeth took her younger sister’s hand into hers.
“Kitty, it would give me great pleasure for you to visit Pemberley. I would prefer some time to settle in with my new duties, but I was thinking sometime after the first of the year. In fact, I have asked Mr. Darcy about locating someone to advance your studies. Jane and I have decided you should spend your time with us, if that would suit you.”
“Lizzy, I can think of nothing better. Will there be balls?”
“Kitty, first you will require proper lessons before presentations at balls, but I am confident some parties may be arranged.”
“Thank you, Lizzy.” Kitty hugged her. “I cannot wait until tomorrow to tell Maria Lucas.” Despite the horror of thinking of his wife’s younger sister as a resident at Pemberley, Darcy could not prevent his smile at how his betrothed had easily tempered some of the girl’s eagerness.
As expected, rather than sending her congratulations, Lydia Wickham arrived at Longbourn for the weddings.
Thankfully, Mr. Wickham’s duties, as well as his recent debts in the area, kept him from joining his wife.
Likely, his former friend was glad to be excused from Mrs. Wickham’s company.
When Kitty flaunted Mrs. Wickham’s tale of military balls with a mention of being invited to Pemberley, Lydia Wickham sulked for a good portion of the evening.
Darcy and Elizabeth prevented her from giving Georgiana too much notice.
Truthfully, his sister’s reserve had likely reminded Lydia too much of what she knew of Darcy to interest Mrs. Wickham’s frivolous nature.
For that small blessing, Darcy was most thankful.
As the party drew near its close, Lydia cornered Darcy in the drawing room. “Mr. Darcy, you are a devious man.” Accustomed to being the center of attention, she attempted to flirt with him. Her lashes lowered to brush her cheek, Mrs. Wickham offered Darcy a pout of her lips.
“I am afraid, Mrs. Wickham, I do not understand your implication.” He ignored her advances with his usual haughty manner.
“When you were in London, you said nothing of favoring our Lizzy. I made such a fool of myself speaking of you and her. Lordy, I said she hated you. Remember?”
“I recall your words, Mrs. Wickham,” he said coldly.
“It is odd. Once my dear Wickham was a favorite of my sister’s. Now I am married to Mr. Wickham, and you will marry our Lizzy.”
“I will marry Elizabeth,” is all the response Darcy gave to her references to George Wickham.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Darcy, my husband sends his congratulations.” She slipped into Darcy’s hand a letter addressed to him, written in the distinctive script of George Wickham. Darcy attempted not to display his anxiety.
“Thank you, Mrs. Wickham.” Darcy slipped the message into his pocket to read later. Shortly, he excused himself on the pretense of borrowing a book from Mr. Bennet. Securing the book and stepping into the hallway, Darcy finally read the note in private.
19 October
Darcy,
News of your plans to marry Miss Elizabeth was quite a revelation.
It appears you won the more sensible sister.
She was once a favorite, but her lack of fortune decreased her worth for a man such as I.
In truth, I preferred Miss Elizabeth’s conversation to anyone I have met of late, but her exuberance will be lost to the solemnity of Pemberley.
Yet, if that is the life the lady chooses, then, she simply must content herself with your wealth.
I wish I was aware of your real reason for saving Lydia’s reputation.
I knew the story you offered did not make sense, but I could not quite make it right.
Perhaps I was too desperate to see things clearly.
I imagine now you would gladly pay the ten thousand pounds.
You have won this battle, but the war is not yet complete.
At least, we will once again be brothers.
GW
Darcy’s contempt for the man rattled him. He literally shuddered with anger and disdain. “What is amiss, William?” Elizabeth rushed to his side. She stroked his brow with her fingertips. “Tell me.”
“A letter of congratulations from Mr. Wickham.” His was a cold laugh.
“Please, William, do not permit this man to reign over our time together. We all have evil in us, but we all possess goodness. If you permit Mr. Wickham to cloud these last days of courtship, you invite the evil in, and he wins. I love you, and I would abandon my life for you. Can that not be your source of comfort? Give me the letter. Mr. Wickham’s well wishes will make good kindling for my fire. ”
He slid the envelope into her hand. “Elizabeth, how I earned your love I do not know, but I am blessed as no man is.” He pulled her close to him to escape the darkness he felt.
She held him for several minutes before saying, “Come, Georgiana may require us.” She interlaced her arm through his. “Only five more days,” she whispered.