Chapter 45 Mr. Wickham
Jane and Elizabeth sat on a couch in the drawing room, awaiting dinner.
“Lizzy, I am grateful to Mr. Darcy. After they spoke about the visit, Charles sent an express to Caroline and Augustus. Perhaps he will make me a good husband after all. He apologized for making the decision without including me and has promised it will not happen again. But I worry that he will bend to her will the next time Caroline wants anything.”
Elizabeth said, “Perhaps you should write to Caroline and tell her that in the future she is to reach out to you as the mistress of the home.”
Jane sighed. “As much as it pains me to do it, I will send her that letter, or else this will happen again and again through the years.”
“I truly believed that once she was married, you would never hear from her again.”
Jane groaned. It was a quiet, pathetic sound. “I thought so too.”
Mrs. Hurst entered and sat beside Jane. She took her hand.
“Charles told me what happened. My dear girl, you must learn to speak up for yourself. Charles is a good man, but as you know, he is very amiable and easily led. If Caroline reaches him first, you will always find yourself on the losing side. But I know the two of you together will make a very good life for yourselves and for your children. You will be happy.”
Jane returned the pressure of Louisa’s hand. “Thank you. It will be difficult for me, but I am determined.”
Footsteps were heard in the hall, and then the men entered the room.
Elizabeth looked for Mr. Darcy. He entered last, impeccably dressed as always.
When their eyes met, her face grew warm, and she looked away as the intimacies that had passed between them came flooding back in vivid memory.
She straightened in her chair and forced her attention on the two women who were still speaking of Caroline, but warmth swept through her entire body under the intensity of his gaze, and she wished she might conceal herself behind the drapes.
Surely, someone would read her expression and guess what had passed between her and Mr. Darcy.
She calmed herself enough to ask Jane a question, but then her eyes drifted back to his face, and she saw his was flushed too.
He must also be remembering. A warm smile played on his lips, and then she looked down at the floor, determined not to look at him for the rest of the evening.
She felt again his hands running along her bare skin, and the urgency of his lips, and her face burned like fire.
This was torture. She should have claimed a headache and remained in her room.
Well, it was too late now. She looked about her and realized what she needed was a distraction.
Her gaze moved to Georgiana, who sat at the piano playing softly.
Elizabeth moved to her sister’s side and sat on the bench next to her.
“Georgiana, I asked Fitzwilliam to teach me how to ride, but I must admit that horses frighten me. Would you introduce me to Daisy? Perhaps if I become acquainted with your mount, it will ease my mind.”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure. Elizabeth, you will love Daisy. She follows me everywhere like a pet dog.” Just then, Darcy came up behind them, and Georgiana turned. “Brother, Elizabeth says you are going to teach her how to ride.”
“I am. She will soon be adept.”
Elizabeth risked a glance at his face and saw the intensity that smoldered there.
Her breath caught, and she looked away. If she were to endure dinner, she must avoid his eyes.
She turned back to her young sister and said, “If I could ride well enough to visit our tenants who live farthest away, I would be satisfied.”
He took her hand and helped her rise. “I came to say that dinner is served.”
As he led her toward the dining room, he bent his head and said in a low voice, “I love you, Elizabeth. You are more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. I truly am the happiest of men.”
His words sent her into another wave of self-conscious embarrassment, and she entered the dining room with her gaze lowered and her face burning.
Bingley entered with Jane, followed by Mr. Lewis, who stood in the entrance and looked about the room. “Mrs. Darcy, I do not see Miss Mary,” he said.
“Sir, I am afraid my sister suffers from the headache and has asked that a dinner tray be sent to her room. She will not join us tonight.”
She saw his jaw tense, and then he bowed stiffly. “I am sorry. Perhaps she will feel better in the morning.”
“Perhaps,” Elizabeth replied, but her eyes held censure.
He flushed and said quietly, “Tomorrow I will make amends, ma’am.”
That night, as Elizabeth sat at her dressing table while Ellis took down her hair, they heard a tap on the connecting door.
She started and then realized she should have expected him to come.
Mr. Darcy entered. Ellis shook out Elizabeth’s hair and then curtsied and excused herself.
