Chapter Eleven #2
Elizabeth could not help but blush again.
After what happened at the ball, and what Eliza had said she overheard, she had not expected William to be so cordial towards her family, especially considering her mother’s current effusions.
“My ankle is greatly improved, sir. I was actually hoping we might take a walk to Oakham Mount this afternoon. From there you can see the entire valley and much of the village. The panorama is quite lovely.”
“Ah, yes, Oakham Mount. I remember you saying it was one of your favourite places. In truth, I am curious to see one of the areas mentioned by William Cowper in his writings.”
“Then I will be happy to show you. By the time we return, Papa should be available.”
Once refreshments were brought in and served, it was not long before William and Elizabeth left the house, accompanied by Mary.
After a few more pleasantries were exchanged between the three walkers, Mary chose to lag behind with the intent of gathering wildflowers in a basket she brought for that purpose.
William was pleased with her gesture, as he had much to say to Elizabeth and appreciated the opportunity for more privacy.
From there the two of them walked side-by-side along the well-worn path.
Continuing on, he reached in his pocket and handed her one of the gardenia blooms he had earlier plucked from the bouquet. It warmed his heart to watch as she inhaled this small offering and gifted him with a loving smile.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he asked, “would you mind if I called you by your Christian name when we are alone?”
“No, not at all.” She beamed. “Tell me, do you have a preference for what I might call you?”
“Most of my acquaintances call me Darcy though I really have no preference, as long as it is not Fitz.”
“No, I would not care to call you Fitz.” She chuckled. “Somehow it does not suit you at all. I wonder, would it offend you if I shortened your given name and called you William?”
“I would like that. Georgiana is the only other person who has ever called me William.” His smile was endearing as he reached for her hand and softly kissed it. “I would very much like it if you did the same.”
Overcome by his sentimentality, she tenderly responded, “Then William it is.”
The conversation remained fairly light for the next ten minutes or so, until they reached the bottom of the rise going to the Mount.
Mary had a small book stored in her basket and said she would be happy to stay back and read while they made the climb.
With it being a direct path to the top, she could easily watch from where she would be sitting on an old log bench.
During their ascent, Elizabeth told William more of their surrounding community and a bit about the various neighbours whom he would be meeting at dinner.
When they reached the top, she remarked, “I know it is nothing to the peaks, but coming here has always given me great pleasure, as well as solace. It matters not what the season may be; if the weather permits, I am up at first light and off to this very place as often as I am able.”
He smiled warmly. “In my estimation, Pemberley is nature personified, and I hope you will feel the same about your new home.”
It was obvious to Elizabeth that William took great pride in his heritage, and she was fascinated by his answers to her many questions concerning his estate and the Lambton village where her Aunt Gardiner had grown up.
After a time, they reached the top and took a seat on a wooden bench in a shaded area overlooking the view.
Feeling a bit warm after the climb, Elizabeth removed her bonnet.
Placing it on the bench, she decided to ask more of his little girl.
“William, I know you said your daughter was doing better when Mama enquired, but I am still concerned. We were all so worried when Uncle Gardiner received your message saying how terribly ill she was.”
Noting the uneasiness in her voice, William took her hand, saying, “Anna was far better when I left Rosings Park two days ago, but upon arriving last Saturday, she was in a very bad way. To my horror, my little child was fevered and her throat hurt so much that it was hard for her to speak or swallow. Her cough was frightful, and I could barely hear her voice above a whisper. Anna’s nurse told me that she had been crying for days, waiting for me to come.
It was not until the evening of the ball that my aunt finally saw fit to inform me by express how truly ill she was.
As we tended her, the only time she was able to sleep undisturbed for a few hours was when I held her in my arms. Elizabeth, I …
I do not know what I would have done if I had lost her. ”
She squeezed his hand, her eyes filling with tears and compassion. “Then it was worse than we imagined. And to think you had to face all of that on top of what happened at the ball.”
