Chapter 2.3 #3
Elizabeth could see that the girl was too distressed to carry on a reasonable conversation, so she smiled and ceased her inquiry.
“Maud, this is what we will do: you will stay here for the next two days until your aunt returns. You will eat something then rest, and we will talk more tomorrow. I can see you are in a difficult situation, and you are distressed by it. I shall not insist further now. As long as you are honest with us, we will give you all the help you need. Good night.”
“I…thank you, Mrs Darcy…I will not…I thank you…” The young woman was tearful, and Elizabeth gently touched her arm.
“Mrs Hamilton will take care of everything. Good night.”
She left with the housekeeper following her. Upstairs in the main hall, Elizabeth asked with no little concern, “Mrs Hamilton, what is your opinion? Did you manage to learn any more details?”
“She did not speak much. She is very troubled—and chilled—but mostly very troubled. She has an aunt who works at a small inn—a questionable one, I would say. The woman was out of town, sent by the inn’s owner.
For some reason, Maud did not remain there to wait; she preferred to stay in the park—in this weather! ”
“Well, I can suspect why a young girl would rather depart from the inn’s owner,” Elizabeth said bitterly.
“Indeed, ma’am, she is very pretty. And her speech is articulate. I suspect she worked as a maid in a good household, but for some reason, she was dismissed with severity. She said she was given no payment at all. Strange…I will try to learn more tomorrow…”
“Mrs Hamilton, I value your experience and your wisdom. Do you think she might be a danger to others in the house? Was I wrong to host her? I would not want to cause any distress to our staff.”
“No, ma’am—not at all. I think it was a gesture of mercy and kindness. Although I cannot imagine how many other ladies would have done it.”
Elizabeth ignored the praise. “Very well. Let her rest now. Please have dinner served. Mr Darcy and I will be there at once.”
She hurried to Darcy, her heart still unsettled. She knew she made the best decision for the lost girl, but not knowing the whole truth was troubling to her.
Elizabeth met her husband in the main hall where he had wandered in search of her. He kissed her hand then placed it on his arm while they moved to the dining room.
As soon as the first course was served, Elizabeth shared with Darcy the brief encounter.
“Mrs Hamilton believes Maud was a maid. She must have done something wrong to be thrown out of the house in such weather and without any wages. I hope she did not do anything horrible. She is so pretty and looks so well behaved. I wonder why someone would expose her to the risk of death.”
Darcy said nothing—only responded with a smile to reassure and calm his wife.
While Elizabeth continued her speculations, Darcy took her hand gently.
“My darling, let us eat now. There is no need for more distress. I suggest talking to her tomorrow. I hope she will tell us what happened. If I am content with her honesty, I will let it be your choice to either help her find her aunt or offer her a job in our house. I think we can afford another maid.”
Elizabeth’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, my love. Your generous kindness never ceases to amaze me.”
“I only try to do what is right—and what gives you pleasure.” He smiled then turned serious again.
“I am happy and proud to comply with your wishes, first because I love you so much but also because your requests are continuing proofs of your character. You never ask for anything to spoil yourself. You have complete liberty to order gowns, to make changes in the house, and to use your pin money as you wish—about which, by the way, you did not even ask. And yet, you prefer to help a strange young woman or go to Pemberley—but that I already refused.”
“You are too kind to me and too severe on yourself. What could I possibly want when you give me everything? And why would I try to spoil myself when no other woman is so spoilt by her husband?”
“It is rather pleasant to be so praised, so I shall not interrupt you.” He attempted a joke, and she laughed.
“Well, sir, I was under the impression that you were already accustomed to praise. Even I had the chance to hear certain ladies praise your exceptional qualities,” she answered, raising her eyebrow.
“I warn you, madam, that I intend to complain to Mrs Bennet about any more teasing on that subject.”
“You are free to do so, sir, as I cannot promise to cease teasing you. I look forward to seeing how Miss Bingley behaves in your presence now that she knows she has no chance of winning you for herself.”
“I beg to differ: there was nothing to win as there was no competition.” He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm. “You won my heart from the second time I saw you. And that is only because, the first time, I did not look at you with enough attention.”
Their hands remained entwined for a few minutes, and his fingers gently caressed hers, sending chills along her arm.
“I love the feeling of my hand in yours,” she whispered, their eyes locked.
He kissed her palm again. “I think we should go upstairs. I shall ask for some sweets and drinks to be sent to my apartment.”
“Yes, we should. Although, I do not believe much more food will be needed.”
∞∞∞
The rest of the evening was spent in tender lovemaking and sweet teasing.
Sometime after midnight, they both felt hungry, proving to Elizabeth once again that Darcy was wise and cautious in asking the rest of the dinner to be brought to his suite.
The room was cold, despite the roaring fire, so they dressed and wrapped themselves in thick night robes.
Darcy brought a tray of food to the bed and offered it to his wife.
They started eating, but their gazes proved they were more preoccupied with each other than with the meal.
Darcy could hardly keep his eyes away from her beautiful face glowing with happiness, framed by long, dark locks flowing over her shoulders. His intense look soon made her blush, and her eyes laughed at him.
“You are staring again, sir.”
“I know; I am sorry.” Neither his mischievous glance nor the little smile twisting his lips confirmed his words.
“May I ask why?”
“Because you are so beautiful, and I still cannot believe you are my wife.”
“Oh…” The pleasure of his confession made her heart race.
They continued eating, and it was Elizabeth’s turn to watch her husband with growing insistence.
“And may I ask why you are staring at me, Mrs Darcy? And I beg—do not say that I am pretty.”
The word used with so much determination by Becky turned Elizabeth’s smile into laughter.
“And yet—you are, Mr Darcy. But that is not the reason. I was thinking of the first night we ate together on the bed…after Lady Catherine’s visit…”
His face shadowed, and he leant to gently caress her hair.
“I thought of that night too. If not for the horrible distress you had to suffer from my aunt—and from my selfish pride—I would say that night was one of the most beautiful of my life.”
“Yes, mine too…”
There were a few moments of complete silence—sweet, tender memories contending with the recollection of that terrible afternoon.
“I would not have imagined your being so scary,” Elizabeth attempted to joke. “The staff was completely frightened.”
“I have a bad temper—very much like my aunt and uncle. Even Lady Ellen said so. Robert declared it was a wonder that you still wanted to marry me.”
Elizabeth touched his face with immense tenderness.
“I love everything about you, including your bad temper. And you are, without a doubt, the best man I have ever known. And the most perfect husband.”
“I only hope to be the husband you deserve, my beloved.”
“You already are. Not to mention that you are very pretty and have dimples. ‘Dimples is good, you know,’” Elizabeth teased him with Becky’s words, but her laughter was suddenly crushed within a passionate kiss and the tray of delicious food found a most undeserved place on the floor.