Her husband stood looking at her with that smoldering intensity, and she felt again that warm flush flow through her entire body.
She rose and watched as he came to her. His neck was bare, and he wore a banyan, and she knew he wore nothing else, for as he walked to her, she saw his beautiful bare thighs, his knees, and his shapely legs.
Then he took her in his arms and kissed her, gently, tenderly.
But after, he pulled her tight against his body, and she thought no more.
The following day saw the Darcys pulling up to the grand entrance of Ashbrook Manor.
They were shown into the best drawing room and waited for Mr. Ashbrook.
He entered soon after, with a woman a little younger than himself.
The introductions were made, and Mrs. Tallant, his sister, guided Elizabeth to a settee a short distance from the men.
Mr. Ashbrook listened gravely while Darcy spoke.
“Sir, it pains me to bring this matter before you, and I pray you will not think ill of me for bringing my wife, but Elizabeth insisted. Miss Ashbrook rode to Pemberley yesterday and found me at the castle. I confess I was surprised to find her unattended on my land, and I was made very uncomfortable at being alone with her. I did not remain, but excused myself and rode home. Your daughter followed me. I need not tell you that it caused my wife no little distress when we rode up together.”
When Darcy stopped speaking, Mr. Ashbrook opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of boots tapping in the hall.
Elizabeth looked toward the doorway and watched as Miss Ashbrook entered the room. The woman’s hand fluttered to her shapely bosom. “Fitzwilliam, you are here. The stable hand said he saw your carriage drive up, so I came at once.”
She moved into the room and settled close to him, linking her arm with his with the ease of one who believed herself entitled to command his attention, as though she held a rightful claim upon him.
Darcy freed himself and then shifted so that she was no longer pressed against him.
Her father opened his mouth to object, but another spoke first.
“Christiana, come sit beside me and visit with Mrs. Darcy.”
Miss Ashbrook turned, and her brows rose when she saw Elizabeth seated with her aunt near the window. The look she turned on Elizabeth was venomous, but she complied. “Yes, Aunt Prissy.” She rose and went to join the two ladies.
When she had moved out of earshot, Darcy continued. “Sir, will Miss Ashbrook be returning to Edinburgh soon?”
Ashbrook shook his head. “Priscilla tells me that as of late, Christiana has insisted on returning home. She had no choice but to bring her to me, for she was fearful that my daughter would return unescorted.”
“Perhaps she could reside with you in London, sir. If the servants begin whispering about her attentions to me, it will affect my reputation and, in time, my marriage.”
The older man sighed. “On my oath, I will remove her to London by next Monday. Until then, I will refuse her the use of the horses and the carriages. Fortunately, Pemberley is too far for her to walk.”
Darcy stood. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your understanding.”
Ashbrook said, “Son, I would appreciate your continued silence.”
Darcy nodded. Elizabeth reached his side, and he took her arm and set it comfortably within his own, and together they left the house without looking back.
When they were once again settled in the carriage, Darcy turned to her. “How was your visit with Mrs. Tallant and Miss Ashbrook?”
Elizabeth shuddered. “She asked if you came to me every night, and when I stared at her like a frightened animal, she smirked.”
Darcy shook his head grimly.
“Her aunt told her to behave herself. She spoke to Miss Ashbrook as if she were a child of ten rather than a woman of five and twenty.” Elizabeth looked up at him. “Then she winked at me and laughed. I felt like a prude and a simpleton.”
He remained silent.
“I do not understand what you saw in her, sir. I have believed you so grave and proper, I would never have thought a wanton like her could have attached you.”
Darcy countered. “I was a different person then, Elizabeth. I was a boy. Sheltered and naive. And she was an innocent girl, not as she is now. It appears she has set aside all her scruples and is behaving in a manner meant to shock rather than please.”
Elizabeth said, “I could easily believe she has been with many other men since her tryst with Mr. Wickham. She has no sense of modesty or decency.”
Then she raised a hand to cover her eyes; her expression was comical. Groaning softly, she said, “Oh dear, I have done it again.” His eyes were laughing.