Chapter 5 Elizabeth Fixes upon a Lofty Goal #2
He took my hand in a gentle hold and inspected the small abrasion that Gibbs had treated earlier. He lifted my bent knuckles to his mouth and bestowed several soft kisses. “Did you hurt your leg as well?”
“Yes, I fell upon my knee.”
“May I see the injury?”
I raised my skirt to reveal the unsightly, three-inch-long scrape.
“Is it painful?”
“It is a little sore.”
Lines formed on his brow. “I ought to have been with you this morning. Your accident would not have happened if I had been holding your hand.”
“Now you have gone too far.” I used a frivolous tone. “It is rather officious of you to twist the circumstances so you may claim accountability for my tumble. My carelessness must take the blame.”
My remarks brought no more than a momentary easement to the rigour in his expression.
His sight settled upon me with a compelling glint in his eyes.
“It took me until today to acknowledge the truth in what you said last night. An hour ago, I had an enlightening and disappointing discussion with my aunt.” He described their unfruitful conversation.
Despite his lack of success, I appreciated his efforts to talk sense into Lady Catherine. I shifted towards him. “Why did you never inform your aunt that you did not intend to marry your cousin Anne?”
With a new rigidity to his bearing, he released a sigh.
“I first heard Lady Catherine mention the scheme the summer I turned fifteen—a few years after my mother’s death.
My father and I had been visiting Rosings, and Lady Catherine remarked to me that I should wed Anne one day.
Her statement shocked me, but I made no reply.
When I spoke to my father on the subject, he assured me that she had no say over my choice of bride.
I believe my father said as much to my aunt because she never raised the subject again until he passed away over seven years later. ”
His eyes darkened, and his grip tightened on my hand.
“Lady Catherine waited no more than a se’nnight after my father’s death before she suggested I ought to propose marriage to Anne.
For the first time, she had averred the match to have been my mother’s favourite wish, though I never believed that.
I replied that whilst I mourned my father, I could not consider marriage.
Later, I hoped that if I showed no interest in Anne, my aunt would give up on the scheme.
I took the easiest path, avoidance, and I am not proud of that decision.
” His hand rose to my face, and he cradled my cheek. “Do you forgive me?”
I brought his palm to my mouth and kissed it.
“Yes, I do. I hope you will forgive me as well for my unfair accusations. When your father died, you dealt with your grief and a host of new responsibilities all at once, including management of Pemberley and your other properties as well as the guardianship of Georgiana. I ought not have presumed you should have been answerable for your cousin Anne as well. You are the most honourable man I know. Pray forgive me for my thoughtless words last night. My conversation with your aunt left me upset, and that sense of unease influenced my speech.”
“You have my forgiveness. Nevertheless, I should have recognised the truth in your words instead of getting indignant. I ought to have discussed my aunt’s expectations with Anne.
I owe my cousin an apology as well.” His sight drifted down to my lips, and he leaned in for a kiss, igniting tiny fireworks inside me. I pressed against him.
With a soft moan, I breathed in his scent, a seductive mix of the jasmine and orange blossom solution applied by Winston and his own masculine fragrance, and a sense of calm eased through me.
How I had missed him last night! Yet the need to speak further to him tugged at my consciousness, and with reluctance, I pulled back. “Fitzwilliam.”
“Yes, my love?”
“Last night, Lady Catherine revealed her purpose in coming here. She admitted she brought Lady Rebecca here to seduce you. Her object is to cause me pain in retaliation for the hurt she believes I caused Cousin Anne.”
A deep crimson hue shadowed his complexion. “I cannot believe this—and she accused you of cunning! Does she hope to destroy us?”
I shifted back from him. Fury had utterly engulfed him. What would he do now? Should I have kept this to myself? No, I needed to tell him everything; I should expect no less from him. “Well, she wants to hurt me in particular.”
He clutched me to him. “I shall not allow anyone to harm you. My aunt and Lady Rebecca will leave this house tomorrow morning.”
With a hastily formed certainty, I shifted near his ear. “I do not want you to make them leave.” He moved back, his eyes searching mine. “What? Why not? How can I allow her to stay after she has admitted her purpose is to hurt you?”
