Chapter Eighteen
A NEW DAY
Monday, The Next Day
William’s Bedchamber
The hour was early, and though he had little sleep, William had been awake since first light.
Here in his bed lay his precious wife, cuddled next to him, her bare arm draped across his chest, her hair trailing down her back and smelling of lavender.
What could be more perfect than a night of bliss and waking up with the one woman who made him feel complete?
On her left hand, she wore his mother’s ring, the one his father had given Lady Anne on the day they were married.
Lightly touching the stones, he wondered how she had kept Wickham from taking it.
The man was mercenary and would have had no scruples selling the ring for a pittance of what it was worth.
Still, it was on her hand, where it belonged.
Elizabeth was his wife now, and in his mind, being married to her was akin to having a bit of heaven on earth.
Wife, mother, lover and friend, once again he vowed to protect her and do everything in his power to make her happy as long as he lived.
Would that he could stay in bed with her all day, holding her and loving her, but it was not to be, for there was much for him to accomplish once they rose and broke their fast. On arriving in Town, William had sent off a quick note to Bingley and Bennet letting them know that Elizabeth and Anna had been taken by Wickham.
Now that they were recovered, it was imperative he inform them as well as Georgiana and Lady Catherine of the positive outcome.
These letters needed to be sent off before meeting with his steward regarding the McCaughey family.
Considering the poor state of Mrs. McCaughey’s apparel, he was sure she did not live in a good part of Town.
He would gladly provide her with better living accommodations and have his man enquire about securing suitable employment for the woman’s family, even if it meant hiring them on one of his properties.
Without the help of Jenny and her mother, his wife and daughter may not have been recovered.
William also needed to send a note to Matlock House indicating that he would be stopping by to see the Earl and Richard later in the morning.
In addition to learning more of Wickham, he wished to thank his uncle for previously supporting him with regard to Lady Catherine.
Interestingly, while at Longbourn, Lady Eleanor told William that the earl refused to back his sister’s request to seek guardianship of Anna, as well as affirming it was William’s right to move her into the dowager’s house.
The earl strongly advised his sister to accept the fact that their nephew would marry and that his new wife would be welcomed by the family.
In his opinion, the Darcys would rarely be at Rosings Park, and if she were to do their nephew’s bidding, she need not move from her home.
To this recommendation, Lady Catherine flatly stated she would never acknowledge Elizabeth as Mrs. Darcy and that living in the dowager’s house was completely unacceptable.
While William was prepared to have his solicitor begin looking at properties, Lady Eleanor had also informed him of Lady Catherine’s preference to have the earl find her an acceptable establishment in Town.
Other than seeing Anna and Georgiana on occasion, she wanted nothing more to do with her son-in-law.
Determined to put those distasteful thoughts aside for now, William resumed taking in the beauty of his sleeping wife.
Slowly wrapping a long curl of her hair around his finger brought a smile to his face.
It was silky and soft, and when he stretched it out to see how long the tress was, he could not help but chuckle softly when it recoiled of its own volition.
When Elizabeth began to stir, he whispered, “Did I wake you, sweetheart?”
“I heard you laugh, William. I must be a sight. As you can see, my hair has a mind of its own.”
“So it does, but it is of no matter to me, for you, my love, are perfection,” he said, lifting her chin and kissing her tenderly.
“Very pretty words,” she replied. “You may think differently when I allow you to brush it.”
“You would let me brush your hair?” he asked, his voice was hopeful.
“Yes, I would, but it will not be easy. Jane used to brush my hair every night and at times she had to go strand by strand using a comb and lavender oil if my curls became too unruly. Nevertheless, I shall gladly give the task to you, that is until you change your mind and petition my maid to take your place.”
“Unlikely.” He smiled, captivating her with his dimples. “It is one of many tasks I shall gladly take on,” he said with glee.
“One of many?” she playfully answered. “Am I so difficult then?”
“Hardly,” he teased in return, kissing her neck in such a way that she began to giggle.
The more he persisted, the louder her laughter grew. Not one to back down from a challenge, Elizabeth began her own assault, and the two of them tossed and turned until they became thoroughly entangled in the bedsheets and could barely move.
“Now look at what you have done, Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“Me?!”