Barely able to restrain his own emotions, William quietly said, “You are very kind, and I knew you would understand why I could not come sooner. Anna is such a sweet child and is so very precious to me. While I have tried my best to be a good parent, she needs more than her father and her Aunt Georgie.” He swallowed hard and imploringly said, “She is in need of a mother. And if you will allow it, Anna would be blessed to have you, Elizabeth.”
“Dear William,” she responded taking his hand in both of hers. “It will be my privilege to help you take care of Anna, and I promise you I shall do everything within my power to be the mother she needs.”
Touched by her sincerity, William gently ran his fingers along the side of her face before tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “Elizabeth, you will make an exceptional mother, and I am pleased you are willing to take on that role in my daughter’s life,” he said, kissing her hand in gratitude.
“I appreciate your confidence and trust she will like me.”
“You need not worry on that account. Anna already loves you and is waiting for me to bring you to her.”
“She is waiting? My goodness, William, what did you tell her about me?”
He smiled shyly. “I hope you do not mind, but when she was most ill, she begged me to tell her a story about a princess. With you on my mind, I told her the story of a lovely Princess who lived in a faraway land and was one of five sisters.”
“Five?”
“Yes. Her name was Princess Elizabeth and her father’s kingdom had fallen on hard times.”
“Princess, indeed!” she chuckled.
“Anna was very pleased with the name I chose, since her given name is Anna Elizabeth. Elizabeth was my grandmother’s name on the Darcy side.”
“How curious, since I was named Elizabeth Rose after my grandmother, also on my father’s side. Hmmm…. I think I shall rather enjoy having our names in common. Perhaps when you call me, we shall both answer,” she playfully teased, causing him to laugh out loud.
“Somehow, I think I shall find it rather endearing. Here, let me show you her picture. I had a local artist in Kent take her likeness so that I might have it with me while I was in Town for the season.”
Elizabeth took the small miniature which William carried in his breast pocket and lovingly smiled as she slowly ran her fingers around the edge of the simple frame.
“I can see she is very precious. Her sweet face and golden hair make her look quite angelic. And she has your blue eyes.” After gazing at the picture for a few more moments, Elizabeth handed it back to William saying, “I should like to show her likeness to my family, if you do not mind.”
“Of course not.”
“Your daughter is a beautiful child, and I look forward to meeting her.”
“My sister, Georgiana, looked very much like Anna at the same age. Remarkably, the two of them share a similar sweet disposition, although Anna is not painfully shy like my sister is,” he commented before speaking more seriously.
“Elizabeth, I do not intend to speak meanly of the dead, but I must tell you that Anne and I did not have a love match.”
“You did not?”
“No, we did not. If you recall from our conversation at the Royal Gardens, shortly after I finished university, my father died. At the time, I was overwhelmed with grief and responsibilities. Lady Catherine, my mother’s sister, had always claimed a betrothal was arranged for me and Anne by herself and my mother when we were infants.
Shortly before my mother died, she told me there was never any such arrangement.
My mother encouraged me to follow my own heart in choosing whom I would marry.
Things being what they were with my father’s passing, Lady Catherine knew I was vulnerable.
When she insisted that Anne and I marry six months after his death, she was backed by my uncle the earl and his wife.
Ours was a marriage of convenience and nothing more.
Anne did not love me, nor did I love her.
” He sighed. “When I spoke with Anne about her mother’s demands, she begged me to marry her, saying that she was oppressed living with Lady Catherine and would do her best by me.
I agreed, thinking we might make a go of it, but our relationship never blossomed into what I had hoped for.
“Oh, William, I am so sorry. You are deserving of much more.”
“Do you truly think so, Elizabeth?”
“I do,” she said, reaching for his hand.”
Revelling again at her small gesture, he said, “Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, ‘tis a pity that our time together has been so short. Nevertheless, I have fallen in love with you and pray that in time you will be able to return my regard.”
At that moment tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes and she began to cry in earnest. Turning her back to him, she covered her face with her hands, unable to control her emotions.