“First, allow me to ask you an important question. You spent a fair amount of time with Lady Rebecca today. Is there any danger you might either fall in love with her or fall into bed with her?”
His eyes widened. “No, of course not. You know me better than that. To my relief, Lady Rebecca became much less overt in her attentions to me today. I was prepared to be direct, even rude, with her if the need arose.”
I cocked my head. What could this change in the woman’s demeanour signify?
“I fancy Lady Catherine has found a way to impel Lady Rebecca’s cooperation with this scheme, and I do not think she will cede the effort.
No doubt Lady Rebecca realised her former conduct displeased you and decided to alter her approach.
If we could persuade her to leave without your aunt, that would be ideal.
As it is, I think we should allow them to stay—at least for now. ”
He drew in a deep breath and released it in a forceful blast. “Whatever for?”
“With a bit of effort, maybe I can win your aunt over.”
Fitzwilliam shook his head. “Why would you want to bother making an attempt? You ought to want her gone as soon as possible.”
Gracious heavens, I hope I shall not regret this.
“As misguided as your aunt might be, she is your late mother’s only sister.
If we compel her to leave Pemberley, this rift may never be repaired.
I have a stubbornness in me that does not like to give up without a fight.
I think when your aunt first knew me as Elizabeth Bennet, she approved of me, almost despite herself.
” I gave him a pert smile. “She took notice of me because I treated her as no one else had done. After all, did you not first admire me for a similar reason?”
His nose crinkled. “If you please, I cannot abide any comparison with my aunt under the current circumstances.”
It seemed I needed to apply a bit of finesse. “My point is, I may be able to persuade her to like me again.”
My husband shifted his weight, and creases formed on his brow. “My love, why expose yourself to any more of her rancour? My aunt can be a malicious old crone when she wants to be.”
“Yes, I know. I got a taste of her malice last night. My efforts at gaining her good opinion might be a waste of time, yet I should like to try.”
He brought my hand to his chest, and his eyes pleaded with me. “I do not like this. How can I let anyone with such evil intentions remain?”
“I do not think you truly see your aunt as evil. She seeks to avenge a perceived wrong to her daughter. Erroneous as she may be, she is impelled by maternal instinct.” My husband’s frown and the determined set to his jaw signified his inner struggle.
In other circumstances, it might be unfair to take advantage of the fact that he loathed denying me anything I desired, but in this instance, I acted for his sake.
“I see your point, but the timing of their visit could not be worse. I know you are disappointed that both Georgiana and Jane are unable to come for your birthday”—his inflexion increased in strength—“but to have the company of Lady Catherine and her ‘friend’ thrust upon you at this time is insupportable.”
My fingers moved through his hair, an action that had served to placate him many times in the past. “You must know that I am certain to have a delightful day as long as you and Bennet are present.”
He groaned. “Very well. If you truly wish to try to change my aunt’s mind, then I suppose we shall let them stay—at least for now.” He kissed my forehead. “You are an extraordinary lady. Despite my many misgivings, I love you for wanting to attempt this onerous feat.”
“I love you too.”
Fitzwilliam’s lips captured mine in a hungry kiss, and a multitude of enticing sensations coursed through me. His kisses travelled to my neck, and I angled my head to facilitate his movement. When he halted and moved away, I peered at him through my lashes.
He traced his finger over my bottom lip. “Alas, it is time we went downstairs for dinner.”
My brow arched, and I gave him the saucy expression he treasured. “Then I dare say we had better hurry.”
His fiery gaze caressed me. “As you wish.” His voice sounded husky. He scooped me into his arms as though I weighed no more than a feather and took me towards the bed.
Lady Catherine
Darcy and Elizabeth kept Mr. Graham, Lady Rebecca, and me waiting in the drawing-room for a full twenty minutes before they arrived together, both grinning like simpletons.
I did not rouse myself to admonish them, but my pointed glare made it clear their transgression had not gone unnoticed.
Of course, one could not expect any better from a wife of such faulty breeding.