“Yes, you, husband! I fear we shall be trapped here for some time.”
“Hmmm.” He caressed the side of her face, trailing his fingers down her neck and across her body. “I rather like that thought; bound together as man and wife.”
“Yes, man and wife,” she tenderly said.
“Are you happy, my love?”
“Very much so.”
“It is still early, shall we?”
“Yes,” she breathlessly answered. And it was another hour before the newly-married Darcys rose from their bed.
“William,” Elizabeth said while pulling on her nightgown and donning her robe and slippers, “I wonder how Anna slept. After all that happened, I half expected her to wake with night terrors.”
Having already put on his pants and a lose shirt, William quickly moved to Elizabeth’s side and pulled her into his embrace.
“I was so worried for both of you,” he whispered into her hair.
“I do not know how I would have survived had you not been returned to me. You and Anna and Georgiana are my life.”
“Dear William.” She kissed him without reserve. “I love you so.”
Suddenly their sentiments were interrupted when they heard Anna’s scream followed by, “Papa, Papa! Help us! Mama and I are in the box!”
“She must be dreaming,” Elizabeth frantically said while William grabbed her hand and they rushed through the door and down the hall to Anna’s room.
“Papa, Papa! Mama and I need you. Papa, it is so dark. Papa, help us!”
When William and Elizabeth entered Anna’s room, Hannah was trying to calm the thrashing child, who was not fully awake.
Quickly picking up Anna and holding her close, William said, “Sweetheart, open your eyes! Mama and I are here. You are not in the box. We are all here, sweet one, right here in your room.”
“Oh, Papa!” she cried, her eyes still closed while burying her face into his chest. “I am afraid.”
“Little one, you need not fear. You are safe now. Look at me, Anna.” He tipped up her chin. “Mama and I are here.”
Opening her tearful eyes, Anna looked back and forth between her father and mother and then stretched out her little arms, reaching for Elizabeth.
“My sweet child, it was just a bad dream. We are home now with Papa, and later this morning we shall have a tea party in the music room with Dolly and Janie while we wait for him to finish his work.”
“That is right, Anna, and when I am free, I shall send for the carriage and take you and Mama for a long ride in the park. Would you like that?”
“Yes, Papa, I would,” she happily said as William stepped closer, kissing her forehead and encircling both her and Elizabeth in his embrace.
“Anna, you and Mama and your Aunt Georgie are my special girls, and I love all three of you very much.”
“We love you, too, Papa.”
Letting go, he noticed Elizabeth’s necklace about his daughter’s neck. Touching the emerald cross with his finger, he said, “Very pretty.”
Anna smiled at her mother then back again at William. “Mama let me wear her special necklace and I helped her save it and her beautiful ring from the bad man.”
His look was puzzled. “You did?”
“Yes, Papa, I did,” she innocently said.
“I see.” William looked to Elizabeth for clarification.
“The evening of the fire, I allowed Anna to wear my necklace while I was brushing her hair. After the maids informed us of the burning barn, Anna and I went down the hall to have a look from the balcony. It was then Mr. Wickham came upon us. In the darkened hallway, he did not see my jewellery and I was able to slip the necklace beneath the neckline of Anna’s dress and hide my wedding ring along with my grandmother’s broach in her pocket.
Anna said nothing when he demanded I give him my jewellery.
We were the only ones who knew our daughter held these treasures for me. ”
“Anna, you were a brave girl, and I am so very proud of you.” Again he kissed her on the forehead, causing her to beam.
“Papa, when Mama put the necklace on me, we said a prayer for you and Aunt Georgie and Cousin Richard.”
“I am glad of it, sweet one,” he said, trying not to be overcome with emotion. “I prayed for you, too.”
“Papa, should I give the necklace back to Mama now?”
“Elizabeth?”
“Not now, Anna.” She smiled. “I would like you to wear it today in celebration of our being home. You need not give it back to me until later, perhaps after dinner.”
William had mentioned that the garnet cross which was sent to the jewellers for repair had since been returned. Though Elizabeth had not seen it yet, her intention was to let her daughter wear the emerald cross until she gave her the gift.
Smiling broadly, her little fingers reverently touched the necklace. “Yes, Mama; I shall take very good care of it for you.”
“I know you will, sweetheart.”